Is Israel part of the Church of God of all ages?

Hi all,

I have recently finished(although I will probably find spelling errors) an article which I just posted to my website.

I address the issue of Israel and the Church and I think you guys will find it interesting.

Please don't be like so many people in these forums and not read the article or just look at the first paragraph and leave.

Take 10 minutes - and actually read it, then lets discuss not based on our presuppositions but based on what the scriptures teach us.

Here is the link:

http://www.ifbreformation.org/Prophecy_Israel_Church.html

I look forward to your comments pro or con.

Thanks

IFBReformer

 

Gunther,

Thanks for the response. I was not able to touch my computer all weekend and thats why I could not get back to you right away.

You said:

A core belief, if not the core belief of Dispensationalism is that church is not the redeemed of all ages. The church is an interuption in God's plan for Israel.

Charles Ryrie(an avid Dispensationalist) makes it clear that distinction
of Israel(spiritual Israel) and the Church are
the essense of Dispensationalism:

Gunther,
Was Charles Ryrie wrong in saying that the essense and touchstone of Dispensationalism
is the distinction of Israel and Church?

Here is a quote from the modern day
Dispensationalist scholar J. Dwight Pentecost
clearifing what this distinction means:

So in essense there are two peoples of God according to Dispensationalism - spiritual Israel and the Church.

Now lets look at Ephesians chapter 3:4-6(NIV):

The key word in this passage from Ephesians chapter 3 is the word "as". The mystery of the church and Christ were not revealed as clearly in the Old Testament as it was in the New.

But the Apostle Paul applies a passage in Hosea saying it was a prediction of the Church - so it was not a complete mystery totally unknown. Here is a quote directly from article on this:

As to you request for prophecies that were directly addressed to Israel in the Old Testament and are applied to the New Testament Church here are some:

Pauls use of Hosea is an excellant example. Lets look at the full passage in Hosea to see this:

This passage was directed in it historical and 'normal' context at Israel for her disobedience and rebellion against God. But
God promises that even though they at that he said of Israel "You are not my people" that one
day once again they would be called "sons of the living God".

This passage clearly in its 'normal' context was applying to Israel. Yet the apostle Paul applied to the God's creation of the New Testament Church.

Paul in Romans chapter 9 applies Hosea's words which in the 'normal' context applied to Israel to the church as well:
"even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"(vs 24)

So the passage in Hosea had a immediate context(that directed to Israel in their unbelief) and a future, greater application to the New Testament church.

Here is another one in Hebrews chapter 8:

This New Covenant was in its 'normal' context directed soley at "the house of Israel and with the house of Judah". Yet Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles says the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 3:6(NIV)
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Clearly from Christ's own words we the Jews and Gentiles alike share in this New Covenant together.

Luke 22:20(NIV)
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Hebrews 9:15(NIV)
"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

So Gunther,

I have given you two examples from the New Testament of Old Testament prophecies which in their 'normal' interpretation were directed at Israel but are applied by the Apostle Paul to the New Testament Church.

Gunther,

I want to revisit one more thing that you said and challenge you on it:

Where does it ever say anything like what you and
many other Dispensationalist say "The two are distinct in nature and purpose." of Israel and the Church. I never find Paul saying anything like that.

In fact he states things to contrary of what you are saying:

"14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations."

Paul tells us that Christ through his death on the cross "destroyed the barrier" between Jew and Gentile. When will he rebuild this barrier? Can you show me a passage which indicates the union between Jews and Gentiles is only an interuption in God's plan for Israel as J. Dwight Pentecost says "The church is manifestly an interuption of God's program for Israel"(page 201, Things to Come).

Instead of an interuption in God's plan, isn't the church the culmination of God's plan?

I look forward to your responses.

Thanks

IFBReformer