Finding Objectivity (part 3.2): The Covenant Hermeneutic

Logic of the Position

And so, from what we can derive from the plans of God, He begins in Abraham and chooses a man, a family, a line. This line of people we come to know as the nation of Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, from the choosing of Abraham through the book of Malachi, we watch as the promise and the seed and the nation of Israel prospers and falls, is victorious and is in fear of annihilation. We watch as the covenant people of God are delivered time and time again. But through this story we come to know, especially through prophetic literature that there will be a Messiah, a Savior. This savior would come to be known as the ideal Israel. He would embody all that Israel was meant to be (Isaiah 49:1-6), He would fulfill the legal stipulations of the Law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4; Galatians 4:4-5), He would fulfill all the positional duties of Israel, namely that of prophet, priest and king, He would be obedient where the nation failed (Phillipians 2:8; Romans 5:19; Hebrews 5:8), and He would be the perfect sacrifice and sacrificer (Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53).

Not only this, but prophetic literature promised a future remnant of Israel. If Christ is the Ideal Israel, and those who are being saved now are “in Christ” (Romans 7:4; 8:1; 12:5; etc) then they are “in Israel,” they must be “Israel.” To further validate this claim that we are the Israelite remnant of prophecy, the Hebrew Scriptures say that this remnant, upon their return will be given the New Covenant. The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that we are sharing in the New Covenant now (Hebrews 8/Jeremiah 31:31-37; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 12:24). Being the recipients of the New Covenant, which was promised to Israel, being "in Christ," who is the ideal Israel, and being a repentant remnant, all seem to suggest that we, the Church, are the Israel of prophecy. The Church is, therefore, the Israel of the New Testament; a continuation of what God was doing in the Old Testament, or rather a replacement of the nation of Israel (God's chosen people of the Old Testament). [to be continued]