Israel & The Body of Christ

Vol 2 - No 4, February 20, 2005

Israel and the Body of Christ:

Here we digress from the study of Moses' faith and examine an aspect of God's dealing with the Nation of Israel and lessons learned there from. In Exodus 4:22 & 2322 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23 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.

God tells Moses: "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, thy firstborn." Clearly stated; God viewed the Children of Israel as one body and refers to them in the singular, as one, as His own son. By way of illustration the Children of Israel can be viewed as similar to a large corporation today, which consists of thousands of people but never the less is considered by law as a single body and to be dealt with as such.

Many individual Israelites will be found in both the Old and New Testaments who by faith were obedient to God"s Word but many others were unfaithful and disobedient. As when a corporation today suffers because an individual member thereof violates the law so the nation of Israel as a whole suffered because of the improper action/s of one or a few individuals therein. An example of when the entire Nation suffered because of the disobedience of one man is found in Joshua 7 when Achan took property from the defeated enemy, which God had forbidden. By keeping in mind Israel's identity as God's son, a body of one, we can better understand His dealings with that nation. This understanding will also provide some insight into our relationship with God today as members of the Body of Christ.

God's promise of blessing to Israel was first given to Abraham, then to Isaac and then to Jacob who was renamed Israel. The Children of Israel were saved from starvation by Joseph in Egypt and at first lived there in comfort and with plenty. However, after the death of Joseph and the Pharaoh under whom he severed the Hebrews became slaves and suffered greatly. Some time later God appointed Moses the leader by which He saved Israel from death and bondage in Egypt. In this role Moses was a type of Christ and as such his actions foreshadowed and pictured what the Lord Jesus Christ ultimately will complete in fact. Later on under King David Israel won many victories over their enemies and David, although far from being perfect, was a type of and pictured the Lord Jesus Christ as the king under whom all of Israel's enemies will someday indeed be defeated. However, in spite of the deliverance from death and bondage as well as victory over enemies that God gave through Moses, David and other leaders, Israel repeatedly lost faith in God's Word and disobeyed His law, which brought captivity, slavery and suffering to them time after time.

After Moses and David it is clear that Israel looked forward to a Messiah, an anointed one, who would finally and in fact deliver them from death and bondage and sit on the throne of David. See Daniel 9:25 & 2625 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

for one reference to the promised Messiah in the Old Testament. During the earthly ministry of Jesus it was clear to some in Israel that He was indeed the promised Messiah: "One of the two which heard John (the Baptist) speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." - John 1:40 & 4140 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

. "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." John 4:25 & 2625 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

. Thus Jesus Himself revealed He was Israel's "I am" and as such their promised Messiah.

In spite of the fact that some individual Jews believed and accepted Jesus as their Messiah, the corporate body of Israel never the less rejected Him. Israel's leaders went about to kill Him a number of times and finally, but only at God's appointed time, they were successful and turned Him over to the government of Rome for crucifixion. However, He arose from the dead and by God's grace was offered to Israel again as their Messiah, the account of which is recorded in the first part of the book of Acts. Again, a group of individual Jews believed in their Messiah but alas Israel as a corporate body rejected Him yet again. This time, Israel signaled their rejection by stoning Stephen to death, he being then one of Messiah's principal spokesmen. Subsequently, God saved one of His principal antagonists, Saul of Tarsus who He renamed Paul and then set aside His exclusive dealings with Israel as a nation for a season.

It was to the Apostle Paul that God revealed a secret which had not been known to man before. For, whereas it had been well known from prophesy that Israel was to be blessed by God, it had never been revealed that the Gentiles, who were outside the promises made to Israel would be made part of one body in Christ and would be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Nor had it been known that by His death on the cross Christ would make believers in Him, whether Jew and Gentile, one new man; and make of the two a temple in which the Lord dwells through the Spirit - See Ephesians 2:2 - 222 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time 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.

and 3:1 - 12.

As the Nation of Israel was dealt with as God's son up until they were set aside for a time, so all who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ since then are part of one corporate body, the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes: "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." - Romans 12:55 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

. "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." - I Corinthians 12:12. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." - I Corinthians 12:27. And, whereas God was not always pleased with His son Israel, He is well pleased with His son Jesus Christ. - Matthew 3:17 & 17:5; Mark 1:1111 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

and 2 Peter 1:1717 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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(The Body of Christ is not Israel and did not replace Israel as a nation. Although it has been almost 2000 years since God set Israel aside and began the Body of Christ, He will not forget His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to bless Israel as a nation. In Romans 9 - 11 the Apostle Paul explains how Israel was, and still is, set aside as God's chosen nation only for a season but that all the promises He made to that Nation will someday be fulfilled literally and completely. The yet future accomplishment of Israel's restoration is prophesied by the Apostle John as recorded in the book of Revelation.)

As members of the Body of Christ today we have much for which to be thankful. Whereas the Nation of Israel prospered only when all were obedient but suffered because of the lack of faith and disobedience of a few, our corporate identity is in Christ and we depend not on the faith and obedience of each and every member of the body, but on Christ's own perfection. We as members of the Body of Christ do have a responsibility to live in a manor consistent with our standing therein but each of us can say with the Apostle Paul: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galations 2:20. In order to become members of the Body of Christ we must believe and place our faith in Him. But our ongoing relationship as such is not dependant on the sometimes faltering strength of our own faith, as was Israel's, because we live by the faith of the Son of God who loved and gave Himself for us.