Part Four: What God’s Word Upholds
In part four of Showers article he begins by stating,
Most Replacement theologians use a particular set of verses to argue that God no longer views the Jewish people as His Chosen People and has replaced Israel with the church. But is that what the verses really mean? Scrutiny shows the fallacy of the Replacement interpretation.[1]First of all, I find it quite interesting that whenever he references natural Israel he always capitalizes words that are associated with them. But when he refers to the Church, he never capitalizes this word or anything that has to do with them at all. Clearly, he gives more preference and honor to natural Jews than he does to the Church. They are God’s “Chosen People,” while we are only His “chosen people.” According to Showers and all dispensationalists, in God’s scheme of things the Church is only secondary in importance to natural Jews; and that, “God will bless those who bless natural Israel, and curse those who will curse natural Israel!”— a promise that was to Abraham and his holy seed, not to unholy and unbelieving Jews.
When I first read this statement above by Showers, I thought to myself: Oh, really! To be quite honest, in tandem with the JW's, it is they who argue by many ill-placed verses in order to buttress their beliefs, that God has always had a plan for ethnic Israel apart from His spiritual seed and “children of promise” from out of both the Jews and Gentiles. It is the doctrine of Showers’ and all dispensationalist’s that has “replaced” the truth of God's Word for a wholesale fabrication and lie. Before dispensationalism reared its ugly head in the early 1800’s through J. N. Darby and the like,[2] what is referred to today as “Replacement Theology” is really their own theology which has “replaced” the true and orthodox teachings of the Church which have been passed down to us since the inception of the Church. All Church history attests to what Covenant Theology articulates, not to what dispensationalists are propagating. In fact, before it was even called, “dispensationalism,” it was called by another name: Judaism! And it has baptized Christianity as a Judeo-Christian belief. Dispensationalism is just another aberrant form and inroad for “Judaism,” parading itself under the guise of sheep’s clothing. “Of your own selves,” cried Paul, “shall men arise to draw away disciples after themselves.” “Be forewarned!” he cried. “I have told you even before it happens.”
As said, dispensationalism is just a another mutated form and strain of that insidious virus―Judaism! At the last, it bites like the adder that it is; and in the end it stings like a serpent with its poisonous venom permeating the entire body of Christ, even as the leaven (or doctrine) of the Pharisees. This is the result of all of those who enter our midst and who have been hatched by the Wicked One. It is even as Isaiah says of this same infectious brood:
They hatch viper’s eggs and weave spider’s webs. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched. Their webs [of deceit] cannot become clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works (59:5-6, HCSB).Indeed, when they stand before Christ they will be found naked and wanting; being held accountable for every idle word they have spoken.
Now much of what Showers states in part four has already been addressed earlier, such as the truth concerning Rom. 9:6; 11:26 and 1Pet. 2:9–10. But one more verse that Showers uses in his arsenal of weaponry to disprove Covenant Theology’s claims is Rom. 2:28–29. Notice that I never say “Replacement Theology’s” claims, for it is such men as Showers and all dispensationalists that have “replaced” the true for the false. Covenant Theology doesn’t teach a replacement theology, dispensationalism does. Theirs is a “Replacement Theology” that has been hatched by the father of all lies. It is not what God teaches, but what man teaches; therefore, it “replaces” what is true in God's purpose and plan for what is false.
So with regards to Showers’ “Replacement Theology,” and his interpretation of Rom. 2:28–29, nothing could be more clear as to what Paul is saying to the Church comprised of both Jews and Gentiles in this epistle to these Christians in Rome, when he says: “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly.” This was no different than saying later: “They are not all Israel which are of Israel.” And this language of Paul squares with Christ’s words in Rev. 2:9 and 3:9: “I am against those who say they are Jews and are not.” So Paul says “outwardly” (or physically) being a Jew does not qualify one as being a Jew in Christ’s kingdom, and Christ said that to say one is a Jew based upon one’s ethnicity is just not true. It would be no different than me saying today that the Jews over in Palestine and all over the world who claim to be Jews are not really Jews at all, even if they could prove it according to any genealogical records. I have just stated it no differently than how both Paul and Christ have stated it: those who are Jews by natural descent are not Jews at all. At least not in the sense that both Paul and Christ are talking about. They are not all Israel which are of Israel is very clear and unambiguous. And even dispensationalists understand that much; albeit, they believe a spiritual Jew and Israelite can only be a natural Jew.
So, Paul says in Romans 2 that being a Jew outwardly or physically does not qualify one as a Jew; and Christ likewise said in John chapter eight that to say one is a child of Abraham (or a Jew), based upon natural ethnicity, is just not true. In Christ's words, they “are of the synagogue of Satan,” and that, “if God were your Father, you would love Me…You belong to your father the Devil” (Rev. 2:9; 3:9; Jhn. 8:42, 44). They are not God’s (let alone Abraham’s) “Chosen People” or children, as all dispensationalists in tandem with all natural Jews contend. In the words of Christ, they are children of Satan! And Christ even says they are “liars” for saying otherwise (Rev. 3:9a; cp. also Jhn. 8:39ff). And if all that were not enough, Jesus says He will have them come and bow down at our feet and acknowledge that He has loved us, not them! (Rev. 3:9b). US, not them!!! So, what is it with all this attention and love that is being extended towards natural Jews born only according to the flesh, as if they are God’s chosen people and that God blesses those who bless them? You can’t find it here! Showers and all dispensationalists have turned all of this upside down. God blesses those who bless us, not them! He loves us, not them! And we will talk about this some more later.
Now like Pilate, you may be also asking yourself: What is truth? This is the truth brethren, as laid out in this five-part series! And sometimes the truth hurts. But, nevertheless, it is the truth. All that has been said so far is a scathing testimony and rebuke against all those who teach and believe that that all natural Jews are the true children of Abraham or of God. But it is only us who believe who are to be called Abraham's or God’s true children; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. It is to “children born not of natural descent [of blood], nor of human decision [of the flesh] or a husband’s [or man’s] will, but born of God” (Jhn. 1:13). But men such as Showers want to claim a distinction between natural Israel and the Church, and say that it is for “children who are born of natural descent,” completely reversing what John, Christ, and even what Paul says in Rom. 9:8, 12 and 16, that, “it is not natural children who are God’s children…not by works [lest any man should boast],” and that it “does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon US that WE should be called the SONS of the living God! Indeed, more are the children of the barren and desolate woman than of her who could physically have children. For so it seemed good in thy sight O Lord!
When referring to 1Pet. 2:9–10, Showers says,
Replacement theologians say Peter used Old Testament descriptions of Israel to identify the church, thereby redefining Israel as the church. They also say Peter taught that the church is new Israel and that God’s ‘chosen people’ are now spiritual Israel, rather than the physical descendants of Abraham.[3]First of all, I have already addressed much of what Showers says here of Peter using “Old Testament descriptions” with regards to Jews and Gentiles in the Church (and not just to Jews) in part two, so I won't belabor that here.
And I don't really need to say anything further either about “spiritual Israel” being the Church and not just “the physical descendants of Abraham.” As said all along, being a physical descendant of Abraham matters nothing to God, to Jesus, or to Paul and the apostles.
Secondly, notice again how when speaking of the Church as God’s “chosen people” Showers doesn’t capitalize “chosen people.” But when referring to natural Israel, as noted just earlier, he does. It is because dispensationalists such as Showers place more of an importance upon them being natural Jews than they do upon the Church. It’s like the JW’s capitalizing all words that have to do with Jehovah as “God,” whereas Jesus is only a “god.” Like the JW’s who exalt Jehovah above Christ, dispensationalists exalt natural Israel to a status above the Church. But remember the words of Christ above: “I will make them [natural Jews] fall down at your [our] feet and acknowledge I have loved you”―NOT THEM! The only prominence that will be given to them is to fall down at our feet like Joseph’s brothers, and acknowledge that God was with us rather than with them and their evil ways.
Thirdly, like I have already said before, men like Showers just don’t get it that God’s chosen people have always been children born not of natural descent. How much more clearer could Christ and Paul have stated all of this? What more could they have said in order for us to believe them on all of this? Even if the Lord were to speak to them with men of other tongues and of other lips, yet for all this they still won’t hear (1Cor. 14:21). Deception is a strong delusion. It tricks the mind into believing one thing, when it should be believing in another.
As far as God is concerned, natural descent or ethnicity is a moot point. God is no respecter of persons; and this goes for all naturally born children, including the Jews. God has never chosen anyone based upon natural ethnicity, but upon His irrevocable calling, election and grace since the time of Adam and Eve; and even before all creation. Contrary to Showers’ statement above, God’s chosen people are, and always have been, all of His spiritual “children of promise” according to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all God’s saints who share in the same faith as theirs. And this is why Paul could say to the Galatians: “And you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise”(4:28). Being “born of blood,” as St. John was noted above as saying, doesn’t matter one iota. None, zilch, zip! How many times and ways must this be stated?
So every man’s mouth must be stopped, such as that of Showers', who put such an importance upon natural genealogies and claim that being “the physical descendants of Abraham” does matter in order to be God’s “chosen people.” This persuasion does not come from above brethren. And these are just a few of the Jewish myths and fables that Paul had warned us about, even avoiding divisive arguments over one’s genealogical upbringings (cp. 1Tim. 1:4; Tit. 3:9).
Now if all this isn’t enough, Showers concludes this fourth part in his series with these words below to buttress his idea that Peter wrote his epistle only to Jewish believers in Christ as God’s royal priesthood and one holy nation, and not to Gentile believers:
In addition, Peter used the Septuagint to quote the Old Testament. It would be highly unlikely he would use the Septuagint for Gentiles but natural to use it when speaking to Jews. In fact, Peter’s arguments in 1 Peter would have been difficult for Gentiles to grasp; but a Jewish audience would have understood them easily.[4]Really? Such nonsense as this is an insult to the intelligence of the thinking Christian. I would rather think it would be more highly likely and “natural” that Peter would use the Hebrew text, rather than the Greek Septuagint text, if he were addressing only the Jews. But the fact that he uses the Greek Septuagint only buttresses the idea that he had the Gentiles in mind as well as the Jews, for the Gentiles readily understood and spoke Greek. Peter's words are not just partial to Jews, but for Gentiles as well.
I am a Gentile. And I use the Septuagint and, any translation available to me at the moment for that matter, in referencing the Old Testament. Does this mean that I am addressing only natural Jews in m teachings and articles when I use the Septuagint? Of course not! Such assumptions are silly and just another indicator of how far someone will go to try and pull the wool over someone's eyes.
It is very difficult for natural reasoning Jews and men like Showers to grasp how an Old Testament verse that seemingly applied to natural Israel, actually applies to all Jews and Gentiles who have faith in Christ! How so? It is due to the fact that, in Christ (who is the true “Israel” of God according to Isaiah 49:3ff), all Gentiles who are born “in Him” are now considered as a native-born Jew or Israelite. Again, “in Christ” we are neither Jew nor Gentile but one new man in Christ with only one identity now as spiritual Jews and as spiritual Israelites; not based upon ethnicity but based upon being a child of promise. As Paul has likewise stated, Gentiles are not “excluded from citizenship in Israel” (Eph. 2:12) but “included” as if they were “native-born Israelites” (Ezk. 47:22). Again, Paul in Romans 11 says Gentiles are grafted into Israel, the one natural olive tree. We have become assimilated into Israel where there is “no difference” between the two us (cp. Acts 15:9; Rom. 10:12; Eph. 2:14).
Honestly, can anyone looking at an olive tree, tell if some branches were grafted into it from another olive tree? Both Jews and Gentiles in Christ are one and the same, with Gentiles being assimilated into spiritual Israel and being given all the honors and titles due the same. It is through the Spirit of adoption that we are joined with all spiritual Israelites from both the Old and New Testaments to become God's “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God” (1Pet. 2:9). Indeed, in Rev. 1:6 and 5:10 all Christians are now “kings and priests.” Where did this idea of being a “priest” come from? Why, from the Old Testament titles that were types and shadows, of course. The natural priests back then pointed to the spiritual priesthood that both Peter and John talk about. And all the sacrificing that went on then, is also now understood spiritually. This is all elementary and shouldn't even be up for debate. But it is, so it must be addressed. And, hopefully, by now, the light is beginning to go on for some of you with regards to all of this.
Clearly, according to the inspiration of Peter, God had in mind in Exodus 19:6 more than just what had met the natural eye. It was a promise that was to be extended and realized to all of God’s true children of faith and of promise, not just to Jews. The entire Bible is centered around all such children of faith, and these alone! As I have said all along, it is the story of the children of the seed in Christ verses the children and seed of the Serpent in Adam. And as I stated before, Showers got one thing right: that there are two peoples. One is of the earth and earthly and who are born of the flesh; the other is spiritual and heavenly and who are born of the Spirit. One receives eternal damnation, the other eternal life; one is passed by, the other elected; one is not the heir, the other is; one is “cast out,” the other kept and reserved unto God for Himself. And never, ever, shall the twain ever meet! All children of faith coming from the north, south, east and west around the globe will sit to feast in the kingdom of Christ and of God with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (cf. Mat. 8:11; Lke. 13:29). But these subjects and enemies of Christ who didn’t want Him to rule over them, He has said, “bring them here and kill them in front of Me (cf. Mat. 8:12; Lke. 19:27). For them there shall be heard only a voice in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” All Jews, as well as men like Showers, are keeping the true children of God from entering the kingdom of God and believing and receiving what is rightfully theirs: that they alone are God’s “Chosen People,” His true “children of promise” like Isaac.
Remember the words of Christ, and remember them well: “I will make them [ethnic Israel] fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you” (Rev. 3:9). “I have loved YOU,” not them! says Christ. “YOU” are My Chosen People, not them! And so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Stand up in this your might, and go forward in this your strength. You are the child of God and of the King. “The rest are hardened,” only to be “cast out.”
Click here for part five.
Footnotes:
[1] Israel My Glory. The Facts and Flaws of Covenant Theology, Part 4. Mar./Apr. issue 2012, vol. 70, #2. p. 34.
[2] Dispensationalism has a relatively short history. It has its beginnings with the Protestant Sottish minister Edward Irving who lived in England (circa 1792-1834). Irving got his revelations in prophetic conferences held in the Lady Powerscourt meetings that were centered around biblical prophecy and interpretation. His eschatology is said to have been influenced by a book written by a Jesuit Priest known as Emanuel Lacunza. Edward Irving started writing about his new ideas for prophecy, and for which J. N. Darby (of the Plymouth Brethren) became influenced by. And as we all know by now, the Plymouth Brethren came to America. Darby put these notes and ideas of Irving's in a Bible called: The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation from the Original Languages by J. N. Darby, also known as: The J. N. Darby Bible. C. I. Scofield was, in turn, influenced by Darby and also put his notes in what is known today as the C. I. Scofield Reference Bible. And it is his bible that began to influence tens of thousand in America. Lewis Sperry Chafer was Scofield's disciple, and his eschatological viewpoints were greatly influenced by Scofield. Chafer would go on to form a bible college called: Evangelical Theological College, which is now known today as: Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. When Chafer died in 1952, John Walvoord, a graduate, took over as president in 1953. Walvoord retired in 1986, and from 1986-1994 Donald K. Campbell served as president. Chuck Swindoll, also a graduate, took over from Campbell from 1994-2001 and as of this date now serves as the schools Chancellor. From this school has come Hal Lindsey, Thomas Ice, Norman Geisler, Dwight Pentecost, Charles Ryrie, J. Vernon McGee, Merrill F. Unger, Harold Hoehner, Charles Feinberg and the like. All of the Calvary Chapels of America, headed by Chuck Smith, have been influenced by this school's teaching. And even the Christian Zionist movements of today, such as that of James A. Showers, have been heavily influenced by this school's teachings on an eschatology that centers primarily around natural Israel, with the Church being only secondary and consequential to them. For in the words of many dispensationalists, if the Jews had not rejected Christ, there would have been no need for the Church. The Church is only an afterthought. Natural Israel is primarily the apple of God's eye. And will be so once more in the future. This is “dispensationalism” through and through, in agreement with Judaism.
Dallas Theological Seminary has influenced hundreds of thousands of ministers with its dispensational premillennialism. It has now become the dominant eschatological teaching in most churches around the world today. But like the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon doctrines, dispensational premillennialism is relatively new. Since the formation of the early church, Amillennialism has always been the predominate teaching, with some few premillennialists and postmillennialists scattered throughout. But no one ever taught what is being taught today with regards to natural Israel in a future seven-year tribulation, let alone in a future earthly millennium. Everyone use to more or less understand many supposed unfulfilled prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, Zechariah and all the prophets as having to do with spiritual Israel (or the Church). Even Daniel's Seventy Weeks prophecy was considered, until more recently, fulfilled in the person and work of Christ as both Prince and High Priest. And to read more about this prophecy from a “fulfilled” perspective, I would suggest getting my book: The People of the Prince, the Coming One! There are other books out there, but they are rare and hard to find. I would also suggest reading some of the older commentators such as: Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Edward Young, Matthew Poole, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, J. C. Ryle, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown and the like. Also, many books written by reformed brethren in reformed churches are helpful. William Hendriksen's commentaries are also very good. His set on the New Testament is called: The New Testament Commentary. Simon Kistemaker took over his work upon his death. A lot of the older systematic theologies by reformed brethren such as Shedd, Hodge, Turretin, Berkhof and Bavinck are also helpful. Steer clear of anything written by dispensationalists, unless using them only for reference in order to critique them. Being that I was spiritually birthed in a Church that was dispensational, I have a handful of their books already in my library. And even a lot of their books are hard to find, especially those from Chafer and the like in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I quote a few of them in this five-part series.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
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