Christ is Israel

In this chapter we look at the meaning of the biblical term Israel. Topics include:

• The Old Testament view.
• Jesus’ view on Israel.
• Paul’s view on Israel.
• The Promised Land.
• Romans chapter 11.
• What does national Israel mean today?

There are four main theories to explain the identity of Israel:

1. Israel is the racial nation of the Jews, today situated in the Middle East and scattered in other nations. We believe that in some contexts in the Bible the term is used for a racial group and in other instances it is used for a faith group.

2. Replacement Theology, which is the idea that the church has replaced Israel. This view holds that God has no restoration plan for racial Israel. This term is used more by detractors of the two views below. The replacement view is not seriously held by many.

3. Inclusion Theology, which means that the Gentiles are more widely included in the Commonwealth of Israel in the New Covenant era. This is view we hold in this chapter.

4. Christ is Israel and He includes with Him believing Jews and Gentiles. This is more exactly the view that we hold in this chapter.

There are other theories, such as British Israel (BI), which holds that British tribes are the lost tribes of the northern House of Israel. There is also Japanese Israel (JI) and many other forms, as various nations stake their claim. These are fables and harmful doctrines. Calling is in the cross of Christ, not through nationality.

Dispensationalists hold to the racial theory of Israel. In this view Israel according to the flesh (the natural descendants of Abraham) is Israel. This can be disproved in one statement: If the seed of the flesh are Israel, then Ishmael and Esau would be Israel also. They too are the sons of Abraham. Paul said this directly in Galatians 4, which we look at below.

This view also sees the land of Palestine today as the Holy Land. It sees the return of the Jews there today as a last-days event before the Second Coming of Christ. The view also holds that he who blesses Israel as a nation is blessing Abraham’s seed and so will be blessed of God. The view claims that we should pray in a particular way for the city of Jerusalem.

It is also said by some that there is spiritual merit, even a greater access to God in prayer, in travelling to Israel. Not all hold the teaching to this extreme, but this does show the potential for an antichrist position. There is one access to the Father and that is through the blood of Christ. Access is through Jesus Christ alone.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:1-2).

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. (Heb 10:19-20).