The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

Gentiles in the promise to Abraham. Now in this age God has unveiled the mystery that was hidden in past ages and times but now revealed through the prophets and the apostles, namely that Gentiles are fellow heirs of the covenant and heirs of salvation. Clues were given prophetically of this inclusion throughout Scripture, e.g., in the protoevangelium and God’s promise to bless all the families of the earth in Abraham. The apostolic use of OT Messianic prophecies in their preaching as recorded in Acts and the Epistles reveal their developing understanding of Gentile inclusion in the faith. The OT Messianic prophecies regarding the Gentiles show the plan and purpose of God for the nations; not only has God fulfilled his promise for salvation to Abraham, but it also includes the salvation of the Gentiles in that salvation promise. Our objective for this segment, Gentile Inclusion in Old Testament Messianic Prophecy , is to enable you to see that: • A serious study of OT Messianic prophecy reveals that God has extended the promise and blessings of Abraham to the Gentiles, to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah. • The three critical movements in the NT’s use of OT Messianic prophecy include: 1) Jesus’ explanation of the OT predictions about himself, 2) the apostles’ commentary on Jesus’ meaning in the NT writings, especially in the preaching of the book of Acts, and 3) the Church’s application of the apostles’ commentary of Jesus’ understanding of the OT. • The Abrahamic covenant promise was universalized to all nations by the inclusion of Gentile salvation in the Messianic hope. This promise includes the unveiling of the mystery that Gentiles are fellow heirs of the covenant and heirs of salvation. Clues are given prophetically of this inclusion throughout Scripture, including the protoevangelium , the promise that all the families of the earth will be blessed in Abraham, and the prediction that Messiah would be a light to all the Gentiles. • Various strands of OT Messianic prophecy were progressively understood by the apostles to represent God’s salvation for all peoples, including predictions such as the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh, and full inclusion of Gentiles as fellow heirs of the Abrahamic promise. • The apostolic use of OT Messianic prophecies in their preaching as recorded in Acts and the Epistles reveal their developing understanding of Gentile inclusion in the faith. They cite, among other things, the

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