Israel and New Covenant Theology

A review of Jon Zens article and the rest of the story: http://searchingtogether.org/articles/zens/israel.htm

I agree with most of what Jon Zens says about Israel. However it is what Jon does not say that is most disconcerting. While it is true that Israel has no role in some supposed dispensational reestablishment of the law of Moses, it is obvious that God was at work in permitting the holocaust in World War 2, and in permitting the reestablishment of the nation of Israel.

I do not want to be misunderstood here. I am shaken to the core at the acts committed by Hitler and the Nazis. I certainly take no pleasure in knowing that millions of people who were my ancestors were brutally murdered by those monsters. But I also believe in predestination, and must understand that few will be saved, and even few Jews will be saved in these last of last days. For more study regarding predestination and dispensationalism please go to the  following site:

http://www.newcovenanttheology.com/doctrine.html   

It is certainly true that Israel as a physical nation  is not operating as the chosen people of God and will never be so because the true believers in Jesus Christ are the true children of God. Yet in Romans chapter 11 it is also clear that the Gentiles would stop hearing the word, and their fullness would become manifest, and the Jews would start believing the gospel! I am half Jewish, adopted and raised as a Gentile. I believe this process of Jewish believers is beginning. Jesus said that the raising up of the fig tree would signal the end of the end times. This establishment of Israel is a sign that we are in the last moments, and that God is no longer at enmity with Jews. It is also a sign that the Gentiles need be concerned about their place in the community of God.

This is also in keeping with the words of Jesus when he asked if there would be faith on the earth when he returns. Faith is alive by the slimmest of margins even now. I repeat, faith is alive by the slimmest of margins even now.      

Certainly Zens is correct when he says that Israel will not be the chosen nation, and the law of Moses will not be established as we have the new law of Christ. (Heb. ch 7)

It is true that Jesus already walked on the Mt of Olives during his ministry, which is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant prophecy. Jesus need not walk on the earth again prior to it melting with a fervent heat. There is no need for a holy Israel as Jesus is already the king of the true Israel of God as shown in Acts chapter 13. He is already on the throne of David and need not sit on a carnal legalistic throne when the glory of the New Covenant is greater. It is hidden from the world but it is greater than the Old Covenant age. See also http://www.newcovenanttheology.com/dispensation.html and http://www.newcovenanttheology.com/doctrine.html for more complete discussions on this subject of the end times and dispensational error.  

Nevertheless, on balance, redemptive history is taking some on some changes that Jon Zens simply knows nothing about. He has been told but chooses to ignore these changes WITHIN the body of Christ, ie the true church of God. He is satisfied with his article, and cannot understand the changes that affect the body of the Lord. The truth that Gentiles may soon be left out of the plan of true faith as their fullness is completed is a sobering reality.

A Letter to Monte Horowitz, Messianic Rabbi, Congregation B'Nai Yeshua, Messianic synagogue, Fresno, California:

9/14/96

Dear Monte,

The Protestants, such as John Calvin, made a grave error in believing that circumcision has its fulfillment in adult and infant baptism. The Protestants brought the type, which is really fulfilled as the circumcision made without hands, over into the New Covenant age in veiled form. The result is a doctrine of bondage, and covenant children too young to believe. the leveling of the Covenants destroys the truth that the New Covenant is superior to the Old (Moses). The historical Protestants command us to hear Moses. They do not understand that Moses spoke of Christ as the fulfillment of the law. (Acts 3:22-24)

Since the children of the bondwoman who seek righteousness by the Law of Moses outnumber and persecute the children of promise, the children of the freewoman, it is not a surprise that legalists everywhere seek to destroy the faith of the spiritual children of Abraham. So then, when you sing praises of Israel, it must be the praises of the New Jerusalem, which is the abode of the true believers. (Gal. 4:22-31) We believers are the twelve tribes now (James 1:1), who continue in the perfect law of Liberty (James 1:21-25). If you uphold this basic principle, that the physical teaches of the spiritual, then you will avoid the errors of the covenant theologians (historical Protestants) and of the dispensationalists (Scofield and Ryrie.)

Calvin required Sabbath keeping and Scofield taught the one sacred day in seven doctrine, as well as the revival of the sabbath in a future Israel re-burdened with the entire law of Moses. There needs to be no more earthly temple, because the believers called into one spiritual body, who hold the truth in their hearts, are the everlasting temple of Jesus Christ, Himself being the chief cornerstone. But if we build that which has been destroyed, we make ourselves transgressors of the Law of Christ. (Gal. 2:18)

Yours truly,

Gary Anderson

Of course, Monte and the Messianic Jews who I know reject the truth of the letter above. In fact another of the elders at that Fresno congregation believed that if you don't keep all of the sabbath days of the Old Covenant, that you are missing a blessing. Unless you are raised to keep all those days already, what incredible bondage they are held captive by! And even Peter, who was raised under the law, chose not to live by the law of Moses. (Gal. 2:14)

And this elder knew I was raised as a Gentile, so he was attempting to put me into bondage! If any of you who are Jewish by birth or conversion or who are members of Messianic Jewish congregations hear this gospel of Liberty in Christ, feel free to contact me at bgamall@hotmail.com

 

 

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Many Messianic Jewish congregations are part of Protestant or Dispensationalist churches. These churches include Southern Baptists (Covenant Theology), Seventh Day Adventists (Their Own Form of Legalism), Assembly of God (Free Will, False Charismatics, Dispensationalist), Calvary Chapel (Free Will, Dispensationalist), Foursquare Gospel (Free Will, Charismatic, Dispensationlist) and the list goes on.  Jewish Christians must, and I repeat must separate from these Protestant/Dispensationalist fellowships if they want to walk in the Spirit of Christ. There can be no compromise in this matter. They must accept a Sovereign Grace, New Covenant Theological position if they want to be free in Christ!