Replacement Theology
Do you have anything on this subject? I don't know if you believe that the Jews have lost there promise or not but do you have any thing on your web site about this?
Replacement theology is one name given to the idea that believers of this age replace the Jews of the Old Testament. In this theology, the Jews cease to be the people of God and are excluded from that position by the coming of Christianity. The Old Testament promises that were given to the Jews are now applied to the Christians.
Normally, replacement theology is one component of the larger system of covenant theology. On the other hand, the foundational doctrine of Dispensationalism is belief in the continued distinction between Israel and the New Testament believers (commonly called the church). Proponents of replacement theology have several proof texts such as Romans 2:28-29 [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
[29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
See All..., Romans 9:6-8 [6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
[7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
See All..., Philippians 3:3God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
See All..., and Galatians 6:16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
See All.... And, when these scriptures are taken exclusive of many other scriptures, they can be very convincing. Those who teach replacement theology use these verses to "establish" the concept that Israel is now the church and then go to all
the scriptures about Israel and read it as referring to the church.
However, the verses in question do not teach the replacement of Israel by the New Testament believers. They teach several important concepts; such as the truth that the real Jew is one who is not simply a Jew outwardly but also one inwardly, and the spiritual kinship of the believer today with Abraham, and the spiritual circumcision of New Testament believers. But there are several reasons to reject the idea that the physical Jews have been rejected and their promises have been transferred to the church.
First, this teaching ignores many other New Testament teachings which restate the promises given to the Jewish people. Romans 11:11-29 [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
[14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
[16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
[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;
[18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
[19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
[20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
[21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
[22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
[23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
[24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[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:
[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 father's sakes.
[29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
See All... goes into great detail describing how the physical Jews have been blinded while the Gentiles have been grafted in. Yet, this passage shows that the tables will be turned again in the future. Verse 25 states, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." The following verses tell how Israel will be saved and her sins forgiven.
Second, many of the promises to Israel were unconditional promises. They were not based on whether or not Israel remained faithful. They were based on the faithfulness of God. The passage cited above (Romans 11:11-29 [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
[14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
[16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
[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;
[18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
[19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
[20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
[21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
[22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
[23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
[24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[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:
[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 father's sakes.
[29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
See All...) states in verse 29: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." This verse is often applied to other things, but in context it refers to God's promises to Israel. We need to understand this, if God could take back His unconditional promises to Israel, He can take them back from us. Our very eternity is at stake.
Third, though this is not the purpose of its teachers, replacement theology makes a mockery of the Old Testament promises. Some promises seem to spiritualize quite well, but others do not. In Genesis 15, God confirmed once again His promise to Abraham of land for his descendants. It is to go from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
See All...). Though David subdued most if not all of this land, it was never all part of Israel. After the Babylonian captivity, Ezekiel reconfirmed a future possession of this land (Ezekiel 48:1-35 [1] Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.
[2] And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.
[3] And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.
[4] And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.
[5] And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.
[6] And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.
[7] And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.
[8] And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
[9] The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
[10] And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
[11] It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
[12] And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.
[13] And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
[14] And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.
[15] And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
[16] And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
[17] And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
[18] And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
[19] And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
[20] All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
[21] And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.
[22] Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
[23] As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.
[24] And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.
[25] And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.
[26] And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.
[27] And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.
[28] And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.
[29] This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.
[30] And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
[31] And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
[32] And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
[33] And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
[34] At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
[35] It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
See All...). How does one transfer such a promise to the New Testament believers? The answers found in many commentaries are quite amusing. And this is just one example. There are many, many more.
For these reasons and more, I cannot accept replacement theology. God has not replaced Israel. The Jewish people will be brought back to God as taught in the book of Revelation and other scriptures. Also, the New Testament believers will receive the promises given to them. And, in the end, we will all be brought together under God's sovereign rule in the kingdom of God. Truly, His gifts and callings are without repentance.