Page 4 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

God made special promises to the children of Israel. He unconditionally promised that the seed of
Abraham would be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 15:18-21). God gave the rite of circumcision as the
specific sign of this covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). In this covenant, God promised Abraham’s seed a land
(Genesis 12:1), He promised to bless Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:2), and He promised a blessing
and redemption (Genesis 12:3). These special covenants were made specifically to the children of Israel
and God’s covenants are sure and have been and will be fulfilled literally to Israel.

God also unconditionally promised David through Nathan the prophet in 2 Sam 7 that the Messiah
(Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a
kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic covenant is unconditional because God does not place
any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of promises made rests solely on God’s
faithfulness and character and does not at all depend upon David or Israel’s performance or obedience.
This promise is significant because it shows that the Messiah will establish a kingdom from which He will
reign from a literal throne. Again, this promise is made to David and his seed (Israel)--- a promise to
send a Savior and King. It is NOT a promise made to the church or transferred to the church.

So, while the idea of the “called out” assembly existed within the specially chosen nation of Israel, the
concept of the church in an age of grace was unknown before Christ’s death on the cross. But that both
Israel and the church are representatives of Christ on earth is true. In the Old Testament, Israel was to
make God known to the nations. In the age of a New Covenant (grace), the church has been called to
bring the world to repentance and salvation through Christ – to make Him known. God has chosen
people to represent Him.

Before Jesus Christ was crucified, He presented Himself to Israel as their King. The Jews rejected the
Kingdom under Christ and the apostles. That Kingdom, now rejected, will be set up again when Messiah
returns to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. That is a future event. So, when we pray, “thy
kingdom come” our prayers are for the lost to yield their hearts to the Gospel of Grace. But we also can
pray, “thy kingdom come” in a literal sense, waiting for the coming of the Lord to fulfill His promises to
Abraham and David --- a literal kingdom.

There are those today who say that the church introduced at Pentecost is now the recipients of those
promises made to Abraham. If this claim is true, then God’s unconditional covenants are NOT reliable or
true. We know that God has and will keep His promises to Abraham, literally!

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Are Israel and the church the same thing? Are the promises made to Israel transferred to the church
today?

This topic is one of the more controversial in the Church today, and it has significant implications
regarding the way we interpret Scripture, especially concerning the end times. More importantly, it has
great significance in that it affects the way we understand the very nature and character of God Himself.

Romans 11:16-36 records the illustration of the olive tree. This passage speaks of Israel the (“natural”
branches) being broken off from the olive tree, and the Church (“wild” branches or shoots) being grafted
into the olive tree. Since Israel is referred to as branches, as well as the Church, it stands to reason that
neither group is the “whole tree,” so to speak; rather, the whole tree represents God’s workings with
mankind as a whole. Therefore, God’s program with Israel and God’s program with the Church are part

1 https://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-church.html (used by permission)

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