{"id":18942,"date":"2017-02-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-26T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sugar-land-bible-church.local\/sermon\/replacement-theology-part-3\/"},"modified":"2023-08-03T08:47:07","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T13:47:07","slug":"replacement-theology-part-3","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/slbc.org\/es\/sermon\/replacement-theology-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Replacement Theology – Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","book":[89],"series_event":[562],"sermon_service_type":[472],"speaker":[450],"class_list":["post-18942","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","hentry","book-acts","series_event-topical-morris","sermon_service_type-main-service","speaker-gabe-morris","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":{"sermon_title":"Replacement Theology - Part 3","sermon_date":"20170226","sermon_month":"02","sermon_year":"2017","sermon_notes":"","sermon_slides":4417,"sermon_mp3":4419,"sermon_id":"226171024355","series_or_event":562,"service_type":[472],"speaker":450,"books_of_the_bible":89,"chapter_and_verse":"11:15-16","sermon_transcript":"SUGAR LAND BIBLE CHURCH\r\n\r\nGabe Morris\r\n\r\nReplacement Theology, Part 3\u00a0 Acts 11:15-16\r\n\r\n2-26-17\r\n\r\nGood morning.\u00a0 Believe it or not the hardest part of this is getting from there to here.\u00a0\u00a0 I want to thank, first God, for giving me another opportunity to teach His Word to you, allowing me to continue this series.\u00a0 Did you guys hear Andy\u2019s Steeling the Mind session; it was great.\u00a0 You guys should tune in.\u00a0 Did he teach this morning\u2026\r\n\r\nThe title of this sermon is Replacement Theology, What We Should Know, Part 3.\u00a0 Before we start can we pray?\u00a0 Father God we acknowledge You as God Almighty and we just want to praise You; we want to praise\u00a0 You because are the maker of heaven and earth and we commit this time to You, Father, use me as You see fit and it\u2019s in Christ\u2019s name we pray, Amen.\r\n\r\nIn prior sessions together we went to great lengths to lay a foundation in regard to replacement theology.\u00a0 We attempted to trace the line of replacement theology throughout church history.\u00a0 We asked and answered many questions, like what is replacement theology?\u00a0 And we established that it is\u2026 also it\u2019s known as supersessionism, fulfillment theology, and it\u2019s the idea that Israel, because of her rejection of her Messiah, has been essentially disowned by God, therefore forfeiting all of her promises, her covenantal promises, only to be superseded by the church.\u00a0 And according to replacement theology the church now becomes true Israel and the church fulfills the role of Israel, thus applying all her promises.\u00a0 And we also asked when did replacement theology show up, we went all the way back in church history and found that the concepts therein never really showed up until the mid-second century.\r\n\r\nWe discovered that the formulation and the rise of this doctrine was really a mixture of things, a series of historical events that happened with both the church and Israel, things like a separate relationship between the Jewish community and the church, a new and growing Gentile church [can't understand word].\u00a0 And because of this relationship, this strained relationship, the Gentile church began to perceive and interpret Scripture with an anti-Semitic bias or lens; mix that up with Greek philosophy and you get allegorizing of Scripture and the rise of allegorizing of Scripture is what essentially solidified these ideas within the church.\r\n\r\nWe also learned the rise of certain historical figures, Constantine, which opened the flood gates of a dominant Gentile and anti-Semitic church.\u00a0 It\u2019s been said when Constantine came into power the kingdom was here, the earth was Christianized and we are living in the kingdom now.\u00a0 And this also propelled the idea of replacement theology.\u00a0 We briefly talked about the idea of amillennialism, when there is no coming kingdom, rather it\u2019s here now and in our midst.\u00a0 And I\u2019m glad that Pastor Andy is starting a series on The Coming Kingdom which dispels this idea, he will, eventually dispel this idea of amillennialism and set the record straight.\r\n\r\nWe also looked at the effects of replacement theology on the Jewish people which was continual persecution and oppression and all throughout history post Israel, the Jews, in some way or some form to some degree, by many of the world power\u2019s tyrants and figures have been persecuted and oppressed and harassed, even to this day.\u00a0 And there is no nation I know of in the history of nations that has ever been bullied around like Israel has.\r\n\r\nWe learned how dangerous replacement can be and how it affected the church and what it brought into the church through is doctrine, through its practices, through art, and things of that nature.\u00a0 It affected how the church viewed Israel and treated Israel and the evangelical church since then, since the second century, has an ugly and embarrassing past in regards to her relationship with the Jew.\r\n\r\nReplacement theology can also shift and derail the role of the church, the function of the church.\u00a0 Beyond that we also discovered that the theology affects the church\u2019s eschatology, the view of the end times.\u00a0 And this doctrine is deeply entrenched in the church today and has far reaching implications affecting not only the church but government policy, as we have seen with the prior administration.\u00a0 But thank God for new administrations, right?\u00a0 Thank God that He is in control.\r\n\r\nSo the first two sessions we kind of zoomed out and saw things from a birds eye view of replacement theology.\u00a0 Today in part 3 we\u2019ll continue in this vein and kind of zoom in, get a little bit closer and try to answer the question, does the Bible support replacement theology.\u00a0 And to lay the groundwork for this session we really have to understand what we\u2019re dealing with, who and what we\u2019re dealing with here.\r\n\r\nTo answer the who question we\u2019re dealing with family here, truly we\u2019re dealing with our brothers and sisters in Christ.\u00a0 And we\u2019re dealing with brothers and sister who hold to a train of through on the very opposite end of the theological spectrum.\u00a0 And in fact, there could be people in this room or listening via the website and online that has those view; in fact, I know there is.\u00a0 So this is an in-house discussion, an in-house debate, family debate.\u00a0 But at the end of the day we\u2019re all saved, amen!\u00a0 And so I think it\u2019s only fitting that before we dig into this no matter what theological persuasion you may have we check our pride and leave it at the door as we approach this topic, and do so in love, amen!\r\n\r\nSo to answer the what question we\u2019re wrestling with an idea that I believe, as we have learned, that\u2019s plagued the church since its inception, the idea that the church has replaced or fulfilled or superseded national Israel.\u00a0 And surely if replacement theologians say that this is the case then we should find ample evidence of this idea represented in Scripture.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 So my goal for today is not to attack but to both reference their scholars from both camps and more importantly go to Scripture and really see what the Bible says about this idea of the church and Israel because this is what we\u2019re dealing with here; the church, the idea that the church has replaced Israel.\u00a0 Does the Bible support this idea of a covenant-keeping God replacing the apple of His eye, Israel?\r\n\r\nThere are two competing views in this equation; there are those that hold to a dispensational theology and then there are those to a perspective called covenant theology.\u00a0 You can also call it Reformed theology.\u00a0 Covenant theologians, by and large, hold to the doctrine of replacement theology or fulfillment theology. So very briefly here\u2019s a helpful chart that delineates distinctives of both covenant theology and dispensational theology.\u00a0 You are in a dispensational church, by the way, and you will notice all the major portions to the left, or positions I should say, to the left and beliefs to the right of both the covenant and dispensational theology.\u00a0 The hermeneutic, that\u2019s just a fancy way of saying the art and science of Bible interpretation of the covenant theologian is a partial allegorical one where as the hermeneutic of the\u00a0 dispensational theologian is a normal, literal interpretation.\u00a0 That\u2019s not to say the covenant theologian doesn\u2019t use literal interpretation, by and large they use allegorical interpretation for things like prophecy, and eschatology.\r\n\r\nConcerning the purpose of God, unlike covenant theologians we view God\u2019s underlying purpose in the world as\u2026 let me rephrase that, covenant theologians view the purpose of God as soteriological or salvific, and the dispensationalist believes that the purpose of God is doxological meaning that God is at work in the world today for His glory and His glory alone, that God\u2019s glory is the end game if I could say it that way.\u00a0 His purposes can\u2019t be soteriological, that\u2019s not to take anything away from salvation or soteriology but who gets the glory when the unbeliever is saved?\u00a0 God does.\u00a0 Salvation is a glorious thing but salvation is not the end game; His glory is.\r\n\r\nMoving down the church, how do the two camps view Israel and the church?\u00a0 In complete opposites, there\u2019s no distinction says the covenant theologian.\u00a0 In fact, the church takes her place and appropriates her role, Israel\u2019s role.\u00a0 And notice, if you will, the top three tiers, Hermeneutic, Purpose of God, and Israel and the Church.\u00a0 This is what is known by dispensationalists as the sine qua non of dispensationalism.\u00a0 In other words, these three positions are the trademark of a genuine dispensationalism; they go hand in hand.\r\n\r\nThis is what Ryrie said concerning the sine qua non: \u201c The essence of dispensationalism is the distinction between Israel and the church. This grows out of the consistent employment of normal or plain or historical-grammatical interpretation, and it reflects an understanding of the basic purpose of God and that is glorifying Himself\u201d at the end game here. Feel free to review the chart on your own but I just wanted to show a stark contrast of the two camps and get an idea of what we\u2019re up against, an opposite of systems.\u00a0 More of the modern and prominent covenant theologians today would include such people as Louis Berkhof, Charles Hodge, Kenneth Gentry, John Stott, R. C. Sproul, Sr. and Jr. and many more covenant theologians.\r\n\r\nNow let\u2019s zoom in a little closer.\u00a0 Why do replacement theologians believe that the church has replaced Israel, or has no distinction?\u00a0 Why do they believe that?\u00a0 And where do they get this idea that the church has superseded or fulfilled the role of Israel?\u00a0 And again surely if that\u2019s the case the Bible would have a handful of evidence, of text, or passages that would explain that.\u00a0 Or even God\u2019s decree that God has inaugurated this transformation of Israel to the church.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 But that\u2019s not the case; I don\u2019t believe the Bible makes such declaration.\u00a0 And I know I mentioned to a few of you that we were going to engage Galatians 6:16, Romans 9:26 and we will, but I think patience at this point in our study will benefit us.\u00a0 But I think patience [Galatians 6:16, \u201cAnd those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.\u201d\u00a0 Romans 9:26, \u201cAnd it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There they will be called \u2018sons of the living God.\u2019\u201d]\u00a0 I believe I would be doing you a disservice if we did not settle the issue of biblical distinction between Israel and the church.\r\n\r\nOn the top there, William Cox, an amillennialist said \u201c\u2018The terms Israel and the church in the Bible can be used \u2018interchangeably.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 On the bottom, a man named Kenneth Gentry said this: \u201c \u201c\u2026we believe in the unfolding plan of God in history, the Christian Church is the very fruition of the redemptive purposes of God. As such, the multi-racial, international Church of Jesus Christ supersedes racial, national Israel as the focus of the kingdom of God. Indeed, we believe the church becomes \u2018the Israel of God\u2019<\/em>\u201d and then he references Galatians 6:16, \u00a0(Italics mine).\r\n\r\nNow allow me to challenge these ideas and show from Scripture that the Bible does\u2026 the Bible DOES distinguish Israel from the church.\u00a0 And the following, I believe, are five of the strongest Scriptural evidences that prove the distinction between Israel and the church.\u00a0 So here we go.\u00a0 The first biblical evidence for the distinction of Israel and the church is that the church was born at Pentecost\u2026 the church was born at Pentecost!\u00a0 In contrast, Israel came from a man called Abram.\u00a0 The very first reference of the term \u201cchurch\u201d or ekklesia<\/em> in the Greek, ever found in the Bible is Matthew 16:18, [\u201cI also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.\u201d]\r\n\r\nHowever, you notice that when Christ uses this term, Christ\u00a0 uses the term church, He uses it in a future tense, \u201cI will build My church.\u201d\u00a0 Many of you are familiar with that verse.\u00a0 Here the church is prophesied; the Bible actually records the birth of the church in Acts 2 and it\u2019s a beautiful account of the twelve apostles, Matthias being the new guy, on the day of Pentecost.\u00a0 They obeyed Jesus and stayed in Jerusalem and waited for the Holy Spirit who was to come upon them, and as the story goes the Holy Spirit fell upon them like a rushing wind and they began to speak in other languages.\u00a0 And on that day Scripture says three thousand souls were saved, Acts 2:4, [Acts 2:4, \u201cAnd they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.\u201d]\r\n\r\nIt also says the Lord was adding to their number day by day.\u00a0 That was in Acts 2:47.\u00a0 [\u201cpraising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.\u201d]\u00a0 So Christ was already at work fulfilling His promises of building His church.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t He say \u201cI will build My church.\u201d\u00a0 He said that in Matthew\u00a0 16:18.\u00a0 [Matthew 16:18, \u201cI also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.\u201d]\r\n\r\nIn contrast, when did the nation of Israel begin?\u00a0 It began with one man, Abram, in Genesis 12:1-3.\u00a0 God declares to Abraham a handful of beautiful promises, one of them being a great nation.\r\n\r\n[Genesis 12 1, \u201cNow the LORD said to Abram, \"Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; [2] And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;\u00a0 [3] And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.\u00a0 And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.\u201d]\u00a0 This is even before the covenant of Abraham.\r\n\r\nLewis Sperry Chafer in his 18 volume Systematic Theology set said this about the Jewish people, \u201cBy the call of Abraham and all that Jehovah wrought in him, a new race of stock was begun which, under unalterable divine covenants and promises, continues forever.\u201d\r\n\r\nHe goes on to say, \u201cSo different is this race as to distinctive characteristics that all other people are antipodal\u201d meaning diametrically opposite to distinction.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c\u2026 they are classified as \u2018the Gentiles\u2019 or \u2018the nations\u2019 as in dissimilarity to the Jewish nation\u201d\r\n\r\nSo Israel has existed in the days of Genesis, coming forth from a man named Abraham, and in contrast the church came forth on the day of Pentecost, well over two thousand years removed from Israel.\u00a0 The church is also called the body of Christ, we\u2019ll talk more about that later, but once the church was born entrance into this body was subject to extreme vetting, imagine that, meaning not all could come but only through a spirit baptism.\u00a0 1 Corinthians 12:13 says that.\r\n\r\n[1 Corinthians 12:13, \u201cFor by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.\u201d]\r\n\r\nJesus called it being born again or being born of the Spirit.\u00a0 John 3:3.\u00a0 [John 3:3, \u201cJesus answered and said to him, \u2018Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 And one condition triggered it\u2026 one condition alone, and that\u2019s faith alone in Christ alone!\r\n\r\nAnd on that note when did the Spirit baptism into Christ\u2019s body actually begin?\u00a0 In Acts 1:5 Jesus said, \u201cfor John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\u201d\u00a0 This is Jesus speaking.\r\n\r\nThen during the birth of the church, in Acts 2, look what Luke says:\u00a0 \u201cAnd they were all filled with the Holy Spirit\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 The birth of the church was at Pentecost.\u00a0 Well some say okay, Luke doesn\u2019t use the term spirit baptism there in Acts 2:4, he uses the term filled with the Holy Spirit.\r\n\r\nWell, Luke actually confirms this Spirit baptism all the way in Acts 11:15-16 which was our opening verse. Luke records Peter saying this: \u201cAnd as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.\u201d\u00a0 What beginning?\u00a0 The beginning of the church in Acts 2.\u00a0 Verse 16 says, \u201cAnd I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say,\u201d now he\u2019s referencing Christ statement in Acts 1:5, \u201c\u2018John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.\u2019\u201d\u00a0 Spirit baptism!\r\n\r\nIn contrast membership to the Jewish nation was by birth.\u00a0 Membership required being descended from the loins of Abraham, or you could become an Israelite by conversion to the nation, also known as a proselyte.\u00a0 Yet the replacement theologian or supersessionist or the fulfillment theologian claims that the church and Israel have no distinction and that the church has always existed.\u00a0 I cannot agree with that statement given the biblical evidence, because of the glaring difference of over 2,000 years between the two entities.\u00a0 The Bible doesn\u2019t support that view.\u00a0 The Bible teaches that the church was born at Pentecost while the nation was wrought from a man named Abram in Genesis 12.\r\n\r\nThe second evidence for the distinction of Israel and the church is this: certain events of Christ were essential to the establishment of the church, namely the resurrection and the ascension.\r\n\r\nRegarding the resurrection, Ephesians 1:2-23 says this: \u201cwhich He\u201d who\u2019s \u201cHe\u201d?\u00a0 That\u2019s God the Father, \u201cbrought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,<\/em> [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 In other words, the church would not exist or be functional if it were not for the resurrection of Christ.\u00a0 It was necessary for this future entity.\r\n\r\nAnd what about the ascension?\u00a0 In John 14:12 Jesus says something very interesting to His disciples and I believe what Jesus was doing in this statement, in John 14:12, \u201cHe was looking forward to His own church.\u00a0 How do I know that?\u00a0 Well, the reference is in John 14 and this is a pop quiz for all you Bible students, what is happening in John 14, particularly between chapters 13 and 17?\u00a0 The Upper Room Discourse.\u00a0 From what we learn in the book of John, that the Upper Room Discourse Jesus reveals seed form truths about His building project, called the church.\r\n\r\nSo regarding Christ\u2019s ascension in John 14:12 Jesus says this, \u201cTruly, truly,\u201d notice those words, \u201cI say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019s speaking of the ascension here, \u201cbecause I go to the Father.\u201d\u00a0 Notice the term \u201cbecause.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s the Greek word hoti<\/em>, The BDAG calls it the marker of causality.\u00a0 If I could say it another way Jesus was saying to the apostles, who were the foundations of His church, you will not have the ability to perform greater works than Me if I do not go back to My Father.\u00a0 So this power of doing greater works, also known as the Holy Spirit in us, could only be manifest after the ascension of Christ.\u00a0 These two events, the resurrection and the ascension were essential for the establishment of the church.\r\n\r\nIn contrast, what certain events were essential to the establishment of the nation of Israel?\u00a0 The Bible says it hinged on the faith and the obedience of one man, Genesis 12:1 says this: \u201cNow the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; [2] And I will make you a great nation\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 So prior to God\u2019s calling Abraham, Genesis revealed that there was one division of people on the earth, just one.\u00a0 Genesis 11:1 says, \u201cNow the whole earth used the same language and the same words.\u201d\u00a0 God Himself called them one people with the same language.\r\n\r\nIn Genesis 11:6, if you read further\u00a0 you\u2019ll learn the account of the tower of Babel.\u00a0 Andy is going through a study of the coming kingdom on Wednesday nights, I just put his face up there for a plug, and it\u2019s called The Coming Kingdom.\u00a0 And I encourage you to go, it\u2019s a great study.\u00a0 But in Andy\u2019s book he refers to a historian, Alexander Hislop and in Hislop\u2019s research he discovered that there was one world political, economic and religious system going on there in Genesis 11, headed up by a man named Nimrod.\r\n\r\nAnd that religious system was called the mother\/child cult.\u00a0 This slide is probably familiar to some of you.\r\n\r\nAnd since God knows what absolute power given to a single person can do or can result in, absolute corruption, what did God do?\u00a0 He halted this building project dead in its tracks by confusing their language.\u00a0 And once God did that Hislop said each people group, when the people scattered they couldn\u2019t\u00a0 understand each other, each people group took a portion or baggage of his religious system wherever they went.\u00a0 It\u2019s an amazing study.\r\n\r\nAnd as you can see, the image to your right is an actual illustration from Hislop\u2019s book depicting two examples of this mother-child cult system.\u00a0\u00a0 The one on the left is Babylon and the one on the right is India.\r\n\r\nAnd so as each people group, with their new language, separated in each direction they brought along this baggage, this religious system.\u00a0 And then God calls this man, this one man, out of the Chaldeans, Genesis 12:1, from Ur of the Chaldeans.\u00a0 There\u2019s Ur of the Chaldeans, and He called him out.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [Genesis 12:1, \u201cNow the LORD said to Abram, \u2018Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;\u2019\u201d] Abraham believes God and walks with God from this journey he realizes that God has a very special calling on his life, namely to be the forbearer of this nation called Israel.\r\n\r\nNow why am I saying this?\u00a0 Because we\u2019re talking about two entirely different entities here in regards to the church and Israel.\u00a0 This is a huge distinction that separates the two, the establishment of the church and the establishment of Israel.\r\n\r\nThis brings us to the third evidence; the third evidence that distinguishes the church from Israel and that\u2019s the mystery character of the church.\u00a0 What is a mystery?\u00a0 The Greek calls this mystery musterion<\/em>.\u00a0 It\u2019s a divine truth that was hidden and not revealed in the Old Testament (that\u2019s what a mystery is) later to be revealed in the New.\u00a0 What\u2019s an example of a mystery?\u00a0 Can we turn to Colossians 2:2-3; Colossians 2 tells us that the mystery of God is Christ Jesus. In Colossians 2:1-3 Paul is speaking, he says: \u2018For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining<\/em> to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding,\u201d here it is, \u201cresulting<\/em> in a true knowledge of God\u2019s mystery, that is,<\/em> Christ Himself,<\/em> [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\u201d\r\n\r\nSo how is Christ God\u2019s mystery?\u00a0 Was He not God revealed to man?\u00a0 Did Jesus not say those who have seen Me have seen the Father?\u00a0 Did Jesus not equate Himself to God by using the title \u201cI AM,\u201d it got the religious leaders furious.\u00a0 What are these?\u00a0 These are mysteries.\u00a0 Now a review, and why is the church so distinct from Israel?\u00a0 Because of the mystery of the character of the church. There are at least four defining mysteries of the church and let me go through them.\r\n\r\nThe first one is the indwelling of Christ, the mystery of the indwelling of Christ in every believer.\u00a0 This is the Christ concept in you, or I should say the Christ in you concept.\u00a0 Colossians 1:24-27 reads, \u201cNow I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ\u2019s afflictions. [24] Of this church<\/em> I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of<\/em> the word of God, [26] that is,<\/em> the mystery which has been hidden from the past<\/em> ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, [27] to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.\u201d\u00a0 This \u201cChrist in you\u201d concept is a very technical term Paul uses.\u00a0 He uses it throughout the book of Colossians, he uses \u201cin Him\u201d \u201cburied with Him,\u201d \u201calive with Him,\u201d \u201cyour life is hidden with Him,\u201d \u201cin Him,\u201d \u201cin Christ.\u201d\u00a0 Very technical.\u00a0 He says Christ in all, \u201cChrist is all in all.\u201d\r\n\r\nNow how is that a contract?\u00a0 The church according to this verse has an exclusive benefit of God, of having now Christ permanently residing or indwelling in the hearts of believers.\u00a0 This is huge folks!\u00a0 In contrast Israel as a whole, as a entity was never given this benefit.\u00a0 In fact, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, not Christ, in the Old Testament was selective and temporary.\u00a0 The Spirit selectively came upon such Old Testament people like David, Joshua, Saul, and in regard to duration, for example God\u2019s favor left an individual like Saul, the Spirit left him\u2026 temporary, the Spirit could depart.\r\n\r\nAnd in regard to the New Testament church all believers are indwelt at the point of faith, permanently indwelt with both the Holy Spirit and Christ.\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 So much so the book of Ephesians uses a word like \u201csealed,\u201d guaranteed, indicating the permanency of this indwelling, the \u201cChrist in you\u201d concept.\r\n\r\nThe second defining mystery of the church is that the New Testament church is called the bride of Christ.\u00a0 This is Paul in Ephesians 5:22 and 23, Paul holds a brief marriage clinic to the Ephesians and he revealed a beautiful truth; He equates the relationship of Christ and His church with that of a married man and a woman.\u00a0 He says in verse 22, \u201cWives, be subject<\/em> to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being<\/em> the Savior of the body.\u201d\u00a0 This is a mystery.\u00a0 If\u00a0 you read the rest of the section\u00a0 you will see the beautiful comparison.\r\n\r\nIf you skip down to verse 31 he says this, \u201cFor this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.\u00a0 [32] This mystery is great;\u201d and then he says, \u201cbut I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.\u201d\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nYou know what?\u00a0 The Bible reveals striking resemblances of the Jewish wedding to that of the church and her relationship with Christ.\u00a0 We call it the Jewish wedding analogy.\u00a0 And as you see in this chart, there\u2019s striking similarities.\u00a0 The marriage covenant in the Jewish wedding was initiated by the groom, starting from the top, and initiated upon payment.\u00a0 Likewise Christian initiates a new covenant which was Christ\u2019s sacrificial death.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t His resurrection and blood ratify this new covenant?\u00a0 Moving down, look at number 2, the bride set apart exclusively to the groom in the Jewish marriage, and the church is positionally sanctified (sanctified means set apart), and it gives you the Scripture references, [1 Cor. 1:2; 6:9-11])\u00a0 How about number 5, the groom returns at an unknown time to retrieve the bride, that\u2019s an actual ancient Jewish marriage.\u00a0 My, that sounds like the rapture.\u00a0 The rapture is at an unknown time.\u00a0 This is an amazing truth when you compare the two.\u00a0 The Bible calls the church the bride of Christ a mystery.\r\n\r\nThis is Dr. Cornelius Venema, President and Professor of Mid America Reformed Seminary, also a writer of Ligoner Ministries, you guys are familiar with that ministry, a ministry founded by R. C. Sproul, also a Reformed and Covenant theologian.\u00a0 This is what Venema said in his article Israel and the Church, the Issue<\/em>.\u00a0 He says, \u201c\u201cIn the Reformed view, the gospel of Jesus Christ directly fulfills the promises of the covenant of grace for all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles.\u201d\u00a0 You see the eisegesis in action right there, \u201ccovenant of grace,\u201d this is the alleged covenant which God supposedly made with mankind quote \u201cadministered to man from the time of the Law to the time of the gospel.\u201d\u00a0 This is verbatim from the Westminster Confession of Faith, Covenant of Grace.\u00a0\u00a0 He goes on, \u201cIsrael and the church are not two distinct peoples; rather, the church is the true Israel of God, \u2018a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession\u201d\u2019 He references 1 Peter 2:9).\r\n\r\nIs this true?\u00a0 How does the Bible describe Israel and her relationship with God?\u00a0 God says in Jeremiah 3:14, of Israel, \u201cI am married to you.\u201d\u00a0 [Jeremiah 3:14, \u201cTurn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you:\u2026\u201d\u00a0 KJV\u2019\u00a0 In another translation He says \u201cI am your husband.\u201d\u00a0 [\u201cReturn, faithless people,\u2019 declares the LORD, \u2018for I am your husband\u2026.\u201d NIV]\r\n\r\nSo when did God and Israel get married?\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Fruchtenbaum, a Jewish scholar, in an excellent article entitled The Wife of Jehovah and the Bride of Messiah<\/em>, explains that during the visit on Mt. Sinai God made a covenant with Israel and Fruchtenbaum observed after this covenant the Jewish prophet always viewed this covenant real as the marriage covenant.\r\n\r\n[In the Bible, Israel is represented as the \u201cWife of Jehovah,\u201d whereas the Church is represented as the \u201cBride of the Christ (Messiah).\u201d A failure to maintain that distinction will only result in a misinterpretation of what the Scriptures teach.\r\n\r\nThe church can\u2019t be Israel; she\u2019s not married yet.\u00a0 The church is said to be married to her groom in Revelation 19:9, it\u2019s future.\u00a0 [Revelation 19:9, \u201cThen he said to me, \u2018Write, \u2018Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.\u2019\u201d And he said to me, \u2018These are true words of God.\u2019\u201d\r\n\r\nAnd Israel, sadly, is deemed in the Old Testament to be an adulteress, a harlot.\u00a0 And God gave her a writ, or a certificate of divorce in Jeremiah 3:8.\u00a0 [Jeremiah 3:8, \u201cAnd I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.\u201d]\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t you need to be married to get a divorce?\u00a0 And don\u2019t you have to be married to commit adultery?\u00a0 However, the faithfulness of God and the restored blessings of God were prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah in the form a new covenant, Jeremiah 31:3-34.\u00a0 [Jeremiah 31:31, \u201cThe days are coming,\u201d declares the Lord, \u201cwhen I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.\u00a0 [32] It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,\u2019 declares the Lord. [33] \u2018This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,\u2019 declares the Lord.\u00a0 \u2018I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.\u00a0 I will be their God, and they will be my people.\u00a0 [34] No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, \u2018Know the Lord,\u2019 because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,\u201d]\r\n\r\nIn contrast when you study the church you see a radical difference, the bride of Christ is to be presented a pure virgin.\u00a0 2 Corinthians 11:2 says, \u201cFor I am jealous for\u201d Paul is speaking \u201cyou with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.\u201d\u00a0 These are two entirely different entities.\r\n\r\nArnold Fruchtenbaum said this: \u201cIn the Bible, Israel is represented as the \u201cWife of Jehovah,\u201d whereas the Church is represented as the \u201cBride of the Christ (Messiah).\u201d A failure to maintain that distinction will only result in a misinterpretation of what the Scriptures teach.\u201d\r\n\r\nThis brings us to our third mystery characteristic of the church, and it\u2019s the mystery of the rapture of the church.\u00a0 Can we turn to 1 Corinthians 15:51-55.\u00a0 Here Paul reveals an unfolds this beautiful mystery called the rapture.\r\n\r\nPaul says this, \u201cBehold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. [53] For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54]But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, \u201cDEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. [55] \u201cO DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?\u201d Paul reveals the mystery of the rapture.\r\n\r\nI believe Jesus speaks of this same mystery of the rapture in John 14:1-4\u00a0 And if you recall John 14 takes place in the Upper Room, the Upper Room Discourse and in that discourse we learn that He reveals seed form truths to the disciples.\u00a0 This is what Jesus said, \u201cDo not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.\u00a0 In My Father\u2019s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.\u00a0 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.\u00a0 And you know the way where I am going.\u201d\r\n\r\nSome of you are saying to yourself \u201cself,\u201d I don\u2019t see a reference to the rapture here.\u00a0 Notice these phrases of Christ.\r\n\r\nIf you compare these things, phrases of Christ in this passage, with Paul\u2019s infamous rapture passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 you will see a stunning and exact parallel. You guys can turn there if you will, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul says, \u201cBut we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. [15] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the<\/em> archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore comfort one another with these words.\u201d\u2019\r\n\r\nNow notice \u201cthese words\u201d of Paul and compare them with our Savior\u2019s.\u00a0 You will notice fascinating, conceptual and a sequential parallel.\u00a0 In John 14 Jesus says troubled.\r\n\r\nPaul says in 1 Thessalonians grieve, or some translations say sorrow.\u00a0 Jesus says \u201cbelieve.\u201d\u00a0 Paul says \u201cbelieve.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says \u201cGod and me.\u201d\u00a0 Paul says \u201cJesus and God.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says \u201cI told you.\u201d\u00a0 Paul says \u201cI say to you.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says \u201cI will come again.\u201d Paul says \u201ccoming of the Lord.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus says \u201cI will receive you.\u201d\u00a0 Paul says you will be \u201ccaught up.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus said \u201cI will receive you to Myself.\u201d\u00a0 Paul says you will \u201cmeet the Lord\u201d and Jesus says \u201cbe where I am,\u201d and Paul says \u201cyou will always be\u201d or \u201cever be with the Lord.\u00a0 \u00a0Amazing; this is a glorious mystery, a truth, it\u2019s revealed.\u00a0 After going through this comparison I don\u2019t know how one can deny the equivalence of these words and concepts of Paul and our Savior unless he has an unaligned motive to minimalize or marginalize or expunge what God has already said, stated in His Word.\r\n\r\nSo how does this truth of the mystery of the rapture of the church contrast with that of Israel?\u00a0 First of all, Israel is not a mystery, Israel was never hidden in the Old Testament, rather she was in plain view for all to see, in both her glory and her shame.\u00a0 In fact, Israel, the term \u201cIsrael\u201d is referenced 2,510 times in the Old Testament and not once does it ever hint of a New Testament church; it always speaks of either the patriarch himself, commonly known as Jacob, or the ethnic national and physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.\u00a0 And beyond that Israel in the Bible is assigned a specific program in the end times scenario, is she not?\r\n\r\nIn Jeremiah 30:7 she is prophesied to expect a time in her life known as Jacob\u2019s distress or Jacob\u2019s trouble, also known as the Tribulation.\u00a0 [Jeremiah 30:7, \u201cAlas! for that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob's distress, but he will be saved from it.\u201d]\u00a0 The tribulation will be a time where God unleashes His wrath on Israel for the purpose of their chastisement.\u00a0 And the Book of Daniel, a book that we\u2019re currently studying, describes this tribulation, Daniel 12.\u00a0 Daniel 12 is set within the time frame of the tribulation and he says, the tribulation reserved for who?\u00a0 It\u2019s reserved for who?\u00a0 The angel Gabriel says to Daniel it\u2019s for your people, Daniel; it\u2019s for your people.\u00a0 Daniel 9:24 and Daniel 10:24.\r\n\r\nDaniel 9:24, \u201cSeventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the trans\u00adgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.\u201d\u00a0 And to refrain from stealing Andy\u2019s thunder that\u2019s all I\u2019ll say about that.\u00a0 In contrast what is the end times scenario of the church?\u00a0 It\u2019s not the tribulation because we are the bride of Christ, the spotless bride of Christ we are exempt from this tribulation.\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 We read, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul says, \u201cand to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.\u201d\u00a0 And that\u2019s a glorious truth.\u00a0 That\u2019s our hope, beloved, the rapture of the church.\r\n\r\nSo far we discussed three strong evidences of the distinction of both the church and Israel: the indwelling of Christ, of Christ in you, the second was the bride of Christ, the third was the rapture.\u00a0 And the fourth, defining mystery characteristic of the church as the body of Christ, the mystery of the body of Christ.\r\n\r\nCan we turn to Ephesians 3:1-13.\u00a0 This is known as the mystery of the body of Christ.\u00a0 Paul actually reveals and explains in great detail this mystery to the church.\u00a0 He\u2019s speaking to believers, notice verse 1, \u201cFor this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles\u2014[ 2] if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God\u2019s grace which was given to me for you; [3] that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. [4] By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men,\u201d there he says it, mystery of Christ, \u201cas it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; [6] to be specific,<\/em> that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.\u201d\r\n\r\nPaul is saying here because of the benefits of the gospel believing Jews and Gentiles are now in one body.\u00a0\u00a0 Because of the gospel Gentiles can now be saved.\u00a0 In the Old Testament, the Old Testament revealed that Gentiles could be saved through faith. He\u2019s saying because of the gospel they\u2019ve become, or are joined together in a new and revolutionary concept called the body, the body of Christ.\r\n\r\nAnd we have to remember when God called out the nation of Israel, through Abraham, God created in the words of Chafer, a race so distinct in their individuality.\r\n\r\nAnd if we back up to Ephesians 2, if\u00a0 you could do so, Ephesians 2:11, we discover Paul details the reason for this Gentile inclusion. \u00a0Ephesians 2:11-13, \u201cTherefore remember\u201d he says \u201cremember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called \u2018Uncircumcision\u2019 by the so-called \u2018Circumcision,\u2019\u201d notice the two groups, \u201cwhich is<\/em> performed in the flesh by human hands\u2014[12] remember<\/em> that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off\u201d notice the \u201cin Christ,\u201d \u201cyou who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\u201d\r\n\r\nThis is a jam-packed section of Scripture.\u00a0 Allow me to [can't understand word] unpack this.\u00a0 Notice Paul reminds the Gentiles that they were called uncircumcised.\u00a0 By who?\u00a0 The circumcised.\u00a0 This was what racial profiling looked like in the ancient times.\u00a0 However, who was Paul referring to when he says \u201ccircumcised.\u201d\u00a0 The Jews, right?\u00a0 The nation of Israel.\u00a0 Just by using this term \u201ccircumcised\u201d what is Paul dialing back to?\u00a0 The Abrahamic Covenant, it was the sign, right?\u00a0 Circumcision.\r\n\r\nPaul even clarifies himself in verse 12, \u201cremember<\/em> that you \u2026 excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,\u201d he uses terms like separate, excluded, having no hope, and far off.\u00a0 In other words, they had no relationship to God whatsoever, the Gentiles.\u00a0 Paul describes them \u201cGentiles in the flesh\u201d denoting a whole class of people.\r\n\r\nSo if I got this correct according to Paul there is a nation of Israel and the rest of the world, the Gentiles.\r\n\r\nAnd then Christ comes along and because of His work on the cross, specifically His blood, He restores this relationship between God and man.\r\n\r\nSo now Israel in faith and Gentiles in faith can become one through a very technical term known as \u201cin Christ,\u201d or \u201cthe body of Christ.\u201d\r\n\r\nVerse 13, But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\u201d\u00a0 So now these two entities, Israel and Gentile, become a new entity.\u00a0 Why is this distinction such a big deal?\u00a0 Why is it such a big deal to Paul?\u00a0 Paul says I\u2019m glad you asked, let\u2019s read on.\u00a0 Paul says remember where you came from because what Christ did for you was something new; Paul reveals a mystery.\u00a0 Notice Ephesians 2:14, \u201cFor He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into<\/em> one\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 The NASV says \u201cwho made from two groups one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,\u201d verse 15, \u201cby abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is<\/em> the Law of commandments contained<\/em> in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus<\/em> establishing peace,\u201d he says.\u00a0 Let\u2019s stop there.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s see if I got this right.\u00a0 What did Christ make.\u00a0 He made two groups into one, right?\u00a0 Jews and Gentiles, called the body of Christ.\u00a0 So if He made from the two groups one what are we left with?\u00a0 We\u2019re still left with Israel, that\u2019s one group; we\u2019re still left with the Gentiles, that\u2019s another group.\u00a0 Now we have a new man in Christ, made by Christ Himself, which makes a third group.\u00a0 It seems clear, very clear Paul is careful about distinctions here and very careful to identify three groups.\u00a0 Why do I say that?\u00a0 Because as I read Paul\u2019s other letters he acknowledges two groups, namely Israel and the church.\u00a0 He does so in Galatians 2:7, \u201cBut on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.\u201d\u00a0 He also acknowledges two groups in Galatians 6:15, \u201cFor neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.\u201d\u00a0 I also say this because if you read the book of Acts Israel is mentioned 20 times and the church is mentioned 19 times.\u00a0\u00a0 They are both used in a normal and literal sense.\u00a0 And the two entities exist simultaneously.\u00a0 And just for added bonus Paul identifies the Gentiles too, 30 times he does so.\u00a0 And in the book of Acts there\u2019s no such idea as supersessionism.\r\n\r\nThat said, how is it that theologians, pastors, and professors can say that Israel and the church are not two distinct people.\u00a0 Or say that the church becomes Israel.\u00a0 It\u2019s beyond me.\r\n\r\nSo far we\u2019ve discussed three strong evidences of the distinction of Israel and the church, which was (1) the church was born at Pentecost, (2) certain events of Christ were essential to the establishment of the church. (3) The mystery character of the church, and we went through four defining mystery characteristics of the church that separate both Israel and the church: The indwelling of Christ, The Bride of Christ, the Rapture, and The Body of Christ.\r\n\r\nThe fourth and final evidence of the distinction between Israel and the church is Galatians 6:16.\u00a0 We now reach the key text that replacement theologians use to support their argument, that the church has replaced Israel.\u00a0 And if the Lord tarries we\u2019ll continue this point the next time we meet.\u00a0 Establishing distinctions as clearly exampled in the Bible is one of the keys, I believe, to understanding Galatians 6:16 because I believe Paul acknowledge and distinguishes from the rest yet another group.\u00a0 When we meet next time we\u2019ll engage Galatians 6:16 and other passages replacement theologians use.\r\n\r\nI thank you for bearing with me through this series, this is truly a robust issue, certainly one that has been around for centuries and certainly one that we should be versed in.\u00a0 And so some of you perhaps are for the first time wondering what in the world is he talking about.\u00a0 Well, I\u2019m ultimately trying to defend the immutable character of God, as if you needed my help.\r\n\r\nThe story of the Bible is ultimately about how a covenant-keeping God will remain faithful to His chosen people, Israel.\u00a0 He\u2019s made a promise, a covenantal promise to His nation, Israel.\u00a0 And God is not a man that He should lie.\u00a0 In fact, it\u2019s impossible for God to lie.\u00a0 It would not make logical sense to entertain the idea that God can somehow retract His promises.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t is say His Word does not return unto Him void.\u00a0 If that\u2019s true I can trust Him with my salvation.\u00a0 See that?\u00a0 And if trusting in God that can retract His promises why would I want to do that?\u00a0 It\u2019s quite opposite.\u00a0 I\u2019m trusting in a God who cannot lie, who WILL fulfill His promises, both to the church and to Israel.\r\n\r\nHe made a promise in John 3:16 granting us everlasting life and if you\u2019re here today and have not trusted in Jesus Christ for you salvation and the safe keeping of your soul don\u2019t hesitate, do it now.\u00a0 You can do this in the quietness of\u00a0 your own heard and mind and be encouraged because God is a promise keeper.\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0 This is what John 3:16 says, this is Jesus speaking, \u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.\u201d\r\n\r\nare Christ\u2019s words.\u00a0 You notice the one condition there\u2014believe!\u00a0 Just one, believe on Him and all the mysteries we talked about today concerning the church and what not, and they all pertain to you, if you believe.\u00a0 But those are just add-ons, the real gift is eternal life with Christ Jesus, our Lord.\u00a0 And I would encourage you to believe, just believe.\u00a0 And if you\u2019ve done that congratulations, welcome to the family of God.\u00a0 And if you need more information on that I\u2019m available to talk.\r\n\r\nShall we pray.\u00a0 Thank You heavenly Father for Your Word, thank You that Your Word distinguishes entities such as Israel and the church, and thank You Lord that You are a covenant keeping God and that You will fulfill every promise made to Israel.\u00a0 And Lord, we will be careful to give you the praise and the glory.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name we pray, and God\u2019s people said Amen.","series_sermon_number":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t