Distinctions Between Israel and Church | Grace & Truth, Inc

Feature 3 – February 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Distinctions Between Israel And The Church

When the Lord gave the believers an increase in understanding regarding the various dispensations,

people began to grasp some of the essential distinctions between Israel and the Church. There are important differences between the two groups concerning their callings, actual functions and future positions. Peter made this very clear in his speeches and epistles. God gave us additional tools, through Paul’s ministry, to see things from His perspective. Seeing and understanding from God’s viewpoint is what really counts, for we want to know His thoughts, instead of man’s, about whatever topic we study.

Some people are biased; others miss proper teaching. Both may argue the Church has replaced Israel, but that claim does not agree with God’s Word or God’s perspective. A large number of people believe God has plans for Israel distinct from the Church, yet they do not see the fundamental differences between the heavenly calling that initiated the Church and the earthly calling for Israel. Some do not recognize God’s plans for the world to come, with Israel as the earthly center of blessing for all nations. Let’s see what the Scriptures say about these things.

Great Differences From Start To Finish
God’s plans for Israel were set in motion when He called Abram, telling him to leave Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 12). He assured Abram, a name meaning “elevated father,” that his offspring would possess the Promised Land (15:1-7). However, his wife Sarah remained barren, having no children. Therefore the couple thought having children through their maidservant might provide the solution (16:1-2). God had other plans. Later, when Abram no longer was able to generate any offspring apart from a direct miraculous intervention, God gave him the name Abraham – “father of a multitude of nations” (17:5 JND). It was at this time that God explained to him His plans for the immediate and distant future.

With respect to the Church, we are taught to look at God’s eternal purpose from before this world’s foundation (Eph. 3:1-11). We thus learn about important differences between the heavenly and earthly people of God, whether for the present or the future (Rom. 8:29-39).

For this earth, God has plans that will be fulfilled in the millennium. As to the Church, God’s eternal counsel is being fulfilled in part during the period of grace in which we live. Many aspects will be unfolded during Christ’s millennial reign, of which Scripture has an abundance of passages. Other things will be fulfilled during the eternal state (consider Rev. 21:1-8; 2 Pet. 3:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:50-58). Some details, although revealed, are beyond our present understanding, but they rejoice our hearts since the Holy Spirit helps us to enjoy them. He also helps us see how they relate to our Beloved.

God’s plans for Israel and the nations are from this world’s foundation, an expression mentioned seven times (Mt. 13:35, 25:34; Lk. 11:50; Heb. 4:3, 9:26; Rev. 13:8, 17:8). By contrast, His thoughts for Christ and the Church have been in His heart from before this world’s foundation (Jn. 17:24; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20). These plans were known beforehand, that is, before anything else existed, implying that our God and Father thought of us before He started to think of Israel or make plans for this world. It also means that the Father and the Son knew the need of a Sacrifice long before Adam and Eve fell into sin, and that the eternal Son, in fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, was willing to be that Sacrifice. For this reason, we read about Him in Hebrews 10:7-10 as the supreme Sacrifice, willing for this from before the world’s foundation.

We cannot grasp with our minds the greatness of God’s love. That the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were of one mind about the need of a Sacrifice is beyond our comprehension. Nor can we understand the greatness of that “one sacrifice” (Heb. 10:12) and its eternal results for God, for Jesus as a Man, and for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the major theme of Hebrews, with the expression at the “right hand” of God four times (1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2).2 It occurs three more times in Paul’s writings (Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1). Saul of Tarsus saw the Lord at God’s right hand when He called him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, 22, 26). Peter referred to God’s right hand where Jesus is now seated (1 Pet. 3:22). John showed how we are fully identified with the Lord Jesus in His present position.

God’s Call Does Not Set Aside Differences Between Israel And The Church
Earlier we mentioned God’s call of Abraham to the Promised Land. While he lived in that land, God told him his descendants would be held in bondage in Egypt (Gen. 15). When God’s time had come, He called Abraham’s descendents through Isaac and Jacob, as He wanted them as a nation for Himself. The calling came to the people through Moses, by whose hand He would deliver the people from bondage (Ex. 1–4). Pharaoh refused to let them go (5:1–6:27), but God sent plagues over Egypt so Pharaoh might change his mind. Only after the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally let them go. God had said to Egypt’s ruler, “Let My son go that he may serve Me” (4:23). We know God had us in view when He gave these instructions (please read 1 Cor. 10:1-13).

Acts 2 describes the actual beginning of the Church on earth, starting with the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven, sent by the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. This phenomenal event signaled something entirely new – not known before, but made known to the apostle Paul. He then shared it with the other apostles (please read Gal. 1–2). Many New Testament passages give further details, such as Ephesians 1–3, Colossians 1–2, 1 Peter 1–2 and 1 John 1–3.

God’s plans for Israel relate to this earth, and from the outset they have in view the world to come. Then Israel will be the head of the nations under the leadership of the Lord Jesus, who will be honored by all (Ps. 2, 8, 40, 72). By contrast, God’s plans for Christ and the Church are of a different order, taught in detail in the New Testament, while the Old Testament provides additional light for practical matters.

We Need To Distinguish Where Scripture Does So
The calling and position of Israel as a nation are entirely distinct from the calling and position of the Church. It is a tragic error to mix them together or deny those distinctions, claiming that the Church is Israel or something like a so-called “spiritual Israel.” No, that is utter confusion. May we simply enjoy God’s thoughts as His Word shows them, accepting them in faith in all simplicity, without all kinds of reasonings or arguments, for or against.

Someone has said about the Scriptures, “Read what it says, believe what it says, and you have what it says.” In other words, read, accept and enjoy God’s Word. Human thinking, prejudice, theological convictions, traditions, or other isms interfere with the simplicity of faith. We need such faith to accept and enjoy God’s thoughts. Of course the enemy doesn’t want that, and he will try to disrupt the fellowship of obedient and loving children of God.

Let us be mindful of the words of the hymn “Trust And Obey,” written by John H. Sammis (1846–1919). The first verse and chorus are:

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will,
He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

ENDNOTES
1. We distinguish seven dispensations or periods during which God put man to the test according to standards He established:

1. Innocence, before the fall;

2. Conscience, until the flood;

3. Human government, after theflood;

4. Abraham’s call, Promise;

5. Law;

6. Grace, from Acts 2 to the rapture;

7. The Kingdom or the millennial reign of Christ.

2. It is important to meditate on these verses that speak about Christ’s present position in glory. Hebrews develops a theme about the greatness of His person and accomplished work, as well as His present position as the Man in heaven, for God’s satisfaction and for His own joy, as well as for our happiness.

By Alfred Bouter