More about Israel.

[Roger316]

Amen, because we know that without faith in the Messiah, no one can receive the Holy Spirit to be compelled to obey. Obedience isn't possible without faith in Him.

However, oftentimes, the counter-argument made is that Israel's time to believe in the Messiah is not yet; that they're still in judgment and thus sinful. But that's why I make a point of mentioning obedience to the commandments: if they're not under the Messiah's new covenant, then Israel is still under Moses', and they don't even obey that one... and, in fact, it was violating that covenant that expelled them from the land and scattered them to the four winds. So the Almighty wouldn't regather them while still violating the terms of that covenant because it would make Him a liar (heaven forbid).

The only conclusion is they're not the people to whom the promise was made.

I would like to share a section of my Ephesians study concerning Ephesians 1:10

Paul’s language of “heaven and earth” in Ephesians 1:10 should not be read as a literal cosmological statement. It is a metaphorical way of naming the two great segments of God’s people—the Jews and the Gentiles—whom God has been gathering into the pleroma, the fullness of the saints under Christ. In Israel’s Scriptures, the Jewish people are repeatedly associated with the land (the “earth”), the people rooted in the soil God promised to Abraham. They are the ones who lived near the prophets, near the covenants, near the apostles, near the revelation of God. By contrast, the Gentiles were those beyond the horizon, the peoples “far off,” the nations Abraham was told to look toward when God promised him sons as numerous as the stars and as wide as the horizon itself. When a Jew stood on a hill in Israel, the land beneath his feet represented his own people, and the horizon represented the nations beyond. Paul draws on that imagery: the “earth” signifies the saints from Israel, and the “heavens”—the visible expanse stretching outward—signify the saints from the nations.

Seen this way, Paul’s metaphor reinforces his argument about the pleroma. The fullness is not merely all saints across time; it is all saints across both covenants and both peoples. God has been administering history so that the redeemed from the land (Israel) and the redeemed from the horizons (the nations) are gathered into one unified body under Christ. Heaven and earth, near and far, land and horizon—Paul uses these paired images to show that God’s purpose has always been to form a single, completed people, the fullness of those who belong to Christ.

@Churchgoer

 

[Lifted_by_the_word]

What does being born again mean to a dispensationalist?If we have the same understanding,then how do they fit the valley of dry bones being fulfilled in 1948?
They claim that in 1948 the state of Israel was "born again in one day"
What does being born again mean?

 

[Churchgoer]

I would like to share a section of my Ephesians study concerning Ephesians 1:10

Paul’s language of “heaven and earth” in Ephesians 1:10 should not be read as a literal cosmological statement. It is a metaphorical way of naming the two great segments of God’s people—the Jews and the Gentiles—whom God has been gathering into the pleroma, the fullness of the saints under Christ. In Israel’s Scriptures, the Jewish people are repeatedly associated with the land (the “earth”), the people rooted in the soil God promised to Abraham. They are the ones who lived near the prophets, near the covenants, near the apostles, near the revelation of God. By contrast, the Gentiles were those beyond the horizon, the peoples “far off,” the nations Abraham was told to look toward when God promised him sons as numerous as the stars and as wide as the horizon itself. When a Jew stood on a hill in Israel, the land beneath his feet represented his own people, and the horizon represented the nations beyond. Paul draws on that imagery: the “earth” signifies the saints from Israel, and the “heavens”—the visible expanse stretching outward—signify the saints from the nations.

Seen this way, Paul’s metaphor reinforces his argument about the pleroma. The fullness is not merely all saints across time; it is all saints across both covenants and both peoples. God has been administering history so that the redeemed from the land (Israel) and the redeemed from the horizons (the nations) are gathered into one unified body under Christ. Heaven and earth, near and far, land and horizon—Paul uses these paired images to show that God’s purpose has always been to form a single, completed people, the fullness of those who belong to Christ.

@Churchgoer

We need to be careful not to lift Abraham, nor any human too high.

From OT to NT, it is alway God centered, not human centered. Abraham is just a vessel in potter s hand.

Jesus blood covenant, this is the ever lasting one, all followers are saved through Jesus.

We are called children of God, because of blood covenant with Jesus.

 

[Yahshua]

I agree with you. They will choose to obey. But what makes the difference between now and then? The prophets mark a time when God will remove a heart of stone from them and give them a heart of flesh. This is not a multitude of random events spread out over Jewish history. This is a singular event that takes place at just the right time according to God's plan.

I agree with this, but I'm arguing that the singular event hasn't happened yet. The Almighty is specific about what is supposed to happen and when. Deuteronomy 30 starts with...

"And it shall come to pass..."

So immediately, we know whenever we read this phrase, the Almighty is sharing something that absolutely will happen exactly how He says it will. He says that when they are still in the land of their punishment (note: Moses just finished explaining how they'd be punished, concluding with being scattered to the four corners of the world), they will turn their whole hearts back to Almighty...and what does that mean? Obeying the words that Moses shared in the previous chapters of Deuteronomy (i.e., deutero = two; nomia = law; the second witness to the law: every matter is established by a testimony of two or more witnesses).

But there's a problem...

We also know objectively that no one can obey the Almighty's law without faith in Messiah, because of these corrupt hearts of ours. The gift of the Messiah is the solution, and He was THEIR gift to solve this problem, not the Gentiles' gift. Gentiles are blessed to participate in Israel's promise because of the goodness of Almighty. I say this to say that there aren't two different plans for salvation. So that means the one critical event that must happen is the mass conversion of Israelites into believers in the Messiah...and this must happen while they're scattered to the four corners of the world to keep Deut 30 true.

The Messiah is the key to all of this.

Now, when He was here, the Messiah prophesied that when the Son of Man comes, He will gather all who are His from the four corners of the world. Who are the Messiah's people but believing Jews and believing Gentiles?

And when will the Messiah regather all who are His? At the second coming, when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Messiah rise, because all who are the Messiah's receive their reward at the same time, both Jew and Gentile.

The people in the land are in direct conflict with all of prophecy, save one: The prophecy that Edom would claim the land as theirs while Israel is scattered, and that they will be at constant war, as the sword would follow them endlessly.

 

[Beekeeper]

I agree with this, but I'm arguing that the singular event hasn't happened yet. The Almighty is specific about what is supposed to happen and when. Deuteronomy 30 starts with...

"And it shall come to pass..."

So immediately, we know whenever we read this phrase, the Almighty is sharing something that absolutely will happen exactly how He says it will. He says that when they are still in the land of their punishment (note: Moses just finished explaining how they'd be punished, concluding with being scattered to the four corners of the world), they will turn their whole hearts back to Almighty...and what does that mean? Obeying the words that Moses shared in the previous chapters of Deuteronomy (i.e., deutero = two; nomia = law; the second witness to the law: every matter is established by a testimony of two or more witnesses).

But there's a problem...

We also know objectively that no one can obey the Almighty's law without faith in Messiah, because of these corrupt hearts of ours. The gift of the Messiah is the solution, and He was THEIR gift to solve this problem, not the Gentiles' gift. Gentiles are blessed to participate in Israel's promise because of the goodness of Almighty. I say this to say that there aren't two different plans for salvation. So that means the one critical event that must happen is the mass conversion of Israelites into believers in the Messiah...and this must happen while they're scattered to the four corners of the world to keep Deut 30 true.

The Messiah is the key to all of this.

Now, when He was here, the Messiah prophesied that when the Son of Man comes, He will gather all who are His from the four corners of the world. Who are the Messiah's people but believing Jews and believing Gentiles?

And when will the Messiah regather all who are His? At the second coming, when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Messiah rise, because all who are the Messiah's receive their reward at the same time, both Jew and Gentile.

The people in the land are in direct conflict with all of prophecy, save one: The prophecy that Edom would claim the land as theirs while Israel is scattered, and that they will be at constant war, as the sword would follow them endlessly.

As a prophesy Deuteronomy 30 fits well into the time of the second temple restoration.
If we interpret into modern times we must also assume that God has still bound a group of people to the law of Moses.
If that was the case the group would also be bound to the curses for disobeying the law.
Yet thankfully that is not what God is doing.

The mediator of the Mosaic was the man Moses, and it was confirmed by the blood of animals.
It was not made with the whole world, but with the 12 tribes of national Israel, on whom Moses sprinkled the blood.
The New covenant is built on a more secure foundation than that.
The mediator was God Himself, sealing it in His own blood for people of the whole earth.
The Mosaic covenant was also bound to failure, as predicted by Moses himself, yet Jesus alone obeyed it.
Just as Jesus was the reason the Mosaic covenant existed, He was also the reason that old covenant Israel ever existed

Yes, the new covenant REPLACED the old covenant.
That means that there is a far better thing available to the Jews than national Israel.

Hebrews 8:6 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.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

It is, but it was made to Abraham, not to national Israel.

And this is what the Word says...

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name:“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.” declares the LORD."

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

And so the simple and obvious question is: have those who claim to be Israel turned back to obedience with their whole hearts? Regardless of covenant, the answer is no.

Blinded for a time... sigh, I'm glad He knows what He's doing because too many Christians don't seem to know even after they read it.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

Do they murder the innocent? Yes

No, they do not, that is a lie, flat out.

Have they been caught lying constantly? Yes.

About what?

Do they steal land? Yes.

No, another lie as big as the first one.

Do they covet their neighbor's stuff? Yes.

All lies, should have saved myself the bother and bundled them together. smh

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

Most importantly, do they openly reject Jesus?
Do they openly call Jesus a liar?

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see,

and ears that could not hear,to this very day.”

 

[Churchgoer]

As a prophesy Deuteronomy 30 fits well into the time of the second temple restoration.
If we interpret into modern times we must also assume that God has still bound a group of people to the law of Moses.
If that was the case the group would also be bound to the curses for disobeying the law.
Yet thankfully that is not what God is doing.

The mediator of the Mosaic was the man Moses, and it was confirmed by the blood of animals.
It was not made with the whole world, but with the 12 tribes of national Israel, on whom Moses sprinkled the blood.
The New covenant is built on a more secure foundation than that.
The mediator was God Himself, sealing it in His own blood for people of the whole earth.
The Mosaic covenant was also bound to failure, as predicted by Moses himself, yet Jesus alone obeyed it.
Just as Jesus was the reason the Mosaic covenant existed, He was also the reason that old covenant Israel ever existed

Yes, the new covenant REPLACED the old covenant.
That means that there is a far better thing available to the Jews than national Israel.

Maybe the old covenant is a shadow of new covenant. Ot is the shadow of Jesus to come, NT is the real deal, Jesus is here.

Hebrews 8:6 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.

Beautiful

 

[Beekeeper]

And this is what the Word says...

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name:“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.” declares the LORD."

Here are the verses before it:

Jeremiah31:31 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.

As you can see Jeremiah is speaking about the New Covenant of Jesus.
If he was speaking of an earthly nation it would not make sense, because that nation did not continue.

 

[Beekeeper]

Beautiful

Notice the similarity between Hebrews 8 and Jeremiah 31?
The NT already tells us how to understand the "sun and moon" prophesy.

 

[brightfame52]

The Preeminence of the Church!​

1 Corinthians 3:21–23

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.”

Paul is writing to the Church, and notice the astonishing scope of what he says belongs to them:

“All things are yours.”

Paul then explains:

“The world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours.”

That includes not merely present blessings.

It includes:

“Things to come.”

And why do all these things belong to the Church?

Paul gives the reason:

“Ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.”

The Church's inheritance is grounded in her union with Christ.

The Future Belongs to Those Who Are Christ's​

This presents a serious problem for the dispensational idea that there exists a future earthly kingdom that belongs uniquely to ethnic Israel as a separate people of God, distinct from and having a different prophetic inheritance from the Church.

Paul does not tell the Church:

“Present spiritual blessings are yours, but the future kingdom belongs to another people.”

He says:

“Things to come; all are yours.”

If there is a future kingdom, it belongs to those who are Christ's.

And who are those addressed in 1 Corinthians 3?

The Church.

The Church cannot be excluded from some supposedly separate future inheritance of Christ's kingdom while Paul is telling her that:

“All things are yours.”

The Church's Union With Christ​

The foundation of this inheritance is:

“Ye are Christ's.”

Everything Christ inherits belongs to those who are united to Him.

The Church is not an interruption in God's prophetic program.

Nor is she merely a temporary parenthesis placed between two separate programs for two different peoples.

She belongs to Christ.

And because she belongs to Christ, Paul can say:

“All things are yours.”

This includes:

• the world,
• life,
• death,
• things present,
• and things to come.

Therefore, if someone insists upon a future earthly millennium, that future cannot be placed outside the inheritance of the Church.

Paul has already told the Church:

“Things to come; all are yours.”

There Is No Higher People Above Those Who Are Christ's​

The dispensational scheme attempts to create a future inheritance for ethnic Israel that is distinct from the inheritance of the Church.

But Paul grounds the Church's inheritance in the highest possible relationship:

“Ye are Christ's.”

The Church belongs to Christ.

And Christ belongs to God.

Therefore, whatever future inheritance is found in Christ cannot ultimately be separated from those who are in Christ.

If there is a future kingdom under Christ's reign, it belongs to Christ.

And if the Church is Christ's, then the Church cannot be excluded from what belongs to her Head.

So the real question is not:

“Will there be something in the future belonging to ethnic Israel?”

The question is:

“Can there be a future inheritance of Christ from which those who belong to Christ are excluded?”

Paul's answer is:

“Things to come; all are yours.”

The Church's inheritance is not limited to the present age.

The future belongs to Christ.

The Church belongs to Christ.

Therefore:

“Things to come; all are yours.”

This does not merely elevate the Church above ethnic distinctions.

It establishes the Church's inheritance in the all-sufficient union with Christ Himself.

And nothing that belongs to Christ's kingdom can be ultimately separated from those who are:

“Christ's.” 5

 

[PotofSoup]

Of course faithful Jews are included in the Abrahamic covenant.
National Israel is a different matter however, because it is entirely bound to the Mosaic covenant

.

If I gave the impression that I do not think the conclusion of hope is in the kingdom of heaven, that is a pity.
I am not even convinced that the "new earth" is on the vibrational frequency that we now call physical.



The final destination is not earthly, and the Bible does contain metaphor.
I have already noticed that you are uncomfortable with that, and that is the reason I have been not been attempting to explain some prophesies.
There are people who either through family tradition or through non-acceptance of Christ's fulfillment of the law, will voluntarily bound themself to the Mosaic covenant and incorporate modern Israel in that understanding, yet by confirming them in that understanding, we also confirm them in unbelief.
If we teach that the hope is bound to an eternal earthly Jerusalem we confirm them in eternal unbelief, outside of the kingdom of heaven.
There are no second chances with the Mosaic covenant: Exodus 23:21 "Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.",
but God has given a far greater SPIRITUAL hope to His people.

Hebrews 8:6
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.

My perspective isn’t “outdated”; it’s simply older in the sense that it reflects how the apostles themselves understood God’s promises. What you’re describing developed later within Gentile Christian theology, and it doesn’t reflect the original Jewish‑apostolic framework.

If our final hope is purely heavenly, it’s worth asking why Scripture describes the New Jerusalem descending to the earth. That is not presented as a metaphor, and it doesn’t diminish the New Covenant in any way. And I don’t see how believing God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants leads anyone away from faith in Jesus. Jesus affirmed those promises, and so did Paul. The apostles held both the land promises and faith in Christ together without contradiction.

The physical land promise functions the same way other biblical patterns do: the earthly reality points to a greater heavenly one. Hebrews 8–9 says the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. Physical circumcision pointed to circumcision of the heart. God often uses physical representations to help us grasp spiritual truths.

For that reason, teaching that God will renew earthly Jerusalem when the heavenly reality descends does not keep anyone from heaven. Scripture presents it as the moment when heaven and earth are united and death is no more.

I appreciate you bringing up Exodus 23:21. The Angel described there—God’s own manifestation, the pre‑incarnate Christ—was sent to lead Israel into the land. The warning is about obeying Him during that mission. It is not a statement that the Mosaic covenant offered no forgiveness, nor does it imply that physical Israel or the land promises have been set aside. The passage concerns obedience to God’s messenger, not the cancellation of Israel’s future. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly forgives, restores, and re‑gathers Israel, and the prophets speak plainly about their return.

God has indeed given us a greater hope than the land itself, but that isn’t the issue here. We’re discussing the specific promise of physical land to the nation of Israel. That promise is not about eternal life; it is a covenantal gift with its own purpose, and Scripture treats it as such.

So I ask again: if God never intended to give this land to Israel, why do the prophets repeatedly describe their restoration to it? Why does God continue to affirm this promise? Why does Jesus defend Israel against the nations in the last days? And if Scripture consistently presents this land as God’s everlasting gift to Israel, why reinterpret it in a way that removes what God has declared? It’s important that we let the full witness of Scripture speak, rather than building a theology from a few passages taken out of context.

My discomfort isn’t with you personally—it’s with interpretations that move away from what Scripture plainly says. God calls us to love truth, and I want to remain faithful to what He has revealed

 

[Churchgoer]

Did God ever ask His people to commit demonic act to fulfill God's plan?

Jesus is meant to go on the cross.

But is it believer s duty to put Jesus on cross? Is it believer s duty to crucify Jesus?

Joseph was meant to be the Egyptian top vp. Is it the brother s God given duty to sell him? Is it potifar wife's Godly duty to accuse him?

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

Did God ever ask His people to commit demonic act to fulfill God's plan?

Jesus is meant to go on the cross.

But is it believer s duty to put Jesus on cross? Is it believer s duty to crucify Jesus?

Joseph was meant to be the Egyptian top vp. Is it the brother s God given duty to sell him? Is it potifar wife's Godly duty to accuse him?

Huh??

 

[Beekeeper]

If our final hope is purely heavenly, it’s worth asking why Scripture describes the New Jerusalem descending to the earth.

Whatever happens then happens after the earth is destroyed, so any non-heavenly hope will prove futile in the face of that event.

The physical land promise functions the same way other biblical patterns do: the earthly reality points to a greater heavenly one. Hebrews 8–9 says the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. Physical circumcision pointed to circumcision of the heart. God often uses physical representations to help us grasp spiritual truths.

And that sounds like you get it?

For that reason, teaching that God will renew earthly Jerusalem when the heavenly reality descends does not keep anyone from heaven. Scripture presents it as the moment when heaven and earth are united and death is no more.

As long as you understand that Heavenly Jerusalem is not a city made with hands, but the actual bride of Christ.
The citizens of heavenly Jerusalem are the faithful both of old covenant Israel, and of the whole world before and after it.
The temple is Christ (Revelations 21:22).

 

[Churchgoer]

People just can't accept God centered.

They have to be ethnic centered, golden calf centered. Everything is about created things, not the creator.

Back the 1st commandment.

 

[brightfame52]

Are Made to Be Realized in the Church! cont​

Another Old Testament prophecy concerning Israel finds its inspired application in the calling of the Church.

Paul writes in Romans 9:

“As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 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.”
— Romans 9:25–26

Paul is drawing from Hosea:

“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.”
— Hosea 1:10

And again:

“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.”
— Hosea 2:23

Historically, these prophecies were spoken in the context of God's dealings with Israel, particularly the apostate northern kingdom. Because of their rebellion, the covenant people were described in terms of rejection:

“Not my people.”

“Not beloved.”

Yet Hosea also contains the promise of restoration:

“My people.”

“Beloved.”

“Sons of the living God.”

Now observe what the inspired Apostle Paul does with this prophetic language.

In Romans 9:24, immediately before quoting Hosea, Paul identifies the people God has called:

“Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.”

Then he quotes Hosea's prophecy.

Therefore, Paul himself connects this prophetic language concerning God's people with the calling of both Jews and Gentiles. The people of God are no longer viewed according to mere ethnic descent.

The elect Jews and the elect Gentiles are called together as one covenant people.

They are:

God's people.

The beloved.

The children of the living God.

This is precisely the truth Paul develops elsewhere.

The Gentiles Were Brought into the Covenant People of God​

Ephesians 2 describes the former condition of the Gentiles:

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise...”
— Ephesians 2:12

They were:

Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Strangers from the covenants of promise.

But then Paul says:

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
— Ephesians 2:13

How were they made nigh?

By the blood of Christ.

Christ did not create two separate covenant peoples.

Paul says:

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one...”
— Ephesians 2:14

And again:

“For to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.”
— Ephesians 2:15

Jew and Gentile become:

One.

Not two competing covenant peoples.

Not two separate redeemed communities.

But:

“One new man.”

And Christ:

“might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross.”
— Ephesians 2:16

The reconciliation accomplished by the cross brings both Jew and Gentile together into:

One body.

And the conclusion is unmistakable:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
— Ephesians 2:19

Now consider the question.

Who were the saints and the household of God under the Old Covenant?

Was it not the covenant people of Israel?

The Gentiles had previously been described as:

“Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.”

But through Christ they are now:

“Fellowcitizens with the saints.”

They had been:

Strangers from the covenants of promise.

But now they are:

“Of the household of God.”

The point is not that every physical Israelite was spiritually saved. Scripture itself distinguishes the outward nation from the true people of promise.

The point is that the Gentiles who were formerly outside the covenant community are now brought near in Christ and united with the saints into one body and one household of God.

This corresponds perfectly with Romans 9.

Paul says that God calls:

“Not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.”

Then he applies Hosea's language:

“I will call them my people.”

Therefore, the Church of Christ—consisting of called Jews and Gentiles—is the covenant people of God in whom these promises find their realized fulfillment.

The Gentiles are not brought into a separate people unrelated to Israel.

They are brought near by the blood of Christ.

They become fellow citizens with the saints.

They become members of the household of God.

Christ makes both:

“One new man.”

This is the covenant unity of the people of God.

The elect from among Jews and Gentiles are one people in Christ, one body, one household, and one covenant family of God. 5

 

[Churchgoer]

Not sure why people separate into 2 groups, gentile and jews.

If we read Bible as a single message, only with God, or not with God. John 3 16.

People just obsessed with race, color, ethnic, location.... instead of God.