Mark Tronson, in the first article in this series, showed how there was conflict in Biblical texts about whether Christ at the Cross superceded the Old Covenant between God and the Jewish people. This is referred to as Replacement Theology, and it is commonly taught at seminaries all over the world. For the first article see au.christiantoday.com/article/replacement-theology-1-its-difficulties/7740.htm
However, his view (supported by other Biblical writings) is that the Old Covenant still stands. In other words, he rejects 'Replacement Theology' as a valid philosophy. In this second article on the subject, he cites Biblical announcements that support God's unchanging nature of this Covenant, and show that His purpose was made very clear about his ongoing relationship with His People (the Jews). He confirmed it with an oath' (Hebrews 6 verse 17). God bound Himself by an oath!
God's covenant with Israel was affirmed by Jesus (Matthew 19 verse 28), Paul articulated it (Romams 9-11) and the gates of the New Jerusalem announce it forever (The Revelation 22 verses 11-12). Israel is God's covenant people. "Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you." (Jeremiah 30 verse 11). "Will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before Me" declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31 verses 35-37). "For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them" (Jeremiah 33 verses 23-26)
The next question is, what exactly did God promise Abraham and his descendants? How long are His promises good for? "He remembers His covenant forever" (Psalm 105 verses 8-11). "They (Jews) are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable" (Romans 11 verses 28-29). God's covenant with Abraham is just as unconditional and everlasting as His covenant with the Church. The Lord "saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3 verse 5).
M V Tronson makes the point that God's covenants with Israel and with the Church are based on His promise, not our performance. Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church both stood, and still stand, by grace. It is noteworthy, that a fundamental tenet of the Koran is that both Israel and the Church failed and now they have "replaced" both the Jews and the Church.
If God could replace Israel, in spite of His unconditional, everlasting promises, then He could replace the Church! If you hold to a theology that says, "God has forsaken physical Israel," or "The Church has replaced Israel," maybe the Koran is right!
Simeon in Luke 2, M V Tronson explains, reveals a link between the Old and New Covenant: Verse 26 – "And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Verse 32 – Simeon's prophecy – "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."
M V Tronson says that Simeon was assured by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. This is where dreams and visions come into play.
Dr Stuart Robinson in his book "Mosques and Miracles" details some extraordinary stories of how Muslims have come to faith in Jesus Christ through dreams. Like Aboriginal people, they believe that dreams are often predictive, whereas we westerners might only think that we had too much hot chocolate the night before. We have no English language syntax equivalent to the New Testament Greek language, to help us consider such things that are so strange to us.
Some examples: Matthew 22 verse 32 "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Issac and the God of Jacob - God is not the God of the dead but of the Living." Mark 9 verse 4 "And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus." John 10 verse 39 – "Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but he escaped out of their hand." Acts 9 - Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch – again he disappeared.
These and many other examples reveal the "supernatural" which to the western mind finds difficult. Yet, it is to these very truths of the supernatural that we hold and attest as central to our beliefs, the key example is the "resurrection of Jesus".
Mark Tronson says that it is to this area that there is a Jewish Messianic option on the table which gathers in this strange supernatural context for which our western minds are so unfamiliar. In a nutshell, it's the Salvation story from the viewpoint as "Jews of the Covenant" for our third presentation.
This involves a mindset change that will expand your reflections as reflected in Isaiah 54 vesres 2-3: "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited."
And in Isaiah 58 verse 11, challenges the reader to be open to something different. "The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones' You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
In the third in this series of articles, Mark Tronson will continue this discussion, on the aspect of this other option for the reader's theological consideration.