Replacement Theology Series By Eddie Hart

 P a r t    1a  The Jewish Jerusalem Church

 It was about 30 years ago I “seriously” asked the question. “Since there are so many forms of Christianity, how do I know we are living and worshiping according to scripture”?  The answer from a church elder was, “We do according to the commands of Christ and follow the examples found in the New Testament”.  While the answer is correct reality proves the filters of our culture strongly affect the results.  For years I followed that guide thinking I was correct in my walk because when I read the scriptures I saw my church and myself.  But every now and then a question would arise and I found myself accepting a thin logic.  It was very comfortable seeing what I wanted to see and I certainly didn’t want conflict with Bible college professors who were so confident in their position…but in my spirit I knew it was a thin answer.   Over time I realized that the areas of my questions revolved around a point of reference that replaced Israel with the Church.  Slowly, I began to ponder the issues until finally one day it clicked.  That day I heard and fully understood the connections and significance of this “other” point of reference…my life changed.  The scriptures truly came alive and completely harmonious for the first time.   All those thin concepts were washed away and a new understanding founded upon the rock became clear and beautiful.  The problem was my church was teaching a “replacement theology”.

The whole issue of “replacement theology” in the Church today teaches that Israel & the Jewish people have no covenant with God and no further role to play in prophesy because the Church has replaced Israel and Christians have replaced the Jewish people.  This replacement theology has three primary legs. The first is that the Church did not have any “Jewish” or Messianic identity.  The second is that the Jewish people were permanently rejected by God for transfer of the Covenants to the Church. The third is a rejection of a physical millenium reign of Christ. 

This article is Part 1 of a series which will address the question of Jewish identity in the first century.

Dan Juster recently wrote an article that started out as follows: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans." Acts 28:17

Many years ago, I first heard the concept that the Apostles continued to live as loyal Jews, members of the community of Israel. This was taught by Richard Longenecker at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, now Trinity University in Illinois north of Chicago. This was a new thought, but did not become life changing until a few years later when I had became part of the beginnings of the Messianic Jewish movement. I found that such Jewish loyalty was indeed the practice of the Apostles according to the consensus of scholars of early Jewish Christianity. Only in the case of Paul was this doubted, but many argued that Paul was himself loyal in the same ways as the other Apostles. Paul could hardly make the above statement if he simply had abandoned Jewish life but did not urge others do to so. If he had abandoned Jewish life, then his life would be an example for other Jewish believers in Yeshua in all the cities where he had influence. He would then indeed be doing something against the customs of his ancestors. Many think customs here go beyond biblical commandments to worthy traditions within the Judaism of that day. W. D. Davies in his great classic Paul and Rabbinic Judaism argues that Paul remained a loyal practicing Jew until the day of his death. His orienting his life around the Jewish Biblical Feasts, his Nazarene vow (Acts 18:18) and his profession of Torah loyalty in Acts 21 were sufficient proofs to Davies and to many others.[GEH1] [i]

Dan’s reference to Acts 18:18 is where Paul says that before he sailed for Syria he had his hair cut off because of a vow he had taken.  It is a very Jewish custom that uses the shaving of the head to memorialize a vow, which is very similar to our baptism which is used to memorialize a vow of faith in Yeshua.  Obviously, if Paul had abandoned his Jewish walk he would not have done such a “work” thing.  He would have made it a personal “spiritual” vow only.  A Christian today might say keep it in your prayer closet.  But for Paul, everywhere he walked people would look and think ….”there goes a Jewish Man of God.”   Is that the message a “former” Jew, an anti-Jewish man, would broadcast to the public?

Dan’s other reference to Acts 21 include when Paul meets James and the elders in Jerusalem.  Here he makes three strong points.  First Paul is accepted by the leaders who have rejected the lies of Satan that Paul was teaching against the Scriptures and Moses.  Secondly, James specifically -in context- points out that there are thousands of devout Jewish Believers who are still zealous for the Law (Scriptures of the Old Covenant specifically the first five books - the Torah).  This is clearly a reference to the fact that these are still very Jewish people who also follow Yeshua at the same time.  They have not abandoned, changed or revised any letter of God’s word, but they have added the revelation of their Messiah Yeshua - as a fulfillment of Jewish prophesy.  Thirdly, Paul goes through another Jewish vow that confirms his Jewish-ness by going to the Temple to pay fees for others, going through a public ceremony, and then walking out carrying the sign of a shaven head for all the community to see and know his Jewish commitment.

As for this whole debate we can just stop here.  Because, if Paul ever tells us anywhere else that we are to erase our Jewish inheritance, then he would be a liar.  If he is a liar then half of the New Covenant is a lie.  But, this is only the beginning of proofs for our Jewish heritage.  From here he goes on to teach the foundations of Christian thought and understanding of why Yeshua had to come and to explain this faith and grace that God had always had for his chosen people.  It is a message that became empowered during the Jewish feast of Shavuot by the sending of the Holy Spirit.  For our God loved us so much he not only gave His son as a living sacrifice for us but he even made it possible to follow his commandments (the Law) by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was a teaching that made references in the New Covenant to the "miss-practices" of Jewish people who were demanding an obedience to "dead works".  Like Yeshua, Paul never erased a "dot or a tittle", but worked hard to redirect his people’s understanding toward a faith in a God of grace….focused on salvation by faith in Yeshua - not works. So why did Paul continue to practice a faith that included the "works" commanded by God? Maybe it is the same reason we Christians continue to practice a faith in "works" that include baptism and communion. Are they required for our Salvation...of course not, but we do them because Yeshua "commanded" us to. Why? - because we want to…we LOVE HIM!  What do you know, that is what our Messianic brothers are doing...a few good things God "commanded" them to do. Praise GOD!

Continuation of “REPLACEMENT  THEOLOGY” - Part 1b The Jewish Jerusalem Church

Even though we showed in Acts 18 and 21 several excellent examples of a “still” Jewish Paul, we saw he was not alone, but was accompanied by many “still” Jewish Believers.  This brings up a point about principles in the interpretation of scripture, that the whole body of scripture is a key to understanding the smaller parts.  Since the inspired word of God cannot conflict with itself then we know that what may appear to be a contradiction is really confusion on our part - not God’s. If one resorts to symbolism when the rest of scripture shows it to be literal then we are re-writing and we are in grave peril.  The use of symbolism must confirm and support the whole and not serve to change meanings even when they seem impossible or impractical for us to understand.  For example, 30 years ago only a handful of Christians really believed in a literal 6 day creation, because we were taught that scripture had to agree with Science and creation had to happen over millions of years.  But, today 6 day creation is again widely accepted by Christians because of good alternative science …just as if God really did mean it!  God told Noah to build a boat.  Thankfully, we live to day because Noah took God literally.  Everyone else thought him to be insane.  Certainly, God does use symbolism for teaching purposes, but it is always consistent.  He does not have to resort to symbolism so why do we.  Are we afraid we will embarrass God because He can’t really do this or that?

Therefore, as we proceed with our review of replacement theology we want everyone to understand that it is not just a few verses that prove our point but the whole of scripture that presents a complete contextual picture of Israel and the Jewish people straight through both old and New Covenants (Testaments).  While there may be places in scripture where we do not have a clear understanding of God’s purpose…this is not one of them. 

Acts 21:26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

One more thing here, Paul is not only going through a very Jewish experience, but he is also in a very Jewish place, the Temple.  We all know that when the Lord died on the cross as our sacrificial lamb, the veil of the Temple was ripped apart and there was no longer a need for blood sacrifice because Yeshua covered it once and for all.  Heb 9:26…But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice.  I have often heard that the Temple is no longer needed since Yeshua finished the need for it with his sacrifice, and this we agree, but until it was destroyed in 70 AD it still represented a place of assembly, worship and honor to God.  Just as churches and synagogues do today.  One difference in the Temple is it was also a place for other sacrifices.  The Church today repels at the thought of a drink offerings or a grain offering being done in a church.  But it is only the sin offerings that Yeshua completed.  Other sacrifices have certainly never been completed…we do them every day. Every time we do something for the Lord we are giving a sacrifice of something…time, talent, praise, service, money…drink or grain.  Examples include Phil 2:17, Phil 4:18, and Heb 13:15  for starters.   Lest we forget, my point here is that the Temple was a very Jewish place and the early Church used it because they were a very Jewish people. 

At the end of Paul’s first missionary journey he returned to Jerusalem where he met with leaders of the Jerusalem church.  Just as in Acts 21 the questions concerning the new gentile believers came up.

Acts 15:5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. 6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the gentiles should hear the word of the  gospel, and believe. 8And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; 9and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. 12And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the gentiles through them. 13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me: 14Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: 17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the gentiles, upon whom my name is called, 18Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old 19Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the gentiles turn to God; 20but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

This text clearly makes 3 points.  First it shows that James and the assembly did not agree with the Pharisee Believers because the apostles understood that gentiles (or Jews either) were not required to live a Jewish life to be saved.  Note that this verse “which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear”, is sometimes used by replacement believers as proof for removal of all Jewish customs.  But that is incongruous with verse 21 and the whole of scripture.

Secondly, his concern is that these new baby Christians are bringing some baggage, traditions and addictions from a pagan society with them, and James knew it would take some time for them to get grounded in the Word and he was concerned for them and the reputation of the “followers of Yeshua”.   For many of them to breaking out of this vice would very difficult.   So, James addresses the most heinous gentile issue, pagan worship and temple prostitution. For those people involved with these sin were involved in the most public of offenses to God.  Also, up until this time all proselyte men were circumcised upon becoming Jewish, but now under Yeshua this is no longer required.  This is relevant because circumcised men would not be as likely to go to a pagan temple prostitute who would mock them for being Jewish, and on the other hand the uncircumcised gentiles could be tempted to return to old customs without fear of ridicule. Dan Juster recently pointed out that the Romans culture had through nature already adopted all but 3 points of the 10 Commandments and so James takes this opportunity to highlight the missing parts. 

Thirdly, verse 21…here in black and white…”For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”.  You tell me, if we gentiles like the first century faithful lived at that time in Corinth, Caesurea, or any other largely gentile city, of Israel…where and when would be learn about God?  We would learn about Him in the local Synagogue on Saturday.  How can it be made any more clear?  Even though the gentile believers were not required to live as Jewish people they would have been “encouraged” to do so because the first century Church was a Jewish Church.  In fact, to disconnect Yeshua from His Jewish roots is to have less of Him, for He and His disciples are forever Jewish.  How much Yeshua should a believer want?

Continuation of “REPLACEMENT  THEOLOGY” - Part 2a - An Everlasting Covenant

If the Church needs to replace Israel and Christians need to replace the Jewish people in the prophesies of God we have a big problem, because our God is one who is honest and faithful and does not break his promises. We know that when He promises us salvation through Yeshua - we will have it. We know that when He promises to forgive us 70 times 70 - we will have it.  When He promises us a heavenly reward - we will have it.  How do we know these words are true?  We know because of proofs given to us through history.  We know because we see his integrity.  We know because of Jeremisah 31: 33-37 

³³But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. ³⁵Thus says the LORD, He who gives the sun to light the day, moon and stars to light the night; Who stirs up the sea till its waves roar, whose name is LORD of hosts: ³⁶If ever these natural laws give way in spite of me, says the LORD, Then shall the race of Israel cease as a nation before me forever. ³⁷Thus says the LORD: If the heavens on high can be measured, or the foundations below the earth be sounded, Then will I cast off the whole race of Israel because of all they have done, says the LORD.

We know because of the covenants God made with Israel and that he is faithful to them - no matter what.  Isaiah 49:15   ¹⁴But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." ¹⁵Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. ¹⁶See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name; your walls are ever before me.

We know because God chose the Jewish people for a special purpose - as an example to us all. Just as Paul wrote in 1^st Corinthians 10 talking about “our fathers” he says ¹¹Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.  

So, we know that God will never give up on his people and that they are used for admonition to the world, but that does not mean they are perfect…it does not mean that they do not make mistakes.  They make mistakes individually and corporately just as we do today - individually and corporately Israelis and Americans.  The results of our actions as individuals affects our relationship and favor with God just as our nation is judged.  Even though we are each saved by grace and baptized by the holy spirit we still fail sometimes.  When we do - we sometimes find consequences we must live with for the rest of our lives.  We live in a fallen world and we can learn from cause and effect because we can see the damage.  But, despite the damages we learn from the whole experience and grow in our faith to be stronger than we were before.  And it is the same with a Jewish person in the times of Christ.  Each had a decision to make, just like Abraham.  Each lived in a faith in the Messiah to come and each was justified by their faith.   It was the same for Israel then as it is today…where do we stand on faith in the Messiah.  Just as any nation who represent both a corporate people and a physical place on earth…where do they stand.  We have been responsible from the beginning and we will be responsible unto the end.  The same….God is the same!  Praise Yeshua.

The Lord said it - and that is it.  But still some say, “but that was before Yeshua and the New Covenant which changed everything.”  OK…I say, “it changed everything…but it also changed nothing.”  Yes, this is a paradox, but it is not that complicated.  Again, keeping in mind the whole of scripture….it says, “not a jot nor a tittle will be changed”.  Yeshua came to fulfill not destroy.  Yes, Yeshua changed everything by giving us a new reference, a new perspective on God.  He opened our eyes to see the point of it all.  He broke our hearts in order for us to let him in.  The point was to seek after the Lord and to know the Lord in our hearts and in our minds.  It was always taught in the Old Covenant but the Jewish people had trouble understanding (just as we do today) and this led to an effort at salvation by works.  But Yeshua cut into our hearts deeper than before to bring the point home, and that wasn’t all.  He then gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell with us.  Wow, what a change, a new helper.  A new power to become a part of who we are.  Now we had a way that was impossible before…a way to really succeed in the Law.  Now we had a way to honor and serve without fear that we were failing to meet the every little detail.  Now we had a way to serve and honor God by seeing and responding to Gods many commandments on a personal level.  As we seek after him and the ways that we are lead to honor him outwardly and inwardly at the same time.  No man can condemn us.  No man can say you must do it this way or that.  Now we with the Holy Spirit walk straight into the Holy of Holy’s to seek God’s guidance…not man’s.

The only way to resolve the conflict is to believe what the Lord says, and not change things into symbols that are clearly not meant to be. 

Paul goes on in 1^st Cor to say, “  ^{Cor 10: 12}Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.

Here Paul has just said it…just as the Jewish people were used and suffered, we to can be used and suffer like Israel.   We to…are we not believers called out for a purpose?  Yes, but we do not replace the covenant people.  If God is not faithful to the Jews how can we expect him to be faithful to us.  Just as God gives us second chances to return to him, he also gives his Jewish people second chances to turn to him.  How do we know?  Because today, 2004, He can still see the tattoo written on the palm of his hand.

Continuation of “REPLACEMENT  THEOLOGY” - Part 2b - An Everlasting Covenant

Despite all this evidence we sometimes wonder if God is really doing all these things in the world or is it just coincidence.  Coincidence or Godincidence?  We often wonder about certain scriptures because they seem to bazaar to be real.  One of these came home to me in October of 2002 when we were in Kariat Yam, Israel working at the Tents of Mercy Congregation.  We were sweeping up trash on dry dusty paving behind the building and Michael was helping me as I got down on my knees to hold the dust pan so Michael could sweep up a pile of trash and dust for disposal.  Later the next day it hit me as I read Isaiah 49:23

²²Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

²³Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD; and those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.

Here we were, people from the nations, giving money and prayers to lift Yeshua up as an ensign in Israel, and paying to fly Jewish sons and daughters back to Zion. Inside the congregation building some were cleaning and painting the nursery and outside we were bowing down and licking the dust of Jewish feet.

While we were not kings and queens in one since, we were sons and daughters of the most high God. In Romans, talking about the gentiles, Paul says, ^{Rom 9: 25}As he says also in Hoshea, "I will call them 'my people,' which were not my people; And her 'beloved,' who was not beloved." ²⁶"It will be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There will they be called 'sons of the living God.'"

Does God mean what he says?  Does God still show his proofs today? To miss these lessons of faithfulness is to miss some of the greatest evidence of God’s continual involvement in his creation and his hand upon us.  This of course does not mean that my experience is any more unique than anyone else.  Many people will live experiences that  place them in a role of fulfillment yet many will not think or even realize it.  Even more literal fulfillments are certain to come.  The fabric of time and fulfillment is one like scripture…God does awesome things in awesome ways to do wonderful things that we cannot begin to image.

I sat in a Sunday School class one morning and listened to a “Bible professor” teach that…”we need to be strong and remain faithful in these modern times even though we cannot see the hand of God moving in the world”.  When I mentioned that the hand of God was evident today by looking at the news and seeing what God was doing in Israel and that is one way we can KNOW he is faithful and present…the response from the professor was a slightly bent smile.  No affirmation, no agreement was offered.

God is alive and well, and we are especially blessed because the proof of his covenant is more evident today than at any time in the last 2000 years.

Some say, “The Jewish people were cut off from the root (as God’s chosen people) and the gentiles were grafted into their place and the Church has replaced Israel as the kingdom of the chosen people.  While there is some truth to part of this we must be careful to understand the full meaning of the text and context...this text is often misused.  The word is as follows:

^{Romans 11:13}For I speak to you who are gentile. Since then as I am an apostle to gentiles, I glorify my ministry; ¹⁴if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh (his Jewish brothers), and may save some of them. ¹⁵For if the rejection of them [is] the reconciling of the world, what would the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ¹⁶If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root of the richness of the olive tree; ¹⁸don't boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who bear the root, but the root you. ¹⁹You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." ²⁰True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but fear; ²¹for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²²See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

Paul is explaining that because his brothers (many but not all) have rejected Yeshua, he is responsible to go teach the gentiles so that they (we) can become followers of the same God and by our love and righteousness be a light to his brothers so they will be jealous for what we have.  This jealousy would be a catalyst for their turning back to Him.  Note that it is by our faith that we are grafted in but for the Jewish people it is by birth that they are part of the olive tree.  It is because of their denial of Yeshua that they are removed and It is because of our acceptance that we are added.   We must all go through the same door but we approach that door from different directions.  Despite the fact that we sometimes hear “once saved always saved”…the word says…”don’t be conceited…if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.”  It is not the purpose of this study to go into a deep study of grace, but my understanding of scripture on this is that we cannot be lost if we continue the race and fight the good fight.  It is the giving up, the turning away, the denial of Yeshua that will grieve the Holy Spirit.  Jew or gentile, anyone can have their branch broken and removed from the tree of life if we deny Yeshua.

Paul also says that the first fruit is holy in reference to Num 15:20 where the Jews were commanded to present a first cake (or first fruit) drawn from the first lump of dough made from the first grain of the new harvest.  God’s receiving of the first fruit as holy makes the whole lump of dough holy.  Holy means “called out - set apart for God’s service”, the lump of dough is holy and the root is holy….then God’s covenant is holy his promise to Abraham is holy.  Even though all the lump of dough is not made into “first fruit” it is still holy…the lump is still set apart for God even though it is not being used at present time.  It is the “first fruit” of the dough that keeps the rest set apart for God.  It sits back in the shadows, just waiting, not knowing, waiting to be used for God’s will - in God’s time.  Those who are faithful keep hope alive for those who do not understand or have not heard.  So, when will the rest be fruitful?  Maybe that is up to us to make them jealous.  Maybe that is the purpose of the Church.   Maybe that is the reason the New Covenant was kept alive in the Jesus loving Kingdom of God in the gentile world.  It exists in order to save Israel and to usher in the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

We graphed-in gentiles have a responsibility to be a blessing to the Jewish people.  The branches on the root serve the purpose of the root and the root keeps the branches alive.  The purpose of the branches is to bear fruit.  We gentiles may be graphed in as a branch but we do not replace the root.  The root is the Jewish foundations of Israel and because of our grafting into the tree it also becomes the foundation of the Church.  Never will it become something else or be set apart form Israel.  Never will it become something non-Jewish.  Not a jot nor a tittle will pass away.  It is a tree with its Jewish roots that welcomes the gentile believer as a new branch to join it and be nourished from the living waters.  For Yeshua is the root of Jesse which is of the root of Abraham…and it is from Yeshua we get the living water for which we thirst no more.   Our life comes from the root and we are given abundant nourishment  - never again will we thirst.

Continuation of “REPLACEMENT  THEOLOGY” - Part 2c - An Everlasting Covenant

                Again today I heard a well respected theologian on the radio talk about how Israel no longer has a place in God’s plan.  He spoke about how they had been replaced by the Christians.  His foundation was Paul’s statement in Romans 2.

^{Rom. 2: 28}For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹but 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 of men, but of God.

This is a prime example of how scriptures have been twisted and used against the Jewish people.  This is why for 48 years I was deceived.  In those days this passage seemed so clear cut and to the point it could not mean anything else…or was I just lazy about my faith and trusted my teachers instead of “really” seeking to know the truth?  Here are not 1 but 5 points that counter the error in this teaching.

First, as our theology experts know, we must look at the context.  Paul is responding to teachings by some Jewish believers that are saying that new gentile believers must be circumcised.  So his purpose here is to point out that our relationship, faithfulness and obedience are more important than ceremony.  We are pleasing to God when we seek life in his righteousness and that comes from a change to our hearts not our flesh.  This has nothing to do with God’s covenants and promises and to say it does is out of context…and is wrong.

Secondly, the very next verse Rom. 3:1-4 says, ¹What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision? ²Much in every way: first of all, that they were in-trusted with the oracles of God. ³For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God? ⁴God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar;

Well knock me down….maybe I should just stop here.  Again and again we say the whole of scripture must be considered and must be harmonious.  Here Paul meant to stop the mind of the reader from going anti-semitic by reminding us that some people will sin and we may say that they are not Jewish because of their sin, but their sin does not nullify God’s covenants.  God made a promise and he continues to keep it.

Thirdly, Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, and Jer 9:26 here we learn that the need to be circumcised of the heart is not a new concept.  God has always wanted his people to be people of the heart…many never understood.  If this text can be used to justify God’s complete abandonment of his covenant then He must have done it 1000 years before Christ.  OK, so today…how many of us are really circumcised of the heart?  Fully cut, committed unto death to our Lord and seeking after his righteousness? 

Fourthly, the Church today is full of people who are known as Christians.  These Christians are made up of strong ones and weak ones.  Some of us are not who we claim to be.  While we look good and smell good on the outside…inside we stink to God.  One might say that person is not really a Christian. One might even write…   “For he is not a Christian who is one outwardly; neither is that water baptism which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Christian who is one inwardly; and washed is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Finally, we sometimes forget that God uses symbols of flesh to represent spiritual truths, and that He is a God that uses the physical world as a tool for his glory.  Just as Jerusalem has been used a physical place in prophecy, his chosen people are used as a physical body to teach us and represent his hope for us.  When we talk about who a Jew is we are talking about either a spiritual Jew or a physical Jew.  A spiritual Jew is one who is walking with God.  This person can be anyone - Jew or Gentile - it doesn’t matter.  Since we believers have been spiritually grafted into that Jewish root system, we are now spiritually Jews.  A physical Jew is one who is a descendent in the flesh from Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob.  I once heard a Christian man say that there is no need to waste time looking for “real” Jewish people because they no longer exist.  This is another lie of Satan.  While not every Jewish person can trace a perfect line back to Abraham enough of them can do so that  we can be assured that there are at least hundreds of thousands of blood connected Jewish people in the world.  This is not to even mention the science of DNA that has found a forgotten tribe in Africa that has a Jewish tradition and now can prove their Jewish blood.  And why does that mean beans?  It is important because the Jewish people are important to God’s plan because that is how he used the Jewish people before Christ to magnify His glory and that is how He will use the Jewish people since Christ to again magnify His glory through prophesy. These physical people have a covenant with God that is physical, and it will not end until the end of time.  Without physical Jewish people God cannot complete the prophesies…prophesies that a “symbolic Jewish” Church can never fulfill.  No matter if we like it or not, no matter if the Jewish people believe it or not….that’s just the way it is.  “…Yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar;”.

To Be Continued

End of Parts 1a through 2c

15 Feb 2004

Bibliography