To all my Christian friends – I think its important for us to understand the Biblical distinctions between
A simple rundown could be as follows:
Israel is a nation or group of people that God called out (long after Adam and Eve etc..) in order to manifest Himself to the rest of the world.
Gentile is simply a term for “everyone else”. Before Christ came they would often convert to Judaism when they wanted to follow what they believed was the one true God.
The Church is simply the group of all people , Jews and Gentiles, who have believed and received Jesus Christ – trusting in Him alone for their redemption and regeneration. The Biblical Church is blind to nationality or race.
The last but very important point is this:
God still has a plan and a promise for Israel – we see this from both the Old Testament ( i.e. Genesis) and the New ( especially Romans 10 and 11 and Revelation).
Let me claridy - this is not meant to be a commentary on the current situation in the Middle East but rather a Biblical look at the distinctions between these 3 groups.
We need to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” (Psa 122:6)
Notes:
Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us….”
The word congregation here is the same Greek word for church – “ekklesia”. However the word simply means “called out ones” or “An Assembly or congregation of people”. There is no specific reference here to the Church as defined in the above article and in many other places of Scripture.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:15 was quoted in the article and here is included the verse that follows. Paul uses the term “The Israel of God”.
Based on the context of the New Testament we can only conclude that he was referring first to the Church (as many as walk according to this rule) and then to the literal nation of Israel.
Israel, the Gentiles and the Church
A simple rundown could be as follows:
Israel is a nation or group of people that God called out (long after Adam and Eve etc..) in order to manifest Himself to the rest of the world.
Gentile is simply a term for “everyone else”. Before Christ came they would often convert to Judaism when they wanted to follow what they believed was the one true God.
Christ was sent in
human form ( as a Jew by the way) in order to manifest God to the world
– this time as a perfect individual who was both God and man ( rather
than a nation of humans).
Gal
6:15 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (Circumcision was the sign of the Jewish
covenant with God).
The Church is simply the group of all people , Jews and Gentiles, who have believed and received Jesus Christ – trusting in Him alone for their redemption and regeneration. The Biblical Church is blind to nationality or race.
The last but very important point is this:
Even though the Church has now been established, Israel and the Jewish people have not been “replaced” by it.
God still has a plan and a promise for Israel – we see this from both the Old Testament ( i.e. Genesis) and the New ( especially Romans 10 and 11 and Revelation).
Rom
11:25” For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of
this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that
blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He
will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Rom 11:27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
Rom
11:28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but
concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Let me claridy - this is not meant to be a commentary on the current situation in the Middle East but rather a Biblical look at the distinctions between these 3 groups.
We need to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” (Psa 122:6)
Notes:
Act 7:38 "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us….”
The word congregation here is the same Greek word for church – “ekklesia”. However the word simply means “called out ones” or “An Assembly or congregation of people”. There is no specific reference here to the Church as defined in the above article and in many other places of Scripture.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:15 was quoted in the article and here is included the verse that follows. Paul uses the term “The Israel of God”.
Based on the context of the New Testament we can only conclude that he was referring first to the Church (as many as walk according to this rule) and then to the literal nation of Israel.
