ISRAELOLOGY:
The Missing Link In Systematic Theology
Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
(Th.M.-Dallas Theological Seminary-'71; Ph.D.-New York University-'89) is founder
and head of Ariel Ministries. Dr. Fruchtenbaum's influence among
Scofield-oriented dispensationalists is widespread. He currently serves as
Guest/Adjunct Faculty at both Tyndale Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX and
Chafer Theological Seminary, Orange, CA.
His 1994
book, ISRAELOLOGY:
The Missing Link In Systematic Theology, has received rave reviews among
contemporary dispensationalists. However like so many, he erroneously relates the
Church to Israel's New Covenant.
Dr. Fruchtenbaum concurs
with the Covenant/Reformed/Puritan notion (probably transferred from Issac
Watts to C.I. Scofield* and then on into DTS) that the Christian's
"individual
salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are present outworkings of the
[Israel's] New Covenant." Consequently, in place of the Apostle Paul's
"law
[principle] of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:4,
8:2,11; Galatians 3;21), the professor
substitutes his New Testament "Law of the Messiah" said to be like
the "Law of Moses" and contain "individual commandments given either by Jesus
directly or by the Apostles."
In
Progressive Dispensationalism, Blaising and Bock (also DTS graduates) wrote:
The
progressive dispensationalism of New Testament theology is not
antinomian. For while it teaches that Mosaic covenant law has ended
dispensationally, it also teaches that it has been replaced by new covenant
law... (p. 199).
Thus,
it appears Dr. Fruchtenbaum is in league with the progressives' effort to address the long-standing criticism
of Covenant
theologians that dispensationalism is antinomian via implementation of
"new covenant law".
In
his article Dispensational
Decline, Miles Stanford wrote:
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Concerning "Messianic Christianity," Dr. Arnold G.
Fruchtenbaum, founder and head of "Ariel Ministries," is
typical. In his recent tome of some 1091 pages, Israelology: the
Missing Link in Systematic Theology, p. 727, he writes:
"Just as freedom from the law means freedom also to keep
certain aspects of the law, so freedom from Judaism also frees the
Messianic Jew to keep certain aspects of Judaism, such as the Jewish holy
days. They present a good way of identifying with the Jewish
people. This matter of identification [accommodation] is very
important as a testimony to the Jewishness of faith."
On page 854 Dr. Fruchtenbaum naturally gives the Church the
spiritual benefits of Israel’s New Covenant.
"The Church is related to the New Covenant only insofar as receiving the
spiritual benefits of the Covenant, but the Church is not fulfilling it.
The Church has become a partaker of Jewish spiritual blessings, but the
Church is not a takeover of the Jewish covenants."
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* - For an extensive analysis
of the history of dispensational schemes and theologies, see R. A. Huebner's
ELEMENTS OF DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH, Volume 1, 1998, Present Truth
Publishers, Jackson, NJ.
More by Dr. Fruchtenbaum on Israel’s New Covenant
“The
importance of the New Covenant is that it amplifies the blessing aspect of the
Abrahamic Covenant, especially in relationship to salvation. In
relationship to the Church, the New Covenant is the basis for the Dispensation
of Grace. In relationship to Israel, it will be the basis for the
Dispensation of the Kingdom. The New Covenant, being an unconditional
covenant, is still very much in effect.
“Signed
and sealed by the shedding of Messiah's blood, the New Covenant guarantees
Israel's national salvation down to every individual Jew. While this did
(and does) result in the salvation of Jewish individuals, no national
salvation of Israel has taken place thus far. This covenant does not
extend Israel's national salvation to the Church as spiritual Israel. The
Church certainly has a relationship to this covenant, but not as the entity to
or through which the covenant is fulfilled. Like the other
covenants, this is a Jewish covenant, so its provisions can only be fulfilled
in a future national salvation of Israel. Again, not all of a covenant's
provisions go into effect immediately, nevertheless some do. Individual
salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are present outworkings of the
New Covenant. An additional provision of the New Covenant only
revealed by the New Testament is the Law of Christ. Just as the
Mosaic Covenant contained the Law of Moses, the New Covenant contains the
Law of Christ (Romans 8:2; Galatians 6:2). Like the Law of Moses, the
Law of the Messiah has many individual commandments given either by Jesus
directly or by the Apostles.
“The
relationship of the Church to the New Covenant is the same as its relationship
to the Abrahamic, the Land, and the Davidic covenants.
God promised the physical aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant (as amplified by
the Land and Davidic covenants) exclusively to Israel.
However, the blessing aspect (amplified by the New Covenant) was to
include the Gentiles. The
Church
enjoys the spiritual blessings of these covenants,
not
the material and physical benefits.
The
physical promises still belong to Israel and will be fulfilled exclusively
with Israel, especially those involving the land.
“Covenant
Theology assumes a theology of replacement, in which the Church replaces
Israel. The New Testament speaks of Gentiles partaking in Jewish
spiritual blessings, but not of taking over those blessings from Israel."
Emphasis mine - Dan
S
As
one would expect, the Messianic Movement (the "different gospel"
mentioned in Paul's Epistle to the Galatians) is the
'land of leaven'. Tragically, even the so-called 'grace-oriented' factions
(with their pseudo-Gospel of "New Covenant Theology") remain
law-oriented in their soteriology following the long-standing tradition of Protestant Reformed/Covenant
theology. Like Dr. Fruchtenbaum, they seek to avoid the larger chains of those Messianics who advocate "strict Torah
observances." Some erroneous believe that Christian
"grace" gives one the "liberty" to follow Moses--if you
so choose. As a further example, check out the online website of Marshall
Beeber -- Messianic
Literary Corner. Mr. Beeber has published several articles
attempting to address their conundrum.
It is rather remarkable to observe the similarities
between the Hebrew Christians vs.Torah Observers and their Reformed vs.
Reconstructionist Gentile counterparts.
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Dear
Reader: If it is not self-evident to you, be informed that our
comments do not reflect the sentiments of Mr. Beeber nor his Literary
Corner. Our references should not be interpreted or construed to
mean that he is in agreement with or supports the views expressed
here. |
Dan
S
For further insight into
where all this can lead, read
THE
SPREADING HEBREW ROOTS movement and related articles.
Miles J. Stanford
Pauline
Dispensationalism, (Colorado Springs: MJS Books, 1993), Chapter 10, p.
45-54.
American
Messianism
Miles J. Stanford
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