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The
Israel of God is a Bible Study class. Our purpose is to teach
the uncut word of God according to the Prophets (Old Testament)
and Apostles (New Testament). We observe the Lord's Sabbath Day
and all of the Lord's Feast Days, as outlined in the 23rd
chapter of Leviticus. We observe the Lord's Dietary Law, as
outlined in Leviticus, Chapter 11. We teach, and observe the
Royal Law, which are the Ten Commandments. We believe in the
Resurrection. We believe that Jesus is the King of Israel, He
will rule over the House of Jacob forever, and that He is the
God of all people, and that his house "shall be a house of
prayer for all people."
The doctrinal tenants, practices, teachings, and beliefs of
the Israel of God are based on the Word of God, the Holy Bible.
God’s people believe that they are to live by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
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GOD
God is the eternal, all-powerful, supreme creator and sustainer of the entire
universe. God is one, composed of spirit and comprising a family presently
consisting of two spirit beings with all power: God the Father and Jesus Christ
the Son. God is a loving, kind, merciful God who wants to share His magnificent
existence by reproducing Himself through man.
Gen 1: 1-2, 26-27; Isaiah 57:15; Nehemiah 9:16-17; John 1: 1-2, 18; 3:16; 4:8;
Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:12-20, Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 John 3:1-2
BIBLE
The whole Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God containing His plan of
salvation, and the record of His participation in history. The Bible is God’s
revelation of knowledge that man cannot discover for himself. It is the
foundation of knowledge, and man’s instruction manual of life. The Old and New
Testaments comprise God’s written Word, which forms the basis of a true
Christian as taught by the church.
Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 1:23; 2:1-6; 3:1-6; 4:1-7; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; John
17:17; I Corinthians 2:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 John 2:3-7
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God, The Holy One of Israel. He was
the prophesied Messiah of the Old Testament, and is described in the New
Testament as being God in the Flesh. As the second member of the Godhead, He has
existed throughout eternity as the “Word.” He divested Himself of this power
and His majesty, and became a human being to die for the sins of all mankind as
our loving and merciful Savior. He was then resurrected by God the Father, and
ascended to heaven to become our High Priest. Jesus Christ shall return to
establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and rule as King of Kings with His saints
forever in Jerusalem.
Genesis 49:9-12; Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-9;
John 1:1-14, 41; 3:16-18; John 8:58; Acts 2:32-33; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians
4:14; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 20:4
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is not the
third part of the “Trinity”. There
are currently only two members in the Godhead, The Father and His Son, Jesus
Christ. The Holy Spirit can be
manifested to man in many forms. One form is an Angel sent from God to
bring to remembrance what Jesus has told us in His Holy Word (another form of
His Spirit). The Word that the
Angel brings to man is the power, thoughts, and spiritual extension of God. God
begets true Christians as His sons and daughters through this Spirit (God’s
Word). It strengthens a Christian spiritually, converts his mind, and serves as
an earnest, or beginning, of the transformation to obtain eternal life.
Genesis 1:2; Exodus 23:20; Judges 2:1-4; Isaiah 63:9; Romans 12:1-2; Psalm
104:4; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15; Acts 7:52-53; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation
1:1-2; 22:6,16
SALVATION
Salvation is the means by which God, through Christ, saves man from the penalty
of sin and gives him eternal life through obedience to His Word. This process
includes one’s calling, repentance, baptism, and receiving of the Holy Spirit,
life of faith and obedience, and final birth into God’s Kingdom as a spirit
being. Salvation is a freely given gift from God established by the law through
grace, with our ultimate reward given according to our works.
Matthew 16:27; 24:13; John 3:16–17; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1–9;
Hebrews 6:1–2; Revelation 3: 10-12
FAITH
Faith is the sure knowledge that God exists, and that He will accomplish those
things He has promised in His Word. Faith is necessary for salvation.
Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; 10:17; Hebrews 11:1–40; James 2:20–26
REPENTANCE
Repentance is the act of acknowledging one’s sins, and resolving to fully obey
God and adhere to His Word. It begins when God opens one’s mind to see himself
in comparison with God and His law. True repentance is the first step toward
reconciliation with God, and thereby toward ultimate salvation.
Acts 2:38; 3:19–21; 8:22; 1 John 3:4
BAPTISM
The ceremony of water baptism is performed by immersion, for the forgiveness of
sins, upon true repentance and acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. After this
action, and as a result, one receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the
“...washing of the water by the word.” Baptism symbolizes the renunciation
of the past sinful way of life, the burial of the old man in a watery grave, and
the emergence of a new, Spirit-led man living with Christ’s mind, laws and
statutes, and following in His footsteps.
Matthew 3:13–16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1–11; Colossians 2:6-12, 1 John 2: 1-7
KINGDOM OF JESUS
The Kingdom of Jesus is a future world-ruling government to be set up on earth
with headquarters in Jerusalem. Those
who were found worthy to be raised in the First Resurrection will rule and reign
with Him for a thousand years. Flesh
and blood man will still be alive as the uninterrupted Word of peace shall go
forth from His throne. Satan will
be bound for a thousand years as Jesus teaches His law, and shall be completely
fulfilled when Jesus gives all ruler ship to God the Father as He and New
Jerusalem and come down out of heaven to dwell on the earth forever.
Psalm 2: 7-9; Isaiah 2:2-5; 11:1-12; 65:17-25; Micah 4:1-8;
Revelation 20:4-6
KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is the family of God ruling as the government of God. It is a
future world-ruling government to be first established by Christ with Jesus as
King and the resurrected spirit-composed saints in positions of co-ruler ship
with Him. The Kingdom of God shall be established on earth forever.
All will be changed into spirit beings and those who were not found in
the Lamb’s book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire to be tormented
forever.
Ezekiel 48:1-35; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 5:10; 20:4; 21:1–27;
22:1-5
GOSPEL
The gospel is the message preached by the prophets, apostles, and Christ about
God’s coming Kingdom, the restoration of His government on earth, and how
mankind can enter that Kingdom and government. It includes the message of what
Jesus has done, is doing, and shall do—and ultimately is the message of the
entire Old and New Testaments. The primary purpose and commission of the
Lord’s church (which is Israel) is to go and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Matthew 3:2; 4:23; 24:14; 28:19–20; Mark 1:1-2, 14-15; Luke 24:47; Romans
1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 9:14; Revelation 14:6-7
PROPHECY
Prophecy is God’s testimony to his people, revealing His purpose and plan for
mankind. God boldly states that He
has a definite plan and purpose. He declares that there is none like Him, that
He declares the end from the beginning, and that He will accomplish His purpose.
Much of God’s plan and purpose is revealed in the Holy Bible. God’s people
are called upon to be faithful and honest with the Word of God, “rightly
dividing the word of truth,” and informed that no prophecy is subject to
personal or private interpretation. Down through the ages, many self-proclaimed
“prophets” (false prophets) have come, and there is no shortage today. A
false prognostication attributed to God is a violation of the Third Commandment
and will have to be accounted for. Fulfilled prophecy, or prophecy in progress
of being fulfilled, builds faith in God and His Word.
Isaiah 46:9–11; Isaiah 55:10-11; Jeremiah 23:23-32; Matthew 12:36–37; 2
Timothy 2:15; Revelation 19:9-10
THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION
The hope of all mankind and the promise to the Christian is the resurrection
from the dead. The Bible refers to (1) the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the
firstborn from the dead and the pioneer of our salvation; (2) the resurrection
of the saints—called the “first resurrection”—at the return of Christ
when the true believers shall become spirit-composed members of God’s family;
(3) the resurrection of the dead who were not found worthy to be raised in the
first resurrection. All that will
be raised will be given a spiritual body, but all will not inherit the Kingdom
of God; some will be cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone (which is called
the “second death”).
Daniel 12:1-3; John 5:28–29; Acts 2:32; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1
Thessalonians 4:13–17; Revelation 20:4–6, 12–14.
JUDGMENT
The time of one’s judgment is the time of his opportunity for salvation,
extending from one’s calling by God until his death (or the resurrection at
Christ’s return). The Judgment will occur after
the beast, the false prophet, and Satan have all been cast in the Lake of Fire
and the “rest of the dead” have been raised.
Those who shall qualify for God’s Kingdom shall inherit eternal life, and those who deliberately reject God’s
way shall be consumed in the lake of fire.
Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 13:49–50; 25:34; Mark 9: 43-48; 1 Peter 4:17;
Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is the state of being whereby one’s sins are removed, blotted out,
or covered. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is
covered.” It is obvious from Scripture that sin is the transgression of
God’s laws and a condition that separates us from God. It also divides us from
each other and breaks down relationships. Thus, forgiveness comes to us in two
spheres: (1) forgiveness from God towards us, and (2) forgiveness from us to
each other. The example prayer given to us by Jesus Christ in the book of
Matthew, 6th chapter summarizes the full scope of the issue of
forgiveness. The forgiveness we obtain from God depends largely on the
forgiveness we offer to others. Those who refuse to forgive will not be
forgiven.
Psalm 32:1-2; 86:5; 103:10-11; 130:3-4; Matthew 6:12–15; 1 John 1:9; 1 John
4:20-21
LAW OF GOD
The law of God as revealed in the Bible is a good, right, and perfect system of
eternal directives and principles that reflects God’s character and serves as
a means of expressing His love toward man. God’s law teaches man how to
properly worship God, how to love his fellow man, how to live life abundantly,
and, at the same time, how to prepare for an eternal spiritual life in the
family of God. The law of God is represented in both the Old and the New
Testaments, and is expressed by both physical actions and spiritual motivations.
Exodus 20:1-17, 20; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Nehemiah 9:13; John 14:15, 21; Romans
7:12; 1 John 5:2–3
BIBLICAL COVENANTS
Both testaments record that God made certain promises in the form of specific
contracts or agreements with the nation of Israel and through them, to the rest
of the sons of Adam. These are called “covenants,” and define the terms of
God’s relationship with individuals or groups in various circumstances and
eras. Of these covenants, the best known are the covenants made with Israel (the
Old and New Covenants) which will be fully confirmed after the return of Jesus
Christ. The New Covenant makes God’s law even more relevant by expanding it to
include one’s mental attitude and spiritual intent.
Exodus 20:1-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 5:21–22; 2 Timothy 3:15–17;
Hebrews 8:6–13
TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Ten Commandments, as revealed by God, are the perfect expression of God’s
love. They are the foundation of all biblical teaching, showing man how to
express love toward God and fellowman, and are consequently the focal point of
Christian life.
Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; Matthew 5:17–19; Romans 13:10; 1 Corinthians 7:19;
Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14
THE SABBATH
The seventh-day Sabbath is to be taught and kept holy in accordance with the
biblical instruction. Instituted at creation, reaffirmed to Israel as a part of
the covenant at Sinai, and taught by Jesus Christ, who is the Mediator of the
New Covenant, the observance of the Sabbath is basic to a Christian’s
relationship with God.
Genesis 2:2–3; Exodus 16; 20:8–11; 31:12–17; Nehemiah 13:17-19; Isaiah
56:1-7; 58:13-14; 66:23; Mark 2:27–28; Luke 4:16; Hebrews 4:1-11
ANNUAL HOLY DAYS (FEAST DAYS)
The annual holy days were ordained by God to be kept by all mankind. These feast
days, as well as the Sabbath, is what sanctifies (separates) us from the
world’s sinful holidays. These
seven annual “appointed feasts” picture God’s plan of salvation for man
and are commanded to be kept throughout all generations.
Leviticus 23; Zechariah 14:16; John 7:8–10; Acts 2:1;
12:3; 20:6, 16; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 5:8; 16:8
TITHING
Tithing is an act of worship; it is a private matter between the individual and
God. The church does not “enforce” or “police” tithing, but simply
teaches the responsibility to tithe. Each individual has the responsibility to
“honor the Lord with his substance and with the firstfruits of all his
increase.” Tithing is a method by which the message of Jesus Christ is
proclaimed to the world.
Genesis 14:18-20; Malachi 3:8–10; Matthew 6:21; 23:23; 2 Corinthians 9:7
BIBLICAL DIETARY LAWS
Biblical dietary laws, including the prohibitions of Leviticus 11 and
Deuteronomy 14, are among the many health laws God gave to Israel to give to
mankind. The prophets, the apostles, and Jesus observed them, and they remain in
effect today. Scripture indicates that laws pertaining to “clean” and
“unclean” animals were recognized and observed from earliest times.
Genesis 7:2–3; 8:20; Leviticus 3:17; 11; Deuteronomy 14:3–21; Matthew
5:17–19; Acts 10:9–15, 28; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
SIN
Sin is the transgression of God’s law. Although the penalty for sin is death
in the lake of fire, all sin can be completely forgiven by God, who desires that
all men be saved. God forgives sin upon repentance of the individual who accepts
the shed blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment in full for the penalty
of his sins.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; James 1:15; 4:17; 1 John 3:4
THE CHRISTIAN
A true Christian is one in whom the Word of God (or Holy Spirit) dwells; they
keep all of God’s laws, statutes, and ordinances to the best of their ability,
and loves their God and brothers and sisters as they love themselves.
Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Revelation 14:12
MAN’S SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Man’s spiritual relationship with God begins with repentance, baptism, and
faith in His Word. When these criteria are met, God “begets” us with His
Spirit (The Word of God); He becomes our Father and we become His children. A
family relationship has begun. To maintain this family relationship, a bond is
formed as we fellowship with each other, God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:1-11; Daniel 6:10; Matthew 6:5–13; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:15–17;
Hebrews 1:1–2, 24–25; 1 John 1:3; 2 Chronicles 15:2
MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FELLOW MAN
First, we must realize that we are a family in the Lord through obedience to His
Word. As a family we need to live in peace with one another as much as is
possible, as amplified in the last six of the Ten Commandments. Jesus Christ
gave us the principal discipline that would make it possible to live in peace
with our fellow man. He said to love our fellow man as ourselves, and gave
specific instructions for settling problems with our fellow man. Scripture urges
us to consider the needs of others, and offer help to those in need when
possible.
Exodus 20:12–17; Deuteronomy 22:1–4; Matthew 18:15–17; 22:39; 25:34–40;
Philippians 2:2–5; Luke 10:29–37; Hebrews 12:14; James 2:8-9
THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY
The marriage relationship is the basis of the family, which in turn is the core
of a stable society. As the primary physical analogy of God’s plan for
mankind, marriage, child rearing, and the family are given a preeminent place in
the teachings of the Bible and the church.
Deuteronomy 6:2-3, 20-23; Proverbs 22:6; Malachi 4:5–6;
Ephesians 5:22–33; 6:1–3;1 Timothy 3:2-4; 1 Peter 3:7
THE CHURCH OF GOD
The church of God is the nation of Israel.
In order to become one of God’s church, we must be joined to the
commonwealth of Israel through repentance, baptism and obedience to the laws,
statutes, and ordinances that were given to God’s chosen people.
The church is the spiritual body of Christ and is made up of baptized,
Spirit-led “spiritual Israelites” around the world.
Acts 2:38; Acts 7:38; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14, 27; Colossians 3:15; Galatians
6:16
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The church has a mandate to continue with the witness and message of Jesus
Christ initiated through His life, teachings, and sacrifice for every person and
all nations. This will be accomplished by the resources available to the “body
of Christ” and furthered through the spiritual gifts bestowed by God. As the
“body” consists of individual members, it is each person’s privilege to
follow the Savior and “repent…and believe the good news.” Living as new
creatures in Christ, it then becomes evident that a devoted membership will
carry on the work begun by Jesus to announce “in all the world” that the
“Kingdom of God is at hand.” Furthermore, Christ’s promise of vitality to
His church for all ages will be evident in the love of each member for their
“brothers and sisters in the faith,” and their fellow man. Through spiritual
design, the body of Christ will extend beyond a local community as members
support one another, taking care of their “own,” visiting the fatherless and
widows in their affliction, and keeping themselves unspotted from the world.
Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 1:15; 16:15–16; Acts 1:7–8; 2:36-38; Matthew
16:18–19; Luke 24:44–47; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18–19
THE MINISTRY
The ministry of Jesus Christ and the New Testament church is a ministry of
service to God and His people, and a continuation of the ministry of Jesus
Christ. The ministry has the responsibility of teaching, edifying, and
overseeing the Israel of God. The ministry of Jesus Christ is a team effort. The
Bible outlines the offices and job functions for the ministry of the Church of
God, and dictates high moral and ethical conduct for all members of the
ministry.
Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:18–19; Titus 1:5–9; 1
Timothy 3:1–13; 5:17–21; 2 Timothy 2:24–26; 1 Peter 5:1-14
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