The Feasts & Festivals of Israel, Series Is the Church Israel, Part II June 10, 2012 I. Introduction and review A. Is this argument Israel and the church really all about some fine points that really don t make much difference to me in my life? B. Isn t this just a doctrinal debate of I want no part? C. Last week we saw a purpose and a plan for Israel and for the church which were quite different 1. [Review slide] 2. The church is the bride of Christ 3. Israel is not D. There are different gospels II. There are of course those who would disagree, and would cite Scripture to support their position A. Consider first Acts 3:17-21 1. The period of restoration that is of the kingdom a. See Acts 1:6 2. That restoration is of the kingdom of Israel, during Jesus millennial reign as He sits on the throne of David B. Consider Matt. 21:43 1. Who is our Lord talking to a. Some say the Chief Priests and the Pharisees Page 1 of 8
(1) their job, the thing they were suppose to be expert at, was recognizing the Messiah b. Some say the nation of Israel at that time 2. Then who is the nation that the kingdom will be given to a. The church is never referred to as a nation b. Consider what happened a little earlier [21:9] (1) Palm Sunday (2) their Messiah had arrived in Jerusalem (3) they said: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (4) see Psa.118:22-26 (5) now consider Matt. 23:37-39 (a) (b) the nation of Israel will not see Jesus for a while meanwhile the dispensation of the church takes place (c) (d) then the last seven years of the Jewish dispensation then he comes back and the Jewish people then alive, the remnant that He has maintained will see Him as their Messiah (e) and will say: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord C. Gal. 6:12-16 1. The concept of by this rule means faith in Christ Page 2 of 8
2. The Replacement theologist wants to say that: Israel of God (in verse 16) = the Church 3. Consider the context: Judaizers attacking Galatian Church a. They are trying to force Gentile believers to become Jewish also 4. The Replacement crowd wants us to understand that the word and should be translated even a. Difference in meaning the same thing as opposed to two separate things, both of which are included b. Under rare circumstances you could translate this word as even but those circumstances do not exist here c. It should be and 5. So what does Israel of God mean a. It is a differentiation between spiritual or believing Israel vs. ungodly or unbelieving Israel D. See Gal. 3:7 & 29 1. Replacement theologists also want to maintain that these two verses indicate that the church has become Israel 2. First ask is Israel 100% Jewish answer is yes 3. Were there descendants of Abraham that were not Jewish 4. The only ones that were Jewish were the heirs of the promise 5. Romans 4 speaks of Abraham being the father of the faithful, because he was saved by faith and not by works [see Rom. 4] 6. Here it is referring to those who respond in faith Page 3 of 8
E. Romans 11:25-29 1. What is Paul saying about the future? 2. He starts out calling this question a mystery, that is one we couldn t know before 3. That mystery is the church and its role in God s redemptive plan 4. Notice that the promises to Israel are referred to as irrevocable 5. Israel will be saved when her Messiah comes back for the second time III. What is the result of Replacement theology? A. Anti Semitism 1. If the church is now Israel, there is no need of or use for the Jewish people 2. They are no longer God s chosen people, the church is B. An adherence to the law 1. The Law was fulfilled by Christ 2. It is no longer our guardian [see Gal. 3:21-25] 3. Then what do we do with the law? 4. The law can be divided into four parts: a. the governmental law b. the religious law c. the moral law, and d. the relational law 5. Governmental Law a. Examples: (1) Judges Page 4 of 8
(2) Two witnesses for capital crime (3) Capital punishment Stoning (4) The year of Jubilee (5) The cities of refuge and the avenger of blood b. We do not follow because we are not living in the nation for which this law was prescribed c. However, this is a good model or example for our governmental law if we can have input 6. Religious Law a. Example: (1) The Sabbath (2) The Sacrifices (3) The Tabernacle/Temple (4) The Priests (5) The Tithe b. The religious system was established for the Jewish dispensation c. But we can still learn from this law d. And more importantly, understand that these laws foreshadowed many of the events that key parts of God s plan 7. The Moral Law a. Examples: (1) Thou shalt not murder (2) Thou shalt not commit adultery Page 5 of 8
(3) Thou shalt not bear false witness (4) Thou shalt not covet (5) Thou shalt not steal b. The righteousness of God does not change c. The moral law was a guidepost for all as to what the righteousness of God was d. And then showed how to emulate that righteousness e. Even though we are in a different dispensation, our call to holiness is no different to the call to say Job, David or Daniel 8. Relational Law a. Examples: (1) Love the Lord your God (2) Don t use His name in vain (3) Don t worship other gods (4) Love your neighbor b. This law should still guide us c. It teaches us how to relate to God, our Father, Friend and Master 9. Consider for a moment the Ten Commandments a. Four are relational b. One is religious c. Five are moral d. Of all of these commandments, which were not spoken of by Jesus as controlling or still in effect Page 6 of 8
(1) the one religious (2) honor the Sabbath C. That then brings us to the feasts and festivals that God instituted for the nation of Israel 1. Are we to follow them strictly and observe them on their schedule? 2. We may not follow their schedule because we don t know for sure 3. Then why study them 4. They help us to: a. Understand God and what He values b. Determine why God did some of the things that He did c. Understand how to worship our Lord d. Learn what He is going to do, in other words I believe that they are prophetic in nature IV. The blessings of Israel A. Israel gave us our Scriptures 1. They also meticulously copied them for us 2. And they fought to preserve them for us B. Israel gave us our Messiah 1. Our salvation comes through Israel 2. It was a Jew who died for me 3. And it was a Jew whose free gift of salvation I accepted 4. And it is a Jew whose name I bear, when I am called Christian C. Israel gives us great hope Page 7 of 8
1. God will restore Israel for His name sake 2. If He keep His promises to Israel He will to us also D. The Jews are still God s chosen people 1. He loves them 2. We should also 3. Blessings will come to us as a result of that Page 8 of 8