day no. 17,016: Christ is King and Christians are Israel

“Christ is king of Israel, and Christians are the Israelitic race.” — Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho (155-160 AD)

Insisting that Christ is King is not a new thing. This kind of language has been used ever since the earliest days of Christendom. These words were being used when the cost of saying them was much higher. They were said to kings who took offense to them. While the use of this phrase may be trending again, it is only because we are beginning to pick up something we had foolishly set down. Rest assured, the Church of God is the new Israel and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. 

“The restoration of Israel that is frequently promised in the Old Testament is a restoration that is accomplished in the foundation of the New Israel, the Christian church. Put another way, the Church is Israel now. ‘And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd’ (John 10:16). ‘And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God’ Gal. 6:16). ‘For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh’ Phil. 3:3). ‘And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband’ (Rev. 21:2).” — Douglas Wilson, The Prophecy of Micah, pt. 4

The Church is Israel now. The Israel that you read about in your Old Testament, the one with promises being made to it, is now the Church and I believe in its holiness and catholicity, just like the Apostle's Creed taught me.

Galatians 6:14-16
Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

The resurrected Christ ushered into existence a new creation complete with a new day of worship. In this new creation, the old signs do not set apart. We no longer circumcise, we baptize. Baptism is a superior sign. It is bloodless and it is boundless. It relies on the shed blood of Christ and so requires no new blood to be shed. It points to the nations being saved, Jew and Gentile, men and women. 

Baptism is the sign of covenant entrance and the Lord's Supper is the sign of covenant renewal. These are the keys that Christ gave to His Church. And what do these keys unlock? The gates of Heaven. And what do these keys lock out? The gates of Hell.