Israel as Priests vs Believers / Body of Christ as Ambassadors

Israel as Priests vs Believers / Body of Christ as Ambassadors

 

Background:

In review, one of the basic principles of Bible study was told by the Apostle Paul to his protégé` Timothy, when he said: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2: 15)  As one example of this principle, Paul revealed a two-fold purpose of the coming of our Lord Jesus in His First Advent:

First, for Israel, to fulfill the Gospel of the Kingdom: The Lord Jesus came “to confirm the promises made to the fathers” relative to His Coming Kingdom and Israel’s serving as His priests. They would teach the rest of mankind (the Gentile world) God’s standards for worship and living. (Genesis 12: 1-3; Exodus 19: 5-6; Matthew 4: 17, 23; Mark 1: 14; Luke 4:43).   – (Romans 15: 8)

…but following Israel’s rejection of the Lord Jesus as their Messiah…

Secondly, for believers in the Gospel of Grace:  Through His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection, the Lord Jesus served as our substitute, and has paid the eternal death penalty for the sins of all mankind. (Genesis 3: 15; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 3: 22-26; 8: 10-11; 10: 9-13; Romans 15: 9) Mankind has received this pathway to the eternal salvation of our souls…if we will believe. Pastor Joseph Prince and other teachers gave me this insight: Because our God is Righteous, He has already punished His Son Jesus for our sins. He would not be Just and Fair if He were to punish believers for the same sins. In this “Divine Exchange”, the Lord Jesus took the punishment we deserved, and we received His righteousness, that we did not deserve / earn. That is God’s Grace.

Now, let’s review a little more on these differences in the respective roles of the Nation of Israel versus the believers in the Body of Christ in God’s Plan for man’s salvation. (For more background on why we “need salvation”, read Genesis Chapter Three; Romans 3: 23; and 5: 12)

Israel as Priests:

Exodus 19: 5,6, 8 – The LORD instructing Moses to tell the people of Israel:

“5		Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6	And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the   words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”  (See Revelation 1: 5-6; 5: 10) 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” NOTE: The LORD Himself defined the role Israel was to play on His behalf. [“Priest” – Strong’s # 3548 : “one officiating; priest] - was first used in Genesis 14: 18: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”  The Book of Leviticus is called the “manual of the priests”.  Leviticus 10:11 notes the LORD telling Aaron: “And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”  Clearly, the people of Israel had to know the LORD’s statutes before they could teach the Gentiles. As related to worship and the functions of the Tabernacle, Numbers 18: 7, also cited the LORD telling Aaron: “Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift:” As noted above, Israel’s role as “Priests” was contingent upon that Nation’s obedience and keeping the covenant that the LORD had made with their fathers. Even with this preparation, and having committed to learn and practice God’s Righteous Law, the people of Israel could not overcome their inherited sin-nature. The Bible records at the end of the Book of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21: 25)   Their human frailty then and later, as the exemplar / model of mankind, explains why man needed a “Savior”. (Romans 3: 1-23) Because of Israel’s continuing disobedience and unbelief as a Nation (even though there were a remnant of righteous believers), it led to their rejection of our Lord Jesus, the Son of God who had come as their Messiah. That was when God turned to implement the next phase of His Plan for man’s salvation by turning to the Gentiles through Saul of Tarsus, who would be later known as the Apostle Paul. (Acts Chapters Seven and Nine)

Christian Believers / Body of Christ as Ambassadors

The Bible informs believers that after God the Father raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, He “set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1: 17-23)

Believers are not only members of His church, but also members of the Lord’s spiritual Body.

Now, what does that mean in our day-to-day life? The title of this post says believers are “ambassadors” for Christ.  Think in the context of this fallen world, controlled by the Enemy who is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4: 4)… until the Lord says, “Enough is Enough!!” and makes His Second Coming. In the meantime, believers use the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help stem the tide of this world’s evil.

Proverbs 13: 17 - In the Old Testament, the most wise King Solomon first used the term “ambassador”:  “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.”

[“ambassador” – Strong’s # 6735 in the Old Testament: “a herald or errand-doer (as constrained by the principal; ambassador;  Strong’s # 4243 In the New Testament: “act as a representative (an elder); to be an ambassador.] [“health” – Strong’s # 4832 in the Old Testament: “medicine; a cure or remedy”.  (See also Proverbs 4: 20-22; 16: 24)]

As noted under “Background” above, this reference to Christian believers refers specifically to members of the “Body of Christ”  (1 Corinthians Chapter 12, especially v. 27) (https://www.gotquestions.org/body-of-Christ.html )  At one time believers were outside of the Body, but now, God “has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:…” (Ephesians 2: 1-6) (See also Colossians 3: 1-3)  

The Scripture notes that we have various roles within the Body of Christ, but in every aspect, we are to be “Ambassadors” for our Lord Jesus. For further clarification, an ambassador is a person of one nation who represents that nation while living in another nation. The Scripture also notes for believers: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 3: 20)  [The word “conversation” applies not only to our manner of speaking, but it also reflects our home citizenship: (Strong’s # 4175 – a community, citizenship.”) ] Even as we live in this ungodly physical world, God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath (spiritually) translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1: 12-14) That is the true home for believers (soul and spirit), to which we will ultimately return.

In the meantime, members of the Body of Christ know that our service as ambassadors for our Lord Jesus are a full-time commitment. Others might wait for special days, such as Christmas or Resurrection Sunday, but we acknowledge and represent Him every day.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com