Topical Bible: Church of Israel: All Israelites Members of

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The concept of the "Church of Israel" refers to the assembly or congregation of the Israelites as the chosen people of God. This notion is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where Israel is depicted as a covenant community, set apart by God to be His people and to fulfill His divine purposes on earth.

Biblical Foundation

The idea of Israel as a collective body, akin to a church, is first established in the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham. In Genesis 12:2-3 , God promises Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." This promise sets the foundation for Israel's identity as a distinct people chosen by God.

The formal establishment of Israel as a covenant community occurs at Mount Sinai, where God gives the Law to Moses. In Exodus 19:5-6 , God declares, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Here, Israel is called to be a "kingdom of priests," signifying their role as mediators of God's presence and truth to the world.

The Assembly of Israel

The term "assembly" or "congregation" is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the gathering of the Israelites for worship, instruction, and communal decision-making. The Hebrew word "qahal" is often translated as "assembly" or "congregation" and is used to describe the gathering of the people before God. For instance, in Deuteronomy 9:10 , Moses recounts, "The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God, and on them were all the commandments that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly."

The assembly of Israel is not merely a social or political entity but a spiritual community bound by the covenant with God. This assembly is called to live according to God's statutes and to be a light to the nations, as seen in Isaiah 49:6 : "I will also make you a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

Membership and Identity

Membership in the Church of Israel is primarily defined by descent from the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and by participation in the covenantal life of the community. Circumcision, as instituted in Genesis 17:10-11 , serves as the physical sign of this covenant: "This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you."

However, the Old Testament also makes provision for the inclusion of non-Israelites who choose to join the covenant community. In Exodus 12:48-49 , it is stated, "If a foreigner residing with you wants to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, all the males in his household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you."

Spiritual Significance

The Church of Israel serves as a precursor to the New Testament understanding of the Church as the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 9:4-5 , reflects on the privileges of Israel: "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen."

In this way, the Church of Israel is seen as the initial expression of God's redemptive plan, which finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, extending the blessings of the covenant to all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 9:4
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;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Organization of the Apostolic Church.
... law of Moses was the sacred bond which united so closely the Church of Israel. The
ritual observances of the Hebrews, which had all a typical meaning, are ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the organization of.htm

"The House of Israel"
... hosts of evil power to keep the church captive; for ... that great city," which hath
"made all nations drink ... of her fornication;" and to spiritual Israel is given ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

The People of the Book.
... the writers of the Epistles, being all engaged in ... And the Apocalypse, being written
concerning Israel, the Israelites ... of Revelation has not the Church of God ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the people of the book.htm

Argument. --It is this God, Therefore, that the Church Has Known ...
... fables and figments of heretics, the Church knows and ... He delivered the groaning children
of Israel from the ... is to say, the seasons"whereby all the members of ...
/.../chapter viii argument it is this.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... heathen was received into the Church of Israel, it is ... as well as to the ministry;
and all Christ's disciples ... thy brother....neglect to hear the church, [228:1 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

On Attending the Church Service
... grand reason which many give for separating from the Church, namely, that ... no less,
in effect, than to affirm, that all the children of Israel went to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 104 on attending the.htm

In the Days of Queen Esther
... fear of them fell upon all people." Angels ... he sought to promote the welfare of Israel. ...
Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members will conspire against ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 49 in the days.htm

The Writing on God's Hands
... 'Captive Israel! ... having walls great and high, and its foundations garnished with
all manner of ... people in looking into the future, either of the Church as a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the writing on gods hands.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... followed the example of Jeroboam, while all, without exception ... as it was in the kingdom
of Israel under Jeroboam. ... us to the communion of their Church, they make ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

Prayer Essential to God
... at this point, and determined that even Church business should ... at God's hands, the
very being of Israel was imperilled ... All seemed lost but Moses and prayer, and ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/i prayer essential to god.htm