In today’s news there’s much talk about Israel and the Promised Land. But what is “The Promise Land”? And what is “Israel” according to the Bible? After all, isn’t it the scriptures that define this?
In Exodus 4.22 The Lord spoke to Moses saying “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” So we ask, is that Israel really God’s firstborn son? The answer is no, not that one. That old Israel only depicted and mimicked things that are invisible “in Christ”.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10.10 “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” Showing us here everything they did had invisible implications of eternal realities in Christ.
The same is true for us who are baptized, not into Moses, but “in Christ”. The place of the fulfillment of all things is in a person, and not a place. And because the Israelites of old ate and drank of Christ back then, we can understand He pre-existed the time He appeared to fulfill and expire them on earth.
Everyone who was in that Israel, were the recipients, or “joint heirs” of the things they shared. Just as with the New Covenant Israel. Everyone who is there “in Christ” are joint heirs of the things that belong to God. The old covenant Israel depicted physically, in a hands on way, for us to learn of the greater reality of things in the spirit for those who are born of the spirit.
To associate, eat and drink of the things in the spirit as we just quoted. To assimilate and put on the things God has provided for us to partake of Him. We no longer need the old covenant because it is fulfilled and we now have a better way called the gospel.
It is “the gospel message of Christ that is the power of God for salvation”. There is no other saving but by faith. “From faith to faith”. That is it.
Truthfully Christ, the first born son, is spiritual Israel and Gods only begotten Son that the Exodus 4.22 son of God shadowed. Those who are “in Christ” are in the place the Lord said to Moses “Israel is My first born son”. This is the place the promises of God are fulfilled. Those who are “in Christ” are in “The Promised Land” because He is the place of the fulfillment of all the promises of God, for those born of the spirit as seen here in 2 Corinthians 5. 17 Therefore, if anyone is “in Christ”, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things areof God.” They are heavenly and not earthly.
Even Joshua was a parable of the rest in the promise land as it is written in the book of Hebrews 4.8 For if Joshua had given them rest, (by partitioning and dividing up the land) then He would not afterward have spoken of another day”. God spoke of another day because He did not want them to think of His things as being of earthly matter. We have a “heavenly calling”.
The New Covenant says “all the promises of God are yes and amen” where? “In Christ”. They are fulfilled “in Him” not in time and matter. In Christ all things take on their final form. This is the end gain and by-product of the gospel to the believer. All these things are accomplished by the word of God, and without the Word of God nothing will be. And what exists will remain untill the word has accomplished what God designed it to do. And ehen the things that were made in the time of creation are removed, then our inheritance will be without competition or distraction. We are receiving a kingdom thst cannot be shaken. “Everything that can be shaken will be shaken for the eternal to remain”. That’s it. Ahbadubada, thats all folks.
Our purpose is to be found “in Christ”. Or to borrow old testament nomenclature, to reside in Israel, in the promised land. The old depicted the new, but never becomes the new. The old has trade in value.
To be in “the promised land” and “in Israel”, and “in Christ” are all synonymous terms describing the same thing.
Those who are in Christ are in the new Israel, the only place the fulfillment of all scripture rests, as described in the New Covenant
Paul’s last words in the book of Galatians says this about the true Israel.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Showing for us here precisely who Israel is. That we the elect are in the Promised Land, in Israel and “In Christ” of God and not a place on earth, but anywhere two or more are gathered in His name.
We who are “in Christ” are in the fulfillment of all that was written and spoken of both the old and the new covenants. These things belong solely to us who are “in Christ” the true Israel of God and Gods only begotten son. You need not look for another.
Scripture says of Christ that “in Him dwells the fullness of the God head body, and we are complete in Him who is the head of all powers and principalities and principalities”. Another physical Israel on earth only obscures the truth.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. Amen.
