Replacement Theology--Heresy?

The Jews and Gentiles have been made one in Christ through His shed blood. This is the Church, not spiritual Israel. Israel is NOT an extension of the Church. The Church is a totally separate entity.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)

New Covenant (Jer 31:1-33; Heb 8:7-13; 10:9-22). This is God's promise to give free blessing to men through Jesus Christ. It was given to the nation Israel (Jer 31:1-34), but Christians also share in the spiritual aspects of the New covenant through Christ (Heb 8:7-13). The New covenant with Israel promises that God will restore them to their promised land and give them a new heart to obey Him. This will happen when Jesus returns from Heaven (Ro 11:25-27; Zec 13:1-9).

The promise of the New Covenant: (1) It was made with the nation Israel (Jer 31:31). (2) It will replace the Mosaic covenant (Jer 31:32; Heb 10:8-9). It promises regeneration and cleansing from sin (Jer 31:33-34). (4) It reaffirms Israel's national security and future kingdom (Jer 31:35-37). (5) It promises Israel's possession of the land (Jer 32:37,41-44). (6) It is eternal (Jer 32:40). (7) It promises God's blessing upon the land (Eze 36:29-30).

The New Covenant and the Church: If the New Covenant is not fulfilled in the church (referring to the church in a general, institutional sense), why does the writer of Hebrews apply it to Christians (Heb 8:6-13; 10:15-19)? Hebrews does not say the New Covenant is fulfilled in the church; it plainly says the New Covenant belongs to "the house of Israel" (Heb 8:10). Hebrews refers to the New Covenant to show that the Mosaic system was only temporary and that even the O.T. promised that one day it would be abolished and replaced by another covenant. The writer of Hebrews indicates that every N.T. believer partakes of the spiritual blessings of the New Covenant through Christ, but nowhere does he say that this covenant has been transferred from national Israel to the church. The Apostle Paul taught that the New Covenant will be literally fulfilled following the church age (Ro 11:25-27).
(Way of Life Encyclopedia to the Bible: David Cloud/Article: Covenant)

 

Has anyone ever stated that Israel was an extension of the Church? I think not.

Now read the passage you quoted.

Verse 14 states: For he is our peace, who hath made both one. Now who did He make one? Certainly He did not make the Gentile believers one with National Israel. He made the Gentiles one with believing Israel and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between believing Israel and believing Gentiles. In Romans 11 we see that believing Gentiles were grafted into the good olive tree which represented the believing remnant of Israel because the unbelivers were broken off.

Even when National Israel was apostate there was always a believing remnant who had not "bowed the knee to Baal" as God tells Elijah when he fled from Jezebel.

 

Saying that the Church is a continuation of Spiritual Israel is the same thing as saying that God is finished with National Israel, which isn't true. There is no spiritual Israel. The saved Jews and Gentiles become members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The Church shares in the covenants and promises God gave to Israel, but does not take them over. The Church is God's heavenly people and the Jews are God's earthly people. God promised Israel an earthly kingdom.

Davidic covenant (2Sa 7:12-17) . The Davidic covenant is an extension of the covenant God made with Abraham. In the Davidic covenant God reaffirmed and detailed the kingdom aspect of the Abrahamic covenant. God's covenant with David (1) reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant (2Sa 7:10); (2) promised that the throne of David would be established forever through David's seed (2Sa 7:13); (3) promised chastisement for sin, but never annulment of the promise (2Sa 7:14-15); (4) established David's house and kingdom forever (2Sa 7:16). All of this is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, David's Son, who has inherited the throne of David (Mt 1:1) and who will establish the Davidic kingdom at His return from Heaven (Isa 9:6-7). (Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible, Covenant: David Cloud)

The Church is the Church--Israel is Israel. Two separate entities.

 

Dispensationalists have a tendency to ignore Scripture that refutes their false doctrine such as the words of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

John 5:28, 29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

or the words of the Apostle Paul:

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

 

For anybody who is interested in knowing what Replacement teaches, check out these sites:

http://www.learnthebible.org/q_a_replacement_theology.htm

http://www.israelmybeloved.com/people/covenanted_people/replacement_theology_II.htm

http://www.pre-trib.org/article-view.php?id=18

http://christianactionforisrael.org/antiholo/hate_jews.html

That's for starters.

 

Not exactly objective sites.

 

Grasshopper--

If they are not exactly objective sites--why are you posting them again by quoting my post?

 

StefanM said: (November 06, 2005 04:25PM)

HERESY, HERETIC

Referring to schism and false teaching. The word "heretic" is used only one time in the Bible (Tit 3:9-11), but the term "heresy" is used four more times (Ac 24:14; 1Co 11:19; Ga 5:20; 2Pe 2:1). The same Greek word, hairesis, is translated "sect" in Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; and Ac 28:22. This Greek word is used in two different ways in the N.T. (1) Any religious sect or party (Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:14; 28:22). (2) False teachers and doctrinal error (Tit 3:9-11; Ga 5:20; 2Pe 2:1). The terms heretic and heresy refer to a willful choosing of false doctrine, a willful alignment with error. "The word 'heresy' originally meant 'a choice,' then an opinion that is the product of choice or of the will, instead of being drawn from the Divine Word. It refers to a a man-made opinion. Hence the term was given as a name to departure from orthodox teaching which carried in them a breach of church unity" (G.P. Fisher, History of Christ Doctrine). Pastor Robert Sargent makes the following important comment: "Heresy is much more than ignorance. It is more than simply holding to an error. It is taking sides with error against truth. In Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; and Ac 28:22, the word is translated 'sect,' which shows that the concept of heresy involves forming a 'party' within the main body."
(Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bibleavid Cloud, HERESY, HERETIC)

 

Not exactly objective sites.


Is that better Linda?

 

Linda64,

A Challenging Quote:
------------------------------------------------
Saying that the Church is a continuation of Spiritual Israel is the same thing as saying that God is finished with National Israel, which isn't true. There is no spiritual Israel. The saved Jews and Gentiles become members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The Church shares in the covenants and promises God gave to Israel, but does not take them over. The Church is God's heavenly people and the Jews are God's earthly people. God promised Israel an earthly kingdom.
-----------------------------------------------

Linda,

I agree with your basic premise; but wish to
modify its presentation in certain respects.

1. God's salvation work in the Church IS a
continuation of His work in the "commonwealth
of Israel".
2. There IS a "spiritual Israel" in that sense.
3. Jews and Gentiles are members of the Body of Christ in the Church AND in the NEW Body since
the Cross by which both OT and NT saints became ONE.
4. The Church does not YET share in ALL the
promises made to Abraham and made future via the Davidic Covenant.
5. "The Jews are God's earthly people".

The controversy revolves around the question of
WHEN point 5 becomes "fulfilled prophecy".

Those who reject the future reality of Christ's
Millennial Kingdom on earth do not/cannot meet
the criteria of Matt.25 or of Rev.20.

This will take time to prove; but let me assure
you that you can count on my support for the
view you espouse.

Mel Miller Junior www.lastday.net