Thunderian
Superstar
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2017
- Messages
- 7,515
Replacement theology -- the belief that the physical nation of Israel has been replaced by the worldwide body of believers, the Church -- is something I come across more and more these days, but a quick study of a few passages and verses of the word of God is able to dispel replacement theology for the false doctrine it is. The doctrine itself is supported only by a misunderstanding of scripture, and can only be held on to by ignoring vast swathes of the Bible, as we shall see.
I'm going to note some of the central premises of replacement theology, and then provide the scripture that proves them false.
False premise 1: God has cast Israel aside because of their sin
God himself destroys the possibility of his ever doing this in Jeremiah 31. He says that when the sun, moon and stars stop giving light, and when the entire universe can be measured, then, and only then, Israel will no longer be a nation, and will be cast aside.
To a simple layman like myself, a word from God that he will never do something is good enough. I accept it, and based on my understanding of the character of God, it would be shocking and wrong for the Almighty to ever go back on a promise he's made. Our salvation rests on his promise, so to say that God would go back on his word to Israel also says that God could go back in his word to us. Quite simply, replacement theology calls God a liar.
You would think the prospect of calling God a liar would slow the roll of replacement theologists somewhat. Again, to an untutored rube like myself, I only have to read those verses once to realize that the nation of Israel is forever, and that God will never cast it aside for any reason. In the light of those verses, any theology that says otherwise is heresy. How could it not be?
False premise 1a: Israel forfeited their inheritance and their standing in God's eyes by rejecting Jesus Christ, the Messiah
The scripture promised that Jesus Christ would be rejected by Israel, and in no part of scripture do we read that their penalty for this was their eternal casting away. If we read the Bible, we see that Israel was always sent prophets to warn them of the consequences of their sin, but there is not a single place in the Old or New Testament where Israel is warned of losing their inheritance, eternal standing, or spiritual designation in the eyes of the Lord. Not one single verse stands in support of that heresy.
Furthermore, Israel's sin of rejecting the Messiah, and the penalty they will pay for it, are clearly spelled out by the prophet and Messiah Jesus Christ in Luke 13:
Yes, Jesus clearly says that the house of Israel is left desolate, but he doesn't say it will be left desolate forever, only until the time comes when they accept their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Confirmation of this is found in 2 Corinthians, where Paul speaks of the vail that is covering the heart of the children of Israel, a vail that will be lifted when they turn to the Lord.
False premise 2: The physical descendants of Israel are able to be replaced spiritually by believers, thus inheriting all the promises God made to Abraham and his seed
There is clear scripture that unequivocally denies this. When Abram asked God who his heirs would be, God promised him that his heirs would be his physical descendants.
To my simple and trusting, some would say, child-like, mind, that means that unless a person is a literal child of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that person doesn't qualify as one of Abraham's seed, who are called the children of Israel. If we take God at his word, as I hope we all do, then any doctrine that teaches otherwise must be false, and must be rejected.
False premise 3: Israel is so dispersed and scattered, there is no way they could ever constitute a nation again
The verse I've already mentioned from Jeremiah applies to this premise as well, when God promises that as long as there is a sun, moon and stars, Israel will be a nation in his eyes. I would also add that nothing is too hard for the Lord, so if he wants to gather the nation of Israel again, as he promised in Jeremiah 32 and elsewhere in the Bible, he is certainly able to do that. But along with the promises God makes regarding the future and eternal position of his people, Israel, we only have to look at the New Testament to see God's view and plan for Israel.
James addresses his letter specifically to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, and Paul spends much of the book of Romans speaking about the current state and future position of the physical nation of Israel -- especially in chapter 11 when he identifies himself as an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham -- and says in clear and strong language that God hath NOT cast away Israel. Finally, Revelation 7 tells us about a group of 144,000, drawn from each of the tribes of the children of Israel, that will act as special, spiritually sealed and protected preachers of Jesus Christ in the last days. If Israel is scattered and cast away by God, NONE of those verses make any sense. Again, by interpreting them with no reference to the verses about Israel that have already been posted, God is called a liar, and the plain words of scripture are tossed aside in favour of a twisted and ignorant heresy.
I welcome any Bible-based criticism of the case I've made in this post. There is certainly a lot of Bible to answer, if you hold to replacement theology, and I've only scratched the surface. There are literally entire books about the rebirth and redemption of the children of Israel, and I look forward to a vigorous and spirited exploration of the word of God on this subject.
I'm going to note some of the central premises of replacement theology, and then provide the scripture that proves them false.
False premise 1: God has cast Israel aside because of their sin
God himself destroys the possibility of his ever doing this in Jeremiah 31. He says that when the sun, moon and stars stop giving light, and when the entire universe can be measured, then, and only then, Israel will no longer be a nation, and will be cast aside.
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
To a simple layman like myself, a word from God that he will never do something is good enough. I accept it, and based on my understanding of the character of God, it would be shocking and wrong for the Almighty to ever go back on a promise he's made. Our salvation rests on his promise, so to say that God would go back on his word to Israel also says that God could go back in his word to us. Quite simply, replacement theology calls God a liar.
You would think the prospect of calling God a liar would slow the roll of replacement theologists somewhat. Again, to an untutored rube like myself, I only have to read those verses once to realize that the nation of Israel is forever, and that God will never cast it aside for any reason. In the light of those verses, any theology that says otherwise is heresy. How could it not be?
False premise 1a: Israel forfeited their inheritance and their standing in God's eyes by rejecting Jesus Christ, the Messiah
The scripture promised that Jesus Christ would be rejected by Israel, and in no part of scripture do we read that their penalty for this was their eternal casting away. If we read the Bible, we see that Israel was always sent prophets to warn them of the consequences of their sin, but there is not a single place in the Old or New Testament where Israel is warned of losing their inheritance, eternal standing, or spiritual designation in the eyes of the Lord. Not one single verse stands in support of that heresy.
Furthermore, Israel's sin of rejecting the Messiah, and the penalty they will pay for it, are clearly spelled out by the prophet and Messiah Jesus Christ in Luke 13:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Yes, Jesus clearly says that the house of Israel is left desolate, but he doesn't say it will be left desolate forever, only until the time comes when they accept their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Confirmation of this is found in 2 Corinthians, where Paul speaks of the vail that is covering the heart of the children of Israel, a vail that will be lifted when they turn to the Lord.
False premise 2: The physical descendants of Israel are able to be replaced spiritually by believers, thus inheriting all the promises God made to Abraham and his seed
There is clear scripture that unequivocally denies this. When Abram asked God who his heirs would be, God promised him that his heirs would be his physical descendants.
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
To my simple and trusting, some would say, child-like, mind, that means that unless a person is a literal child of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that person doesn't qualify as one of Abraham's seed, who are called the children of Israel. If we take God at his word, as I hope we all do, then any doctrine that teaches otherwise must be false, and must be rejected.
False premise 3: Israel is so dispersed and scattered, there is no way they could ever constitute a nation again
The verse I've already mentioned from Jeremiah applies to this premise as well, when God promises that as long as there is a sun, moon and stars, Israel will be a nation in his eyes. I would also add that nothing is too hard for the Lord, so if he wants to gather the nation of Israel again, as he promised in Jeremiah 32 and elsewhere in the Bible, he is certainly able to do that. But along with the promises God makes regarding the future and eternal position of his people, Israel, we only have to look at the New Testament to see God's view and plan for Israel.
James addresses his letter specifically to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, and Paul spends much of the book of Romans speaking about the current state and future position of the physical nation of Israel -- especially in chapter 11 when he identifies himself as an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham -- and says in clear and strong language that God hath NOT cast away Israel. Finally, Revelation 7 tells us about a group of 144,000, drawn from each of the tribes of the children of Israel, that will act as special, spiritually sealed and protected preachers of Jesus Christ in the last days. If Israel is scattered and cast away by God, NONE of those verses make any sense. Again, by interpreting them with no reference to the verses about Israel that have already been posted, God is called a liar, and the plain words of scripture are tossed aside in favour of a twisted and ignorant heresy.
I welcome any Bible-based criticism of the case I've made in this post. There is certainly a lot of Bible to answer, if you hold to replacement theology, and I've only scratched the surface. There are literally entire books about the rebirth and redemption of the children of Israel, and I look forward to a vigorous and spirited exploration of the word of God on this subject.