Articles

One New People and the Future Hope for Israel

by Dr Timothy Mann

The Foundation in Christ

In our previous post, we established that God has remained faithful to Israel, and that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Israel’s covenant promises and mission. This fulfillment leads directly to a crucial development: how God’s plan expands to include both Jews and Gentiles as one people of God.

The Church as the Expanded People of God

Through Jesus Christ, God has expanded His covenant people to include both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him. This does not erase Israel’s identity, but it does redefine the boundary of God’s people.

In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul explains that Gentiles who were once “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” have now been brought near by the blood of Christ. He declares that Jesus has made “one new man” out of Jews and Gentiles. The dividing wall has been torn down.

Romans 9:6 makes the point plain: “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel”. God’s true people are those who believe in Christ. National identity is no longer the defining marker. Faith in the Messiah is. In Galatians 3:29, Paul writes, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”.

A Remnant According to Grace

The New Testament never denies that ethnic Israel still exists or that many Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah. It explains this reality by pointing to the biblical pattern of a faithful remnant.

Paul draws this connection in Romans 11:5, “Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace”. Just as there was a remnant in Elijah’s day, there was and continues to be a remnant of believing Jews who have trusted in Christ. This remnant is a sign that God has not abandoned His promises.

A Future Hope for Israel

The New Testament does not end Israel’s story. Instead, it points toward a future hope. Paul makes this abundantly clear in Romans 11. He writes that through Israel’s unbelief, salvation came to the Gentiles, but this is not the end of the story.

In Romans 11:12, he says, “If their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness“. Then in verse 26, he declares, “And so all Israel will be saved”. God is not finished with Israel. The same covenant-keeping God who brought the Messiah through Israel will bring about a future turning of Israel to Christ.

Israel and the Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teachings make clear that the Kingdom of God would not be limited to ethnic Israel alone. In Matthew 21:43, Jesus told the religious leaders, “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it”. 

This is not a statement of permanent rejection of all Jews, but a statement that the Kingdom belongs to those who believe in the Son, whether Jew or Gentile. God’s Kingdom includes people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Gentiles are not second-class citizens; they are full participants in the covenant blessings through faith in Christ.

The Book of Revelation shows a final scene where people from every nation, tribe, and language stand before the throne of God. Among that great multitude are Israelites who have trusted in their Messiah. God’s purposes for Israel and the nations come together in perfect harmony in the worship of the Lamb.

Pastoral and Theological Implications

This teaching carries weighty implications for the church today:

• Deepen our Trust: God’s faithfulness to Israel should deepen our trust in His promises to us. If He kept His covenant with Israel through centuries of rebellion and hardship, we can trust Him to keep His promises in Christ to the church.

• Gospel Mission: The church should continue to bring the gospel to the Jewish people. Paul was clear that the gospel is “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

• Call to Unity: This truth calls the church to unity. Jew and Gentile stand on equal ground at the foot of the cross. There is one Savior, one faith, and one people of God.

Conclusion: The Faithful God and His Unfolding Plan

The New Testament does not erase Israel from God’s plan. It shows how God, in His perfect wisdom, is fulfilling His promises to Israel through His Son, Jesus Christ, and bringing people from every nation into one redeemed family. Israel’s story is a story of grace, promise, and faithfulness. As the church, we rejoice in the mercy we have received and look forward with hope to the day when the fullness of God’s plan for Israel and the nations will be revealed in the glory of Christ’s kingdom.