There is a heresy called replacement theology or supersessionism. The two chapters they use as prooftexts are Galatians 3 and Romans 9. We are going to refute these prooftexts. As we do, remember that the Jews are God’s physical nation and Christians are God’s spiritual nation.
Galatians 3:14-29: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Because of this passage, advocates of replacement theology will argue that there isn’t a separate physical and spiritual nation. They’re going to argue that Abraham was saved by faith, as we (Christians) are also saved by faith. Therefore, there is no physical kingdom.
Galatians 4:22-23,28-29: “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.“
The above is an allegory (Isaac, children of the promise). The ones born after the flesh (Muslims from Ishmael) persecuted him born after the Spirit.
Abraham was saved by faith as the law didn’t happen yet. Paul says that if you likewise are saved by faith, you are Abraham’s seed. So what about the 1000 or more years that God’s people were living under the law? Are we to just skip time all the way to the church age and forget the time of the law? Absolutely not. During the time of the law, God has a physical people, the Jews, who found salvation through the works of the law. This is obvious proof of the physical nation of Israel. God had to temporarily cast off the nation of Israel, but will return to them at a latter time.
Romans 9:1-8: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.“
Replacement theologists argue for the verses 7-8 that the Christians can be the children of the promise counted for the seed. However, just in a few verses earlier, Paul makes a clear reference to his kinsmen, the Israelites! Paul clearly distinguishes between the physical Jews and the spiritual Jews in this verse. He also makes it clear that the Israelites still have the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, and the promises! All of those things are still intact. They have not been replaced or cast away whatsoever. The Bible itself makes it painfully obvious, so we must dismiss the heresy of replacement theology.
Romans 4:11-16: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.“
Paul is saying here is not that Israel is replaced, but rather that they are not God’s focus at present. God has His eyes on His spiritual nation and has cast aside the physical nation of Israel for the time being. But that doesn’t mean the physical nation of Israel doesn’t exist or has been replaced! It just means that God will return to it at a later time. His promises still hold.
Make a note of verse 16 for the most clarity. Paul specifically mentions those who are of the law and those who are of faith. There is your clear distinction.