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Replacement Theology is an approach to the Bible that has not only misled millions of Christians over the years but it has also given birth to evil of the most horrific kind. Replacement Theology, with its disguised anti-Semitic propaganda, played a role in the persecution of Jews by the Church throughout the centuries. Could a person as important as Martin Luther*, the great reformer of the Protestant Movement, as well as the church he came from (Roman Catholic) among many others be related and influenced the events of the Holocaust?
Replacement theology is the "belief or opinion" that Israel, having failed YHWH, has been replaced by the Gentile Church. The Church is now seen as an "spiritual Israel" (a term not in the Bible). This theology claims that all the promises and blessings, in fact, Israel's entire inheritance, now belongs to the Church. Israel, however, gets to keep the curses and the Law.
Replacement Theology was first established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, but the idea was preached as early as the late first century CE by some of the "Church Fathers". During the last 1600 years, reformations and revivals have come and gone, new denominations have sprung up, but this root of Replacement Theology which continues to produce its anti-Semitic fruit, has not been cut off. This is a great stumbling block to the Jews as it prevents them from hearing anything a follower of Yahushua has to say. As the prophet Isaiah says: "...take up the stumbling block out the way of My people." Isaiah 57:14b.
Excerpts from "The present reality of the Abrahamic Covenant" by David Blewett:
"Some Christian theological language assumes that the Abrahamic Covenant, or any Old Testament covenant for that matter, is irrelevant today. When we speak of an "old" covenant or testament and a "new" covenant or testament, the average Christian thinks of two covenants, an old one and then a new one that replaces the old worn out one. Some Christians believe that when Jesus the Messiah came, the "old covenant" was replaced by the "new covenant." In some circles this is referred to as replacement theology.
When replacement Christians speak of the "new covenant" inaugurated by Jesus they think of contemporary Jews as being among those who, for one reason or another, have missed the chance to be part of the "new covenant." Because the "old covenant" no longer exists and because they are not part of the "new covenant," Jews are now often thought of as people who have no covenant. The danger here is in thinking of the "old covenant" as the replaced covenant."
"Take for instance the universal aspect of the covenant as first presented in Genesis 12:1-3:
Then the Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed in you."
(New International Version)
Notice first that the covenant with Abraham is made at God's initiative and that it places no moral obligations on the patriarch. The emphasis falls completely on the divine promise. All that was demanded of Abraham was trust (15:6) and establishing the mark of the covenant on all male members of the family for all time (17:9-14)."
Christians need to separate themselves from this lie and be grafted into YHWH's true Olive Tree - a tree which is deeply rooted in the unconditional Covenants of YHWH. Replacement Theology robs us from understanding the heart of YHWH. It robs us from the security of truly trusting in His faithfulness. By understanding YHWH's everlasting commitment towards Israel, we can rest assured of His commitment toward us also. The Christian Church has not been chosen instead of Israel, but called to become part of YHWH's covenants with Israel. To believe in Replacement Theology is to separate oneself from the root, the very faith taught and practiced by Yahushua/Jesus.
YHWH has in no way either rejected nor replaced Israel, His people. His covenant with them is unconditional and non-transferable. YHWH's covenants were never based on Israel's good behavior, but were based on YHWH's faithfulness to His word and promises toward His people. Although the Jewish people have suffered consequences for breaking YHWH's laws, just as we all do, they have not been replaced or rejected. The scriptures make that quite clear. (all references to the Old Testament are from the Restored Names King James Version, RNKJV and the KJV for the New Testament)
"YHWH did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because YHWH loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath YHWH brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." Deuteronomy 7:7,8
"Speak not thou in thine heart, after that YHWH thy Elohim hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness YHWH hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations YHWH doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations YHWH thy Elohim doth drive them out from before thee, and that He may perform the word which YHWH sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Deuteronomy 9:4,5
"For YHWH's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." Deuteronomy 32:9
"O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is YHWH our Elohim; His judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant," 1 Chronicles 16:13-17
"For YHWH will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance." Psalm 94:14
"He hath remembered His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:" Psalm 105:8-10
"He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye YHWH." Psalm 147:19,20
"But thou, Israel, art My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, 'Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.'" Isaiah 41:8,9
"I have loved you with an everlasting love..." Jeremiah 31:3
"Thus saith YWHW, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; YHWH of hosts is His name: If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith YHWH, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever. Thus saith YHWH; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith YHWH." Jeremiah 31:35,36
"Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which YHWH hath chosen, He hath even cast them off? thus they have despised My people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith YHWH; If My covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them." Jeremiah 33:24-26
"How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?...I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am El, and not man..." Hosea 11:8,9
HalleluYAH! Father, You are worthy of praise for Your lovingkindness, longsuffering and mercy. May we follow You and You alone.
*Martin Luther - "On the Jews and Their Lies"
