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

the envy of Israel, the chosen son (Rom. 11.11). Gentiles have become obedient servants (Rom 15.18) and share in the Jews’ spiritual blessings (Rom. 15.27). The Gentiles now join the congregation of praise as full members of the chorus (Rom. 15.9–11), full citizens and members of God’s household. As aliens from the “commonwealth of Israel,” “strangers to the covenants of promise” and those who were “far off,” they have now been made participants-even building stones-in a new temple of God (Eph. 2.11–22 RSV). In Acts we find that God has poured out his favor and Spirit “even upon the Gentiles” (Acts 10.45; 11.1, 18), a gift which many of them receive gladly (Acts 13.48), though the precise terms of their inclusion in the people of God is a matter of dispute (Acts 15.5–20). We close this module with the broadest sense of the OT witness to Christ, the abundance and specific prophetic messages that speak to the Messiah’s coming and work, and the amazing mystery unveiled of the Gentile inclusion in his work of redemption and salvation. Now the incredible aversion, scorn and hatred between Jew and Gentile is overcome through the Messiah, whose blood cleanses both Jew and Gentile. The promise of Abraham now by faith can be applied to any and every person, of whatever culture or clan, for salvation through Jesus of Nazareth. Although emphasized more in the second section of this lesson, the OT Messianic prophetic vision is truly a global one, and this ought to be emphasized with the students in every way throughout the entire lesson. What your goal ought to be in the review of these questions is the iron-clad certainty that comes from the OT Messianic prophecies and the revelation of Jesus Christ. This has to be one of the most important uses of the OT as quoted in the NT, and the students should understand the logic and rationale of this procedure. In some sense, this reliance upon the Scriptures as the evidence of Jesus’ true Messiahship is the very heart of Jesus’ claim to be the authentic King of Israel (cf. Matt. 5.17-18). Concentrate on the gravity of the prophecies as certain and sure evidence of Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah. This is the “exegetical logic” of the Bible itself. ~ Leland Ryken. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery . (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. p. 325.

3 Page 180 Student Questions and Response