By Doug Bell
Romans 2:
28 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which isoutward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
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Who is the True Jew, & Who are the True Israel? There are those of who are of the “Dispensational” persuasion that believe God is not finished with National Israel. In fact, they believe that God’s dealings with Israel is and always has been his first real choice Of Salvation. And when Israel had rejected Jesus as their messiah, He came up with a ‘back-up’ plan. It is seen to be a “parenthesis“ we call the Church Age. It began (according to this view) with Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and will end with Jesus 2nd Coming (the end of the parenthesis). Then, God is freed to once again deal with Israel, His original plan (During the Tribulation period and the Millennial Kingdom).
But, is this what the Bible proclaims? I don’t think that is what it teaches. Like most false doctrines, there has to be some scripture-twisting in order to make it work.
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• First, Was Israel God’s first, best plan? Not all all! God’s plan from the beginning was that Jesus would come to die as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Genesis 3:
15 ”And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
1 Peter 1:
18 ”knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
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• Second, was the Church, a back-up plan, a parenthesis? What saith scripture? No, In fact it is Israel and the law that are a parenthesis!
Galatians 3:
19¶ “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added (beginning) because of transgressions, till (the End) the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it wasappointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”
So, It is to be understood that the Promise of the Messiah came 430 years ‘before’ the Law.
Galatians 3:
17 ”And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
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• Third, Therefore Scripture makes it perfectly clear, that the True Jew is the one who is Abraham’s offspring. But, not offspring of the flesh, But Abraham’s ‘Spiritual‘ children.
Galatians 3:
6 ”just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying,“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”
Romans 4:
13¶ “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect...”
16¶ “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, 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”
Galatians 3:
14 ”that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Paul makes it clear: Gentiles can partake of the blessing given to Abraham. All ‘kinds‘ of peoples, including Jews, are freely welcomed into this newly formed body of people (the Church!)
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• Fourth, The last main argument given, that there are two plans of God; is that not all the promises given to Israel have been fulfilled. Therefore, God will have to deal with Israel in the future. But, scripture tells us differently.
Galatians 3:
16 ”Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
No promises are left unfulfilled, for they are all fulfilled in Christ!
Paul wants no one confused on this matter. There is one way to receive the blessings of Abraham: in Christ. There is no alternative. Paul closes the door to any dispensational thinking. Jews cannot come to God apart from Christ. There are not two paths to Abraham, it is only though Jesus and Jesus alone, who is the Head of the Church!
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And finally, what makes this view so out of character with scripture; It puts Jesus death, burial, resurrection, and ascension in the parenthesis, not part of God’s main plan of redemption! As believers we must make sure that we don’t stress our theological beliefs above the pure truth of the Gospel !
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