In 1 Peter 2:9—10, the apostle gives a summary statement regarding the New Testament church. Writing to the scattered believers and churches throughout Asia Minor, Peter defines the new covenant church in terms drawn from the old covenant descriptions of the people of Israel:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.7
What is so remarkable about this description of the church is that it identifies the church with the exact terminology used in the Old Testament to describe the people of Israel with whom the Lord covenanted. The best reading of this language takes it literally to mean that the new covenant church is altogether one with the old covenant church. The Lord does not have two peculiar peoples, two holy nations, two royal priesthoods, two chosen races — he has only one, the church of Jesus Christ.
Most historic premill folks (and progressive dispy folks for that matter) will agree that there is only ONE people of God and that national/ethnic Israel, as they currently stand in unbelief, are enemies of the cross. This argument kinda proves that air exists. Most of these articles attack dispensationalism, but never take the time to interact with historic premill or with the fact that Paul's entire talk in Romans 9-11 has to do with his sadness for his brethren according to the flesh - ETHNIC ISRAEL. Even in the beginnings of chapter 11, it's clear that's who he's talking about. And although all Israel is NOT presently saved (only a remnant, if one believes Romans 11), eventually all Israel WILL be saved (25-26).
Let us not be so ready to throw away good theology (premillennialism) along with bad theology (dispensationalism).
