Wesley Todd (Sensible Moderate)@Wesley_Todd_
THE DUAL PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND DISPENSATIONALISM
The lynchpin of dispensationalism (and Christian Zionism) rests on interpreting Genesis 15:14-15 as referring almost exclusively to Abraham's physical offspring (supposed modern day Jews). The logic is that God's promise is irrevocable, and in promising the land to Abraham's offspring it is guaranteed in perpetuity to his (physical) descendants.
To counter, many interpret the bulk or entirety of these promises as referring to the church. This is supported by St. Paul in Galatians affirming that those who have faith in Christ are the true offspring of Abraham.
But in the face of the dichotomy of exclusively physical Israel/spiritual Israel the answer is NEITHER exclusively physical Israel (modern "Jews") NOR exclusively spiritual Israel (the church).
In reality, God made two promises.
1. To give a land to Abraham's physical descendants
2. The bless the nations of the world through Abraham's spiritual descendants.
Many promises in scripture have this dual physical/spiritual fulfillment. The Son of David (Solomon) sat on the throne in Jerusalem in the short term fulfillment of 2 Sam 7:13 ("He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."). But today the true Son of David (Christ) sits on His Throne at the right hand of the Father forever. Physical Israel was delivered from bondage in Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea just as spiritual Israel is delivered from the bondage of sin through the waters of baptism.
Short term/physical -----> long term / true / spiritual
The short term promise to Abraham that God would give him a land for his descendants is considered fulfilled in Joshua 21:43-44: "Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. ... Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."
Being a physical descendant of Abraham had real blessings and promises in the short term. It really did matter and they received what was promised. But Solomon's descendants did not stay on the throne in Jerusalem forever. The Israelites did not stay out of captivity forever. Every temporal blessing ultimately ended because of sin and unfaithfulness.
But the true and better promise remains. Abraham's physical descendants, whoever they may be, are no longer promised anything. God was true to His word. Yet by faith in Christ Abraham's children by faith enter into the better rest, the better promise, and the better life.
"But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."