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

3. This physical lineage of Abraham, elected on the basis of God’s covenant faithfulness to Abraham, Deut. 7.6-8

4. God’s election and covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob extended to their descendants. Messiah was to come through the nation Israel, and through him, salvation to the world.

a. Exod. 19.5-6

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b. Deut. 14.2

c. Deut. 26.18-19

d. John 4.22

5. Israel identified as God’s people: cf. Exod. 15.13, 16; Num. 14.8; Deut. 32.9-10; Isa. 62.4; Jer. 12.7-10; and Hos. 1.9-10

6. The Gentiles foreseen as God’s own people, Rom. 9.24-26

B. The image of Israel as God’s people is now applied to the Church as God’s covenant kingdom community.

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1. The Church, as God’s new humanity, both Jew and Gentile, has now become the people of God, 1 Pet. 2.9-10.

a. God’s Church is known not by circumcision but by new creation through faith in Jesus, 2 Cor. 5.17 (cf. Phil. 3.2-3).