by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 30, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
The so-called church fathers paved the path for most (but not all) of “Christendom’s” false teaching of “replacement theology”. What’s more, the lie of replacement theology has led to antisemitism worldwide.
Beginning with Origen to Irenaeus and Chrysostom to Constantine, to Appanacious to Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. Each of these aforementioned church fathers taught that the church had replaced Israel. They were wrong!
Replacement theology is the idea that says that the church has replaced ethnic Israel as God’s chosen people.
Origen, the progenitor of this false teaching, dreamed up the idea of replacement theology. Not from scripture, but from what he saw with his own eyes.
- The Jews, along with the Gentile Romans, crucified and killed Jesus Christ.
- The Temple and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed.
- The Jews had been driven out of their homeland and dispersed throughout the world.
So, based on what he was seeing around him and looking back to the relatively recent past, Origen came to the conclusion that God no longer had anything to do with the nation of Israel. And all the promises God gave to Israel are now for the church. What a lie. From the father of lies himself, Satan. This is why most mainline denominations today preach this horrible anti-Semitic theology called replacement theology.
The Promise was All Jewish ‘Genesis 12:1-3’
The promise was that one day Israel would be brought into a geographical area of land, and Israel would be the greatest nation above all nations with the King of kings, the Son of God (Jesus Christ), ruling from the throne of David in Jerusalem.
‘Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”’
Genesis 12:1-3
‘And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ” Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, ‘
II Samuel 7:10,16
No Matter How disobedient Israel Is, God is Faithful
Because the covenants God made with His chosen people, the Jews, originated with Him. He (God) cannot break the covenant; God cannot lie. Believe God. Take God at His word.
‘My mercy I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall stand firm with him. His seed also I will make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven. “If his sons forsake My law And do not walk in My judgments, If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments, Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail. My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah’
Psalms 89:28-37
No Faith
Ultimately, these so-called church fathers had little faith; they could not take God at His word. They saw that the Jews, along with the Romans, killed the Son of God. The city of Jerusalem and the temple were both destroyed. And the Jewish people were scattered from their homeland. So, in their carnal minds, they came to the conclusion that we Gentiles are now Israel and the Church has replaced God’s chosen people. Walking under foot, 2000 years of promises God made to a people He created just for Himself.
These are the types of men that the apostle Paul warned about in Acts, chapter 20. Let’s start at verse 28:
It is crucial to note that the Holy Spirit does not direct Paul to write that men will come from outside the church. In other words, ALL FALSE TEACHING, will come from men who are already part of the church.
Acts 20:28
‘Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.’
Here it is about savage wolves that would come in from “within” the church, speaking perverse things. And what could be more perverse than saying God is a liar by not keeping His promises to Israel?
‘For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.’
Acts 20:29-30
Scripture is a Progressive Revelation
In Genesis 12, approximately 2000 BC, God called out one man, Abram, to make a people for His name, the “Jewish People”. The nation of Israel God dealt with and made promises to the people He created from Abraham for Himself (not Gentiles). The Abrahamic covenant, the covenant of law, and the Davidic covenants were to Israel, NOT GENTILES. Forcing the gentile world into God’s covenants with Israel is a clear twisting of the Scripture to fit a dreamed-up theology.
The promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David were partially fulfilled with the Lord’s first advent. But we know what happened. The nation of Israel rejected Jesus as their King and, along with the Romans (Gentiles), crucified the Prince of Peace. But even after the crucifixion, God still made the offer to be Israel’s King and bring in the promised kingdom. With Peter’s bold preaching in Acts chapters 2 and 3. But again, the nation of Israel rejects it in unbelief. The nation of Israel reached a tipping point of unbelief with the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter 7. So God sent out one man, Saul, who we now know as the apostle Paul, to be the apostle to the Gentiles with a new message of salvation. God will now temporarily blind His chosen people and turn to the whole world with the gospel of grace. Now (But Now), salvation would be by grace through faith alone in the gospel, apart from the law and temple worship.
Nothing caught God off guard or made God have to take back His promises to Israel and replace Israel with the Church. No way! God can not lie. Nor is He the God of confusion. That being said, this is an absolutely mind-boggling thing about Scripture. It was all predetermined before God created anything. This is an absolutely amazing and beautiful thing about our God. It was all preplanned, and all scripture fits perfectly and according to His eternal purposes.
God is Not Done with His Chosen People “the Jewish People”
If all of the Old Testament, from Genesis 12 to Malichi through the four gospels into the early chapters of Acts, isn’t enough scripture to prove that God made His promises to Israel alone, then He will fulfill what He promised to Israel. Then you have to call God a liar again (by twisting the scriptures) when it comes to chapter 11 of the book of Romans. The Lord is explicitly clear in Romans that He is not done with Israel. Those who have tried to twist this chapter fail miserably, so they ignore it. Just like they ignore the apostle Paul.
Read Romans 11:1-36 slowly and carefully several times
‘I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be , but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy : and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches , be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.’
‘O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,”’
Psalms 105:6-11
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 2, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
The finished work of the cross has set mankind free from the bondage of the law. So stand firm in His grace and don’t fall into legalism or think for a second that you have to do something for salvation.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ‘
Galatians 5:1
The book of Galatians was written because the Jerusalem Church sent men to the apostle Paul’s gentile congregations to undermine the gospel of grace. By telling Paul’s congregations that they COULD NOT be saved without keeping the law (Acts 15:1,5). What they did not know was that the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul that salvation was NOW available to both Jew and Gentile apart from keeping the law!
‘But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ‘
Romans 3:21
Neither Titus nor Paul gave in even for a minute to the tremendous pressure from the apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem church. So that the truth of the gospel of grace would continue even to this day until the body of Christ is taken off the scene.
So stand fast in this amazing gospel of grace! Don’t fall into legalism or think that you have to keep the law in order for you to be saved.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ‘
Galatians 5:1
by Jamie Pantastico | Jul 29, 2021 | Daily Encouragement |
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
I Timothy 1:3
The apostle Paul’s constant concern — is don’t be deceived. Don’t be led astray. But, deception comes in a hundred different forms. It was no different than it is today, and it’s so subtle.
Satan has one objective. And that is to lead people from God’s saving grace and he doesn’t care how he does it. He will use the Scriptures. He uses churches. He’ll use anything that you can imagine (the world system).
Yes, the devil uses the Word of God and he uses churches (the men who lead the Church). Paul had to deal with this very thing in his day and so do we. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
The apostle Paul warned the body of Christ for 3 years with tears. That as soon as he was off the scene savage wolves would come in from outside the Church and from within. With one mission to steal, kill and destroy the Church.
‘For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears.’
Acts 20:29-31
What? Certainly, there is nothing wrong with Scripture and going to church, right? Of course not, congregations led by faithful men standing fast in the gospel of grace, of course not.
But, if unfaithful men and women are used by Satan to guide people off course just a bit (with a false gospel) or by a lot (with no gospel at all). Satan wins!
God is absolute. Christendom today treats God like a Santa Claus-type figure. By twisting Scripture to make God fit into their beliefs (thee flesh), the lifestyle they see fit, and not what God has clearly delineated in Scripture.
We don’t get to tweak God’s nose and say this is how I want it. No way!
God is Sovereign. He’s absolute. And like it or not we have an exclusive Gospel.
You cannot water it down with man’s ideas and assume that God will accept it. He will not. He is Sovereign. He is absolute. And He is an exclusivist.
Matthew 7:13-15, comes to mind. Narrow is the way…and how many find it? Few! Why? Because the majority doesn’t want to take God at His word. Because the majority has been deceived by false teachers that have come into the Church from outside (bringing the world system into the church) and from within.
This is exactly what the Lord said in Matthew 7:14-15, and what the apostle Paul warned about many years later in Acts 20:29-31.
‘“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.’
Matthew 7:13-15
False teachers will twist Scripture with perverse doctrine to convince masses of people that “Oh well, certainly God will accept me, in spite of my sinful lifestyle, in spite of living a life in complete opposition to the doctrine God revealed for grace age believers.” No, He won’t. God is absolute.
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 22, 2021 | Bible Study, Daily Encouragement |
The Biblical truth that God revealed to the apostle Paul alone new revelations that had been kept hidden in the mind of God is avoided and ignored by most preachers and teachers.
In Ephesians chapter three, Paul unloads and unpacks the mystery or secret of Christ.
Peter, John, and James didn’t teach this, Isaiah didn’t teach this, Jeremiah didn’t teach this. Why? It was all hidden in the mind of God until revealed to this one man, Paul. Just that simple concept is hard for people to deal with but it is a Biblical fact. Scripture is explicit, the ascended and glorified Lord Himself revealed to Paul and Paul alone these new revelations. Let’s take a look at the first 3 words of Ephesians chapter three verse one.
‘For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ‘
Ephesians 3:1
For this reason,…
What does Paul mean when he says ‘For this reason…? ” He is referring to what he just expounded on in the previous two chapters. Of which the highlight is that NOW (and not before) we are saved by grace through faith alone. Passages most are familiar with and have seen on Bible tracts…
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith (faith alone), and that not of yourselves (because there is nothing you can do anyway); (Why? Because) it (salvation) is the gift of God (the moment you try to do anything to merit favor with God, it is no longer a gift and becomes something that you did for your salvation in place of what Christ has already completed and you nullify God’s grace Galatians 2:20-21), not of works, lest anyone should boast.
You will not find this language or teaching anywhere in Scripture except from Paul’s epistles.
We will continue and examine the remainder of Ephesians 3:1, in another post.
