• The Israel of God

    by T. Austin-Sparks

    First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazines, 1957-1958, Vol. 35-1 - 36-1.

    Israel is going on with the temple, going on with the services, going on with the sacrifices, but it is all hollow. There is a tremendous difference between the seed of Abraham after the flesh and the seed of Christ. What is the seed of Christ? It is something essentially, intensely, spiritually real! It is not something that bears a name; it is not something which holds certain doctrines and truths — the Law, or what corresponds to that in Christianity. It is not something that performs certain rites, and goes through certain ceremonies. It is not something along that external line at all — be it intellectual, emotional, volitional, or physical — it is something inwardly real. It is "Christ IN you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). This is what God is after.

  • Chapters
  • Chapter 1 - The Principle of Travail
    Reproduction, and Hence Travail, the Justification of Life - Travail Implies Something Costly - All Divine Operations Effected Through Travail - Travail Has Universal Significance - Travail Reveals "Heart" or "Hollow" - The Two "Israels"
  • Chapter 2 - The Israel of God
    The Significance of Abraham - Israel A Great Object Lesson - Unmistakable Features - The Law of Separation - The Cohesion of Israel - Discrimination as to Food - Israel's Governing Hope - The Turning Point of the Dispensations - The Securing of "True Israel" the Realm of Intensest Conflict
  • Chapter 3 - The Foundation of Faith
    Faith and God's Good Pleasure - Faith and the Divine Virtues - Faith and the Character of God - "True Israel" the Seed of Faith
  • Chapter 4 - The Great Invitation
    A Time of Transition - Who Shall Enter the Kingdom? - The Significance of Acceptance - The Forbearing Grace of God - Condition Indicated by the Choice - God the Only Joy of His People - The Oneness of the Children of the Kingdom - The Wilfulness of Human Choice - The Contrast a Consciousness of Need
  • Chapter 5 - The Great Transition
    God's Dealings Have One Basis - A Transition - Two Great Contrasts - The Principle of Death and Resurrection - The Principle of Circumcision - The Importance of Circumcision to the Jews - The Significance of Circumcision - Circumcision, Like Baptism, Points to the Cross - The Flesh or Self-principle
  • Chapter 6 - Apprenticeship for the Kingdom of God
    The Essential Nature of the Israel of God - A New Knowledge - A New Power - The Mystery of Spiritual Life - The Essential Apprenticeship for the Kingdom - The Fatherhood of God - Discipline - No Realisation Without the Cross
  • Chapter 7 - The Object of His Travail
    Its Infinite Value to God - Our Difficulty in Believing It - Christ's Infinite Love for His Own - The Infinite Importance to Him of the Church - The Infinite Motive for our Response