CHAPTER 16  Identity of the True New Testament Israel

Is Israel in the New Testament the same as the nation of Israel in the Old Testament? In this essay we will examine this question based on what the New Testament has to say.

In Rom. 9:6-13 we read: 6 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

In verse 6 we are told that “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Clearly this shows us that God recognizes two Israel’s. We know the nation of Israel consisted of the blood descendants of Jacob or Israel as God changed his name to. However, in the New Testament we are introduced to a new Israel. The blood descendants of Jacob were the children of the flesh. The passage above describes this new Israel as being the children of promise. Another way of stating verse 6 is to say that they are not all the children of promise which are the children of the flesh. Also, we could say that they are not all children of the flesh who are children of promise. Thus there is a clear distinction between the Israel of the Old Testament and the Israel of the New Testament. Clearly there are children of promise which are not natural descendants of Jacob and there are children of the flesh which are not children of promise.

The true Israel of the New Testament are children of God and they are children by covenant promise. Isaac was a child of promise. He was promised by God before he was ever conceived in the womb. We was promised to be born at God’s appointed time and he was promised to parents whose bodies were reproductively dead. Likewise, we are children of promise by God’s choosing before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4, According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.) Moreover, our spiritual birth is at God’s appointed time: John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Additionally our spiritual birth is contrary to nature: Eph. 2:1-5 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” The doctrine of God’s sovereign choice of a people to be his is clearly set forth in this passage of scripture. God loved and chose Jacob and hated and did not choose Esau and this was done before they had ever been born or had done either good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand.

Many will deny God’s sovereign choice of a people and accuse God of not being fair for having done so. Their argument need not be with me, but they should take up their argument with the Holy Spirit who moved Paul to pen the above.

From the above it is abundantly clear that the true Israel of God set forth in the New Testament is the elect family of God which he chose before the foundation of the world.