The New Covenant Community Is Not a Mixed Community

The Old Testament prophetically looks forward to the new covenant community and recognizes that it's not a mixed community in the way Israel was, a purposefully mixed community. Those who know Christ don't have to be called to know Christ again because there is one conversion, one experience and when they come to faith that's who they are. John the Baptist calls them a brood of vipers but he goes to the root of the metaphor by cutting down trees which do not bear good fruit.