The Israel of God is Jesus? How Jesus Absolutely Fulfills Biblical Prophecy, with Pastor Tommy McMurtry

The Israel of God is Jesus? How Jesus Absolutely Fulfills Biblical Prophecy, with Pastor Tommy McMurtry

In this episode, we engage with Pastor Tommy McMurtry to uncover the influences behind his theological journey and discuss his venture into the YouTube space, which has significantly impacted the religious community. The focal point of our conversation is Dispensationalism, a topic Pastor McMurtry has passionately critiqued, especially in his YouTube series “Debunking Dispensationalism.” He shares his personal evolution from accepting to challenging this doctrine, highlighting its implications within Evangelical and IFB KJV contexts.

We delve into three critical aspects of Dispensationalism: “rightly dividing Scripture”, the Church-Israel distinction, and the notion of multiple Gospels, offering insightful counterarguments. Connecting these theological discussions to current geopolitical scenarios, particularly regarding Israel, Pastor McMurtry provides a nuanced view on Christian stances and their impact on global politics and the Gospel’s message. The episode concludes with his thoughts on the church’s role in politics and governance, inviting listeners to explore more through his online platforms.

Main Points of Discussion

00:00 Podcast critically analyzes biblical perspectives on governance.

06:45 Examining the theological and political significance of Dispensationalism, particularly its impact on American and global politics and its influence within Christianity.

15:43 Dispensationalists base their practice of dividing scripture into dispensations on first Timothy 2. However, there are potential errors in their approach to both dividing into dispensations and interpreting scripture from first Timothy chapter 2.

20:46 Thorough Bible study reveals nuanced principles requiring careful application and contextual understanding.

22:54 Why rejecting Dispensationalism isn’t “Replacement Theology” – instead, fulfillment theology has a Christ centered hermeneutic for understanding Biblical prophecy, emphasizing the distinction between the church and Israel, and standing firmly for the faithfulness of God’s promises as supported by clear and undeniable biblical passages.

32:25 Believers in Christ acknowledge their sin, adhere to His teachings, and find atonement through His sacrifice for their sins.

37:22 Critics, ironically both Dispensationalists and Jewish objectors to Jesus, argue that Jesus did not fulfill prophecies, citing examples such as the quotation from Hosea in Matthew. However, we see that Jesus did fulfill prophecies, pointing to his birth in Bethlehem, escape to Egypt, and subsequent role as the royal priest. This is seen as symbolic of Jesus succeeding where Israel failed, as outlined in Galatians 3 and 4.

38:24 Interpreting Old Testament prophecy in a way that suggests multiple gospels for Jews and Gentiles has the potential to undermine the solid foundation of faith. This perspective is based on passages from Romans 11 and Matthew 15, where differing focuses in the teachings of Paul and Jesus are observed.

45:15 Contemplations on dispensationalist beliefs and their impact on the Gospel message

50:52 The Christian population in Israel is decreasing, sparking debate over US support for the country.

59:59 The enduring covenant of grace and faith spans from Genesis to Revelation, offering a cohesive narrative of God’s plan for redemption.

01:02:26 The prophet Haggai emphasized that the glory of the temple would be exceeded by the arrival of the desired one, Jesus. He conveyed that the earthly temple did not compare to what Jesus, the beloved son of God, would accomplish. Haggai’s message highlighted the fulfillment of promises through the arrival of Christ.

01:07:54 Expressing gratitude to the pastor for the enriching theological discussion and underscoring the significance of individual scripture study and serving as exemplary ambassadors for Christ. Encouraging listeners to engage with the dispensationalism series and other materials by pastor Tommy, regardless of any disagreements.

Additional Resources

• Pastor McMurtry’s Series on Debunking Dispensationalism: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsAzBnjakfp7f8lXWz-a2nsWfBxkdKasQ
• Pastor McMurtry’s Church Website: https://www.givemelibertybaptist.com/
• Pastor’s Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spirit-of-prophecy-podcast/id1696173027
• Exegesis of Romans 9-11 on Who Israel Is: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/who-is-the-true-israel-correcting-the-dispensationalist-reading-of-romans-9-11/