In this article, we analyze three verses that refute the idea that God has forsaken or replaced Israel.

 

Scripture 1:

 

“For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.” (1 Samuel 12:22 KJV)

 

"For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself." (1 Samuel 12:22 NASB)

 

In the context of 1 Samuel 8-12, the Israelites had been sinful by demanding a king, and Samuel was encouraging them to return to the Lord. Samuel reminded them of the faithfulness of God toward Israel (1 Samuel 12:6-12). Samuel stated that if the Israelites and their king sinned against God, then God would turn against them (1 Samuel 12:13-15). God then sent thunder and rain on their day of wheat harvest so that they would fear the Lord their God and follow Him (1 Samuel 12:16-18). The people then retired to the Lord and asked for forgiveness (1 Samuel 12:19), to which Samuel responded by telling the Israelites to ¨fear not¨ and to remain following the Lord (1 Samuel 12:20-21). Finally, Samuel proclaimed 1 Samuel 12:22, a passage that was meant to comfort the Israelites because it says ¨For the Lord will not forsake his people.” Notice the absence of a condition in this passage. It doesn't say “For the Lord will not forsake his people as long as they follow the Lord.” This verse states that the Lord WILL NOT forsake His people. Yet, under the Replacement Theologians view, God did this exact thing. Replacement Theologians state God forsook Israel, took away her promises, and set the Church in Israel's place. If this truly did happen, then Samuel, a prophet of God, lied to his people.

 

Scripture 2:

 

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6 KJV)

"For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end." (Malachi 3:6 NASB)

 

In the context of Malachi 3:6, Malachi spoke about the Day of the Lord as a day of judgment. Israel would be refined by the Day of the Lord, which leads to Malachi 3:6. Malachi promised in verse 6 that this judgment would not bring about the end of Israel. The people would not be consumed by the refiner’s fire. The descendants of Jacob would not be destroyed. A promise is only as good as the person who makes it. God will keep His promise to the nation of Israel-it will not change-because His word, like Himself, is immutable. This is the basis for Israel’s hope (cf. Deuteronomy 4:31; Ezekiel 36:22-32). Significantly, the Apostle Paul gives this same reason for expecting a future for national Israel (Romans 3:3-4; 9:6; 11:1-5, 25-29). 

 

Scripture 3:

 

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:10 KJV)

"For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10 NASB)

 

Paul here speaks of enduring through trials and so forth for the “elect’s sakes," but the elect are distinguished from the “also” group. So the question is, “Who is the elect here in 2 Timothy 2:10?” If we look at the context, it tells us exactly who they are.

 

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” (2 Timothy 2:8-9 KJV)

 

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned." (2 Timothy 8-9 NASB)

 

Here, Paul clearly tells us who the elect is, the Seed of David. Thus, the elect here in the context of 2 Timothy 2:8-10 is Israel. This shows that Israel is still God’s elect, which is a major contradiction to Replacement Theology, which teaches Israel is no longer God’s elect people. From 2 Timothy 2:10, Replacement Theology holds no place since the elect is clearly the Jews, i.e., Israel. Thus, Paul believed Israel was still the elect AFTER they rejected Christ and after they crucified Christ. This is also consistent with Matthew 24, Luke 18:7, Mark 13, Romans 9:4-5, 11:2, 11:28, etc., where Israel is still identified as God’s elect.