Certain schools of theology, mainly Covenant (a), contend that the Church in her present form is but a continuation of God’s one purpose from the beginning of the human family (b). They speak of an “Old Testament Church” and seek to relate this to the one Body that constitutes the New Testament revelation (c). The fact that Jews (O.T. Jews—NC) are invited into fellowship in one Body with Gentiles is no warrant for the belief that O.T. saints are included in this new divine purpose.
Arguments for an O.T. church are usually based on: 1. the fact that the O.T. sacrifices looked forward to Christ; 2. that Israel was a sanctified nation; 3. that there was a godly remnant in each of Israel’s generations; 4. that the Septuagint translates the word which indicates an assembly of gathering of people by the word ekkleesia.
These arguments are insufficient at every point: 1. The sacrifice of Christ serves for both dispensations and looks backward (d) as well and forward (Rom 3:25, 26); 2. There are multiplied distinctions to be drawn between Israel and the Church whereby they are seen to be different in almost every particular. 3. The remnant were none other than members of the nation with no special privilege (e). 4. The word ekkleesia is properly used of a gathering of people at anytime and anywhere, but this does not constitute any congregation in Israel to be the Body and Bride of Christ (f).
The assertions that the N.T. mystery in Christ is composed of all saints in all ages (even O.T. saints—NC) seems to lack a consideration of the issues involved. If the Church is a continuous purpose of God throughout the dispensations, why the rent veil (which allowed direct access without the high priest—NC)? Why Pentecost (to take a believer from carnal to spiritual by the Holy Spirit using a new nature—NC)? Why the distinctive messages of the Epistles which are properly identified as Church truth (containing doctrines not accessible to non-Christians—NC)?
Why the present headship and ministry of Christ in heaven (related only to the Church in Christ—NC)? Why the visitation of the Gentiles now and not before? Why the present indwelling of the Holy Spirit of all who believe? Why the baptism of the Spirit, unique in the N.T.? Why only earthly promises to Israel, and only heavenly promises to the Church? Why did Christ confine His earthly ministry to Israel (Mat 15:24) and yet in the end of that ministry direct His disciples to go into all the world?
Why should the divinely-given rule of life be changed from law to grace? Why is Israel likened to the repudiated wife of Jehovah (Isa 54:5), and the Church likened to the espoused Bride of Christ? Why the new day—“the day of Christ” (Phl 1:10; 2:16; 2Th 2:2)—with its rapture and resurrection of believers, with its rewards for service and suffering (1Co 3:14, 15)—a day never seen in the O.T.? Why the mysteries in the N.T., including that new Body in Christ?
Why the New Creation (2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15) comprising, as it does, of all those who by the Spirit are joined to the Lord and so forever in Christ? How could there be a Church, constructed as she is, until the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost? How could the Church, in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile, be any part of Israel in this or any other age?
If these questions, and the many more that might be propounded, are answered from the Scriptures, the conclusion must be that the Church, the New Creation in Christ, which is made up of both Jew and Gentile, is a new purpose of God and constitutes the primary divine objective of this dispensation (which the prior dispensation led to—NC).
—Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952)
a. Covenant theology mistakenly teaches that all of the O.T. saints that are not Christians will also share in the blessings of being part of the Body and Bride of Christ—NC.
b. i.e. beginning with Adam until now—NC.
c. N.T. revelation that Jewish and Gentile Christians are the Body and Bride of Christ—NC.
d. O.T. saints were forgiven (accepted of God) as they believed in the sin sacrifices offered by the priests (Num 15:25), but this did not lead to an establishment in Christianity, it just directed to it (Gal 3:24, 25):
and the majority of the Jews chose to disbelieve in Christ. They knew the sacrifices lead to One who was coming that would deliver them from sin but didn’t believe or know it was the Lord Jesus—NC.
e. Israel assumed she would have special privileges because they were Abraham’s decedents. Though this was true at one time (Rom 9:4, 5), but not now during the absence of fellowship with God for not believing in Christ. There will be a restoration for God’s people Israel, but it will not involve the blessing of Son-ship, with God being their Father. The Father will continue as being their “Husband” (Isa 54:5, 6; Jer 3:14; Hos 2:20).
f. It’s acceptable to consider the congregation of Israel as a church in God, but not part of “the Church” in Christ—which is of the Body and Bride of Christ. Most Israelites do not believe in Christ and therefore are not part of His Body or Church (Col 1:18)—NC).
MJS daily devotional for December 28
“The teachings of the kingdom (as illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount) have not yet been applied to any man. Since they anticipate the binding of Satan, a purified earth, the restoration of Israel, and the personal reign of the King, they cannot be applied until God’s appointed time when these accompanying conditions on the earth have been brought to pass.
“The kingdom laws will be addressed to Israel and beyond them to all nations which will enter the kingdom. It will be the first and only universal reign of righteousness and peace in the history of the world. One nation was in view when the Law of Moses was in force on the earth; the individual is in view during this age of grace; and the whole social structure of mankind will be in view when the kingdom is established on earth.
“Christianity is totally opposed to Judaism, and any mixture of the two must result in the loss of all that is vital in the present plan of salvation. One made its appeal to the limited resources of the natural man and conditioned his life on the earth; the other sets aside the natural man, secures a whole new creation in Christ Jesus, and counsels that new being in his pilgrim journey to his heavenly home.
“The Jewish nation is the center of all things related to the earth. The Church is foreign to the earth and related to it only as a witnessing people. They are strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors whose citizenship is in heaven.”
—Lewis Sperry Chafer
Arguments for an O.T. church are usually based on: 1. the fact that the O.T. sacrifices looked forward to Christ; 2. that Israel was a sanctified nation; 3. that there was a godly remnant in each of Israel’s generations; 4. that the Septuagint translates the word which indicates an assembly of gathering of people by the word ekkleesia.
These arguments are insufficient at every point: 1. The sacrifice of Christ serves for both dispensations and looks backward (d) as well and forward (Rom 3:25, 26); 2. There are multiplied distinctions to be drawn between Israel and the Church whereby they are seen to be different in almost every particular. 3. The remnant were none other than members of the nation with no special privilege (e). 4. The word ekkleesia is properly used of a gathering of people at anytime and anywhere, but this does not constitute any congregation in Israel to be the Body and Bride of Christ (f).
The assertions that the N.T. mystery in Christ is composed of all saints in all ages (even O.T. saints—NC) seems to lack a consideration of the issues involved. If the Church is a continuous purpose of God throughout the dispensations, why the rent veil (which allowed direct access without the high priest—NC)? Why Pentecost (to take a believer from carnal to spiritual by the Holy Spirit using a new nature—NC)? Why the distinctive messages of the Epistles which are properly identified as Church truth (containing doctrines not accessible to non-Christians—NC)?
Why the present headship and ministry of Christ in heaven (related only to the Church in Christ—NC)? Why the visitation of the Gentiles now and not before? Why the present indwelling of the Holy Spirit of all who believe? Why the baptism of the Spirit, unique in the N.T.? Why only earthly promises to Israel, and only heavenly promises to the Church? Why did Christ confine His earthly ministry to Israel (Mat 15:24) and yet in the end of that ministry direct His disciples to go into all the world?
Why should the divinely-given rule of life be changed from law to grace? Why is Israel likened to the repudiated wife of Jehovah (Isa 54:5), and the Church likened to the espoused Bride of Christ? Why the new day—“the day of Christ” (Phl 1:10; 2:16; 2Th 2:2)—with its rapture and resurrection of believers, with its rewards for service and suffering (1Co 3:14, 15)—a day never seen in the O.T.? Why the mysteries in the N.T., including that new Body in Christ?
Why the New Creation (2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15) comprising, as it does, of all those who by the Spirit are joined to the Lord and so forever in Christ? How could there be a Church, constructed as she is, until the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost? How could the Church, in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile, be any part of Israel in this or any other age?
If these questions, and the many more that might be propounded, are answered from the Scriptures, the conclusion must be that the Church, the New Creation in Christ, which is made up of both Jew and Gentile, is a new purpose of God and constitutes the primary divine objective of this dispensation (which the prior dispensation led to—NC).
—Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952)
a. Covenant theology mistakenly teaches that all of the O.T. saints that are not Christians will also share in the blessings of being part of the Body and Bride of Christ—NC.
b. i.e. beginning with Adam until now—NC.
c. N.T. revelation that Jewish and Gentile Christians are the Body and Bride of Christ—NC.
d. O.T. saints were forgiven (accepted of God) as they believed in the sin sacrifices offered by the priests (Num 15:25), but this did not lead to an establishment in Christianity, it just directed to it (Gal 3:24, 25):
and the majority of the Jews chose to disbelieve in Christ. They knew the sacrifices lead to One who was coming that would deliver them from sin but didn’t believe or know it was the Lord Jesus—NC.
e. Israel assumed she would have special privileges because they were Abraham’s decedents. Though this was true at one time (Rom 9:4, 5), but not now during the absence of fellowship with God for not believing in Christ. There will be a restoration for God’s people Israel, but it will not involve the blessing of Son-ship, with God being their Father. The Father will continue as being their “Husband” (Isa 54:5, 6; Jer 3:14; Hos 2:20).
f. It’s acceptable to consider the congregation of Israel as a church in God, but not part of “the Church” in Christ—which is of the Body and Bride of Christ. Most Israelites do not believe in Christ and therefore are not part of His Body or Church (Col 1:18)—NC).
MJS daily devotional for December 28
“The teachings of the kingdom (as illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount) have not yet been applied to any man. Since they anticipate the binding of Satan, a purified earth, the restoration of Israel, and the personal reign of the King, they cannot be applied until God’s appointed time when these accompanying conditions on the earth have been brought to pass.
“The kingdom laws will be addressed to Israel and beyond them to all nations which will enter the kingdom. It will be the first and only universal reign of righteousness and peace in the history of the world. One nation was in view when the Law of Moses was in force on the earth; the individual is in view during this age of grace; and the whole social structure of mankind will be in view when the kingdom is established on earth.
“Christianity is totally opposed to Judaism, and any mixture of the two must result in the loss of all that is vital in the present plan of salvation. One made its appeal to the limited resources of the natural man and conditioned his life on the earth; the other sets aside the natural man, secures a whole new creation in Christ Jesus, and counsels that new being in his pilgrim journey to his heavenly home.
“The Jewish nation is the center of all things related to the earth. The Church is foreign to the earth and related to it only as a witnessing people. They are strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors whose citizenship is in heaven.”
—Lewis Sperry Chafer
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