The purpose of this study on “The True Israel of God” is to demonstrate that according to God’s holy Word, all believers in Christ are the true Israel of God. They are God’s chosen people and the current heirs of the promises made to Abraham through his seed, which is Christ.
We will also show that the physical nation of Israel today is not God’s chosen people in a special sense. The Scriptures teach that after Calvary, God deals with both Jews and Gentiles equally, without favoritism (Romans 2:1; 3:22-23). There is no future period where Christ will reign on an earthly throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years with Israel as a favored nation.
This truth has been obscured by false teachings over the past 150 years that suggest God will deal with physical Israel as His chosen nation in a future earthly reign. Our study aims to counteract this by showing that these promises are spiritual and fulfilled in Christ and His church.
Through personal study, I have come to appreciate my position as an heir of Abraham through Christ. My goal is to glorify Christ by showing His current reign from heaven over His people and all creation.
By understanding this truth, readers will recognize their inheritance as spiritual seed of Abraham and live accordingly while awaiting Christ’s return. We should not offer false hope to Jews about being God’s chosen nation but instead share the gospel, emphasizing that only through faith in Christ can they approach God and enter heaven.
What the Word Teaches on this Subject
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Section |
Summary Statement |
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Introduction |
All believers in Christ are the true Israel of God, heirs to Abraham’s promises, not physical Israel. |
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Scriptural Principle |
God’s dealings follow “first natural, then spiritual,” with no return to natural Israel. |
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Ephesians Analysis |
Ephesians shows Jews and Gentiles united in Christ, forming one spiritual body. |
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Galatian Insights |
Galatians proves only faith, not physical descent, makes one a child of Abraham. |
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Christ on David’s Throne |
Christ currently reigns on David’s spiritual throne in heaven, fulfilling prophecies. |
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The Spiritual Kingdom |
God’s kingdom is spiritual, present in believers’ hearts, not an earthly future reign. |
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Fulfillment of Promises |
Abrahamic promises are spiritually fulfilled in Christ and His church. |
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The Holy Spirit’s Role |
The Holy Spirit regenerates believers, making them part of spiritual Israel. |
Scriptural Principle: First Natural, Then Spiritual
The Scriptures operate on the principle that “first comes the natural, then the spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:45-46). This means God first dealt with natural Israel and then with spiritual Israel (the Church). There is no basis for returning to natural Israel in a future period; that would violate this principle.
New Testament writers consistently interpreted Old Testament scriptures in a spiritual sense, applying them to the Church rather than to natural Israel. This is evident in over 100 references where they give Old Testament passages a spiritual meaning relevant to believers in Christ.
Ephesians: One Body in Christ
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul revealed that it was God’s eternal plan to have—not a small nation—but a worldwide body comprising people from all nations (Revelation 7:9). This was the mystery hidden until revealed through Paul (Ephesians 3:4).
Before Christ, Gentiles were without hope, alienated from the commonwealth of natural Israel, strangers from its covenants (Ephesians 2:12). Now, through Christ, God offers His unsearchable riches freely to all nations without requiring them to become Jews physically.
In Christ, Gentiles who were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel are now fellow citizens with the new and spiritual Israel. Those who were strangers are now members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
Thus, the commonwealth now includes both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ. Unbelieving Jews are simply part of the world’s nations, not part of this spiritual commonwealth.
Paul distinguishes between natural Israel and true spiritual Israel, stating “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Romans 9:6), and refers to natural Israel as “Israel after the flesh” (1 Corinthians 10:18).
Galatian Insights: The Seed of Abraham
In Galatians, Paul addresses Judaizers (Jewish Christians who taught that Gentiles must observe Jewish customs, especially circumcision, to be saved). He calls their teaching “another gospel” (Galatians 1), emphasizing justification by faith alone, not by works or physical descent.
Paul asserts that Abraham was justified by grace through faith (Galatians 3:6; Romans 4:3), and his true children are those who share his faith (Galatians 3:7). Therefore, only those who have faith are considered children of Abraham; natural descent has no bearing.
Believers today look back to Christ’s work, as Abraham looked forward, both saved by faith in Him (Galatians 3:8-9).
Christ on David’s Throne
Gabriel announced that Christ would sit on David’s throne (Luke 1:32-33). Peter confirmed on Pentecost that this prophecy was fulfilled: Christ has ascended to heaven, sitting at God’s right hand on David’s throne (Acts 2:29-36).
New Testament scriptures confirm Christ’s current reign from heaven (Ephesians 1:20-23; Matthew 28:18). Thus, Christ rules now on David’s spiritual throne, fulfilling all related Old Testament promises.
The Spiritual Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God is spiritual, not earthly (John 18:36; Romans 14:17). It is within believers (Luke 17:20-21), and they enter it through new birth (John 3:3).
The kingdom is present now, with believers translated into it (Colossians 1:13), and will have its full manifestation at Christ’s return.
Fulfillment of Abrahamic Promises
God made four promises to Abraham:
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A great nation
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A great posterity
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Inheritance of Canaan
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The Messiah
All these have been fulfilled:
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Great nation: fulfilled under Moses and Joshua.
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Great posterity: fulfilled as numerous as stars.
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Inheritance of Canaan: fulfilled under Joshua.
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The Messiah: fulfilled in Christ.
Thus, all promises are fulfilled, with spiritual fulfillment in Christ and His church.
The Holy Spirit’s Role
Salvation requires regeneration by Holy Spirit (John 3:6), who convicts, converts, and seals believers. Only through Spirit’s work can one be grafted into Christ, becoming part of the true Israel of God.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the true Israel of God consists of all believers in Christ, not physical Israel. Scriptures clearly support this through principles of first natural then spiritual, New Testament interpretations, and fulfillment of promises.
Believers should rejoice in their identity as spiritual Israel, heirs of Abraham’s promises, and live accordingly.
The Dispensational focus on the natural instead of the spiritual leads people to seek after signs and wonders and material blessings instead of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, just like the first century Pharisees did. More and more I am seeing Dispensational teaching as a deadly poison in the church, not just a mere difference in interpretation of eschatological events that may be overlooked.
Amen — you’ve expressed it so well. Dispensationalism’s emphasis on the natural realm — physical nations, earthly temples, political events — has diverted many from apprehending the spiritual realities that are ours in Christ now. As you said, this isn’t a harmless difference of opinion but a shift in focus that blinds hearts to the true Kingdom of God.
That’s one reason I’ve begun a new blog series called Unseen Realities: Spiritual Truths Revealed Through Natural Patterns. The first post, “First the Natural, Then the Spiritual,” lays a foundation for understanding how God uses visible, earthly things to reveal eternal truths — if we have eyes to see. I believe it speaks directly to this issue.
You can find the series here (Currently a work in progress): https://www.theovercomer.org/2025/05/17/first-the-natural-then-the-spiritual/
Thank you for sharing, and may the Lord continue to open the eyes of many to behold the riches of Christ!