The Church Is Israel Now

bereansdesk.blogspot.com ^ | Friday, June 1, 2012 | Charles D. Provan

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Church Is Israel Now

by Charles D. Provan

During this century, Christians have been told over and over that “God has an unconditional love for Old Testament Israel,” by which is meant that God’s love is directed toward persons racially descended from Abraham, regardless of faith or obedience. Membership in Israel, therefore, is viewed as a matter of race, not faith.

The Church Is Israel Now demonstrates that the Bible totally repudiates this racialist viewpoint. Being a member of Israel in the Old Testament was dependent upon faith and obedience to God. When the Israelites obeyed God, God loved them. But when the Israelites turned from Him, He hated them, stripping them of their Israelite status. After centuries of Israelite rebellion against God, culminating in their rejection of Jesus the Messiah, the titles, attributes and blessings of Israel were transferred to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and to no one else, regardless of Abrahamic descent. The Church is Israel now.

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people: "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it" (Matt. 21:43).

Jesus said to His disciples: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

OLD TESTAMENT TITLES AND ATTRIBUTES OF ISRAEL WHICH ARE, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, REFERRED TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

THE BELOVED OF GOD
A) Israel Is Beloved Of God:
     - Ex. 15:13, Deut. 33:3, Ezra 3:11
B) Disobedient Israel Is Not Beloved Of God:
     - Lev. 3:16, Jer. 12:8, Jer. 16:5, Hos. 9:15
C) Christians Are Beloved Of God:
     - Rom. 9:25, Eph. 5:1, Col. 3:12, 1 John 3:1

THE CHILDREN OF GOD
A) Israel Are The Children Of God:
     - Ex. 4:22, Deut. 14:1, Isa. 1:2,4, Isa. 1:2,4, Isa. 63:8, Hos. 11:1
B) Disobedient Israel Are Not The Children Of God:
     - Deut. 32:5, John 8:39, 42, 44
C) Christians Are The Children Of God:
     - John 1:12, John 11:52, Rom. 8:14,16, 2 Cor. 6:18, Gal. 3:26, Gal. 4:5,6,7, Phil. 2:15, 1 John 3:1

THE FIELD OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Field Of God:
     - Jer. 12:10
B) Christians Are The Field Of God:
     - 1 Cor. 3:9

THE FLOCK OF GOD AND OF THE MESSIAH
A) Israel Is The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah:
     - Psa. 78:52, Psa. 80:1, Isa. 40:11, Jer. 23:1,2,3, Jer. 31:10, Eze. 34:12,15,16, Mic. 5:4, Zec. 10:3
B) Christians Are The Flock Of God And Of The Messiah:
     - John 10:14,16, Heb. 13:20, 1 Pet. 2:25, 1 Pet. 5:2,3

THE HOUSE OF GOD
A) Israel Is The House Of God:
     - Num. 12:7
B) Christians Are The House Of God:
     - 1 Tim. 3:15, Heb. 3:2,5,6, Heb. 10:21, 1 Pet. 4:17

THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Kingdom Of God:
     - Ex. 19:6, 1 Chr. 17:14, 1 Chr. 28:5
B) Disobedient Israel Is Not The Kingdom Of God:
     - Matt. 8:11,12, Matt. 21:43
C) Christians Are The Kingdom Of God:
     - Rom. 14:17, 1 Cor. 4:20, Col. 1:13, Col. 4:11, Rev. 1:6

THE PEOPLE OF GOD
A) The Israelites Are The People Of God:
     - Ex. 6:7, Deut. 27:9, 2 Sam. 7:23, Jer. 11:4
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The People Of God:
     - Hos. 1:9, Jer. 5:10
C) The Christians Are The People Of God:
     - Rom. 9:25, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph. 4:12, Eph. 5:3, 2 Th. 1:10, Tit. 2:14

THE PRIESTS OF GOD
A) The Israelites Are The Priests Of God:
     - Ex. 19:6
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Priests Of God:
     - 1 Sam. 2:28,30, Lam. 4:13,16, Eze. 44:10,13, Hos. 4:6, Mal. 2:2,4,8,9
C) The Christians Are The Priests Of God:
     - 1 Pet. 2:5,9, Rev. 1:6, Rev. 5:10

THE VINEYARD OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Vineyard Of God:
     - Isa. 5:3,4,5,7, Jer. 12:10
B) Christians Are The Vineyard Of God:
     - Luke 20:16

THE WIFE (OR BRIDE) OF GOD
A) Israel Is The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
     - Isa. 54:5,6, Jer. 2:2, Eze. 16:32, Hos. 1:2
B) Disobedient Israelites Is Not The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
     - Jer. 3:8, Hos. 2:2
C) The Christians Are The Wife (Or Bride) Of God:
     - 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:31,32

THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM
A) The Israelites Are The Children Of Abraham:
     - 2 Chr. 20:7, Psa. 105:6, Isa. 41:8
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Children Of Abraham:
     - John 8:39, Rom. 9:6,7, Gal. 4:25,30
C) The Christians Are The Children Of Abraham:
     - Rom. 4:11,16, Gal. 3:7,29, Gal. 4:23,28,31

THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
A) The Israelites Are The Chosen People:
     - Deut. 7:7, Deut. 10:15, Deut. 14:2, Isa. 43:20,21
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Chosen People:
     - Deut. 31:17, 2 Ki. 17:20, 2 Chr. 25:7, Psa. 78:59, Jer. 6:30, Jer. 7:29, Jer. 14:10
C) The Christians Are The Chosen People:
     - Col. 3:12, 1 Pet. 2:9

THE CIRCUMCISED
A) The Israelites Are The Circumcised:
     - Gen. 17:10, Jud. 15:18
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not The Circumcised:
     - Jer. 9:25,26, Rom. 2:25,28, Phil. 3:2
C) The Christians Are The Circumcised:
     - Rom. 2:29, Phil. 3:3, Col. 2:11

ISRAEL
A) Israel is Israel
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not Israelites:
     - Num. 15:30,31, Deut. 18:19, Acts 3:23, Rom. 9:6
C) The Christians Are Israel:
     - John 11:50,51,52, 1 Cor. 10:1, Gal. 6:15,16, Eph. 2:12,19

JERUSALEM
A) Jerusalem Is the City And Mother Of Israel:
     - Psa. 149:2, Isa. 12:6, Isa. 49:18,20,22, Isa. 51:18, Lam. 4:2
B) Jerusalem Is The City And Mother Of Christians:
     - Gal. 4:26, Heb. 12:22

THE JEWS
A) Israelites Are Jews
     - Ezr. 5:1, Jer. 34:8,9, Zech. 8:22,23
B) Disobedient Israelites Are Not Jews:
     - Rom. 2:28, Rev. 2:9, Rev. 3:9
C) The Christians Are Jews:
     - Rom. 2:29

THE NEW COVENANT
A) The New Covenant Is With Israel:
     - Jer. 31:31,33
B) The New Covenant Is With The Christians:
     - Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 8:6,8,10

AN OLIVE TREE
A) Israel Is An Olive Tree:
     - Jer. 11:16, Hos. 14:6
B) The Christians Are An Olive Tree:
     - Rom. 11:24

OLD TESTAMENT VERSES REFERRING TO ISRAEL WHICH ARE QUOTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AS REFERRING TO THE CHRISTIANS

QUOTE #1
     - Lev. 26:11,12, Eze. 37:27, 2 Cor. 6:16

QUOTE #2
     - Deut. 30:12-14, Rom. 10:6-8

QUOTE #3
     - Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5

QUOTE #4
     - Deut. 32:36, Psa. 135:14, Heb. 10:30

QUOTE #5
     - Psa. 22:22, Heb. 2:12

QUOTE #6
     - Psa. 44:22, Rom. 8:36

QUOTE #7
     - Psa. 95:7-11, Heb. 3:7-11

QUOTE #8
     - Psa. 130:8, Tit. 2:14

QUOTE #9
     - Isa. 28:16, Rom. 10:11, Eph. 2:20, 1 Pet. 2:6

QUOTE #10
     - Isa. 49:8, 2 Cor. 6:2

QUOTE #11
     - Isa. 52:7, Rom. 10:15

QUOTE #12
     - Isa. 54:1, Gal. 4:27

QUOTE #13
     - Jer. 31:31-34, Heb. 8:8-12

QUOTE #14
     - Hos. 1:10; 2:23, Rom. 9:25-26, 1 Pet. 2:10

QUOTE #15
     - Hos. 13:14, 1 Cor. 15:55

QUOTE #16
     - Joel. 2:32, Rom. 10:13

---

ADDENDUM BY TIMOTHY:
Read Romans 11:17-24 carefully and pay attention to what Paul is saying. Compare what he is saying here to what he writes in Romans 2:25-29 and Romans 9:6-8. Who are the branches that were broken off? Unbelieving Israel. Why were they broken off? Because of their unbelief. Who are the branches that remain? Believing Israel. Why do they remain? Because of their faith. Who are the wild branches? Gentiles. Into what are the wild branches grafted? Believing Israel. Why were they grafted in? Because of their faith. Into what will the natural branches that were broken off be grafted? Believing Israel.

According to Romans 2:25-29, the branches that were broken off are not true Jews: “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly.” Therefore, logically, the remaining branches are true Jews: “He is a Jew who is one inwardly.” In Philippians 3:3, Paul said that we—Christians—are the real circumcision. Why? Because we have been circumcised of the heart, just as Moses commanded them to be (Deut. 10:16). According to Romans 9:6-8, the branches that were broken off do not belong to Israel: “They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” Therefore, logically, the remaining branches belong to Israel. In Galatians 6:16, Paul called the church “the Israel of God.”

Although Dispensationalists want to deny this, Paul’s words are as clear as day. Paul has just divided national Israel in two—believing Israel and unbelieving Israel, of which he says they are not true Jews nor do they belong to Israel. He states in Romans 11:5 that at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. He states in verse 7 that the elect of Israel obtained what Israel sought but the rest were hardened. He says that if the broken off branches do not continue in their unbelief they will be grafted back in. Into what? Into believing Israel, which will make them true Jews belonging to true Israel.

Galatians 4:28 says, “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” All Christians—Jew or Gentile—are children of the promise. Romans 4:13-16 says, “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” All those who believe—Jew or Gentile—are Abraham’s offspring.

John the Baptist said, “Do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:9-10). Likewise, John records, “They answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.’ They said to Him, ‘We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. … You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.’” (John 8:39-42, 44).

These words attest to what Paul was saying in Romans chapters 2 and 9. Just because you are an ethnical Jew does not make you a true Jew, Paul said in chapter 2. Just because you are physically descended from Abraham and Israel does not make you part of true Israel, Paul said in chapter 9.

In Romans 4:13, 9:8, and Galatians 4:28, Paul speaks in regard to the “promise.” What promise? Well, Galatians 3:16, 27-29 say: “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ. … For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” This passage teaches us:

1. Abrahamic promises were made to Abraham and his seed (v.16).
2. His seed is Christ (v.16).
3. And his seed is all who belong to Christ (v.29).
4. Therefore, the promises belong to Christ and to all who are His (v.29). 

Ergo, this is not "Replacement Theology," it is "Expansion Theology." The Old Testament prophesied of the Gentile inclusion in several passages, predicting God’s work of taking from among the Gentiles a people for Himself. One such passage is Amos 9:11-12. So if the Old Testament prophesied about the Gentile inclusion, and Romans 11:17-24 describes that inclusion, then we must logically conclude that the true Israel is the true church and the true church is the true Israel. For God has only one people that make up one body who were baptized by one Spirit. The church does not replace Israel; the church has always been true Israel, and true Israel has always been the church. “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek” (Rom. 10:12). There is no longer Jew or Gentile because God has broken down the dividing wall and made of the two one new person (Eph. 2:11-19). There are not two plans of redemption and two ways of receiving salvation. You are either in Christ Jesus or you are not. There is salvation by no other means and in no other name. Anything beyond this is heresy!

[lurk]

Cherry picked verses, ignoring all kinds of OT prophecy, massaging Rom. 9-11.

The arrogance of the Reformed theologian.

[faithhopecharity]

The point is that the “error” he saw is a lot more Biblical than is his alternative hermeneutic. (And some of his uses of citations seem strained to make his argument. ). At any event, thanks.

[unlearner]

I am unsure what problem you have with a dispensational interpretation of scripture, as I did not see any specific issues presented. While I have no problem with the illustration that concludes your post, there are a few problems with the arguments you presented.

“Into what are the wild branches grafted? Believing Israel.”

The Gentile church is not grafted into Believing Israel. Believing Israel and believing Gentiles are branches. Gentile believers have been grafted into Christ. Christ taught that we are branches, but He is the vine. Believing Israel is the remnant of National Israel that will be saved. Every nation has a believing remnant from at least one generation.

Further, in your post you have generally skipped over God’s promise that one day “all Israel will be saved”. This means there will be a removal of unbelievers and unbelief from National Israel which is Israel “according to the flesh”. Apparently, other nations will also turn to the Lord nationally and escape final and permanent destruction.

National Israel is one of many nations which will be saved in the coming kingdom. Believers during the church age will rule these nations “with a rod of iron”. Other nations will be completely and permanently destroyed at the judgment of nations.

[redleghunter]

I did not mention anything about the Rapture. Below is what I asked:

-Do you see any future literal fulfillment of prophecies?

-Do you see a future tribulation period culminating in the Second Coming of Christ?

-or should all yet to be fulfilled prophecy be viewed as allegory and should be spiritualized?

Thanks

[redleghunter]

He’s Catholic not reformed.

[Iscool]

You cite Romans 11 wrong. The Church is not Israel. The Church is grafted onto Israel. When you kill the roots and the main trunk ( disenfranchise Israel) you kill the shoot which is grafted Into it (the church )

The part that is a mystery to me is the theology of some folks...Israel is the root???

.Rev_22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Jesus is the root...NOT Israel...Israel is branches...Gentiles are branches...

We as Christians are ALL in Christ, Jew and Gentile alike...None of us are Israel or in Israel...

When one accepts that Truth, a whole new world of scripture opens up...

[Brian Kopp DPM]

The author of the article I posted is non-Catholic and from what I’ve read was closer to Lutheran Church Missouri Synod than anything else.

I’m Catholic. I believe dispensationalism and “the rapture” as the modern Rapture Industry believes it were created out of whole cloth in the early 1800s by Darby et al and as such are worthy only of being ignored. They will cause much consternation and some loss of faith amongst their proponents as time goes on.

[righttackle44]

Reformed Replacement Theology has been responsible for many heinous attitudes, crimes, and bigotry directed at Jewish people by Christians. Replacement theology is nonsensical and, I think, heretical. I have read your argument. It is nonsense.

[EinNYC]

You are full of it, sir. J.C. is NOT a part of the Jewish religion, never will be. Belief in that entity is completely counter to and outside of Judaism. I “must” come to NOTHING, bro. Peddle your twiddle down the road. You got some nerve trying to tell me what I have to believe in.

[metmom]

Romans 11:1-12 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? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Romans 11:25-29 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. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

[metmom]

The italicized is not AM’s opinion. It’s a copy from the article.

[metmom]

OP = original poster.

It took me a while to figure that one out when I first encountered it.

[ladyL]

The reason there is so much confusion from this teaching and in traditional Christianity is because no one takes into account History. Approximately 900 BC the Kingdom of Israel was split in two. It became two separate kingdoms, two separate nations, two separate peoples, two separate destinies...the House of Judah and the House of Israel. There were two tribes in the House of Judah, Judah and Benjamin. There were ten tribes in the House of Israel. You must know the difference and differentiate when reading scripture. Yahshua said, “I came only for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” All twelve tribes ARE NOT JEWS!
Paul said I am a Benjaminite not Jew! Those from the tribe of Asher are Asherites etc. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not JEWS! MOSES WASN’T A JEW! Get all this straight in your thinking and you will begin to interpret scripture correctly.

[faithhopecharity]

Thanks. I will quiet down awhile. It looks like several other posters have handled this foolery better than I anyway. Thanks again very much for your help

[Brian Kopp DPM]

See post #27. Thanks.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

See post #19 & #27. Thanks.

[Cvengr]

bttt

[alnick]

Thank you. It all comes back to Jesus. :-)

[daniel1212]

I didn't cite anything wrong.

And what i stated is what Scripture elaborates on. And here is my basic present understanding of the "Rapture" (resurrection). But the main thing is that one has been born again by personal repentance and faith in Christ to save by faith in His blood expense and righteousness the contrite damned+destitute sinner. /p>

[fishtank]

If you think the Church is Israel, you are wrong.

Period.

As well as Rome.

P.S. I left Rome years ago.

Simil justus et peccator.