Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7021 church, OT anticipations of

7021 church, OT anticipations of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7010 The church as the people of God » 7020 church, the » 7021 church, OT anticipations of

As the people of God, the Christian church is continuous with Israel. The OT provides important anticipations of the church.

OT terms for the people of God

The descendants of Abraham

2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8-9; Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:7 “children of Abraham” in the NT refers to those who, like Abraham, put their faith in God

The saints

The term for “saints” means “set apart for God”, “made holy”, and is the most frequently used NT term for Christians:

1 Samuel 2:9; 2 Chronicles 6:41 pp Psalm 132:9; Psalm 16:3; Psalm 31:23; Daniel 7:18

The 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:

Psalm 1:5; Psalm 107:32; Psalm 149:1

The scope of the OT people of God

Israel as God's people

Not all Israelites are God's people

Romans 9:6-7 Even within Israel there are believers and unbelievers. See also Ezra 9:8 Those Israelites who believed were sometimes called “a remnant”; Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 11:11,16; Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 14:22; Micah 2:12

God's people included non-Israelites

Isaiah 2:2-3 pp Micah 4:1-2 See also Exodus 12:38,48-49; Deuteronomy 31:12; Ruth 4:10-11

The formation of the OT people of God

God's people are formed through God's promises

Genesis 12:2 See also Genesis 15:5; Genesis 17:5-6; Genesis 22:17-18; Exodus 1:7

God's people are chosen and called

Deuteronomy 7:6 See also 1 Chronicles 16:13 pp Psalm 105:6; Psalm 33:12; Ezekiel 20:5

God's people have been redeemed

Deuteronomy 5:6 pp Exodus 20:2 See also Exodus 6:6; Exodus 19:4; Ezekiel 20:6

God formed a covenant with his people

Exodus 24:8 See also Exodus 19:5; Exodus 34:10,27; Deuteronomy 4:13; Judges 2:1; Jeremiah 31:31

OT images of the people of God

As God's bride

Jeremiah 2:2 This OT image is taken up in the many references to Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and the church as his bride. See also Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16,19-20; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 21:2

As God's vine

Isaiah 5:1-7

These passages form the background to Jesus Christ's claim to be the true vine (Jn 15:1):

Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 17:5-6; Ezekiel 19:10; Hosea 10:1

As God's flock

The NT church is also described as a flock:

Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:2-3

As God's inheritance

Deuteronomy 4:20 See also Psalm 28:9; Psalm 33:12; Isaiah 19:25; Malachi 3:17

As God's family

Amos 3:1-2 See also Exodus 4:22-23 Israel was sometimes called God's “firstborn son” as well as his children; Deuteronomy 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 30:9; Hosea 11:1; Malachi 2:10

Requirements of the people of God

To obey God's word

Deuteronomy 5:1 See also Exodus 24:3; Deuteronomy 6:1-3; Deuteronomy 13:4; Joshua 1:7; 1 Samuel 15:22

To remember their redemption

Deuteronomy 5:15 See also Deuteronomy 7:18; Deuteronomy 15:15; Deuteronomy 16:12; Psalm 105:5

To commemorate their redemption

Exodus 12:25-27 The focus of Israel's commemoration of their redemption was the Passover, which is one of the ceremonies lying behind the Lord's Supper. See also Numbers 9:2-3; Deuteronomy 16:1; Luke 22:14-20

To love God wholeheartedly

Deuteronomy 6:5 See also Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 11:1; Deuteronomy 19:9; Joshua 23:11

The marks of the people of God

Circumcision as a mark of God's people

Genesis 17:10-14; Leviticus 12:3

Circumcision had to be internal as well as external, as a sign of spiritual commitment to God:

Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:27; Colossians 2:11

The presence of God

Exodus 25:8; Exodus 33:15-16; Exodus 40:35; Numbers 10:33-36; 2 Chronicles 5:14