This means, then, that modern Jews are not a special people — they are an ordinary people. Those who today call themselves “Jews” are no more unique than Canadians, Brazilians, or Indonesians. They are not the chosen people of God, for only if you are Christ's, are you Abraham's offspring, and an heir according to promise (Galatians 3:29).

At the heart of Wilson's thesis is the claim that unbelieving Jews remain connected to Abraham covenantally, albeit in a negative, distorted form. In his AmeriFest remarks, he stated: "If these people covenanted with the God of Abraham in the Middle Ages and they’ve been living that way for centuries, then they’re in covenant, they’re in that covenant." Notice his words, which were deliberate and deceptive.

The apostle Paul takes up the same theme with unmistakable clarity. For him, the children of Abraham are not those who share Abraham’s bloodline, but those who share his faith-line of Abraham. He writes that “those of faith are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7) and that “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (Romans 9:6).

Toby’s metaphor of the Jews as an “apostate older brother” is sentimental but misleading. Not only is it misleading, but to make the claims he does necessarily distracts from those whom God has declared are actually the true Israel: the church.

How often do the saints of God feel ill equipped to answer those who come against our Lord? How quickly do we become dismayed with feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, and weakness that overcome us when we are opposed by infidels? This is an all-to-often occurrence for the redeemed, but it ought not be.

This introductory episode describes the primary purpose of Christ's first advent: to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).