History Of Whats The Relationship Theology Religion Essay Example
History Of Whats The Relationship Theology Religion Essay Example

History Of Whats The Relationship Theology Religion Essay Example

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  • Pages: 7 (1815 words)
  • Published: November 2, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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During the early days of the church, there has been much debate and discussion among Christians about the relationship between Israel and the Old Testament. The church has defined three main perspectives on this matter, known as Replacement theology, Separation theology (also called dispensationalism), and Remnant theology.

Replacement theology suggests that the church has taken over from Israel. On the other hand, Separation theology believes that the church and Israel are completely separate entities with their own individual purposes. Lastly, Remnant theology sees a distinct relationship between the church and Israel, where Israel has accepted Jesus as their promised Messiah.

Each of these theological options offers its own perspective on the relationship between Israel and the Church. However, how can we differentiate this relationship? One viewpoint is that "Church" and "Israel" essentially

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refer to the same group of people. In this perspective, since Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, all God's blessings and promises now belong to the church instead. This stance is known as Replacement divinity because it asserts that national Israel has been replaced by the Christian church in God's plan.
The prevailing perspective among most Christian theologians today is that of replacement theology, which suggests that the church is an upgraded and more advanced version of Israel (``Relationship''). Initially, the "Church" had a significant influence in Israel, but after the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, God decided to transfer all His blessings and promises from them to the Christian church. However, Israel lost their status as a "chosen nation" due to their poor choices (``Relationship''). It is important to acknowledge that this doctrine has a major flaw; it can lead to negative practices a

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it involves a negative direction (``Replacement''). Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, serves as an example of such detrimental mindset. Luther held strong biases against Jewish individuals advocating for burning Jewish schools and expelling them from communities. He also called for destroying Jewish prayers and scriptures while arguing for restrictions on practicing faith or pursuing education with disobedience leading to death. Luther's words had a profound impact, influencing others who adopted similar views. Ultimately, Hitler implemented Luther's suggestions four years later. This replacement theology fueled hatred and violence against Jewish individuals.However, I disagree with the belief of replacement theology as it contradicts the Bible's teachings about God's plans for Israel. Some Christian theologians and churches today propagate the idea that Jewish people are no longer chosen by God and that Jesus rejected them in favor of the church. According to this view, God replaced Israel with the church and transferred all his approvals and covenants to it. However, if Israel was truly replaced, we must question why they have endured throughout history. This theology also presents a problem because when Jesus came into the world, he gave himself for Israel and believed that they would bring forth the Christ and share his teachings with others. If God rejected his chosen people, it would imply failure on His part; however, our perfect God does not fail. The Bible clearly promises an everlasting relationship between Jesus and Israel, stating "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord"

(Hos 2:19-20). In Romans, Jesus further explains that Israel has experienced temporary hardening until all Gentiles have come in but assures that ultimately all of Israel will be saved. It is written: "The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob."The text highlights that in Romans 11:25-27, it is stated that Jesus will rescue Israel and remove their wickedness through a new covenant in the New Testament. It emphasizes that God never said he replaced Israel with the church or that he wouldn't fulfill his promises. Ultimately, all individuals will be united under God's reign and receive the gifts, callings, and blessings he has promised to us.

Regarding the relationship between Israel and the Church, there are two perspectives. The first perspective believes they are completely separate from each other. This differs from the previous belief that the Church foresaw Christ's coming. According to dispensational theologians, the church originated from Jesus' death and Resurrection. This perspective is known as separation theology or dispensationalism.

Dispensationalists assert that instead of transferring all blessings to the Church, God will fulfill his promises and bestow blessings on both the Church and Israel at a later time. They also believe that distinct promises have been given to both entities. However, one issue with this position is that dispensationalists do not believe in a reborn Israel through Jesus Christ but rather view them as separate entities of the church.Dispensational theologians have historically advocated for the notion that the Church and Israel are entirely separate entities, each with their own distinct plans from God. While this viewpoint may have both positive and negative aspects, one key characteristic of dispensationalism is

its emphasis on literal interpretation. By aligning their interpretations of the Bible and God's prophecies with what was predicted in the Old Testament, dispensationalists aimed to gain a deeper understanding of scripture and organize relevant information within it. However, this approach led to a nonsensical perspective on God's plan for Israel and the Church. Personally, I disagree with the concept of separational divinity as it contradicts God's word throughout the entire Bible. In my understanding, this theology suggests that there are only two distinct groups in God's eyes: Israel and the Church. The major issue lies in the lack of biblical support for this theology, as numerous passages emphasize God's perspective on unity rather than separation between these groups.Romans 12:5 declares, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Correspondingly, 1 Corinthians 10:17 highlights, "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." Galatians 3:28 further adds, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Another verse, Ephesians 4:4 asserts, "There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling." These passages consistently convey Jesus' teachings on the unity and interconnectedness of all believers. It should be noted that dispensational theologists have significantly contributed to the misconception that God's prophecies have already been fulfilled. This misconception hinders the realization of His great prophecies within various churches even today. Dispensational theologists fail to recognize and accept God's stance on Israel and the

Church. Throughout Christ's teachings it was made evident that we are all united in Him. The endurance of both the Church and Israel throughout biblical history can only be attributed to the Remnant people who faithfully followed and worshipped within them. This notion is referred to as Remnant divinity. The significance of the Remnant lies in its contribution to ensuring the survival of both the Church and Israel. Without these loyal few individuals, the Church would cease to exist.God values a small group of committed believers over a multitude of inconsistent ones. The origin of the Remnant can be traced back to Adam and Eve's disobedience. From that point, two groups of believers emerged – those spiritually affiliated with Cain and those with Abel. People from Cain don't believe in worship and sacrifice, and they wouldn't give anything to the church because being "in" the Church doesn't mean being "for" the Church. The main issue with those from Cain is that they choose not to do what God originally instructed them to do. However, if you are an Abel, you see yourself as a true believer, doing everything God has instructed and having no objections towards Christianity.

In reality, because of Remnant theology, we can see that God wants us to be like Abels, not like Cains. I believe God doesn't want us to focus on the number of people attending church but on those who will bring and spread redemption to the world, even if it's just a small remnant. In my opinion, Remnant theology is the best perspective to define the Church and Israel in our modern society.

We are constantly bombarded with different teachings

and views on the relationship between Israel and the church in our modern society. I believe these should be put to an end because they are leading us astray.On the other hand, I fully agree with this viewpoint as it serves as a reminder of our society's misplaced priorities. Instead of focusing on the essence of the church itself, our attention is often fixated on how many individuals it attracts. Many individuals who claim to be "Christians" find it acceptable to hold disagreements with God. Nevertheless, as Christians, we must acknowledge that even when there are discrepancies in doctrine, we still have a responsibility to obey God. Regrettably, human nature tends to foster resentment towards God and this behavior has become normalized in our daily lives. It has become ingrained within us and causes us to drift further away from God. Ultimately, Remnant divinity emphasizes the importance of obeying God and fulfilling our purpose.

Throughout biblical history, Israel and the Church have been perceived from three distinct perspectives. The initial perspective suggests that the Church has taken over Israel's role because Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah. This outlook resulted in animosity towards Jewish people and had negative consequences. It not only bred bitterness towards Jews but also led Christians to believe that Israel was no longer chosen by God. On the other hand, the second perspective argues for complete separation between Israel and the ChurchThis perspective, advocated by dispensational theologians, disseminated the notion that God has already fulfilled his prophecies, which caused confusion for contemporary churches who believed that the prophecies in the Old Testament had already come to pass. The concept of Remnant divinity

is the final position that delineates the connection between Israel and the Church. According to Remnant divinity, both Israel and the Church endure because of God's Remnant people. This belief teaches us that God values a small group of faithful believers more than a large group of lukewarm believers. Throughout all aspects of divinities, we should perceive Israel and the Church as one unified entity. From the outset, God's plan for Israel and the Church was to unite them as a single entity. God never intended to "replace" or "separate" them but rather to bring them together. It is crucial for us not to judge or interfere with God's plans. His desire is for us to bring redemption and peace into the world, not to destroy it.
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