Chapter 8: Children of the Promise (Who are the Israel of God?)

By Hazel Holland

The calling of ancient Israel as a nation to be God’s priestly people on earth could succeed or fail. In fact Paul speaks of the failure of this mission when he says, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24). Furthermore, we get a brief glimpse into Paul’s heartfelt sorrow and unceasing grief for those of his fellow Israelites who rejected Jesus as their Messiah.

“I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons… But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: ‘THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.’ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants’” Romans 9:6-8 (NASB).

Here Paul paints a picture that identifies the characteristics of the true “Israel of God”. Contrary to what many ancient Jews believed, although the nation of Israel descended from Abraham’s bloodline, being a part of that literal nation did not make them the children of promise, the “Israel of God”. Even though many of the ancient Jews believed that they possessed salvation (being privileged) solely on the basis of their being a descendant of Abraham, the Scriptures teach us otherwise.

Those who are the descendants of Abraham are not necessarily the “Israel of God”, instead that blessing belongs to Jew and Gentile alike who receive the promise of the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Being a descendant by Abraham’s bloodline and being a part of literal Israel does not guarantee that we are heirs of the promise, but being a part of the “Israel of God” by faith in Jesus Christ does guarantee that we are heirs of the kingdom.

Now that the promised Seed has come, we can clearly understand that those who are children of the promise put their faith in Jesus Christ and are recipients of eternal life. Only those who are in Christ are truly the “Israel of God”, but those who are not in Christ are not Israel.

This is a clear declaration that Israel is not a geopolitical nation, or even a genealogical one, but rather a remnant, spiritual people saved by God’s grace from every nation, kindred tongue and people. (Romans 11:5).

First fruits of a New Creation

Paul confirms that the Old Testament doctrine of election remains unchanged in the New Testament. Clearly we can see that God’s love for the human race is universal. God’s election of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Israel, or of the church is the way God implements His love for all of humanity.

Because God loves the world He chooses a people, he chooses patriarchs, he chooses prophets, he chooses apostles, and He chooses the body of Christ in order to implement His love for the entire human race. Election has nothing to do with the eternal salvation of individuals, but refers to God’s way of bringing His salvation message to the ends of the earth.

Christians are God’s chosen people in the same way that ancient Israel was chosen. Jews and Gentiles are chosen in Christ to be a servant community and witness to the kingdom of God. We have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light in order to declare God’s praises to the ends of the earth.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” 1 Peter2:9-10 (NIV).

Our calling in Jesus Christ is to be the first fruits of the new creation as we anticipate a much larger harvest to come (James 1:18). We are chosen to serve God by issuing the invitation to all people in every nation to come for God’s end time banquet.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV).

However, calling ourselves Christians does not necessarily make us Christians. Being a part of the visible body of Christ does not guarantee that we are actually a part of His new creation anymore than being a descendant of one of the tribes of Israel guaranteed that you were part of the “Israel of God”. There’s no difference between a natural Jew and a natural Gentile as far as God is concerned, because children of the flesh are not the children of God.

What makes the difference is if we (Jew and Gentile alike) are children of the promise, born of the Spirit! If we are, then we share a common spiritual ancestry in Christ. Abraham is our father and the Jerusalem that is above is our eternal home.

(Next: Chapter 9: Go here.