7135 Israel, as the people of God

God called Israel out of Egypt to be his own treasured possession and his covenant faithfulness with them is maintained, despite their persistent disobedience.

God’s election of Israel

The nation was founded upon God’s promises to the patriarchs Ge 12:1-3 See also Ge 17:1-8; Ge 35:9-13

Israel as God’s chosen possession 1Ki 8:53 See also Ex 19:3-6; Dt 7:6; Dt 32:7-12; Ps 135:3-4

God redeemed Israel from Egypt Ex 6:6-7 See also Ex 3:7-10; 2Sa 7:22-24 pp 1Ch 17:20-22

God enters into a special covenant relationship with Israel Ex 24:3-8

Israel’s privileged status within the covenant Ro 9:4-5 See also Ro 3:1-2; Php 3:4-6

Israel’s disobedience to the covenant

Israel provoked God in the wilderness Ps 78:40-41 See also Ex 32:1-10; Nu 11:1-6; Nu 14:1-4

Israel’s unfaithfulness in the promised land Isa 1:4 See also Jdg 2:10-13; Jer 11:9-10; Eze 20:27-28

Israel exiled for her sins 2Ki 18:11-12 See also 2Ki 25:8-12 pp Jer 39:8-10 pp Jer 52:12-16

God’s promise to restore Israel

God’s promise not to abandon Israel completely Dt 4:31 See also Lev 26:44-45; Isa 6:11-13 Though Israel will be destroyed, a holy remnant will be left; Jer 31:35-37

God’s promise to bring Israel back to the land Jer 30:3 See also Isa 43:5-7; Eze 37:11-14

God’s promise to reunite Israel Jer 3:18 See also Eze 37:15-23; Hos 1:10-11

The promise of a restored relationship between Israel and God Jer 31:31-34 See also Isa 40:1-2; Eze 36:24-28

Israel returns from exile Ezr 1:1-5 pp 2Ch 36:22-23

Jesus Christ, the Saviour of Israel

Jesus Christ’s ministry was specifically to the nation of Israel Mt 10:5-6 See also Mt 15:21-28 pp Mk 7:24-30

Jesus accepts the title “Christ” (Messiah), God’s anointed deliverer for Israel Mt 16:16-17 pp Mk 8:29 pp Lk 9:20 Although Jesus accepted the title “Messiah” (Christ), he did not fulfil contemporary Israelite hopes of a political deliverer.

Jesus Christ declares to Israel the good news of God’s reign Mk 1:14-15 Jesus Christ takes up Isaiah’s message of good news, that God is coming in sovereign power to restore Israel (see Isa 40:9-10, 52:7). See also Mt 4:23; Mt 9:35; Lk 8:1

Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ

Israel warned that rejection of Christ means exclusion from the kingdom Mt 8:11-12 See also Mt 21:33-46 pp Mk 12:1-12 pp Lk 20:9-19; Mt 22:1-10 pp Lk 14:16-24; Lk 13:28-30

Israel’s rejection of the gospel Ro 9:30-10:4 See also Ac 28:24-28; Isa 6:9-10; 1Th 2:14-16

God’s faithfulness to Israel maintained

Membership of the true Israel is based on God’s election, not merely on physical descent from Abraham Ro 9:6-18

A remnant of Israel has been elected by grace Ro 11:1-12

Paul declares that “all Israel” will be saved Isa 59:20-21; Ro 11:25-32 The phrase “all Israel” is interpreted as either: (1) the total number of the elect (either Jews, or Jews and Gentiles) of every generation, or (2) the great majority of Jews of the final generation who will be saved when Christ returns.

The new Israel

The church as the new Israel Gal 6:15-16; Php 3:3 See also 1Pe 2:9-10

The church described as the 12 tribes of Israel Jas 1:1 See also Rev 7:4-8 Some see this as a reference to members of actual Jewish tribes, but others see it as symbolic of all the faithful believers who live through the time of tribulation; Rev 21:12 The number 12 emphasises the continuity of the NT church and the OT people of God.

The apostles as the 12 leaders of the new Israel Mt 19:28 See also Lk 22:29-30; Rev 21:14

See also