1. Israel and the Church in God’s Plans

2. Israel’s Beginnings Genesis 12:2-3: A great nation will come from Abraham that will bring blessings to the families and nations of the earth (Gen 22:18). Israel comes from the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and then the twelve sons of Jacob.

3. God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt so that the nation could be a kingdom of priests to the world. (Exodus 19:5-6) If Israel keeps God’s commandments the nations of the world will be attracted to God (Deut 4:5-6).

4. If Israel obeys God, Israel will be blessed and blessings will come to the world. Israel will also be the vehicle for the coming Messiah.

5. Deuteronomy 30:1-10: God predicts that Israel will disobey God, be dispersed to the nations, but then saved and brought back to the land of Israel.

6. The high point of Israel’s kingdom occurred under Solomon. (1 Kings 8-10) Israel had many descendants. Israel had land. Israel had a son of David as king. Israel had a temple Nations were beginning to come to Israel for wisdom

7. With 1 Kings 11 Solomon turns away from God and puts Israel on a trajectory of disobedience that eventually leads to captivity and dispersion. Assyrian Captivity (722 B.C.) Babylonian Captivity (605 B.C)

8. Prophets predict a coming day when Israel will be a blessing to the world Isaiah 2:2-4 Isaiah 11 Isaiah 19:24-25

9. Israel was to be the center of God’s kingdom on earth under the Messiah. The model nation that leads the world in service and worship..

10. Jesus arrives and presents nearness of the kingdom to Israel Matt 3:2 Matt 4:17 Matt 10:5-7

11. The cities of Israel do not believe (Matt 11:20-24) The leaders of Israel do not believe (Matt 12)

12. Judgment, not blessing, would come to the present generation of Israel. Matt 23:37-39 Luke 19:41-44 Luke 21:20-24

13. The focus of God’s plan in this age becomes the church Matt 16:18

14. The Church defined: The New Covenant community of saved Jews and Gentiles between the two comings of Jesus. From Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) through the Rapture.

15. The Church’s mission in this age between the two comings of Jesus and the restoration of Israel is to take the Gospel to the world. Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 Acts 1:6-8

16. The Church in this age teaches and defends the truth: 1 Timothy 3:15: “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

17. The church has been handed the baton of the Gospel and the Kingdom message.

18. Yet the church is not the final phase of God’s kingdom program. God still intends to establish a worldwide kingdom on the earth Rev 5:10 Rev 2:26-27 Rev 3:21

19. Israel will be restored as a nation Matt 19:28 Acts 1:6

20. Israel’s coming salvation will bring more blessings to the world. I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [f] fulfillment be.... For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?f

21. Romans 11:26—salvation of Israel.

22. The church and Israel are distinct. Israel consists of the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. Jewish believers are the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16) The church consists of believing Jews and Gentiles in this age (Eph 2:11— 3:6)

23. Nowhere is the church called “Israel” in the Bible. The view that the church is the new spiritual Israel who takes over Israel’s role is called “Replacement Theology” or “Supersessionism”

24. The best way to refute Replacement Theology is to use Scripture that speaks of a future salvation and restoration of Israel Luke 1:32-33 Matt 19:28 Acts 1:6 Romans 11:26 Revelation 7:4-8 Revelation 12