I am continually amazed in the number of people that believe replacement theology is the same as covenant theology. I was reading a blog today written by a dispensationalist who accused all Calvinist in believing in replacement theology. It is not important what John Calvin believed as far as dispensationalism and covenant theology or replacement theology when discussing what we refer to as Calvinism. When we discuss Calvinism we refer to the acronym T.U.L.I.P. which does not address covenant, replacement, or dispensationalism.
Paul explains the grafting of the Gentiles to the Jewish root of Israel, and he makes it very clear that grafting is not replacement. For some reason members of the body of Christ want to put up a wall between Gentiles and Jews, and between Israel and the Church. I don't understand why it is so hard for some to believe or comprehend that Israel is and was from the start the church. Paul tells us in Eph 2:11-22 at the wall that divides Jews in the Gentiles has permanently been destroyed. The Law has been replaced with the New Covenant this is not the Church replacing Israel, Jerusalem or the Jewish people. There is no more Jew or Gentile Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11.
Let's try this for an analogy, if I take a bucket of water from my well and I poured that bucket of water into Lake Erie, have I replaced Lake Erie with my well water? No of course not. This whole argument reminds me of the problem Paul was addressing in the book of Galatians. It appears to me that there those who still put themselves and their traditions ahead of the body and the mission given to us by Christ.
Blessings
JB
