BEN F. VICK, JR.
Jacob had served Laban in Padan-Aram for twenty years for his wives and livestock. He had heard Laban's sons having said, "Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory" (Gen. 31:1). Jacob saw that Laban's countenance was not as it was before (Gen. 31:2). Moses records, "And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee" (Gen. 31:3). So Jacob, having gathered his family and belongings, headed home. Among the events that transpired as they traveled was Jacob's having wrestled with an angel until the breaking of the day (Gen. 32:24-32; Hosea 12:3-4). The place where they had wrestled was called Peniel, which meant "I have seen God face to face." Jacob's name was changed to Israel which means "A prince of God." Hence, all the descendants of Jacob would be called Israelites or the children of Israel.
The Israelites were called God's people before they arrived at Sinai, having been delivered from Egyptian bondage (Ex. 3:7; 5:1). They were God's people because of the promises made to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3,7), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), and Jacob (Gen 28:13-14). At Mount Sinai the Lord spoke to his people. The inspired writer said:
And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel (Ex. 19:3-6).
When Moses returned from the mount and called for the elders of the people and "laid before their faces” what the Lord had commanded, “and all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Ex. 19:7-8). They were God's chosen people, his adopted people (Deut. 7:6-10).
For approximately fifteen hundred years Israel was God's chosen people. Paul wrote concerning his kinsmen in the flesh:
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (Rom. 9:4-6).
Fleshly Israel are no longer God's people. Jesus' death on the cross and the establishment of the church changed who God's people are. Now the church is spiritual Israel. We are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Paul raises a series of questions, each requiring a negative response (2 Cor. 6:14-18). In the context God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
It is not being of the fleshly descent of Abraham that makes one a child of God. The Lord told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Paul wrote, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2:28-29).
When does one become a part of the people of God today? Paul answers: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:26-29). It is not at the point of faith that one becomes a child of God. Paul said, "For ye are all [present tense] the children of God by faith…. For as many of you as have been [present perfect tense, or "were," past tense] baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Thus, you are a child of God by faith because you have been baptized or were baptized. The action of baptism precedes one’s being a child of God by faith. It is faith that leads to baptism (Mark 16:16), but it is not at the point of faith that one is a child of God, or part of the people of God.
Paul addressed the misunderstanding of some Jews who thought that being of the physical descent of Abraham put them into the church. He wrote, "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (Rom. 9:6-8). God accepted Isaac, but Ishmael was cast out. God had to make a choice through whom Christ would come. This did not relate to their individual salvation. Likewise, God chooses only those obedient to his word as the Israel of promise. But those who reject the gospel, whether Jew or Gentile, are not approved and not a part of the Israel of God today.
God's people, Israel, today are the church. "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt,19:28). Make sure the comma is observed: "ye which have followed me, in the regeneration…." The twelve tribes of Israel is a reference to the church. James addresses "the twelve tribes which are scattered," an apparent reference to the church. It should be noted that Paul's letter to the Galatian churches, in which he deals with the Judaizing teachers (Jews having tried to bind the law of Moses on Gentiles), refers to the church being called "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16).
The Jew today cannot even prove that he is a Jew because he cannot tell you of what tribe he is. The true Israel today is the church.