nikolai_42
Well-known member
I am not impressed by John Newton. He is non canon. So discard that please. I am also baffled you are here on this thread denying that replacement theology isn't real.
You are claiming to be Israel and a Jew, while denying Jews and geographical Israel spiritual and ethnic validity.
You are claiming to replace the Jews!
Joel 3:2, Zechariah, Isaiah, Psalms, Jesus in Matthew, Luke, Revelation... all of these sources eschatologically acknowledge geographical Israel and (per romans 11) the election of "enemy of the gospel Jews".
Quote a TOL exegesis... but know that the other OP we are debating in addresses the use of many words to blur your point and intentions. If you can't say it succinctly, what are you doing?
Now you're putting words in my mouth. I expressly said that there is a natural Israel. I believe God is using them - but the focal point of the promise to Abraham is (ultimately) Christ. Paul said clearly - seed is singular. All of this is framed in Christ. That is inescapable. So if there are to be Israelites after the flesh that (at the end of it all) are not in Christ, then theirs is not the promise. I say again - this is not a replacement but a continuation of what God has always had in view - a people called out for His name. The times of ignorance He winked at but now commandeth everyone everywhere to repent. There has always been a church (the church in the wilderness...) there has always been a gospel (it was preached to Eve in Genesis 3:15 and Abraham in Galatians 3:8). Even David made direct prophetic reference to the Son (Psalm 2:12). Do we tell national Israel that because they are national Israel, they should glory in that and trust in that and hold to that? Paul said he had more in which to glory but called it all dung that he might win Christ (Philippians 3:2-14).
This is not the church having replaced Israel - this Israel being given the lead. But if the natural branches can be cut off, that gives no one any room to boast over them or look down on them. Rather, with Paul, our prayer is that they be saved (Romans 10:1).