Does the Church Replace Israel
This is the covenantal view (our position) so, no doubt, there will be some not-so-happy Ryrie and Scofield fans who read this, grind their teeth, and give it a one-star rating. But the truth must be told. Jesus is the True Israel and all those in Him (both Jew and Gentile) are part of the same body of Christ and share the same redemptive blessings.- Monergism.com
An interesting excerpt from Dr. Arturo Azurdia III’s 81 part series on the Book of Revelation. I often find myself in amazement at the attitude that many Christians have regarding the State of Israel. Many people view the State of Israel as the People (or Nation) of Israel, but scripture tells us that the People of Israel are those whom God calls His own (Jews and Gentiles).
Now, the Jewish people are God’s chosen people but that simply means that God’s grace and love was only extended to the OT Jews. Now that Christ has come, God’s love and grace are extended to all peoples. Either way, it is not extended to every person (see limited atonement). That being said, the State of Israel is no different than any other country. Her people need salvation just as much as Canadians, Africans, Indians, and all the others (including us Americans).
But some will claim that the State of Israel is special. Jews are, biblically speaking, the “chosen people of God” and dearly loved by Him. One reason for Christians to support the nation of Israel is because of the Abrahamic Covenant. We read in Genesis 12:2-3, “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing: and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (see also Genesis 27:29; Numbers 24:9).
But how does that effect us today? Doesn’t this passage (and others) only apply to Abraham and his offspring? If we, as Christians, have been grafted into the family of Abraham, are we not also the chosen people? And be Christ Jesus’ sacrifice, aren’t “all the families of the earth blessed”?
I am slow to respond to this post because I wanted to think about it. While we are adopted into the family of Abraham, the Jews are not divorced from it. Paul wished for the day that Jerusalem would be a Christian city and I also hope for that day to come. I agree that we are the new Israel, a nation under God by the Sacrifice of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, made one with the Father. Our Kingdom shall never end for it is the Kingdom of the Most High God.