BIBLICAL EVIDENCE SAYS NO!!!!!!!!!
Romans 9-11 is the pinnacle of theological thought that forces us to examine the historical advantages of Judaism, free will, and divine election, and to ask ourselves: What is God doing with Israel today, and why?
The State of Israel has now been gathered by the mighty hand of God and flourishes as the only democratic society in the Middle East.
Some evangelicals teach that God has replaced Israel with the Church. This is an anti-semitic theology that refuses to believe that God still has a place in his heart for Israel. Something that has been replaced vanishes and is no longer heard of. It becomes extinct, as Sodom and Gomorrah are eternally buried. How can Israel still be flourishing with such dynamic force and vitality, if it has been replaced? The nation of Israel dominates the news today.
In Romans 11:5, Paul speaks of a “remnant.” No one can study Paul’s writings without an awareness of the challenge to biblical interpretation that the Holocaust presents. Are the Holocaust survivors mentioned in verse 5 as the “remnant” which can be translated as “survivors”? In verse 26, Paul states, “All Israel will be saved.” In verses 25-26 he speaks of a “mystery,” one that is never explained.
Few pastors or Bible teachers preach or teach from the theological minefield of Romans 9-11, because the complexity is difficult, and the verses pull us in directions we are not comfortable with. When we are compelled by truth to accept a position our denomination rejects, it’s easier to ignore Scripture than to interpret Scripture. Paul’s teachings in Romans 9-11 will stretch your mind and like any other vigorous exercise this can be painful.
Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
(2 Timothy 3:16)
No Christian is any stronger than his or her knowledge of the Word of God.
Romans 9-11 is a magnificent theological codicil, which is a stand-alone document. When a lawyer makes a will, then remembers there is something he wishes to add after the will has been written, the portion added is called a codicil. The codicil modifies the original document and becomes part of the whole.
Romans 9-11 is a divine codicil by Paul concerning God’s post-Calvary position on the Jewish people.
There are 8 biblical evidences that this stand-alone document, this codicil, could not refer to anyone but the Jewish people.
Who is a Jew?
Did God choose to save some and allow others to be lost?
Has God rejected
Are all Jews eternally lost?
Why did God blind the Jewish people to the identity of the Messiah?
The historical roots of Christianity are Jewish.
A glimpse of
Paul boldly declared “All
Returning to the 1st concept, Romans 9-11 is a theological codicil, which makes it a stand-alone document. A casual reading of Romans reveals the fact that Romans 1-8 represent 1 common theme-justification and sanctification. Every chapter is connected and flows with this specific theme.
It is also obvious that chapters 9-11 have nothing to do with chapters 1-8 or 12-16. Chapters 9-11 are completely unique in their theme, which is the Jewish people. These chapters are a legal insert separating chapters 1-8 from chapters 12-16. The fact is that Romans 9-11 is a stand-alone document and represents Gods post-Calvary position on the Jewish people.
Proving this point further is the fact that Romans 12-16 could easily follow Romans 1-8 in structure without breaking Paul’s thesis.
After accepting Romans 9-11 as a stand-alone document, we can choose to interpret this theological document respecting the primary principles of hermenutics, which is the science of interpreting Scripture.
1. Who wrote this document?
2. To whom was it written?
3. For what purpose was it written?
4. All Scripture is to be interpreted by other Scripture to avoid human error or personal bias.
This, then, cannot be opinion, but must be the yea and amen of the Word of God.
The answers to 1, 2, and 3:
The book of Romans was written by Paul to explain God’s provision for the Jewish people (Romans 11:1, 11) and God’s plan of salvation for Israel (Romans 11:26).
Great sorrow for a Great people
Romans 9:1-4
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed of Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises: of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
In chapter 8, Paul carries us to the stars with his emotional oration that nothing can separate a believer from the love of God.
Then, quickly as lightning flashes from East to West, his mood changes as he opens chapter 9, saying, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for the Jewish people.”
The Jews hated Paul. They considered him a traitor to Judaism. Paul tells us “from the Jews 5 times I received 40 stripes minus 1,” adding that he was in constant peril from his own countrymen.
As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, concerning the coming Roman invasion that would destroy the temple, demolish Jerusalem, and turn the streets red with Jewish blood (Luke 19:41-44), so Paul felt great sorrow for the Jewish people to the point of being willing to be placed under a curse from God, if it would help his brothers, his own people, his own flesh and blood-the people of Israel.
Paul responded as Moses did when Israel built the golden calf while God was giving him the 10 commandments on top of Mt. Sinai. Moses prayed, “These people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold. Yet now, if You will forgive their sins-but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exodus 32:31-32)
The book Moses spoke about is none other than the Book of Life in Revelation 20:12.
Most Christians do not know that all Torah Jews on High Holy days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) attend the synagogue where the liturgy calls for Jews to pray that their sins would be forgiven them and their names written in the Book of Life.
Has God rejected Israel in favor of the church?
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1)
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