Israel = Church

The Reformation believes not only in a unity of Scripture (Rom. 15:4; Acts 17:2,11; etc) and a unity of salvation (Acts 26:22-23; Heb. 3:5; 4:2; Rom. 3:21; 1 Pet. 1:10; etc), but also in a unity of God's people. While some Christians mistakenly hold that God has two peoples (Israel and the church) and two purposes in history (an earthly and a heavenly purpose), Scripture is clear that God knows of only one bride, one olive tree, one temple, one flock, one kingdom, one vineyard, one chosen people, one household of God, etc. Saints from the Old and New Testaments are all part of the same people of God. The following chart shows some of the names common to both.

The Church is Spiritually One With The Old Testament Congregation of Israel

| | ISRAEL | CHURCH | | 1 | Israel | Israel of God - Gal 6:16; cf. Rom. 9:6-8. Fellow-citizens with Israel - Eph. 2;12, 19 | | 2 | Judah | Jew - Rom. 2:28,29 | | 3 | Heirs of Salvation - Eph. 3:16; Gal. 3:29; Heb. 1:14 | fellow heirs - Eph. 3:6 | | 4 | Peculiar, special treasure - Ex. 19:5; Deut. 14:2 | peculiar people - tit. 2:14 | | 5 | Holy nation - Ex 19:5; Deut. 14:2 | holy nation - I Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:14 | | 6 | A holy people - Deut. 7:6 | godly - 2Pet. 2:5,9 | | 7 | Special People - Deut. 7:6 | special people - IPet. 2:9; Tit. 2:4 | | 8 | A kingdom of priests - Ex 19:6 | royal priesthood - I Pet. 2:9; kings and priests Rev. 1:6 | | 9 | Jacob - Rom. 11:26 | Jacob - Luke 1:33 | | 10 | Saints - Eph 2:19; Dan. 7:18,22; etc. | Saints - Eph 1:1 | | 11 | Household of God - Eph 2:19; Gal. 6:10 | Spiritual house - I Pet. 2:6; household of faith Gal 6:10 | | 12 | Children of promise - Rom. 9:8 | children of promise - Gal. 4:28 | | 13 | Seed of Abraham - Is 41:8 | Abraham's seed - gal. 3: 7,29 | | 14 | Chosen - Deut. 7:7; 10:15; 14:2; Is. 41:8; 43:20-21 | chosen – Col. 3:12; IPet. 2:9 and elect I Pet. 1:2 | | 15 | Church, assembly Heb. 2:12; 12:23 | church | | 16 | The circumcision - Acts 10:45 | the circumcision - Phil. 3:3 | | 17 | Called to be circumcised in heart Deut. 10:16, | called to be circumcised in heart - Col. 2:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:29 | | 18 | General assembly and church of the firstborn - Heb. 12:23; Ex. 4:22 | we have come to the general assembly and church of the first born - Heb 12:22, 23 | | 19 | Commonwealth of Israel - Eph 2:12 | we are no longer aliens to commonwealth of Israel - Eph. 2:12ff | | 20 | Sion - 1 Pet. 2:6; Ps. 102:21 | We have come to Mt. Sion - Heb 12: 22 | | 21 | God's people - Hos. 1:9-10 | God's people I Pet. 2:10 | | 22 | "To whom pertains..." (Rom. 9: 4,5) 1) the adoption 2) the glory 3) the covenants 4) the giving of the law 5) the service of God 6) the promises 7) the fathers | (notice that the following Scriptures show the same things apply to the church) 1) Gal. 4:5, 2) Jn. 1:14; Acts 7:55; Heb. 2:10, 3) Eph. 2:12, 13, 4) Rom. 7:25; 8:2, 5) Rom. 6:15ff; Eph. 4:12; etc., 6) Gal. 3:29; 4:28, 7) our fathers too - I Cor. 10:1; Rom 4:11, 12, 18 | | 23 | Bride of/or Married to Yahweh - Is. 54:5, Jer. 2:2; 3:12; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2 | married to Christ - Eph. 5:23-33; 2 Cor. 11:12 | | 24 | Temple - Lev. 26:11, 12 | temple - I Cor. 3:16 | | 25 | Vineyard – Is. 5:3-7; Jer. 12:10 and/or Vine branches Jer. 12:10; Is. 60:21 | Vineyard – Luke 20:16 and/or vine branches - Jn. 15:4-7 | | 26 | The flock of God & Messiah - Psalm 78:52; Ps. 80:1; Is. 40:11; Jer. 23:1-3; 31:10; Ezek 34:12-16; etc. | The flock of God & Messiah – John 10:14-16; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:2-3 | | 27 | Houase of God – Numb. 12:7 | House of God – 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:2-6; 10:21; 1 Pet. 4:17 | | 28 | Jerusalem – Psalm 149:2; Is. 12:6; 49:18-22; 51:18; Lam. 4:2 | Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22 | | 29 | Children of Abraham – 2 Chron. 20:7; Ps. 105:6; Is. 41:8 | Children of Abraham – Rom. 4:11,16; Gal. 3:7,29; 4:23,28,31 | | 30 | An olive tree – Jer. 11:16; Hos. 14:6 | An olive tree – Rom. 11:24 | | 31 | Field of God – Jer. 12:10 | Field of God – 1 Cor. 3:9 |

©1983 Phillip G. Kayser