The Equality of Jews and Gentiles in the Church

In a previous blog post, I answered the objections of a brother who did not respond positively to my answer to his questions about amillennialism. Sadly, the brother continued to accuse me of allegorical interpretation, of eisegesis, of promoting "Replacement Theology" heresy, and of pride while failing to interact with the Scriptural arguments I had presented. To these, he added the charge of anti-semitism, claimed that I could not define the church, and claimed Revelation 20 cannot refer to the present time because Isaiah 65:20 teaches that there will be no infant death in the millennium and people would be living to 100 years of age. To his credit, he approved of my view on "salvific essentials," and advised me to pray about my view of eschatology and to keep searching. This blog post includes some of my answer.

Isaiah 65 refers to the eternal state in the new heavens and new earth (Isa. 65:17). It specifically says this in verse 17. It is also, incidentally, a vision using Old Testament pictures and earthly figures to illustrate what the eternal state will be like. If not interpreted as such, one would have to conclude that there is literally death still in the eternal state, which is absurd and contrary to all the rest of Scripture which speaks to the subject of eternal life (e.g., I Cor. 15:53-54). Update: Amazingly, his answer to my explanation of Isaiah 65 was that the "new heavens and new earth" referred to the millennial kingdom--not very literal for a dispensationalist!

I was not previously asked to define the church. Here is my definition: The church is the company of the predestinate. That is, all the elect in Christ from the beginning of history to the end. In the pre-diluvian world, the church was gathered from the line of Seth, until only Noah's family remained. Afterwards, the church was gathered from the line of Abraham. Now, the church is gathered from both Jews and Gentiles, as the Scripture says:

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham (Gal 3:7-9).

And again:

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him (Rom 10:12).

We are the circumcision: 

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3).

We are the true Jews: 

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Rom 2:28-29).

Do you, reader, call this heresy and antisemitism? Are you offended by this word? The Jews were also offended, and many to their eternal destruction, as Isaiah prophesied:

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Rom 9:33).

Here is the offence to the unbelieving Jew, that the believer is blessed, and not the mere physical descendants:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham (Matt. 3:9).

Christ has broken the partition between Jew and Gentile by His cross. We share in the same inheritance and the same promises and the same kingdom:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but **fellowcitizens** with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord (Eph. 2:11-21).

And again:

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be **fellowheirs**, and **of the same body**, and **partakers of his promise** in Christ by the gospel (Eph. 3:4-6).

Not those of the law are heirs, but those of faith:

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect (Rom 4:13-14).

And the promise of Canaan was the promise of the world pictured by Canaan: the heavenly country which Abraham desired and looked for.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city (Heb. 11:16).

God is therefore ashamed of those who look for an earthly kingdom. The gospel which Christ came to preach, and which we believe and follow, is the gospel of the kingdom of heaven:

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).