Eachmonththe Cross-Exarnination column presents a summary statement of a Reformed and Reconstructionist conviction in theology or ethics, and then offer.s brief answer.s to common questions,objectionsorconfusionswhich people have about that belief. Send issues or questions you would like ad dressed by Dr. Bahnsen to the editor. We Believe n Scripture, is there a distinctive , futurepromlsedfortheJewsasanethnic , group or nation? With respect to the question of the relationship of the · Christian gospel to the Jews, as well as their place in Biblical prophecy, we believe the following truths to be based on God's word: The Old Testament promises to Abraham and to the nation of Israel, when properly interpreted in light of the whole Bible, were all pledged in and through Christ for God's rtue people in all ages. The great er attention a nd care which God gave to the nation ofJsraeI throughout the period of the Old Covenant increased Israel'sculpability forbreaking the covenant and rejecting the promised Messiah . Israel as a nation - and the ethnic Jews as a ace -- have been rej Cted by God, so that they no longer constitute His kingdom or Hischosen people among all the nations on earth. The kingdom of God is now in the days of the New Covenant identified with the international church of Jesus Christ (Gentile andJewlsh); this is the "peopleforGod'sownpossession"which, as such, inherits the blessings promised toAbraham and to lsrael. TheJews do not have any guarantee or hope ofblessing from God apart from submission to the Son of God as Messiah, faith in the gospel, and incorporation into the church. God's transfer of the kingdom away from Israel that there will be glorious days for the gospel throughout New Covenant history; the seed of Abraham -- true believers -- will grow to an overwhelmingnumericalsize and bless all nations. The progressing mass conversion-of GentileS in the world will eventually provoke the Jews to jealousy and bring them to a mass conversion of their own to Jesus Christ. , TIlE COUNSEL of Chalcedon ~ June, 1992 Commitment to the realization of' this spiritual blessing for the Jews does ' not in itself necessarily commit the Christian one way or the other, to a restoration of the ews to the land of Palestine or their (alleged) moral right to that land. When the world sees "all Israel" become saved (througl:i Jewish longing for the saving blessing experienced by the Gentiles), there will be yet further and greater blessings from God upon the whole population of the world because Christ will then be internationaJlyrecognized and exalted among men. The Biblical teaching regarding the ' Jews and the future of Israelis, therefore, ' one more line of Scriptu ral suppor t for the optimism and confidence of the postmil1enniali regarding the 5UCOess , of the Great Commission before Christ returns in judgment on the world. Examination Question: Iswhathasbeensaidabove the standard postmillermial view regarding "the Jewish question"? Answer No; there is no universally accepted or "standard" position among ~ commentators regardingtheplaceoftheJewsinprophecy. The above view cannot claitn to be - the "offi- ' cial"postmilletmialstatement, butnever- ' theless many, many well respected poscmillemria1 scholars have interpreted the Bible, particularly Romans 9-11, in the fashion suggested. A orceful presentation of this view can be found inJolm Murray's commentary on Romans (in the New International Commentary series). The writers of the Westminster Confession of Faith adhered to this perspective, as we see in the Larger Catechism #191 and its proof exts. What do we pray for whenwepray"Thykingdomcome"? The Westminster Assembly answered: ''we pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan rnay be destroyed, the gospel r o p ~ t e d throughout the world, the Jews called , , he fulness of the Gentiles brought in" (titing Romans 10:1; 11:25-26).
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1992 Issue 6 - Cross-Examination: The Place of the Jews in Prophecy - Counsel of Chalcedon
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8/12/2019 1992 Issue 6 - Cross-Examination: The Place of the Jews in Prophecy - Counsel of Chalcedon