Old Testament Church Membership
Old Testament Israel, that is, the nomadic family that grew to be a nation, served typologically as God’s chosen people (Dt 7:6; 14:2). Set apart by the covenant promises of God, Yahweh later gave them His Law (Ex 20; Dt 5), to further reveal Himself to them. This made them even more peculiar as a nation among the nations (Ex 19:5; Dt 26:18). When they departed from obedience to the Law, God sent them prophets, who served as prosecuting attorneys.
For two thousand years, from Abraham to Jesus Christ, the Hebrew people suffered in a myriad of ways. Their struggle for survival, however, was emboldened by the writings of their holy book, the Bible. It gave them their history, their Law, much wisdom, and even corrections when they strayed into idolatry (the prophets).
To be a member of Israel’s family, one was born into a Jewish family linked to a larger tribe of people. The tribes of Israel were originally derived from the twelve sons of the patriarch, Jacob, whose name was changed to “Israel (Gen 32:28).” Israel’s heritage, however, included God’s people dating all the way back to Adam in 4143 B.C (Lk 3:38).
From the beginning, after the Fall of Adam (Gen 3), two distinct lines of people developed (Gen 5; 10; Mt 1; Lk 3). The unrighteous were marked by their rebellion against God. The righteous submitted to the one true God, the Maker of heaven and earth (Gen 1–2). Although the righteous were sinners like the unrighteous, the former group feared God and endeavored to please Him by doing right (Abel brought an acceptable sacrifice where Cain did not — Gen 4).
Yahweh revealed His predetermined plan and covenant with Abraham (Gen 12; 15; 17). Later, God renewed His covenant promises to Isaac and Jacob. This was to the exclusion of the likes of Ishmael and Esau. The Bible doctrine of election and reprobation use these names to explain God’s plan to save the chosen few but reprobate the many (See especially Romans 9). Even within Israel’s house this righteous/unrighteous distinction would be seen in later generations. The Apostle Paul captured this succinctly, “Not all Israel is Israel (Rom 9:6).”
Thus, one could be an outwardly visible member of Israel without being one in the heart (e.g. circumcision). God, of course, knows the heart of every person, as did Jesus, during His earthly ministry (Jn 1:47; 2:25; 5:42). External, visible church membership is the same, today. Some claim to be Christians, by their formal membership in the visible church.
God knows those who belong to Christ, however (1 Cor 3:23; 2 Tim 2:19), because the Father has given them to the Son (Jn 6:37) and the Father, alone, is the reason they come to Jesus (Jn 6:44). It is the Father’s work that one believes in Him (Jesus) whom He (the Father) has sent (Jn 6:29), and everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but has everlasting life (Jn 3:16). God is the one who searches the hearts of all, and His judgment is just (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:30).
A people group is known, in part, by their worshiped deity. Yahweh’s promise was to be Israel’s God, even as they would be His people (Gen 17:7). God was faithful (Dt 7:9). Israel, that is, ethnic Israel was not faithful (Jos 7; Ezra 9–10; Hos 2). Knowing His plan, from beginning to end (Acts 2:23), the revelation was given of a coming Messiah (Is 7:14; 9:6; Jer 23:5-6; Dan 9:25–26; Mic 5:2; Zech 12:10; Gal 3:16; etc.). This seed of Abraham and son of David would be the true Israel (Is 49:3), who is, faithful and true (Rev 3:14; 19:11).
Thus, Old Testament church members were typically ethnic Jews (conversion of Gentiles to Judaism is acknowledged but not expounded here). They were privy to the knowledge of God’s unconditional covenant revealed to Abraham, which the faithful believed (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jas 2:23). They were later exposed to the teachings of the Law given to Moses (Ex 20; Dt 5). They listened to the prophets’ warnings of their disobedience, and their hope was in the coming Messiah.
The false religion of Judaism, which Jesus and Paul (see especially Galatians), rebuked was a man-made, works-based religion of attempted obedience to the Law of Moses. It remains, today, as a false religion that promises salvation to the earnest who try to keep the Law. Only one person in human history has earned right standing before God, through obedience to the Law of God, and He is Jesus Messiah, the righteous (1 Jn 2:1).
The line of the righteous has always been justified before God’s judgment, by their faith in His revealed Word (unbelief in the revealed Word was the sin in Eden). Faith, by itself, is personal. It is unknown, until it is exposed by good works done so to glorify Yahweh (God the Father) or Jesus (God the Son).
Faith is always accompanied by works (Jas 2:14–26), but those works are always attributed to the work of God’s Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:27; Phil 2:13). They are a product of the Spirit, not a merit of one’s own. Whereas bovarism prevails among men of the world, who boast in themselves and their idols, church members bear witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Gal 6:14), as the Old Testament saints did without knowing His name.
One’s relationship to Yahweh, determined by one’s faith in the eternal covenant, the Law, and the Savior to come, is what made for an Old Testament church member. True members, invisible and only known to God, were mingled in with the typological holy nation of ethnic Israel, which repeatedly operated in idolatrous unbelief, in like manner to the surrounding nations.
Only the remnant would be delivered by Yahweh their Savior. Marked by love for God and faith in His covenant promises, Old Testament church members worshiped with the outward signs and symbols provided by the Temple, the sacrifices, and the priesthood — all of which pointed to union and communion with Yahweh. These were temporary, however. Only in Christ would they become permanent (see the Book of Hebrews). Trust in the coming Savior was key for Israel (OT), as it is for the church (NT).
The many types in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures all point to one Person. They look forward to Messiah, as prophet, priest, and King of Israel. In fulfillment of all that was written in the Law and the prophets, Jesus Messiah came into the world (Mt 5:17). He came to His own people, ethnic Israel, but He was despised and rejected by most of the nation (Is 53; Jn 1:5, 10–11). Again, it was a remnant of people who believed in Him (Rom 11:5).
In conclusion, church membership in the Old Testament had a visible, outward expression seen in the formation and history of the Hebrew people. Many who appeared to be church members were not actually members of the covenant because their hearts were not right with Yahweh. Their external religious observances were actually despised by God because they had become rote rituals. These people were just going through the motions. Even those who were zealous for the rites and rituals became proud in their perceived success at personal observance. Jesus often rebuked them, before they killed Him, thinking they were serving God in doing so.
A remnant within the Jewish nation loved and served Yahweh. They believed what was revealed to them, and for this they were counted as righteous before God, by God. These were the true church members of the Old Testament, known only to Him.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 29, 2021
