All Bible verses are from the King James Bible, although I have changed some of the old English. Any similarity to any modern version is only by coincidence. Bible verses other than the King James have been foot-noted properly.
Copyright @ Dennis M. Edwards (photos used from Google images for educational purposes only)[To go to the first chapters click on link]
Chapter 43: Paul’s Understanding and Vision for a New Nation – the New Jew Theology
Chapter 44: Jesus and a New Spiritual Israel! More Than Overcomers!
Chapter 43
Paul’s Understanding and Vision for a New Nation – the New Jew Theology
Apostle Paul, understanding the prophecies of Isaiah that God is calling out a new group of believers scattered among the Gentile nations, brings the message of salvation to them and begins to call them, the new Gentile converts, the people of God.[1] In writing to the Christian believers in Rome he says,
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.[2]
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul likens the new Gentile believers to Isaac, the seed of Sarah, or the seed of faith. He likens the physical Jewish nation to Ishmael, the seed of Agar, the father of the Arab nations, and the seed of the flesh.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar.[3]
For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren that bears not; break forth and cry, thou that travails not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.[4]
Paul was receiving persecution from the non-Christian Jews, but also criticism from the converted Jews who still thought it necessary to keep the Laws of Moses. In Galatians, Paul talks about the incident which happened in Antioch where Apostle Peter had been eating and drinking with the converted Gentiles. However, upon the arrival of some of the converted Jews from Jerusalem who still also kept the Law, Peter withdrew himself. We will read from Galatians:
But when Peter was come up to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James (in Jerusalem), he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision (which had come from Jerusalem), and the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried with their dissimulation.[5]
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, lives after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compel thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?[6]
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.[7]
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.[8]
Paul is very strongly telling us that if we could save ourselves by obedience to religious laws, then Christ died for nothing. Paul was strongly against the circumcision movement in Jerusalem, which believed in keeping the Law, while accepting Christ. It was Paul’s compromise with Apostle James on this very point which led to his arrest in Jerusalem, which we can read in the book of Acts. Even though various prophets have warned Paul about the dangers that await him in Jerusalem, Paul is set on the visit.
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou sees, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teaches all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.[9]
Paul was actually teaching the law of Christ instead of the Laws of Moses, and should have stood his ground and defended his stand. But in this case, even the great Apostle Paul shows himself to be as human as Peter. Under the pressure of James, the brother of Jesus, who was then the head of the Jerusalem church, Paul compromised and agreed to show that he also walked orderly according to the Law.
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed of thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walks orderly, and keeps the law.[10]
Perhaps Paul was hoping that by doing so he would have more of a chance to share the truth of the Gospel with the Law-keeping Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Like he confessed later:
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.[11]
But he never gets the chance in person. Paul’s compromise leads to a riot and eventually to his arrest by the Roman authorities. How could Paul get it so wrong when he had been warned twice on his trip to Jerusalem to not continue, and the last time he had been in Jerusalem his enemies had to sought to kill him?[12] Why did Paul continue on to Jerusalem when God seemed to saying “don’t go?” Here’s what had happened.
When he arrived in Tyre on the coast of modern Lebanon the disciples there
said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.[13]
But Paul is intent on going to Jerusalem, so he doesn’t listen. Finally landing at Caesarea on the coast of northern Israel another disciple bound his own hands and feet with Paul’s belt and said,
Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.[14]
Immediately Paul’s companions and friends beseech him not go up to Jerusalem. But Paul insists and they yield to his desire, committing him to the Lord’s will.[15]
Why did God allow Paul to make such a mistake, a mistake that will cost Paul his freedom and eventually his life? Did God have a greater purpose and he allowed Paul to get it wrong in order to accomplish that purpose?
What has been Paul’s greatest ministry over the ages? Were his witnessing events in Asia Minor his greatest accomplishments? Surely they were great events and their recording in the book of Acts has been a motivation to followers of Christ through the ages to get out and do the same. So why did God let Paul get it wrong and end up with his head on the chopping block?
In the end, what was Paul’s greatest ministry? Could it be that God wanted Paul to spend more time writing, to save his experiences for all eternity in the written word? As long as Paul was a freeman, he wouldn’t stay put. He was constantly witnessing, preaching, teaching, and instructing wherever he went. He had no time to put it down on paper for all prosperity. He barely had time to sleep.
God had to let Paul mistakenly go back to Jerusalem, where he already had had problems. He had to let him compromise with James and agree to show that he was still obedient to the Law, which Paul had consistently preached against. Why did God let it happen? The answer is God had a greater purpose.
God gets some of His greatest victories out of seeming defeats and He often brings us along the neglected path of praise in the process. Paul’s capture and imprisonment pushed him into a new ministry, a ministry that until then he was leaving for Luke to fulfill.
God knew the future and knew that Paul’s writing ministry would be his greatest and most important legacy. Paul’s ministry of the written Word resulted in much of the New Testament and was an impetus for Matthew, Peter and John to get their Gospel stories down in print. Could that have been God’s final purpose in allowing Paul to blow it, because He wanted to get Paul to write? God knew we today would be encouraged, strengthened and edified by His Word through Paul. God knew the power of the written word and he needed Paul to sit down and write.
To summarize this chapter on Paul’s “New Jew” theology, we see in Galatians Paul likening the Jewish nation after the flesh to the sons of Agar, the bondwoman of Abraham who brought forth the Arab nations. He likens the newly-converted Gentile Christians to the sons of Sarah the freewoman and real wife of Abraham who brought forth the seed of faith.
Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.[16]
The Gentile Christians who are not keeping the Laws of Moses but Christ’s law of love, and are justified only by faith in Christ, are the children of Abraham, the children of faith. As Cain persecuted Abel, as Esau with Jacob, the false church has always persecuted the true believers.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.[17]
Paul goes on to say,
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heir’s according to the promise.[18] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this; Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.[19]
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in times past, that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.[21]
Paul is calling us not to be rule-keeping religious people, but Spirit-filled believers motivated by Jesus’ law of love. Which will we be, rule-keeping religious people, or love-filled Children of God?
In this promise we see God wanted the Jewish people to be a blessing to the world. He wanted them to be an example of a nation that loved and followed God’s Ways and Laws. He wanted them to help other nations to learn of God and prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of the Redeemer, Christ our Lord. But as a nation they failed. Though a remnant became the new believers in Christ and started Christianity, their nation’s leadership rejected Christ and taught the people the same. They therefore lost their position as God’s people.
If the nation of flesh-and-blood Israel is no longer God’s chosen nation, then they should not have special privileges or allowances. American foreign policy should not be so over-handedly pro-Israeli. However, American pastors, using Scofield’s Reference Bible, which I will comment more on in a later chapter, have been deceived into believing that even though the Jewish nation rejected Christ, they have still somehow kept their privileged status. Politicians have also accepted the pro-Israeli position.
 |
| This promise is for real Christians. Real Christianity is what blesses the world. |
Jesus called the religious leaders who rejected His Message the children of the Devil.[24] Jesus said they did not hear His Words, because they were not of God.[25]
In His last discourse before His Passion, Jesus blasts the scribes and Pharisees over and over again, calling them hypocrites, avarice, fools, blind, legalistic, superficial, serpents, and vipers; who seek the praise of men more than the praise of God.[26]
In the book of Revelation Jesus calls them “the synagogue of Satan.” He says,
I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.[27]
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.[28]
Here we see Jesus confirming all that Paul has so methodically explained to us. They are both teaching the same message. The Christ hating, Christ rejecting Jew has no special place in God’s Kingdom unless, or until, he changes, humbles himself and receives the life giving love of Christ. All who humble themselves before Christ and call upon His name shall have the gift of eternal life.[29]
Notes:
[1] http://www.messiahrevealed.org/all-people.html
[2] Romans 2:28-29
[3] Galatians 4:22-24
[4] Galatians 4:25-29
[5] Galatians 2:11-13
[6] Galatians 2:14
[7] Galatians 2:16
[8] Galatians 2:21
[9] Acts 21:17-21
[10] Acts 21:23-24
[11] 1Corinthians 9:20-22
[12] Acts 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
[13] Acts 21:4
[14] Acts 21:11
[15] Acts 21:12-14 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
[16] Galatians 4:30-31[17] Galatians 4:29
[18] Galatians 3:29
[19] Galatians 5:6-14
[20] Galatians 5:18
[21] Galatians 5:19-23
[22] Genesis 12:2-3
[23] Romans11:25-26 For I would not, brethren, that ye be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in…
[24] John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do…
[25] John 8:47 He that is of God, hears God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
[26] Matthew 23:1-39[27] Revelation 2:9
[28] Revelation 3:9
[29] Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus and a New Spiritual Israel!
More than Overcomers!
In the last chapter, I touched on how Jesus’ view of the New Israel was the same as the Apostle Paul’s. Let’s look at Jesus’ comments in greater detail. In John, the scribes and Pharisees bring unto Jesus a woman who was found “taken in adultery, in the very act.”[1] The scribes and Pharisees want to condemn her to death by stoning, which was written in the Law of Moses. But Jesus says unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.[2]
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.[3]
An interesting point here is that the older men were the first to be convicted by their conscience. The younger men in the height of their zeal felt more justified in condemning the woman to death and were ready to cast the stone to fulfill the Law. But the older men, worn down through the toils of life and aware of their own shortcomings, failures and sins, and knowing that their own lives were coming to an end, were conscious of their own necessity of receiving forgiveness.
I recently read about an incident that occurred at the end of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s life. Montgomery was the highest British commander in World War II. He fought under Eisenhower and with Patton against the Germans in the invasion of Europe. At 88 years of age, nearing the end of his life, Montgomery was unable to sleep. In desperation he asked for his closest friend to be called for. When his friend arrived, Montgomery confessed he was unable to sleep because he knew he was soon going to face God. His conscience was weighing heavy upon him and he had no idea how he was going to justify the death of all those young lads in the war, lads who had gone to their deaths because of Montgomery’s decisions. His conscience was causing him to seek God, to seek God’s forgiveness.[4] No doubt, those older Pharisees were sensing the same feeling.
Paul tells us that in the Latter Days men shall be past feeling, their conscience seared with a hot iron.[5] In other words, they will not have a conscience to tell them that they are doing wrong. Their conscience will be hardened. Jesus Himself said men’s hearts would grow cold because of the abundance of iniquity.[6] Was He talking about the world we live in today?
In the incident with the woman taken in adultery, Jesus tells the Pharisees or religious rulers that they are judging after the flesh. He tells them they are not behaving as children of Abraham because they are seeking to kill Him,
a man who has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.[7]
Jesus said unto them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.[8]
Jesus goes on and says,
You do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.[9]
He that is of God hears God’s words, you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.[10]
Jesus is showing that the children of the flesh are not really the children of God. It is the children of the Spirit who listen, hear and obey God’s Word and God’s voice of conscience in their heart, who are the real children of faith. As we find in Hebrews,
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them (Israel according to the flesh): but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.[11]
For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youths even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.[12]
In other words, we haven’t obeyed the voice of conscience, God’s voice within our hearts. The point I am trying to make here is as Jesus said,
The flesh profits nothing.[13]
God’s Kingdom is not a flesh-and-blood kingdom, but a spiritual Kingdom of those born of the spirit. One night during Jesus’ ministry, a ruler of the Jews who was member of the Sanhedrin came to Jesus secretly to know Him more intimately or up close and personal, as we say today. Let us read from the Gospel of John.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus says unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?[14]
Jesus begins talking to Nicodemus about the importance of the spiritual birth. Nicodemus does not seem to be getting the point, even though he is an important religious leader and member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, their “Supreme Court.”
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.[15]
Here Jesus is making a comparison between the two types of birth; the physical or water birth and the spiritual birth. It behooves us to seek for God. God promises that if we seek for Him with all our hearts, we shall find Him.[16]
Jesus said we should
hunger and thirst after righteousness.[17]
The wind blows where it lists, and thou hears the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and know not these things?[18]
Have you experienced that birth of the Spirit? Paul tells us:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, everything is made new.[19]
Jesus said,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.[20]
Are you longing for personal fellowship with a love that will never let you go, never disappoint you, never leave you, nor forsake you?[21] Then call upon the name of the Lord,
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.[22]
You could say a little prayer like the following from your heart:
Jesus, I need Your help. I have gotten to the point that I just cannot go on any more. Please, reach down and touch me. Cleanse me from those things that are offensive in my life, where I have screwed up. Make me new. Give me a new start and a new heart. In Jesus’ name. I pray.
If you’d prayed that little pray or one like it, God has promised to answer and come into your heart, your life. As you draw closer to Him, He will manifest Himself unto you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.[23]
Back in the 60s and 70s we used to sing the song We Shall Overcome. You can watch Joan Baez’s rendition at the following link.[24] The song was originally a Christian spiritual song by the Black Americans as they peacefully waited to overcome the injustice of their servitude. One of the lines of the song says, “We shall live in peace one day.” The youth of the 60s used the song as a protest against the war in Vietnam and the Godless materialistic society we found ourselves in. Our hope was that one day the world would live in peace.
However, man has shown time and time again that he is incapable of living in peace and harmony. Man cannot have peace without peace on the inside, without peace of heart, peace of mind and peace of spirit. He cannot find peace within himself because he is troubled with doubt, anguished with his own inability to always be good and do good. Like the great Apostle Paul said,
But Paul, the murderer and persecutor of the new religious sect, found the answer. He says,
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.[26]
It's only by letting the love of God in our hearts in His Son Jesus that we can overcome, overcome our selfishness, overcome our lack of love, overcome our depression, overcome our fears and anxieties, overcome our anger, overcome our pains, overcome our murmurings, overcome our failures and overcome our sins. Jesus has overcome and He offers us His overcoming grace, His overcoming Holy Spirit, His overcoming love, His overcoming forgiveness. But without Him, we are nothing and will accomplish nothing of real value.[27] But with Him all things are possible.[28]
Have you got that overcoming “feeling,” God’s Spirit, down in your heart? Call out to Jesus, because through Him, you can overcome! He says,
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.[29] He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.[30] To him that overcomes will I give power over the nations.[31] He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.[32]
John the Apostle tells us:
Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?[33]
Do you want to be an over-comer? Then let God’s overcoming Spirit into your life through the Lord Jesus Christ, and you can become as Paul said
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, (in other words, more than overcomers), through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 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.[34]
Join the team! Be an Overcomer!
[click on link for next chapter]
Notes:
[1] John 8:4
[2] John 8:7
[3] John 8:9
[4] Spufford, Francis; Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity can still make Surprising Emotional Sense; Faber and Faber Limited, London, 2013; pages 39-42.
[5] 1Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
[6] Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
[7] John 8:40
[8] John 8:39
[9] John 8:41-44
[10] John 8:47
[11] Hebrews 4:2
[12] Jeremiah 3:25
[20] Revelation 3:20
[21] Hebrews 13:5
[22] Romans 10:13
[23] James 4:8
[24] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM39QUiAsoM&ab_channel=John1948SevenB (accessed 09/2020)
[25] Romans 7:19-24
[34] Romans 8:37-39
Notes:
[1] John 8:4
[2] John 8:7
[3] John 8:9
[4] Spufford, Francis; Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity can still make Surprising Emotional Sense; Faber and Faber Limited, London, 2013; pages 39-42.
[5] 1Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
[6] Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
[7] John 8:40
[8] John 8:39
[9] John 8:41-44
[10] John 8:47
[11] Hebrews 4:2
[12] Jeremiah 3:25
[13] John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
[14] John 3:1-4
[15] John 3:5-7
[16] Jeremiah 29:13
[17] Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
[18] John 3:8-10
[19] 2Corinthians 5:17[20] Revelation 3:20
[21] Hebrews 13:5
[22] Romans 10:13
[23] James 4:8
[24] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM39QUiAsoM&ab_channel=John1948SevenB (accessed 09/2020)
[25] Romans 7:19-24
[26] Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
[27] John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
[28] Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
[29] Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
[30] Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
[31] Revelation 2:26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.
[32] Revelation 21:7
[33] 1John 5:5[34] Romans 8:37-39
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