Supersessionism

While in Israel traveling with a group of Messianic Jews and those interested in learning more about Israel, we learned about a misguided form of teaching called replacement theology. It is also called fulfillment theology or, more technically, supersessionism. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for Israel.[1]  In effect, when Jesus came, Israel’s place as the people of God ended or was forfeited.[2] Marcion, Irenaeus, and Martin Luther articulated this position. Luther wanted Jews confined to their neighborhoods.[3]

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​Meditation
Galatians 3:17-18--And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God and cancel the promise.  For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.
 
Replacement theology contrasts with covenant theology which believes the church is an “expansion of Israel,” and dispensationalism or premillennialism, which thinks the church is entirely different and distinct from Israel. There are multiple problems with supersessionism.  First, it overlooks the reality that Israel, with God’s help, continues to survive as a nation despite the countless attempts throughout history of nations and groups to exterminate the Jews.
            
Second, replacement theology often led to outright persecution and atrocities against the Jews. For example, in the seventh century, Jews who placed their faith in the Messiah were forced to denounce their ancestry and heritage to be baptized.[4]  Some (certainly not all) adherents of this view openly disdain and spew vitriol towards Jewish people. 
            
Third, supersessionism directly contradicts Paul’s teaching in Romans 11:1,2 and more egregiously God’s direct and irrevocable promise as emphasized in Genesis 17:7,8,19; Exodus 26:44,45; Deuteronomy 4:31, 7:9; Judges 2:1; 2 Kings 13:23; 1 Chronicles 16:15-18; 2 Ch. 13:5; Psalm 89:28, 105:8-10, 111:5,8-9, 132:13; Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 31:31-34, 32:25,26,40, 33:19-22, 50:5; Ezekiel 16:60, and Hebrews 8:8-12. 
            
God has a plan for the land and people of Israel. He has not set aside His promises and favor to her. Therefore, we are wise to pray for and bless her, for by doing so, we honor God.  This does not mean we do not call out evil or injustice as we should do with ourselves, for until Jesus returns, we are all works in progress.
 
Inspiration
“Second, as an evangelical Christian, I believed what the Bible said about God giving the land of Israel to the Jewish people as an everlasting covenant, one that could not be broken, no matter what mistakes we Jews made throughout the centuries.”—Joel Rosenberg in Epicenter

©2025 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/replacement-theology.html
[2] https://shema.com/replacement-theology-its-origins-147/
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid