Dispensational Theology Is a Syncretistic Heresy

Many evangelicals have been fully persuaded that Dispensational theology regarding Israel and the end times is valid and would be shocked to discover that it denies fundamental truths of the New Covenant by syncretistically combining old covenant theology with New Covenant truth, thus forming an alien hybrid that denies what Christ accomplished on our behalf.

Error #1 – Dispensationalism makes Israel a major focus of the Bible, rather than giving Jesus the preeminence. Jesus is the theme or focus of the entire Bible.

Everything in the Old Testament or covenant pointed to him. It is impossible to properly understand the Old Covenant unless we interpret it through the lens of Christ. The following passage show this.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:39–40 (NKJV)

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25–27 (NKJV)

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Ephesians 1:9–10 (NKJV)

Any doctrine that focuses on anything or anyone other than Christ is in error. Dispensationalism makes Israel the focus of the end times, rather than Christ.

Paul made it clear that God will be glorified in Christ through the church for all eternity, not in Israel.

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:21 (NKJV)

Error #2 – Dispensationalism falsely teaches that the genetic descendants of Abraham are those to whom God’s promises to Abraham were directed.

Paul made it clear that the promised “seed” was Jesus Christ, not the nation of Israel.

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NKJV)

To miss this is to miss the most important aspect of the New Covenant: all the blessings of God are found in Christ and are passed on to all those who put their faith in him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

To have Christ is to have the blessings of God. To reject Christ is to reject those blessings. The wrath and judgment of God rest on all who reject Christ, whether we are Jew or Gentile.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 (NKJV)

To insist otherwise, that the blessings of Abraham rest on the Jewish people who have rejected Christ, is to deny God’s Word and defame Christ. For this reason, Dispensationalism is no minor doctrinal controversy. It attacks core teachings of the New Covenant regarding Christ and his finished work.

Error #3 – Another fundamental error of Dispensationalism is that it renders judgment against those who do not unconditionally support Israel and the Jewish people.

To judge a person according to their relationship with Israel is using a non-biblical litmus test. The only thing that matters is our relationship with Christ.

A spokesperson for a biblical view of Israel and the Jews, rather than a Dispensational one, was recently said to be “demon possessed” because of his position. Nothing else in his life changed. He still loves Jesus, but since his stance regarding Israel is different, he was judged by his former church leadership. This is an example of how far off base we become when we follow heretical teachings. We are led to reject and judge a brother or sister in the Lord, for whom Christ died, based on whether that person unconditionally supports the actions of a secular nation.

Error #4 – Dispensationalism refuses to acknowledge God’s judgments against the nation of Israel for rejecting their Messiah.

Dispensationalism regards the Jewish people today as still being God’s covenant people, even though historically the Jews crucified their Messiah and brought themselves under the judgments prophesied by Moses in Deuteronomy 28 and Jesus in the synoptic gospels.

But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Deuteronomy 28:15 (NKJV)

They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:41–46 (NKJV)

Except for a remnant who repented and confessed Jesus as Lord, the Jewish people and leadership still reject Christ. In Peter’s sermon in Acts Chapter 3, the apostle quoted Deuteronomy Chapter 18 to remind his Jewish listeners that all who reject Christ under under God’s judgment.

For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:22–26 (NKJV)

Error #5 – Dispensationalism refuses to acknowledge the New Covenant teaching that the true Israel is composed of all born-again people, both Jew and Gentile.

It is clear from the above passages and the words of Paul that those who are genetically descended from Abraham are not the true Israel. Rather, New Covenant Israel consists of all those who have put their faith and allegiance in Christ.

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Romans 9:6–8 (NKJV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28–29 (NKJV)

There are not two Israels, nor are there two groups of the elect. God’s elect are those he chose to be in Christ before the foundation of the world from the Jews and the Gentiles. The elect who put their faith in Christ comprise the true New Covenant Israel. In fact, this is how it has always been. Only those of faith are the children of promise.

To claim that the Jewish people are God’s elect based on genetics is to do away with the necessity of the new birth and say that there are others ways to God beside faith in Jesus.

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Romans 9:6–13 (NKJV

To claim that non-born-again people are God’s Israel is to deny Paul’s clear teaching, which is foundational to the New Covenant.

Error #6 – Dispensationalism seeks to separate what Christ has joined.

Lastly, Dispensationalism claims that God has a separate destiny for the Jews, but the New Covenant says that God has removed all such distinctions between Jew and Gentile.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:11–18 (NKJV)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)

Dispensationalism, therefore, denies fundamental aspects of Christ’s finished work. It is a syncretistic heresy that tries to reinstate parts of the Old Covenant, thus nullifying Christ’s finished work.

As such, it must be firmly rejected. We must contend for the truth of the New Covenant against all such falsehoods. Blending old covenant with the New Covenant amounts to preaching an alien gospel, which Paul condemned.

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9 (NKJV)

We cannot mix the old with the new.