I have heard it said many times that the “Church” was born on the day of Pentecost however this is not entirely true if we define the word “church” as it really should be. The word Church translated in the Greek is Ecclesia and means “called out ones” and is used to refer to any assembly of people. In his address to the Sanhedrin, Stephen calls the people of Israel “the assembly [ekklesia/church] in the wilderness.” (Acts 7:38) This is he (Moses) who was in the assembly(ekklesia/church) in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us. In essence the first “called out ones” were the Hebrews who were called out not to an organization or denomination but to be part of Adonai’s FAMILY for He said… And I will take you to me for a PEOPLE (family) and I will be to you a God(Father): and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:7 It’s unfortunate that the NT writers decided to use the term “Church” in its writings as it unknowingly or purposely provided at least in thought and theology a separation between who or what peoples group constitute the TRUE assembly or “church” which led many in the early “assembly” to think that they were somehow better than those in the “assembly in the wilderness”.
The Scriptures are clear about this matter as recorded in Ephesians 2:11-13, Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth (collective/community of people) of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. / But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah. Paul addresses the Gentiles, highlighting their previous separation and alienation from Israel and the covenants of promise. In Messiah, however, the Gentiles become citizens of Israel. The phrase “have been brought near” in Ephesians 2:13 signifies the inclusion and acceptance of Gentiles into the faith community, akin to the conversion process of Jewish proselytes. Gentiles, previously not part of Israel, were excluded from the privileges and promises associated with the Israelite community. Through Messiah Yeshua, they now have a new relationship with Israel, no longer excluded or deemed outsiders. They are integrated into the faith community, sharing the privileges and promises given to Israel. In Hebrew culture an adopted child is entitled to all the privileges and standing of a natural born child marking no difference or distinguishing between the two and deeming them as fellow heirs.
Many in modern-day evangelicalism have wrongly divided the people of God, some even go as far as to say that there is one Covenant for Israel and one for Christianity which is so foreign to the Former and Newer writings. The Scriptures are clear that there can only be one Covenant and one Family. Messiah Yeshua did not come to start a new religion but to reconcile and reclaim a Family back to the Father.
Let us rejoice in that our God is also our FATHER and we are His children……………..
~Rabbi Matt