The history of salvation begins with God’s election of Israel, starting with Abraham. This choice was not for Israel’s sake alone but to be a blessing to all nations, as God’s plan always aimed for the salvation of all peoples. The Torah called Israel to be a holy, separate people, distinct from surrounding nations practicing idolatry and immoral rituals. Yet, even in this separation, the Torah reflects God’s heart for the “stranger,” hinting at a future inclusion of all nations, as prophesied in Isaiah 56 and in Psalms 96.
Israel’s election was a preparation for the Messiah, Jesus, who was born a Jew, descended from David and Abraham. Jesus’ ministry began within Israel, with His twelve apostles symbolizing the twelve tribes, signifying a renewed Israel. The Church was birthed in this Jewish context, with the apostles as its foundation. The New Covenant, promised in Jeremiah 31, was made with Israel and Judah, fulfilled through Jesus’ blood, as declared at the Last Supper. This covenant did not replace Israel but transformed it, opening salvation to all.
Jesus’ death and resurrection marked a turning point, with the command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Initially, the gospel spread to “God-fearers”—Gentiles who revered Israel’s God but did not fully convert to Judaism. The Holy Spirit orchestrated this expansion, as seen in Peter’s encounter with Cornelius (Acts 10). By Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council, guided by the Spirit, decided Gentiles did not need to become Jews to be saved, affirming their distinct identity while uniting them with Jewish believers.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians articulates this vision of unity, where Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God through the work of the cross to form “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). This unity does not erase differences—Jews remain Jews, Gentiles remain Gentiles—but removes hostility, creating one body in the Messiah, Yeshua. Ephesians 4 emphasizes this oneness: one body, one Spirit, one hope. The Body of Christ, rooted in Israel, extends to the nations, respecting their created distinctiveness, much like a marriage where husband and wife remain distinct yet united (Ephesians 5).
Tragically, this vision was lost when Christians adopted a “replacement theology,” believing God rejected the Jews. This led to Jewish believers being forced to assimilate, abandoning their Jewish identity. By the 4th century, the Church’s unity was modeled on the Roman Empire, prioritizing uniformity over diversity. This imperial model fueled divisions, such as those between Greek and Latin churches, and later between Catholics and Orthodox and Catholics and Protestants, culminating in schisms like the one in 800 AD when Charlemagne was crowned emperor.
The “one new man” model, rooted in the reconciliation of differences, contrasts with the empire’s uniformity. Today, the ecumenical movement and the rise of Messianic Judaism signal a recovery of this biblical vision. Recognizing Israel’s foundational role and allowing Jews and Gentiles to retain their unique identities while uniting in Christ restores God’s plan for unity.
Israel is central to Christian unity because the Church began there, and the first division occurred between Jewish and Gentile believers. Losing the “one new man” vision led to further fragmentation. Restoring it requires honoring Israel’s root and embracing a unity that celebrates diversity, challenging modern tendencies to either reject or assimilate differences. As Paul warned Gentiles against arrogance (Romans 11), Christians today must respect the Jewish foundation of their faith to fulfill God’s plan for a united body of believers in Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel and Lord of all.