INTRODUCTION.—To God's people in the Scripture there are applied certain terms which are of heavenly origin. One of these terms is Israel. God first applied this to the nation that He called to be His people, to whom He revealed the whole plan of salvation, and who were the type of all those who are finally gathered in the heavenly Canaan. When God applies these names to His people it is because they have had an experience which fits them for the name. The word Israel means "a prevailer with God," an "overcomer." It is of heavenly origin. Let us follow this through the Scripture and see just who Israel is, and to whom God applies the term.
1. Upon whom was the name Israel first bestowed? Gen. 32: 28. Jacob, son of Isaac, was a deceiver. After wrestling with this heavenly Being Jacob was renamed Israel.
2. Who afterward was called by the name Israel? Ex. I :1~5. The name passed to his posterity. The descendants of Abraham are He brews. Gen. 14:13. In Egypt they were known as Hebrews, or Israelites. We read, however, in Genesis 17:1-6 that Abraham was the "father of many nations." God here is entering into a covenant ("new covenant") with, as the margin says, a "multitude of nations" through Abraham, who was called the father of the faithful.
3. What special blessing is bestowed upon the literal Israel? Rom 9: 4, 5. The promises: Forgiveness, regeneration, re-creation, sonship, inheritance, kingdom, name, crown, life ever more. The great and precious promises that make the soul of faith a partaker of the divine nature all come through the literal Israel of God, and all center in Jesus Christ of the seed of Judah.
4. What constitutes a true Israelite? Rom. 9:6-8; 2128-29. An inward experience, not out ward appearance.
5. Why were they called Jews? Ten of the tribes apostatized. Judah remained loyal to God, and gradually those from the tribe of Judah came to be known as Jews. Jesus was of the lineage of Judah. Rev. 5: 15. Jesus was a Jew, of the stock of Israel (Jacob), Abraham's grandson, as were all the prophets and all the apostles. Jesus Himself declares salvation is of the Jews. John 4:22; Rom. 3:1, 2. Abraham is "the father of us all"—Jew and Gentile. Rom. 4:16. The Roman converts were counted as the seed of Abraham. Paul was talking to Romans who were Gentiles. The book of Hebrews was addressed to the Hebrews—spiritual Hebrews. The literal Hebrews had long before been cut off. The book of James was addressed to the twelve tribes. There were no more literal tribes, as such, at that time; but James is writing to the twelve characters of God's people found among all nations, to spiritual Israel, the overcomers.
6. What did Jesus say of the true children? John 8:39, 40.
7. What determines us to be a child of Abraham? Gal. 3:7; 4:4, 5
8. To whom must we belong to be a child of Abraham? Gal. 3:29. A Christian is a true child of Abraham, according to the promise, "thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies." Gen. 22:16-18. The seed refers to Christ according to the flesh. In Galatians it cannot refer to literal seed, because they profess not Jesus. God counts Christians of every nation as the seed of Abraham.
9. Are the followers of Christ recognized as Israel? Gal. 6:15, 16.
10. How does anyone become the child of God or part of Israel? Rom. n :i7-24.NOTE.—The Lord uses an illustration to make it easily understood. He is speaking to the Gentiles, using the grafting method of nature, showing them how they must come into Christ. To make a sturdy tree we usually use a wild root and graft a tame branch into that for strength, and the fruit then is from the trunk and not the root. So, contrary to nature, the wild branch is grafted into the good olive tree, and the fruit comes from the root instead of the branch. Christ is the root; Abraham, the trunk; the branches are his posterity through faith. Some natural branches (Jews) were broken off, and wild branches (Gentiles) grafted into the trunk, thus drawing off because of unbelief. The Gentile has nothing to boast of. If he continues in unbelief, he will be broken off also.
11. Before the Gentiles become Israel, in •what condition are they? Eph. 2:10-22."Jesus had made an offering of Himself for both [Jew and Gentile], and if saved at all, both must believe in Him as the only offering for sin, the Saviour of the world."—Early Writings, p. 209. No longer is the test circumcision or uncircumcision, Jew or Gentile; but all are one in Christ.Converted Gentiles must conform to the law of Israel, which God gave them when He chose them as His people; else it would be the commonwealth no longer of Israel but of the Gen tiles. Commonwealth pertains to law, politic, art, or science of government. The Gentiles must bear the name Israel.
12. The twelve gates of New Jerusalem bear names of the twelve tribes. Rev. 21 :i2. Will only Jews be saved? No. There are no literal tribes today. Only those who will have been grafted into Christ, Jew or Gentile, will pass through those gates.
13. "And so all Israel shall be saved" by a Deliverer out of Zion. Rom. 11: 26. Those He saves are Israelites indeed of the common wealth of Israel and the household of God.
14. Whose names are in the foundation? Rev. 21:14. Those who believe in Christ are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Acts 17: 26. He "hath made of one blood all nations of men."
15. Who will come into the city? Rev. 21 -.24. All nations.
16. What do they have in their hands? Rev. 7:9. All nations, kindreds, people, and tongues have palms — emblems of victory — overcomers, prevailers, Israelites indeed. They all must enter through one of the gates that bear Israel's name, according to their characteristics.
NOTE. — Jacob's name was not changed till he had a new experience. That was when he prevailed with God. Not till he learned to talk and walk with God, and to obey God did God own him. We are saved not by nationalities, but as individuals (grafting in one bud at a time). Overcoming, which is obedience to God, is the condition on which we enter the city of God — New Jerusalem. If we are Christ's, then are we Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. God knows His people as Israel, no matter what nationality they may be, or where they come from. Only Israel is saved. "And so all Israel shall be saved." "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they fol low me." John 10:27.
