Introduction
One of the most significant and far-reaching debates in contemporary Reformed and evangelical theology concerns the identity of Israel. Who are the true Israel of God? Does the Old Testament promise to "Israel" refer to the physical descendants of Abraham, or does it refer to the spiritual seed — all who believe in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile? The answer to this question has profound implications for eschatology, for the interpretation of the Old Testament, and for the Church's mission.
1. The Question Stated
Dispensationalism — the most influential system of biblical interpretation in American evangelicalism — holds that "Israel" in the Bible always refers to the physical, ethnic descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. On this view, the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament have not been fulfilled in the Church; they await future fulfillment in a literal, earthly millennium, during which the nation of Israel will be restored to its land and the Old Testament promises will be literally fulfilled.
The Reformed or covenant theology position holds that while "Israel" sometimes refers to the physical nation, the true and ultimate referent of the Old Testament promises is the spiritual seed of Abraham — all who share Abraham's faith. On this view, the Church is the true Israel of God, the continuation and fulfillment of the covenant community of the Old Testament.
2. Abraham's True Seed
The key to the whole question is the identity of Abraham's "seed." The Apostle Paul addresses this directly in Galatians 3. He argues that the promise was made to Abraham and to his "seed" — but then he makes a startling interpretive move: "He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). The singular "seed" of Abraham is Christ. And those who are in Christ — whether Jew or Gentile — are Abraham's seed and heirs of the promise.