Replacement Theology

Q: 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?

A: 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,
Romans 9:6-8, Philippians 3:3, and Galatians 6:16. 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 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) 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 15:18).
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). 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. May
the Lord bless you.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

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