The New Testament confirms the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
- Ron Cantor
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
When Kingdoms Collide | Part 3
On Mondays, we have been sharing 13 points about how the New Testament promises the affirmation of Israel, NOT the replacement of Israel in God’s plans. These points are excerpts from my book, When Kingdoms Collide, (which you can download for free).
Today, we look at what Paul meant by the hope of Israel, and did God change his association from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Augustine, Luther, and Calvin? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says!
7. Paul’s meeting in Rome
At the end of Paul’s life, after he has written Romans and Galatians, he calls the Jewish leaders of Rome to meet with him. In seeking to explain himself—why he is in chains—he says, “For this reason, I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” (Acts. 28:20)
Is the hope of Israel that Israel would be replaced by the Church? Of course not. Was it that all the promises they thought would be fulfilled were actually allegorically fulfilled in Yeshua on the cross or through the resurrection? Ridiculous! Paul is speaking to them as if they all agree on what the hope of Israel is. The hope of Israel is the Messiah of Israel. Yes, most of them could not comprehend a crucified king, a martyred Messiah, and went away offended. But Paul is clearly preaching the Messiah of Israel that will return and restore the kingdom to Israel.
8. The New Testament confirms the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Paul writes, “For I declare that Messiah has become a servant to the circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs.” (Rom 15:8 TLV) What promises? Clearly, this includes the land promises. You cannot speak of the “promises given to the patriarchs” and exclude the Land of Israel.
9. Yeshua refers to “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”
In Matthew 22:32, Yeshua does this. How can He do that and not affirm the promises of the Land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? (see the last sentence of Point 8). Yahweh is not suddenly the God of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, is He? The patriarchs are still the patriarchs (Rom. 11:28). And if they are, then there is nothing more central to their lives and legacies than the land of Israel, save the Messiah Himself. Taking the land is the primary focus of Exodus through Joshua. You cannot separate the patriarchs from the land promises. While all believers are children of Abraham, they are not children of Isaac and Jacob, to whom the land promises were confirmed.
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