The Israel of God

Who Is The True Israel?

IsraelI. INTRODUCTION
The entire premise of this article, and the passages contained herein, is that Christ is the True Israel of God. Everything found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament concerning Israel must be viewed through the blessed lens of the Lord Jesus Christ if it is to be rightly understood. Any view or concept of Israel outside of a Christ-centered view can only lead to fables, traditions, or more accurately, error. That error can rise to heresy if one starts getting into such false notions as some return to a physical temple, physical sacrifices, physical day and ordinance keeping, etc., all at some supposed, future, premillennial point. As the book of Hebrews, and other books of the Bible, make so abundantly clear, Christ and His finished work on the cross, far exceeds the Old Testament ceremonial (and related) types that pointed to Him and His salvific work. As our great, spiritual Antitype, the Lord Jesus has revealed that all of these Mosaic ordinances and observances were a shadow of who He is and what He came to do. The notion that one should look forward to the return of the shadows, at the risk of overshadowing that which the shadows typified, is absurd. The restoration of Israel is the restoration of the entire Body of Christ — both Jew and Gentile, as the Gospel is preached and the elect Congregation (Church) of God is built up in time. The gathering in of the scattered House of Israel and the scattered House of Judah is spiritual language pointing to the gathering in, the seeking and finding of, all of God’s scattered sheep — both those in the original (Jewish) fold and those in the other fold, the Gentile fold, which (when brought together in Christ) make up the one true Flock of God led by the One True Shepherd, even that Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Paul declares in Acts 28:20 “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see [you], and to speak with [you]: because that FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain;” we need to understand that this one Hope of Israel is the same hope for everyone man — it is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. The only Hope of Israel is Christ Jesus the Lord, in the same sense and in the same manner (presently, even now) as it is for everyone else — because the only True Israel is Christ; all of the Israel of God pertains to Him, His bride in and with Him, and to the Godhead that indwells both Him and them. To look for another Hope of Israel, a future Hope for Israel, is to look for another Christ, another Gospel, and “another” is simply a synonym for “false” for another hope is a false hope, another christ is a false christ, another gospel is a false gospel. Dispensationalism comes dangerously close to another Gospel and, in some instances, may already cross the line into it. Why? because, once again, the only hope for national Israel, for ethnic Jews/Israelites/Hebrews, must be viewed as the same (and only) Hope for the Gentiles as well — even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. If, right here and right now, He is not their only Hope, then they have no hope at all because, as this article aims to show, all of the promises, for all of (elect) mankind are in Christ Jesus through His Gospel, and in this New Testament age. A future age to come, one where there is a carnal earthly land in Palestine with a carnal temple, with carnal sacrifices, with carnal rituals and ordinances, is nothing but a carnal (and thus false) hope; it is a mere fable and has no ground or substance in the Bible — chiefly because it runs country to the glory of God in Christ Jesus and in His finished (High Priestly) work. All of the promises in Christ Jesus are spiritual, they are ours already (for both Jew and Gentile alike if we be in Christ), and these promises will have their ultimate fulfilment not in some fictional premillennial kingdom but at the Second Coming of Christ wherein He will come with all of His saints to judge the world, to destroy the old, to create the new, and to usher in an eternity of perfect, blissful, blessed ONENESS between the Godhead and Mankind; between the Triune Godhead, the Bride, and the Bridegroom, all in the person of our True Spiritual Israel, which is Christ Jesus the Lord. Nonetheless, it is one thing to assert the above and another thing to prove it; so the aim henceforth is to prove with as little commentary of mine as possible and with as much scriptural testimony as is feasible, that Christ is Israel, that the Head and Body is Israel, and that all of the promises are spiritually to Him, in Him, and to all those who are in Him, including those promises supposedly reserved for National Israel at some future point in (some supposed premillennial) time.
II. THE ENTIRE BIBLE TESTIFIES OF CHRIST
When we read about Israel in the Old Testament, we must remember that it ultimately pictures/typifies/symbolizes Christ Himself. Why? Because the whole of Scripture testifies of Him! for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).
  • John 1:45 “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, JESUS OF NAZARETH, the son of Joseph.”
  • John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.”
  • Psalm 40:7 “Then said I, Lo, I come: IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK [it is] written of Me…”
  • Hebrews 10:7 “Then said I, Lo, I come (IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK it is written of Me,) to do thy will, O God.”
  • Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
  • Luke 24:44 “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.”
  • Acts 26:22-23 “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That CHRIST should suffer, and that He should be the First that should rise from the dead, and should shew Light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
III. THE TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD IS NONE OTHER THAN CHRIST
Christ is the True Israel of God; when we think of Israel in the Old Testament we must think typologically, first and foremost, in terms of Christ Himself. If we fail to realise that Israel, in the highest sense of the term, is Christ, we miss the boat entirely and our theology on the matter will be very much confused and convoluted. Dispensationalism, rooted in the traditions of men, even Jewish fables (what they expected things to be like, physically/carnally/politically, when the Messiah came), is a prime example of missing the boat. This error misses the reality of Christ in all of the Scripture and in all of the Scriptural promises. If your first concept of Israel is National Israel (i.e. an earthly nation consisting primarily of ethnic Jews or those who identify as such) then your concept is in error and you are bound to go doctrinally astray. The promises made to Israel were first and foremost to Christ Himself, by God Himself, and then to all of the believing Israelites in Him — and in the New Testament era, to all the Jews and Gentiles in Him, without distinction. There are no remaining promises to be had for an earthly Jewish nation that are not already had, in Christ, by the elect congregation of God — again, both Jew and Gentile (for in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile – the two have become One Body, One Flesh, in Christ). I hope the following sections will make this Truth all the more clear, addressing many of the concerns and objections that are likely to arise; however, for now, consider the Oneness of the True Christ and the True Israel:
  • Matthew 2:14-15 “When [Joseph] arose, he took the young child [the Lord Jesus Christ] and His mother by night, and DEPARTED INTO EGYPT: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was SPOKEN OF THE LORD by the prophet, saying, OUT OF EGYPT have I CALLED MY SON.”
    • Numbers 24:8 “God brought [ISRAEL] forth OUT OF EGYPT; HE hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: HE shall eat up the nations HIS enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with HIS arrows.”
    • Hosea 11:1 “When ISRAEL [was] a child, then I loved him, and CALLED MY SON OUT OF EGYPT.”
    • Exodus 4:22-23 “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, ISRAEL [is] MY SON, [even] MY FIRSTBORN: And I say unto thee, Let MY SON go, that HE may serve ME: and if thou refuse to let HIM go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.”
    • Hebrews 12:22-23a “But ye are come unto MOUNT SION, and unto THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general ASSEMBLY and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN…”
    • Colossians 1:15,18 [speaking of Christ] “Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature…18 And HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH: who is the beginning, THE FIRSTBORN from the dead; that in all [things] He might have the preeminence.”
  • Isaiah 49:1-3,6 “Listen, O isles, unto Me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called Me from the womb; from the bowels of My mother hath He made mention of My Name. 2 And He hath MADE MY MOUTH LIKE A SHARP SWORD; in the shadow of His Hand hath He hid Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid Me; 3 And said unto Me, THOU [ART] MY SERVANT, O ISRAEL, IN WHOM I WILL BE GLORIFIED… 6 And He said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be MY SERVANT to raise up THE TRIBES OF JACOB, and to restore THE PRESERVED OF ISRAEL: I will also give Thee for A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, that Thou mayest be MY SALVATION unto THE END OF THE EARTH.”
    • Revelation 1:13,16 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [One] like unto the SON OF MAN, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle…16 And He had in His right hand seven stars: and OUT OF HIS MOUTH WENT A SHARP TWOEDGED SWORD: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
    • Isaiah 44:1-3 “Yet now hear, O JACOB MY SERVANT; and ISRAEL, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: 2 Thus saith the LORD that made Thee, and formed Thee from the womb, [which] will help Thee; Fear not, O JACOB, MY SERVANT; AND THOU, JESURUN, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I WILL POUR MY SPIRIT UPON THY SEED, and My blessing upon Thine offspring:”
    • Matthew 12:15-18 “But when JESUS knew [it], He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; 16 And charged them that they should not make Him known: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, and He shall SHEW JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES.”
    • Luke 23:33-35 “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [Him], saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be CHRIST, THE CHOSEN OF GOD.”
    • Matthew 3:16-17 “And JESUS, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: 17 And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”
    • Psalm 2:7,12 “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, THOU [ART] MY SON; this day have I BEGOTTEN THEE… 12 KISS THE SON, lest He be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”
      • Hebrews 1:1-9 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [HIS] SON, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; 3 WHO BEING THE BRIGHTNESS OF [HIS] GLORY, AND THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the FIRSTBEGOTTEN into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. 8 But UNTO THE SON [He saith], THY THRONE, O GOD, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of Thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; THEREFORE GOD, [even] THY GOD, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”
    • John 1:14 “And [God] the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHHER,) full of grace and truth.”
    • Isaiah 42:1 “BEHOLD MY SERVANT, whom I uphold; MINE ELECT, [IN WHOM] MY SOUL DELIGHTETH; I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
    • Isaiah 52:13-15 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; HIS VISAGE WAS SO MARRED MORE THAN ANY MAN, and HIS FORM more than the sons of men: 15 So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for [that] which had not been told them shall they see; and [that] which they had not heard shall they consider.”
      • John 19:1-6 “Then Pilate therefore TOOK JESUS, AND SCOURGED [HIM]. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and THEY SMOTE HIM WITH THEIR HANDS. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him. 5 Then came JESUS forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, BEHOLD THE MAN! 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [Him], crucify [Him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify [Him]: for I find no fault in Him.”
      • Philippians 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS: 6 WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men.”
      • 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
  • Jeremiah 2:3 “ISRAEL [was] HOLINESS unto the LORD, [and] THE FIRSTFRUITS of His increase: all that DEVOUR HIM shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.”
    • 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 “But now is CHRIST risen from the dead, [and] become THE FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept…23 But every man in his own order: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”
    • Revelation 12:1-5 “And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven; a woman clothed with the Sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in Heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for TO DEVOUR HER CHILD as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a MAN CHILD, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her Child was caught up unto God, and [to] His throne.”
    • 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him are ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION [HOLINESS / HAGIASMOS / G38], and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
      • Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a RIGHTEOUS BRANCH, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and THIS [IS] HIS NAME whereby HE SHALL BE CALLED, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
      • Jeremiah 33:14-15 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL and to THE HOUSE OF JUDAH. In those days, and at that time, will I cause THE BRANCH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith SHE SHALL BE CALLED, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
      • Note: concerning Jeremiah 23:5 and Jeremiah 33:15, specifically the use of HE and SHE, consider how it sets up the blessed Truth expounded upon further (immediately below), how that Christ is both Head and Body… Christ is One, the Lord Jesus eternally with His elect.
IV. IN THE MESSIANIC ROLE AND OFFICE OF CHRIST, WE SEE THE DIVINE, ETERNAL, MEDIATORIAL AGGREGATE OF THE TRIUNE GODHEAD, YOKED WITH THE LORD JESUS, YOKED WITH HIS ELECT BODY
Christ is not only God the Word made flesh; Christ (as the God-Man Mediator) is the aggregate of perfect Divinity and perfect Humanity for all whom He came to save. Thus, CHRIST is (1) God the Word incarnate, the Head of His One (Elect) Body; along with being (2) The Body, the Bride, being forever eternally yoked to her Head and Husband, with Her dwelling in Him and Him in Her (So that Christ is literally BOTH the Head and the Body); and (3) Christ is the Firstborn, the Only-Begotten Son of God, who is the express image of His Person, and who is the Fulness of the Godhead bodily. Thus, Spiritual Israel, even the Lord Jesus Christ, should be thought of as that rich, holy, spiritual dwelling place (metaphorically-speaking), wherein the fulness of God eternally dwells with the fulness of Man (even the Man Christ Jesus, along with His Bride who is ever with Him, and in Him, and Him in, and with, her). In the Old Testament, National Israel represented the people of God, the congregation of God, wherein you had a mixture of true believers (the elect) and false professors (the reprobate). In it you had the prophets, the priests, and the kings who typified the spiritual Prophet, Priest, and King that dwelt with them. In it, the Lord God dwelt in the Holy of Holies and the Spirit of God moved amongst men. Where ever the nation was sent, wherever they dwelt, whatever they experienced, their Head was right their with them. So in this nation, you had the Body of believers (some true, some false); you had the Head of that Body, and you also had the presence of the Triune Godhead. So as a figure, and yet in a very real sense, National Israel represented that holy place wherein Body, Head, and Godhead met in, and dwelt together, in One. Likewise, in reality, the Person of Christ, who is our Spiritual Israel, is the place wherein the Body dwells with, and is indwelt by, the Lord Jesus. For clarity, the Heavenly Father is never called Christ nor is the Holy Spirit; but only the Lord Jesus and, in one passage particularly, His elect bride in and with Him. Likewise, God the Father is never called Israel, nor is God the Holy Spirit, but only Christ is so called, and His people as well. It is only in Christ that the Body dwells with the Godhead and the Godhead indwells the Body. It is in Christ, in the sense of the role and office, that God the Word made Flesh, the Lord Jesus, is eternally, vitally united with His bride whilst at the very same time eternally, vitally yoked with the Triune Godhead (being, again, the fulness of the Godhead bodily). So we have a perfect union, in Christ, of the Triune Godhead, with the People of God, which is a mind-blowingly blessed reality to consider. The Godhead resides in our Spiritual Israel, our Spiritual Israel resides in the Godhead, and the people of God, the Body of Christ, resides in Spiritual Israel with the Godhead… this is utterly, and entirely, beyond amazing! Christ is blessed, holy, ONENESS to the utmost!
I cannot help but think of Heaven in a similar fashion given that Heaven is the place wherein the Body of Christ, forever dwells with Christ, and Christ and His Body forever dwells with the Triune Godhead (God the Word dwelling with the Father, the Holy Ghost, and with His eternal congregation, the Bride). Simply put, though Heaven is undoubtedly a real and blessed place, Heaven is first and foremost being in perfect, uninhibited, unrestrained union and communion with the Fulness of the Godhead bodily in Christ Jesus! So Spiritual Israel, Mount Zion on High, The New Jerusalem, and Heaven all represent the highest state of eternal vital union with God Almighty in Christ Jesus, the Lord. It does not get any better than this — all else in known and unknown creation, combined, could not parallels this. How does anything even begin to approach, let alone parallel or rival, perfect, blessed union with God Himself? Yet some, taking their eyes off of this reality (or else, never seeing it in the first place) speak much of, or look heavily forward to, some earthly restoration of a political and religious nation called Israel. In this place they see some great beauty or hope; in this earthly kingdom (albeit restored to some degree) they find their joy and pleasure. Not me; not when I consider the following passages that all testify to the glory and wonder that is inherent in a blessed and perfect God who is willing to yoke Himself with His beloved people forever more, and to walk with them, as One Body and One Flesh. Consider the following passages and how they all build one upon another:
  • John 1:1-3, 14-18 “In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, and THE WORD WAS GOD. 2 THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made… 14 And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld HIS GLORY, the glory as of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. 16 And OF HIS FULNESS have all we received, and grace for grace.17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by JESUS CHRIST. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared [Him].”
    • 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
    • Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us A SON IS GIVEN: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
    • Matthew 1:20-22 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for THAT WHICH IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS OF THE HOLY GHOST. 21 And SHE SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth A SON, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.”
    • Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the SON [He saith], Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of Thy kingdom.”
    • John 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto Him, MY LORD and MY GOD.”
    • Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR Jesus Christ. 14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
    • Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS: 6 WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: 7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27 “For as THE BODY is one, and hath MANY MEMBERS, and all the members of that one body, BEING MANY, are ONE BODY: SO ALSO [IS] CHRIST… 27 Now ye are THE BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular.”
    • Galatians 3:16 “Now TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED were the promises made. He saith NOT, AND TO SEEDS, AS OF MANY; BUT AS OF ONE, and TO THY SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST…”
      • Compare with Galatians 3:29, which states “And IF YE BE CHRIST’S, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM’S SEED, and HEIRS according to the promise” — clearly the Seed is singular, even One, in Galatians 3:16 and yet it incorporates many in v39; why? Because although the Seed is but One, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, we must remember that Christ, is the Head (already eternally) yoked to the Body who, together, make up that One blessed Christ!
    • Ephesians 5:25-32 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her [αὐτῆς / singular, feminine]; 26 That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present her [αὐτῆς / singular, feminine] to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH, AND OF HIS BONES. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. 32 This is a great mystery: but I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.”
    • Ephesians 4:4, 15-16 “[There is] ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE [CHRIST IN YOU] of your calling… 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, WHICH IS THE HEAD, [even] CHRIST: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
  • Colossians 2:8-13 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after CHRIST. 9 FOR IN HIM DEWLLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. 10 And ye are complete IN HIM, WHICH IS THE HEAD of all principality and power: 11 In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST, 12 Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses…”
    • Ephesians 1:22 “And [The Father] hath put all things under [CHRIST’S] feet, and gave Him [to be] THE HEAD OVER all [things] to THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL.”
    • Colossians 1:18-19 “And [CHRIST] IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH: who is the beginning, THE FIRSTBORN from the dead; that in all [things] He might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased [The Father] that IN HIM SHOULD ALL FULNESS DWELL.”
    • Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; 17 That CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, which passeth knowledge, THAT YE MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD. 20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
  • John 17:20-23 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; 21 That they all may be ONE; as Thou, Father, [art] in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be ONE IN US: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be ONE EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: 23 I IN THEM, and THOU IN ME, that they may be made perfect IN ONE; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”
    • 1 John 3:23-24 “And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 And He that keepeth His commandments DWELLETH IN HIM, and HE IN HIM. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by THE SPIRIT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN US.
    • 2 John 1:9 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, hath not God. He that abideth in the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, he HATH BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON.”
    • John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE WILL COME UNTO HIM, and MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM.”
V. IN SPIRITUAL ISRAEL, THAT IS, IN CHRIST, THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GENTILE; THERE IS ONLY ONE BODY, YOKED TO ONE HEAD, TOGETHER BEING ONE CHRIST, INDWELT BY ONE GODHEAD
The True Jews, the True Israel of God, the true Chosen People, and the True People of the Promise, are all who are in the True Israel, Christ Jesus our Lord. If you are found IN THIS ISRAEL you are a true Israelite indeed, you are a true Jew indeed, without regard to your earthly, physical, ethnic or national make-up. We are not to heed Jewish fables, human conjecture, the traditions of men, nor any other form of the twisting or denying of Scripture. Instead, we are to know and believe that, spiritually speaking, when it comes to God and His promises IN CHRIST, there is neither Jew nor Gentile anymore, just Christians, just Spiritual Israelites indwelling and indwelt by the True Christ, the Firstborn of God, the only begotten Son of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ — all without regard to race, ethnicity, language, or nationality. We are One people, one Body, found in the One Beloved Of God.
  • Galatians 3:26-29 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. 29 And if ye [be] CHRIST’S, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM’S SEED, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE.”
    • Galatians 3:13 “CHRIST hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree. 14 That THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME ON THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; that we might receive THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT through faith. 15 brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man’s covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED WERE THE PROMISES MADE. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; BUT AS OF ONE, and to THY SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST.”
    • Genesis 22:15 “And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of Heaven the second time, 16 And said, BY MYSELF HAVE I SWORN, SAITH THE LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]: 17 THAT IN BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE, and in multiplying I WILL MULTIPLY THY SEED as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 AND IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED; because thou hast obeyed My voice.”
    • Ephesians 3:5 “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOWHEIRS, and OF THE SAME BODY; and PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST by the Gospel.”
  • Hebrews 11:8-16 “BY FAITH ABRAHAM, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 BY FAITH HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS [IN] A STRANGE COUNTRY, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE: 10 FOR HE LOOKED FOR A CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER [IS] GOD, 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that THEY SEEK A COUNTRY. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now THEY DESIRE A BETTER [COUNTRY], THAT IS, AN HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY.”
    • Hebrews 13:14 “For HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY, but WE SEEK ONE TO COME.”
    • Revelation 21:1-3 “And I saw A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, prepared AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. 3 And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD [is] WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, and they shall be His people, and GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, [and be] THEIR GOD.”
      • Genesis 17:7-8 “And I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THEE AND THY SEED AFTER THEE in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and TO THY SEED after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and TO THY SEED AFTER THEE, THE LAND WHEREIN THOU ART A STRANGER, ALL THE LAND OF CANAAN, FOR AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION, I WILL BE THEIR GOD.”
      • Genesis 12:4-7 “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite [was] then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, UNTO THY SEED WILL I GIVE THIS LAND: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
      • Isaiah 66:22 “For as THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, SO SHALL YOUR SEED AND YOUR NAME REMAIN.”
      • 2 Peter 3:12-13 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, look for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
    • Revelation 3:12-13 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of THE CITY OF MY GOD, [which is] NEW JERUSALEM, WHICH COMETH DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM MY GOD: and [I will write upon him] My new Name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
    • Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in MOUNT ZION AND IN JERUSALEM shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”
    • Hebrews 12:22-29 “But ye are come unto MOUNT SION, and unto THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from Him that [speaketh] from heaven: 26 Whose Voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 WHEREFORE WE RECEIVING A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God [is] a consuming fire.””
    • Isaiah 52:1-2 “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O ZION; put on thy beautiful garments, O JERUSALEM, THE HOLY CITY: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O JERUSALEM: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of ZION.
  • Ephesians 2:11-22 “Wherefore remember, that YE [BEING] IN TIMES PAST GENTILES IN THE FLESH, WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION BY THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH MADE BY HANDS; 12 THAT AT THAT TIME YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD: 13 BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO SOMETIMES WERE FAR OFF ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 14 FOR HE IS OUR PEACE, WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE, AND HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION [BETWEEN US]; 15 Having abolished IN HIS FLESH the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; FOR TO MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, [SO] MAKING PEACE; 16 AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER. 19 NOW THEREFORE YE ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOWCITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS, AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF being the chief corner [stone]; 21 IN WHOM all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 IN WHOM ye also are builded TOGETHER for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
    • Galatians 6:12-16 “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 FOR IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION AVAILETH ANY THING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BUT A NEW CREATURE. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon THE ISRAEL OF GOD.”
    • Romans 10:11-12 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.”
    • 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For AS THE BODY IS ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: SO ALSO [IS] CHRIST. 13 For by ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into ONE BODY, WHETHER [WE BE] JEWS OR GENTILES, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into ONE SPIRIT. 14 For THE BODY is not one member, but MANY.”
    • Galatians 3:7-9 “Know ye therefore that THEY WHICH ARE OF FAITH, THE SAME ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that GOD WOULD JUSTIFY THE HEATHEN THROUGH FAITH, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, IN THEE SHALL ALL NATIONS BE BLESSED. 9 SO THEN THEY WHICH BE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH FAITHFUL ABRAHAM.”
    • Romans 4:9-16 “[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had] yet being uncircumcised: THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FATHER OF ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY BE NOT CIRCUMCISED; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of OUR FATHER Abraham, which [he had] being yet uncircumcised. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; TO THE END THE PROMISE MIGHT BE SURE TO ALL THE SEED; not to that only which is of the law, BUT TO THAT ALSO WHICH IS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM; WHO IS THE FATHER OF US ALL…”
    • Romans 9:6-8 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For THEY [ARE] NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE OF ISRAEL: 7 NEITHER, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, ARE THEY ALL CHILDREN: BUT, IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED. 8 THAT IS, THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED.”
    • Romans 9:21-33 “Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 [What] if God, willing to shew [His] wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 EVEN US, WHOM HE HATH CALLED, NOT OF THE JEWS ONLY, BUT ALSO OF THE GENTILES? 25 AS HE SAITH ALSO IN OSEE, I WILL CALL THEM MY PEOPLE, WHICH WERE NOT MY PEOPLE; AND HER BELOVED, WHICH WAS NOT BELOVED. 26 AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, [THAT] IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM, YE [ARE] NOT MY PEOPLE; THERE SHALL THEY BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD. 27 ESAIAS ALSO CRIETH CONCERNING ISRAEL, THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, A REMNANT SHALL BE SAVED: 28 For He will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 AND AS ESAIAS SAID BEFORE, EXCEPT THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT US A SEED, WE HAD BEEN AS SODOMA, AND BEEN MADE LIKE UNTO GOMORRHA. 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that Stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and Rock of Offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
    • Romans 2:25-29 “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 FOR HE IS NOT A JEW, WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY; NEITHER [IS THAT] CIRCUMCISION, WHICH IS OUTWARD IN THE FLESH: 29 BUT HE [IS] A JEW, WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY; AND CIRCUMCISION [IS THAT] OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, [AND] NOT IN THE LETTER; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
    • Romans 3:28-31 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 [IS HE] THE GOD OF THE JEWS ONLY? [IS HE] NOT ALSO OF THE GENTILES? YES, OF THE GENTILES ALSO: 30 SEEING [IT IS] ONE GOD, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
    • Revelation 2:9 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them WHICH SAY THEY ARE JEWS, AND ARE NOT, BUT ARE OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.”
    • Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, WHICH SAY THEY ARE JEWS, AND ARE NOT, BUT DO LIE; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
    • Philippians 3:1-3 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 FOR WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, WHICH WORSHIP GOD IN THE SPIRIT, AND REJOICE IN CHRIST JESUS, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
      • Colossians 2:6,11-17 “As ye have therefore received CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, [so] walk ye in Him… 11 IN WHOM ALSO YE ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, WHEREIN ALSO YE ARE RISEN WITH [HIM] THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, WHO HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but THE BODY [IS] OF CHRIST.”

VI. ALL OF THE LAND PROMISES GIVEN TO NATIONAL ISRAEL HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED.

Yet, despite the overwhelming biblical testimony, many will insist on referring to some notion of a promise remaining for the natural seed of Abraham, especially as it relates to physical/geographical land in the region of the world called Palestine, without regard to whether they are in, or outside of, Christ. They simply will not believe that those physical Jews, or Israelites, or “Israelis,” or Hebrews who are outside of Christ are spiritually the equivalent of Ishmaelites and Edomites and are, thus, not the children of the Promise. In fact, as (a) Children of the Promise; (b) Fellowheirs with the saints; (c) Members of the Commonwealth of Israel; (d) Fellowcitizens of the Household of God; (e) The (true, spiritual) circumcision, etc., it is the Christian (Jew and Gentile alike) who would have far more claim to the disputed land over there than the unbelieving seed (after the flesh) of Abraham currently inhabiting that nation currently called Israel. Yet, even this is folly because it is not about the earthly land — it is about what that land represented, typified, a New Heaven and a New Earth, spiritual Mount Zion/New Jerusalem/The Israel of God. Which is why those saints living in the earthly borders of Israel and Judah, nonetheless, viewed themselves as but strangers and pilgrims there. They looked for a better Hope, a better Land, a spiritual country and nation, which is what we have IN CHRIST JESUS and which is what we will indwell forever if we be found IN HIM!

Thus, those who hold to some earthly land right, or some other ethnic-based special privileges, for those who are part of some separate “chosen people” other than the totality of the elect church (Jew and Gentile alike), fail to see that one simply does not become a True Jew, a True Israelite, an inheritor of the Promises, until one is found in Christ Jesus (objectively, before the world was, but subjectively/experimentally, when the Spirit of God quickens and converts a lost sinner — giving them spiritual Life, ears to hear, and faith to believe the Truth of the Gospel). Such people also fail to realise that the Bible is abundantly clear that the Abrahamic land promises to National Israel were fulfilled in Joshua’s day. It is true that some of the land gains were lost for a season but they were taken back (restored) in the days of David and Solomon per 2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Chronicles. 18:3; 1 Kings 4:21-25; and 2 Chronicles 9:26-29 — all evidencing that Genesis 15:18 had been fulfilled:

Genesis 15:18-21 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, UNTO THY SEED HAVE I GIVEN THIS LAND, FROM THE RIVER OF EGYPT UNTO THE GREAT RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Exodus 23:27-31 “I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. 28 And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. 29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. 31 AND I WILL SET THY BOUNDS FROM THE RED SEA EVEN UNTO THE SEA OF THE PHILISTINES, AND FROM THE DESERT UNTO THE RIVER: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.”

Deuteronomy 11:24 “Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: FROM THE WILDERNESS AND LEBANON, FROM THE RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES, EVEN UNTO THE UTTERMOST SEA shall your coast be.”

Joshua 21:43-45 “AND THE LORD GAVE UNTO ISRAEL ALL THE LAND WHICH HE SWARE TO GIVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS; AND THEY POSSESSED IT, AND DWELT THEREIN. 44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 THERE FAILED NOT OUGHT OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; ALL CAME TO PASS.”

Joshua 23:14-16 “And, behold, this day [I am] going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, THAT NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED OF ALL THE GOOD THINGS WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD SPAKE CONCERNING YOU; ALL ARE COME TO PASS UNTO YOU, [AND] NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED THEREOF. 15 THEREFORE IT SHALL COME TO PASS, [THAT] AS ALL GOOD THINGS ARE COME UPON YOU, WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD PROMISED YOU; SO SHALL THE LORD BRING UPON YOU ALL EVIL THINGS, UNTIL HE HAVE DESTROYED YOU FROM OFF THIS GOOD LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH GIVEN YOU. 16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, , AND YE SHALL PERISH QUICKLY FROM OFF THE GOOD LAND WHICH HE HATH GIVEN UNTO YOU.”

Deuteronomy 19:4-10 “And this [is] the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; 5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: 6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he [was] not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. 7 WHEREFORE I COMMAND THEE, SAYING, THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES FOR THEE. 8 AND IF THE LORD THY GOD ENLARGE THY COAST, AS HE HATH SWORN UNTO THY FATHERS, AND GIVE THEE ALL THE LAND WHICH HE PROMISED TO GIVE UNTO THY FATHERS; 9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; THEN SHALT THOU ADD THREE CITIES MORE FOR THEE, BESIDE THESE THREE: 10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance, and [so] blood be upon thee.”

Joshua 20:2-9 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3 That the slayer that killeth [any] person unawares [and] unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. 6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, [and] until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. 7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. 8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth [any] person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.” — Note: Six cities are listed here, fulfilling Deuteronomy 19:7-9

Nehemiah 9:7-8 “Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 8 And foundest his heart faithful before Thee, AND MADEST A COVENANT WITH HIM TO GIVE THE LAND OF THE CANAANITES, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say], to his seed, AND HAST PERFORMED THY WORDS; FOR THOU [ART] RIGHTEOUS.”

Jeremiah 11:1-5 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed [be] the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, 4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: 5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, TO GIVE THEM A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, AS [IT IS] THIS DAY. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.”

So we see two things very clearly (1) God gave them all the land He promised to give them and (2) that land grant was conditional upon their obedience. So in all things, the natural promise was fulfilled beyond any shadow of doubt. Yet, we should not miss the point; though this formerly Canaanitish land, the earthly Promised Land, was fully given to the people of Israel — thus fulfilling all promises concerning that land, we must remember that this land was but a type of the Heavenly Israel, Mount Zion from on High, the New Jerusalem to come. Even in the earthly promised land, God’s people, including the Patriarchs to whom the promises were first made, saw themselves as but pilgrims and sojourners in said land. They did not put their hope, stock, or desire in land that would be burned up when this current heavens and earth is so destroyed. Instead, they saw it rightly as a type, a historic/geographic parable, and though they appreciated the land God gave to them as a type, and as an earthly home/abode, they longed for a heavenly one to come. I trust that if given a choice between some thousand year reign in the borders of a restored, earthly National Israel, compared to all of eternity in Mount Zion on High, the New Jerusalem from Above, the Heavenly Israel of God that cometh down from Heaven, the Patriarchs would have taken the latter over the former in an instant. Thankfully, they are already there, along with all of those who died in Christ, and (I trust) have no desire to return to a carnal ‘premillennial age’ that so many in our day seem to desire so heavily.

Moreover, concerning the fact that the land promises were always conditioned on obedience, when the sins of the people grew to the point wherein God ordained to take action, He did so, removing them from the land. There is no promise to give Israel after the flesh an earthly land for all time because they rebelled against God, the Kingdom was taken from them (except for a remnant that God Has sworn and purposed to save), and the spiritual kingdom was given primarily (as far as numbers go) to the elect Gentiles — so that together, elect Jew with elect Gentile (both being One in Christ) would inherit the spiritual promises of Abraham in Christ Jesus. All the language in the Old Testament that speaks of a future gathering of Israel and Judah pertain to the entire elect church and not literally those who are Israelites, Hebrews, or Jews after the flesh — it pertains to the gathering in of all of the scattered, spiritual Israel of God wherein there is no longer Jew nor Gentile — when rightly and spiritually discerned.

VII. THE OLD TESTAMENT NAMES/TITLES/AND PROMISES FOR THE FAITHFUL AMONGST NATIONAL ISRAEL APPLY TO CHRIST AND HIS BODY FOREVER, BEING FULFILLED IN THEM, WITHOUT REGARD TO ETHNIC DISTINCTION

The promises that appear to be to National Israel, for some future time, are (even now) already fulfilled IN CHRIST, and to all those who are in Him without distinction. The blessings and promises fall upon the elect bride, the elect assembly, the chosen nation of God’s One Spiritual Body — all without regard to ethnicity, nationality, or language. There are no promises to Israel after the flesh that are not already given to the true, spiritual Israel of God (Jew and Gentile), IN CHRIST, after the Spirit. There is but One Body, and that Body is Christ, with the Lord Jesus being our Husband and Head and with all of the elect (without regard to person, heritage, etc.) being forever and eternally One with Him. There is simply no grounds to argue that ethnic flesh has a reward, or a promise, yet to be fulfilled that is somehow separate from the Promise that applies to all of the Children of Promise, by faith, again — in Christ — for “…as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on His name: 13 Which were born, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). We must remember that, per Romans 9:7-8, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” seeing that “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Those who confuse the two lineages will forever get their eschatology, and in many cases, even their theology and soteriology incorrect — the latter, being a very grievous and dangerous thing.

To help solidify these points, the following chart is designed to show that the very same names, titles, and promises given to faithful National Israel (i.e. to those in National Israel who were elect and not reprobate), are the same names, titles, and promises given to all who make up the elect Congregation of God (Jew and Gentile), in Christ Jesus, in both this New Testament era and in the eternal age to come (as opposed to some supposed premillennial age).

GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE NATIONAL / NATURAL ISRAEL SPIRITUAL ISRAEL / THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST
Saints of God

Psalm 148:14 “He also exalteth the Horn of His people, THE PRAISE OF ALL HIS SAINTS; [EVEN] OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the LORD.”

Hosea 11:12 “Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but JUDAH YET RULETH WITH GOD, AND IS FAITHFUL WITH THE SAINTS.”

Deuteronomy 33:1-5 “And this [is] the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and HE CAME WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF SAINTS: from His Right Hand [went] a fiery law for them. 3 Yea, He loved the people; ALL HIS SAINTS [ARE] IN THY HAND: and they sat down at Thy feet; [every one] shall receive of Thy words. 4 Moses commanded us a law, [even] the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people [and] the tribes of Israel were gathered together.”

Psalm 30:3-5 “O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O YE SAINTS OF HIS, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. 5 For His anger [endureth but] a moment; in His favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.”

Psalm 31:22-24 “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before Thine eyes: nevertheless Thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto Thee. 23 O LOVE THE LORD, ALL YE HIS SAINTS: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

Psalm 34:7-9 “The Angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in Him. 9 O fear the LORD, YE HIS SAINTS: for [there is] no want to them that fear Him.”

Psalm 37:27-29 “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, AND FORSAKETH NOT HIS SAINTS; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.”

Zechariah 14:3-5 “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. 4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, [AND] ALL THE SAINTS WITH THEE.”

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; 10 When He shall come to be glorified IN HIS SAINTS, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day.”

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, TO THEM THAT ARE SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS, CALLED [TO BE] SAINTS, WITH ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:26-28 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because HE MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS according to [the will of] God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [His] purpose.”

1 Corinthians 6:1-3 “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, AND NOT BEFORE THE SAINTS? 2 DO YE NOT KNOW THAT THE SAINTS SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

Ephesians 2:19-21 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, BUT FELLOWCITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS, AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner [stone]; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:”

Ephesians 5:1-4 “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, AS BECOMETH SAINTS; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 “Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you: 13 To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS SAINTS.”

Revelation 19:6-9 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Chosen People

Holy People/Nation

Kingdom of Priests

Peculiar/Special People

People of God

Redeemed People

Deuteronomy 14:2 “For thou [art] an HOLY PEOPLE unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath CHOSEN thee to be a PECULIAR PEOPLE unto Himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.

Leviticus 26:11-12 “And I WILL SET MY TABERNACLE AMONG YOU: and My Soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I WILL WALK AMONG YOU, AND WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Exodus 29:43-46 “And there I will meet with THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND [THE TABERNACLE] shall be sanctified by My glory. 44 AND I WILL SANCTIFY THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. 45 AND I WILL DWELL AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND WILL BE THEIR GOD. 46 And they shall know that I [am] the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM: I [AM] THE LORD THEIR GOD.”

Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a PECULIAR treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth [is] Mine: 6 And ye shall be unto Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and an HOLY NATION. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

Psalm 130:7-8 “LET ISRAEL HOPE IN THE LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with Him [is] plenteous redemption. 8 AND HE SHALL REDEEM ISRAEL FROM ALL HIS INIQUITIES.”

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For thou [art] an HOLY PEOPLE unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath CHOSEN thee to be a SPECIAL PEOPLE unto Himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.”

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed [is] the nation whose God is the LORD; [and] THE PEOPLE [whom] HE HATH CHOSEN for His own inheritance.”

Isaiah 62:11-12 “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Salvation cometh; behold, His reward [is] with Him, and His work before Him. 12 And they shall call them, THE HOLY PEOPLE, THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 “But ye [are] a CHOSEN generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an HOLY NATION, a PECULIAR PEOPLE; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now THE PEOPLE OF GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the Living God; AS GOD HATH SAID, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN [THEM]; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying, BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD [IS] WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, [AND BE] THEIR GOD.”

Titus 2:13-14 “LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave Himself for us, that HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, and purify unto Himself A PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of good works.”

Colossians 3:9-12 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on THE NEW [MAN], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: 11 Where THEIR IS NEITHER GREEK NOR JEW, CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but CHRIST [IS] ALL, AND IN ALL, 12 Put on therefore, AS THE ELECT [CHOSEN] OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Revelation 1:5-6 “And from JESUS CHRIST, [who is] the Faithful Witness, [and] THE FIRST BEGOTTEN of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 And HATH MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO GOD AND HIS FATHER; to Him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Flock of God

Sheep of God

Scattered Children of God

Psalm 80:1-3 “…Give ear, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, THOUGH THAT LEADEST JOSPEH LIKE A FLOCK; Thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up Thy strength, and come [and] save us. 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”

Zechariah 13:7-9 “Awake, O sword, against MY SHEPHERD, and AGAINST THE MAN [that is] MY FELLOW, saith the LORD of hosts: SMITE THE SHEPHERD, and THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] My people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.”

Ezekiel 34:5-16 “And THEY WERE SCATTERD, BECAUSE [there is] NO SHEPHERD: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 MY SHEEP WANDERED through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, MY FLOCK WAS SCATTERED UPON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, and none did search or seek [after them]. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the Word of the LORD; 8 [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became meat to every beast of the field, because [there was] no shepherd, neither did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not My flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; BEHOLD, I, [even] I, WILL BOTH SEARCH MY SHEEP, AND SEEK THEM OUT. 12 AS A SHEPHERD SEEKETH OUT HIS FLOCK IN THE DAY THAT HE IS AMONG HIS SHEEP [THAT ARE] SCATTERED; SO WILL I SEEK OUT MY SHEEP, AND WILL DELIVER THEM OUT OF ALL PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SCATTERED IN THE CLOUDY AND DARK DAY. 13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, AND FEED THEM UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL BY THE RIVERS, AND IN ALL OF THE INHABITED PLACES OF THE COUNTRY. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.”

Psalm 44:4,11,22 “Thou art my King, O God: COMMAND DELIVERANCES FOR JACOB… 11 Thou hast given us LIKE SHEEP APPOINTED FOR MEAT; and hast scattered us among the heathen… 22 Yea, FOR THY SAKE ARE WE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE COUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.

Isaiah 40:9-11 “O ZION, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O JERUSALEM, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say unto THE CITIES OF JUDAH, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong [Hand], and His Arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward [is] with Him, and His work before Him. 11 HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD: HE SHALL GATHER THE LAMBS WITH HIS ARM, and carry [them] in His bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.”

Jeremiah 31:10-12 “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, HE THAT SCATTERETH ISRAEL WILL GATHER HIM, AND KEEP HIM, AS A SHEPHERD [DOTH] HIS FLOCK. 11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.”

John 10:14-16 “I AM the Good Shepherd, and know My [sheep], and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. 16 And OTHER SHEEP I HAVE, WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My Voice; and THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD, [and] ONE SHEPHERD.”

John 11:47-52 “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this Man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let Him thus alone, all [men] will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, HE PROPHESIED THAT JESUS SHOULD DIE FOR THAT NATION; 52 AND NOT FOR THAT NATION ONLY, but that also HE SHOULD GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE THE CHILDREN OF GOD THAT WERE SCATTERED ABROAD.”

1 Peter 2:21-25 “For even hereunto were ye called: because CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: 23 Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed [Himself] to Him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY; BUT ARE NOW RETURNED UNTO THE SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF YOUR SOULS.”

Matthew 26:31-32 “Then saith JESUS unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED ABROAD. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee” [See also Mark 14:27-28].

Luke 19:9-10 “And Jesus said unto him, This day is Salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.”

Romans 8:31-39 “What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, FOR THY SAKE ARE WE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew 15:21-28 “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of TYRE AND SIDON. 22 And, behold, A WOMAN OF CANAAN came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [Thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But He answered and said, I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. 25 Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O WOMAN, GREAT [IS] THEY FAITH: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

[Note: though the Lord was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel, we know that spiritually, the House of Israel is the Body of Christ, which is the Temple of God, made up of elect Jews and Gentiles who have believed, and have been spiritually baptized, thus evidencing that they have been eternally yoked with the Lord Jesus who is the fulness of the Godhead bodily. If the Canaanitish women was not counted amongst the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel, the Lord would never have been in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and would never have both manifested her great faith and healed her daughter. The seeking out of the lost sheep started in national Israel but text, after text, after text proves that it neither ended there nor was it limited to there. All of the elect, out of all nations,ethnicities, and tongues, make up the spiritual House of Israel – this cannot be refuted].

Sons of God

Sons and Daughters of God

Children of God

Deuteronomy 14:1 “YE [ARE] THE CHILDREN OF THE LORD YOUR GOD: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”

Isaiah 43:1-7 “But now thus saith the LORD that created Thee, O Jacob, and He that formed Thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed Thee, I have called [Thee] by Thy name; Thou [art] mine. 2 When Thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with Thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow Thee: when Thou walkest through the fire, Thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon Thee. 3 For I [am] the LORD Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] Thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for Thee. 4 Since Thou wast precious in My sight, Thou hast been honourable, and I have loved Thee: therefore will I give men for Thee, and people for Thy life. 5 Fear not: for I [am] with Thee: I will bring Thy seed from the east, and gather Thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring MY SONS from far, and MY DAUGHTERS from the ends of the earth; 7 [Even] every one that is called by My name: for I have created Him for My glory, I have formed Him; yea, I have made Him.”

Isaiah 45:11 “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning MY SONS, and concerning the work of My hands command ye Me.”

Isaiah 63:7-9 “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. 8 For He said, SURELY THEY [ARE] MY PEOPLE, CHILDREN [THAT] WILL NOT LIE: so He was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

Hosea 1:10 “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not My people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [YE ARE] THE SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

John 8:37-44 “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to Him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God. 42 Jesus said unto them, IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YE WOULD LOVE ME: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do ye not understand My speech? [even] because ye cannot hear My word. 44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the ADOPTION OF SONS. 6 And because YE ARE SONS, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then AN HEIR OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST.”

John 1:12 “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become THE SONS OF GOD, [even] to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 11:51-52 “And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one THE CHILDREN OF GOD that were scattered abroad.”

Romans 8:15-17 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are THE CHILDREN OF GOD: 17 AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS; HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; if so be that we suffer with [Him], that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 9:7-8 “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not THE CHILDREN OF GOD: BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED.”

Romans 9:25-26 “As He saith also in Osee [Hosea 1:10], I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.26 And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called THE CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 “And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? for ye are the Temple of the Living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Galatians 3:26-29 “For ye are all THE CHILDREN OF GOD by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.””

Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became Him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing MANY SONS UNTO GLORY, to make the Captain of Their Salvation perfect through sufferings.”

1 John 3:1-2, 10 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called THE SONS OF GOD: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 2 Beloved, now are we THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. … 10 In this THE CHILDREN OF GOD are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Philippians 2:12-16 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [His] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, THE SONS OF GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Field of God

Vineyard of God

The Olive Tree

Isaiah 5:1-7 “Now will I sing to my Wellbeloved a song of my Beloved touching His vineyard. My Wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the Choicest Vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 FOR THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS [IS] THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THE MEN OF JUDAH HIS PLEASANT PLANT: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”

Psalm 80:8-11 “THOU HAST BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou preparedst [room] before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof [were like] the goodly cedars. 11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.”

Jeremiah 12:7-11 “I have forsaken Mine house, I have left Mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My Soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 Mine heritage is unto Me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against Me: therefore have I hated it. 9 Mine heritage [is] unto Me [as] a speckled bird, the birds round about [are] against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. 10 MANY PASTORS HAVE DESTROYED MY VINEYARD, they have trodden My portion under foot, they have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto Me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart.”

Jeremiah 11:14-17 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto Me for their trouble. 15 What hath My beloved to do in Mine house, [seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. 16 The LORD called thy name, A GREEN OLIVE TREE, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult He hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. 17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.”

Hosea 14:1-9 “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from Him. 5 I WILL BE AS THE DEW UNTO ISRAEL: HE SHALL GROW AS THE LILY, AND CAST FORTH HIS ROOTS AS LEBANON. 6 HIS BRANCHES SHALL SPREAD, AND HIS BEAUTY SHALL BE AS THE OLIVE TREE, and His smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under His shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard [Him], and observed Him: I [am] like a green fir tree. From Me is thy fruit found. 9 Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.”

Zechariah 4:11-14 “Then answered I, and said unto Him, What [are] these TWO OLIVE TREES upon the right [side] of the candlestick and upon the left [side] thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto Him, What [be these] TWO OLIVE BRANCHES which through the two golden pipes empty the golden [oil] out of themselves? 13 And He answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these [be]? And I said, No, my Lord. 14 Then said He, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

John 15:1-8 “I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. 2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 5 I AM THE VINE, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”

Luke 20:9-19 “Then began He to speak to the people this parable; A certain Man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season He sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent [him] away empty. 11 And again He sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated [him] shamefully, and sent [him] away empty. 12 And again He sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast [him] out. 13 Then said the Lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send My Beloved Son: it may be they will reverence [Him] when they see Him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the Heir: come, let us kill Him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 So they cast Him out of the vineyard, and killed [Him]. What therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, AND SHALL GIVE THE VINEYARD TO OTHERS. And when they heard [it], they said, God forbid. 17 And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder. 19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on Him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.”

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 “Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: YE ARE GOD’S HUSBANDRY [Geōrgion / G1091 / A CULTIVATED FIELD], [YE ARE] GOD’S BUILDING.”

Romans 11:1-28 “I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away His people WHICH HE FOREKNEW. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead? 16 For if THE FIRSTFRUIT [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if THE ROOT [be] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, BEING A WILD OLIVE TREE, WERT GRAFFED IN AMONG THEM, AND WITH THEM PARTAKEST OF THE ROOT AND FATNESS OF THE OLIVE TREE; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the Root, but the Root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest He also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [His] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of THE OLIVE TREE which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a GOOD OLIVE TREE: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into THEIR OWN OLIVE TREE? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

Revelation 11:1-5 “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the Angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the Holy City shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months. 3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 THESE ARE THE TWO OLIVE TREES, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

House of God

Kingdom of God

Temple of God

Judge 20:26 “Then ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, and all the people, went up, and came unto THE HOUSE OF GOD, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Judge 21:2 “And the people came to THE HOUSE OF GOD, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore…”

1 Chronicles 28:2-7 “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build AN HOUSE OF REST FOR THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: 3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed blood. 4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for He hath chosen Judah [to be] the Ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel: 5 And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the THE KINGDOM OF THE LORD over Israel. 6 And He said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build My house and My courts: for I have chosen him [to be] My son, and I will be his Father. 7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do My commandments and My judgments, as at this day.”

2 Chronicles 13:4-7 “And Abijah stood up upon Mount Zemaraim, which [is] in Mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; 5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL GAVE THE KINGDOM OVER ISRAEL TO DAVID FOR EVER, [even] to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord. 7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.”

Matthew 21:43-46 “Therefore say I unto you, THE KINGDOM OF GOD shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet.”

Matthew 8:11-12 “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Zechariah 6:11-15 “Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set [them] upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the Man whose Name [is] The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD: 13 EVEN HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD; and He shall bear the Glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a Priest upon His throne: and the Counsel of peace shall be between Them Both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the TEMPLE OF THE LORD. 15 And they [that are] far off shall come and build in the TEMPLE OF THE LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the Voice of the LORD your God.”

Timothy 3:14-16 “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Hebrews 10:19-22 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a New and Living Way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; 21 And [having] an High Priest over THE HOUSE OF GOD; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

1 Peter 4:14-19 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at THE HOUSE OF GOD: AND IF [IT] FIRST [BEGIN] AT US, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the Gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to Him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the THE TEMPLE OF GOD,, Him shall God destroy; for the THE TEMPLE OF GOD, is Holy, which [Temple] ye are.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Revelation 11:19 “AND THE TEMPLE OF GOD was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

Colossians 1:12-18 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in Light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON: 14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: 16 For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: 17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. 18 And He is the Head of the Body, the Church: who is The Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] He might have the preeminence.”

1 Corinthians 4:18-21 “Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For THE KINGDOM OF GOD [is] not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and [in] the spirit of meekness?”

Romans 14:17-19 “For THE KINGDOM OF GOD is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when THE KINGDOM OF GOD should come, He answered them and said, THE KINGDOM OF GOD cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, BEHOLD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.”

John 3:1-8 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Acts 14:21-23 “And when they had preached the Gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Luke 18:29-30 “And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for THE KINGDOM OF GOD’S sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

Recipients of the New Covenant

Wife/Bride of God

Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, ALTHOUGH I WAS AN HUSBAND UNTO THEM, SAITH THE LORD: 33 BUT THIS [SHALL BE] THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 3:11-18 “And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; FOR I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit [it]; neither shall [that] be done any more. 17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. 18 In those days THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.”

Isaiah 54:1-8 “SING, O BARREN, THOUGH [THAT] DIDST NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH INTO SINGING, AND CRY ALOUD, THOU [THAT] DIDST NOT TRAVAIL WITH CHILD: FOR MORE [ARE] THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN THE CHILDREN OF THE MARRIED WIFE, saith the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and THY SEED SHALL INHERIT THE GENTILES, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 FOR THY MAKER [IS] THINE HUSBAND; THE LORD OF HOSTS [IS] HIS NAME; AND THEY REDEEMER THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE BE CALLED. 6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.”

Hosea 2:19-23 “AND I WILL BETROTH THE UNTO ME FOREVER; YEA, I WILL BETROTH THEE UNTO ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and THEY SHALL HEAR JEZREEL. 23 And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to [them which were] not My people, Thou [art] My people; and they shall say, [Thou art] my God.”

Jeremiah 3:1,20 “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith the LORD… 20 SURELY [AS] A WIFE TREACHEROUSLY DEPARTETH FROM HER HUSBAND, SO HAVE YE DEALT TREACHEROUSLY WITH ME, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD.”

Ezekiel 16:8-16 “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread My skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine. 9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. 14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it [was] perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. 15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 16 And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so]…”

Isaiah 49:14-18 “But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [My] hands; thy walls [are] continually before Me. 17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. 18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], AS A BRIDE [doeth].”

Isaiah 61:10-11 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, AS A BRIDEGROOM DECKETH [HIMSELF] WITH ORNAMENTS, AND AS A BRIDE ADORNETH [HERSELF] WITH HER JEWELS. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

Isaiah 62:1-5 “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the Righteousness thereof go forth as Brightness, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp [that] burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness, and all kings thy Glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the Mouth of the LORD shall name. 3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the Hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the Hand of thy God. 4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and THY LAND SHALL BE MARRIED. 5 FOR [AS] A YOUNG MAN MARRIETH A VIRGIN, [SO] SHALL THY SONS MARRY THEE: AND [AS] THE BRIDEGROOM REJOICETH OVER THE BRIDE, [SO] SHALL THY GOD REJOICE OVER THEE.”

Hebrews 8:1-13 “Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also HE IS THE MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this [is] the covenant THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that He saith, A new [covenant], He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.”

Hebrews 12:22-24 “But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto The City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.”

Galatians 4:26-31 “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, REJOICE, [THOU] BARREN THAT BEAREST NOT; BREAK FORTH AND CRY, THOU THAT TRAVAILEST NOT: FOR THE DESOLATE HATH MANY MORE CHILDREN THAN SHE WHICH HATH AN HUSBAND. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

Hebrews 9:8-15 “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? 15 And for this cause HE IS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Matthew 26:26-29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

2 Corinthians 11:1-2 “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: FOR I HAVE ESPOUSED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Ephesians 5:25-32 “HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER [αὐτῆς / singular, feminine]; 26 That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present her [αὐτῆς / singular, feminine] to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of His Body , of His Flesh, and of His Bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH. 32 This is a great mystery: but I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.”

John 3:27-30 “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from Heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. 29 HE THAT HATH THE BRIDE IS THE BRIDEGROOM: but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s Voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I [must] decrease.”

Revelation 21:1-3, 9-11 “And I saw a new Heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. 3 And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, [and be] their God… 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I WILL SHEW THEE THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal…”

Revelation 22:16-17 “I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, [AND] THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 17 AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely.”

Romans 7:1-4 “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband. 3 So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; THAT YE SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER, [EVEN] TO HIM WHO IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

Kept, Sustained, Not Forsaken of God

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He [it is] that doth go with thee; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”

Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: FOR THE LORD THY GOD [IS] WITH THEE WITHERSOEVER THOU GOEST.”

 Hebrews 13:5-6 “[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; AND THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. THE LORD [BE] WITH YOU ALL.”

Luke 12:29-32 “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.”

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Matthew 10:24-31 “The disciple is not above [his] Master, nor the servant above his Lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of His household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 FEAR YE NOT THEREFORE, YE ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.”

VIII. CONCLUSION

Towards the latter years of the Lord’s incarnate sojourn here on Earth, “in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2). “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). The Lord often spoke in parables concerning His Kingdom,; we see that “…the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them]” (Matthew 13:10-17). In saying these words, it was clear that the Lord Jesus Christ intended to give the Kingdom to some and not to others. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the Corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:42-43). Except for a remnant, the Kingdom was taken away from national Israel and given to the Gentiles so that, through the Gentiles, the elect Jews (throughout the New Testament era, until the return of Christ) will be brought back into the fold (Romans 11:1-32).

During the time of His sojourn, the Jews were looking for a political and military Messiah; a Christ that would deliver them from Roman rule, reestablish their independent Kingdom, and from whence God would govern, through the Messiah and the Israelites with Him, over the nations of the earth. The Jews were thinking carnally, just as many Jews and Gentiles think today, with their Dispensationalist mindsets; failing to heed the words of the Lord wherein “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36), and also, “…when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). As with many today, they miss the reality that the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, the true nature of Israel, which is the true reality of Christ, is spiritual and not carnal. The Lord explained this when “there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:1-6). The principle being that the Kingdom of God was a spiritual one; to enter therein, one must be born again. We know that to be born again is to be baptized into Christ through the Holy Spirit; it is to be quickened by the Spirit and immersed into the Body of Christ wherein the Lord Jesus is the Head of His body. All who are in Christ, have the Hope of Glory (Christ in them), which is the same, one and only, Hope of Israel. The Prophets understood the nature of the Hope of Israel, the Kingdom of God, and the spiritual nature of Israel, Zion, and Jerusalem. We read in Jeremiah 14:7-9 “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do Thou [it] for Thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against Thee. 8 O THE HOPE OF ISRAEL, THE SAVIOUR thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a Stranger in the land, and as a Wayfaring Man [that] turneth aside to tarry for a night? 9 Why shouldest Thou be as a Man astonied, as a Mighty Man [that] cannot save? yet Thou, O LORD, [art] in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy name; leave us not.” Likewise, in Jeremiah 17:13 we read “O LORD, THE HOPE OF ISRAEL, all that forsake Thee shall be ashamed, [and] They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the Fountain of Living Waters.”

Likewise, the Apostles knew the Hope of Israel was none other than the LORD Jesus Christ – even right here and right now – and not at some supposed future time. If the Apostle Paul had preached some future golden age for a natural, national, Israelite Kingdom, he would not have faced the tribulation he faced at the hands of the Jews. He would not have ended up in bonds. Yet, he spoke the truth about the reality of the Kingdom of God and Heaven, about the true nature of the Israel of God, and for that he was hated and persecuted — and for that he went about “confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). What was the Apostle Paul’s testimony on these matters? We read in Acts 28:17-31 “and it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see [you], and to speak with [you]: because that FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom HE EXPOUNDED AND TESTIFIED THE KINGDOM OF GOD, PERSUADING THEM CONCERNING JESUS, both out of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 BE IT KNOWN THEREFORE UNTO YOU, THAT THE SALVATION OF GOD IS SENT UNTO THE GENTILES, AND [THAT] THEY WILL HEAR IT. 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 PREACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND TEACHING THOSE THINGS WHICH CONCERN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

As it was then, so it is now… most Jews, as with most so-called Christians (especially those who call themselves Christian Zionists), want a Christ, Kingdom, and Nation patterned after the earthly and not the spiritual — for if they wanted the spiritual, they would be not just content, but blessedly overwhelmed with, the Lord Jesus Christ. They want carnal delights and pleasures, earthly benefits, socioeconomic and political advantage, failing to realise that “…the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17) and “…the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20) even the power of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. They simply miss the all important reality that, when it comes to the true Israel of God, the true Kingdom of God and Heaven, “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50). Those who look to the old fables, the traditions of men, the carnal Judaic structure and hope, miss the point entirely and their theology and eschatology suffers as a result. They fail to see the importance of Christ Himself in all these things and the ONENESS of His people in Him as well as with the Godhead in Him. Those who long for some premillennial age, and who speak much of it, placing much hope and anticipation in it, are trading in the glory of the True Israel of God (Bridegroom, Bride, and Godhead in eternity) for some carnal land, riches, politics, and pleasure for a thousand years. This is utterly absurd and yet it rages on mightily today. Some even argue that one cannot be a true Christian, or at least a “good” Christian, unless they support that land called Israel over in the Middle East today. Some have even been so brash as to yoke their own salvation to the renewal of this physical kingdom with its physical sacrifices, physical priesthood, physical temple, and physical rituals, ordinances, and related observances. Such as these wish, or appear to wish, to go back to the shadows, the darkness, failing to heed the warnings of the books of Hebrews, Galatians, Romans, etc. which evidence the exceeding greatness of Christ and His finished work over the shadows, types, and figures that pointed to Him. Woe to those who would trade in the glory of Christ, our True Spiritual Israel, for the glory of a carnal nation, an ethnic religion, and a ritual resurgence of those carnal ordinances that were against us — but that have been blotted out, at the cross, through the precious blood of Christ Jesus. This isn’t to say that all who hold to Premillennialism, or even Dispensationalism, have crossed the line into heresy — many have not but some have and those who have dishonour Christ and His finished work on the cross by making it an aside, a parenthetical reality, something that was an after-thought, as though God was caught off guard when the Jews of Christ’s day rejected Him as their Saviour/Messiah/Christ.

Nonetheless, let it be said again! Per the Scriptures, the True Jew, the True Israelite, the True Circumcision, the True Children of Abraham and the Promise, are all who are in Christ Jesus, whether they are ethnically Jews or ethnically Gentiles because, in Him, none of that matters any more — of the two, He has made One, even in His own Body. Moreover, the True Israel of God, the New Jerusalem, Mount Zion from on High, is the Bride, the Body, forever yoked with her Head (the Lord Jesus Christ), and forever dwelling in, and being indwelt by, the Triune Godhead. Christ is our Israel, who is our Heaven, who is the ONE wherein God and Man can dell together, for all eternity, in perfect love, peace, union, and bliss… this is THE ISRAEL that we should be focusing upon, promoting, expounding, glorying in… and never some nation in Palestine, the Middle East, or anywhere else. There is only one Blessed Nation; it isn’t the (national) Israel of the Israelis, or the country of the United States of America, or the United Kingdom, or any other such earthly nation; the one Blessed Nation found here on Earth is a heavenly nation, a spiritual one, and it is described as follows (concerning all who are in Christ Jesus):

“But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, AN HOLY NATION, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: 10 Which in time past [were] not a people, BUT [ARE] NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

To God be the glory, in Christ, our True Spiritual Israel, forever, Amen!

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