The True Israel by J. N. Wilkinson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 17, 1866

The True Israel.

By J. N. Wilkinson

THE position taken by some is, that the literal Jews alone are the true Israel. The Jews themselves claimed this in the days of our Saviour, and urged as a matter which they thought worthy of consideration, that they were the literal descendants of Abraham. But it appears that Christ did not consider that they had any good ground for such a claim; for he told them that they were of their father the Devil. Paul says, "For they are not all Israel which are of Israel; neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 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."

He says that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness, and that it was thus reckoned when he was in uncircumcision, that the blessing might rest upon the Gentiles, and that righteousness might be imputed unto them as well as to the Jews. "For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

Abraham then is not a father of the Jews alone but also of the Gentiles. The apostle says that the Jews have the advantage somewhat over the Gentiles, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God; but says, "What then? are we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles]? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." God promised Abraham that he would make him a father of many nations; also that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed. Paul says, that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Again says he, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith." Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles; and he teaches us that the promise God made to Abraham was made in contemplation of the Gentiles, the same as the Jews. The unbelieving Jew has no more claim to the promises of God than the unbelieving Gentile. He says, "The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to all that believe." Paul conveys the idea that the true Israel are those that believe and embrace the promises of God through faith in Jesus Christ whether they be Jews or Gentiles.

In some instances Paul uses the term Israel in its broadest sense, embracing all Israel according to the flesh; and again only those which are the true Israel. For instance, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." He uses the term Jew in the same sense: "For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart," showing that they might be the literal seed, and still not be the true Israel, and also that they might be the true Israel, and yet not be the literal descendants of Abraham.

Some argue that all the literal Jews must be saved, because Paul says, "All Israel shall be saved." Allowing that this text had special reference to the Jews, it would only embrace those that believe. Says one, "He tells us also that they are beloved for the fathers' sake, and we should judge that he had a special regard for the Jews." God has, and ever had, a tender care for his people. He has just the same care and regard for them now that he ever had. He says in regard to the Gentiles, "I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved which was not beloved," &c. God promised ancient Israel if they would obey his voice indeed, and keep his covenant, that they should be a peculiar treasure unto him above all people, and that they should be a kingdom of priests and an holy nation. The apostle Peter uses almost the same language while addressing the Gentile Israel. Says he, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people," &c. Here we see the high regard God has for his people, both Jew and Gentile.

It is true Paul teaches us that we have been grafted into the good olive tree, contrary to nature, but says that we partake with them of the root and fatness of the olive tree; consequently we become rightful heirs with them. We claim and embrace the same promises and receive salvation and redemption, through Jesus Christ the same as they. He says, "The Scriptures foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying in thee shall all nations be blessed." Again, "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe." We are then the children of the promise, and Paul says that these are counted for the seed. And again, "If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." What is the promise? All Adventists agree that it is the promise made to Abraham, and to Isaac, and Jacob. The promise was renewed again, or confirmed with Jacob, after the Lord changed his name to Israel. And God said, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation and company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee will I give it and to thy seed after thee." Thus we see that all the rightful heirs to this promise would inherit the name of Israel.

Almost all professed Christians believe that we are living under the new covenant, and that the law of God is written on our hearts. Even those who oppose the law of God, seem willing to admit this; but with whom is this covenant made? Turn to Jer. xxxi, 33, and Heb. viii, 10, and we find it to be made with the house of Israel. Is the law written on our hearts? If so we belong to the house of Israel. But says one, "The 144,000 which stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, must be literal Jews, because they are sealed, 12,000 out of each tribe. Paul tells us that we have been grafted in among them, the Jews, margin, for them, consequently we not only become the true Israel by adoption, but have been initiated into the different tribes.

It appears that the apostle James understood it thus, by the manner in which he introduces his epistle. "James a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Here he addresses his brethren as the twelve tribes. No one would suppose that he meant the Jews alone. Hear him again in chap. v. "Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." Here he exhorts his brethren (which belong

to the twelve tribes) to be patient in regard to the coming of the Lord, and points them to the husbandman as an example of patience, and adds "Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

So we see that in every respect God's people are counted the true Israel. They not only belong to the house of Israel, but have been adopted into the different tribes, so that it gives the Jew no pre-eminence over the Gentile, but they are all one through faith in Jesus Christ. J. N. WILKINSON. Peterborough, N. H.