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California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 11, 1875

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 15.

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Israel.

By T. D. Clark

WE find that the Israelites are to "keep the sabbath forever, for a perpetual covenant." Ex. 31 : 13-17. "Who are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all God blessed forever. Amen. Not as though the word of God has taken none effect, for they are not all Israel which are of Israel, neither because they are the seed of Abraham 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." Rom. 9 : 4-8. They are Abraham's children. Rom. 11 : 1; 2 Cor. 11 : 22.
We are Abraham's children by faith. Rom. 4 : 11, 13, 16; Gal. 3 : 6, 7; and thus all the true followers of Christ are Abraham's seed or children. Gal. 3 : 29. Before we were converted to Christ we were strangers from the commonwealth of Israel. Eph. 2 : 11, 12. But being converted we are brought nigh, Eph. 2 : 13, and are adopted into the family of God. Rom. 8 : 14-17. And then we are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Eph. 2 : 18-20.
The adoption of the Gentiles is brought to view by the figure of grafting. Israel is called a green olive tree. Jer. 11 : 16. Through unbelief the branches were broken off and by faith the Gentiles are grafted in and become true Israel. Rom. 11 : 17-23. And thus they become Israelites indeed and Jews inwardly, circumcised in heart and spirit. Rom. 2 : 28, 29. If we are Abraham's children we will do the works of Abraham. John 8 : 39. Abraham not only had faith but he kept God's commandments and laws. Gen. 26 : 5. And thus are those brought to view by the third angel, Rev. 14 : 9-12, Abraham's children in the fullest sense, for they keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14 : 12 and 12 : 17. These are Israelites as we learn from Rev. 7, where the same works are brought to view by an angel with the seal or sabbath of the living God to seal his servants in their "foreheads, and he sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Wherefore Israel shall keep the sabbath.
T. D. CLARK.