In the sermon preached April 27, 2014, found here ( SERMON ) we were elaborating on the fact that Jesus said, He WILL build His church. Not he will continue to build, or he had already built, but WILL BUILD -- Future tense.
In connection, I mentioned that entire denominations are built upon the theology and practices that come from rejecting the future tense of this phrase. The first I briefly dealt with in the latest blog entry.
Question number 1: Do you baptize infants?
The second question deals with eschatology, the study of the end times. Specifically it deals with one’s stance on the Kingdom and various associated issues.
Question number 2: Is this the Kingdom?
The text of the Scripture is very clear about the nature of the Kingdom. All Bible teachers regardless of denominational affiliation, hermeneutical system (rules to interpreting), and theological position on this issue, will acknowledge that the Kingdom of the Messiah as presented in the Word of God:
- Will be established at the repentance of Israel.
- Will be earthly.
- Will be preceded and established by the Messiah.
- Will have the Messiah as King.
- Will be preceded by the Messiah’s return.
- Will have a very Jewish quality (it is their kingdom).
- Will involve Israel’s reception of the New Covenant and Promised Land.
These and other qualities are readily accepted as the teaching of the Scriptures; however, there are many from various denominations with various hermeneutical systems, who will redefine various aspects of the Scriptures teachings. They “spiritualize” or “theologize” or “look for higher meanings” certain passages to deny either the earthly nature (amill), the messiah’s preceding and his reign in the kingdom in an earthly throne (Postmill), or the ethnic jewish recipient and quality of the Kingdom of the Messiah (amil, postmil, and historic premill).
For the purpose of this blog, we will deal with primarily the Amillennial position and to a lesser extent, some Postmill.. The Amillennialist denies the earthly nature of the kingdom, as well as the involvement of the ethnic people of Israel in that Kingdom. The Postmillennialist also denies the ethnic people of Israel’s claim upon the kingdom, and some deny the earthly nature of the kingdom at least in part.
While there is a sort of inference driven, spiritualization based logic in the position that “THIS is the Kingdom promised,” this position again stems from a denial of the Future Tense in Matthew 16:18.
Denying that the Church was something new that would be begun yet future (”I will build My church”), most say the church began in Abraham, while others will say Adam or Israel. The New Testament Church, in their theological perspective is the “True” or “Spiritual Israel.” In this understanding, the church is nothing more than a continuation of what God had already done. the church has replaced the ethnic body of Israel. The church is the “Israel” of the New Testament and they are the “Church” of the Old Testament.
I’d like to summarize their position as best as I can in as short a time as I can. My understanding of this comes from various readings, and discussions with scholars and pastors on both sides, and so you must forgive a lack of specific references in this blog. This is not meant to be scholarly, only informative.
{If you would like further books for reading on this area, please email me at church@central-bible.org and I’ll be glad to pass on a title or two for further consideration.}
Here is the logic:
1. The church began in Abraham. We are only a continuation of what God has done since the Patriarchs through the nation of Israel. We are the True/Spiritual Israel.
2. The teachings from all the prophets, as well as the Law of Moses, even through Peter’s sermon to the nation of Israel in Acts 3, all teach the same thing: If Israel will repent, having experience God’s Discipline in Captivity, they will be restored completely into the Kingdom. (Deut 30:1-3; Jeremiah 31:27-37; Hosea 3:4-5; Acts 3:19-21; and many more)
The apostles, and also the first converts in Acts 2 were Israelites.
4. The New Testament is clear: There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither circumcision, nor lack of circumcision is of any importance, only circumcision of the heart matters, that is, faith in Christ. Ethnicity matters not, we are all God’s people by grace through faith.
5. Israel is God’s People --> We are God’s People --> We are Israel. (The spiritual Israel. Israel is the Church of the Old Testament)
6. I am Israel. And I have repented. (Upon repentance comes the Kingdom) -- The Kingdom must be now!
******But wait, this looks nothing like what was promised. Earthly. Jesus reigning from Jerusalem. Promised Land. etc. ******
7. This is the Kingdom. Those things must be spiritualized, because they must be fulfilled now that we (the spiritual Israel) have repented. So they are fulfilled spiritually in the church, in my heart, etc.
Depending on what parts you spiritualize and to what extent, you will end up as an Amillennialist, denying the Millennial Kingdom all together, or a Post-Millennialist, denying Christ’s earthly reign in the Kingdom, or any shade of difference in between.
(When you spiritualize, you loose objectivity and loose consistency, therefore, you loose unity in beliefs unless you revert to tradition instead of Scripture as your final authority.--You must deny the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura)
There is a certain logic to these positions if the church is only a continuation of the Old Testament People of God, Israel, but Jesus said, “I WILL build” not “I will CONTINUE to build.” The church is an entity that had not yet been begun. In the church, we do not have Israel’s repentance, that is still yet future, and so we do not see the establishing of the Kingdom. That will happen at some point yet future as well (cf. Matthew 25:31; Romans 11; etc.).
No comments:
Post a Comment