The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Church and the World, #4

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

"One body and one Spirit."

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)

"One fold and one shepherd."

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24)

The Lord Jesus Christ will sit on the Throne of David in Jerusalem. He is the King over all nations, particularly over His own elect.

The members of His Body will govern the nations with Him.

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

"So shall we ever be with the Lord."

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)

The Scriptures teach that there is one Kingdom of God, the kingdom that is coming to the earth. The Kingdom of God consists of those persons in whom Jesus is dwelling and ruling. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the Kingdom of God.

The Hebrew Prophets when proclaiming the truths of Christ were not addressing physical Israel.

Unto whom [the Hebrew Prophets] it was revealed, that not unto themselves [the physical land and people of Israel of the days of the Prophets] but unto us [Christians—Jewish and Gentile by race] they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into. (I Peter 1:12)

The new covenant, the Christian covenant, can be made only with God's Israel, the elect of God. Notice carefully the following:

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israe l . . . . (Hebrews 8:10)

The new covenant is made only with Israel. In order to enter the new covenant we must become part of Israel. When we enter the Lord Jesus we become part of true Israel, the Israel that is by promise (Romans 9:6-8).

The New Testament does not speak of any covenant made with Gentiles, only with Israel.

There only is the one good olive tree—the Seed of Abraham by promise.

The teaching that a Gentile Church will rule in Heaven while those of Jewish lineage will rule on the earth is incorrect. Only the victorious saints will rule the nations of the earth, and they will rule on the earth (although they will have complete access to the spiritual heavens).

The victorious saints are the firstfruits of Christ's Body. The victorious saints are drawn first from the Jews and after that from the Gentiles. Those who are part of Christ, of the Kingdom of God, are no longer identified as Jews or Gentiles.

To be continued.