Promises From The Hebrew Bible
The Old Testament promises are in fact for Israel, and we as Christians without further thought, apply and appropriate them to our own circumstances without due regard to the implications. I wish to reiterate that we are fully entitled to do so because we are in fact grafted into the "Israel of God" The following verses give twice born gentiles and Jews not only the mandate to appropriate all the promises of God found in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) but also to understand that He has, through Christ, made us both- one nation- the "Israel of God"
(Ephesians 2:11-14) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
(Ephesians 2:17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,and of the household of God; (Emphasis mine)
It is by these promises that we are conformed into the image of Christ.
(2 Peter 1:4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Peter goes on to say that we have not received all this as if they were "cunningly devised fables" and that "no prophecy of the scripture was of any private interpretation" but that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." When Peter wrote this he was referring to the Old Testament promises applicable to and appropriated by the Church. The following verses indicate Paul's efforts to reconcile both believing Jew and Gentile into the one body variously known as the Israel of God or the Church. There are other names indicating the one body.
(1 Peter 2:9-10) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew 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.
There is no mention of God having two chosen peoples, the words used are always singular as the above examples show.
Wherefore remember... through him we both (believing Jew and believing Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
For simplicity's sake I will reconstruct the statements of the words in bold above to make clear our grafting in to the Israel of God:
Wherefore remember, that ye being Gentiles without Christ, being aliens from Israel, and strangers from covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
One need only ask what it means to be a gentile (foreigner or of an alien nation, heathen) but now are fellow citizens and of the household of God. A citizen is a member of a nation- what nation?
The Israel of God.
Some examples of these promises follow, we will draw them from Psalm 37- a Psalm of David to who? to Israel, David was king of Israel and had Israel in mind when he wrote it.- of course Israel, the same as the church, has always had those that were Gods' people in name only, not in spirit and in truth, not according to faith- which are all conditions of the heart and therefore known infallibly only by God.
(Psalms 37:4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(Psalms 37:6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(Psalms 37:9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
(Psalms 37:11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(Psalms 37:18) The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
(Psalms 37:22) For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
(Psalms 37:23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:and he delighteth in his way.
(Psalms 37:24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(Psalms 37:28) For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
(Psalms 37:29) The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
(Psalms 37:30) The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
(Psalms 37:31) The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(Psalms 37:39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(Psalms 37:40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Verse 11: Notice in verse 11, about the meek inheriting the earth same as (Matthew 5:5) Blessed are the meek (humble) : for they shall inherit the earth. Jesus speaking to the multitude. True they were all Jewish but were they all humble?- true humility is a function of truth at work in the hearts of those that trust in God's word, because it is only by Him that we can truly know ourselves.
Verse 18: the inheritance of the upright is for ever- sounds like heaven doesn't it? Can one who denies Christ get to heaven?Can they lay claim to being blessed of God?
Verse 22:
Those that are blessed by him shall inherit the earth- those that have been humbled (made meek) by trusting in the knowledge that it is " ..... by grace (Gods' blessedness) are ye saved through faith (Gods' gift); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Hebrews 12:2 ....Jesus the author and finisher of our faith);Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship,(2 Corinthians 3:3) .......declared to be the epistle of Christ ......written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.... created in Christ Jesus unto good works....(Ephesians 2:8,9,10)
Those cursed of God shall be cut off- Who is cursed?
(Matthew 23:35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:38) Behold, your house is is left unto you desolate.
When the scripture refers to "this generation" we must not see it as meaning those who are living at this time. In this instance it is not a reference to a length of time broadly set by the time a child is born to the time when that child gives birth or begets another child (averaging 25 years say). What the scripture here refers to is the fact that there are on earth (in spiritual terms) only two families, one- the generation of God (those that are born of God) and two- the generation of satan (those that are born of satan)- in Matthew 23:33, Christ refers to the fact that these he was speaking of were in effect satans children- "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" They happened to belong to the nation of Israel by being physically related to Abraham,but this form of relationship to Abraham would not, and could not save them or give them the inheritance promised to Abraham and his descendants. Spiritually they were satans children. (Further evidence of this may be found in John 8:38-44) This does not single out the Jews alone as Ephesians 2:1-5 points out- Every man, woman, and child, that ever existed, (past present and future), are partakers of this fallen nature- referred to here as "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath"
The letter to the Ephesian church is a letter to a gentile church that Paul founded:
(Ephesians 2:11) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
Paul speaks of the common spiritual ancestry of all people, notice that he as a Jew, and not just an ordinary Jew, but one highly qualified both in terms of ancestry and training and tradition (Philippians 3:4-7)included himself as having a need for adoption into the family of God.(Rom 8:15, Rom 8:23, Eph 1:4-5, Gal 4:5) Despite these huge cultural differences Paul identifies himself along with these gentiles as a sinner, not merely by choice, but through a common spiritual progenitor- by a common inherited nature.
(Ephesians 2:3)Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In Galations we see that whoever seeks to be made righteous by the law is under the curse, not because the law cursed them, but the law was added to make it obvious that they were subject to the same curse as all the sons of Adam.
(Galatians 3:10.11) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
So we observe that all of Israel, (as many as are of the works of the law) are under the curse of Adam- period.
Now Paul- being the God-appointed apostle to the Gentiles- is anxious to see that the Gentiles do not escape the same net that entrapped Israel, leaving them with no escape apart from Christ, and this is affirmed in Romans.
(Romans 2:14) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (Romans 2:15) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Romans 2:11) For there is no respect of persons with God. (Romans 2:12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Paul here speaks to the gentiles who might think that since God did not address the law to them, then they are exempt from the curse and the wrath of God. He shows that the "work of the law" (which is to set mankinds guilt before their eyes so that they are without excuse, (Romans 3:20) is also going on amongst the Gentiles. The only difference being that with the one group (Israel) they have the condemning word, the law, written on tablets of stone (and then paper), for all of Israel to see and know, whereas the other group (Gentiles) have a universal law of condemnation written on their hearts (consciences) bringing all to the same inescapable conclusion.
(Romans 3:19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Throughout the New Testament we see the theme repeated that as far as spiritual realities are concerned we- both Gentiles and Israel according to the flesh- share a common, fallen nature, and as such we require the same spiritual remedy, to be found only in the shed blood of Christ, which is made effective in those born into the family of God.
(1 Peter 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Corinthians 15:44-49) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made# a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Paul's description here is one in which he elucidates on the two families or generations found in the world. The first man Adam made from the dust of the earth is the progenitor of the natural human race and so all have inherited his nature. The last Adam was made a life-giving spirit,(v45) and through the impartation of his life gives birth to a spiritual life in those whomsoever he wills. The last Adam or as he says the second Adam is the Lord from heaven. They are given the titles “first”
and “last” to show the order of being, first to be born after the order of the natural and lastly the spiritual order. Paul alludes also to the reality of the law of nature. “Does a man gather figs from thorns?” Just as a man is born of Adam and so all sin following the nature of Adam, so shall the order be altered when a person is “born again” of the new nature in Christ. Not that we no longer sin but that now having a new nature it is impossible to sin when we live out of that nature.
(1 John 3:8.9) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
The Old Testament promises are in fact for Israel, and we as Christians without further thought, apply and appropriate them to our own circumstances without due regard to the implications. I wish to reiterate that we are fully entitled to do so because we are in fact grafted into the "Israel of God" The following verses give twice born gentiles and Jews not only the mandate to appropriate all the promises of God found in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) but also to understand that He has, through Christ, made us both- one nation- the "Israel of God"
"he is our peace, who hath made both one"
(Ephesians 2:17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,and of the household of God; (Emphasis mine)
It is by these promises that we are conformed into the image of Christ.
(2 Peter 1:4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Peter goes on to say that we have not received all this as if they were "cunningly devised fables" and that "no prophecy of the scripture was of any private interpretation" but that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." When Peter wrote this he was referring to the Old Testament promises applicable to and appropriated by the Church. The following verses indicate Paul's efforts to reconcile both believing Jew and Gentile into the one body variously known as the Israel of God or the Church. There are other names indicating the one body.
(1 Peter 2:9-10) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew 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.
There is no mention of God having two chosen peoples, the words used are always singular as the above examples show.
Wherefore remember... through him we both (believing Jew and believing Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
"But ye are ... an holy nation,"
For simplicity's sake I will reconstruct the statements of the words in bold above to make clear our grafting in to the Israel of God:
Wherefore remember, that ye being Gentiles without Christ, being aliens from Israel, and strangers from covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
One need only ask what it means to be a gentile (foreigner or of an alien nation, heathen) but now are fellow citizens and of the household of God. A citizen is a member of a nation- what nation?
The Israel of God.
Some examples of these promises follow, we will draw them from Psalm 37- a Psalm of David to who? to Israel, David was king of Israel and had Israel in mind when he wrote it.- of course Israel, the same as the church, has always had those that were Gods' people in name only, not in spirit and in truth, not according to faith- which are all conditions of the heart and therefore known infallibly only by God.
(Psalms 37:4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(Psalms 37:6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
(Psalms 37:9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
(Psalms 37:11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(Psalms 37:18) The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
(Psalms 37:22) For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
(Psalms 37:23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:and he delighteth in his way.
(Psalms 37:24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(Psalms 37:28) For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
(Psalms 37:29) The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
(Psalms 37:30) The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
(Psalms 37:31) The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
(Psalms 37:39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(Psalms 37:40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Verse 11: Notice in verse 11, about the meek inheriting the earth same as (Matthew 5:5) Blessed are the meek (humble) : for they shall inherit the earth. Jesus speaking to the multitude. True they were all Jewish but were they all humble?- true humility is a function of truth at work in the hearts of those that trust in God's word, because it is only by Him that we can truly know ourselves.
Verse 18: the inheritance of the upright is for ever- sounds like heaven doesn't it? Can one who denies Christ get to heaven?Can they lay claim to being blessed of God?
Verse 22:
Those that are blessed by him shall inherit the earth- those that have been humbled (made meek) by trusting in the knowledge that it is " ..... by grace (Gods' blessedness) are ye saved through faith (Gods' gift); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Hebrews 12:2 ....Jesus the author and finisher of our faith);Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship,(2 Corinthians 3:3) .......declared to be the epistle of Christ ......written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.... created in Christ Jesus unto good works....(Ephesians 2:8,9,10)
Those cursed of God shall be cut off- Who is cursed?
(Matthew 23:35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:38) Behold, your house is is left unto you desolate.
When the scripture refers to "this generation" we must not see it as meaning those who are living at this time. In this instance it is not a reference to a length of time broadly set by the time a child is born to the time when that child gives birth or begets another child (averaging 25 years say). What the scripture here refers to is the fact that there are on earth (in spiritual terms) only two families, one- the generation of God (those that are born of God) and two- the generation of satan (those that are born of satan)- in Matthew 23:33, Christ refers to the fact that these he was speaking of were in effect satans children- "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" They happened to belong to the nation of Israel by being physically related to Abraham,but this form of relationship to Abraham would not, and could not save them or give them the inheritance promised to Abraham and his descendants. Spiritually they were satans children. (Further evidence of this may be found in John 8:38-44) This does not single out the Jews alone as Ephesians 2:1-5 points out- Every man, woman, and child, that ever existed, (past present and future), are partakers of this fallen nature- referred to here as "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath"
The letter to the Ephesian church is a letter to a gentile church that Paul founded:
(Ephesians 2:11) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
Paul speaks of the common spiritual ancestry of all people, notice that he as a Jew, and not just an ordinary Jew, but one highly qualified both in terms of ancestry and training and tradition (Philippians 3:4-7)included himself as having a need for adoption into the family of God.(Rom 8:15, Rom 8:23, Eph 1:4-5, Gal 4:5) Despite these huge cultural differences Paul identifies himself along with these gentiles as a sinner, not merely by choice, but through a common spiritual progenitor- by a common inherited nature.
(Ephesians 2:3)Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In Galations we see that whoever seeks to be made righteous by the law is under the curse, not because the law cursed them, but the law was added to make it obvious that they were subject to the same curse as all the sons of Adam.
(Galatians 3:10.11) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
So we observe that all of Israel, (as many as are of the works of the law) are under the curse of Adam- period.
Now Paul- being the God-appointed apostle to the Gentiles- is anxious to see that the Gentiles do not escape the same net that entrapped Israel, leaving them with no escape apart from Christ, and this is affirmed in Romans.
(Romans 2:14) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (Romans 2:15) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Romans 2:11) For there is no respect of persons with God. (Romans 2:12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Paul here speaks to the gentiles who might think that since God did not address the law to them, then they are exempt from the curse and the wrath of God. He shows that the "work of the law" (which is to set mankinds guilt before their eyes so that they are without excuse, (Romans 3:20) is also going on amongst the Gentiles. The only difference being that with the one group (Israel) they have the condemning word, the law, written on tablets of stone (and then paper), for all of Israel to see and know, whereas the other group (Gentiles) have a universal law of condemnation written on their hearts (consciences) bringing all to the same inescapable conclusion.
(Romans 3:19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Throughout the New Testament we see the theme repeated that as far as spiritual realities are concerned we- both Gentiles and Israel according to the flesh- share a common, fallen nature, and as such we require the same spiritual remedy, to be found only in the shed blood of Christ, which is made effective in those born into the family of God.
(1 Peter 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(1 Corinthians 15:44-49) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made# a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Paul's description here is one in which he elucidates on the two families or generations found in the world. The first man Adam made from the dust of the earth is the progenitor of the natural human race and so all have inherited his nature. The last Adam was made a life-giving spirit,(v45) and through the impartation of his life gives birth to a spiritual life in those whomsoever he wills. The last Adam or as he says the second Adam is the Lord from heaven. They are given the titles “first”
and “last” to show the order of being, first to be born after the order of the natural and lastly the spiritual order. Paul alludes also to the reality of the law of nature. “Does a man gather figs from thorns?” Just as a man is born of Adam and so all sin following the nature of Adam, so shall the order be altered when a person is “born again” of the new nature in Christ. Not that we no longer sin but that now having a new nature it is impossible to sin when we live out of that nature.
(1 John 3:8.9) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
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