6: Reworking God’s People
6.1 Introduction. For Paul, his rethinking about God led naturally to a reworking of how God’s people should be.
6.2 Election, Jewish Views of God’s People. The Jews believed they were chosen by God because of God’s love. The purpose God had in mind when he did this had various answers over the years. But, one way or another, God’s purpose was to root evil out of the world.
6.3. Election Reshaped around Jesus. Paul reaffirms Israel’s election. But election has to be redefined. Paul’s earliest statement about this redefinition occurs in Galatians 2. Wright shows in detail how Paul has redefined election and the meaning of the Torah. Israel’s election is not for the benefit of Israel. It is so Israel could be a light to the nations showing God’s glory and power. They failed at that. So,God revealed his covenant via the faithfulness of the Messiah, Jesus. The point of being called and justified is both that the individual might be rescued AND that the new community would point to God’s purpose to rescue the world.
6.4 Election Reworked around the Spirit.
6.5. Redefinition of Election Rooted in Scripture. Jews are not automatically in the kingdom because of their race. The point is they are not debarred from the kingdom because of being Jewish.
6.6 Conclusion.