Genesis 17:1 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
Genesis 32:28 - Then God said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel…
Galatians 3:7 - Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
In John 8:39 the Pharisees told Jesus, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me…”
Galatians 3:16 - Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
Romans 2:28 - For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit…
1. Who is Israel in the Bible?
is the Israel of God. If I am in
by faith, then I am in the of God. Jesus Christ is the
to all the promises of God. In Christ we are
with Jesus of the promises of God. Israel is the people of “
the nations” who believe in Jesus. Israel is
and all who in Him.
2. Is modern day Israel the same as the Israel in the Bible?
Romans 9:1 - I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
God’s Israel is not a
but a of people who have of Jesus Christ.
3. Why does this matter to you and me?
a.
2 Corinthians 1:20a - For all the promises of God find their Yes in Jesus.
b.
Genesis 12:3 - I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
c. Prioritize the Prime
Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…
Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
d. Embrace Your
Ephesians 2:11 - Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
e. Know Your
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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The Church in the New Covenant is a Fulfillment (not a replacement) of Israel from the Old Covenant. The following are Old Testament Titles and Attributes of Israel which are used to refer to the Church in the New Testament:
THE BELOVED OF GOD
1. Israel Is Beloved Of God – Exo. 15:13 / Deu.33:3 / Ezr.3:11
2. Disobedient Israel Is Not Beloved Of God – Lev. 26:28. 30 / Jer. 12:8 / Jer. 16:5 / Hos. 9:l5 / Amo. 9:7 / Mat. 3:7 / Phil. 3:2 / 1 Th. 2:14-16 / Tit. 1:10
3. The Christians Are Beloved Of God – Rom. 1:7,9,25 / Eph. 5:1 / Col. 3:12 / Jo. 3:1 / 2 The. 2:13 / Rev. 1:4-6
THE CHILDREN OF GOD
1. Israelites Are The Children Of God – Exo. 4:22 / Den. 14:1 / Isa. 1:2,4 / Isa. 63:8 / Jer. 31:9 / Hos. 11:1
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Children Of God – Deu. 32:5 / John 8:39, 42, 44 The Christians Are The Children Of God – John. 1:12, 11:52 / Rom. 8:14,16 /
3. 2 Cor. 6:18 / Gal. 3:26 / Gal. 4:5, 6, 7 / Philip. 2:15 / 1 Jo. 3:1
THE FIELD OF GOD
1. Israel Is The Field Of God – Jer. 12:10
2. The Christians Are The Field Of God – I Cor. 3:9
THE FLOCK OF GOD AND OF THE MESSIAH
1. Israel Is The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah – Psa.78:52 / Psa.80:1 / Isa.40:ll / Jer. 23:1, 2 ,3 / Jer.31:I0 / Eze. 34:12, 15, 16 / Mic. 5:4 / Zec. 10:3
2. The Christians Are The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah – John 10:14, 16 /
3. Heb. 13:20 / 1 Pe. 2:25 / 1 Pe. 5:2, 3
THE HOUSE OF GOD
1. Israel Is The House Of God – Num. 12:7
2. The Christians Are The House Of God – I Tim. 3:15 / Heb. 3:2, 5, 6 / Heb. 10:21 / 1 Pe. 4:17
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
1. The Israelites Are The Chosen People – Deu. 7:7 / Deu. 10:15 / Deu. 14:2 /Isa. 43:20, 21 Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Chosen People – Deu. 31:17 / 2 Ki. 17:20 /
2. 2 Chr. 25:7 / Psa. 78:59 / Jer. 6:30 / Jer. 7:29 / Jer. 14:10
3. The Christians Are The Chosen People – Col. 3:12 / 1 Pe. 2:9
THE CIRCUMCISED
1. The Israelites Are The Circumcised – Gen. 17:10, 13 / Jdg. 15:18
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Circumcised – Jer. 9:25. 26 / Rom. 2:25,28 / Phil. 3:2
3. The Christians Are The Circumcised – Rom. 2:29 / Philip. 3:3 / Col. 2:11
ISRAEL
1. Israel Is Israel – none
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not Israelites – Num. 15:30, 31 / Deu. 18:19 / Acts 3:23 / Rom. 9:6
3. The Christians Are Israel – John 11:50, 51, 52 / 1 Cor. 10:1 / Gal. 5:6; 6:15, 16 / Eph. 2:12,19
JERUSALEM
1. Jerusalem Is The City And Mother of Israelites – Psa. 149:2 / Isa. 12:6 / Isa. 49:18, 20, 22 / Isa. 51:18 / Lam. 4:2
2. Jerusalem Is The City And Mother Of Christians – Gal. 4:26 / Heb. 12:22
THE JEWS
1. Israelites Are Jews – Ezr. 5:1 / Jer. 34:8, 9 / Zec. 8:22, 23
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not Jews – Rom. 2:28 / Rev. 2:9 / Rev 3:9
3. True Jews Are Christians – Rom. 2:29
THE NEW COVENANT
1. The New Covenant Is With Israel – Jer. 31:31, 33
2. The New Covenant Is With The Christians – Luke 22:20 / 1 Cor. 11:25 / 2 Cor. 3:6 / Heb. 8:6, 8, 10
AN OLIVE TREE
1. Israel Is An Olive Tree – Jer. 11:16 / Hos. 14:6
2. The Christians Are An Olive Tree – Rom. 11:24
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1. Israel Is The Kingdom Of God – Exo. 19:6 1 Chr. 17:14/ 1 Chr. 28:5
2. Disobedient Israel Is Not The Kingdom Of God – Mat 8:11, 12 / Mat 21:43
3. The Christians Are The Kingdom Of God – Rom. 14:17 / 1 Cor. 4:20 / Col. 1:13 / Col. 4:11 / Rev. 1:6
THE PEOPLE OF GOD
1. The Israelites Are The People Of God – Exo. 6:7 / Deu. 27:9 / 2 Sam. 7:23 / Jer. 11:4
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not The People Of God – Hos. 1:9 / Jer.5:10
3. The Christians Are The People Of God – Rom. 9:25 / 2 Cor. 6:16 / Eph. 4:12 / Eph. 5:3 / 2Th. 1:10 / Tit. 2:14
THE PRIESTS OF GOD
1. The Israelites Are The Priests Of God – Exo. 19:6
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Priests Of God – 1 Sam. 2:28,30 / Lam. 4:13, 16 / Eze. 44:10, 13 / Hos 4.6 / Mal.2:2,4, 8 ,9
3. The Christians Are The Priests Of God – 1 Pe. 2:5,9 / Rev. 1:6 / Rev. 5:10
THE VINEYARD OF GOD
1. The Israelites Is The Vineyard Of God – Isa. 5:3,4, 5, 7 /Jer. 12:10
2. The Christians Are The Vineyard Of God – Luke 20:16
THE WIFE (OR BRIDE) OF GOD
1. Israel Is The Wife (Or Bride) Of God – Isa. 54:5, 6 / Jer. 2:2 / Eze. 16:32 / Hos. 1:2
2. Disobedient Israel Is Not The Wife (Or Bride) Of God Jer. 3:8 / Hos. 2:2
3. The Christians Are The Wife (Or Bride) Of God – 2 Cor. 1l:2 / Eph.5:31, 32
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM
1. The Israelites Are The Children Of Abraham – 2 Chr. 20:7 / Psa. 105:6 / Isa. 41:8
2. Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Children Of Abraham – John 8:39 / Rom,. 9:6, 7 / Gal. 4:25, 30
3. The Christians Are The Children Of Abraham – Rom. 4:11, 16 / Gal. 3:7, 29 / Gal. 4:23, 28, 31
Old Testament verses referring to Israel which are quoted in the New Testament referring to Christians (and this is very small sample):
QUOTE # 1: Lev. 26:11 / Eze. 37:27 / 2 Cor. 6:16
QUOTE # 2: Deu. 30:12-14 / Rom. 10:6-8
QUOTE # 3: Deu. 31:6 / Heb. 13:5
QUOTE # 4: Deu. 32:36 / Psa. 135:14 / Heb. 10:30
QUOTE # 5: Psa. 22:22 / Heb. 2:12
QUOTE # 6: Psa. 44:22 / Rom. 8:36
QUOTE # 7: Psa. 95:7-11 / Heb. 3:7-11
QUOTE # 8: Psa. 130:8 / Tit. 2:14
QUOTE # 9: Isa. 28:16 / Rom. 10:11 / Eph. 2:20 / 1 Pe. 2:6
QUOTE # 10: Isa. 49:8 / 2 Cor. 6:2
QUOTE # 11: Isa. 52:7 / Rom. 10:15
QUOTE # 12: Isa. 54:1 / Gal. 4:27
QUOTE # 13: Jer. 31:31-34 / Heb. 8:8-12
QUOTE # 14: Hos. 1:10; 2:23 / Rom. 9:25-26 / 1 Pe. 2:10
QUOTE # 15: Hos. 13:14 / 1 Cor. 15:55
QUOTE # 16: Joel 2:32 / Rom. 10:13
“What the Old Testament typified in Israel (i.e., God’s son and firstborn), finds its fulfillment in Jesus, God’s faithful Son and firstborn, and His body, the church. Due to Christ’s faithfulness, He obtains an eternal inheritance for all those He came to save, unlike Adam and Israel who were unfaithful. The New Testament interprets Christ’s coming as the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes (e.g., Luke 1:26-38, 46-55, 67-79; 2:25-38; Acts 26:19-23). The New Testament also understands the church as the fulfillment of the eschatological Israel of Old Testament prophecy (e.g., Acts 2:14-21; 15:13-21; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:11-22; Heb. 8:7-13). The Lord’s servant, Jesus Christ, unlike Old Covenant Israel, was faithful and became a “light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23), just as “the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place” (Acts 26:22).
Old Testament Israel was a means to an end. The end is not Palestine. The end is not an earthly, Jerusalem temple at which animal sacrifices are offered. Ancient Israel was chosen by God to be a means through which the last Adam would come. She was also a means through which His Person, His work, His people, and His kingdom were typified. Israel has connections with the first man, Adam, and the last Adam, Jesus Christ.
The Bible is God’s book. It possesses a unity, a progress of thought, and a goal that only God could ensure. It is not a book containing fallible records of two of the world’s most prominent religions. It is the infallible Word of God. It is God’s record of how He will get glory for Himself through what He does through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“…Jesus Christ suffered for our sins then was rewarded for His obedience by being raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven. He will come again. He will transform the bodies of believers into bodies like His and will usher in a new heaven and new earth. In that place, He will be the center of attention. That eternal place is better than the garden of Eden and Israel’s land.” —Richard Barcellos, Better Than the Beginning: Creation In Biblical Perspective (Palmdale: Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2013), p. 153-155