Tama ang sinabi ni Edmund Clowney, “The story of the church begins with Israel, the Old Testament people of God” (The Church, p. 28). So ang church ay hindi lang New Testament reality. Hindi rin ito bagong plano ng Diyos, o plan B ng Diyos. Ito ay nasa isip na ng Diyos mula sa Old Testament. Sabi ni apostle Peter sa church, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Pet. 2:9). Siksik ‘yan ng Old Testament references. Lalo na yung sinabi ng Diyos tungkol sa Israel noong nasa Mount Sinai na sila, “…you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples…you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5-6).