Replacement Theology - Article 1

Several weeks ago I was ask to write an article on Replacement Theology.  Once I started I couldn't seem to stop.  I never realized there was so much to say about the subject.  For those of you who don't know what Replacement Theology is here is a brief summary.  Replacement Theology is a doctrine of the church that holds to the belief that God is finished with the Jewish people and all the promises He made to them in the Scriptures are now for Gentiles alone.

Since there appears to be so much to say on the subject I have decided to write several articles in order to cover everything I feel the Lord is trying to say to me on the subject.  So this will be the first in a series.

Replacement Theology

Article 1

There is a belief that has been in the church for centuries that hold to the doctrine that God has replaced the Jews with the Gentiles.  When I first heard about this belief I was surprised because I had never thought that way myself.  Being a student of the Word and especially the book of Romans, as it has always been my favorite book of the Bible, the concept never crossed my mind.  So after hearing some prominent Bible teachers and preachers speak against it I began to look into it for myself.

I knew what the Word said so I thought I would observe the church as a whole listening to preachers, teachers, and prophets.  I decided to also ask specific questions of these individuals which would lead to thought provoking answers.  What I found surprised me because there was no one actually saying the words, “God has given up on the Jews and all the promises He made to them are now for the Gentiles alone.”   What was happening though were very small subtle remarks that at first sounded really good but after much thought could be interpreted in ways that didn't seem so good.  There were also the sermons that were taught from specific Scriptures in the Prophets that were clearly intended for Israel but never addressed as such, leaving the hearer to assume they were only for them. (Example Ezekiel 37) 

The realization then came that I had heard many sermons and lessons growing up from all over the book of Romans with the exception of the 9^th through 11^th chapters.  I grew up in the church, went to a Christian school and even attended a Christian University and I heard many sermons especially from Romans 8 and 12 but never from 9 through 11.   I realized it was more about what was not being said than what was being said, and little by little Israel was becoming an afterthought within the church body and more and more believers were wondering why they needed to think about Israel and the Jews much less care what happened to them.  I remember the day a couple of years ago when my pastor got up and preached a message on why Israel was important to the church and why we should be praying for Israel and the Jewish people.  I was amazed at the fact that he had felt the need to preach the sermon and that so many people afterward were so glad and learned so much.  I felt glad that he had preached it but sad at the same time that he had to preach it.  I never realized the deception was so prevalent until that moment.

When you take a look at Romans 11 it’s clear that Paul believes God has not replaced the Jews and never will.  Paul reminds the Gentiles that we would not be enjoying the benefits of salvation if it had not been for the Jewish people’s rejection of Yeshua.  He goes even further to state that God actually gave the Jewish people a spirit of stupor so they couldn't see or hear Him so that we Gentiles could have an opportunity to know salvation; and in coming to salvation make the Jews jealous so they would accept Yeshua as well.

Apparently in Paul’s day this concept of the Gentiles replacing the Jews in the promises of God had already begun to raise its head.  We can see in Romans 11:18-20; that Paul is specifically addressing the Gentiles and warning them not to boast or be prideful in their estimation of what God did for them to the exclusion of the Jews.  If the Gentiles were falling into that trap they were committing the same offense that the Jews did when God pruned them off the Olive branch.  Paul says in verse 21 if God did not spare the Jews from being pruned He certainly won’t spare the Gentiles for the same offense.  He goes on to say we as Gentiles should lay aside our arrogance and pride and appreciate the kindness of God in allowing us to be grafted into the original Olive branch so we can continue in His grace and kindness, our belief will stay intact, and we won’t be pruned as well.

In verses 25-26, Paul sums it up as a hidden truth that he doesn’t want us Gentiles to miss.  He says, “A hardening has befallen a part of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come. And so all Israel will be saved.” He goes on to point out that from God’s point of view they are the chosen ones, the beloved of God, for the sake of their forefathers.  God made a promise to their ancestors and He does not go back on His promises. His gifts and callings are irrevocable.

We need to look at Israel and the Jewish people as our big brother in the faith and learn from them.  They have an understanding of God that we don’t have.  God put it in them from the beginning and there is much to learn.  As we come alongside them and implore of them to teach us we are actually calling them higher into their gifts and callings.  Even the Orthodox Jews who have not come to a belief in Yeshua have a richness in God and the ways of God that is embedded into their DNA.  I understand that they haven’t obtained the complete picture yet but they do carry a piece that can enrich our relationship with God and His ways. 

Zechariah 3:7 says, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access to My presence and places to walk among these who stand here.”  I believe this verse is first to the Jew and then to the Gentile believer.  I also believe it our inheritance as sons of God and partakers of the Kingdom of God which is the inheritance of Yeshua.  I believe we can’t fully understand and grasp the original intent of this Scripture without the help of our Jewish brothers. 

We must come alongside them both believers and non-believers and be bridge builders of peace and reconciliation.  We must take a stance of humility knowing we have much to learn as well as much to share.  When we lay aside our agendas and follow the true heart of God we will not only be instrumental in lifting the veil from their eyes we will also gain understanding and knowledge of the ways and heart of God we otherwise may never have discovered.