Replacement Theology

Is the Church The Replacement of Israel?

Covenant theologians teach that the Church became the Israel of the New Testament. Obviously, this is not the case, as seen by the following arguments:

#1: The Promises Are Different
a. For Israel, the promises and provisions were basically earthly in scope. See Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 28
b. For the Church, the promises are heavenly in scope. See Colossians .3:1,3; Ephesians. 1:3

#2: The Seed Is Different
a. Abraham's physical seed refers to Israel - Romans 9:7
b. Abraham's spiritual seed refers to the Church - Galatians 3:7

#3: The Births Are Different
a. Israel celebrated its birthday at the base of Mt. Sinai - Exodus 19 & 20
b. The Church celebrated its birthday at Pentecost - Acts 2
The author of Hebrews brings out the obvious contrast between these two entities. Israel became what they are by a physical birth. The Church became what we are by spiritual birth (Hebrews 12;18,24)

#4: The Nationality Is Different
a. Israel belonged to this earth and to the earthly world system.
b. The Church is composed of all nations and has no earthly citizenship, and is portrayed as strangers and pilgrims - 1 Peter 2:11

#5: The Relationship With God The Father Is Different
a. God is never presented as the Father of Individual Israelites in the O.T.
b. God is presented as Father of all N.T. Believers. (1 John 3:1).

#6: The Relationship With God The Son Is Different
a. Christ Is A Stumbling Stone To Israel - 1 Corinthians.1:23; 1 Peter. 2:8
b. Christ is the Foundation and Chief Cornerstone of the Church - 1 Pet. 2:4,5

#7: The Relationship With The Holy Spirit Is Different
a. The Holy Spirit rarely came upon individual O.T. Israelites
b. The Holy Spirit lives inside each N.T. Believer - 1 Corinthians. 6:19

These are just a few reasons from the Bible why the Church is not a replacement of Israel. To suggest otherwise is to ignore the principles of rightly dividing the word of truth.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger

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