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What is the difference between Israel and 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.
There is no Biblical evidence that the Church began either with Adam or Abraham, or that it ever existed in the Old Testament or even during the earthly life and ministry of Christ.
The first mention of the word “church” in Scripture is by Jesus Christ. And there is no Biblical record of Christ using the word anywhere in the four Gospels apart from three occurrences in Matthew (16:18; 18:17). However as a focal point of His teaching Jesus regularly referred to the coming kingdom. This was in keeping with the unanimous proclamation of the Old Testament prophets and the teachings of John Baptist.
Matthew 3:1-2,
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
When Jesus stood in Caesarea Philippi and made the claim, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18), His description went beyond any visible, physical organization on earth. This wonderful prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ is carefully defined by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:9 as a “mystery, which from the beginning of the world (i.e. eternity past) hath been hid in God.” A mystery is something not yet revealed. Therefore the Church is not a continuation of Judaism, nor is it to be identified with Israel.
Notice in Matthew 16:18, Jesus says “upon this rock I will build my church.” Jesus is speaking of an event yet future to the disciples. The future tense found in Matthew 16:18 and the “mystery” (Eph. 3:1-10) require the establishment of the Church to commence after the earthly life of Christ. [The Greek word used for “rock” (petra) [a large bolder] is played against the name Peter (Petros) [a pebble]. The rock or foundation of the Church is the confession (ultimately, the doctrine) of the apostles who played a foundational role in establishing the Church and writing the New Testament.
The first evidence of the distinction between Israel and the Church is the fact that the Church was born at Pentecost. This distinction is based on the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. According to Colossians 1:18: " And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” The Church is the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” That put simply states that entrance into this body (the Church) is by Spirit-baptism. Spirit-baptism was not instituted until the Holy Spirit came upon the Jewish believers in Acts 2:1-4,.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The second evidence for the distinction between Israel and the Church is that three specific events in the life of the Messiah were prerequisites to the establishment of the Church, and the Church could not have come into being until these events had taken place. These events are:
1. His death by which the atonement was provided.
Matt 16:18-21
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.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Eph 1:20-23
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
3. The ascension of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was not provided until after the Lord’s ascension. Eph 4:7-12
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The third evidence of the distinction between Israel and the Church is the “mystery” which characteristic of the Church. As mentioned earlier, a mystery is something not yet revealed. That is, a New Testament truth which was not revealed in the Old Testament. Ephesians 3:3-5:3 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;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
There are three features of the church that were never revealed in the Old Testament:
I. The concept of Jewish and Gentile believers united in one body. (Ephesians 3:1-12)
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
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;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
II. The Church as the bride of the Messiah. Eph 5:22-32
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
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.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
III. The Rapture, with its events of the resurrection of the “dead in Christ” and the translation into heaven of the living believers. 1 Cor. 15:50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1Thes 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 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.
The fourth evidence that Israel and the Church are distinct from one another is the concept of the “one new man” in Ephesians 2:15.
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; This “one new man” is distinguished from both Israel and the Gentiles and is comprised of believing members from both, identified as the Church in Ephesians 2:16
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and Ephesians 3:6 (“same body”).
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
The fifth evidence is found in that the same three groups are distinguished from each other in 1 Corinthians 10:12;
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: This verse is a contrast made well after the Church had been established.
The sixth evidence of the distinction between Israel and the Church is the fact that the term “Israel” is never used of the Church.
In the New Testament it is either used of Jews in general or Jewish believers in particular. Galatians 6:16 speaks of the subject of Jewish believers.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
“Judaizers,” or Jews who demanded adherence to the Law of Moses, were deceiving Gentiles to obtain salvation through the Law. For them, a Gentile had to convert to Judaism first before he qualified for salvation through Christ. In Galatians 6:15 Paul states that the important thing for salvation is faith, resulting in the “new man.”
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. He also mentions two elements of the Church; circumcision and uncircumcision. These two elements refer to two groups of people; believing Jews and believing Gentiles. These two entities of the Church are also identified by these very same terms in Galatians 2:7-9.
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
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