Not All the Church is the Church
The history of Israel is fraught with a degree of confusion. God chose a people group to serve Him, typologically, for a dispensation we call, “The Old Testament.” This small nation enjoyed a number of benefits that other nations did not enjoy. God gave Israel His Law. He made a covenant that came with promises and blessings. He gave Israel a sacrificial system that revealed much about God and about themselves. God was with Israel, was a blessing to Israel, was the hope of Israel, was rejected by Israel…save for a remnant.
This confusion is addressed by the apostle Paul when He claimed, “Not all Israel is Israel (Rom 9:6).” The Bible speaks of a faithful remnant of an unfaithful whole. To miss this “portion of the whole” revelation, in Scripture, is a recipe for error…gross error.
The elect people of God’s covenant of grace were the faithful remnant of ethnic Israel in the Old Testament. They served God in each generation. The majority of Abraham’s blood line proved themselves to be as despicable as the people of the nations around them. Their kings were deplorable. Their priests were degenerates. Their prophets were deceivers. The problem for Christians, today, is to miss this dichotomy in Israel.
If a Christian is gleeful about the reprobate Jews, being God’s chosen people, today, you can be sure he cannot see this dichotomy in the Old Testament Israelites. In each instance of rebellion against God, there is some measure of judgment recorded for our understanding. Jews who actively sinned in public were especially employable examples (ie. Korah, Dathan, Abihu, Zimri, Hophni, Phineas, Saul, Achan, etc.).
The church, today, must see the clear correlation. At present, there is a large visible church in the world, but adapting Paul’s contrast, “Not all the church is the church.” There are many on the day of judgment who will defend themselves, “Lord, Lord, did we not serve you, doing this and that and the other?” But Jesus will say on that day, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” How can this be?
In God’s predetermined plan, He decreed there would be a typological Israel, a church, and a remnant. True Israel was a type of the true church and these are both remnant entities. They represent those who received grace from God in their respective dispensations. This is the grace that gave them faith and also produced faithfulness in them.
Fake Israel often persecuted true Israel. Saul afflicted David. The Jewish religious leaders persecuted Jesus, who is Himself, the true Israel of God (Is 49:3). Fake Israel killed the prophets and the Messiah. Fake Israel resides with us, today, in the Middle East.
The fake church persecutes the true church, today. Why is it that we have so few truth-telling preachers, in our age? Look at the true prophets of the Old Testament, the true preachers in church history, and you will have your answer. To read Ezekiel 34 is to read the resume of many who pose as Christian pastors in America. There is no new thing under the sun.
The confusion caused by: cults, Romanism, the Arminian heresy, Dispensationalism, Pentecostalism, Liberation theology, the Prosperity gospel, women preachers and leaders, psychology, and new heresies (ie. Evangelical Universalism, Federal Vision, etc.), will not, and cannot thwart God’s salvation of His elect people, the bride of Christ, the church. This is Good News for those who love the truth and genuinely desire to walk in it.
In conclusion, we must encourage everyone who names the name of Christ to make certain their calling and election are authentic. Only the Spirit can testify with our spirits that we are the children of God. Many will be surprised, even shocked, on the day of judgment. All things will be revealed, including the motives of the heart. Many will be weighed, measured, and be found wanting for their doctrines, beliefs, and practices. There is the Refiner’s fire that will judge every man’s work. Our God is a consuming fire but blessed is the man who truly resides in the shelter of Christ Jesus, our Lord. He is a member of Christ’s church…the true church, the Israel of God.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 19, 2021
