Who Are the People of God? Abraham’s Offspring, Israel & Christ

Contemporary theological—and even political—debates often center on the relationship between national Israel and the church. While vital, these discussions belong to a much broader motif: the identity and development of the people of God across Scripture. Biblical theology traces this overarching theme across redemptive history, revealing how God forms, redeems, and dwells with his covenant community throughout the narrative of Scripture.1 In this article, we will trace how this central theme unfolds, moving from Adam and creation to Abraham and his promised offspring, through the nation of Israel and its Davidic hope, to its culmination in Christ and his church. Table of contentsThe people of God from creation to IsraelExile, the Davidic covenant, and Israel’s restorationJesus: last Adam, seed of Abraham, and true IsraelThe church: the new covenant people of GodConclusion The people of God from creation to Israel Adam, multiplication, and the promised seed In terms of historical progression, the story of the people of God and humanity begins with creation. The case can be made, however, that the theme of the people of God begins before time, when God, who is eternal, self-sufficie...