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Believe it or not, this is one of the most important things to learn and to have a clear understanding of. It will affect how you read the Bible. Even more, a clear understanding of this issue will affect your attitude toward Jewish people who are in Israel today.
Who is Israel by the way?
Believe it or not, there are some who disagree on this question, hence I will just let Paul tell us who an Israelite is when he says, … “For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin…”(Rom 11:1). Therefore, only the physical, direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are Israelites. My Bible is clear that God chose these people to represent His Name among the nations, most particularly to give birth to the Messiah ( Deut 7:6: Isa 41:9-10, Rom 9:4-5). However, thanks to the New Covenant through Christ Jesus, a new group of God's chosen is established called the Church, made up of both Jews & Gentiles (1 Cor 12:12-13). Now the big question is: what about God's former people the Jewish Israelites? Do they get to co-exist with the Church? Or has the Lord replaced them completely with this new system never to even consider them? There are two opposing debates on this issue. Let's look at them...
Replacement Theology
As per its definition, this viewpoint teaches that the Almighty indeed had chosen the Israelites. However, the birth of the Church in the book of Acts saw all the promises that God made to the Old Testament people being claimed by the Church, hence the Church has become the new and the true Israel, completely casting aside the former Israelites. Replacement theology is actually referred to by its owners as Covenant Theology, because according to Hebrews 8:7-13, the New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant, with the old becoming obsolete. Here is just one verse to go along with it…
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Some extreme forms of this interpretation go on to promote a form of anti-Semitism; a belief that modern occupants of geographical Israel are not true descendants of Abraham and must not be supported. In fact, our very own Reformation hero Martin Luther is one of many theologians who taught that Jewish people were the problem that needed to be eradicated, which later resulted in the Holocaust.
Dispensationalism Theology
The opposite of replacement doctrine is the belief that God works through dispensations, which means time stamps. This doctrine also affirms that God had chosen the Israel nation, however, His covenant with them is forever, and hence the Church did not replace them. Instead, we are in a time (dispensation) where God is dealing with the Gentiles. Then another time in the future He will return His focus to His former people and they will realize the Messiah and be saved. Regardless, dispensationalist believers also believe that Scripture teaches that the Church is the true Israel in some sense, yet that does not mean that God has cast those Jews away forever. Here is one of their verses…
Romans 11:25-28 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in….As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
Dispensationalism, however, has its own extremes, which amounts to a belief that God has two different ways of salvation; one for Jews and another for Gentiles. Some even believe that modern Israelites do not need Jesus or salvation whatsoever because they are automatically God's chosen people by nature.
Other opinions about Israel
I must also warn you about another group that claims to be the Black Hebrew Israelites. This movement claims that the current Jews that occupy the land of Israel are imposters. Instead, they, the black people are the true Israelites that were chased out of their land. They claim that Deuteronomy 28:68 is addressed to them because they are the ones who were taken to Egypt (slavery) by ships. My problem with them is that they have neither historical evidence nor blood samples to prove that the current Jews are not true descendants of Abraham. So their claims can be easily falsified that way. Secondly, any honest Bible reader cannot read Deuteronomy 28 and not miss the fact that it was referring to Israel’s captivity to Babylon. Hence I wonder where they get the guts to deliberately twist Scripture that way just to fit themselves. Thirdly, is it not concerning that some of these guys are known racists, who believe white people are devils who will never be saved. That on its own should be enough to make us stay away from such sinister movements.
What should we all agree on?
Personally, I have no problem with either Covenant Theology or Dispensationalism, because I think we can all agree that in some sense, the Church is the spiritual Israel and the very focus of God’s attention currently on earth. Also, I am sure we can all agree that salvation is found in one else but in Christ alone. Not all that, but I hope we also agree that – according to Romans 11–there are two distinct people, the Jews and the Gentiles. If there was no such distinction in Scripture, we would all agree and go home. Yet it is clear according to Paul that there is an original Olive tree: some branches have been cut off so that the “wild ones” could be grafted in. Therefore, in that sense, the Gentiles are not Jews and Jews are not Gentiles. Yet both those two groups seem to be on God’s plan. Otherwise, this verse would be meaningless.
Romans 11:1-2 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
In fact, I take seriously this warning...
Romans 11:17-18 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
My final plea is: regardless of your theological standpoint, none of us should be found in support of the Gentiles to the hatred of the Jews, or favoring the Jews to despise the Palestinians or other Gentile people. Furthermore, let's never interpret Scripture based on our political affiliations, but let’s read the Bible honestly and humbly, being ready to believe whatever it says. Peace.
What then should be our attitude towards the current war in Israel? Save that for next time.
Sinothi Ncube
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