Nang
TOL Subscriber
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Neither of these references to "Israel" can or should be applied to the entire and literal "nation" of Israel.
References to baptism and "lost sheep" quantify the "Israel" references.