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The Error of Replacement Theology Part I

"Replacement Theology is a misguided systematic approach to the Bible that has not only led millions of Christians astray over the years but it has, in addition, birthed evil of the most horrific proportions. Replacement Theology played a role in the persecution of Jews by the church through the centuries, including the Holocaust." (quote by Malcolm Hedding)

Replacement theology is the ‘opinion' that Israel , having failed God, has been replaced by the Church. The Church is now seen as spiritual Israel and spiritual Jerusalem . This theology claims that all the promises and blessings, in fact Israel 's entire inheritance, now belongs to the Church. (Israel, however, gets to keep the curses.)

Replacement Theology was first established at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, but the idea was preached as early as the late first century CE by some of the ‘Church Fathers'. During the last 1600 years, Reformations and Revivals have come and gone, new denominations have sprung up, but this root of Replacement Theology which continues to produce its anti-Semitic fruit, has not been cut off. This is a great stumbling block to the Jews as it prevents them from recognizing their own Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus. As the prophet Isaiah says: "...Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people" Isaiah 57:14b.

Christians need to sever themselves from this lie and be grafted into God’s true Olive Tree - a tree which is deeply rooted in the unconditional Covenants of HaShem. Replacement Theology robs us from understanding the heart of God. It robs us from the security of truly trusting in His faithfulness. By understanding God’s everlasting commitment towards Israel , we understand something of who God is. Gentile believers in Yeshua/Jesus are not supposed to be an entity outside of, or instead of Israel , but are to become part of the Commonwealth of Israel . God does not have two Frameworks, He has only one - Israel - His everlasting possession. He has given His Name to no other. This is the 'Framework of Torah', in which Yeshua/Jesus was born and in which the early believers operated. The true Torah observant Messianic Community is within the Household of Israel . To believe in Replacement Theology is to sever oneself from the root and to become part of another framework instituted originally by Rome . This is a false institution, founded on anti-Torah doctrines.

HaShem has in no way either rejected or replaced Israel and the Jewish people. His covenant with them is unconditional and non- transferable. God’s covenants and promises were never based on Israel 's good behavior, but were based on God’s faithfulness toward His people. Although the Jewish people have suffered the consequences of breaking God’s Laws, just as all do, they have not been replaced or rejected. They remain forever the only witness to the one true God. The scriptures make that quite clear.

"But you, O Israel , my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." Isaiah 41:8,9

"This is what the L-RD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the L-RD Almighty is his name: ‘Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,' declares the L-RD, ‘will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me." Jeremiah 31:35,36

"How can I give you up Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel ?..... for I am God and not man." Hosea 11:8,9

"I have loved you with an everlasting love.." Jeremiah 31:3

"O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the L-RD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant..." 1Chronicles 16:13 -17

"For the L-RD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance." Deuteronomy 32:9

"He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant..." Psalm 105:8-10

"He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel . He has done this for no other nation." Psalm 147:19,20

"The L-RD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance." Psalm 94:14

"I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!" Romans 11:1

"Remember that at one time you were separated from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise... Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.." Ephesians 2:12 &19

"Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either." Romans 11:20,21

"The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Galatians 3:17,18. Author Clarence Wagner