[315]The Christ is also designated in the Scriptures as the seed of Abraham according to the promise.  “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16) Addressing himself to the church, the Christians, the followers of Jesus, the Apostle further said:  “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ....  And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26,27,29) This is the seed, then, through whom the blessings will come to all the families of the earth.  Church means a gathered out class; and so the gospel age, that is to say, the period from Jesus’ first coming until his second coming, is employed by Jehovah for the selection of the church, the seed of Abraham, through which blessings will come to all the remainder of mankind in God’s due time.

[316]This same class is called the elect of God, according to his foreknowledge.—­1 Peter 1:2.

[317]Again the Apostle likens the whole of the Christ to a living stone, saying:  “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ....  Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:  and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” (1 Peter 2:5-7) In earthly buildings there is no chief cornerstone; but in this building of God there is a chief cornerstone which is Christ Jesus.  The topstone or chief cornerstone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid.  The other members of the body, then, must be built up into Christ to conform to that chief cornerstone, which is illustrated by the Great Pyramid in Egypt.—­See Isaiah 19:19.

[318]Again this anointed class, Jesus the head and the church his body, is spoken of as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.  This was foreshadowed by the nation of Israel, particularly by the priesthood in connection with the house of Israel.  The apostle Peter speaking of this class says:  “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  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.”—­1 Peter 2:9,10.

[319]The members of the body of Christ, the church, are also designated as his footstep followers; and as such they are called to suffer with him that they might also reign with him.  “For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his footsteps.” (1 Peter 2:21) These are also designated as Christians.  It does not mean that because one is a member of some earthly organization