21.  Is God through with Israel as a nation and has the Church replaced Israel in God’s plan?

This is a teaching that has been held down through history and it’s a belief that is presently growing by leaps and bounds in certain circles.  As a result, it will do us well to consider this issue from a Biblical standpoint.  Before I seek to answer the question, I do feel it’s important to preface what I’m going to say with a couple of things.  First, my answers will be coming from a Biblical foundation, rather than one of bias.  I’m not going to say what I say, simply because I’m from a Jewish background.  Holding true to the Word is much more important an issue to me.  Second, I recognize that there are very good Bible teachers that may disagree with my conclusions.  I do not believe this is a heaven or hell issue and I’m not saying that those who hold to another view are not true believers.  Hoping to be clear on that, lets begin to discuss the subject.

GOD CHOSE ISRAEL

First, we need to be clear as to the fact that God did choose Israel in His overall plan.  We can’t deny this, it’s all throughout the Word.

Deut. 7:6-8 – “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.  “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deut. 14:2 – “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Amos 3:2 – “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; …”

Is. 44:1-2 – “But now listen, O Jacob, My servant; And Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

These verses are just a very small sampling of this truth.  Most do not deny this fact, but the questions surface as to the present and future of Israel.  Is Israel still God’s chosen nation?  What about the fact that Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah?  Because of this rejection, did it cause God to break His covenant blessings with Israel?  Does Israel have a future in God’s plan?  Has Israel been replaced by the Church?  Is the Abrahamic Covenant which God made with Israel still in effect and will it be literally fulfilled by God to them?  What about the New Covenant that God made with Israel?  Will it be fulfilled by Israel, or is it being fulfilled by the Church?  These are just some of the questions that can be asked when considering this important subject.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Although some might dismiss this subject by saying it’s not all that important, I believe it really is.  One of the great things that I believe is at stake is God’s reputation and faithfulness.  Once we see that much of what we are talking about revolves around God’s covenants and promises that He made with Israel, we see how important it really is.  Didn’t God make promises to the Church?  Yes He did.  Then how do we know they really will be fulfilled?  If Israel’s disobedience is a key factor in all of this, what about the Church’s disobedience? 

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

I believe all of this revolves around God’s attribute of faithfulness.  Is God faithful even when we are not?  Or, to rephrase it, will God remain faithful to Israel and keep His promises to them even though they have disobeyed?  The answer is yes, He will remain faithful to Israel and it is clearly stated in Scripture.

Ps. 89:30-35 – “If his sons forsake My law, And do not walk in My judgments, If they violate My statutes, And do not keep My commandments, Then I will visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.  “But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.  “My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.  “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David.

The Word of God clearly speaks of that which Israel has done.  On many occasions, they disobeyed and didn’t walk according to God’s ways.  God clearly states that when that happens, He will discipline them with the rod.  This is His chastisement against them as a nation, and it’s important to remember that He deals with them as a nation.  It clearly says that God will discipline them, but He will not break off His love which He has for them, nor violate the promises that He made with them.  He will remain faithful.  Those who hold that the Church now replaces Israel have to admit that this is not the case.  They have to admit that God is finished with Israel and that there will not be a future fulfillment of the covenant promises that He made with them.  Will there be a future fulfillment of these covenant promises that God made with Israel?  Does the Bible address this issue?  I believe it does.     

Rom. 11:11-12 – I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation {has come} to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

My question to those who believe that the Church has replaced Israel is: “What fulfillment?”  What is Paul talking about?  If the Church has replaced Israel, then there will be no future of any kind for Israel as a nation.  If that truly is the case, I would be greatly concerned as a member in the Church.  Did God make any promises to the Church?  Sure He did.  Has the Church been disobedient?  Sure we have.  If that’s the case, then how do we know that the promises and blessings He made to us will not be taken away?  I like what Paul said to Timothy.

2 Tim. 2:13 – If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

We need to remember that many of the covenants God made with Israel were unconditional in nature.  The fulfillment of them is not dependent upon Israel’s obedience.  Instead of looking for things to take away from Israel, the Church should really keep in mind the truth that Paul mentions in Romans, that the Church is indebted to Israel.

Rom. 15:26-27 – For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.Yes, they were pleased {to do so,} and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

The fact that God remains faithful to Israel, even though they have not been all that they should be, should give us, the Church, a great sense of assurance concerning the promises God made to us.   We should thank God that He has not replaced Israel with the Church.  He is truly a faithful God.