Christian Zionism—the belief that modern political Israel has a divine right to the land based on biblical promises—is a theological error when examined through the lens of the New Covenant. Romans 9-11 does not support the idea that ethnic Jews retain a separate covenantal status outside of Christ, nor does it justify uncritical support for the modern secular state of Israel. Here’s why:
Paul makes it clear in Romans 9:6-8 that not all ethnic Israelites are true Israel:
"For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring… This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring."
The "children of promise" are those who have faith in Christ (Gal. 3:7, 29), whether Jew or Gentile.
Galatians 3:16, 28-29 confirms that the promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Christ and extended to all believers, making them the true heirs—not ethnic Jews who reject the Messiah.
Christian Zionists often claim that God has an "eternal covenant" with ethnic Jews regardless of faith in Christ. But Romans 11:17-24 warns that unbelieving Jews are "broken off" from the olive tree (God’s people) due to unbelief, while Gentiles are grafted in by faith.**
There is no "dual covenant" theology in Scripture. John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and Hebrews 8:6-13 make it clear that salvation is only through Christ, and the Old Covenant is obsolete.
When Paul says "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26), he is not referring to ethnic Jews apart from faith in Christ. The context shows that "Israel" here means the full number of elect Jews and Gentiles (the true Israel of God, Gal. 6:16) who come to Christ.
The deliverer "out of Zion" is Jesus (Rom. 11:26-27), who saves by removing sin through the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34), not by restoring a political state.
The land covenant in the Old Testament (Gen. 15, Deut. 28-30) was conditional on obedience (Deut. 28:58-63; Josh. 23:15-16). Israel lost the land due to disobedience, and the ultimate fulfillment is not dirt and borders, but the whole earth for Christ’s kingdom (Matt. 5:5, Rom. 4:13).
Hebrews 11:8-16 shows that Abraham looked for a heavenly country, not an earthly one. The New Testament shifts focus from a geographical Israel to a global kingdom in Christ (Rev. 5:9, 7:9).
The modern state of Israel is a secular, political entity, not a theocracy governed by God’s law. Most Jews in Israel are atheist, secular, or reject Jesus as Messiah—meaning they are not heirs of the promise (Rom. 9:8).
Christian Zionism often leads to uncritical support for unjust policies (e.g., Palestinian oppression) based on a misreading of prophecy. But Scripture commands us to seek justice for all (Micah 6:8), not favor one group due to ethnicity.
Christian Zionism misreads Romans 9-11 by ignoring the New Covenant’s fulfillment in Jesus. There is no biblical basis for supporting modern Israel as a special covenant people—all who are in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are Abraham’s heirs (Gal. 3:28-29). The church is the "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16), and our hope is in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21), not a temporary political state.
If a Christian Zionist insists on supporting Israel for theological reasons, they are prioritizing ethnicity over the gospel—a dangerous error Paul condemns (Gal. 2:11-16). True biblical support for Jewish people means preaching Christ to them, not endorsing a secular nation.