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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Israel Is the Church, #7
But now in Christ ye [Gentiles] who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our [Jew and Gentile] peace, who hath made both [Jew and Gentile] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us [Jew and Gentile]; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity [between Jew and Gentile], even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity [between Jew and Gentile] thereby: And came and preached peace to you [Gentiles] which were afar off, and to them [Jews] that were nigh. For through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye [Gentiles] are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the [Jewish] saints, and of the [Jewish] household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the [Jewish] apostles and [Jewish] prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building [the Body of Christ, the eternal tabernacle of God, the holy city, the new Jerusalem] fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye [Gentiles] also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:11-22)
Notice the words of Paul concerning the oneness of all believers in Christ:
The above passage is so plain we cannot understand how anyone could maintain a distinction between Israel and the Church. There only is the one new Man!
Perhaps the following thoughts will help.
There exists a physical land and people of Israel, a country that today is numbered among the nations of the earth. We have visited Israel many times and enjoy the land that God has called His own.
When Bible teachers use the term Israel, there is confusion in our minds concerning the distinction between physical Israel and spiritual Israel.
Spiritual Israel, in its finest, truest sense, is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is Israel. Spiritual Israel is the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jesus is Israel.
We understand, then, that a Jew can either be of both physical Israel and spiritual Israel, or else just of physical Israel. Some of the promises of the Prophets were addressed only to the physical land and people of Israel. Other promises are spoken to spiritual Israel and apply to Jews and Gentiles who are of God's elect.
There is no distinction between spiritual Israel and the Christian Church. Continuing in the Book of Ephesians:
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
One may ask, "How can we say that the Jews prior to the first century could be part of Christ?" The answer is, Christ is Yahweh of the Jews. Christ is the "I Am" who appeared to Moses. Christ is the Rock who followed the Jews through the wilderness.
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:4)
To be continued.