“The promises were made to Abraham . . . God bestowed it on Abraham through a promise” (Galatians 3:17,18 NAB). But how are the promises made to Abraham fulfilled?
“Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith”—Galatians 3:9 NAB
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise”—Galatians 3:29 NAB
All genuine Christians, therefore inherit the blessings promised to Abraham.
“He was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe . . . as well as the father of the circumcised who . . . also follow the path of faith the our father Abraham walked”—-Romans 4:11,12 NABread more
Spiritual, not fleshly, descendants of Abraham are the real Israel that counts with God
Who was God talking about when he made the promise to Abraham about his seed? Was the promise only referring to his physical offspring? Or, is there such a thing as “Spiritual Israel?”
“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,’ though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.” (Romans 9:6-8 NLT)
The key point to keep in mind is that “Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God”. The “children of the promise” are spiritual – not fleshly – descendants of Abraham.
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6 NIV, emphasis added)
The three uses of the word “together” here indicate the unique aspect of the equality and mutuality that Gentiles have in the church with Jews as one body. “Israel,” as used here in Ephesians 3:6, represents Jewish Christians.
“Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule–to the Israel of God”—(Galatians 6:16 NIV)
The church is the true Israel, “the Israel of God,” the new seed of Abraham.
“The Kingdom of Heaven, still to be completed, but already strongly associated with the community which Jesus founded, is the fulfillment of God’s plan for Israel. So the Church is the true Israel, the recipient of God’s promises, which goes out to all nations in the power of Chrible” (Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, New Jerusalem Bible [NJB]). “It is stressed that Christianity is the logical outcome of Judaism and is in conformity with it” (Introduction to Acts, NJB).read more
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