What is the justification for applying God's promises to Israel to modern day Christians?

score:6

Accepted answer

The promises made to Israel were conditional promises. He had plans for them if they obeyed and kept His Holy Commandments. The rest of the nations were supposed to see Israel and come to God through their example.

'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'

Exodus 19:5, 6

Unfortunately, they did not obey, nor did they listen.

For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:19

As in the Parable of the Tenants told by Jesus in Matthew 21:33-44 the privilege of being part of Abraham's true seed, the True Israel, the Kingdom of God was taken away from those who rejected it and given to those who accepted it, Jew or Gentile.

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Matthew 21:43-44

Jesus was sent for the lost sheep of Israel.

"Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:5, 6

Nevertheless, at the stoning of Stephen, he made one final appeal to the Israelites:

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Acts 7:51-53

And so the gospel went to everyone, and not only the Jew. If we love God, believe in Christ, and obey His Holy Law, as the Israelites of old failed to do, we ARE Abraham's seed. These promises that were made to Israel were conditional promises, and they still are!

According to Paul, we, as modern day Christians are the true Israelites. This is because

if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29

Now, the kingdom of priests and the holy nation are not physical Israel, but Spiritual Israel, who are those who believe on Jesus and keep His Holy Law.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

These promises can be claimed by those who are in Christ.

Upvote:0

New Covenant believers (i.e. Christians), can certainly have the confidence that God regards them with at least as much care as that displayed in Jeremiah 29:11 for:

...Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. - Hebrews 8:6 ESV (emphasis added)

Upvote:1

The moment I read your question, one passage jumped into my thoughts almost immediately. It's a favorite.

Romans 8:28-39 NIV

"All things work together for good." (vs 28) A often quoted passage. It doesn't promise us that we'll avoid bad things altogether. But it does give us assurance that in the end whatever we endure will be worth it. Just like in Jeremiah, God has a plan that isn't aimed at harming us, but giving us hope and a future.

While verse 28 alone is encouraging, when you read 28-39 you are given an incredible assurance that we can have:

  • hope: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose" (vs 28)

  • courage: "What, then, shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (vs 31)

  • freedom from condemnation: "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." (vs 33)
  • perfect love from God: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (vs 38-39)
  • everything we need: "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

So, yes. I think it's quite safe to say that God has the same plan for us that He offered up in Jeremiah.

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