So many want to read themselves into the blessing of Israel without the very Instructions Israel was informed to keep to receive those blessings by faith, love, and consistency.
Jeremiah 31 is one of my favorite chapters. The House of Israel has been destroyed and Yah keeps reminding the world the even though He has divorced them, he will bring them back as a virgin. He did not say He will replace them with Gentiles.
Though these lost Sheep of the House of Israel are mingled among the gentiles, and the gentiles breed into them, God has not forgotten His remnant among them.
Believers in Yehovah and His Messiah join into His remnant, not replace them. Just as at Mount Siani when the Hebrews joined into Covenant, so did many of the mixed multitude in with them.
How disappointed these "Replacements" will be when Jesus draws Israel back fully from the four reaches of the Earth and even from the heaven above us.
The Lord expressed His reasons for bringing Israel back to the land in Ezekiel 36, the greatest expression of God’s character and integrity. He will protect His name at all costs. The greatest example of the security of the believer. Our security is in Him not us!
Supersessionism (or Supercessionism) in one form or another has been the dominant view of the majority of Christianity for the majority of its history. That's a bit unfortunate. Most versions of Covenant Theology dip into it either strongly or weakly: Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant "Reformed", and so forth.
Supersessionism in its strong form, which is articulated here, is I think clearly unbiblical for reasons pointed out in the post. God has rejected as a group, no ethnic group and no nation simply because they failed to live up to a promise; particularly not a promise that was one-sided from God.
At the same time though, I think the best interpretation of Paul's viewpoint is that the designation as children of Abraham, or children of the promise, is properly understood not as a genetic marker, but rather a spiritual one. "There is neither Jew nor Greek ...". Likewise, in Romans chapter 9, which is a key text for the weaker form Covenant Theology and its articulation of "predestination", Paul points out that the designation as children of the promise is not a designation according to the flesh (kata sarka).
Paul's teaching also is consistent with the message of the Forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist: "Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones.'"
So, while Supersessionism is unbiblical, I also regard the strong form of Dispensationalism, in which God still singles out children of Abraham according to the flesh for a future restoration to them and them alone, as being unbiblical. The proof texts for that position are no more persuasive to me than the proof texts for Supersessionism. I think the closest thing to an unassailable position is Paul's simple declaration that in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek.
Very grateful for the privilege of being your pastor. Grateful also for the ministry you undertook… responding to biblical/theological questions and concerns… You are da bezt!
Very well said and needed.
So many want to read themselves into the blessing of Israel without the very Instructions Israel was informed to keep to receive those blessings by faith, love, and consistency.
Jeremiah 31 is one of my favorite chapters. The House of Israel has been destroyed and Yah keeps reminding the world the even though He has divorced them, he will bring them back as a virgin. He did not say He will replace them with Gentiles.
Though these lost Sheep of the House of Israel are mingled among the gentiles, and the gentiles breed into them, God has not forgotten His remnant among them.
Believers in Yehovah and His Messiah join into His remnant, not replace them. Just as at Mount Siani when the Hebrews joined into Covenant, so did many of the mixed multitude in with them.
How disappointed these "Replacements" will be when Jesus draws Israel back fully from the four reaches of the Earth and even from the heaven above us.
The Lord expressed His reasons for bringing Israel back to the land in Ezekiel 36, the greatest expression of God’s character and integrity. He will protect His name at all costs. The greatest example of the security of the believer. Our security is in Him not us!
Beautiful Chuck! Many thanks.
Supersessionism (or Supercessionism) in one form or another has been the dominant view of the majority of Christianity for the majority of its history. That's a bit unfortunate. Most versions of Covenant Theology dip into it either strongly or weakly: Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant "Reformed", and so forth.
Supersessionism in its strong form, which is articulated here, is I think clearly unbiblical for reasons pointed out in the post. God has rejected as a group, no ethnic group and no nation simply because they failed to live up to a promise; particularly not a promise that was one-sided from God.
At the same time though, I think the best interpretation of Paul's viewpoint is that the designation as children of Abraham, or children of the promise, is properly understood not as a genetic marker, but rather a spiritual one. "There is neither Jew nor Greek ...". Likewise, in Romans chapter 9, which is a key text for the weaker form Covenant Theology and its articulation of "predestination", Paul points out that the designation as children of the promise is not a designation according to the flesh (kata sarka).
Paul's teaching also is consistent with the message of the Forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist: "Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones.'"
So, while Supersessionism is unbiblical, I also regard the strong form of Dispensationalism, in which God still singles out children of Abraham according to the flesh for a future restoration to them and them alone, as being unbiblical. The proof texts for that position are no more persuasive to me than the proof texts for Supersessionism. I think the closest thing to an unassailable position is Paul's simple declaration that in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek.
Hi Ken,
Thank you for subscribing, for reading, and for your wonderfully-expressed and carefully considered comments. You are a blessing my friend!
I'm just happy I found this. It's awesome to be getting spiritual insight again from my all-time favorite pastor.
Very grateful for the privilege of being your pastor. Grateful also for the ministry you undertook… responding to biblical/theological questions and concerns… You are da bezt!