Of all the metaphors the Bible uses to describe the Church, perhaps the richest is that of the Church as the new, or spiritual, Israel. Sadly, dispensational teaching has muddled this metaphor by emphasizing a sharp discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments. These five questions will clarify how the Scriptures teach that the Church is the new Israel.

Who are truly Abraham’s children?As George Washington is for the United States, Abraham is considered the father of the nation of Israel. He is even more than a symbolic head, since ethnic Jews trace their ancestry to him. However, God’s Word consistently teaches that the true children of Abraham are not merely his fleshly descendants, but those who have faith in God as he did. As Galatians 3:7 says, “It is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” The Church consists of those who are ultimately defined by being believers like Abraham.

What then did Abraham believe?...