HOT SEAT AUGUST 4 2021 COMMONWEALTH THEOLOGY

 

Three authors join me to discuss a new approach to the relationship between the Church and Israel.

Sounds boring? Not at all. This was an incredible discussion for anyone who is a student of the Bible and follows religiously either Covenant Theology or Dispensational Theology. What's their alternative? It's called COMMONWEALTH THEOLOGY. In short, it exposes the problems, biblically, in both of these 'standard' systems for organizing how we understand the truths of the Bible. Their 'third way' is built upon a comprehensive understanding of the Bible built by over a dozen teachers, students, pastors, and professors. One of the big challenges that we discuss is the relationship between LAW and GRACE. What does it means that we are no longer under LAW but under GRACE? Almost no evangelical would argue that we shouldn't follow the Ten Commandments. But are there other Old Testament Laws from the Law given to Moses, that Christians should heed? And Jesus commands us to follow His law. He says, "If you love me, obey my commandments." (John 14:5) Commonwealth Theology provides an amazing insight into how both Gentiles and Jews can be brought together in a single commonwealth as taught by Paul, who stressed that Gentile believers are grafted into the original tree (Romans 11:17-18) and furthermore, "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel." (Ephesians 2:12) I promise, if you want to delve into a deep study of the Bible, and allow your most cherished beliefs about the Church's relationship to Israel and our devotion to the Law (or lack thereof), you will want to listen in on this 135-minute video between four brothers who respect differences of opinions, but strive to get to the truth about how "All Israel will be Saved." Consider the puzzling meaning of Paul's sentence, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part UNTIL THE FULL NUMBER OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN, and IN THIS WAY all Israel will be saved." (Romans 1:26) What way is that? Dispensational thinking assumes that the meaning is simple: Israel won't be saved until all Gentiles (that are to be saved) have been saved. That would postpone the reconciliation prophesied in Ezekiel about the two sticks becoming one. (Ezekiel 37:14-28) Commonwealth Theology provides insight into what Paul's true meaning might be - and it is very distinct from Covenant and Dispensational teaching. This is must study for Bible students who want to properly understand what the Bible teaches about Israel and the Church.