A Saviour unto Israel

[beloved57]

There is nothing "against" Replacement Theology in the NT or in the sermon of a Christian. It is impossible to open the mouth and not to promote the Pauline policy of Replacement Theology.
Ben

You are trying to replace God's People of Faith, a Spiritual People, with a carnal fleshly people. Natural Israel of the Flesh are not the Children of God Rom 9:8

8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

 

[beloved57]

Physical jews of National Israel not God's Elect !

Physical jews of National Israel not God's Elect !

The problem with many in religion today is that they believe, because they are deceived, that Ethnic Jews, the Physical descendants of Abraham, called Israel, people believe they are God's Chosen or Elect People,but they are not, yes some of them were, just as some in the gentiles are, but the Nation as a whole was not God's Chosen or Elect People. Paul writes in Rom 11:7

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Israel here is the National, and Ethic People of Israel, Abraham's, Jacob's Physical descendants.

Now God through Paul says that Israel has not obtained that which he seeketh after [ Righteousness before God] BUT BUT BUT the Election hath obtained it, They obtained it by Faith in Christ!

This makes it plain, that National Israel was not God's Chosen People !

Now who cannot see that Paul distinguishes Israel from the Election, which word means eklogē in the greek:


the act of picking out, choosing

a) of the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons

b) the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone

2) a thing or person chosen

a) of persons: God's elect


Its translated Chosen in Acts 9:15

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

 

[Ps82]

Hi Beloved,
Regarding obtaining salvation ... at this time, Beloved, I do see things the way you do. Jews do not have salvation secured as a nation ... but rather there are elect among the Jews and or Israel, who have received it and will receive it.

But, when you think about it, isn't receiving salvation different from God's contract with the nation Israel to use them on earth to perform works among them in the eyes of men ... and to bless them nationally when they obey and honor him ... and correct them nationally when they disobey and dishonor him? Either way the LORD of the covenant with Israel gets the glory for being the ONE true living God.

God does not just have to use saved people. He used and can still use people, who are not saved as well.

 

[Ps82]

Hi Beloved,
Regarding obtaining salvation ... at this time, Beloved, I do see things the way you do. Jews do not have salvation secured as a nation ... but rather there are elect among the Jews and or Israel, who have received it and will receive it.

But, when you think about it, isn't receiving salvation different from God's contract with the nation Israel to use them on earth to perform works among them in the eyes of men ... and to bless them nationally when they obey and honor him ... and correct them nationally when they disobey and dishonor him? Either way the LORD of the covenant with Israel gets the glory for being the ONE true living God.

God does not just have to use saved people. He used and can still use people, who are not saved as well. I just don't think God is finished using national Israel/the Jews. One reason being that he has purposely and miraculously preserved a remnant to this very day.

 

[beloved57]

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church !

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church !

Rom 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

All the scripture, every last part of it was about Christ Lk 24:25-27


25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Law, and the prophets, and the Psalms Lk 24:44

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

All of scripture in some way or other, by prophecy or prefigurement have Christ and His People [The Church] as it's subject ! All the OT Prophecies and promises to and about God's People are fulfilled in Christ, there yes and amen are in Him 2 Cor 1:20


20For all the promises of God[From the OT] in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

And since Christ is one with His body the Church, it also [The Church] fulfills the promises from the OT to God's People 1 Pet 1:10-12


10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Notice vs 10, the grace that should come unto you ! This means in a nutshell, prophecies like Jer 31:31-34

31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Which proclaims the Grace of the New Covenant to God's People, this prophecy finds it's fulfillment in Christ and His Church !

 

[beloved57]

A Saviour unto Israel !

A Saviour unto Israel !

How is God a Saviour to Israel ? Because Israel is His Church purchased by His Blood Acts 20:28

28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Paul said this in Acts 13:23,42

23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Now gentiles heard this message and they invited Paul to come again the next sabaath to Preach unto them the same words Acts 13:

42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

You know why ? because God was indicating that those Gentiles are part of the Israel, the Church that Jesus was raised up as a Saviour to, according to God's Promise !

Now Israel is the Church that shall not be ashamed Isa 45:17

17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

Now Paul writing to the Church at Rome says Rom 9:33

33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Now this is referring to being saved vs 27 Rom 9:27

27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Rom 10:11-13


11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

So it is the Jew and Gentile Church saved in The lord Jesus Christ, who is the Israel of Promise in Isa 45:17


17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

 

[beloved57]

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church ! cont

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church ! cont

Nothing Trumps God's Eternal Purpose in Christ Eph 3:11

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

You see, everything must be subservient to this Eternal Purpose in Christ !

Now within the Eternal Purpose of God, it was for National Israel to come into existence, to be a type of the Church, God's chosen people in Christ 1 Cor 10:6,11

6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.


11Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Notice Paul here speaking to believers who were a composition of both jew and gentile, is stating that OT History and the things that occurred to National Israel was for OUR [Jew and Gentile Believers] admonition and happened for examples or types . The greek word is typos.

Old Testament History and Scripture was written for the sake of the Eternal Purpose of Christ and His Church !

This confirms and agrees with Peter's statement 1 Pet 1:10-12

10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Those upon whom the ends of the world or ages has come, and whom without, the OT Saints should not be made perfect !

This certainly connects the OT Saints with the NT Saints, which all make up the Body of Christ. The Church is the Perfecting of the Body of Christ which began in the OT with those Saints ! Without the New Covenant People the Saints, the OC People the Saints could not be Perfect Heb 11:40

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The Church was in the OT by virtue of Saved Jews, and it's Christ the Hope of Glory for them All, that is the Hope of Israel 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.

Now Paul says this even though He was especially Chosen and Commissioned to be an Apostle to the Gentiles !

Notice Gal 2:2

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

1 Tim 2:7

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2 Tim 1:1

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

But Paul could still say that, Hope of Israel was he in chains, because the gentiles were part of that Israel, and the Promises had been made to them as those to the Jews in Israel who were saved, So Paul writes Eph 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body[ Church or Family], and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Now what Promises are Paul talking about that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs ? Rom 9:5

4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Those Promises ! The same Promises in Christ that the Saved Jews, or Israelites had in the OT times !

This is the Hope of Israel, no not the Physical Jews of that Nation, but the Israelites indeed !

 

[beloved57]

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church ! cont

The Old Testament points to Christ and His Church ! cont

For this cause, the OT Prophets, when speaking of Israel's hope of the future, they used terms that they and their hearers could understand, but these things have now been explained by the Apostles,[ after they received the Holy Ghost]and their interpretation, showing that God's ultimate design or purpose has been fulfilled in Christ and the Church, His Body. The Nationalistic overtones of the prophets have been applied to that of the universal calling of both Jew and gentile in One Body Rom 15:8-12

8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

9And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

10And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

This is the same reign as spoken of here Lk 1:33

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Yes, it is the promise of the same reign ! Also the passage here Rom 15:8-12 is very similar to Rom 11, describing the grafting in of the Gentiles among the people of God, that is the people of faith of the Old Covenant !

 

[beloved57]

The Church is Israel because She is the Circumcision !

The Church is Israel because She is the Circumcision !

Jesus told a woman a truth that many ignore today, and that is this Jn 4:22-24

22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus says here that Salvation is of the Jews, but He did not mean the Physical Jew or those Jews that were merely Abraham's Physical Seed according to the Flesh Rom 9:8

8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

No, Jesus means those Jews that were True Worshipers, those who Worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, which means they had to be born of God's Spirit, they had to have that circumcision which is of the Heart. Paul wrote of it here Rom 2:28-29

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Yes, that is the Jew that Salvation is of, only those who received circumcision of the heart.

Abraham had received it, Isaac also, and so did Jacob. King David as well !

The Phillipian Jailor received it who was a Roman Solider ! He became a Believer in Christ Acts 16:30-33

30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Now sometimes after this, Paul wrote a Letter to his converts in Phillipi and this is what He wrote Phil 3:3

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Now compare that statement with #1 Jesus statement Jn 4:24

24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

And Paul's inspired words in Rom 2:29

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Yes, the Roman Soldier who was not an ethnic jew, was a Spiritual Jew which had received circumcision of the Heart or Paul did not include him in His statement of Phil 3:3 when he said to all believers there Phil 3:3

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Notice Paul said that we are the circumcision and rejoice in Christ Jesus ! Now did not the Philippian Jailor after his conversion and his house rejoice in Christ Jesus ? Acts 16:34

34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house

In fact, Paul more than likely had that incident in mind when He wrote that portion pf the Phillipian letter ! This is indisputable scripture evidence that non ethnic jews are recognized by God as Jews Spiritually, the circumcision which worship God in Spirit !

 

[beloved57]

The Circumcision !

The Circumcision !

Phil 3:3

3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Now those of you that are not familiar with the Term Circumcision, it is another name for the jews or the Israelites. To be of the circumcision was to be a jew, a Physical descendant of Abraham. Remember when Paul was describing his ministry work as opposed to the other Apostles, James, Peter and John, whose ministry work was primarily to the Physical jews, He stated that his ministry was to the uncircumcision, the gentiles, but there's unto the circumcision, the jews ! Gal 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

So Abraham's Physical descendants are called Circumcision, and Abraham's Spiritual descendants, Believers in Christ, no matter what ethnicity, are called Circumcision which is Israel, for that is the reason for Paul's comment of twain Israel's in Rom 9:6, and that's the reason for twain Circumcisions, and that is the reason for twain "seed's of Abraham" !

 

[beloved57]

The Israel God Promised to Save is this One !

The Israel God Promised to Save is this One !

Gal 6:14-16

14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

In the original it is :

ton Israhl tou qeou.

The Israel of God preceded by the definite Article TON ! This denotes the one and only Israel of God. This Israel's hope has nothing to do with ethnicity, physical circumcision, but rests upon vs 14 " the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" from which proceeds the New Creation. His Cross produces New Creatures, and that is who Israel is ! These belong to Christ and are the seed of Abraham Gal 3:29

29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


The Promise of Israel being saved Isa 45:17

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

This Israel shall Glory In the Cross for it's Salvation, not their fleshly ethnicity, nor their circumcision !

 

[beloved57]

That Christ and His Church fulfill OT Prophecy is seen from this 1 Cor 15:51-57

51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now what is the saying that was written that will then be brought to pass ?

It is here Isa 25:8

8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

And vs 55 is the fulfillment of this Prophecy Hosea 13:14

14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

NOW who is the them that God is promising to ransom here ? Look at vs 9 Hosea 13:9

9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.


This Promise to Israel was or will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of Christ for His Church...When the Dead in Christ shall rise first !

 

[beloved57]

Church Identifed in OT by Paul !

Church Identifed in OT by Paul !

If God ever gives us to understand the scriptures, we will be able to see that the NT Church of Christ and the OT Saints are of the same, the Church of Christ ! Paul in writing to the Church at Rome in the 8th chapter writes Rom 8:33-39

33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Notice Paul asks in vs 35 " Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ"

So Christ's Love is the subject ! Then he refers back to scripture that has been written to connect it with the Love of CHRIST ! vs 36

The scripture Paul is referring to is here Ps 44:22

22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Now who are the we of this verse ? vs 17

17All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

It is the remnant of the Election of Grace in Israel that had an eye to the Covenant concerning Christ ! That Covenant confirmed before in Christ Gal 3:16-17

16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The covenant that the saints around at the birth of Christ recognized as here Lk 1:67-73

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,


Our Father Abraham is not meaning the Father of the unbelieving reprobated ethnic jews, for Christ knew Abraham was not their Father in that sense from His words to some of them here Jn 8:39

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

So that is not what is meant, but Abraham as the Father of the Faithful as here Rom 4:16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

That's who Zacharias , John's Father meant when he said " the oath which He [God] sware to our Father Abraham in vs 73

So this Promise belongs to the Church, which was the Promise of Christ, who is the Head of His Body the Church, and if we belong to Christ, then are we Abraham's Seed that the promises pertain to Gal 3:29

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The same promise Zacharias means in Lk 1:72

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

This connects as well the OT saints with the NT Saints the Church, for they were all Heirs of the Same Promise Christ, the Head of the Church.. This promise was made to the Saints, or the Church since the world began Lk 1:70

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

So technically that is how Long the Church has been in existence , since the world began !

 

[beloved57]

The Land Promises of God !

The Land Promises of God !

God gave Land Promises to His People via Abraham the Father of the Faithful , lets remember that Abraham was not a Unbeliever !

Gen 13:15

15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Gen 17:8

8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Gen 26:3-4

3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Now remember all the Promises of God are in Him [Christ] yea and amen to the Glory of God 2 Cor 1:20

20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

The land promises were typical and had a Two-Fold application and fulfillment, one to His [Abraham] Physical Seed, and one to His Spiritual Seed, however the Spiritual Seed could and did partake in the fulfillment of the physical land promises, but only the Spiritual Seed partake in the Spiritual Fulfillment, which is bestowed through the Spiritual Blessings in Christ, which includes receiving the Spirit through Faith Gal 3:14

14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So Christ and the Spiritual Blessings bestowed upon all His Spiritual Seed are the Fulfillment Spiritually of the Land Promises, their Inheritance Col 1:12

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

This was an Heavenly Inheritance and Lot, the One Abraham by Faith looked for Heb 11:13-16


13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Notice vs 14 " They seek a country" The word country is the greek word patris and means:

one's native country

a) one's fatherland, one's own country, a fixed abode or home

b) one's own native place i.e. a city

Yes, Heaven was that Country, that Land they sought as a result of the Land Promise, the Everlasting Canaan Gen 17:8

8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

 

[beloved57]

The Land Promises of God !

The Land Promises of God !

Col 1:12

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Paul's wording "inheritance" is a term used from OT language, under the Old Covenant, and it has to do with allotment Numbers 26:52-56

52And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

53Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.

54To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.

55Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

56According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.

Joshua 14:1-5

1And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

2By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

3For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

4For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

5As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

Now Christ and His Salvation fulfill the Spiritual aspect of the Land Promises, and this lasts forever Gen 17:8

8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

All Believers are Abraham's Seed Gal 3:29

29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Thats who the seed is in Gen 17:8 ! Remember all the Promises of God, including land promises, are 2 Cor 1:20

20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 

[beloved57]

The Physical fulfilled already !

The Physical fulfilled already !

As stated earlier, Christ and the Church, which is the Israel of God Gal :16 and the Spiritual Seed of Abraham Gal 3:29 fulfill the Spiritual Land Promises to Abraham, that Heavenly Land which He and the rest of the Heirs, Isaac and Jacob sought by Faith Heb 11:8-10

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

However the Physical Land promise to Abraham has already been fulfilled with the Physical entrance into the earthly land of Canaan, a Type of the Heavenly Canaan Gen 17:8, this is confirmed in Joshua 21:43-45

43And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

44And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

45There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

You see that ? God fulfilled the Promise of the Physical Land being given to Abraham's Physical descendants, done deal !

Joshua 23:14

14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Done Deal !

Neh 9:6-8

6Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

7Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

8And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:
Done Deal, He performed it !

Now whoever cannot see from these scriptures that the Physical Land aspect of the promise to Abraham regarding his seed, has been fulfilled, they are simply blind to the Truth, however the Spiritual fulfillment is through Christ and His Church, the Spiritual Seed of Abraham Gal 3:29

29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What Heirs according to Promise ? The same Heirs of Promise as in Heb 11:9

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 

[beloved57]

Different Names for the Church !

Different Names for the Church !

Many have rejected the Truth that Israel is the Church, no not Israel Abraham's kin folks according to the flesh, for they are not the Children of God Rom 9:8, but Israel according to Promise, those who are Abraham's Children by Faith, which is a Spiritual Israel Gal 3:7

7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Gal 3:29

29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Abraham's Seed is the Church ! Who can deny that without denying Gal 3:29 ? It tells us that those who belong to Christ, which is His Church, are Abraham's seed.

That the Church belongs to Christ is seen here Eph 5:23,25

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ[Abraham's Seed] is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ[The Seed of Abraham Gal 3:16] also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

1 Cor 12:12

12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

So the Church is called the Seed of Abraham !

The Church is called the Temple of God Speaking to the Church of Corinth, Paul calls them this 1 Cor 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Remember Jesus said that He was going to build His Church Matt 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Well, thats the Temple of Eph 2:21-22

21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Now the same greek word is used here Eph 2:22 for builded as it is in Matt 16:16 for build. The word Eph just has the prefix sun which means together. That is, the Church, the Temple is being built with both jew and gentile material, or living stones 1 Pet 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

So the Church is a Spiritual House ! A Temple !

 

[beloved57]

Because only One Peculiar People !

Because only One Peculiar People !

That Israel and the Church are the same , is because God only has one Peculiar People Deut 14:2

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

The word peculiar is the hebrew word cĕgullah
and means:


possession, property

a) valued property, peculiar treasure

b) treasure

Now Paul writes to the Church Titus 2:14

14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.


The greek word here for peculiar is periousios:

that which is one's own, belonging to one's possessions

a) a people selected by God from the other nations for his own possession

Now God does not have Two sets of peculiar People, but Just One, and that is the Church, the Elect in Christ, washed in His precious blood, this too proves that Israel in Deut 14:2 and the Church are the same, the One Peculiar People !

 

[beloved57]

Make Manifest to Israel !

Jn 1:31

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

But remember Rom 9:6

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

So the question is which Israel is John the Baptist referring to ?

The Israel here that Jesus should be made Manifest to it the Israel of God, the Election of Grace, the Church ! It began with the Disciples, save judas, that He manifest himself to. They with a few others were the Israel of God at the time.

John says in 1 Jn 1:1-2

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us )

Notice, The Apostle John used the same word Manifest ! Also Jn 17:6

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Jesus will be manifested to all the Israel of God,, The Church !

 

[beloved57]

We know that the Church and israel are the same by the descriptive imagery John beheld in His Vision of the Revelation. Notice how the Churches of asia minor are described. The Seven Golden Candlsticks which represent the Churches of God ! Rev 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

That which God bought with His Own Blood Acts 20:28

28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Now without question the calling the Churches Candlesticks is pointing back to the OT Tabernacle abd Temple Sanctuaries.

Ex 25:31-40

31And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

32And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

33Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

34And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.

35And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.

36Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.

37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.

39Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

40And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.