"Part 07150 - ESCH, ISRAEL AND CHURCH"
07150 ISRAELANDTHECHURCH:
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.)
TOPICISRAELCHURCH ________________________________________________________________
BIRTH PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL
(BORN A JEW) (BORN AGAIN)
PROMISE LITERAL (LIVING) SPIRITUAL
POSITION IN THEDEAD - RULINGRULING KINGDOMLIVING - RULED
POSITION TODAYGOD’S PEOPLEGOD’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 DEALINGSAS A NATIONAS INDIVIDUALS GOD’S GOVERNINGMOSAIC LAWGRACE
SYSTEM TRIBULATIONWILL GO THROUGHTAKEN OUT BEFORE HOLY SPIRITHELPING BELIEVERSINDWELLING AT
AT TIMES ALL TIMES
STANDING UNDER PROMISE UNDER GRACE
GOD’S MEANING TOALMIGHTY GODGOD THE FATHER THE BELIEVER
CHRIST KING OF ISRAEL HEAD OF CHURCH
DIVINE POWERNONESPIRIT EMPOWERED CHRIST’S RETURNIN POWER AND GLORYQUIETLY TO
RECEIVE US
INTERCESSION PRIESTHOOD PRIESTHOOD OF
ALL BELIEVERS
We’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.