True Israel
As I have stated I was raised on the theology of Dispensationalism. As far back as I can remember the issue of Israel’s role in the end times has always been a major focal point. The trouble is there are two sides of the issue. One side believes that God continues to possess a covenant with Israel that has not been completed. This group are known as Zionist. There is another group who believes that the church replaced Israel, that Israel has no place in God’s plan. This teaching is called replacement theology. Both groups have this view that the church means Gentiles. If we take a real close look at the scriptures we will see that both groups are unbiblical. I will present a third view on this topic, one that goes down the middle.
So what is Israel’s role and is there another “Israel”?
To begin answering this question we must go way back to look at the covenant God made with Abraham, or the Abrahamic Covenant. In Genesis 12 we find God conversing with Abram, this was before God changed Abraham’s name, and said to him, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Most who read this passage they typically focus on the part where God says, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse…” and that is it for them. They use this text to focus on that Israel is the total focus of God’s purpose and love and that we need to defend Israel at all cost. They also us this text to justify that God continues to possess a special covenant with Israel. Like most who read the Bible the fail to read the entire part and if they do they tend to miss vital parts.
Look at the last part in the covenant, “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Did you catch that? God did not state that only Israel will be blessed and that this covenant is not strictly focused on Israel. God states that ALL FAMILIES of the earth, or around the world, shall be blessed. Now how is Abraham going to become a blessing to everyone in the world? The answer is simple, through Jesus Christ.
Through Christ God ushers in the dawn of the church. Now there is far more to the covenant God made with Abraham but my focus is generally on the purpose of the Israel and what her role in the world is today in regards to Christ’s return. In light of this did God’s plan for the world simply end with Israel? No, it began with Israel. When Christ came did that mean that God did not care for Israel anymore? No, Israel has a major effect on the world. But what role does Israel play today in God’s plan? In my opinion the answer is none but Israel isn't simply discarded as trash.
Let’s look at a New Testament text from one of Paul’s letters. In Ephesians 1 Paul is writing to the church, not strictly to Israel. He writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (vs. 3-4) Note what Paul says, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Do see that? Paul, a Jew, a child of Abraham, from the nation of Israel, states that God chose the church to be in him before he made the foundation of the world.
Just in light of this ask yourself what is the church? It is the body of Christ. Who are in Christ? Paul says in his first letter to the church in Corinth, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts from one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14) Now here Paul is generally speaking of spiritual gifts. I cannot help to notice that these gifts do not segregate but are available to all, whether Jew or Gentile.
Finally let’s look at another letter of Paul’s. In Romans 9 Paul points out a significant identifier of who are the descendants of Abraham. Paul states that “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” (vs. 6-8) Therefore, the children of Abraham, the children of God are not of a physical identity but of a spiritual one. The children of Abraham are still a nation of a promise, not only which came through Isaac being born in Abraham’s old age, and that promise came through Jesus Christ. This covenant has been fulfilled, just as Jesus stated on the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) I believe that statement is far more than what Jesus taught on the Law but was a declaration of the covenant that God made with Abraham.
Now that we see that the Church was God’s plan from the beginning we need to ask ourselves what role Israel plays in God’s plan now. Israel isn't a separate form from the world. “Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also?” (Romans 3:29) As you read Romans further you will find that salvation came through the Jews. Salvation came to the Jews first and later to the Gentiles. The church isn't a separate identity from Israel. The church does not mean Gentiles. The church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The church is made up of those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead. The church is the spiritual nation of God, the true Israel.
So what is Israel’s role and is there another “Israel”?
To begin answering this question we must go way back to look at the covenant God made with Abraham, or the Abrahamic Covenant. In Genesis 12 we find God conversing with Abram, this was before God changed Abraham’s name, and said to him, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Most who read this passage they typically focus on the part where God says, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse…” and that is it for them. They use this text to focus on that Israel is the total focus of God’s purpose and love and that we need to defend Israel at all cost. They also us this text to justify that God continues to possess a special covenant with Israel. Like most who read the Bible the fail to read the entire part and if they do they tend to miss vital parts.
Look at the last part in the covenant, “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Did you catch that? God did not state that only Israel will be blessed and that this covenant is not strictly focused on Israel. God states that ALL FAMILIES of the earth, or around the world, shall be blessed. Now how is Abraham going to become a blessing to everyone in the world? The answer is simple, through Jesus Christ.
Through Christ God ushers in the dawn of the church. Now there is far more to the covenant God made with Abraham but my focus is generally on the purpose of the Israel and what her role in the world is today in regards to Christ’s return. In light of this did God’s plan for the world simply end with Israel? No, it began with Israel. When Christ came did that mean that God did not care for Israel anymore? No, Israel has a major effect on the world. But what role does Israel play today in God’s plan? In my opinion the answer is none but Israel isn't simply discarded as trash.
Let’s look at a New Testament text from one of Paul’s letters. In Ephesians 1 Paul is writing to the church, not strictly to Israel. He writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (vs. 3-4) Note what Paul says, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Do see that? Paul, a Jew, a child of Abraham, from the nation of Israel, states that God chose the church to be in him before he made the foundation of the world.
Just in light of this ask yourself what is the church? It is the body of Christ. Who are in Christ? Paul says in his first letter to the church in Corinth, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts from one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14) Now here Paul is generally speaking of spiritual gifts. I cannot help to notice that these gifts do not segregate but are available to all, whether Jew or Gentile.
Finally let’s look at another letter of Paul’s. In Romans 9 Paul points out a significant identifier of who are the descendants of Abraham. Paul states that “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” (vs. 6-8) Therefore, the children of Abraham, the children of God are not of a physical identity but of a spiritual one. The children of Abraham are still a nation of a promise, not only which came through Isaac being born in Abraham’s old age, and that promise came through Jesus Christ. This covenant has been fulfilled, just as Jesus stated on the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) I believe that statement is far more than what Jesus taught on the Law but was a declaration of the covenant that God made with Abraham.
Now that we see that the Church was God’s plan from the beginning we need to ask ourselves what role Israel plays in God’s plan now. Israel isn't a separate form from the world. “Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also?” (Romans 3:29) As you read Romans further you will find that salvation came through the Jews. Salvation came to the Jews first and later to the Gentiles. The church isn't a separate identity from Israel. The church does not mean Gentiles. The church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The church is made up of those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead. The church is the spiritual nation of God, the true Israel.
