One of the reasons I embrace a dispensational hermeneutic is because God's promises never fail. In Romans 11:29, Paul makes this statement: "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
The covenant theologian would apply this verse (and rightly so) to our personal salvation. If God has promised salvation to those whom he has chosen (the "hope" that forms the backbone of Romans 5-11), we can be sure that he will fulfill his promise. However, the context of Romans 11 is the future of national Israel. While the Jews were the enemies of the church in the time of Paul (and Judaism is still diametrically opposed to Christianity today), Israel remains God’s chosen nation (Rom 11:28).
But Israel has rejected her God. She crucified his Messiah. She persecuted his Church. Surely God has moved on and rejected Israel as well. No, Paul responds, the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. God does not go back on his promises. God made specific promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. His promises and sovereign election will not fail or ever come to nothing.
To claim that Israel was God’s temporary physical people and the Church is God's permanent spiritual people seems to do violence to Romans 11:29. Furthermore, if God made physical promises to national Israel (for instance, regarding land and a coming kingdom), but then is somehow spiritually fulfilling those promises to the church, what guarantee do we have that the promises God has given us will not be changed or given to some other group?
The covenant theologian would apply this verse (and rightly so) to our personal salvation. If God has promised salvation to those whom he has chosen (the "hope" that forms the backbone of Romans 5-11), we can be sure that he will fulfill his promise. However, the context of Romans 11 is the future of national Israel. While the Jews were the enemies of the church in the time of Paul (and Judaism is still diametrically opposed to Christianity today), Israel remains God’s chosen nation (Rom 11:28).
But Israel has rejected her God. She crucified his Messiah. She persecuted his Church. Surely God has moved on and rejected Israel as well. No, Paul responds, the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. God does not go back on his promises. God made specific promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. His promises and sovereign election will not fail or ever come to nothing.
To claim that Israel was God’s temporary physical people and the Church is God's permanent spiritual people seems to do violence to Romans 11:29. Furthermore, if God made physical promises to national Israel (for instance, regarding land and a coming kingdom), but then is somehow spiritually fulfilling those promises to the church, what guarantee do we have that the promises God has given us will not be changed or given to some other group?
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