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I totally agree Gentiles did not replace Israel. Couldn't agree more!
Israel's promises were not spiritualised and experienced instead by the Church.
But neither were Israel's promises postponed until a future time.
All of the Promises which Israel were custodians of, were fulfilled. That's the very claim of the GOSPEL.
I totally agree Gentiles were grafted into those promises WITHOUT replacing the natural branches (Jews).
Yes they were grafted into a New Covenant which God made WITH ISRAEL FIRST.
But the Gentiles weren't grafted into Judaism - they were grafted-in to GOD, by means of the New Covenant - not into the Old Covenant.
The Old Covenant wasn't potent to graft Gentiles in, because by its own terms it was mainly Jewish and in many points excluded Gentiles.
The purpose of the cross wasn't only to enable GENTILES to be grafted-in - the cross was necessary so JEWS also could inherit the Promise - because the Old Covenant was not potent to enable ANYONE not even Jews to inherit the Promise. We all needed something more.
The Promise had been given to Abraham before Israel was ever constituted as a nation - before Moses' Law was given to the nation. The Promise was for all nations - while Moses' Law (the Old Covenant) which came later was mainly only for Israel and was only temporary.
It was never God's intention to graft all nations into the Law - but it was God's intention that the Promise would be for ALL.
Both Israel and the Gentiles needed the cross - needed the New Covenant - before they could inherit the Promise, because of the Law's inability to deal with sin in the flesh.
"In thy seed (Christ) all families of the earth (without distinction) shall be blessed (justified)" Abraham was promised. Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see His day. Paul said God preached the Gospel ahead of time to Abraham. He foresaw the justification of the heathen through faith, without the Law. That's what the Promise was about!
The fact that the Promise was to be for all nations, pre-supposes that the Law (which came later) would be annulled - because the Law divided between Gentile and Jew - but the Promise made no distinction. The Promise was "in thy seed" - that is, simply in Christ.
The nation of Israel was only constituted a couple of generations after the Promise was given. They were given a Law which was never intended to have the same direct, literal, unequivocal relevance to Gentiles today. In that sense they were a stand-alone nation. They became the custodians of the Promise.
Besides that particular Promise which would be for all nations, Abraham was also given other promises concerning his natural descendants. The covenant of circumcision - which also came AFTER that Promise was spoken - was applicable to them - but not to Gentiles today. That Covenant was also later reiterated by the Law. But circumcision was not intended to continue to be a requirement for them either once the New Covenant would be made with them.
There was also a promise concerning the land. It was for Jews, not for Gentiles. But it too was conditional upon obedience.
Israel became the custodians of all of those Promises and Covenants - the first Promise was to be for all nations through JESUS - while other covenants which were given later were only for the Jews, and conditional upon obedience.
It basically meant Israel would have the privilege of being the first to receive JESUS - and the first to share Him, once the New Covenant came.
The Promise was to be obtained through FAITH - in Jesus - not through the Law. Gentiles were grafted into the same privilege that Jews had first - the privilege of inheriting that Promise. The Promise is salvation.
Jesus' three-and-a-half year ministry was indeed exclusively to the lost sheep of Israel - but His death on the cross - the New Covenant - the Blessing - would ultimately be for ALL NATIONS. Jesus' role was to introduce the New Covenant by fulfilling the Old Covenant - and then giving the Apostles a new, extended program for all nations.
So Israel after the flesh - and after the Law - is neither here nor there, with regard to the Promise. They were only custodians. Unworthy ones, often. The Law was only temporary. Even they themselves could miss out on the Promise, if they didn't believe - if they thought righteousness could be obtained through the Law.
Aside from Christ, Jews and Gentiles ended-up on a level playing field - convicted sinners, each in need of Jesus.
Gentile believers don't get grafted from one fallen nation into another - they got grafted into Christ - into God - into Abraham's main, first Promise - without the Law.
I totally agree Gentiles did not replace Israel. Couldn't agree more!
Israel's promises were not spiritualised and experienced instead by the Church.
But neither were Israel's promises postponed until a future time.
All of the Promises which Israel were custodians of, were fulfilled. That's the very claim of the GOSPEL.
I totally agree Gentiles were grafted into those promises WITHOUT replacing the natural branches (Jews).
Yes they were grafted into a New Covenant which God made WITH ISRAEL FIRST.
But the Gentiles weren't grafted into Judaism - they were grafted-in to GOD, by means of the New Covenant - not into the Old Covenant.
The Old Covenant wasn't potent to graft Gentiles in, because by its own terms it was mainly Jewish and in many points excluded Gentiles.
The purpose of the cross wasn't only to enable GENTILES to be grafted-in - the cross was necessary so JEWS also could inherit the Promise - because the Old Covenant was not potent to enable ANYONE not even Jews to inherit the Promise. We all needed something more.
The Promise had been given to Abraham before Israel was ever constituted as a nation - before Moses' Law was given to the nation. The Promise was for all nations - while Moses' Law (the Old Covenant) which came later was mainly only for Israel and was only temporary.
It was never God's intention to graft all nations into the Law - but it was God's intention that the Promise would be for ALL.
Both Israel and the Gentiles needed the cross - needed the New Covenant - before they could inherit the Promise, because of the Law's inability to deal with sin in the flesh.
"In thy seed (Christ) all families of the earth (without distinction) shall be blessed (justified)" Abraham was promised. Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see His day. Paul said God preached the Gospel ahead of time to Abraham. He foresaw the justification of the heathen through faith, without the Law. That's what the Promise was about!
The fact that the Promise was to be for all nations, pre-supposes that the Law (which came later) would be annulled - because the Law divided between Gentile and Jew - but the Promise made no distinction. The Promise was "in thy seed" - that is, simply in Christ.
The nation of Israel was only constituted a couple of generations after the Promise was given. They were given a Law which was never intended to have the same direct, literal, unequivocal relevance to Gentiles today. In that sense they were a stand-alone nation. They became the custodians of the Promise.
Besides that particular Promise which would be for all nations, Abraham was also given other promises concerning his natural descendants. The covenant of circumcision - which also came AFTER that Promise was spoken - was applicable to them - but not to Gentiles today. That Covenant was also later reiterated by the Law. But circumcision was not intended to continue to be a requirement for them either once the New Covenant would be made with them.
There was also a promise concerning the land. It was for Jews, not for Gentiles. But it too was conditional upon obedience.
Israel became the custodians of all of those Promises and Covenants - the first Promise was to be for all nations through JESUS - while other covenants which were given later were only for the Jews, and conditional upon obedience.
It basically meant Israel would have the privilege of being the first to receive JESUS - and the first to share Him, once the New Covenant came.
The Promise was to be obtained through FAITH - in Jesus - not through the Law. Gentiles were grafted into the same privilege that Jews had first - the privilege of inheriting that Promise. The Promise is salvation.
Jesus' three-and-a-half year ministry was indeed exclusively to the lost sheep of Israel - but His death on the cross - the New Covenant - the Blessing - would ultimately be for ALL NATIONS. Jesus' role was to introduce the New Covenant by fulfilling the Old Covenant - and then giving the Apostles a new, extended program for all nations.
So Israel after the flesh - and after the Law - is neither here nor there, with regard to the Promise. They were only custodians. Unworthy ones, often. The Law was only temporary. Even they themselves could miss out on the Promise, if they didn't believe - if they thought righteousness could be obtained through the Law.
Aside from Christ, Jews and Gentiles ended-up on a level playing field - convicted sinners, each in need of Jesus.
Gentile believers don't get grafted from one fallen nation into another - they got grafted into Christ - into God - into Abraham's main, first Promise - without the Law.
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