This is my final installment on a brief series of the role of Israel in the Bible and theology. I am responding to the Judeo-centric theology of dispensationalism. Please read the three preceding articles to understand the flow of my argument. I now move on to note that:

9. The new covenant church is actually called “Israel”

Dispensationalists strongly resist the application of “Israel” to the church, asserting that “the Scriptures never use the term Israel to refer to any but the natural descendants of Jacob” [1] But if according to the New Scofield Reference Bible Abraham can have Gentiles as his “spiritual seed,” [2] why may we not envision a spiritual Israel?

In fact, Paul applies the name “Israel” to Christians when he writes: “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16). Here he is referring to Christians as “the Israel of God.” In the Greek the “and “preceding “the Israel of God,” functions epexegetically. That is, we should translate the verse “peace and mercy upon them, that is, upon the Israel of God.” Thus, according to Paul “as many as walk according to this rule [Christian faith]” are the “Israel of God.”

Dispensationalists see Galatians 6:16 as applying to Jewish converts to Christ, “who would not oppose the apostle’s glorious message of salvation.” [3] But such is surely not the case, for the following reasons. The entire epistle of Galatians opposes any claim to a special Jewish status or distinction: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26–28).

So here Paul declares that in the new covenant Christ does away with all ethnic distinctions. Why would he hold out a special word for Jewish Christians as “the Israel of God,” when he states immediately beforehand that we must not boast at all, save in the cross of Christ (Gal 6:14)? In fact, “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation” (Gal 6:15). Elsewhere, Paul can even speak of an uncircumcised Gentile as “a Jew who is one inwardly” whose “circumcision is that which is of the heart” (Rom 2:28–29).

Tongues-speaking: Meaning, Purpose, and Cessation

by Ken Gentry

The position presented within is that tongues-speaking allowed the gift person to speak in a known human language without previously knowing it; tongues brought inspired revelation from God; the gift was a sign confirming the apostolic witness and warning of the coming destruction of Jerusalem; and therefore the gift ceased in the first century.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

10. The new covenant removes all ethnic distinctions

In several places Paul drives home the point that the days of ethnic distinction in God’s kingdom are over with. “There is neither Jew nor Greek . . . for you are all one in Christ” (Gal 3:28). “There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised” (Col 3:11). “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him” (Rom 10:12). This principle of “neither Jew nor Greek” explains why the Old Testament promises and prophecies can apply to Gentile Christians and the pan-ethnic new covenant church. It also explains why we should not re-impose ethnic distinctions in our doctrine of the church.

Conclusion

Old Testament Israel was long the special, singular people of God. Dispensationalism is built on the view that she remains God’s special people and will one day come again to prominence in God’s dealings with man. In fact, the system is firmly rooted in the notion that Israel and the church must remain distinct. We have seen, though, that the Old Testament expected the expansion of Israel and that the New Testament speaks repeatedly of that expansion in such a way that we may see that the church is the new Israel.

NOTES

1. Charles L. Feinberg, Millennialism: The Two Major Views (3rd ed. Chicago: Moody, 1980), 230. “The term Israel is nowhere used in the Scriptures for any but the physical descendants of Abraham.” Pentecost, Things to Come, 127.

2. New Scofield Reference Bible, 1223 (at Rom 9:6).

3. New Scofield Reference Bible, 1223.

The Truth about Postmillennialism
By Ken Gentry

A group Bible study guide for explaining the optimistic prophetic hope for this world to be accomplished before Christ’s Second Coming. Establishes the postmillennial system in both the Old and New Testaments. Touches on key eschatological issues, such as creation, covenant, interpretive methodolgy, the great tribulation, the Book of Revelation, the Jewish Temple, and more. It presents and answers the leading objections to postmillennialism.Twelve chapters are ideal for one quarter of Sunday School.

See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com