It is obviously very offensive to the Baptists to take away their 'sheephood'. It has actually been deemed "ridiculously dumb" to say that Israel is sheep and we (the church, his body) are not sheep.
Even Ruckmanites reject this division between Israel and the church.
One hundred eighty-two Biblical occurrences of the word "sheep" up to John 21:17 are technically old testament references aimed at and regarding Israel.
Acts 8:32-33 are old testament references, verse 32 being a quote of Isaiah 53:7.
The only time that Paul even mentions sheep is Romans 8:32.
(Romans 8:36) "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
This verse merely says that we are "accounted as sheep for the slaughter." This is in reference to "tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Paul does not teach that we, the church, which is his body, are sheep. Israel is sheep.
Paul does not teach that we are priests. The BaPtist doctrine of the priesthood of believers is not scriptural.
(1 Peter 2:3-12) "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. {4} To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, {5} Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. {6} Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. {7} Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, {8} And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. {9} But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {10} Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. {11} Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; {12} Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Israel is an holy priesthood, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation. The body of Christ is not a nation or a priesthood, nor a chosen generation.
You certainly can not find Paul teaching that the body of Christ is sheep or that we are priests.
Even Ruckmanites reject this division between Israel and the church.
One hundred eighty-two Biblical occurrences of the word "sheep" up to John 21:17 are technically old testament references aimed at and regarding Israel.
Acts 8:32-33 are old testament references, verse 32 being a quote of Isaiah 53:7.
The only time that Paul even mentions sheep is Romans 8:32.
(Romans 8:36) "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
This verse merely says that we are "accounted as sheep for the slaughter." This is in reference to "tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Paul does not teach that we, the church, which is his body, are sheep. Israel is sheep.
Paul does not teach that we are priests. The BaPtist doctrine of the priesthood of believers is not scriptural.
(1 Peter 2:3-12) "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. {4} To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, {5} Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. {6} Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. {7} Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, {8} And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. {9} But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {10} Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. {11} Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; {12} Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Israel is an holy priesthood, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation. The body of Christ is not a nation or a priesthood, nor a chosen generation.
You certainly can not find Paul teaching that the body of Christ is sheep or that we are priests.
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