The Church Is Israel

A common belief in some American Evangelical circles (not all) is that the nation state of Israel is the Israel spoken about in the Bible, these are the “true Israelites” so therefore it must be supported at all costs, etc. But does that align with the Bible? Who really is Israel? And why? May God grace my words in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Accusations of Supersessionism or Replacement Theology

It’s not an “unbiblical replacement theology doctrine,” 1) because it is biblical and 2) the premise itself is wrong, it’s not replacing anything, it’s a continuation and a fulfillment in the New Covenant.

The accusation of supersessionism is an interesting one, considering that many advocating against the Church being Israel would have no problem affirming that Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross “supersedes” the Old Testament temple animal sacrifice. And I’m just using the terminology for those in this position to understand, it’s actually foreign to the East to use this term as it carries connotations and baggage with it. As are all words with “-ism.”

Supersessionism is associated with replacement theology for many, that the New Testament nullifies or does away with the Old Testament. Even before the 1960s, this term is extremely rarely ever used. The New Testament doesn’t replace the Old Testament, both are still fully inspired Holy Scriptures. The Old Testament is still important, not done away with, but more fully revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ. So it is the same with the Church, the New Israel.

So are the Orthodox supersessionists? Depends how you define this foreign term. If you mean replacing, no. If you mean a fully revealed continuation, yes. If you mean Christ and the New Testament have been given a precedence without doing away with the Old Testament (and still remaining equal), then yes. And I think in those terms defined, all Christians are supersessionists.

Herman Blaydoe sums it up by stating, “The Church is the continuation of Israel. We call it the New Israel, not because it no longer includes the Jewish people, but because it now includes ALL people. It goes beyond what it was; it does not replace what was before.” So now all peoples, from every nation have the gift to be Israel, which turns the question to, what constitutes being Israel?

Biblical Support That The Church Is Israel

Romans 9:6-8, “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but “in Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”

Birthright or biological offspring does not guarantee you being Israel. For example, the children of Keturah in Genesis 25 are a direct line from Abraham himself, yet they are not considered Israel. Abraham married Keturah after the death of Sarah, they bore six children together. This is what is referred to as children of the flesh.

The same thing is for Isaac, are Esau and the Edomites then Israel if it’s by birthright/nation alone? Both Jacob and Esau were born of Isaac, yet only Jacob is considered Israel, the seed of Abraham. We don’t say the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau, we say the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The point being, a human lineage does not make you Israel.

Galatians 3:28-29, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Luke 2:32, “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

For these two verses we must point out that Christ is the light and the glory of Israel, which naturally begs the question, how can the nation state today of Israel who denies Christ actually be Israel? St. Paul is also clear in the previous verse that if you are Christ’s you are of Abraham.  There is no separate covenant for Jewish people alone, there is one covenant that is promised to all who accept Christ.

Ephesians 2:12, “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.”

Here St. Paul equates being without Christ as being alien to Israel. How much more clear does that get? This is probably the most emphatic Scripture that serves to show the Church is the New Israel.

Galatians 6:16, “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

Those in Christ Jesus are the Israel of God. Again it is not based on a biological ancestry. The Orthodox Study Bible notes state that the mystery which explains the unbelief of so many Jews is that the Gentiles are now being united to the remnant of the faithful Jews. St. Paul also reminds gentiles that all are called, the same way he reminds Jews all are called, that neither side should be puffed up as thinking we are superior to the other. St. Paul says the Jewish people have stumbled but they will not fall permanently, meaning they will return to Him at some point.

Revelation 3:9, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

St. John proclaims there are those who say they are Jews of the promise, but are not! Why not? Because they reject Christ. True Jews are Christians as scandalizing as that may be to hear for some people. And the Bible supports it.

How can we as Christians support the nation state of Israel, which denies Christ, as they openly uproot Palestinians, which are fellow Christians, from their land? How does that make any sense? It doesn’t. Christ referred to the time between the constitution of the people of Israel and their entrance in the promised land/kingdom as ‘the time of the Gentiles’ (Luke 21:24). We are living in this time.

The ones who acknowledged God are Israel, this is the truth permeating from Genesis through Revelation. Who is Israel? The answer to that question depends upon the question of Who Is Jesus Christ?

It’s also important to note that St. Paul in Romans 11 seems to suggest that the mass of unbelieving Jewish people will return to Christ before His Second Coming, and this is widely regarded as a major sign of the end of the world. This can easily fall down a dialectical trap, Jews are called, Gentiles are called. All are called. As Christ says, “Many are called, few are chosen.”

I’ll end with this quote, “Christ is king of Israel and Christians are the Israelite race” - St Justin Martyr 155A.D. I hope this establishes for many that the Church is Israel. And can move to a deeper topic of what is the Church?