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O Come, O Come EmmanuelO come, O come, EmmanuelAnd ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appearRejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel.
Jesus “came to his own” (John 1: 11)
NAU John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. (John 1: 31 (context))
Read Luke 2 (note all the references to Israel)
Jesus was NOT the first ChristianHe was a member of the nation of Israel and spoke To them exclusively:
Remember Matthew 10: 5 and 15: 24 and others such as John 4 (Samaritans)
KJV Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
AFTER his resurrection did this change?Acts 1: 6; 5: 31 (The all Jewish station)
Jesus did not “found” the Church (to which Christians belong); he had his own church!NIV Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (see Matthew 17: 2…what Jesus was looking at in Caesarea Philippi)KJV Acts 7:38 This is he (Moses), that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:KJV Acts 19:32 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. (but also look at verses 39 and 41)
Scriptural Definitions of IsraelIsrael in the Scriptures means…well…Israel. There are some nuances historically:
1. Jacob became Israel (the person who represents the nation); 2. Israel – united 12 tribes (the actual nation)3. Israel – ten northern tribes (in the divided kingdom); see usage in
Jeremiah 31: 31 (house of Israel as opposed to the house of Judah)4. Israel of God in Galatians 6:16 – “all those who believe”? or “the
Church”? No, I think it is still Israel, but just as in Romans 9:6 it is the Israel WITHIN Israel. So let’s look at that next month.
Is the definition of Israel hard to understand?Of the ~73 instances of the term “Israel” in the Christian Scriptures there are only two (2) or three (3) that are needing our attention. The rest are obvious (in their contexts) talking about the nation, people (tribe or house) or land of God’s covenant people:Matt. 2:6, 20f; 8:10; 9:33; 10:6, 23; 15:24, 31; 19:28; 27:9, 42; Mk. 12:29; 15:32; Lk. 1:16, 54, 68, 80; 2:25, 32, 34; 4:25, 27; 7:9; 22:30; 24:21; Jn. 1:31, 49; 3:10; 12:13; Acts 1:6; 2:22, 36; 3:12; 4:8, 10, 27; 5:21, 31, 35; 7:23, 37, 42; 9:15; 10:36; 13:16f, 23f; 21:28; 28:20; Rom. 9:6, 27, 31; 10:1, 19, 21; 11:2, 7, 25f; 1 Co. 10:18; 2 Co. 3:7, 13; Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:12; Phil. 3:5; Heb. 8:8, 10; 11:22; Rev. 2:14; 7:4; 21:12.
The term “Jew” (approximately 162 uses in the Christian Scriptures) is much easier. It means someone born into the nation of Israel.
How Did Paul use the term Israel?KJV Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. (late in the game (Paul is in prison in Rome) and surely after he’d been given some revelation of the Secret).
Paul consistently used the term “Israel” to mean his very own people: KJV Romans 9:-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
BUT then there’s…
YLT Romans 9:6 And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel….We’ll have to really see what this “says”
How Did Paul use the term Church?
See my paper “What do you mean when you say Church?”
If you didn’t get it please write to me:
The Metaphor of “the body of Christ”Nearly 30 times in the writings TO the church this metaphor is used in relation to the Church!
“A major theme of Paul’s and Peter’s theology is the recognition of the New Testament Church as the spiritual Israel of God.” (Anthony Buzzard –The Atlanta Bible College)
1. Major theme? Just how often did they use this term? Can you say NEVER?
2. The New Testament (Covenant) Church? Is the church IN the new testament (i.e. - covenant)? If so (or not) how or how not?
3. Ever heard these other terms used for the church: “true Israel”, “spiritual Israel”, “the new spiritual Israel”, “the spiritual Israel of God”, “the new Israel”, “the new Israel of God”, “the spiritual Jew” and finally (OMG!) “the Israel of the Spirit”?
Yeware not a “spiritual” JewWe’ll be covering these in detail:
KJV Romans 9:6 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
NIV 1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—
KJV Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. KJV Matthew 21:42-45 (parable – verse 33) 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 1 Peter 2:9 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {peculiar: or, purchased} {praises: or, virtues}
Theological Translations:Ephesians 2:1-20 NIV Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away (from what?) have been brought near (to what?) through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Does this context show a “folding in” of the Gentiles into the purposes of God? Look at verse 19 in multiple versions (NIV is totally THEOLOGICAL), but the stage setting is in the verses before that. Is this what the
text says?
Theological Translations (continued)Ephesians 3:1-12 NIV Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery (secret) is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Is this really what the text says?
Supersessionism, Fulfillment Theology and/or Replacement Theology: All are a form of Covenant Theology which is diametrically opposed to what we teach here at TLTF)
“one people of God” for all times“one gospel”“one Church”“Israel” is interpreted typologicallyNo separate “gathering together” (aka – Rapture) for the ChurchUsually no manifestations, no free will for mankind, no drinking, dancing and basically no fun at all…then they accuse us of being “other worldly” and not interested in life on this planet. I went to both college and seminary under teachers of this method of interpretation.
Is Israel “history” or does she have a future?
For Covenant Theology (usually found in “Reformed” churches) the Church has superseded Israel (That is they are the recipients of the promises of God and physical Israel is no longer the people of God.)
For Dispensational Theology the Church (and hence the “church age”; better known as the “dispensation of the grace of God”/ “dispensation of the Secret” (Ephesians 3: 2 and 9)) is a parenthesis in the purposes of God; a Secret revealed to the “holy apostles and prophets” after the day of Pentecost 28AD.
The key to understanding the subject of Israel and the Church is…
1. The Gentiles: 1. Who are they, where did they come from and where are they going? 2. Were they excluded from the “promises of God” before the day of
Pentecost?2. The New Covenant:
1. To whom was it addressed and implemented?1. Is it in affect yet? (see Hebrews 8: 13)
2. What is it’s relation to the other Covenants in the Bible?1. For that matter, what ARE the other covenants?
3. Who was grafted in to the “olive tree” (Romans 9-11)? Who WAS the Olive Tree?
