The Plan and the Promise

God’s plan pre-dates creation. Abraham was promised to be a blessing to all mankind. More than 400 years after His promise to Abraham, God called the physical nation of Israel and expanded His covenant to them. They were to be a nation of priests, to serve God and to reconcile other peoples to God. Israel failed to keep their part of the covenant, despite God’s blessings. They failed in their chance to be the agent of reconciliation He intended. But God will still keep His promises to them. Nevertheless, the priesthood agency has shifted from the physical nation of Israel, to the spiritual nation of Israel; i.e., the Church. The Church is the instrument God is now using to execute His plan. We, the Church, are that special people, that holy priesthood. The promises God made to physical Israel now apply to us in the spiritual sense. Some Bible “scholars” accept “replacement theology”, which promotes the false idea that the law and prophecy were for the Jews, with no place for new-covenant Christians. In fact, God’s plan from the beginning included the time when the gentiles would be grafted into Israel, and would receive the promises. The gentile nations are guaranteed a share in the blessings initially given to Abraham. Christ expanded the promises through His sacrifice, and will fulfill God’s purpose from the beginning to reconcile ALL people. God adds to His promises, never forgetting them. God is completely faithful.

Keywords:
Genesis 12:1-3 – promise – covenant – God’s plan of salvation – Exodus 19:5 – Israel – Gentiles – Priests – I Peter 2:5 & 9 – rebellion – holy priesthood – salvation – mankind – Galatians 3:29 – I Kings 8:59-60 – Romans 9:6-8 – spiritual Israel – physical Israel – replacement theology