In this present dispensation of grace, the believer in Christ is part of the Body of Christ, not "spiritual Israel." Scripture makes a clear distinction between God's covenant promises to Israel and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Church. Israel was given covenants tied to land, law, kingdom, and priesthood ( Gen. 17:7-8; Exod. 19:5-6; Jer. 31:31-34). These covenants are never transferred to Gentiles or to the Body of Christ. Instead, Paul says believers today are made "fellowheirs" in a new, unprophesied program ( Eph. 3:1-6), not inheritors of Israel's covenants.
Romans 9:4 states that the covenants "pertain" to Israel, not to the Gentiles. Paul confirms this distinction in Ephesians 2:11-12: before Christ, Gentiles were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise." Now, in Christ, we are "made nigh by the blood of Christ" (v. 13), but not by becoming Israel. Instead, Jew and Gentile are joined into "one new man" (v. 15), the Body of Christ, which is distinct from Israel's prophetic promises.
The Body of Christ's blessings are spiritual, located "in heavenly places in Christ" ( Eph. 1:3), not earthly as Israel's kingdom promises ( Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 19:28). Paul stresses in Galatians 3:28 that in this dispensation "there is neither Jew nor Greek," showing the old covenantal distinctions are set aside in Christ.
Israel's promises of land and kingdom remain future ( Rom. 11:25-29). God has not abandoned Israel but postponed their program until the fullness of the Gentiles is come in. The Church today is not Israel redefined, but a distinct entity created by the revelation of the mystery ( Col. 1:25-27). To merge the two erases God's faithfulness to His covenants with Israel and diminishes the uniqueness of the Body of Christ's calling.
Who we are in the Body of Christ.
In this present dispensation of grace, the believer in Christ is part of the Body of Christ, not "spiritual Israel." Scripture makes a clear distinction between God's covenant promises to Israel and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Church. Israel was given covenants tied to land, law, kingdom, and priesthood ( Gen. 17:7-8; Exod. 19:5-6; Jer. 31:31-34). These covenants are never transferred to Gentiles or to the Body of Christ. Instead, Paul says believers today are made "fellowheirs" in a new, unprophesied program ( Eph. 3:1-6), not inheritors of Israel's covenants.
Romans 9:4 states that the covenants "pertain" to Israel, not to the Gentiles. Paul confirms this distinction in Ephesians 2:11-12: before Christ, Gentiles were "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise." Now, in Christ, we are "made nigh by the blood of Christ" (v. 13), but not by becoming Israel. Instead, Jew and Gentile are joined into "one new man" (v. 15), the Body of Christ, which is distinct from Israel's prophetic promises.
The Body of Christ's blessings are spiritual, located "in heavenly places in Christ" ( Eph. 1:3), not earthly as Israel's kingdom promises ( Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 19:28). Paul stresses in Galatians 3:28 that in this dispensation "there is neither Jew nor Greek," showing the old covenantal distinctions are set aside in Christ.
Israel's promises of land and kingdom remain future ( Rom. 11:25-29). God has not abandoned Israel but postponed their program until the fullness of the Gentiles is come in. The Church today is not Israel redefined, but a distinct entity created by the revelation of the mystery ( Col. 1:25-27). To merge the two erases God's faithfulness to His covenants with Israel and diminishes the uniqueness of the Body of Christ's calling.
Grace and Peace.
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