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Replacement Theology and Dual Covenantism

There are two erroneous doctrines concerning Israel which are permeating the church world today.  One is replacement theology which states that the Church replaces the Jews as the chosen people of God and that the Mosaic Covenant is supersededh or rather replaced by the New Covenant. .  The second, on the opposite end of the spectrum, dual-covenant theology states that the Jew can come to God outside of Jesus Christ.  We will break down each of these viewpoints and explain why they are wrong and then articulate the truth in a clear and scriptural manner.

REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

Replacement theology is also known as supersessionism and fulfillment theology.  There are three major viewpoints which fall under the umbrella of this theology.

1) Punitive supersessionism- which says that the replacement is punishment for Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ.

2) Economic supersessionism is used in the technical theological sense of function. It is the view that the practical purpose of the nation of Israel in God's plan is replaced by the role of the Church.

3) Structural supersessionism- basically says that nothing in the OT is relevant under the NT.

By the way, the Greek word for testament is "diathēkē" which means: "properly a disposition, that is, (specifically) a contract (especially a devisory will): - covenant, testament."

This view was formulated by the Catholic church and was rooted in a desire to solidify power and in many cases antisemitism.

Those who hold this viewpoint reject any claim to divine blessing and protection for modern Israel and that the land they possess is no longer theirs, even that the covenant had nothing to do with the land.

DUAL-COVENANT THEOLOGY

Dual-covenant or two-covenant theology is unique in that it holds that the Old Covenant or the bible's Law of Moses remains valid for Jews while the New Covenant only applies to non-Jews or gentiles.

Those who believe this say that Jesus' message is not for Jews but for Gentiles and, that John 14:6 is to be understood thusly: "I am the way, the truth and the life; and no Gentile comes to the father except through me."

THE TRUTH

Both of these view points particularly the viewpoints surrounding the Land of Israel are based in a lack of understanding and context.

There is not ONE old covenant.  There are multiple.  You have the Davidic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, the Adamic Covenant, the Noahidic Covenant, and the Abrahamic Covenant.  The Mosaic Covenant is the covenant God made with Israel with the condition of them keeping the Law.  This covenant is found in Exodus 20:1-31:18.

This is the covenant that Christ fulfills and thus puts into action the New Covenant of Grace.  This debunks Dual covenant theology because Christ says that no man can come to the Father but through him.  Christ himself pronounces his exclusivity as the way of salvation (John 14:6).

However this has nothing to do with the Jews being replaced as God's chosen people.  Paul speaks very strongly against this sentiment in Romans 11:

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
Rom 11:22  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. 
Rom 11:23  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 
Rom 11:24  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? 
Rom 11:25  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. 
Rom 11:26  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: 
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 
Rom 11:28  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 
Rom 11:29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 
Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 
Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

As to the land and blessing as God's chosen people.  This is not connected to the Law, but to the UNCONDITIONAL and eternal covenant of Abraham.

Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 
Gen 17:2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly
Gen 17:3  And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 
Gen 17:4  As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations
Gen 17:5  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 
Gen 17:6  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 
Gen 17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Gen 17:8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 

As you can see, any statement that the Land is not Israel's is ignorant of and completely contrary to scripture.  Still further.

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 
Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

 

Christ is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant.  He is the promised seed which will bless all the nations.

 

Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

 

Christ is the fulfillment of Mosaic covenant in that he i the fulfillment of the Law and his atoning blood has been sprinkled upon the mercy seat and satisfied the wrath of God.

 

Christ is the fulfillment of the Adamic Covenant in that he is the seed of Genesis 3:15:

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

Christ is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant in that he is the seed from the house of Davod which will sit on the throne forever.

 

As you can see, Christ is the fulfillment of all the covenants, so it is obvious that the New Covenant doesn’t replace the old, but rather was always the intended goal.  Even those under the old, were justified by their faith and not the works of the law or conscious.

 

ESCHOTOLOGY

 

The 7 years of tribulation of Daniel’s 70 weeks and the book of Revelation are not for the church but they are for the nation of Israel.

 

Dan 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

 

IN CLOSING

 

The church has everything it has because of Israel.  It has been granted grace to be a part of what has always been Israels’.  We have not replaced the nation of Israel, but we have been grafted into the promise.  Scripture is very clear and we would be wise to hearken to it.

 

However, the Jews must come to God through Jesus Christ and we see in Zechariah that they indeed will at his return.

 

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