of Israel. One other thing we must consider. Those who do not subscribe to a future for

the nation of Israel, constantly refer to the Church as being "the Israel of God". You

would think, to hear them talk or write, that this was a title scattered all over the N.T., so

often do they use it. The Body of Christ, they say, is the real Israel. The phrase occurs

once only in the Scriptures, in Gal. 6: 16, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision

availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (or a new creation). And as

many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of

God". Now will you note that there are two companies here, not one. This is not a

descriptive title, even for all the saved at this time. "Peace be on them"--them that walk

according to this rule--"and mercy, and upon the Israel of God". The little word "on",

the preposition which is epi in the Greek, is repeated twice. We are dealing with two

companies not one. It was a description of the faithful Israel, the faithful remnant, at this

time. When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans there was a remnant

according to the election of grace. The few among the Jews were responding to the

Gospel; the bulk were not. They were not the true Israel; those Hebrews who were

saved during the Acts period, were the true Israel from the Divine standpoint, and they

are the Israel of God. This title is never used again in the N.T., and we have no right to

take this as a covering title for all the redeemed for all time. This is surely a very flimsy

basis on which to erect a great doctrine. Beware of one-text doctrines! Important

doctrines do not rest on single verses!

Let us be thankful to realize that God is unchanging in His love and purpose for His

earthly people, in spite of their sin, failure, and opposition. If this was not so, what

assurance could we have that He will always remain the same toward us, the members of

the Body of Christ?

In past studies together we have noted the wonderful fact that in the plan of the ages in

Christ Jesus, there are three spheres of blessing wherein His redeemed children have an

inheritance. When we reach the new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness

(II Pet. 3: 13), we shall have come round as it were in a full circle, because that is the

way God started in the beginning with a perfect creation. In this future new creation

these spheres will have their place. One is, of course, the earth itself. How often have

people read the Sermon on the Mount, and in it the verse which states "the meek shall

inherit the earth"? (Matt. 5: 5). All the redeemed are not going to heaven; neither are all

going to be blessed on the new earth. Some will evidently be blessed in each of these

spheres otherwise the Word of God is not true. And then we have seen, too, that

Abraham, although he had an earthly inheritance promised him by the Lord, looked for

something better, a better country and city as the Epistle to the Hebrews reveals. This is

the heavenly Jerusalem. The Apostle John also had a vision of it, and he describes it in

the last chapters of the Book of the Revelation.