About the Purpose of the Church

The name of the Christian Israelite church symbolises the joining together of two Biblical concepts:

Christian

As explained in ‘About the Trinity’ and ‘About the Spirit, Soul, and Body’, we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that God so loved the world that he offered Jesus’ perfect soul and blood on the cross as an atonement for the sins of all mankind, thereby allowing our sinful souls to receive salvation (John 3:16). This was so we could be reconciled to him:

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins … And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.’ Colossians 1:14, 20.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.’ Romans 10:9.

“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’ 1 Peter 1:9.

It was for the Gentiles that the law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and this easier path to salvation opened up to them (i.e., through faith and repentance rather than the Israelites’ way of animal sacrifice). This new way of salvation only became available through the grace of God, and cannot be earnt:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Ephesians 2:8-9.

Israelite

As explained in About the Israelites’ Story, Israel was the name given to Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 35:10). The descendants of Jacob, especially those who believed in and endeavored to uphold the laws and commandments1 (to honour God and attain righteousness) were called the Israelites.

As the church believes in the validity of both the law and gospel, its members are called Christian Israelites.

Why are the Laws Still Relevant?

As explained in Law & Gospel, the laws given to Israel through Moses were part of God’s covenant with them (Psalm 103:17-18). However, the Israelites primarily obeyed the laws out of fear of God and to avoid the consequences of sin (i.e., death (Romans 6:23) and separation from God (Isaiah 59:2)):

“Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ Deuteronomy 4:10.

The sacrifice of clean animals allowed the Israelites to be restored to a right relationship with God when they sinned (Leviticus 17:11), but when Jesus later became the ultimate ‘lamb without blemish’ (1 Peter 1:19), he fulfilled the sacrificial law once and for all:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.’ Matthew 5:17.

When Jesus said, ‘it is finished’ (John 19:30), Christian Israelites believe he meant the need for the sacrificial law:

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’ Hebrews 9:12-14 (see also vs 15-28).

However, Christian Israelites believe that other Old Testament laws continue to have validity. As Jesus himself stated:

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:19.

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?’ John 5:46-47.

We believe that the laws came as a result of our imperfect love of God, and that they were designed to justify us and make us righteous so we can draw closer to him and Jesus Christ:

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.’ Galatians 3:24.

“For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.’ Romans 10:5.

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane.’ 1 Timothy 1:9.

“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.’ Proverbs 21:21.

As touched on in About the Spirit, Soul, and Body, we believe that obeying God’s laws and commandments gradually leads the evil within our blood to be cleansed and for the sin of the flesh (soul and body) to be ‘crucified’ and ‘condemned’:

“For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed.’ Joel 3:21.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.’ Galatians 5:24.

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ Romans 8:4.

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:8.

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ 1 John 1:7.

We believe that the heart with which the laws are kept is equally important (see Matthew 6), and that there is infinite grace whenever we fail to uphold the laws and sin:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.’ Psalm 103:12.

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ Isaiah 43:25.

A New Covenant

The Bible states that Israel broke their covenant with God when they failed to uphold the laws, sinned, and didn’t seek atonement for their souls:

“And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.’ 2 Kings 17:15.

“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.’ Isaiah 24:5.

Christian Israelites believe that, following Jesus Christ’s fulfillment of the sacrificial law, not all of the laws were discarded, as they are referenced in the new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied would one day come:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ Jeremiah 31:31-34 (emphasis added).

The new covenant was promised specifically to the Israelites, but it was not given at Jesus Christ’s first coming because the Israelites rejected him (Isaiah 53:3). Rather, Christian Israelites believe that it is in these last days that God has started to prepare Israel to receive this second or new covenant, and that this was the primary message of the church’s foundational prophet, John Wroe. It is through his teachings that we believe that the laws of righteousness were consolidated with the gospel of Jesus Christ and intended for continuation under the new covenant, no longer built on fear, but on grace and love:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.’ John 14:21.

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.’ Romans 13:10.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.’ 1 John 4:18.

Why the Israelites?

Christian Israelites believe that the Israelites became God’s chosen people as a result of Abraham’s great faith (Genesis 26:4-5, Hebrews 11:8-13), and that God will honour the promises he made to Abraham and his descendants (as per About the Israelites’ Story):

“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.’ Romans 9:4.

“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.’ Deuteronomy 7:6.

“I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.’ Isaiah 44:21-22.

We believe this is why Jesus prioritised the Israelites when sending out the disciples:

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Matthew 10:5-6.

However, we believe that the true Israelites are those who follow both law and gospel, and that this makes them the children of God:

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’ 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

As mentioned in About the Israelites’ Story, whilst the Israelites were scattered, the Bible states that God will regather a remnant of Israel in the end days:

“I will surely assemble O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.’ Micah 2:12.

“Ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.’ Isaiah 27:12.

“He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.’ Jeremiah 31:10.

The remnant will amount to 144,000 men and their families (12,000 coming from each tribe (Revelation 7:4-8)) and will stand with Jesus Christ upon his return:

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred and forty four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads … These were redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 14:1, 4.

What is the Significance of the 144,000?

Christian Israelites hope to be physically alive upon Jesus Christ’s return and part of the 144,000. It is believed that the 144,000 will be those who have overcome the evil and the sin of the flesh by upholding the law and gospel throughout their lives, and that they will therefore receive not just the salvation of their souls, but the redemption of their bodies from the curse of death (Genesis 3:17, 19)2 . That is, that they will be made immortal – without the death of the physical body – as the highest reward for their faith and works (James 2:17-18, 20-26)3 :

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (emphasis added).

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.’ Romans 8:2.

“If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ Matthew 19:17.

“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.’ Leviticus 18:5.

“We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.’ 1 John 3:2-3

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.’ John 10:27-28.

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.’ Titus 1:2.

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ 1 Corinthians 15:53-55.

We believe that the state of being immortal is what the Bible calls the Kingdom of God, which is to be established here on earth:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.’ Matthew 6:33.

“And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.’ Zechariah 14:9.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.’ Daniel 2:44 (see also 7:18, 27).

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Matthew 25:34.

It is by overcoming the evil in our bodies and having our bodies changed to be like Jesus Christ’s – fully overshadowed and powered by the Holy Spirit, no longer with unclean blood or fleshly desires – that we will have the opportunity to inherit the Kingdom of God:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.’ 1 Corinthians 15:50.

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.’ Philippians 3:21.

“He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.’ Romans 8:11.

We believe that death was never part of God’s plan but was brought into the world through Satan’s corruption of mankind (see Genesis 3, About Satan, and About What Happens After Death and at the Resurrections). In the Bible, God is frequently referenced as the God of life, whilst Satan is connected to death (Mark 12:27, John 10:10). Christian Israelites believe that Jesus Christ gained power over Satan through his victory over death (1 John 3:8), and that this made the way for the 144,000 to also overcome death. This is why they will face particular resistance from Satan:

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.’ Revelation 12:17 (emphasis added).

Christian Israelites are given the opportunity to make a new covenant with God and, in so doing, promise to follow specific Old Testament laws (as identified to John Wroe – see About the Laws & Commandments of the New Covenant) as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13).

The Mission of the Church

We believe that Jesus Christ had a twofold mission in that he came as ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel’ (Luke 2:32). As mentioned, Jesus initially instructed his twelve disciples to go only to the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6), and it wasn’t until after his resurrection that he gave the disciples further instructions to go into all nations. In so doing, they laid the foundations of the Christian church:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ Matthew 28:18-20.

Most Christian churches have a strong mission to continue to spread the gospel throughout all nations so that all souls may know Jesus Christ and be saved from damnation. The Bible states that this needs to occur before Jesus Christ returns:

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ Matthew 24:14.

The Christian Israelite Church recognises the importance of this mission but does not take part in it directly, as its focus it not just on the salvation of the soul but also on receiving the immortal life of the body when Jesus Christ returns. We therefore believe that our mission is to preach the promises of God to Israel concerning our mortal bodies being made immortal, and to uphold both the law and gospel so that the evil within us withers and we go onto perfection (Hebrews 6:1).

As for the regathering of Israel, we believe that it is ultimately God, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, who will do that work:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.’ John 6:44.

“He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.’ Jeremiah 31:10.

We believe that it is our job to sow the seed (the Word of God) and that it is God who waters the seed to bring Israel to their inheritance (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). In the end:

“One shall say, I am the Lord’s [Christians]; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob [Israelites]; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel [Christian Israelites].’ Isaiah 44:5 (emphasised words added).