Expansion Theology

[[Re-post of a previous article, with a better title so as not to confuse people.]]

What is Supersessionism? Supersessionism is nothing more than a fancy word for Replacement theology. Has the Church replaced Israel in the promises of God? Yes and no. You see, what the Bible teaches is not "Replacement" theology but Expansion theology.

All through the Old Testament God prophesied of the Gentile Inclusion (Is. 11:10; 42:1, 6; 49:6; 56:6-7; 66:19; Amos 9:11-12; et al). When you get to the New Testament, you see the Gentile Inclusion clearly. In Galatians 3, it is made clear that "it is those who are of the faith who are sons of Abraham" (v. 7), contrasted against Romans 9, which states that "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants" (vv. 6-7). Galatians continues by saying that "the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as referring to many, but rather to one, ' And to your seed,' that is, Christ" (v. 16). The Gentile Inclusion is clinched when it says that "if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise" (v. 29). In Ephesians 2, it is made clear that, although Gentiles were formerly "separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (v. 12), that now they "have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (v.13), having "broke down the barrier of the dividing wall" (v. 14) that "He might make the two [believing Israel and believing Gentiles] into one new man" (v. 15) and "reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross" (v. 16). Ephesians continues by saying that Gentiles "are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [believing Jews from the Old Testament], and are of God's household" (v. 19).

The Gentile Inclusion is made especially clear from Romans 11, where Paul divides national Israel into two separate groups: Believing Israel and Unbelieving Israel. According to Romans 2:28-29, what does this say about Unbelieving Israel? That "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly...But he is a Jew who is one inwardly..." According to Romans 9:6-8, what does this say about Unbelieving Israel? That "they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants..." Even though Unbelieving Israel are physical Israel, they are not Israel. How can this be? Let us see how. According to Romans 2:28-29 and 9:6-8, what does this say about Believing Israel? That they are true Jews and that they are true Israel. Even though Believing Israel are physical Israel, they are also true Israel. What does this mean? That true Israel is a spiritual Israel. Remember, Paul just divided national Israel into two separate groups and said that national, physical, unbelieving Israel are not true Jews even though they are descended from Israel. As you read Romans 11 further, the Gentile Inclusion is clenched. Where are Believing Gentiles grafted? In with Believing Israel. Believing Gentiles "became partaker with them [Believing Israel]" (v. 17). According to Romans 2:28-29 and 9:6-8 (as well as Galatians 3), what does that make Believing Gentiles? True Jews; true Israel.

In John 10, Jesus even said "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd" (v. 16). That is the Gentile Inclusion right there. Jesus does not have two flocks; He does not have two bodies; He does not have two brides. Jesus has one flock, one body, one bride—one Church. The Church consists of believing Jews and believing Gentiles; Old Testament believers and New Testament believers. To separate the body of Christ into two groups is not only unbiblical, it is also ludicrous and insane. National Israel is nothing and means nothing. True Israel is Christ Jesus Himself, to whom belong Believing Israel and Believing Gentiles, all being grafted into Him together. Ephesians makes it clear: "having been built on the foundation of the Apostles [New Testament believers] and Prophets [Old Testament believers], Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone" (v. 20). What is this holy temple that Believing Israel and Believing Gentiles are being fitted together and built into? The Church! If Believing Israel and Believing Gentiles are Christians, and they are, what does that tell us? That the true Israel becomes the Church of Christ and the Church of Christ emerges as the true Israel. In other words, true Israel is the true Church, and the true Church is true Israel. The promises of God still apply to Israel—true Israel, spiritual Israel—but they also now apply to the Church, made up of Believing Israel and Believing Gentiles. Paul refers to this as a "mystery" and says that Israel is hardened "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (v. 25). Into what? Into true, spiritual Israel. In Ephesians 3, Paul makes this mystery known as plainly and clearly as possible: “the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (v. 6).

There are not two paths to God. God does not have two plans of salvation; one by race and the other by grace. All mankind, Jewish or Gentile, must come to and through Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour or else there is no salvation for them! When Romans 11:26 says "in this way all Israel will be saved," it is speaking of the "mystery" of the Gentile Inclusion. Expansion theology. Has the Church replaced Israel in the promises of God? Yes and no. No, because it is not speaking of national Israel but of spiritual Israel. Yes, because it is speaking of spiritual Israel and not of national Israel.