One New Man

Christ’s Inheritance of Israel and The Nations

Christ’s Inheritance of Israel and The Nations

In Psalm 2, we read: “Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2:8). It should be clear that the Father is speaking to the Son, for it says in the preceding verse, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” (Psalm 2:6-7). Jesus, the Son of God, has been set upon the hill of Zion, which represents God’s Kingdom, and will physically establish His Kingdom from Mount Zion, in Jerusalem. He will take the nations for His inheritance and the ends of the earth for His possession.

Israel, the Church, and the Transcendence of God’s Kingdom

Israel, the Church, and the Transcendence of God’s Kingdom

For nearly two thousand years, the church has wrestled over its identity with Israel. I say “identity” because, if we truly knew the inheritance the church has in Christ, we would not desire anything else. Paul said, “Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). Our failure to understand who we are in Christ will continue to lead to confusion and immeasurable conflict. Thus, it should not be surprising that the church is becoming increasingly divided over one of the most controversial theological issues since the Council in Jerusalem—the identity of Israel and the church.