Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

B. God’s covenant with Abraham: through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed, Gen. 12.1-3.

This text reveals clearly that:

1. Through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.

2. The promise will be of God’s divine working through the lineage of Abraham.

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C. This covenant revealed God’s exalted purpose to draw out of the earth a people for himself, including Gentiles, all of whom are redeemed through his Son, Jesus Christ, Gal. 3.6-9.

This text has several important implications for the foreshadowing of the Church through the covenant of Abraham.

1. Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness.

2. Believers associated with the promise of God to Abraham.

3. The Scriptures foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith in the Abrahamic covenant.

II. The Church Is Foreshadowed through God’s Unfolding Plan: in Jesus Christ, God Has Unveiled His Mystery to All the World of His Intent to Form a People for His Own Glory among Jews and Gentiles.

Three explicit texts point to the revelation of God’s mystery to redeemGentiles through the Abrahamic promise.