Challenging the Fiction of a Specific Spiritual Status of post-Biblical Israel in Faith, Theology and Church

1.Christ the heart of the Bible

The Apostle Paul says about us, human beings: ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom. 3:23). We have missed the goal of life. Therefore, we have no peace with God and have been caught by death. This unpopular truth concerns Jews and non-Jews of all times and places. However, the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished the work of reconciliation that is perfectly and fully sufficient for the redemption of all people. All who surrender to Him in faith have been saved (Rom.3:24-31). In spiritual peace with God they are looking forward to the new heaven and earth that He will completely realise at His Second Coming. This Good News is the heart of the Bible, also in all the prophecies. Only through the person and work of Christ can we access and understand the Bible. In Him the meaning of the whole of Scriptures has been contracted.

This is the overarching message of Israelism and the Place of Christ, a collection of Bible studies by theological experts, which I edited.[1] It is also the?emphasis in my preceding publications on this issue.[2] Basically ‘the Bible is God’s love letter to humanity.’[3] It can only be interpreted from Christ as its centre. I am convinced this also pertains to the prophetic statements about the restoration of Israel. God’s plan of salvation has been unfolded in the Old Testament. For the world and the Church the Old Testament has come to its complete fulfilment and deepest meaning in the Christ or the Messiah, as the New Testament presents Him. He is leading salvation history to its final destination. His words and the words of His apostles never point to some extraordinary future that Christian Zionists and Israelists have pictured for ethnic Israel as a national people or state. For that matter, such a notion would have contradicted the spiritual and universal character of Christ's Kingdom — realised in principle, and approaching in its completeness — which had been announced by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2).

The Lord Jesus Christ has been sent by God the Father as His eternal Son and as man to save the world; as man He came from the people of Israel. From the beginning of history according to Genesis 1 God has focused on the redemption of the world. In a special way He focused on the world in His acting from a unique relationship with Biblical Israel. Jesus Christ perfectly completed, fulfilled and widened this relationship. He is the light of the world, for all peoples, so also for the Jewish people. From all peoples He assembles His one and only people, the communion of all believers, the body of Christ. This saving work will be completed at His Second Coming. Then He will award with the ‘crown of righteousness … all who have longed for His appearing (Tim.4:8).

2. Opposing extremes

In this Good News, Christ takes the central and most comprehensive position. The current state of Israel and the Jewish people have a right to be fully respected. We reject and abhor all kinds of antisemitism and a replacement theology that is inclined to antisemitism. Antisemites collide with the Gospel. But isn't that also true for philosemites, i.e. extreme worshippers of post-Biblical Israel???In personal faith, theology, and the Church the confession of Christ cannot be joined without damage to a positive appreciation of the religion of Judaism that is rejecting Christ, and to a very special expectation for only the people and the country of post-Biblical Israel.

In my view such a perspective would necessarily be at the expense of the expectations that in Christ have been made valid for all peoples. Essentially, the meaning and position of the Lord Jesus Christ are incompatible with a salvation theology that facilitates extraordinary salvific expectations for specific ethnic groups, geographical territories and religions. Jesus is not glorified by Israel as such, but by all — Jews and non-Jews in all countries of all times — who in faith belong to Him and have become new creatures.

3. Consequences for the whole of Biblical theology

Do racial or ethnic preferences still count in the manner in which God in His love has bowed down to fallen humanity? The whole-hearted and unequivocal Biblical answer to this question is: No! This dogged idea, which surfaces over and over again, has been abrogated for good. The dividing wall has been destroyed (Eph.2). The Gospel does not assign any special status to races, peoples or nations. Israel's spiritual status is not different from the spiritual significance of other peoples. Therefore, the insistence of Christian Zionists and/or Israelists on an exceptional and privileged position of Israel in salvation doctrine is misleading, both for Jews and non-Jews. Then to the Jews faith in Jesus Christ is wrongly presented as a part of their own religious nationalism. In the minds of all other people this feeds the error that Christ can only be Saviour if they accept Him within the framework of special religious expectations for or from the earthly Israel.

This harmful idea negatively influences the whole of theology. It dislocates Christ as the only source of salvation. Consequently, it damages the christocentric and catholic (universal) nature of the Church, the theology and the personal faith. Therefore it cannot but compromise the unambiguously carrying out of the universal mission of Christ to all peoples, including rebellious 'Babylon' (Rev. 16, 17) and unbelieving 'Jerusalem' (Gal.4:25).

Veenendaal, updated 23 January 2019

The author of this article dr. Steven Paas (1942) is a theologian and a linguist. See for his profile: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/steven-paas-9122ba14/

[1] Steven Paas (Ed.), Israelism and the Place of Christ: Christocentric Interpretation of?Biblical Prophecy, LIT Verlag, Berlin, Munster,Vienna, Zurich, London, January 2018;

https://www.amazon.com/Israelism-Place-Christ-Christocentric-Interpretation/dp/3643909810; https://www.lit-verlag.de/isbn/3-643-90981-7; https://www.ipgbook.com/israelism-and-the-place-of-christ-products-9783643909817.php?

Idem (red.), Het Isra?lisme en de plaats van Christus: Christocentrische interpretatie van Bijbelse profetie, Utrecht/ Soest: Boekencentrum & Boekscout, november 2017; https://www.boekscout.nl/shop2/boek.php?bid=8349?; https://www.bol.com/nl/p/het-israelisme-en-de-plaats-van-christus/9200000086209845/?suggestionType=browse

[2] Idem, Christian Zionism Examined: A Review of Ideas on Israel, the Church and the Kingdom, Nürnberg/ Hamburg: VTR/ RVB 2012; https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Zionism-Examined-Review-Kingdom/dp/3941750860?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Idem, et al.,?‘Open Brief aan Nederlandse Christenen over Isra?l’, September 2012, https://strengholt.blogspot.com/2012/09/open-brief-over-israel-aan-nederlandse.html ;

Idem, Liefde voor Isra?l nader bekeken: Voor het Evangelie zijn alle volken gelijk, Kampen: Brevier 2015; https://www.brevieruitgeverij.nl/boeken/9789491583353/israelvisies-beweging.html?

Idem, Isra?lvisies in beweging: Gevolgen voor Kerk, geloof en theologie, Kampen: Brevier 2014; https://www.brevieruitgeverij.nl/boeken/9789491583728/liefde-voor-israel-nader-bekeken.html

[3] Cf. the article about the meaning of the Bible by Prof. Dr. P.J. Lalleman, in: RD 3-11-18: ‘De Bijbel is Gods liefdesbrief aan de mensheid’.