The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Matthew 1:21

In reply to:

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[color:"blue"]Well, as I understand covenant theology, the Christian church has displaced the Jewish nation as God's chosen people. We are the "true Israel."

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Actually, the N.T. Church didn't "displace" or even "replace" the nation of Israel as God's chosen people. One needs to avoid getting trapped into that hermeneutical error called a "psycho statistical mean". Without going into a long explanation with examples of how it is derived, it is simply limiting the meaning of words to a singular definition rather than allowing the context determine the meaning of words, which is often many. In this particular case, "chosen" is used in various ways through the Bible and although it has the basic meaning "to single out", the purpose for the choice of one over another can be and often is quite different. The nation of Israel was chosen for a particular purpose. But within that nation of Israel God also made another more specific choice, that being salvific. Thus Paul tells us "they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" (Rom 9:6). The context of this passage clearly shows that salvation was the focus of God's election. And, within the nation of Israel (visible) there was a chosen people who were given saving grace who were part of the TRUE ISRAEL (invisible). This TRUE ISRAEL is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles of all ages. (cf. Eph 2:15ff)

So, applying this meaning to Matt 1:21, we are to understand that "his people" to mean, those whom the Father gave Him to atone for. The caveat for those who want to make "his people" to mean Israel or the Jews only is that this would create two indefensible problems:

[*]The text says he will save his people from their sins. There is no "possibility salvation" even implied here. It is a definite, infallible salvation. Thus the "all people" are guaranteed salvation, which would of necessity mean that every Jew will be saved indiscriminately. This we know is totally false.[*]Applying this same idea, that the phase, "his people" means the Jews, it would also mean that no non-Jew will be saved. This again is incontrovertibly false according to the Scriptures.[/LIST]In His Grace,