Romans 11:26a.... And so all Israel will be saved.

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The Church is Israel because Christ loved and died for the same exact people. Now most dispensationalist believe the Book of Revelation is written to the jews and not the Church, So they apply Rev 1:5-6 to the jews

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Now practically the same thing is said about Christ Church whom He Loved and gave Himself for her sins and washed Eph 5:25-26

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 17

 

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The Church is Israel because through it as promised all the seed of Israel is Justified in the Lord Isa 45:25

25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory.

Now we know that both jew and gentile believers are of the one seed of Abraham, the seed of Faith Rom 4:16-18

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be

Now God has Justified the seed of Israel by the Justifying both jew and gentile by Faith according to promise,

Rom 3:30

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Now this fulfills the promise of Isa 45:25

25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. 17

 

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To be honest, since the death of Christ national israel lost its covenant distinction as the people of God, no longer being the physical descendant of national israel was representative of Gods people, this foretold by Jesus Himself Matt 21:43

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

This nation the Kingdom of God is given to is the Church, the Body of Christ which is comprised of all ethnic groups to include jews, africans, germans, hispanics and so forth, so Israel is being saved during the times of the gentiles when racial distinctions have been done away with in Christ. The Kingdom of God distinction that national israel had is gone, permanently and given permanently to the Church Matt 16:18

. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Again the Church Christ is building is that Spiritual Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof of the Kingdom of God taken from national ethnic israel.

 

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We know that the Church is Israel by the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who was the Apostle to the Gentiles, and a Minister of the New Testament/Covenant Rom 11:13

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

2 Cor 3:6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Same New Covenant as here Jer 31:31

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

And notice his Testimony here Acts 28:20

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

His New Covenant Ministry as the Apostle of the Gentiles is the Hope of Israel. Thats the Mystery the jews despised him for, and ever persecuted him ! 18

 

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That Paul understood the Church, the Body of Christ which included Gentiles who believed in Christ as well as jews, is Israel, we look at a sermon he preached in Acts 13:23,32-35

23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a[a] Savior—Jesus—

Now Paul at that time was speaking in a jewish synagogue, but notice that some Gentiles heard this message, that God raised up for Israel a Saviour, Jesus, who is going to save His People from their sins Matt 1:21 thats a promise. Notice again in that same sermon Pauls words again about God raising up Jesus

32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to [i]corruption, He has spoken thus:

‘I will give you the sure [j]mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:

‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’

Now notice starting at Vs 42 of the same chapter at the conclusion of that sermon, some Gentiles came to Paul, no doubt moved by the Spirit of God and said:

42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

The Gentiles wanted to hear the same Gospel Message preached to them as it was preached to the jews, and how Jesus was raised according to promise, a Gospel promise, a Saviour to Israel. See that was the Mystery unfolding, that the Gentiles were joint heirs with jews of the same Gospel promises to Israel Eph 3:1-6

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the [a]dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel

The Gospel promise spoken of back in Acts 13:23 on how Jesus was raised a Saviour to Israel ! Gentiles were included in that Israel, with Christ as their head, who was raised from the dead.

This is the Hope of Israel Paul was in chains for Acts 28:20

For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

 

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This is the Hope of Israel Paul was in chains for Acts 28:20

For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

Now this Hope of Israel of which Paul was in chain, the jews for the most part rejected it, for it wasnt what they thought, and it concerned the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God Acts 20:23

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Some jews believed Paul Vs 24,25-27

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Then Paul reminded them that God through Isaiah and the Holy Ghost had foretold this judgment upon the jews in their rejection of the the Messiah and His Kingdom and Salvation:

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Mind you Paul is talking about " The Hope of Israel" Acts 28:20,

Then he says, that God was now sending this same message that the majority of the jews rejected regarding the Hope of Israel, and that they will hear it Vs 28-31

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

This proves that the Gentiles had part in the Hope of Israel, the Church ! 18

 

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The Inheritance to the Saints

The same Inheritance proves that the Church the Body of Christ is also Israel Spiritual from the OT, Paul writes Col 1:12-13

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

This is not a physical inheritance but Spiritual and Heavenly, its the Inheritance promised the Saints of Old and which they looked for and desired, admitting they were pilgrims and strangers to this physical world Heb 11:8-16

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Its the Inheritance Paul refers to in Gal 3:16-18

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

And its the inheritance Peter writes of here 1 Pet 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Gentiles are included in this Inheritance as the seed of Abraham as we see in Col 1:12 and also Acts 26:17-18

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Gentiles are called to this Eternal Inheritance Heb 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 18

 

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Israel and the Church are One because, not national Israel, but Spiritual Israel of God, the elect remnant, because Israel /Jacob are the Lords Portion and His Inheritance Deut 32:9

The NT counterpart the Church now emerges as the same Eph 1:17-18

The Church is in view here Ps 33:12

Remember Paul speaking of the Church said they were the Lords Chosen Eph 1:4,18

God doesnt have Two sets of chosen Inheritances, no they are One and the same people Chosen in Christ !

 

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The Mystery is that the Gentiles God has been calling is Israel.

See Rom 11:23-27


When the Fulness of the Gentiles have completed, then God has fulfilled the promise that all Israel shall be saved

Eph 3:3-8

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

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A Saviour unto Israel​

Acts 13:23

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

This was not peter here, but Paul, the apostle unto the gentiles, who makes this very important statement, and sheds much light upon for whom Jesus Christ came to save as according to promise..

Another important scripture that lends to the truth of this is Lk 1:68-69

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, [see Matt 1: 21]

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70As he spake [or promised] by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

This promise of redemption of His people, as the Lord God of Israel, hath been revealed and promised since the world began..

This takes us back to the first proclamation of the promised salvation or redemption to Gen 3:15

15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel

This seed of the women would be Israel [Christ and His People]..and the which, salvations first promise is to and for this seed Israel, the seed of the women..

This is some what typed out or signified in Rev 12:1-2

1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [the birth of Jesus Christ]

This women had also a seed as we see later in Rev 12:17

17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

[ so Christ and his Members are the seed of the women Gal 3:16,29]

So salvation and redemption from the conception of the world, had only a particular seed in view, which later became known as Israel..

But now, its important to understand, that the Israel paul is referring to in Acts 13:23..is not Israel according to the flesh. But Israel according to Promise..

Lets show here how Paul discerned another Israel other than national Israel Rom 9:6

Not as though the word [or promise] of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel [Acts 13:23],] which are of Israel [nationally]:

You see, the promises of redemption and salvation as stated in Lk 1:68-70, to the people of God, the God of Israel, the promise were not to national Israel. but a spiritual remnant within that nation, and as we will find out, a spiritual remnant among the nations of the world, which constituted Israel,[Rom 11] the one Paul preached in Acts 13:23

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Now Paul had the Israel of God [Rom 9:6] in view when he made this statement in the above..

Now get this next point, for its tricky, but nevertheless its extremely important because of the symmetry and analogy of scripture.

The difference between what Paul preached here in Acts 13 :23 and what peter taught here in Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The difference is this. For Peter was correct in that Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God to give repentance to a certain chosen people Israel. But what peter did not know but what Paul did know is this:

That Israel was no longer viewed as a mere physical ethnic nation, but that Israel was comprised of Gentiles as well, who became Israel.

Notice Eph 2:12,19

12That at that time ye [gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

They [Gentiles] are now no more strangers and aliens, but fellowcitizens [of Israel Gods chosen people] and so now they also have the same right to be called Israel,

in fact, even more of a right than the non elect jews of that nation. Because the Israel of God was never non elect jews, but Elect Jews like Jacob over Esau or Isaac over Ishmael..Children of promise..

So salvation and redemption has always been limited unto Israel as a people, but the mystery that was not clearly unveiled since the world began [Gen 3:15]

Eph 3:3-6

3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;


6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [Lk 1: 68-70]

In that Israel was made up of Gentiles also. Yes thats the unveiling in more detail by Paul of this mystery..[Israel of God was never a physical nation but a Spiritual people or Nation Rom 2,1Pet 2 ]

but nevertheless, true to promise, salvation and redemption is and has always been limited to a chosen people [Israel] not limited to a certain geographical location as national Israel in the middle east or a certain ethical people [respect of persons], but the scope of this Israel of God is world wide. But nevertheless its only to the world of Gods Israel, all others, are blinded..

You know how Paul says in Rom 9: 6

For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:


So likewise, they are not all the world [for whom Christ died] which are of the world [the inhabited earth]

Just like there was an Israel within Israel that God had a respect and favor for, likewise there is a world within the world that God has a special regard for, and that world is the Israel of God, the Spiritual seed of Abraham.

 

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Salvation Limited to Israel


Here are some more scriptures that set forth the particular nature of salvation from types..

In looking forward to the work of the cross and its accomplishments and its attending blessings, and to who they applied, we have this in Zech 12:10

10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Notice here to whom the spiritual blessings of repentance was to be poured out to..

Not everyone in the whole wide world, but to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem..

The Jerusalem here is not the city in Israel, but the Jerusalem from above:

Gal 4:12

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Heb 12:23

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Zech 12 is describing their conversion because of the power and blessings of the cross.

Notice it says the house of David ! The House of David or the Tabernacle of David includes the gentiles.

This we see Acts 15:14-16

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.


15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

The gentiles are called the tabernacle of David, intimating the mystery that paul fully taught about in His Ministry, but we see here that the apostle James had somewhat been enlightened of the scripture, for he quotes Amos 9:11-12

11
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

12That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

And he of course applies this to the out calling of a people from amongst the gentiles to be a people for Gods name sake The LORD GOD OF ISRAEL..

Zech 13:1

1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Again, particularly pointing out to whom the fountain was open to. That cleanses from sin and uncleaness [the blood of Christ] it was not to or for all mankind, but for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the house of David.

These designations indicate Gods elect apart from the other inhabitants of the world..

So God has always kept a particular discriminate people to whom He deals with favorably, over and above other people. And its by His grace alone.