God's Institutions
God gave to mankind four basic institutions: the family, civil government, Israel, and the church. Each of these institutions possess or illustrate certain characteristics of God.
The family illustrates the unity of God - God created mankind as male and female (Gen. 1:27), separated the woman from the man (Gen. 2:21-23), and then united them in marriage in the Garden of Eden, making them one flesh (Gen. 2:24, 25).
Civil government illustrates God's judgment - Following the flood, God instituted government when He said, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen. 9:6).
Israel illustrates the election of God - "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2).
The church illustrates God's love - Jesus said, "...Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). With this statement Jesus prophesied that His Church would never cease to exist on earth until His return at the end of the age.