“Christians” need to be more like the Bereans, following the thread of scriptural truth wherever it leads.
I have to put the word “Christians” in quotes because many who profess to be Christian are not followers of Christ and his words, but first and foremost followers of one denomination or another, putting greater emphasis on tradition and theology than on the words of Christ himself and the entirety of God’s Word.
Denominations are attractive because most people have a deep desire to belong. Theology is attractive because it gives a ready and neatly wrapped answer to almost every question one might have concerning God’s Word.
And this is the problem.
God’s Word is nuanced, subtle. Just as Jesus spoke in parables to conceal the truth from those who didn’t have ears to hear, God’s Word is one big parable — a riddle, a dark saying — so that those who don’t have eyes to see, ears to hear, or an understanding heart, will be unable to grasp the truth.
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. (Mark 4:11-12)
Many “Christians” today are quick to dismiss an argument (reasoning not quarrelling) as epitomising a particular “theology” without doing the necessary work to fully understand the matter in question. If we care about truth rather than a theological position, we must search the scriptures to find that truth.
After explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus warned his disciples to take care how they hear.
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18)
The same account in Mark adds an important detail concerning what Jesus means when he says “how you hear”, and that’s when he says, ” with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you”. In other words, the understanding we are given directly correlates to the amount of effort we put into hearing. And lest we miss the overarching point for the detail, this effort very much pertains to how we study the Word of God. In other words, the hearing Jesus speaks of is not only hearing in our ears but also within our heart.
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. (Mark 4:24)
Now, all of this is by way of introduction to the main argument (again, reasoning not quarrelling) that the term “replacement theology” is a straw man argument, a concept without root. The term creates a false dichotomy and deflects from the more subtle truth contained in the scriptures.
Fundamentally, however, no one is being replaced.
There is one body, one family, one people.
All who are the called, and chosen, and faithful — whether Jew or Greek — are the children of God and part of the family of God, the true Israel of God.
In exactly the same way as the Old Testament stranger who sojourned in Israel became as the Israelite, all who believe become part of the true Israel of God. Natural and adopted children are all part of the same family. Natural and grafted branches are all part of the same tree or vine. What matters is not whether the branch is natural or grafted, but whether it bears fruit.
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exodus 12:48-49)
The Lord did not distinguish between the homeborn and the stranger if the stranger was circumcised and kept the passover. On the contrary, the Lord did distinguish between those of faith and those who rejected him. Many of those of physical/natural Israel have already perished in their sins — beginning with all those who died in the wilderness, and many, many more since.
Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all those of you that were reviewed, and those of you that were numbered from twenty years old and upward, all that murmured against me, ye shall not enter into the land for which I stretched out my hand to establish you upon it; except only Chaleb the son of Jephonne, and Joshua the son of Naue. (Numbers 14:29-30)
As Jesus explained, every branch that bears no fruit — anyone who doesn’t abide in Christ — is to be cast forth and burned.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. … Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-2, 4-6)
Again, what matters is not whether the branch is natural or grafted, but whether it bears fruit.
Jesus confirms this more plainly here:
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:11-12)
In other words, it’s not about the physical seed, as Jesus made clear when speaking in the treasury:
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:37-44)
Paul, writing to the Galatians under the inspiration of the holy spirit of God, confirms faith is necessary for being both a child of Abraham and a child of God.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. … For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. … And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:7, 26, 29)
There are two more pertinent passages from Paul that I’ll include. Both are from Ephesians.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:10-22)
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
In short, it’s not “either or”, but “and”.
All who are the called, and chosen, and faithful — whether Jew or Greek — are the children of God and part of the family of God, the true Israel of God.
There is one body, one family, one people.
No one is being replaced.
