Romans 11:17-21 NIV
[17] "If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, [18] do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. [19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” [20] Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."
We have seen and been horrified by the events that have been happening in the nation of Israel recently. As can be expected the prophetic prognosticators have come out of the woodwork in full force as well.
But how are we to understand what the scripture says about Israel as it relates to the modern world and to the gospel? There are two predominant views that carry some truth to them but also a lot of error. They are 'replacement theology' and 'dispensational theology.' Both of these ideas are much too in depth and complicated to go into here but we'll just do a very basic overview here as it relates to the ethnic nation of Israel.
Replacement Theology
This is the idea that the church has replaced Israel and that all of the unfulfilled covenant promises are to be fulfilled in the church. This idea goes back to the mid-2nd century promoted largely by Marcion. It asserts that God is finished with Israel because they broke the covenant and he has instituted a new covenant with a new people group -- the church.
Dispensational Theology
This is a much more recent idea promoted by James Darby in the earlier part of the nineteenth century. Dispenasationalism was not part of teaching for nearly all of the church age. This belief system goes into many areas such as the covenants, prophecy, and eschatology. These are also too complicated to go into here. What we need to know for the purpose of this talk is that dispensationalism makes a distinction between Israel and the Church. It largely interprets the book of Revelation as the Church having been raptured before the tribulation and these events mostly affecting the nation of Israel. It should be noted that the rapture is also an idea that was previously not part of early church teaching. Some have even gone so far as to assert that God has a separate plan for saving Israel than for saving the Church which is completely heretical.
If the replacement view is correct then the image Paul presents in Romans 11 should be one olive tree being uprooted and a new olive tree being planted. If the dispensational view is correct then the image should be two olive trees, one representing Israel and the other representing the Church.
But what we actually see is a single olive tree with natural branches broken off (ethnic Israelites) and unnatural branches (Gentiles) grafted in. It is one covenant people that now includes Gentiles.
Same Covenant people but a New and Better Covenant
Jeremiah 31:31-34 NIV
[31] “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. [32] It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. [33] “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [34] No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Hebrews 8:7-8, 13 NIV
[7] For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. [8] But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
[13] By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Between verse 8 and 13 of Hebrews, the writer had quoted those verses in Jeremiah. Note that Jeremiah says that this 'NEW COVENANT' would be with Israel and Judah. After Jesus ascended and Peter preached his first sermon on Pentecost there were 3,000 people who were saved that day -- ALL JEWS. For the first decade or so the only Christ followers were Jewish -- ethnic Israelites.
By the last half of the first century the tipping point was reached when there were more Gentile Christians than Jewish Christians.
As unpopular as it is to say in our world of politcal correctness, the early persecution of the Church was at the hands of the Jews, not the Romans. The first martyr, Stephan, was killed for calling the Jews out on their hypocrisy. They accused him of speaking against Moses and he reminded them of their history, one of chronic disobedience. As Jeremiah said, they had broken the covenant.
This brings us to Paul's words in Romans 11. Natural branches have been broken off because of unbelief and unnatural branches have been grafted in. It is still the same covenant people but a new covenant.
What is a Jew
Romans 2:28-29 NIV
[28] A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. [29] No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
This really needs no commentary. Bloodline doesn't make someone a Jew. With that in mind when we see verses like Romans 11:26:
...and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.'
It seems to imply that when the New Testament speaks of Israel, it refers to Israelites who have received Christ. Note in Romans 11:28 the word 'only.' It does not say, "A person is not a Jew who is one outwardly," it says "ONLY OUTWARDLY." That seems to imply that to be a true Jew means BOTH outwardly and inwardly.
Ultimately, those who reject Christ as Savior, both ethnic Jew and Gentile will not be saved. So, when it says that all Israel will be saved it refers to those who are both outwardly and inwardly Jews.
Earlier, John the Baptist had warned the Jews about claiming their ethnicity in Luke 3:8 (NIV).
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham."
Being an ethnic Israelite will not save them. Repentance and faith in Christ will be the only thing that will, for both Jew and Gentile.
What About End Time Prophesy?
I have heard some who hold a covenantal view say that the fact that an actual nation of Israel exists is completely insignificant. I don't see how they can say that because even on a historical and geopolitical level the existence of a state of Israel is very significant. All of the conflicts in the middle east stem from the conflicting religious beliefs of both Jews and Muslims that believe the land belongs to them. And that goes back to Abraham.
But how does that figure into end time prophesy?
The honest truth is we really don't know. So spending too much time speculating about end time prophesy is somewhat pointless.
Obviously, God is completely sovereign and is completely in charge of the unfolding of history. That means it is part of his sovereign plan that an actual nation of Israel exists today. But how that actually works out is still a mystery.
Romans 11 does seem to imply that there will be, for lack of a better word, an influx, of ethnic Israelites who will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and these natural branches will be grafted back in.
Yes Lord, may it be so.
In the meantime, we have Kingdom work to do and we need to be about our Father's business.
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