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ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH:
We need to understand that God has one overall program designed to bring
glory to Himself, while within that context He deals with different sub-programs.
Two of these sub-programs are Israel and the church.
God did not create the heavens and the earth and then create Israel.
Israel came along much later in history. He had dealings with man long
before He made His promises to Abraham which resulted in Israel. Then generations
later the church came into being.
The basis of dispensationalism is the difference between Israel and
the church. There is a difference and that difference must be maintained
as you read and interpret the Bible. If the distinction is not maintained,
it will result in confusion and error.
I must admit that most denominations and groups follow the practical
aspect of distinguishing between Israel and the church. None of them bring
blood sacrifices. They would reject the thought that Israel and the church
are separate however.
May I remind you of the three parts to the "sine qua non" of Dispensationalism?
Sine qua non is Latin for "without which not," or something that is indispensable
to a belief or item. For example liquid is a sine qua non for a cake. There
are three items which the dispensationalist will believe if he is going
to be a dispensationalist. First, the dispensationalist holds to a difference
between Israel and the church. Second, the dispensationalist holds to a
plain, easy interpretation of Scripture. Finally the dispensationalist
holds that God's overall program for all ages is the bringing of glory
to Himself. (Salvation is one of the manifestations of that overall program
of glory.)
TOPIC ISRAEL CHURCH ________________________________________________________________ BIRTH PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL (BORN A JEW) (BORN AGAIN) PROMISE LITERAL (LIVING) SPIRITUAL POSITION IN THE DEAD - RULING RULING KINGDOM LIVING - RULED POSITION TODAY GOD'S PEOPLE GOD'S CHILDREN (SET ASIDE) SEED OF ABRAHAM PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM HEAD OF ISRAEL SPIRITUAL FATHER LAND PHYSICAL RULING/GLORIFIED BODIES NATIONALITY JEWISH NATION FROM ALL NATIONS SALVATION LOOKING TOWARD UNDER CHRIST'S CHRIST BLOOD GOD'S DEALINGS AS A NATION AS INDIVIDUALS GOD'S GOVERNING MOSAIC LAW GRACE SYSTEM TRIBULATION WILL GO THROUGH TAKEN OUT BEFORE HOLY SPIRIT HELPING BELIEVERS INDWELLING AT AT TIMES ALL TIMES STANDING UNDER PROMISE UNDER GRACE GOD'S MEANING TO ALMIGHTY GOD GOD THE FATHER THE BELIEVER CHRIST KING OF ISRAEL HEAD OF CHURCH DIVINE POWER NONE SPIRIT EMPOWERED CHRIST'S RETURN IN POWER AND GLORY QUIETLY TO RECEIVE US INTERCESSION PRIESTHOOD PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERSWe've seen multiple items which show that the church and kingdom are different and separate. The kingdom for all practical purposes is Israel.
From this we can apply our study of contrasts to our interpretation
of scripture. They, Israel and the church, are different and should be
treated as such. The promises of the kingdom or to Israel are not ours
to claim. We are in the church and should seek those promises aimed at
the church for use in our daily life.
It could be easily observed that the bulk of Scripture is directly aimed
at Israel, though we can find much application in that majority for use
in the church age. We cannot, however, take each promise of God to Israel
for ourselves.
Some texts to consider:
Acts 3:12 shows that Peter viewed the church people as separate from
Israel.
Acts 4:8,10 show distinction between the people of the church and Israel.
Acts 5:21 shows a difference between some in the church and the children
of Israel.
Romans 9:3,4 shows that Paul felt there was a difference between himself,
a Jew, and his fellow Jews.
1 Corinthians 10:32 shows the distinction very nicely.