Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7135 Israel, as the people of God

7135 Israel, as the people of God

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7100 Titles of the people of God » 7135 Israel, as the people of God

God called Israel out of Egypt to be his own treasured possession and his covenant faithfulness with them is maintained, despite their persistent disobedience.

God's election of Israel

The nation was founded upon God's promises to the patriarchs

Genesis 12:1-3 See also Genesis 17:1-8; Genesis 35:9-13

Israel as God's chosen possession

1 Kings 8:53 See also Exodus 19:3-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 32:7-12; Psalm 135:3-4

God redeemed Israel from Egypt

Exodus 6:6-7 See also Exodus 3:7-10; 2 Samuel 7:22-24 pp 1 Chronicles 17:20-22

God enters into a special covenant relationship with Israel

Exodus 24:3-8

Israel's privileged status within the covenant

Romans 9:4-5 See also Romans 3:1-2; Philippians 3:4-6

Israel's disobedience to the covenant

Israel provoked God in the wilderness

Psalm 78:40-41 See also Exodus 32:1-10; Numbers 11:1-6; Numbers 14:1-4

Israel's unfaithfulness in the promised land

Israel exiled for her sins

2 Kings 18:11-12 See also 2 Kings 25:8-12 pp Jeremiah 39:8-10 pp Jeremiah 52:12-16

God's promise to restore Israel

God's promise not to abandon Israel completely

Deuteronomy 4:31 See also Leviticus 26:44-45; Isaiah 6:11-13 Though Israel will be destroyed, a holy remnant will be left; Jeremiah 31:35-37

God's promise to bring Israel back to the land

Jeremiah 30:3 See also Isaiah 43:5-7; Ezekiel 37:11-14

God's promise to reunite Israel

Jeremiah 3:18 See also Ezekiel 37:15-23; Hosea 1:10-11

The promise of a restored relationship between Israel and God

Jeremiah 31:31-34 See also Isaiah 40:1-2; Ezekiel 36:24-28

Israel returns from exile

Ezra 1:1-5 pp 2 Chronicles 36:22-23

Jesus Christ, the Saviour of Israel

Jesus Christ's ministry was specifically to the nation of Israel

Matthew 10:5-6 See also Matthew 15:21-28 pp Mark 7:24-30

Jesus accepts the title “Christ” (Messiah), God's anointed deliverer for Israel

Matthew 16:16-17 pp Mark 8:29 pp Luke 9:20 Although Jesus accepted the title “Messiah” (Christ), he did not fulfil contemporary Israelite hopes of a political deliverer.

Jesus Christ declares to Israel the good news of God's reign

Mark 1:14-15 Jesus Christ takes up Isaiah's message of good news, that God is coming in sovereign power to restore Israel (see Isa 40:9-10, 52:7). See also Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Luke 8:1

Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ

Israel warned that rejection of Christ means exclusion from the kingdom

Matthew 8:11-12 See also Matthew 21:33-46 pp Mark 12:1-12 pp Luke 20:9-19; Matthew 22:1-10 pp Luke 14:16-24; Luke 13:28-30

Israel's rejection of the gospel

Romans 9:30-10:4 See also Acts 28:24-28; Isaiah 6:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

God's faithfulness to Israel maintained

Membership of the true Israel is based on God's election, not merely on physical descent from Abraham

Romans 9:6-18

A remnant of Israel has been elected by grace

Romans 11:1-12

Paul declares that “all Israel” will be saved

Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 11:25-32 The phrase “all Israel” is interpreted as either: (1) the total number of the elect (either Jews, or Jews and Gentiles) of every generation, or (2) the great majority of Jews of the final generation who will be saved when Christ returns.

The new Israel

The church as the new Israel

Galatians 6:15-16; Philippians 3:3 See also 1 Peter 2:9-10

The church described as the 12 tribes of Israel

James 1:1 See also Revelation 7:4-8 Some see this as a reference to members of actual Jewish tribes, but others see it as symbolic of all the faithful believers who live through the time of tribulation; Revelation 21:12 The number 12 emphasises the continuity of the NT church and the OT people of God.

The apostles as the 12 leaders of the new Israel

Matthew 19:28 See also Luke 22:29-30; Revelation 21:14