Eschatology Part 4 (Dispensationalism Discussed)
Now that things have calmed down, I’m ready to return to our study of Eschatology. You will remember from last time that there were two claims that I suggested could be found biblically. I also said that if either of these were true then we must reject the Dispensational Premillennialist position. Here are the two claims:
A) There is One People of God – Not Two.
B) The NT Authors interpret prophecies regarding
Even though this post is long, we cannot begin to even scratch the surface of passages that relate to this topic. However, I’ve chosen a few powerful passages that I believe serve to illumine this discussion.
Consider the words of Paul to the Ephesian church:
Chapter 2
11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the
Notice what is happening here. The Gentiles had a big problem. There was a huge dividing wall between the Gentiles and
Consider in Romans 11 where Paul says the following:
24For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Notice what happens here. There are not two trees. There is one olive tree; there is one people of God. The unbelieving Jews (that is, those who are not part of the remnant) were cut out and believing gentiles were grafted in. Reformed Scholars (actually, All non-dispensational Christians) would believe that the people of God throughout time make up the church.
Now, this point could be belabored for seven more posts (and yes, I picked 7 for our Dispensational friends that seem to like to divide everything into that number). We could examine Romans 2 that talks about real circumcision (cf. Phil 3:3), the significance of “my people” in Romans 9, or the huge importance of the Church being of the seed of Abraham in Gal 3:29. However, I do want to spend a little time to ask whether the NT authors seemed to believe that (at least some of) the prophecies for
Consider Jeremiah 31:31-34 (side note: Bible verse numbers are not inspired, but I always think it is cool when it happens to be that numbers are easy to remember, e.g. Jer. 31:31):
31"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Who is this covenant to be with? Indeed, the house of
The last passage of import (that we have room for!) is 1 Peter 2:4-10:
4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." … 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
You might notice that these are all OT allusions to the people of
In conclusion, consider the words of Sam Storms:
In the Old Testament,
In Christ alone,
mike
posted by Mike | 4:21 PM
5 Comments:
I remember seeing these things in scripture as well, and I am convinced God has one people and that OT prophecies were fulfilled by the Church.
I also believe we should not go to the opposite extreme. While one of my problems with dispensationalists who hold that the Church is a paranthetical entity, those who hold that the Church replaced Israel are equally guilty of saying God has a plan B.
I prefer to view it this way--God has always had one people--If there is no direct connection between Israel & the Church, then who was/were God's people before Israel?
(Israel was a new name given Jacob-his 12 sons' descendants became the nation of Israel--but even going back to Abraham--well what about pre-Abraham?
God has always had one continuous people--tha outward form may change--but they're still God's people. No plan B/replacement.
I agree.
To borrow from a title of an article: Not Replacement - Expansion!
The Church is not God's Plan B, but rather God has had one people for all time. In the past it was largely the Remnant of Israel, but in this present era we have seen huge expansion as the Gospel reaches to the ends of the world.
In Christ alone,
mike
"God is a polygamist." Funny. What about Ezekiel 23? Not that this text has anything to do with the discussion.
Matthew 16 seems to point out the church is something new.
I don't know. I think that I fall somewhere in between Covenant and traditional Dispensationalism.
Funny that you should bring up Eze 23. When I was writing the post I thought to myself, "With my luck somebody will bring up some obscure passage in the prophet's that I will have to explain!" Oh well. I'm going to leave it alone for the time being.
I think you are right about Matthew 16. There is something very new about the Church age. Pentecost definitely looks new and it does look like a foundation.
While there are a few references that refer to the church in the OT, I would generally like to phrase it like this:
There have always been One People of God -- Namely Spiritual Israel which is identified most closely with the Remnant of Israel (in the OT) and with the Church (in the NT).
I'm not sure how clear that sounds. I may have to come back later and state that a little more clearly.
And finally, there are many people who cannot be clearly identified (myself included!). I might describe myself as just beyond Progressive Dispensationalism but not entirely to Covenant Theology. John Piper finds himself somewhere between the two as well (I figured I'd just list Calvinists in my ever continuing hope for you to accept the doctrines of grace :) ).
God Bless.
P.S. I should note that I felt like I had to cover dispensationalism broadly to look at the more complete reason for my disagreement with Dispensational Premillennialsm. This should not be thought of as a thorough approach to debunking dispensationalism in the slightest.
In Christ alone,
mike
Mike,
Very good article on Dispensationalism. I am still confused, though, as to what actually makes up 'Progressive" Dispensationalism. We were visiting a church late last year that called themselves Progessive, or leaky, Dispensationalists. And that sounded good, until I listened to the Pastor on their web site as he taught the book of Ezekiel...it sounded like full blown DIspensationalism to me. He was talking about a new temple being built during the 1000 year millenium, and Christ being there in the temple, and people coming to offer sacrifices as the OT system would be re-enacted!
What absurdity! That Christ, the once-for-all satisfaction of God's wrath, would reside in a temple and oversee the reinstitution of types and shadows!
Anyway, I liked your series here. One thing I find interesting is how Paul says in Romans, quoting from Isaiah, "Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, 'I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.'" - ESV
The Gentiles not only were NOT seeking God or Christ, that had no interest whatsoever in the things of the Creator. Yet it pleased God to bring both groups into one (Jews and Gentiles)...His one plan all along.
Post a Comment
<< Home