For those who have not read Who and Where is Israel Today? Key word–Who, I recommend that you do so in conjunction with this teaching. What one will learn from the Who series is that God does not change. He commands obedience to His Word for all people of all time who wish to join Him in His earthly paradise upon the return of His Son to earth. He is no respecter persons, including Jesus of Nazareth. Though He had once been half of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, universe-creating Godhead, the Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14) came to earth as a man like all other men. As a human being He had to obey His heavenly Father in order to remain in His love and fulfill His commission to be the Savior of mankind (Jn. 15;10). In order to join Them in the Kingdom of God, salvation seekers must follow Christ’s example of obedience to the Ten Commandment Law.

Just as Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, so are His requirements for joining Him in the Kingdom of God when this life is over. This teaching covers the Lord’s commands to both Old Testament and New Testament salvation seekers. One will notice that the instructions are EXACTLY THE SAME FOR BOTH GROUPS, FOR IN THE END, THEY WILL FORM THE SAME GROUP–GOD’S VERY ELECT SAINTS KNOWN AS THE ISRAEL OF GOD WHO HAVE BECOME HIS CHURCH–SPIRITUAL ISRAELITES.

This Biblical Truth is brought out in Acts 1:6 where Christ’s disciples, knowing that their Leader would die and return to earth to establish God’s Kingdom, ask Him when He would “RESTORE (recreate) the (God’s) kingdom to ISRAEL?” Jesus replied that it was not for them to know WHEN that event would take place. But they did need to know WHAT they and all future apostles were to do until His (Christ’s) return. In order to fulfill their responsibilities they would soon receive the Holy Spirit whose power would be necessary in order for them to be His WITNESSES throughout the earth.

Jesus had earlier clarified the Word “witness” in Matthew 24:14, stating: “… this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM (OF GOD) WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS TO ALL NATIONS ….” We must understand that the same Gospel was preached to both Old and New Testament saints, which would include Gentiles who, by obeying the Ten Commandment Law, would become spiritual Israelites–“the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).

In that the apostles were to spread His Gospel message throughout the world, make converts, identify leaders who would develop churches, etc., believers in the future would need to follow the same holy script–God’s Word. History reveals that, since the apostles first ministerial venture into the world (Mat. 10:6), the process of turning people into spiritual Israelites has continued to this day. The Gospel Christ and His original apostles preached so long ago is still being preached by Christ’s apostles today. The Word Who became Jesus of Nazareth, identified as “the Scripture” in Galatians 3:8, preached that same Gospel to ABRAGAN. This is the same Gospel God’s modern-day apostles preach to those who will hear it (1 Cor. 10:11). Sadly, only a minutely few listen to God’s Truth, even fewer believe it, and even fewer obey it, just as He warned in Matthew 7:13,14 and 22:14. Many are called to do so, few answer His call.

The point the Lord makes throughout both the Old and New Testaments is that His requirement for achieving oneness with Him, abiding in Him and receiving the promises proclaimed in His Holy Scriptures is the same today as it was anciently–OBEDIENCE TO HIS TEN COMMANDMENT LAW. Such obedience is absolutely mandatory in that SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THAT LAW (1 Jn. 3:4). Sin separates the believer from God (Isa. 29:2) which prevents him/her from being one with Him and abiding in Him. The oneness seeker must also walk (live) in agreement with Him (Amos 3:3). That walk involves “walking as Jesus walked” (1 Jn. 2;6). Contrary to popular church beliefs, a believer cannot be one with Him, abide in Him and walk in agreement with Him while being separated from Him by sin. We are assured that Jesus, or Mary, “handles” those pesky sin problems.

Open-hearted (minded) Bible study reveals that by obeying God’s Law the believer is in fact walking in agreement with Him, being one with Him and abiding in Him. Several passages of Scripture reveal that Old Testament saints abode with the Lord, walked with Him in oneness and agreement with Him. Nothing has changed–New Testament saints must also walk (live) IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS LAW. We will now examine both Old and New Testament Scriptures which will prove that God’s COMMANDS to modern day spiritual Israelites (His true church–Gal. 16:16) is the same as it was thousands of years ago when those same commands were taught to biological Israelites. God’s call is to holiness, righteousness and godliness, without which no man or woman will see God or enter His kingdom. The following passages will prove that point.

In Exodus 19:5,6 we find God (the Word Who became Jesus of Nazareth–Jn. 1:1-4,14) telling Moses what to tell the nation of Israel (the descendants of Abraham) whom He had chosen to be His light to the Gentile world. Gentiles (Heb.–Goiim–heathen) consisted of all people who were not Israelites–God’s chosen Law-governed people. He then told Moses that Israel would: “… be to Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS AND A HOLY NATION.” Later, Moses would remind the Israelites that they were a “HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD” whom He had chosen to be a “PECULIAR PEOPLE ABOVE ALL OTHER PEOPLE OF THE EARTH” whom He had “CHOSEN TO KEEP HIS TEN COMMANDMENT LAW.” Because of their obedience, He would “SET THEM HIGH ABOVE ALL OTHER PEOPLE ON EARTH AS A PECULIAR AND HOLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD KEEP ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS” (Deut. 14:2; 26:18,19). In Psalm 135:4 the psalmist describes Israel as the people God had chosen for Himself to be His “PECULIAR TREASURE.“

Now we will look as what God says about His New Testament saints–His true church–the “Israel of God.” In Titus 2:14 the Apostle Paul reminds us that God’s true church has been “REDEEMED FROM INIQUITY” (Law-breaking), making them a “PECULIAR PEOPLE WHO ARE ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.” In First Peter 2:9 we find the apostle reminding the Lord’s true saints that they are a “CHOSEN PEOPLE, A ROYAL PRIESTOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE WHO … HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO GOD’S MARVELOUS LIGHT. ” In 2:24 God’s people are identified as those who are “DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.” In 1:15,16 Peter reminds God’s saints that they are to be “AS HOLY AS THE ONE WHO HAS CALLED YOU TO BE AS HOLY AS HE IS HOLY.”

As the above Truths reveal, in order to be Christ’s true saints who will rise to meet Him in the clouds upon His return, WE MUST BE HOLY IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE’S “WALK.” This means that we must obey God unto holiness, righteous and godliness, which means to have conquered sin by overcoming Satan’s temptations. Sin is the transgression of God’s holy, just and good Law (1 Jn. 3:4/ Rom. 7:12). Therefore, as was the case anciently, HOLINESS IS ATTAINED BY OBEYING THAT LAW, INCLUDING COMMANDMENT #4, WHICH IS THE “SIGN” THAT ONE IS A TRUE CHILD OF GOD (Exo. 31:13). L.J.