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

/ 1 8 9

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

Israel and the Church

III. The Apostolic Testimony of the Promise Universalized: OT Messianic Predictions in Acts and the Epistles

Unlike some interpreters today, Paul does not regard God’s promises to

A. Gentile inclusion in OT Messianic prophecy in Acts

ethnic Israel as cancelled—only

1. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh, Joel 2.28-32

deferred (cf. Deut. 4.25–31); God still had a covenant with the fathers (Deut. 7.8). Most readers today subscribe to one of two systems: Israel and the church are separate and irreconcilable entities, and Israel will be restored; or Christians become the true Israel and ethnic Israel has no more purpose in God’s plan. Paul would have rejected both extremes, believing that ethnic Israel as a whole would return to the covenant in the end time, joining the Gentiles and Jewish remnant that already participate in it. ~ Craig S. Keener. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Rom. 11.28). (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1993.

a. The day of Pentecost, Acts 2.17-21

b. Cornelius and his party, Acts 10.44-45

2. The rejection of Messiah from the “builders,” (Jewish leaders)

a. Jesus as the rejected cornerstone

(1) Ps. 118.22

(2) Acts 4.11

4

b. The royal rejection of Messiah, Ps. 2.1-2, Acts 4.24-26

3. Jesus as a Light for the Gentiles

a. Isa. 49.6

b. Acts 13.47