1.) “True Jews” are those who have been circumcised not only the flesh but also in the heart (Deut. 10:16, 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29).
2.) The “True Israel” or the “Israel of God” is made up of only believing Jews (i.e., the remnant) (Gal. 6:16).
3.) The “True Israelite” is Jesus, one of Abraham’s seeds (Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16).
4.) Abraham’s spiritual offspring/seed are those who have like-faith and do his deeds (John 8:37-39; Gal. 3:7-9, 29).
5.) There are 4 seeds of Abraham and 2/4 are non-soteriological, but still have to be harmonized with our theology. For more information see: https://tms.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tmsj25d.pdf
6.) Ethnic/National/Territorial (ENT) Israel is still God’s beloved possession, even despite being enemies of the gospel (Rom. 11:1-2, 28-29).
7.) ENT Israel has not been replaced/superseded by the Church, they will always be God’s nation, independent of sin, on account of their relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant (Jer. 31:35-37).
8.) The Church is not the “True Israel” the Church is simply God’s called out people from all nations which also includes Jewish believers in this age.
9.) ENT Israel is presently partially hardened and cut-off from the place of blessing. God will restore ENT Israel in the future, back to their land, with the Messiah as King, with their fortunes restored, with a restored Jerusalem, with Edenic-like conditions. Only the remnant will see the Kingdom, not every Jew, since being born-again and repenting are preconditions for entering the Kingdom (Rom. 11-25-26).
10.) The Pharisees/Scribes wrongly assumed that one would enter the Kingdom solely on account of their relationship to Abraham as a physical offspring.
11.) ENT Israel is not like every other nation, they are distinct in that they are bound covenantally to God through a unilateral and unconditional covenant (Gen. 15-17).
12.) Israel is not defined as the Church anywhere in Scripture. Israelites retain their ethnicity, but they are not to use that ethnicity to elevate themselves in the body of Christ (Gal. 3:28).
13.) Gentiles experience blessings through the Abrahamic Covenant in this age as promised in Genesis 12:3. Gentiles are brought near through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:11-14).
14.) Gentiles aren’t grafted into Israel, they are grafted into the Olive Tree (Place of Blessing) and share blessings with the True Israel which are provided by the rich root (Patriarchal Covenant) (Rom. 11:11-24).
These points are consistent with scripture. Israel is not redefined, but rather narrowed in on in Romans 9:6. There are two Israel’s, one elected to service through Jacob (ENT Israel) and those elected from within to salvation (the believing remnant – the true Jews). Israel is not replaced by the Church. God does not set Israel aside as a nation permanently, but they are presently in a state of hardness. They are being judged and will be judged that much more severely in Jacob’s trouble, but a remnant will come through and God will bring the nation into the New Covenant. In the New Covenant Israel as a people will be restored as the Scripture predicts, by the true Israelite – Jesus. Jesus is the promised servant who will fulfill all the promises to ENT Israel, but Israel must repent and believe in the Messiah in order to see restoration (Acts 1:6-7, 3:21). We must not elevate the nation above where they belong, but we must also not diminish them either.
Dispensationalism provides that proper balance.
