Dictionary of Bible Themes As the people of God, the Christian church is continuous with Israel. The OT provides important anticipations of the church. 2 Chronicles 20:7OT terms for the people of God Isaiah 41:8-9The descendants of Abraham Romans 4:16Galatians 3:7 "children of Abraham" in the NT refers to those who, like Abraham, put their faith in God 1 Samuel 2:9The saints 2 Chronicles 6:41The term for "saints" means "set apart for God", "made holy", and is the most frequently used NT term for Christians: Psalms 16:3; 31:23Daniel 7:18 pp Ps 132:9 Psalms 1:5; 107:32; 149:1The assembly "assembly" means "a community gathered together in response to God's call to serve and worship him". Its NT equivalents include the synagogue and the church: Exodus 6:7The scope of the OT people of God See also Israel as God's people Exodus 19:5-6Leviticus 26:12 Jeremiah 30:22 Ezekiel 36:28 Hosea 2:23 Romans 9:6-7 Not all Israelites are God's people See also Ezra 9:8Even within Israel there are believers and unbelievers. Isaiah 1:9; 11:11,16Jeremiah 23:3 Those Israelites who believed were sometimes called "a remnant" Ezekiel 14:22Micah 2:12 Isaiah 2:2-3 God's people included non-Israelites See also Exodus 12:38,48-49pp Mic 4:1-2 Deuteronomy 31:12Ruth 4:10-11 Genesis 12:2 The formation of the OT people of God See also God's people are formed through God's promises Genesis 15:5; 17:5-6; 22:17-18Exodus 1:7 Deuteronomy 7:6 See also God's people are chosen and called 1 Chronicles 16:13Psalms 33:12 Ezekiel 20:5 pp Ps 105:6 Deuteronomy 5:6God's people have been redeemed See also Exodus 6:6; 19:4pp Ex 20:2 Ezekiel 20:6Exodus 24:8 See also God formed a covenant with his people Exodus 19:5; 34:10,27Deuteronomy 4:13 Judges 2:1 Jeremiah 31:31 Jeremiah 2:2 OT images of the people of God As God's bride See also Isaiah 62:5This OT image is taken up in the many references to Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. Hosea 2:16,19-20Ephesians 5:25-27 Revelation 21:2 Isaiah 5:1-7 As God's vine Psalms 80:8Jeremiah 2:21 These passages form the background to Jesus Christ's claim to be the true vine (Jn 15:1): Ezekiel 17:5-6; 19:10Hosea 10:1 Psalms 95:7 See also As God's flock Psalms 74:1; 77:20; 100:3Isaiah 40:11 Zechariah 9:16 Matthew 26:31 Zechariah 13:7 Luke 12:32 John 10:16 Acts 20:28-29 1 Peter 5:2-3 The NT church is also described as a flock: Deuteronomy 4:20See also As God's inheritance Psalms 28:9; 33:12Isaiah 19:25 Malachi 3:17 Amos 3:1-2 See also As God's family Exodus 4:22-23Deuteronomy 1:31; 32:6 Psalms 103:13 Israel was sometimes called God's "firstborn son" as well as his children Isaiah 1:2; 30:9Hosea 11:1 Malachi 2:10 Deuteronomy 5:1 Requirements of the people of God See also To obey God's word Exodus 24:3Deuteronomy 6:1-3; 13:4 Joshua 1:7 1 Samuel 15:22 Deuteronomy 5:15 See also To remember their redemption Deuteronomy 7:18; 15:15; 16:12Psalms 105:5 Exodus 12:25-27 To commemorate their redemption See also Numbers 9:2-3The focus of Israel's commemoration of their redemption was the Passover, which is one of the ceremonies lying behind the Lord's Supper. Deuteronomy 16:1Luke 22:14-20 Deuteronomy 6:5 See also To love God wholeheartedly Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:1; 19:9Joshua 23:11 Genesis 17:10-14 The marks of the people of God Leviticus 12:3Circumcision as a mark of God's people Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcision had to be internal as well as external, as a sign of spiritual commitment to God: Romans 2:27Colossians 2:11 Exodus 25:8; 33:15-16; 40:35 Numbers 10:33-36 The presence of God 2 Chronicles 5:14See also 1194 glory, divine & human1345 covenant 5075 Abraham 5214 attack 5703 inheritance 6720 redemption 7115 children of God 7135 Israel, people of God 7135 Israel, people of God 7141 people of God, OT 7145 remnant 7334 circumcision |
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