Did Paul Just Call Believers in Christ, "The Israel of God" ?
Did
Paul just call believers in Christ, “The Israel of God” ? If you have ever read
the book of Galatians I hope Galatians 6:16 has left you with this question.
Modern day Christians don’t often think of themselves as Israel, in fact, some
are even opposed to being called Israel. So what is Paul saying in Galatians
6:16? Is he pronouncing peace and mercy on all that walk by the rule of faith,
AND ethnic Israel? Or is he calling everyone who walks by the rule of faith
Israel, Jew and Gentile alike? I think the answer is the latter. Paul is
calling everyone who walks by the rule of faith “The Israel of God.”

To
fight against the Judaizers’ false gospel, Paul engages in a careful argument
that shows why faith in Christ is better, and even supersedes, the Law. He also
goes on to show how the Law fits together with faith. The main idea of
Galatians comes in Galatians 2:16 where Paul says, “we know that a person is
not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” In
Galatians 3:6 and Galatians 3:7-9 Paul then shows how Abraham himself, the
father of circumcision and the nation of Israel, was actually counted righteous
by his faith and not circumcision.
Next,
look what Paul says about everyone who believes by faith. In Galatians 3:7 Paul
says, “know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham,” and in
Galatians 3:9, “Those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man
of faith.” Galatians 3:28-29 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs
according to promise.” Galatians 4:8 says, “like Isaac [we] are children of
promise.” It becomes pretty clear that Paul is arguing for faith being the
determiner of who is of “Israel” and who is not. In fact this helps us counter
the erroneous interpretation of Galatians 3:28-29 that is so prevalent today. Many
are saying Galatians 3:28-29 is proclaiming the erasure of roles between all
peoples, that everyone can do and be anything in the kingdom of God. But that
is far from the truth. These verses speak in no way to the loss of gender roles
between men and women in the kingdom, but rather, the inclusion of all peoples
and genders by faith in Christ into “Israel,” God’s special people!
When
we get to Galatians 6:16, Paul is giving one more rhetorical punch to the
Judaizers. Where the Judaizers were claiming to be “the Israel of God,” Paul is
saying all those that have included themselves in Christ by faith are the true “Israel
of God.” They will receive peace and mercy. It is no small thing to call
Christians “the Israel of God.” In fact, thinking of ourselves as Israel helps
us to better understand what God desires of us as believers in Christ. If you
have become a part of the “Israel of God” by faith in Christ, then you take on
the responsibility of “the Israel
of God.” Our responsibility as “the Israel of God” is to make God known to the
entire world by proclaiming the Gospel, and to be Holy as He is Holy.
Yes,
Paul did just call believers in Christ through faith the “Israel of God.”
Some
of these thoughts came from a recent sermon on Galatians 6:11-18. If you would
like to listen to the whole sermon please click on the link below.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SERMON
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