For the Lord your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand to serve in the name of the Lord always. (v.5)

I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever does not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will require it of him. (vv. 18-19)

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)

But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Peter 2:9)

The three important groups of people in the Israel nation in the OT were prophets, priests, and kings. The nation was built on the Levitical system. And these groups of people differentiated the Israel nation from other nations. The Israel in the OT was a shadow of God’s kingdom, which is coming. Israel had a direct and intimate relationship with God. And these three groups of people played a vital role in maintaining the relationship. Throughout the Book of the prophets in the OT, God rebuked prophets, priests, and kings for misleading the Israelites. We all know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became a man, holds the three offices. Therefore, we conclude that the Israel nation after Jesus Christ is no longer the Israel that God loved and cared because the nation existed for Jesus Christ and until the churches were established. The current Israel nation is no different from a nation that serves a pagan god. We treat all people with respect and fairness. There is no reason why Christians should treat the Israelites with favoritism as if they are still God’s people.

Christ holding the three offices is truth shared by different Christian denominations including the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant churches. Therefore, knowing Christ is the first step to understanding the purpose and character of the kingdom of God and why we were made.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5)

For many years, churches have been trying to make people understand their sinfulness through the law. But the law doesn’t make us understand our sinfulness as we read the OT. We learn from the OT that the lack of knowledge of God is the beginning of all sins. Without knowing God, there is no faith. We know and understand God only when He reveals Himself to us and makes us know Him. Reading out the law every day does not change a person because we naturally love darkness. Unless God changes our hearts and pours out His Spirit, we remain in that darkness.

The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. (Isaiah 9:2)

It may appear that Israel’s failure to keep the law has opened the opportunity to the Gentiles to become God’s children. But Israel’s failure happened so that we could learn from their history. There is no one righteous under the law. No one is saved by keeping the law. We are not different from the Israelites in the OT if we rely on our works of the law. Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. And salvation is a free gift.

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. (Romans 11:11-21)