Church Also to Be a Model!

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We have seen that the Church is spiritual Israel. It is those whom God has called and chosen—and in which He has put His Spirit. From the time of Christ’s ministry, God has used the Church to be a model of obedience to His ways—and to reflect—“show forth”—the blessings of happiness, peace, and unity in truth that He intends all peoples to enjoy.

Notice what Christ taught His disciples: “You [Christians] are the LIGHT of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.... Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14, 16). This verse sounds much like “they shall show forth My praise.”

Christians are to set a right example. People should see vibrant, happy, productive lives in those God has called to Himself and to His way.

The Sabbath was not made for the Jews only. It was made “for man.” And this includes the Gentiles. Why do so many think that Christ came to say, in effect, “I could never get Israel to obey Me, and keep the Sabbath, so I guess it was a bad idea. We’ll just get rid of it. And if the world thinks that it was always only for the Jews—who cares? I have done away with it, anyway”?

Such shallow reasoning. God’s laws are called pure, clean, and perfect (Ps. 19:7-11)—and they work!

Gentiles, Too!

Here is what God inspired Paul to write to the Gentile Ephesian converts. It is an extensive but important passage, revealing how Gentiles become partakers of the exact same promises God made to Israel 3,500 years ago:

“Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh.... That at that time you 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: But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who has made both one.... that He might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross.... and preached peace to you which were afar off.... For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:11-19).

This passage is most clear regarding Gentiles. They have access to the same promises, confirming Romans 1:16, read earlier.

God intended that Israel be modelled in the same way! God always permitted Gentiles to enter the congregation of Israel—also called the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38).

Notice Exodus 12:38: “And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.” Thousands of Gentiles were permitted to enter Israel and become naturalized citizens. Here is how it was to happen: “And when a stranger shall sojourn with you, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. ONE LAW shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourns among you” (Exod. 12:48-49).

Again, does God have two different standards for Sabbath-keeping—one for Jews and another for Gentiles? Many claim this is the case. But God says He is “not a respecter of persons” (Rom. 2:11;Col. 3:25). He does not have one standard for one person and a different standard for someone else.

God says that He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9) and that He would “have all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). Of course, Gentiles are certainly part of “all men.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 said that both “Jews and Gentiles” enter the Church through the receiving of God’s Spirit. They both live under the same standard.

Not a House Divided

Jesus plainly taught, “Every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matt. 12:25). The Church of God could not have some brethren keeping Saturday and some keeping Sunday. Impossible! Notice: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28-29).

God promised that “all nations” would be blessed through Abraham. This means the promise of salvation is open to all, including Gentiles. Paul wrote, “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” (Rom. 2:10). This was said to the congregation at Rome, which was almost entirely comprised of Gentiles.

The promise was “to the Jew first.” The covenants and the promises of God are clearly made to Israel. This is also found in Romans: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, AND THE PROMISES” (Rom. 9:4).

But if the promises are only made to Israelites, how are Gentiles included? Paul explained: “Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh ...” (Eph. 2:11). The Greek-born Ephesians were only Gentiles “in the past.” They had become converted and were now spiritual Israelites.

The next verse makes this clearer: “That at that time [the past, before conversion] you 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” (Eph. 2:12).

I grew up believing that all the Israelites were Jews (yet, as explained, Judah [the Jews] is only one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel), that I was a Gentile, and that Christianity is basically a Gentile religion. The truth of the Bible is that Gentiles must become spiritual Israelites.

Since most modern descendants of Israel (Jacob) think that they are Gentiles, the world believes the opposite of what the Bible teaches. In other words, those who are actually physical Israelites (and professing Christians) think that upon accepting Jesus they became “spiritual” or “Christian” or “saved” GENTILES. The truth is that those who really are physical Gentiles can only be true Christians by becoming SPIRITUAL ISRAELITES!

Can you see how God’s truth seems upside down to the world (Acts 17:6)?

The Ephesians were Gentiles who had become spiritual Israelites. They went from being “strangers” from God and His promise, and without hope, to being included in God’s Plan: “But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ ...” and “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:13, 19).

Once again, that settles it! ALL are one in Christ. God does not have different standards for different people. All people become spiritual inheritors with Abraham, the grandfather of Israel (Jacob).

But let’s see this from a different perspective.

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