By: Bishop Albert Gran
Colossians 3
King James Version (KJV)
10 And have put on the NEW MAN, which is RENEWED
IN KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED HIM:
11 Where there is NEITHER Greek nor Jew, circumcision
nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but CHRIST IS ALL,
and IN ALL.
THE
PROPHECY ERA: GOD'S DIRECT PLAN FOR ISRAEL
It’s
worth fantastic to harness our knowledge regarding His purpose. Somehow when
you begin to understand rightly dividing the Word of Truth principles, you'll be in
savour of good taste before Him in glory.
It
happened when you believe His word and doctrines. Perhaps, a question like
what's posted above made you overwhelmed how come and in what instance God's
plan was not directly for all people.
Acts 3:25-26
King James Version (KJV)
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which
God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the
kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 UNTO YOU FIRST
God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities.
While
it's true ever since from the past that God was for the entire humanity, yet
it's surprising to note however that, starting from the raising up of Abraham's seed until its fulfillment through
the first coming of the Messiah, then on the cutting off of the Messiah account
(as a New Covenant sacrifice), His resurrection pronouncement, Jacob's trouble
(Great tribulation), and His second coming to reign the earthly Millennial Kingdom until the coming down of the New
Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth; God's plan was always directed to His
people, Israel. She is a nation above all nations in our planet earth.
The
phrase "unto you first" in the context was spoken to
the Jews in confirmation of His plan under prophecy about the Messiah who is
the redeemer of Israel. Clearly, Christ's visit to Israel had its relative
purpose which was to save His people.
Luke 1:67-69
King James Version (KJV)
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of ISRAEL; for HE HATH VISITED AND REDEEMED HIS PEOPLE,
69 And hath RAISED UP HORN OF SALVATION for us in the
house of his servant David;
Peter
and Zacharias knew so much about God's
plan for Israel. They're aware that God's plan of salvation through His Son was
set primarily to the house of Israel. It
indicates that during the time of the raising up of God's Son on his WISE
birth, it's underlying objective was FIRST directly viewed for the salvation of
His people Israel, then I believed to Gentiles
as well in the latter times once Israel got national repentance.
THE
KINGDOM IS UPON THEM
Many
Christians however thought that the ministry of Jesus Christ in the New
Testament as appeared in the so-called four gospels was directly in view of the
purpose to give salvation to all people without distinction. The verses below
helped to direct your attention how that GOD'S KINGDOM was upon the Jews.
The
context speaks about Christ pronouncement of giving up the kingdom which He
offered to the house of Israel to be believed upon the spiritual and political
leaders headed by their priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and all
her rulers with all Jews from the most noble to the poorest.
Matthew 21:42-44
King James Version (KJV)
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.
Jesus' audience in this passage were priests, scribes and elders
who find fault against Him on his performing miracles as to whose authority He
did these things. And because of this, many sinners like the publicans and
harlots believed Him. These religious leaders supposed to believe Him as the promised
Messiah however they resisted Him at all times. The opposite happened
when the most sinners came to believe Him as the savior of Israel when the
kingdom was offered.
At the onset, this kingdom freely offered by Christ to Israel was
taken out from the unbelieving Jews with its spiritual and religious leaders
even in their political leaders respectively. He gave the kingdom to a nation
not nations which I believed refers to certain group of believers who followed
Christ and believed Him as the Messiah and promised king.
Let me add one other proof who are these recipients of the kingdom
when Christ took it out from the unbelieving religious and political leaders. Maybe
we can ask; What nation is Christ talking about when the kingdom shall be given
to it?
Luke 12:31-33
King James Version (KJV)
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, LITTLE FLOCK; for it is your FATHER'S
GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.
The
disciples headed by Peter were those who were called "little flock"
and the primary recipients of the kingdom as the Father pleased. Many
Christians thought it's God's command to us today to seek the kingdom of God.
We are not in a position or situation to do that because that kingdom is not
for us but the same nation of Israel comprising the little flock who were
disciples and followers of Christ even John the Baptist. It's God's objective
through Jesus as the savior of Israel to give them the kingdom and reign in
David's throne. We're not in the position to apply this truth for our
application today knowing that it belongs to His direct recipients when God is
the LORD OF ISRAEL.
So,
this is the summation of God's plan during the earthly ministry of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He offered the kingdom with the gospel presentation "repent
and be baptized for the kingdom of heaven is at hand " TO ISRAEL.
Since the religious and political
leaders were grossly motivated by Satan to oppose God's word of salvation by
simply believing their MESSIAH, God took out the kingdom from
them and gave it to the believing Jews more so with the LITTLE FLOCK
(disciples and apostles) based on the God the Father's pleasure.
Relative
to God's plan of salvation to Israel, John recorded how such many RECEIVE
HIM AND HIS OWN RECEIVE HIM NOT.
John 1:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the
world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and HIS OWN RECEIVE HIM NOT.
12 But as many as RECEIVE HIM, to them gave he power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
There
were two groups of Jews during their first encounter with THE MESSIAH.
The "those who received him" and "those who receive him not".
Why the term received was used? It was so because God raised up the visible
Lord through the Spirit, made into the flesh and someone they can touch and had
the power to manifest visible miracles for the infirmities of the flesh knowing
that His dealings were primarily set for the earthly kingdom to be established
on earth. This is the Davidic kingdom wherein the promised seed Jesus Christ
shall reign for all eternity. In the book of Revelation there's a truth about
the coming down of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth because
the Millennial Kingdom will be expired. It's just a temporary kingdom ruled by Christ.
The forever kingdom to be established is such mentioned in Rev. 21.
And I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ...
In this passage you can't see that the people are
classified or separated into races. Racial
discrimination is nowhere in the
context of this
passage.
Let's go back into the account of Acts when Peter preached the
whole people of Israel and face the GENERAL PUBLIC and reminded them about
God's intent when He directed His plan to save His people.
Acts 3:25-26
King James Version (KJV)
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which
God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy SEED shall
all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, SENT HIM
TO BLESS YOU, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Indeed,
Christ on the basis of His first coming was sent to bless ISRAEL and
He then allegorically mentioned this
blessing as BREAD for His children.
Matthew 15:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But
he answered and said, It is not meet to take the CHILDREN'S BREAD
(Israel), and to cast it to DOGS (Gentiles)
.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which
fall from their masters' table.
THE
KINGDOM PROPHECY THROUGH ISRAEL
Zephaniah 3:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction;
so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they
rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord,
until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the
nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation,
even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of
my jealousy.
9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they
may all call upon the name of the Lord,
to serve him with one consent.
This
prophecy will be on its completion after this dispensation of grace. This
phrase "until the day
that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that
I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my
fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy" is an account during the time when God shall pour out His
anger or wrath which we called Great tribulation. Based on His plan
throughout ages, this shall happen after the dispensation of Grace. It's the
resumption period of the prophetic world to come when Christ poured out His
wrath.
The next statement, "9 For
then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the
name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" signifies the time in the
second coming of Christ when He shall rule the people and turn their language
into one just like the account in Genesis 11:1 when the people only spoke one
language.
If
there were Gentiles in time past and even during the kingdom era got save, it's
because of the Jews who guide them and gave them the blessing not unless they
directly believed Jesus as the Messiah and King of the Jews who will reign in
David's throne. This is what Paul wrote to them who had given the law, who had
the capacity to guide the blind Gentiles, and those who had no law.
Romans
2:18-20
King James Version (KJV)
17 Behold, THOU ART CALLED A JEW, and RESTEST
IN THE LAW, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more
excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 And art confident that THOU THYSELF ART A GUIDE OF THE
BLIND, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the
form of knowledge and of THE TRUTH IN THE LAW.
It's plain indeed what is
the role of a Jew in time past as they had the law exclusive to them. This is something
made them different from Gentiles. They had the bread of God, the truth about
God which they have to obey and follow. This truth is what was called THE
TRUTH IN THE LAW.
How about the truth today
which is for the Body of Christ? Shall we be like them too? Is this the truth
of the kingdom and about the kingdom which we also anticipated to come in the
future? Could we claim those that God primarily and directly promised to ISRAEL
during the time when He was called THE LORD OF ISRAEL? What is the truth for
members of the body of Christ today? Let's contemplate and examine these
things.
Romans 6:14
King James
Version (KJV)
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for YE ARE NOT
UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.
The truth for today in
matters of greatest issue of sin and salvation is not BY THE LAW BUT BY
GRACE. How about the works of the law or to be bound by the duties of
the law if you put yourself seems like a real Jew or by believing to yourself
you're called a spiritual Jew? Notice this carefully how Paul made plain statements
about the WORKS OF THE LAW.
Galatians 2:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE
LAW, but BY THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE FAITH OF
CHRIST, and NOT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW: for by the WORKS
OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves
also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
If you think you're part of Christ's
circumcision ministry then acknowledge the truth of putting yourself like a JEW
who ahs the truth in the law. While Paul taught us those things for our learning,
today we have to appreciate that there's a new dealing of God when God DIRECTLY
revealed the truth about the truth of the mystery which he revealed to PAUL who is our
minister and apostle today. To tell you openly, our secrets in the judgment
seat will be tested by fire and that's we firmly believed on the basis of
Paul's MY GOSPEL. ( 1 Cor. 3:10-15, Rom. 2:16)
Folks, it pays to know the distinctiveness
of truths in the Scripture. Through the principle of rightly dividing the Word
of truth you would see how magnificent is the wise plan of God over the ages. What
common loopholes the world of
Christianity today had committed in the truths revealed today is failure of
understanding rightly dividing the word of truth in accordance to
dispensational Bible study. God's actions revealed in the scriptures by all
means and truth were classified as PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
Thanks for reading and
paying attention to this informative dispensational study approach.
2 Timothy 2:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY
DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
Grace and peace to you all.
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