My goal is to provide evidence from Ephesians 2:11-22 that Israel is the Church, and the Church is Israel.

To
clarify, the Church did NOT replace Israel, but Israel and the Church are one and the same. I believe Ephesians
2:11-22 makes it quite obvious, as well as Romans 11 (which is beyond the scope of this writing). Let us begin by
reading through the stated verses:

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called
the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, (A) alienated from the commonwealth of Israel
and (B) strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off [Gentiles] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of
hostility

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new
man in place of the two, so making peace,

16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off [Gentiles] and peace to those who were near
[Jews].

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

19 So then you [Gentiles] are no longer (B) strangers [to the covenants of promise] and (A) aliens [to the
commonwealth of Israel], but you [Gentiles] are fellow citizens with the saints [Jews] and members of the (C)
household of God [Jews],

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a (C) holy temple in the Lord.

22 In him you [Gentiles] also are being built together into a (C) dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

What we see overall is that there were two groups, the Jews and the Gentiles, and with the coming of Christ the
dividing wall of hostility between the two groups was abolished by Christ through His death on the cross, and as
a result the Jews and Gentiles become one body, namely the body of Christ which is the Church. The dividing
wall of hostility was the law of commandments, for Christ “has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of
hostility, by abolishing the law of commandments.” It was the Mosaic Law that divided the Jews from the
Gentiles, or in other words, divided Israel from the world. The Gentiles were far off, and the Jews were near, but
Christ has brought the Jews and Gentiles together.

In verse 12, the Apostle Paul says to the Gentiles in the Ephesian church that they were once alienated from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise. Jews were citizens of Israel and Jews had
the covenants of promise. The covenants of promise are all that God promised to give to Israel and to do for
Israel. The Gentiles in the Church of Ephesus were once aliens and strangers. As made possible by the death and
resurrection of Christ this has changed, and in verse 19 the Apostle Paul says that these Gentiles in the Ephesian
church are now “no longer strangers and aliens.” When we compare verses 12 and 19 we see the following:

12 (A) alienated from the commonwealth of Israel

12 (B) strangers to the covenants of promise
19 (B) strangers
19 (A) aliens

This is called a chiasm in which this happens to follow an ABBA pattern. Without an understanding of chiasms, it
is still obvious from the text what the Apostle Paul is saying. The Gentiles in the Ephesian church were once
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, but are now no longer aliens but instead are “fellow citizens with
the saints.” They were once strangers to the covenants of promise, but they are now no longer strangers but
instead are members of the household of God, or in other words, partakers of the covenants of promise. God
made a covenant with Israel (Jews) and now this covenant includes the world (Gentiles). God did NOT create
two groups in Himself, with a plan for Israel (Jews) and a plan for the world (Gentiles). Rather, Jesus Christ has
made them “both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of
commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so
making peace, and might reconcile [them] both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the
hostility. Believing Jews and Gentiles are one body, citizens of Israel, and partakers of the covenants of promise.
The promises which apply to the Jews also apply to the Gentiles.

The Apostle has shown us that the Jews and Gentiles are both citizens of Israel and partakers of the covenants of
promise. He adds that these Gentiles have also become members of the household of God. Paul says the
household of God was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” with “Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone.” The apostles and prophets were Jews, and Christ Jesus was a Jew. In Christ “the whole
structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” Of these Gentiles Paul says that they are
also “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit,” meaning that they are a part of this
structure, this household of God, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. This “household of God” and “holy
temple” and “dwelling place” are all the same object as I implied by grouping them together under (C).

A fuller examination with the evidence of Scripture is beyond the scope of this writing, but let me draw to an
end by touching on a few key truths. The Promise Land was a shadow of the true Promise Land which is the new
heavens and new earth. The Temple was a shadow of the true Temple which is Christ and the Church. The
nation of Israel was a shadow of the true nation of Israel which is the Church. The city of Jerusalem was a
shadow of the true city of Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, which is the new heavens and new earth. Mount Sinai
was a shadow of the true mountain of the Lord, Mount Zion, which is the Church. The Old Testament is filled
with shadows that point to a true and eternal reality. As a result of these truths, I do not look for a continuation
of shadows in future events as the end of the age draws near, but instead I look for the fulfillment of realities. I
do not look for a future temple made by human hands in a land called Israel in the Middle East, because the
Church is Israel and we are the temple made by God. I do not look for a nation in the Middle East to dwell in a
small patch of land, because the Church is Israel and we will inherit the whole earth forever, with Christ as our
King. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.