I admit it. My theological persuasion is a nuanced position. Here is the overarching story line I see in Scripture:
In the Beginning
- Man is created in God’s image – Genesis 1:26
- Man sins – Genesis 3:6-7; Romans 3:23
- God promises a Savior – Genesis 3:15
Called Out
- As a Gentile, Abraham is called out from among the Gentiles – Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8
- A people who were not God’s people became God’s people – Hosea 2:23; Romans 9:25
- Israel is a national identity with a mixed people group (both ethnic Israel and Gentile1 – Genesis 12:5; Exodus 12:38; Deuteronomy 29:10-15; Joshua 9:9-10, 27; Matthew 1; Esther 8:17; Isaiah 56:3-7
Cast Off
- Israel is cast off as God’s people – Genesis 21:10; Galatians 4:25-26, 30; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 19:10-12; Jeremiah 29:9-10; Matthew 21:42-44; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 23:13; Mark 7:6-8; Mark 11:12-14; Hebrews 10:9-10; Hebrews 12:22
- Jesus is cast off in our place (a mixed group – ethnic Israel and Gentiles alike) – Galatians 3:10, 13
Jesus Is the True Israel
- Do The Promises Made To The Nation of Israel Still Stand? – Romans 9:4-5
All Who Believe in Jesus
- All people (ethnic Israel and Gentile alike) must believe in Jesus to be redeemed – John 3:16-18; Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:8,16; Romans 1:16
- Romans 4:13 says, “It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” I would suggest the following translation: “For not through the torah would come the covenant promise to Abraham (or to his seed) of his inheritance of the earth, but [it came] through the covenant participation of faith.”
All in Christ are Abraham’s Offspring
- Both ethnic Israel and Gentile alike – Romans 4:16; Romans 9; Galatians 3:15-29; Hebrews 2:16
In Christ All Are Blessed
- Gentiles receive the blessing of Abraham – Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 1:3; Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:8,16
- This blessing is both physical and spiritual –
It appears that premillennial views, acknowledge the earthliness of the land (not spiritualizing it away), nevertheless fail to connect the dots of Christ’s fulfillment to the original purpose of God in creation. God’s gift for man was that he exercise dominion over all the world (Genesis 1:26-27). The fall created a dominion-vacuum. God’s call and covenant to Abram was to undo the fall. While Israel failed, True Israel, Jesus, fulfilled Israel’s role. Jesus, thus, is the new Adam or last Adam, shaping a new humanity made after His image. The universal dominion of Christ now ensures that Christ is the true landlord, the True Man “appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). It will not do to put off His dominion until the Second Advent (Matthew 28:19-20). That is precisely what Paul asserts is happening now as the family of Abraham (renewed image-bearers) expand to be “many nations” (Romans 4:17). N.T. Wright says, “The covenant is fulfilled in the creation of a worldwide family marked out by Abraham-like faith.”
More on the land promise in another article.
Christ Himself Fulfills; All Who Believe in Him Receive All That is In Him
- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. – 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 8:6; 2 Peter 1:4
This is why Revelation 7:9 will happen
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands
Jesus fulfills (as True Israel) All that the Nation of Israel Failed to do
See Do The Promises Made To The Nation of Israel Still Stand?
This is why I can confidently say Acts 2 is fulfillment language. Jesus fulfilled it and both ethnic Israel and Gentiles alike receive the blessing of Christ’s fulfillment.
So, it is not so much that the Church is fulfilling things, so much as, the Church receives the blessings of the fulfillment.
References
1Who Is Israel?