Christian heritage part II

by Phil Bliss

Replacement Theology

A common theology that has developed in our history as a church of people serving God is that we often feel we have found some favor with God that the Jews no longer have. That we have in some way replaced the Jewish people as God’s chosen people and because of their rejection of Christ as their messiah, God has chosen His church to receive the blessings He would have otherwise bestowed upon Israel.

There are various derivations of this theology as well, but the common thread is that the church is different than the Jews and in some way has taken over. The scriptures however are quite clear that we are adopted as sons and daughters and are heirs to Abraham by faith. (Romans 4). Why Paul even said that God did not reject His people. (Romans 11).

A careful look at the 1st and 2nd century church will show you that the church started out as believing Jews, but just like we have many denominations, so did the religion of the Jews have many sects. The Pharisees and Sadducees are the most commonly known for they are mentioned more than any other in the Gospels, but there were also the Qumran’s and Essenes as well. Today in modern day Judaism there are Hasidic and Orthodox Jews. Divisions among people are common, but it in no way dictates that God has chosen one group over another. Even in the church today, there are denominations that feel God favors them more than others and this is unbiblical and just plain ignorant as well.

Though it is true that unbelieving Jews, like any unbeliever, will not share in the kingdom of Heaven, they are still loved by God and with their faith, enter through This is one small example of how the richness of the Hebrew scriptures was fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament. If we stay so focused on the New Testament and the New Testament church, we will never fully understand why we are who we are. Sure we accept by faith who we are in Jesus Christ, for there is no other way. But a look at our heritage through the Hebrew and subsequent Jewish people gives so much more fullness of faith.

Concluding Thoughts

We all will some day leave this world and when we do, it is likely that it will continue on for a time. Unless of course we are fortunate enough to see Jesus return and are as Paul tells us changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Thess 4:17). When we leave, those who loved us and were our friends and family will probably remember us for a time, but as they grow older, our memories will too and eventually even memories of us will be distant and possibly even lost.

I think of how my grandfather left behind a rich heritage of understanding and demonstration of faith in His Bible. But as my children grow up they will know that he once lived, but will likely not be able to remember what he looked like outside of a picture. Thus is also part of our human nature and growth.

fortunately for us, we have a recorded history of not only the earliest church (in the book of Acts), but also a picture of the church that was to come and the savior that was to come in the Hebrew Scriptures. We are also quite fortunate to be able to learn about such people as Justin Martyr and Ignatius of Antioch and Bishop Polycarp who all died a martyr but not before recording fascinating stories of the development of Christianity in the 1st and 2nd centuries.

Their stories too can show us how we have grown as a church and as people of God. Ultimately though one truth is woven through the thread of our heritage. We were created by God to be what we have not chosen to be. We all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). From Abraham to Peter and from Moses and Elijah to the Apostle Paul, even the greatest of God’s servants still had to have faith in God’s plan of salvation to be saved from the penalty of sin. Paul used Moses’ historical precepts and we use Paul’s, but both are equally important for our understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus. We are broken by sin, restored by grace, and saved by our faith.

If we don’t give attention to where we came from, we may very well end up making the same mistakes that others have made, and we will never know we are making the same mistakes, if we never knew what those mistakes were. Likewise, if we don’t know how we have come to this point in history, we are likely to not grow more but rather repeat what has already been done to bring us where we are now.

Reflections - One with the father and the son.

Reflection is a mirror of oneself. As Christians our reflection should be that of our Lord Jesus. The world around us looks at those who profess to be saved by grace and we are the mirror that they look into if our reflection is in a worldly attitude then that is the reflection the world sees.

John 18:20-21 I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. [21] My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one; Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible Apologetics Study Bible, Hardcover

Real Questions. Straight Answers. Stronger Faith. The Apologetics Study Bible will help today’s Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. 2240 pages, from Broadman & Holman.

The Apologetics Study Bible features valuable contributions from a who’s-who of modern apologists such as Chuck Colson, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, J. P. Moreland, and Phil Johnson.

Other features include:

  • The full text of the popular Holman Christian Standard Bible® translation
  • Two-color page layout
  • Introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics
  • 10 point text
  • Double-column format
  • Book Outlines
  • Translation Footnotes
  • Articles on ethics, science, archaeology, philosophy, and non-Christian belief systems
  • Study notes that explain "problem" passages
  • Sidebars on Scriptures misused by cults
  • Profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C. S. Lewis
  • Plan of Salvation
  • Hardcover
  • 6 3/4" x 9" x 1 1/2"

The Prodigal Heirs - Audiobook on Cassette
By Chuck Missler

Has God abandoned Israel? Has the Church "replaced" Israel? The Bible is very clear about the different origins, roles, and destinies of Israel and the Church. It also describes how God feels about people who "say they are Jews but are not." It is dangerous, as well as destructive, to automatically transfer the promises that God gave Israel to the Church. Chuck Missler explores the controversies and misunderstandings of these two prophetically relevant groups, as well as a big surprise on our near horizon! He also reviews popular myths such as: Replacement Theology, Israel rejected her messiah; therefore she forfeited the promises to her, The Church, thus, replaces Israel, becoming "spiritual Israel," etc., and The Lost Ten Tribes Theory. The myth of the "Ten Lost Tribes" is the basis for "British-Israelism" and similar legends, but has no real Biblical basis. It is based upon misconceptions derived from the misreading of passages such as II Kings 17:7-23, II Chronicles 6:6-11, and so on. Notes included. 2 cassettes.

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