Israel and The Church

There are two main views regarding the relationship between Israel and the Church. They are Replacement Theology and Dispensationalism. Replacement Theology is defined by Matt Slick posting on the CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) website as "the teaching that the Christian church has replaced national Israel regarding the plan, purpose, and promises of God." In other words, Israel has lost its "chosen people" status and it no longer has any future place in God's redemptive plan. Dispensationalism is defined also by Matt Slick as "an approach to biblical interpretation which states that God uses different means of working with people (Israel and the Church) during different periods of history." In this perspective, God still has a plan for Israel, but Israel and the Church are two separate entities. However, neither of these approaches satisfies the Biblical record completely.

I would like to posit a very different view that I hope will one day pervade the Christian church.

Isaiah 2:1-4 (KJV) 
¹ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
² And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
³ And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

This passage is describing earth at the end of the ages, as seen in a vision by the prophet Isaiah. The nations will be judged and there will no longer be any war. God's temple will be established on Mount Zion and many people will suggest going up to the mountain, to the temple of Israel, to be taught God's ways, so that they would walk in His paths. For surely, the Torah of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem. Any attempt at suggesting this passage should be taken in an allegorical way defies the plain meaning of the text. There is no reason to believe that it means anything except what it flat out says. This passage and so many others in the Bible reflect the same understanding, that Israel will always be God's chosen people. The church has not replaced Israel.

Paul also confirms this in Romans.

Romans 11:1 (KJV)
¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

He also wrote:

Romans 9:6 (KJV)
⁶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Paul was saying that Israel can really mean two separate entities. The first is that Israel exists as a nation or an ethnicity. However, Paul went on to say that not all Israel (the national or ethnic identity) is Israel (another Israel?).

Romans 11:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Paul spoke here about Gentiles being grafted into Israel. He can't be speaking about national or ethnic Israel because when we are born again, we don't become Jewish first. We stay as Gentiles. Yet, we are grafted into Israel. What Israel? This Israel consists of the believers. Consequently, the Dispensationalists keep Israel and the church as separate groups. Paul's definition of the Israel contradicts this. The believing remnant of Israel and the Gentiles that have been grafted in comprise Paul's second definition of Israel. Basically, if you are a believer in Yeshua, you are a part of Israel.

It is my hope that in time, we will understand that there is only one group of believers and they are called Israel. This is not to say that Israel as a nation or as an ethnicity doesn't have a place in God's plans, but the sharp divide between Israel and the church is equally misguided.   

God Isn't Done With Israel!

There is a large part of the church that believes that God is finished with Israel. After all, the Jews failed to uphold the covenant, right? They practiced idolatry and God punished them by exile. When Yeshua came, they failed to recognize Him as Messiah. Now the blessings that were reserved for Israel passed on to the church, right?

WRONG!

In our haftarah portion for this week (Isaiah 40:1-26), God said:

Isaiah 40:1-2 (KJV)
¹ Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
² Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

Although Israel had received double for all her sins, she was to be comforted, her warfare would be ended, and her iniquity would be pardoned.

Isaiah 40:9-11 (KJV)
⁹ O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
¹⁰ Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

This promise given to Israel speaks about God's return and His Kingdom. She (Israel) was not to be afraid, for He would come with a strong hand and His arm would rule. He would feed His flock like a shepherd, He would gather the lambs and carry them, and He would gently lead those with young.

This passage is very reminiscent of John 10:14 where Yeshua claims that He is the good shepherd.

John 10:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Believers have correctly claimed Yeshua as their shepherd, but Isaiah clearly shows this promise was for Zion. How can both be true? Verse 16 indicates that the original fold must be Israel, but there is another fold that would also be brought in. This second fold is made up of Gentile believers. Yeshua said that the two folds would become one and that He was the one shepherd.

If most of the church believes that Israel has no further place in God's promises, what hope does the church have? Not only has Israel been guilty of idolatry, but the church has as well. If God can remove Israel from His promises, He can also remove the church!

The idea that God is finished with Israel is not Biblical, nor is the idea that God's promises to Israel now belong to the church. Praise God, we Gentiles can be gathered into the sheepfold of Israel and all those who believe in Messiah Yeshua can stand on God's promises! They will not fail!

Romans 11:27-32 - Irrevocable!

Paul had finally come to the climax of his discussion regarding the Jews in chapters 9-11. "All Israel will be saved."

Romans 11:27-32 (KJV)
²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
³⁰ For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Verse 27 continues the thought of verse 26. God, from the beginning, has been a covenant maker. His covenant people, Israel, shall again one day, as a nation, turn to Messiah Yeshua, when God will then take away their sins.
Yet, at the time of Paul's writing and on into today, the Jews (most of them) are enemies concerning the Gospel (verse 28). This situation was for the Gentile believers' sakes. However, the Jews are still God's beloved chosen people. They are beloved because of the patriarch's sakes. God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God would keep His word and fulfill those promises. They had been promised a land and a nation. According to verse 29 the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In other words, His gifts and calling are irrevocable! God's honor is at stake. He cannot change what He promised. These gifts and calling for Israel cannot be changed, or God would not be trustworthy. He will do what He says.

Paul then related again historically, how the Gentiles had not believed in God (verse 30), but by the unbelief of the Jews, Gentiles have obtained mercy from God and have been saved. In the same way, by grace through faith, the Jews will once again obtain mercy and be saved (verse 31).

For both the Jews and the Gentiles have been in rebellion toward God (verse 32). By God's amazing grace He will show mercy on both groups!

Romans 11:1-6 A Remnant

Previous:

Paul said that God was not at fault for the Jews not believing in Messiah. He ended by calling them a disobedient and obstinate people. It was their own fault. Yet, before we begin to think that Gentiles are some how better (they aren't), Paul continued to teach on God's plan for the Jews.

Romans 11:1-6 (KJV)
¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
² God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
³ Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
⁴ But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

In verse 1 Paul again used a leading question to shape his argument. "Has God cast away his people?" Paul answered negatively, "God forbid!" Paul then used himself as an example of how God had not cast the Jews aside. Paul was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God had not cast away the Jewish people which He had foreknown (verse 2). Paul then used Elijah as his second example. After Elijah had confronted the prophets of Baal, he fled and complained that he alone was left of all the prophets of God (verse 3). Yet, this was not true (verse 4). God had reserved seven thousand men who had not turned to Baal. God had preserved a remnant.

In verse 5 Paul affirmed that during his own day, there was still a Jewish remnant of believers in Messiah, that were saved by grace.

While much of Christianity today has also decided that God is through with Israel (Replacement Theology) and that the Church has replaced her, Paul's words and examples show that there will always be a remnant of Jews that responds to God's call. There will be more as chapter 11 continues.

Then in verse 6 Paul returned to one of his major arguments, that since the Jews' salvation was by grace, it was not of works, otherwise grace would not be grace, but payment of a debt. And if salvation came by works, it was not of grace. Then works would not be the loving and thankful result of salvation, but the striving for something that was unattainable. Again, Paul stressed that, as always, salvation came by grace!

Next:

Did God Divorce Israel?

In just a few days both Christians and Jews will be celebrating the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Shavuot in Hebrew). However, not only will Christians and Jews celebrate on different days, the focus of the celebrations will be different as well. While Christianity will be remembering the giving of the Holy Spirit and the so-called beginning of the church, the Jews will be celebrating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai to Israel.

These differences really should not exist. Scripturally, Pentecost is connected to Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but traditionally, for Christians, the date of Pentecost is connected to Easter and its connection to the first Sunday after the spring vernal equinox. Also Scripturally, both the Holy Spirit and the Law were given on Pentecost. It seems that the two groups should be much more of one mind, yet, as in history, there appears to be an attempt to separate the two groups, as if they did not spring from the same source, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

Although Christianity has the date wrong, the concern of today's post is on Christianity's view that Pentecost was the beginning of the church and the replacement of Israel by the church. To determine whether Israel was replaced by the church we need to go back to the first Pentecost.

Exodus 19:5-8 (KJV)
⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
⁶ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
⁷ And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
⁸ And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

In verse 5 God was initiating a covenant with the Jewish people. Notice the conditions, "If you will keep my covenant, then you will be a treasure unto me above all people." Verse 8 records Israel's response, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do."

Unfortunately, the Jewish people were unable to keep their side of the covenant. While they were yet at Mount Sinai, Aaron and the people crafted the golden calf and promptly broke the covenant by failing to keep God's commandments. God again renewed the covenant in chapter 34 of Exodus. This pattern of failure and then return to God continues throughout Israel's history. Finally, during the days of Yeshua, the religious leaders rejected Him as Messiah.

Matthew 21:42-43 (KJV)
⁴² Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
⁴³ Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Was this the end of God's patience toward Israel? Many in Christianity say that after this passage in Mattew, God rejected Israel as her promised people.

There are two points that speak against this. The first is God's eternal identification of Israel as His people.

Jeremiah 7:7 (KJV)
⁷ Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Jeremiah 31:3-4 (KJV)
³ The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
⁴ Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

The second point is that God's covenant with Israel was more like a marriage covenant than a business covenant.

Jeremiah 31:32 (KJV)
³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Hosea 3:1 (KJV)
¹ Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

Isaiah 62:1-5 (KJV)
¹ For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
² And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
³ Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
⁴ Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
⁵ For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

If God had taken Israel for her bride and He replaced her with the entity called the church, God would have, for all intents and purposes, divorced Israel. Is this possible?

Malachi 2:16 (NASB)
¹⁶ "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."

Considering God's hatred for divorce and His statements of everlasting love for Israel, it is unthinkable that He would have divorced Israel and taken a new wife.

God's righteous character requires that Israel will always be His bride. God's chosen people will always be Israel. However, this statement should not disturb those who are Gentile believers in Yeshua. Salvation comes for all who trust in Yeshua, both Jews and Gentiles. Both become Israel in some sense upon salvation.

Although the Matthew 21 passage points to God's removal of Israel as His chosen people, it was referring only to Israel's temporary loss in God's plan of history where the Gentiles were to become the predominant number entering into Israel. However, one day again, Israel, as a nation will turn back to their Messiah and will be saved.

Romans 11:26 (KJV)
²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Zechariah 12:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

God's promises to Israel are everlasting. The church can never take that away. Why would it want to when it has been grafted in?

Romans 11:19 (KJV)
¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in