Someone needs to remind Pastor Hagee that when God blessed Abram and later entered into a covenant with him that Abraham was a gentile, not an Israelite. He also needs to be reminded that all, not some of the nation's were to be blessed through Abraham's seed and that seed is Jesus Christ.
While I can't speak to Pastor Hagee's motivation I can speak to his doctrine. His doctrine is as crooked as a three-dollar bill as my dad used to say.
Pray for Pastor Hagee that he gives up on this terribly false doctrine.
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Scary God or Scary People?
Here's another excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ and the God of the Old Testament from Dr. Brad Cole from the 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. I know you'll enjoy it.
Friday, June 11, 2010
What does a Christian look like?
An excellent presentation and perspective on Jesus Christ from Greg Boyd at the recent 2010 Good News Tour in Vancouver, BC. Enjoy.
What Does A Christian Look Like?
What Does A Christian Look Like?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
We can see in the dark
For just a few seconds imagine if you will that you are enclosed in a room totally devoid of any light. At first the room would appear pitch black making it virtually impossible to see anything. And yet, over time however your eyes would begin to adjust to the darkness and something truly amazing would begin to happen. As your eyes adjusted to the darkness something you would begin to see, believe it or not, light!
Now I'm not about to get into a lesson on the physics of light because simply put that would be tantamount to the blind leading the blind!
What I can say with certainty is that in a darkened room our eyes would adjust to the point that they would actually able to sense single photons of light as they penetrated the walls of the darkened room. These photons penetrate and pass through all forms of matter such as our bodies and walls. These photons of light are what our eyes are able to pick up even if we were to be placed in a blackout room.
And this brings me to my point. Being placed in a blacked out room is analogous to, and illustrative of, how the light of the world - Jesus Christ - enlightens the darkened of heart of man. The heart of course isn’t the literal heart but is our mind - our thinking, our reasoning, our understanding and our comprehension.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John the disciple tells us quite plainly in verse 4 that, “In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” Verse 5 continues by saying “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
John is telling us that in Jesus was life and the life of Jesus was the light of men and that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness just can’t understand this. And yet we can understand from a very simple illustration that light does indeed penetrate even a darkened room devoid of is light.
This light is still with us and still available to us anytime we choose to seek it through Christ’s Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit our darkened minds can be illuminated to His life and His life, told to us in His word, lightens our path which allows us to see our way even as we travel in the dark!
Now I'm not about to get into a lesson on the physics of light because simply put that would be tantamount to the blind leading the blind!
What I can say with certainty is that in a darkened room our eyes would adjust to the point that they would actually able to sense single photons of light as they penetrated the walls of the darkened room. These photons penetrate and pass through all forms of matter such as our bodies and walls. These photons of light are what our eyes are able to pick up even if we were to be placed in a blackout room.
And this brings me to my point. Being placed in a blacked out room is analogous to, and illustrative of, how the light of the world - Jesus Christ - enlightens the darkened of heart of man. The heart of course isn’t the literal heart but is our mind - our thinking, our reasoning, our understanding and our comprehension.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John the disciple tells us quite plainly in verse 4 that, “In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.” Verse 5 continues by saying “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
John is telling us that in Jesus was life and the life of Jesus was the light of men and that this light shines in the darkness and the darkness just can’t understand this. And yet we can understand from a very simple illustration that light does indeed penetrate even a darkened room devoid of is light.
This light is still with us and still available to us anytime we choose to seek it through Christ’s Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit our darkened minds can be illuminated to His life and His life, told to us in His word, lightens our path which allows us to see our way even as we travel in the dark!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Do you remember your birthday?
How many of you actually remember what day your birthday is on? I’m going to guess everyone does. Mine happens to fall on March the 8th and for that reason March 8 is always significant in my life. Now as I’m sure you are aware March 8th doesn’t fall on the same day every year. Sometimes it’s a Monday, as it was this year, or sometimes it’s a Thursday, or a Saturday, or it could fall on another day of the week. Oh, and just in case you have begun planning ahead next year March 8th falls on a Tuesday; mark your calendars!
Similarly this Monday, March 29th at sundown marks the historical significance of a time that I would imagine might also be quite meaningful to most of us that have chosen to call themselves Christian, provided we know about it. For you see, just like your birthday the date itself never changes, yet your birthday may fall on a different day from year to year so to then the time of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior occurs during a specific time period, yet never actually falls on the same day from year to year.
If you aren’t aware Passover begins this coming Monday at sundown which, according to Hebrew reckoning, is really the 14th day of the month of Nisan. If you’ll recall, from the instructions given to the Hebrew people by God in the book of Exodus chapter 12 the Hebrew people where to set aside a one year-old male lamb, without spot or blemish, on the 10th day of the first month (Ex 12:3-5). On the 14th day of the month that lamb was to be slain and its blood placed upon both the upper and side door posts of the house (Ex. 12:6-7). This was to be done as an act of faith to remind the Hebrews of the protection that the blood of the slain lamb would offer from the visitation of the angel of death.
The symbolism of Exodus chapter 12 is still very much with us to this day and that is why Monday, March 29th at sundown should actually be quite significant for you, the Christian. For just like your birthday, it marks the time when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; the Lamb of God slain before the world was first created, was crushed by the tremendous weight of sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, so much so that He actually began to sweat drops of blood. He was then arrested, tried in a sham trial, and shamefully handled mistreated, beaten, bruised and subsequently crucified - all to bring mankind into full reconciliation with God the Father.
Thus just before sundown on March 30th which would mark the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan we are privy to remembering our Savior’s on the cross and His last plea to His Father when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” We can remember His last gasping breath, “It is finished.” We can remember this was the eve of the Sabbath where pious and holy men were able to kill the Son of God (this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook) and rush home in time to honor the Sabbath day.
This means then that the actual anniversary date that Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, thus holding captivity captive; so that we too could have that blessed hope and faith of being resurrected from the dead and into a new life with Christ will fall on Thursday, April 1st, for He rested in the tomb on what would have been Nisan 16 or this year the 31st of March. So when you awake next Thursday morning remember the truly awesome significance of the day. For it is the anniversary when Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James came to the tomb of Christ to finish anointing Him with the spices they had prepared only to find that the stone covering the sepulcher had been rolled away and two men in shining garments asking the women, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again”
Let us prayerfully remember the events of that Passover so long ago when our Lord and Savior, through His death on the cross, sought to bring mankind into greater understanding of the love of our Heavenly Father and the great expense He chose to pay.
If you would like a deeper, fascinating description of, and look into the events surrounding the crucifixion of our Lord I invite you to read chapters 74 to 83 in the book, The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.
God Bless.
Similarly this Monday, March 29th at sundown marks the historical significance of a time that I would imagine might also be quite meaningful to most of us that have chosen to call themselves Christian, provided we know about it. For you see, just like your birthday the date itself never changes, yet your birthday may fall on a different day from year to year so to then the time of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior occurs during a specific time period, yet never actually falls on the same day from year to year.
If you aren’t aware Passover begins this coming Monday at sundown which, according to Hebrew reckoning, is really the 14th day of the month of Nisan. If you’ll recall, from the instructions given to the Hebrew people by God in the book of Exodus chapter 12 the Hebrew people where to set aside a one year-old male lamb, without spot or blemish, on the 10th day of the first month (Ex 12:3-5). On the 14th day of the month that lamb was to be slain and its blood placed upon both the upper and side door posts of the house (Ex. 12:6-7). This was to be done as an act of faith to remind the Hebrews of the protection that the blood of the slain lamb would offer from the visitation of the angel of death.
The symbolism of Exodus chapter 12 is still very much with us to this day and that is why Monday, March 29th at sundown should actually be quite significant for you, the Christian. For just like your birthday, it marks the time when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; the Lamb of God slain before the world was first created, was crushed by the tremendous weight of sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, so much so that He actually began to sweat drops of blood. He was then arrested, tried in a sham trial, and shamefully handled mistreated, beaten, bruised and subsequently crucified - all to bring mankind into full reconciliation with God the Father.
Thus just before sundown on March 30th which would mark the beginning of the 15th day of Nisan we are privy to remembering our Savior’s on the cross and His last plea to His Father when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” We can remember His last gasping breath, “It is finished.” We can remember this was the eve of the Sabbath where pious and holy men were able to kill the Son of God (this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook) and rush home in time to honor the Sabbath day.
This means then that the actual anniversary date that Jesus Christ rose from the tomb, thus holding captivity captive; so that we too could have that blessed hope and faith of being resurrected from the dead and into a new life with Christ will fall on Thursday, April 1st, for He rested in the tomb on what would have been Nisan 16 or this year the 31st of March. So when you awake next Thursday morning remember the truly awesome significance of the day. For it is the anniversary when Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James came to the tomb of Christ to finish anointing Him with the spices they had prepared only to find that the stone covering the sepulcher had been rolled away and two men in shining garments asking the women, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again”
Let us prayerfully remember the events of that Passover so long ago when our Lord and Savior, through His death on the cross, sought to bring mankind into greater understanding of the love of our Heavenly Father and the great expense He chose to pay.
If you would like a deeper, fascinating description of, and look into the events surrounding the crucifixion of our Lord I invite you to read chapters 74 to 83 in the book, The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.
God Bless.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Fallacy of the Secret Rapture
Sadly it seems that most Christians today who preach about end time prophecies believe that prior to the end the church era true believers will be secretly raptured and flown home to heaven to escape the coming of tribulation.
This event will supposedly commence in the midst of the 70th week of Daniel 9:25-27. During this time 144,000 Jews will be converted and will rebuild a temple at Jerusalem where animal sacrifices will resume. Then these Jews will get on with the business of preaching the gospel to all the world. Of course, let's keep in mind, that the preaching of the Gospel has been going out to the entire world for centuries now.
Rapurists believe that the beast power, the mysterious antichrist figure, will then appear and make a "peace treaty" with these 144,000 Jews. After 3½ years of keeping a covenant with the Jews, the beast will break the covenant and commence 3½ years of persecution on the Jews and their converts. Finally there will be a third coming of Jesus to end it all and Jesus will rescue His people.
This is all a wildly fantastic scenario. The fact that it is pure fiction, found only in the pages of the "Left Behind" books and the fiction section of your local bookstore, and not anywhere in the pages of scripture should cause anyone even remotely interested in the truth to question this scenario.
It can be demonstrated quite clearly and distinctly from recent world history that this school of prophetic interpretation, coined "futurism," was developed by a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Manuel De Lacunza as a counter measure to the Protestant Reformation which had identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. It was later made popular by the Brethren Movement and Cyrus Scofield and the Scofield Bible. In the last 50-60 years it has become the prevailing view of many, if not most Evangelical churches. This teaching has many serious differences with the prevailing historical prophetic teaching and understanding of the Reformation and in particular Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. Some of the major flaws of this dispensational secret rapture scenario are:
1. There is second chance to believe in Jesus after His second coming if somehow one misses out on the secret rapture. This has got to be the most dangerous aspect of this doctrine.
2. The Antichrist appears after the church age era and this occurs after the church is raptured. Yet clearly scripture teaches us that even in the apostles day, as 1 John tells us, there were many antichrists in the church.
3. These end time prophecies call for the re-establishment of the State of Israel and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. Clearly this is an extremely myopic and somewhat convoluted interpretation of scripture because so many of these prophecies are taken from prophecies that have already been fulfilled regarding Judas return from captivity in Babylon.
4. This scenario of the secret rapture 1) absolves a Christian from the necessity of preaching the word of God to modern day Jews, which, for most Christians would be practically impossible because they do not know their scriptures better than even a nominal Jew, and 2) it neglects the obvious symbolic connection between Israel, Christ's fulfillment of prophecies regarding Israel and the fact that Jesus Christ is in fact the physical embodiment of Israel.
And yet the commission to preach the three angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 make it abundantly clear that "the everlasting gospel" is to be preached to them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" and that all should "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The Three Angels messages easily dispel the notion that the word of God will be preached after the church has flown away.
And it must be stressed that this admonition is something that is to be done now, not later, in anticipation and in preparation for the fall of Babylon and before the coming of the mark of the beast.
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" - Revelation 14:8-9
Therefore it makes the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist and the historic interpretation to the entire world, including modern day Jews living in that secular, nation/state of corporate ISRAEL clearly different, and vital to that of most every other church in the world. In this preaching, it has to be noted and responded to the "secret rapture" view by pointing out the following:
1. After the second coming of Jesus Christ there is no opportunity to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Outside of His second advent which will be glorious, noisy, powerful, and final there is just no second chance. It is this belief the secret rapture proponent is teaching a "fairy tale" and this can cause many to fail to follow Christ now and possibly be lost eternally. It's a harbinger of a "I'll wait and see" attitude. According to the Three Angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 the gospel and its preaching to the entire world, which directly challenges men and women to accept Christ now, is central to this issue.
2. The Antichrist is now operating in the church and has been for many centuries. The first epistle of John makes this abundantly clear. In John's day there were antichrist's in the church. The Beast power is Papal Rome, according to a historical interpretation of Daniel and Revelation, who along with other temporal political powers and her harlot daughters is set to arise and work at the end time just as she has through the centuries.
3. At this time there is no genuine significance to the Jews as a nation fulfilling Bible prophecy. In fact, it has already been accomplished by the person of Jesus Christ. We all belong to Israel, "fellow citizen's with the saints," as a result of Jesus' sacrifice. The New Testament teaches that the Christian church is true Israel. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28
The final end time battle will be fought all over the world, wherever God's people are to be found and it will center around the commandments of God and His authority as opposed to the mark of the beast system and that authority. The battle lines are clearly drawn: "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." - Revelation 14:12. Whether the Jews rebuild a temple in Jerusalem is of no significance as the true temple of God is to be found in heaven where Jesus Christ our righteousness now dwells.
Lastly, it should be noted that this prophetic message does make those with the historic interpretation of scripture much, much different from practically every other church denomination today. It is very interesting to also note that in recent years there has been a moving away from the teachings of futurism by many prominent scholars. The movement has been more towards the historic interpretation held by the early reformers position which can only be the work of God.
It is an undeniable fact that God has commissioned all Christians in Revelation 14:6-12 to preach some great truths namely, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His soon return and the glory of His commandments and His faith to both Christians and non-Christians alike to prepare all them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" to meet Jesus when He returns.
There can be no more dangerous interpretation of scripture than the notion of a "rebuilt temple" and a "secret rapture."
This event will supposedly commence in the midst of the 70th week of Daniel 9:25-27. During this time 144,000 Jews will be converted and will rebuild a temple at Jerusalem where animal sacrifices will resume. Then these Jews will get on with the business of preaching the gospel to all the world. Of course, let's keep in mind, that the preaching of the Gospel has been going out to the entire world for centuries now.
Rapurists believe that the beast power, the mysterious antichrist figure, will then appear and make a "peace treaty" with these 144,000 Jews. After 3½ years of keeping a covenant with the Jews, the beast will break the covenant and commence 3½ years of persecution on the Jews and their converts. Finally there will be a third coming of Jesus to end it all and Jesus will rescue His people.
This is all a wildly fantastic scenario. The fact that it is pure fiction, found only in the pages of the "Left Behind" books and the fiction section of your local bookstore, and not anywhere in the pages of scripture should cause anyone even remotely interested in the truth to question this scenario.
It can be demonstrated quite clearly and distinctly from recent world history that this school of prophetic interpretation, coined "futurism," was developed by a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Manuel De Lacunza as a counter measure to the Protestant Reformation which had identified the Papacy as the Antichrist. It was later made popular by the Brethren Movement and Cyrus Scofield and the Scofield Bible. In the last 50-60 years it has become the prevailing view of many, if not most Evangelical churches. This teaching has many serious differences with the prevailing historical prophetic teaching and understanding of the Reformation and in particular Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. Some of the major flaws of this dispensational secret rapture scenario are:
1. There is second chance to believe in Jesus after His second coming if somehow one misses out on the secret rapture. This has got to be the most dangerous aspect of this doctrine.
2. The Antichrist appears after the church age era and this occurs after the church is raptured. Yet clearly scripture teaches us that even in the apostles day, as 1 John tells us, there were many antichrists in the church.
3. These end time prophecies call for the re-establishment of the State of Israel and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. Clearly this is an extremely myopic and somewhat convoluted interpretation of scripture because so many of these prophecies are taken from prophecies that have already been fulfilled regarding Judas return from captivity in Babylon.
4. This scenario of the secret rapture 1) absolves a Christian from the necessity of preaching the word of God to modern day Jews, which, for most Christians would be practically impossible because they do not know their scriptures better than even a nominal Jew, and 2) it neglects the obvious symbolic connection between Israel, Christ's fulfillment of prophecies regarding Israel and the fact that Jesus Christ is in fact the physical embodiment of Israel.
And yet the commission to preach the three angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 make it abundantly clear that "the everlasting gospel" is to be preached to them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" and that all should "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The Three Angels messages easily dispel the notion that the word of God will be preached after the church has flown away.
And it must be stressed that this admonition is something that is to be done now, not later, in anticipation and in preparation for the fall of Babylon and before the coming of the mark of the beast.
"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" - Revelation 14:8-9
Therefore it makes the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist and the historic interpretation to the entire world, including modern day Jews living in that secular, nation/state of corporate ISRAEL clearly different, and vital to that of most every other church in the world. In this preaching, it has to be noted and responded to the "secret rapture" view by pointing out the following:
1. After the second coming of Jesus Christ there is no opportunity to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Outside of His second advent which will be glorious, noisy, powerful, and final there is just no second chance. It is this belief the secret rapture proponent is teaching a "fairy tale" and this can cause many to fail to follow Christ now and possibly be lost eternally. It's a harbinger of a "I'll wait and see" attitude. According to the Three Angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12 the gospel and its preaching to the entire world, which directly challenges men and women to accept Christ now, is central to this issue.
2. The Antichrist is now operating in the church and has been for many centuries. The first epistle of John makes this abundantly clear. In John's day there were antichrist's in the church. The Beast power is Papal Rome, according to a historical interpretation of Daniel and Revelation, who along with other temporal political powers and her harlot daughters is set to arise and work at the end time just as she has through the centuries.
3. At this time there is no genuine significance to the Jews as a nation fulfilling Bible prophecy. In fact, it has already been accomplished by the person of Jesus Christ. We all belong to Israel, "fellow citizen's with the saints," as a result of Jesus' sacrifice. The New Testament teaches that the Christian church is true Israel. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28
The final end time battle will be fought all over the world, wherever God's people are to be found and it will center around the commandments of God and His authority as opposed to the mark of the beast system and that authority. The battle lines are clearly drawn: "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." - Revelation 14:12. Whether the Jews rebuild a temple in Jerusalem is of no significance as the true temple of God is to be found in heaven where Jesus Christ our righteousness now dwells.
Lastly, it should be noted that this prophetic message does make those with the historic interpretation of scripture much, much different from practically every other church denomination today. It is very interesting to also note that in recent years there has been a moving away from the teachings of futurism by many prominent scholars. The movement has been more towards the historic interpretation held by the early reformers position which can only be the work of God.
It is an undeniable fact that God has commissioned all Christians in Revelation 14:6-12 to preach some great truths namely, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His soon return and the glory of His commandments and His faith to both Christians and non-Christians alike to prepare all them "that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" to meet Jesus when He returns.
There can be no more dangerous interpretation of scripture than the notion of a "rebuilt temple" and a "secret rapture."
Friday, June 12, 2009
For God so loved the world....
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Is there really anyway we can imagine that, the Just One for the unjust? The following video attempts that very thing...in a most sobering way.
May Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, the Son of God, the Holy One of Israel shine forth in your heart today and everyday.
Is there really anyway we can imagine that, the Just One for the unjust? The following video attempts that very thing...in a most sobering way.
May Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, the Son of God, the Holy One of Israel shine forth in your heart today and everyday.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Pork: The Other White Meat®
More proof God was right and Jesus Christ didn't die on the cross for bacon, ham and pickled pigs feet.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Abraham the Gentile
How many times have you heard someone call Abraham a Jew? And yet, it almost goes without saying that one of the most fascinating, indeed awe inspiring, glimpses into Bible prophecy can be found in the story of Abraham - the gentile. The story of Abraham is a story for anyone and everyone that places their trust in Jesus. When you examine this story of Abraham it is, in all reality, the story of the gentiles and how the gentiles are saved.
First the basics. Abraham was a direct descendant of Noah's son Shem. We know that the whole world was populated from the offspring of Noah. Shem we are told in Genesis 10:21 was father of all the children of Eber, who was the father of Abraham. Eber then is really the father of Hebrew nation; this means that Abraham his son was a Hebrew and not a Jew. Jews didn't come along until Abraham's great-grandson Judah began to have children of his own.
According to the Strong's Concordance the word Hebrew means: "a region across" which fits perfectly when we are told that Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:31. The area of the Chaldees was located between the Tigris and Euphrates in what is commonly known as Mesopotamia. I'm offering all this information to point out that Abraham was a gentile, no matter how we look at it, but that's not the fascinating part. This is. That very same promises that God gave to Abraham are available to us! In fact, those promises, which were accepted by Abraham by his faith in God are the same promises we receive from God and accept by faith.
In Romans 4 Paul asks us to consider father Abraham and that his justification, if it was through works, would have given him something to boast about - but not before God. Abraham was not saved by works. Paul tells us plainly that Abraham believed God and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to explain to us that if we work then the wages we earn are not a gift but what is due to us (Romans 4:4) whereas if we trust the one who "justifies the ungodly" then our faith is reckoned for righteousness, just like Abraham (Romans 4:5). To confirm this point Paul quotes David in the Psalms (Psalms 32:1-2).
This is getting good!
Now, Paul asks rather pointedly, "How then was it (faith) reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised?" Another way we could look at this question is this, was Abraham reckoned unto God before he was "set aside" by God or after? And the answer Paul? "It was not after, but before he was circumcised." (Romans 4:10).
What a tremendous blessing this is giving us! That God accepts our faith, even before our hearts are fully circumcised (See Romans 2:28-29) just as He did for Abraham. What a wonderful way to see the picture of God building trust with us!
Paul tells us that Abraham "received circumcision" as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them" (Romans 4:11). What Paul is illustrating for us is that "the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone. And this is exactly how we receive the promises that God makes to us! Not through the law, but by the "righteousness of faith." No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone! Paul goes on to tell us that if those that adhere to the law are heirs, then "faith is null and the promise of God is void."
Paul tells us plainly in verse 16, "That is why it (the promise) depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all..."
So the promises that God made to Abraham, that were counted to him as righteousness due to his faith, are ours to claim as well! Paul tells us that, "It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).
Wow!
The very same promises God made to Abraham belong to us as well. We will be reckoned by our faith in Him that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! What an awesome promise and an awesome glimpse as to how this prophetic vision, expressed first in the gentile Abraham, is now available to both Jew and gentile that accept the God that raised Jesus from the dead. As our faith is counted for righteousness in God so too is our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
Something that illustrates this point for us and solidifies the truth of this promise made to the gentiles is the story of the tremendous faith displayed by the centurion that led to the healing of his servant in Matthew 8:5-13.
He didn't question, he just believed. He just had faith. As a result, Jesus makes an absolutely staggering comment regarding the faith of the gentiles, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 8:11-12.
The promise here is obvious. The gentiles, those from the east and from the west, will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Messiah while those that do not display faith in the Messiah by placing their trust in Him will be on the outside looking in.
There is much to learn from the faith of Abraham the gentile.
First the basics. Abraham was a direct descendant of Noah's son Shem. We know that the whole world was populated from the offspring of Noah. Shem we are told in Genesis 10:21 was father of all the children of Eber, who was the father of Abraham. Eber then is really the father of Hebrew nation; this means that Abraham his son was a Hebrew and not a Jew. Jews didn't come along until Abraham's great-grandson Judah began to have children of his own.
According to the Strong's Concordance the word Hebrew means: "a region across" which fits perfectly when we are told that Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:31. The area of the Chaldees was located between the Tigris and Euphrates in what is commonly known as Mesopotamia. I'm offering all this information to point out that Abraham was a gentile, no matter how we look at it, but that's not the fascinating part. This is. That very same promises that God gave to Abraham are available to us! In fact, those promises, which were accepted by Abraham by his faith in God are the same promises we receive from God and accept by faith.
In Romans 4 Paul asks us to consider father Abraham and that his justification, if it was through works, would have given him something to boast about - but not before God. Abraham was not saved by works. Paul tells us plainly that Abraham believed God and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to explain to us that if we work then the wages we earn are not a gift but what is due to us (Romans 4:4) whereas if we trust the one who "justifies the ungodly" then our faith is reckoned for righteousness, just like Abraham (Romans 4:5). To confirm this point Paul quotes David in the Psalms (Psalms 32:1-2).
This is getting good!
Now, Paul asks rather pointedly, "How then was it (faith) reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised?" Another way we could look at this question is this, was Abraham reckoned unto God before he was "set aside" by God or after? And the answer Paul? "It was not after, but before he was circumcised." (Romans 4:10).
What a tremendous blessing this is giving us! That God accepts our faith, even before our hearts are fully circumcised (See Romans 2:28-29) just as He did for Abraham. What a wonderful way to see the picture of God building trust with us!
Paul tells us that Abraham "received circumcision" as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them" (Romans 4:11). What Paul is illustrating for us is that "the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone. And this is exactly how we receive the promises that God makes to us! Not through the law, but by the "righteousness of faith." No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone! Paul goes on to tell us that if those that adhere to the law are heirs, then "faith is null and the promise of God is void."
Paul tells us plainly in verse 16, "That is why it (the promise) depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all..."
So the promises that God made to Abraham, that were counted to him as righteousness due to his faith, are ours to claim as well! Paul tells us that, "It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).
Wow!
The very same promises God made to Abraham belong to us as well. We will be reckoned by our faith in Him that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! What an awesome promise and an awesome glimpse as to how this prophetic vision, expressed first in the gentile Abraham, is now available to both Jew and gentile that accept the God that raised Jesus from the dead. As our faith is counted for righteousness in God so too is our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
Something that illustrates this point for us and solidifies the truth of this promise made to the gentiles is the story of the tremendous faith displayed by the centurion that led to the healing of his servant in Matthew 8:5-13.
He didn't question, he just believed. He just had faith. As a result, Jesus makes an absolutely staggering comment regarding the faith of the gentiles, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 8:11-12.
The promise here is obvious. The gentiles, those from the east and from the west, will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Messiah while those that do not display faith in the Messiah by placing their trust in Him will be on the outside looking in.
There is much to learn from the faith of Abraham the gentile.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Jesus Doesn't Charge Anything.....
Nor does He demand forced penance from us, or elaborate rituals. Nor does He require lengthy pilgrimages, or confession to another man. He simply asks us to believe Him, to trust Him and to abide with Him (John 15).
Plenary indulgence announced for anniversary of the Apostle to the Gentiles
Plenary indulgence announced for anniversary of the Apostle to the Gentiles
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Did He Really Say That?
Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas released a book just a little over 6 months ago titled, "In Defense of Israel." His ministry, John Hagee Ministries (JHM) produced a TV commercial promoting this book where Hagee clearly denies that Jesus Christ came to be the Messiah of Israel.
The video of this commercial can be viewed here.
It's fairly easy to see where Pastor Hagee stands and what Pastor Hagee believes. His expressed views in the commercial for his book cannot be gainsayed in any way:
"This book will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shake Christian theology. It scripturally proves that the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest, and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered? Read this shocking expose, In Defense of Israel."
Wow! If I hadn't heard it, nor seen it with my own eyes, I could have sworn that this man, a pastor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, actually denied that Jesus was the Messiah. Worse yet, Pastor Hagee is basically saying that the Jews would most certainly have accepted Jesus had He actually come to do what Pastor Hagee says He didn't come to do!!!!! Confusing doctrine to say the least.
Now there are a great number (if not hundreds), of Bible cites that clearly show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. I can think of no better though than the ones that actually described Jesus being anointed.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 9 and verses 24-27 we read:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Since Messiah is a variation of the Hebrew mashach
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In relation to the point made regarding the book of Daniel we see that Jesus was "baptized" by John in the book of Matthew (3:15-17) which is emblematic of being anointed and which was the clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, where Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" also lends great credence and proof that Jesus was come as the Messiah.
In the book of Acts we are told by the physician Luke, in the most plain language possible in the recounting Peter's encounter with Cornelius how Jesus was "anointed" with the Holy Ghost and power."
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This verse also validates what is prophesied in the book of Daniel regarding Jesus being the Anointed One of Israel.
It is truly unfortunate that such drastic and sensational claims have to be made in order to sell a few books and to attempt to validate the clearly false teaching of dispensationalism and the make the denial that Jesus has come as Messiah to save all of Israel.
But rather than make judgments about Pastor Hagee and his motives we should offer prayer to the Father that the scales will be removed from his eyes and that his ears will be unstopped to the wonderful truth that the Gospel has to offer, namely that Jesus is the Messiah and the risen Son of the Living God. Even when one makes such glaring and obvious mistakes we must still believe in our heart of hearts that God the Father knows the difference, knows what is in Pastor Hagee's heart and has the capacity to rightly judge the true motives of pastors such as John Hagee and the messages they espouse.
The video of this commercial can be viewed here.
It's fairly easy to see where Pastor Hagee stands and what Pastor Hagee believes. His expressed views in the commercial for his book cannot be gainsayed in any way:
"This book will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shake Christian theology. It scripturally proves that the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest, and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered? Read this shocking expose, In Defense of Israel."
Wow! If I hadn't heard it, nor seen it with my own eyes, I could have sworn that this man, a pastor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, actually denied that Jesus was the Messiah. Worse yet, Pastor Hagee is basically saying that the Jews would most certainly have accepted Jesus had He actually come to do what Pastor Hagee says He didn't come to do!!!!! Confusing doctrine to say the least.
Now there are a great number (if not hundreds), of Bible cites that clearly show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. I can think of no better though than the ones that actually described Jesus being anointed.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 9 and verses 24-27 we read:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Since Messiah is a variation of the Hebrew mashach
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In relation to the point made regarding the book of Daniel we see that Jesus was "baptized" by John in the book of Matthew (3:15-17) which is emblematic of being anointed and which was the clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, where Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" also lends great credence and proof that Jesus was come as the Messiah.
In the book of Acts we are told by the physician Luke, in the most plain language possible in the recounting Peter's encounter with Cornelius how Jesus was "anointed" with the Holy Ghost and power."
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This verse also validates what is prophesied in the book of Daniel regarding Jesus being the Anointed One of Israel.
It is truly unfortunate that such drastic and sensational claims have to be made in order to sell a few books and to attempt to validate the clearly false teaching of dispensationalism and the make the denial that Jesus has come as Messiah to save all of Israel.
But rather than make judgments about Pastor Hagee and his motives we should offer prayer to the Father that the scales will be removed from his eyes and that his ears will be unstopped to the wonderful truth that the Gospel has to offer, namely that Jesus is the Messiah and the risen Son of the Living God. Even when one makes such glaring and obvious mistakes we must still believe in our heart of hearts that God the Father knows the difference, knows what is in Pastor Hagee's heart and has the capacity to rightly judge the true motives of pastors such as John Hagee and the messages they espouse.
The God Who Washes Feet
In the painting shown above Jesus is either getting ready to wash the feet of Osama Bin Laden just as soon as He finishes washing the feet of Koffee Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, or He has just finished washing the feet of Osama Bin Laden, the so-called "Arch-villain of the Republic!" Amazing!
Would God really wash the feet of His enemies? Would your God really wash the feet of your enemies?
I suppose the answer truly lies in whether you believe God would wash your feet!
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
If you believe that God would wash your feet, but not the feet of your enemies or His enemies, then you more than likely serve a god much different than the God I serve. But, on the other hand, if you have faith in what Jesus actually does, which is to wash the feet of the very man that would later betray Him then you have a fairly good grasp on the character and nature of our Heavenly Father.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Dispensational Non-Sense
Maybe you've heard them or seen them. Prominent pastors with large congregations and large national followings that constantly and consistently preach and teach that the modern and secular State of Israel will be saved apart from those that make up the body of the church established by Jesus Christ.
But is that really true? Does God the Father have one plan for the salvation of those that are called Jews and those that are called Gentiles? Is that the way God truly works? Clearly, the apostle Paul tells us that "...all Israel will be saved..." (Romans 11:26), but does that mean at the complete exclusion of the Gentiles? Or does the statement that Paul makes show us that all those who join themselves to the Lord will be called Israelites and thus be saved?
It's important to know and it's important to understand what the Lord is doing.
We have only scripture to point us in the right direction and to give us a firm grasp of what is true and what is false. In the days of the apostles, as they were writing their letters to the various churches, they had but one set of scriptures to prove the points that they were making and those scriptures were what we would call the "Old Testament" (2 Timothy 3:16). I suggest then that it is quite proper, and quite important, to establish the true and proper identity of "National Israel" through these "Old Testament" scriptures. This is just exactly what the apostles did, we should gladly do the same.
It cannot be doubted nor disputed that the Nation of Israel was to carry the oracles of God to the world. They were to be a model to the entire world at that time of the power, grace and majesty of the Lord their God.
Leviticus 24:2
Command the Children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
In that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5 ) the Children of Israel were surely responsible for ensuring that the lamps of the sanctuary to have the oil of light, so that the word of God could be clearly known to all those who joined themselves to His sanctuary.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
This same word, this same light is what led the way and lighted the path of the ancient Israelites as they made there way through the wilderness:
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Isaiah 10:16-17
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and His briers in one day;
The point is this and it must be made and understood....all those that wish to hear the Lord, that wish to be saved by the Lord must "join" themselves to the Lord. There is no other way. Gentiles were never promised salvation through the Savior, only the Nation of Israel was. Yet, to becomes an Israelite one must have done certain things. Certainly, circumcision was one thing but more importantly the desire to partake of the passover meal was another. See Exodus 12:40-49.
If one wished to join with this Nation Israel, "to sojourn" with them they were required to be circumcised if they had a desire to partake in the passover:
Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
If the "stranger" was willing to do these things, the stranger was treated as a native son of the Nation of Israel, with all the rights of one that was born a direct descendant of Jacob (Israel).
Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Let's quickly fast forward to Paul's day. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul, in one of the most clear examples of this anywhere in the New Testament, compares this very example from Exodus as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
It cannot be said any more succinctly. We Gentiles, which were formerly called uncircumcision by those that are part of the circumcision and where we were outside of Jesus Christ without the covenants of promise, without hope and outside of God in this world are made "near" to Jesus Christ by His blood. Just as the Gentile converts were adopted and absorbed into the Nation of Israel by circumcision and the desire to partake in the passover, the modern day Gentiles, converted into accepting and believing in the promises through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are now partakers in the same covenant promises given to National Israel.
To make this point even more clear Paul goes on to say that we "...are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
Friends, it can be no more plain than the nose on one's face. God saves all of Israel, both of blood and those that are Israel by adoption. To believe anything thing else simply cannot be shown to be from scripture.
But is that really true? Does God the Father have one plan for the salvation of those that are called Jews and those that are called Gentiles? Is that the way God truly works? Clearly, the apostle Paul tells us that "...all Israel will be saved..." (Romans 11:26), but does that mean at the complete exclusion of the Gentiles? Or does the statement that Paul makes show us that all those who join themselves to the Lord will be called Israelites and thus be saved?
It's important to know and it's important to understand what the Lord is doing.
We have only scripture to point us in the right direction and to give us a firm grasp of what is true and what is false. In the days of the apostles, as they were writing their letters to the various churches, they had but one set of scriptures to prove the points that they were making and those scriptures were what we would call the "Old Testament" (2 Timothy 3:16). I suggest then that it is quite proper, and quite important, to establish the true and proper identity of "National Israel" through these "Old Testament" scriptures. This is just exactly what the apostles did, we should gladly do the same.
It cannot be doubted nor disputed that the Nation of Israel was to carry the oracles of God to the world. They were to be a model to the entire world at that time of the power, grace and majesty of the Lord their God.
Leviticus 24:2
Command the Children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
In that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5 ) the Children of Israel were surely responsible for ensuring that the lamps of the sanctuary to have the oil of light, so that the word of God could be clearly known to all those who joined themselves to His sanctuary.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
This same word, this same light is what led the way and lighted the path of the ancient Israelites as they made there way through the wilderness:
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Isaiah 10:16-17
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and His briers in one day;
The point is this and it must be made and understood....all those that wish to hear the Lord, that wish to be saved by the Lord must "join" themselves to the Lord. There is no other way. Gentiles were never promised salvation through the Savior, only the Nation of Israel was. Yet, to becomes an Israelite one must have done certain things. Certainly, circumcision was one thing but more importantly the desire to partake of the passover meal was another. See Exodus 12:40-49.
If one wished to join with this Nation Israel, "to sojourn" with them they were required to be circumcised if they had a desire to partake in the passover:
Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
If the "stranger" was willing to do these things, the stranger was treated as a native son of the Nation of Israel, with all the rights of one that was born a direct descendant of Jacob (Israel).
Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Let's quickly fast forward to Paul's day. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul, in one of the most clear examples of this anywhere in the New Testament, compares this very example from Exodus as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
It cannot be said any more succinctly. We Gentiles, which were formerly called uncircumcision by those that are part of the circumcision and where we were outside of Jesus Christ without the covenants of promise, without hope and outside of God in this world are made "near" to Jesus Christ by His blood. Just as the Gentile converts were adopted and absorbed into the Nation of Israel by circumcision and the desire to partake in the passover, the modern day Gentiles, converted into accepting and believing in the promises through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are now partakers in the same covenant promises given to National Israel.
To make this point even more clear Paul goes on to say that we "...are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
Friends, it can be no more plain than the nose on one's face. God saves all of Israel, both of blood and those that are Israel by adoption. To believe anything thing else simply cannot be shown to be from scripture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
