The Law-05

We will continue on the ‘clean laws’ God has given us to protect us from disease and harm. God is not trying to keep us from enjoying HIS creation, but to protect us just as we try to protect our own children by warning them, watching over them, and protecting them. Skin diseases are often painful and even contagious, especially leprosy. It is a debilitating, life-long disease. It is often referred to in the Old Testament as a means of God’s righteous judgment.

Laws About Leprosy

Leviticus 13:1  Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 13:2  "When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or a scab or a bright spot, and it becomes an infection of leprosy on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. Lev 13:3  "The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 

Skin diseases in general and leprosy in particular are given one whole, long chapter to address. This is not an unimportant issue. God gave the priests the responsibility to properly identify leprosy and pronounce him unclean.

13:4  "But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair on it has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate him who has the infection for seven days. 13:5  "The priest shall look at him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the infection has not changed and the infection has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. 13:6  "The priest shall look at him again on the seventh day, and if the infection has faded and the mark has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 

Isolation was a safety concern just as it is still today. We don’t use the term unclean, but the seriousness is not ignored.

13:7  "But if the scab spreads farther on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again to the priest. 13:8  "The priest shall look, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy. 

While many skin infections can be cured or healed by time and washing, leprosy is an infection that only grows worse with time. The main symptom is loosing the feeling in your body and the warning system we often take for granted. We know heat can become dangerous as with fire if we get too close. We know that cuts and lacerations need to be cleaned and protected before bacteria attacks them. But, leprosy is permanent and those with leprosy need to be turned away from everyone else.

13:45  "As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' 13:46  "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Numbers 5:2  "Command the sons of Israel that they send away from the camp every leper and everyone having a discharge and everyone who is unclean because of a dead person. 5:3  "You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst." 5:4  The sons of Israel did so and sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD had spoken to Moses, thus the sons of Israel did. 

2 Chronicles 26:16  But when he (Uzziah) became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 26:17  Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant men. 26:18  They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God." 

26:19  But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense. 26:20  Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the LORD had smitten him. 

26:21  King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's house judging the people of the land. 

Obedience is not an option for anyone of us, even Kings had to obey God and not get prideful. One other famous example of God’s judgment concerning leprosy is in Deuteronomy.

Numbers 12:1  Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); 12:2  and they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?" And the LORD heard it. 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) 12:4  Suddenly the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, "You three come out to the tent of meeting." So the three of them came out. 

12:5  Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, 12:6  He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. 

12:7  "Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household; 12:8  With him I speak mouth to mouth, Even openly, and not in dark sayings, And he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant, against Moses?" 

12:9  So the anger of the LORD burned against them and He departed. 12:10  But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 

Everyone knew what this meant! Aaron especially knew and was afraid for his sister, who is also Moses’ sister. This is a death sentence for the remaining life of Miriam.

None of these examples are independent from God’s warnings. God’s warnings to us are the same. Ignorance of the Law is not acceptable to God nor to our judges in the US.

More next Saturday.

The Law-04

How many times has God warned us of dangers of the world in which we live? He cares for all in HIS creation but especially for all who are truly born again. HE has been warning humans throughout history and mostly it has fallen on ‘deaf’ ears. What other clean laws could there be? It may surprise you that there are ‘clean’ laws that cover a number of areas and nearly 4 chapters. We will start with those that pertain to giving birth.

Leviticus 12:1  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  12:2  "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: 'When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean. 

With all of the discharges of blood during birth, even today hospitals have to be very careful that disease is not spread to anyone else from the contact with her blood. God told us this before there was any such thing as a hospital.

Leviticus 15:19  'When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. 15:20  'Everything also on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean. 15:21  'Anyone who touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 15:22  'Whoever touches any thing on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 15:23  'Whether it be on the bed or on the thing on which she is sitting, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening. 

God issued these warning to protect all of us. This is just as true today as it was thousands of year ago. Does anyone think these laws or warnings should be ignored?

12:3  'On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 12:4  'Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed. 12:5  'But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days. 

Those who have children know that sometimes bleeding can continue for a few days. Why there are two time periods, one for a male and another for a female is not clear. The only difference is that males will be circumcised.

12:6  'When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 12:7  'Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. 12:8  'But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"

This is the same sacrifice that Mary performed after the birth of the Messiah. Only God knows all the reasons for every sacrifice, but this we can know, He does require it. Atonement is not just a once in a lifetime requirement, the same as seeking forgiveness. It is a constant reminder of our need to obey God and seek forgiveness from God.

More clean ‘laws’ next Saturday.

The Law-03

We will start at one of the most often misrepresented segments of the Law which is only partially covered or taught as if the rest does not matter. But, why do teachers and preachers so often fail to even mention these laws? Does or has God given us laws to keep us in bondage or to protect us. Well as a loving Father, HE wants to keep us from harm, especially eternal harm. But, also He wants us to obey HIM without any compromising of the truth HE has provided clearly to us.

Leviticus 10:9  "Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— 10:10  and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 10:11  and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses." 

Early in the life of the people of God as they left Egypt after 400 years within Egypt. Whatever portions of the Law had once been known by them had slowly fallen into the past and the paganism of the Egyptians has infiltrated the twelve tribes. Clearly, there is clean and unclean, and holy and unholy. There is no middle ground.There are a number of clean laws, but we will start with food.

Lev 11:1  The LORD spoke again to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 

Lev 11:2  "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth. 

Lev 11:3  'Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. 

Lev 11:4  'Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. 11:5  'Likewise, the shaphan, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you; 11:6  the rabbit also, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you;  11:7  and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. 11:8  'You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you. 

Interesting, but many of the unclean mammals are actually created to keep the earth clean and healthy.

11:9  'These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 11:10  'But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you, 11:11  and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest. 11:12  'Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is abhorrent to you. 

Similar to the mammals, bottom eating water animals also keep the water areas clean.

11:20  'All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. 

Lev 11:21  'Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects which walk on all fours: those which have above their feet jointed legs with which to jump on the earth. 

Lev 11:22  'These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, and the devastating locust in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, and the grasshopper in its kinds. 

11:24  'By these, moreover, you will be made unclean: whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening, 11:25  and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. 

11:26  'Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof but do not make a split hoof, or which do not chew cud, they are unclean to you: whoever touches them becomes unclean. 11:27  'Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,  11:28  and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; they are unclean to you. 

We have the similar precautions even today. Bacteria, disease, and a host of others are all are dangerous to our health. We are cautioned about handling dead animals today.

11:32  'Also anything on which one of them may fall when they are dead becomes unclean, including any wooden article, or clothing, or a skin, or a sack—any article of which use is made—it shall be put in the water and be unclean until evening, then it becomes clean. 

11:33  'As for any earthenware vessel into which one of them may fall, whatever is in it becomes unclean and you shall break the vessel. 

Lev 11:34  'Any of the food which may be eaten, on which water comes, shall become unclean, and any liquid which may be drunk in every vessel shall become unclean. 

Lev 11:35  'Everything, moreover, on which part of their carcass may fall becomes unclean; an oven or a stove shall be smashed; they are unclean and shall continue as unclean to you. 

11:36  'Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean. 

Porous vessels are dangerous if contaminated today. They are hard to clean today, but impossible to be cleaned thousands of years ago. God wants to protect us from disease and physical death.

11:39  'Also if one of the animals dies which you have for food, the one who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening. 11:40  'He too, who eats some of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening, and the one who picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. 11:41  'Now every swarming thing that swarms on the earth is detestable, not to be eaten. 

11:44  'For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 

11:45  'For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.'" 11:46  This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, 11:47  to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten. 

Just to add some info that is often hidden. How many of you have heard the term of someone acting squirrely? This condition is brought on by parasites, which are not killed by cooking well, find their way from the squirrel meat to the individual eating them. Squirrels are rodents and full of parasites from their diet. If cooking does not kill these parasites, what should we be concerned with in our diets?

More next Saturday.

The Law-02

Clearly God maintains that according to HIM, the Law has not in any way passed away to the point of being pointless and irrelevant. If or better yet, since the Law is still valid in all cases, what should we be doing to obey HIS Law. HE is not silent on this important issue.

John 14:15  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 

People in ‘churches’ around the world sing of their love of Jesus and God the Father. But, are utterly devoid of any true understanding of what the love of God really means.

I neglected to include one more clear indication of the Law existing before Sinai last week, Let us look at that next.

Genesis 7:2  "You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; 7:3  also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 

Genesis 8:20  Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 

8:21  The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 8:22  "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." 

Here we clearly read of God requiring Noah to include 7 pairs of all ‘clean’ animals for the ark[ while only two of each of the ‘unclean’ animals. How did Noah know anything about clean vs unclean animals? God clearly had spoken about this to Adam and others. God did not provide a list here, HE simply commanded Noah to obey. Next, only clean animals can be acceptable for sacrifices to God.

Paul confirmed the early revelation of the Law and need of the Law.

Romans 5:12  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 5:13  for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Basically God is saying that men cannot be convicted of sin unless their was already the Law revealed to them. Of course, even our local laws continually state this as well in another familiar form. Ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking or violating the law. We take great comfort in this here in the US.

Jesus made it quite clear that the Law will remain valid until the end of time on earth. He will then destroy this world and rebuild it without any unclean thing within it. Since that is true, what did the apostles believe?

Paul mentioned the Law over 100 times in his writings. The church has ignored these passages as well or explained them away as not relevant.

Romans 2:12  For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 2:13  for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 

James makes this same claim.

James 1:22  But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 

1:23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  1:24  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 

1:25  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 

Paul never really stopped preaching the need of the Law and goodness of the Law.

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 

7:8  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 

7:9  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; 7:10  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 7:11  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 

7:12  So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 

Paul defense of the Law of God is being challenged daily in the ‘churches’ with crosses on the roof and copies of the Bible in the pews. Grace seems to have replaced obedience to God’s Law. We will continue to try and understand God’s holy requirements thru the coming weeks.

More next Saturday.

The Law-01

The Law is a very often neglected message in most churches. Andy Stanley clearly states that the Old Testament is not meant for today’s New Testament Church. He is not alone. John MacArthur said that there was no law before Sinai. Is that true? Let us study just a few verses.

Genesis 4:1  Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." 4:2  Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

4:3  So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 

4:4  Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 

4:5  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 

How did these first children after the fall from the garden know that an offering was important or even required. Why did God not have any regard for Cain’s offering unless HE had made it clear what HE required.

Genesis 6:5  Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6:6  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 6:7  The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." 

What is evil? Why was God sorry for creating mankind? Clearly HE had every right to expect holy, god-fearing behavior. They clearly had disobeyed and ignored HIS commands. Just because there are no passages that describe God giving HIS commands to Adam, does not give us license to say none were given.

1 John 3:11  For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 3:12  not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. 3:13  Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 3:14  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 

3:15  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 

1 John 3:22  and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 

1John 3:4  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

God does not punish or kill anyone without cause. HE had given HIS righteous requirements to them and they forsook HIM! God made HIS law cast into stone at Sinai. Jesus made it abundantly clear that the Law is both from God, needed to be obeyed, and is eternal in nature.

Matthew 5:17  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  5:18  "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 

Clearly, this is not a passage that is often taught in schools, seminaries, or churches. It is ignored, violated, and passed over. Why?

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-Conclusion

We have come to the end of this study on who is Israel. I believe that it has been made abundantly clear that Israel is spiritual not physical. That is true Israel is all true born again believers in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It cannot be assigned to a piece of land or a physical lineage traced thru the millennium.

Matthew 16:13  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 16:14  And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 

First, who is Jesus speaking to? He is asking His disciples, of which Peter is one.

16:15  He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 

16:16  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 16:17  And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

Simon Peter was able to say this because God the Father made it known to Him. Unfortunately, it would seem that Peter would soon forget this.

16:18  "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 16:19  "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." 16:20  Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ. 

Jesus did not say that He would build this house solely on Peter, but on this God-given revelation that Jesus is indeed the Son of God the promised Messiah. All of them can confirm forgiveness but not give forgiveness. They can point out sin in others and instruct them to humbly seek forgiveness from God. How long did this revelation and how deep did it penetrate their hearts and minds?

16:21  From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 16:22  Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 16:23  But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." 

There could not be any stronger rebuke than be called Satan! Yet, Peter once again assumed an authority that he had never received. Soon after this, Peter once again failed to remember just who Jesus claimed to be and how he had affirmed it himself.

Matthew 26:69  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."  26:70  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." 

26:71  When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 26:72  And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." 

26:73  A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." 26:74  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. 

26:75  And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. 

While Peter was indeed one of the three leaders of the 12, his impulsive character overshadowed most of the others. But, Jesus only asked these three to witness His transfiguration on the mountain.

Peter was forgiven, just as we are. But, Jesus will continue to build His church, which is not simply contained in one denomination, one building, or one pastor or Pope. Instead was we should all know it is contained in a few hearts in a multitude of gatherings, most of who are not within the church of Jesus Christ.

We will begin a new study next Saturday.

Who is Israel-21

Last week we embarked on a parallel study of who is Israel, by studying being ‘in Christ’. Only those ‘in Christ’ are the true spiritual Israel. This profound reality maybe better understood by looking back to the first Passover.

Exodus 12:1  Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 12:2  "This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. 12:3  "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household. 12:4  'Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb. 

We all have read this account more than once. We even have listened to teaching on it. It portrays and another Passover Lamb that will come to die for our sins.

12:5  'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 12:6  'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. 

A one year old male lamb is still considered one until its second birthday, much like we celebrate birth dates. We don’t add the next year until the day of our birth.

12:7  'Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 

Blood is over all the framing of the door. You have to pass under of thru this blood to be saved from death.

12:22  "You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. 

Exo 12:12  'For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. 

Exo 12:13  'The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 

Exo 12:14  'Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. 

The reality of this event has meaning today in being ‘in Christ’. We too must enter into safety and eternal life by passing thru His death and resurrection. By His blood we are saved. If we deny this offer, we will suffer eternal death in Hell.

Matthew 26:26  While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 26:27  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 26:28  for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 26:29  "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." 

Hebrews 9:11  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 9:12  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 

9:13  For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,  9:14  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Have you humble acknowledged His sacrifice for your sins? Has everyone in your family?

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-20

This teaching is often forgotten in expository preaching, as it is a topic mentioned numerous times throughout the New Testament. I personally have never heard any sermon or teaching on this important subject. So for many of us, we are exploring the Bible in a totally new way. In Christ includes being unified with Him and the Father. We will begin here.

John 17:15  "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. :16  "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. :17  "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 

Too often false teachers teach a false gospel. Their gospel is based on God enriching them, protecting them, and blessing almost everything they do.

:18  "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. :19  "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 

The great commission emphasizes being sent into the world. Our salvation isn’t solely meant to save us, but to enable us to share this great truth and make disciples throughout the world.

Matthew 28:19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, :20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

:20  "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; :21  that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

This is a profound truth that should be taught throughout the Church of Jesus Christ. The question remains as to why this is not true. Being ‘in Christ’ is far beyond our finite minds from truly understanding this great truth. But, being in the Father and in Christ, is even more amazing. Being adopted doesn’t really cover this concept.

Jesus and the Father being one can be understood to some degree.

John 14:8  Philip *said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." :9  Jesus *said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? :10  "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

Jesus challenges Philip on this very subject as Jesus expects him to not only know this but to understand this.

John 14:20  "In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 

Only true, born again, believers, (the true Israelites) are included in these passages and eternal reality. As this teaching of being ‘in Christ’ is presented in 13 of the books of the New Testament and mentioned 88 times, we must carefully understand exactly what Jesus is trying to tell us.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-19

We are coming to the close of the identification of who is really Israel. This particular study covers more than just who is really Israel, but what being ‘in Christ’ really means. This is a very profound truth that is referenced many times throughout the New Testament, but seldom truly taught. On order to give this the importance it deserves, this will be a multi-week study. We will begin with Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Romans 6:8  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 6:9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 6:10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 6:11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

His sacrifice allows us to be ‘in Him’! This has both a very real physical reality, plus a profound spiritual reality. All of this leads to our eternal reality as well.

Romans 8:1  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

We have been removed from the curse of eternal death and entered into the reality of being set free from our enslavement to sin and death.

8:9  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 

8:10  If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 8:11  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

Since Christ is indeed in us, we are to be in Christ. That is not only our sanctification but also our positional goal. It can be shown that we have a responsibility to be in Christ, but also it is only available to those if Christ is in us!

There a number of truths that will be revealed in this study and I pray that God will help me reveal them to you in truth.

More next Saturday

Who is Israel-18

The Bible is not silent on this subject, neither in the Old or First Testament or the New or Second Testament. There has only been one really true group that can rightfully claim to be the ‘children of God’!

Galatians 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 3:27  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

Sons or children of God are only those who truly profess faith in Christ Jesus and therefore have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 3:29  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Here we read Paul reaching back all the way to Abraham, hundreds of years before there was a nation of 12 tribes in a land of promise. All are equal before Christ, not equal in roles or responsibilities but equal in salvation and standing. Paul makes this claim in many areas of his writings.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 1:17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 

No favorites, no works, no racial lineage can bring salvation to anyone. All are now equally brought before the cross of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

Romans 2:9  There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 2:10  but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 2:11  For there is no partiality with God. 

Could anything be made clearer than this? God is clearly stating that His first conditional promises were to the ‘Jews’. There is no partiality of favoritism with God.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

Salvation is truly the gift of God. Too many believe today that God owes this to them. God owes us nothing and we owe Him everything.

Colossians 3:9  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 3:10  and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 3:11  a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 

3:12  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 

Again Paul feels compelled to make this very clear. Everywhere he taught, the ‘Jews’ followed him. They still felt themselves to be the only true children of God. Paul told them they were wrong.

Since there is only one ‘people’ of God, there is no longer a ‘chosen’ people who share a racial or physical trait. It no longer is related to tribes, ancestry, or location. It is universally available but few are really interested in receiving this great gift, only available through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-17

Sorry for being late, but I have been struggling with a terrible intestinal infection that has been very painful. I haven’t really eaten in 5 days. Finally at around 8pm yesterday, the worse seemed to be over.

Most of the world don’t seem to even give God a second thought. Satan has so deceived the world with all the false religions, that the fear of God has basically been removed from society. People want a friendly, more sympathetic, or even less demanding God. We all know that we cannot make God into a benign being that fully understands our issues and looks the other way. That was Israel’s problem for most of its life before God sent them all into captivity. His revelations to Ezekiel are very alarming.

Ezekiel 8:1  It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there. 

8:2  Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. 8:3  He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. 

8:4  And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain. 8:5  Then He said to me, "Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north." So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance. 8:6  And He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations." 

Ezekiel was a very important prophet and God revealed a lot to him and demanded a lot from him. Not many prophets actually witnessed the glory of the God of Israel. But, Israel has once again left the God of Israel to worship idols. This seems incredulous, but it is true. It also helps in a small way understand the same thing happening today with the ‘church’.

8:7  Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8:8  He said to me, "Son of man, now dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. 8:9  And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here." 

False teachers, prophets, and pastors feel safe in their walled enclaves or churches. They don’t even think God can see them or is aware of what they are doing!

8:10  So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 8:11  Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. 8:12  Then He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'" 

This is the very height of deceit! The bible is full of warnings from God about what He knows, what He sees, and what His warnings really mean! These men are not high priests from Assyria or Babylon or Egypt, they are the elders of Israel!!!

8:13  And He said to me, "Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing." 8:14  Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 

8:15  He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these." 8:16  Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. 

8:17  He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. 

8:18  "Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them." 

They are practicing these abominations in God’s Temple! Have they completely forgotten everything God has told them and done for them and to them? Can they be so utterly deceived that they can worship the sun? This is the posture of the followers of Islam, whose symbol is a crest of the moon. Being devoted and reverent to an idol only worsens your eternal punishment.

Paul spoke of this worship of the created instead of the creator.

Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 1:19  because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 1:20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 

1:21  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22  Professing to be wise, they became fools, 1:23  and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 

1:24  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 1:25  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

1:26  For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions

1:32  and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

This problem is more evident today than it was then. The true Israel is not deceived and does not participate in this gross idolatry. It is a terrible thing to be fully abandoned by God and allowed to fall deeper and deeper into sin.

God tells them that they are without excuse!

God tells them that He is abandoning them!

God tells them that they know it leads to their eternal death in Hell.

They all know this, but still persist in denying God the honor, praise, and worship for which He alone is worthy!

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-16

We have just begun to look at how few are actually saved versus lost by their following their own lusts or the deceitful teaching of false teachers. Regardless of the reason, they stand guilty before a holy God. How does this relate to who is Israel? Let us continue.

Isaiah 29:15  Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, "Who sees us?" or "Who knows us?" 29:16  You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, "He did not make me"; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, "He has no understanding"? 

This is a world wide problem of immense importance. They don’t believe God knows them or even sees them sinning! Clearly, their lack of biblical understanding or absolute rejection of the Bible will be their eternal ruin. The Potter theme is often used.

Isiah 45:9  "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'? 45:10  "Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'" 45:11  Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands. 45:12  "It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host. 

God is declaring the utter nonsense of anyone blaming God for their sin or disbelief. Arguing with God or believing you can negotiate with God is foolishness.

Jeremiah 18:1  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, 18:2  "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you." 18:3  Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. 

18:4  But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. 

18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 18:6  "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.  18:7  "At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 18:8  if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. 18:9  "Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 18:10  if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it. 

18:11  "So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds."' 18:12  "But they will say, 'It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.' 

Many will use this same argument, we will follow our own plans without giving God a second thought. So can God really condemn and judge them?

Timothy 2:16  But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2:17  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2:18  men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 2:19  Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." 

2:20  Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 2:21  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 

Everyone was created or born in the very image of God, yet He will condemn the many to Hell. As the supreme potter, He has made some for honor and some to dishonor. Just let that sink in for a moment. Yet He holds everyone personally responsible for their final eternal destination!

We will continue this theme next Saturday.

Who is Israel-15

The concept of a remnant is critical in understanding the major problem in the church today! How many who actually attend some church are truly born again? This is not a trivial question. Let us look at what Jesus taught to the Jews in His day in His longest recorded teaching, which is the ‘Sermon on the Mount’.

Matthew 7:13  "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14  "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

Most people have heard messages on the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. But, how many of put these words together to understand the immense problem of false religions?

What is the percentage distribution between many and few? Clearly it is not 50/50, nor is it 80/20. Based on surveys, the messages of false teachers and their followers, and experiences within churches I have attended it is more in like 97/3. This is the many contrasted to the few, the wide and the narrow. Just like with the previous posting on the 7000 who had bowed before Baal among millions.

This becomes even more alarming in the following verses.

7:15  "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 7:16  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 

7:17  "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 7:18  "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 7:19  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20  "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 

Here we read one of Jesus’ many warnings on false teachers. These are the teachers leading people the many into Hell.

7:21  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 

This warning begins with the many who reverently address Jesus as Lord, Lord. They clearly know His name, what He has done, and who He declares Himself to be. Yet, simply declaring His name means very little in this world and nothing toward your eternal life. Obedience is what truly matters.

7:22  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 

This is a very impressive list of significant accomplishments. If they stood before your congregation, what would you say of think? Most likely the majority of those in attendance would think well of them and be impressed with their ‘fruit’. Pay attention to the words, on that day. That implies judgment day.

7:23  "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' 

This would be the greatest shock anyone could face in their entire lives. At the end of their lives, as they assumed they actually had been doing the Lord’s work, they stand condemned and sentenced to Hell!

Notice what the Lord did not say. He did not call them liars. He did not say it was not enough fruit. He went right to the main and only condition they did not meet. They were never known by the Lord!!! Oh, He knew them, He knew everything about them, but He had never entered into a personal, life changing, relationship with them. They had never fully surrendered their lives to Him. They were and are members of the many!

1 John 3:4  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

John 14:15  "If you love Me (the LORD), you will keep My commandments. 

More next Saturday

Who is Israel-14

We left off last week being introduced to the Bible’s reminders that only a true remnant will remain faithful to the LORD! This is indeed a very sobering reminder and challenging truth. It involves the whole world.

How does the world identify itself by religion? There are over 8 billion people in the world today. Here is how they are identified by religion.

Moslem/Islam 1.8 B

Hindu 1.2 B

Roman Catholic 1.3 B

Protestant .6 B

Buddist .5 B

Atheists/Agnostic 2.5 B

Jewish .015 B

Considering that at least half of all Protestants are attending liberal, false churches, the true born again believers are less that .3 B. That is indeed a remnant.

Romans 11:11  I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 

11:12  Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 

This is where terms can be very confusing. Paul is calling out to those who call themselves both Jews and Israelites. As we have already studied from Paul’s own writings, the true Isrealites are from a spiritual family not a physical family. All born again believers are the true Israelites.

11:13  But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 11:14  if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 

11:15  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 11:16  If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 

Through Jesus Christ, the reality of the chosen people of God are those who once were called Gentiles, outside of the covenant of God. Now all who believe are in Christ and grafted into His Church.

11:17  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 11:18  do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 

11:19  You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 11:20  Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 11:21  for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 

This is a warning about pride and obedience. It is God who chooses whomever He decides. Billions of people around the world are on the wide road to Hell. Few are being grafted in, not because God is unforgiving, but because there is only one way and that is through His Son.

11:22  Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23  And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24  For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 

Messianic Jews are grafted in but stiff-necked Jews are not. God’s promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Christ. The whole world is full of people made in God’s image but remaining in sin and idolatry. It is a very hard reality that billions will go onto Hell for an eternity.

Who do you know that is refusing to obey, bow down to, and believe in Christ? Time is not on their side.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-13

Remnant is that what remains after a seamtress uses most of her material on her project. It is the smaller scraps or unusable remains. A spiritual remnant is what is left after the unbelievers are removed. It is always smaller than the whole, from which it is taken. Now this gets worse as the remnant is often self-deceived in their own world and their own understanding of their position with God. This is a tragedy of immense deceit.

Romans 11:1  I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 11:2  God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 

This passage clearly takes place in Israel and pertains to those who have rejected God.

11:3  "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." 

This clearly shows that these false Israelites, are not neutral to God but enemies of God.

11:4  But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." 

Seven thousand out of millions is a very small percentage. How could it have gotten so bad? All of the miracles, all of God’s gifts, all of God’s servants crying out to them?

11:5  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. 

11:6  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 11:7  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 

If you harden your heart, God may harden it permanently!

Rom 11:8  just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." 11:9  And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 11:10  "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."

We have seen these verses before, but they are still very chilling. God has blinded them in disbelief, yet He holds each one personally accountable to Him. They will be judged and condemned to Hell. This creates many questions, but the one thing we cannot question is God’s justice.

We will look at this remnant more next Saturday.

Who is Israel-12

The Bible is quite clear on this subject, but it is rarely if ever taught from the pulpit. Why? I am not sure, but have my own opinion. Expository preaching is one of the more apparent reasons. I say this because as all of you are now aware, there is not simply one passage in one book to address this important issue of faith. Two verses a week turns a letter into a three year study, as the end of which most have completely forgotten the first month teaching.

This subject, especially in this time in the world, can only be taught if the pastor teaches on topics as well.

Romans 11:16  If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 

11:17  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 11:18  do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 11:19  You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 

We should all know that this is a comparison between ‘Jewish’ people and all the pagan ‘Gentiles’. The history of the Jewish turning from God to disobedient idolators is quite evident throughout the Bible. Gentiles were the wild branches outside of the covenant, but now within the new covenant initiated by Jesus.

11:20  Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 11:21  for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 11:22  Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 

Paul’s letter quite clearly is written to Gentiles. He is warning them that God will cut off any Gentile who, like the Jews, will fall into unbelief. Since Satan deceived the whole Jewish nation, he only has true believers to attack at this time.

11:23  And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24  For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 

God has not permanently cut-off all Jews. In fact, there are many ‘Messianic Jews’ who now place their faith in Jesus Christ as their one and only true Messiah. But, they must come by faith and full belief in Jesus Christ alone.

11:25  For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 11:26  and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." 11:27  "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." 

In the future, all true believers, Jews and Gentiles, will be saved. But for now, through their disobedience and hard hearts, God has hardened their hearts. This is very similar as to God finally hardening Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus

Exodus 10:1  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, 10:2  and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." 

What has God done to and for you so you finally know that He is the LORD?

11:28  From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 11:29  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 11:30  For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 11:31  so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 

Mercy is receiving something you do not deserve, cannot earn, and do not necessarily seek. God is seeking those who truly love Him.

John 14:15  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 

May this be true for all of us.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-11

There is only one Savior and only one way to the Father. Yet, there are many religions and denominations that deny this truth. Let us continue this one way, one Savior unity.

Ephesians 4:1  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, :2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 4:3  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

:4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; :5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, :6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Unity and the oneness is our faith are very apparent in this passage. We cannot become gods like some promote. Churches cannot claim that only they have the power to declare that they are the one faith while denying the clear teaching in the Bible. Why are there so many different beliefs that are so apart from one another and the Bible? Jesus warned us of this coming of deceit.

Matthew 24:3  As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" :4  And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. :5  "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. 

The key word in this intro is many!

:6  "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. :7  "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. :8  "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 

We are experiencing many wars and rumors today. Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Taiwan, and Ukraine.

:9  "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. :10  "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 4:11  "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. :12  "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. 

:13  "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. :14  "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

There is no doubt that there are more false churches than solid Bible teaching churches today. True believers are only a small remnant today. Without a solid knowledge of all the Bible teaches us, we are prone to being deceived.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-10

We left off last week with a beginning a serious uncovering of the myth that the Jewish state is really populated with pure Jewish lineage. Let us continue our study of the truth. We will start with Ruth.

Ruth 1:1  Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. :2  The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. :3  Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 

God had forbidden the true Israelites from marrying foreign women or even leaving their homes to live in Moab.

:4  They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. :5  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. 

They left Israel to find a better life. Did they find a better life? No! Now we now have three widows with no visible means to support.

Ruth 1:14  And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 

:15  Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law." :16  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. :17  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." :18  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 

Naomi was actually willing for her two daughters-in-law to return the the idolatry in Moab. Ruth refused as she had become a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

It is a fascinating story but our lesson will concentrate on the lineage that evolved from Ruth, a Moabite!

Ruth 4:13  So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 

:18  Now these are the generations of Perez: to Perez was born Hezron, :19  and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab, :20  and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon, :21  and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, :22  and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David. 

We all know that the long promised Messiah would come from within the family of David, of which Ruth is a critical family member as well.

The last example is Rahab, the harlot of Jericho. Our story begins with Joshua leading the multitude into the promised land.

Joshua_2:1  Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.

Why did Rahab risk her life to harbor these spies?

2:3  And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land." :4  But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. :5  "It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them." :6  But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 

:7  So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate. :8  Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, :9  and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 

:10  "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 

:11  "When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. :12  "Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth, :13  and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." 

:14  So the men said to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you." :15  Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 

:16  She said to them, "Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way." :17  The men said to her, "We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, :18  unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household. :19  "It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 

This is an amazing story of both courage but also faith in God. Everyone had heard how God had led them out of Egypt, dried up the sea to let them cross, and drowned the entire Egyptian army.

What eventually happened to Rahab the harlot?

Matthew 1:5  Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. :6  Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. 

A harlot and a Moabite woman are clearly visible in the lineage of David and therefore of Jesus Christ. God can graft anyone into His family. Rahab is always referred to as the harlot.

Hebreww 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. :31  By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. 

James 2:24  You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. :25  In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? :26  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. 

True faith in Jesus Christ always is evident in the behavior of the believer. We are not saved by works but works are the true confirmation of our salvation.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-09

There are many people who believe and even proclaim that the Jewish people are a pure race dating back to the time of Jacob. As you may recall, they all moved to Goshen in Egypt to survive the famine. Joseph took care of them and made sure that they had food to survive. Some 400 years later, the great Exodus took place as they left Egypt to go into the Promised Land being led by Moses.

Unfortunately they had been influenced by the idolatry of the Egyptians and many had forsaken the only true God. When they left, they were joined by a mixed multitude.

Exodus 12:33  The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We will all be dead." :34  So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. 

After the first Passover and the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, all Egypt wanted them to leave. However, a mixed multitude joined them. They could have been Egyptians, or from any number of countries that had somehow moved into Egypt.

:35  Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; :36  and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 

:37  Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. :38  A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 

They left in haste but with a large amount of treasure that would prove useful in the building of the Tabernacle later.

:39  They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 

:40  Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. :41  And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. :42  It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations,

This Passover is no longer valid, required, or necessary as Jesus being our true Passover Lamb instituted the Lord’s supper as the covenant replacement. More on that in detail at a future date.

This mixed multitude did not end with Exodus. There are three very prominent examples given in the Old Testament than add depth to this mixing. Tamar is our first example. It is unclear from where she came from but this brief example gives a few possible hints.

Genesis 14:5  In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, :6  and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. :7  Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Tamar is both a place a name of the daughter-in-law of Judah whose husband had died. According to the Law, a brother was ordered to take her into his family. This did not happen.

Genesis 38:11  Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house. :12  Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. :13  It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." 

Gen 38:14  So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 

Being a wife and having children was very important in these days, sadly it is no longer important today.

Gensis 38:15  When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. :16  So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" :17  He said, therefore, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?" :18  He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. :19  Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments. 

She enticed her father-in-law to have sex with her.

Genesis 38:25  It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man to whom these things belong." And she said, "Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?" :26  Judah recognized them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not have relations with her again. :27  It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. :28  Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first." :29  But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named Perez. :30  Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah. 

She gave birth to twins. One of which was Perez. Who was Perez?

Matthew 1:1  The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: :2  Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. :3  Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. :4  Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. :5  Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.

Tamar thru Perez is in the lineage of Jesus! Not only a deceitful mother of Perez, but shown by God that she is worthy or was used to bring this lineage into plain view.

The other two examples will be covered next week.

More next Saturday.

Who is Israel-08

Jesus gave numerous examples to indicate the oneness of His Church. The Apostles all understood this even as the people did not always understand Him. Only after the Holy Spirit descended to permanently dwell within every believer, did the Apostles fully understand the oneness in Christ.

Many of the examples Jesus used were in terms that represented this great truth.

John 15:1  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. :2  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 

Here we read a truth that cannot be denied. There are just two families, two worlds, two eternities, and two types of branches. True branches produce fruit and are being constantly pruned by the Father to produce more fruit. The other branches are taken away and burned, which is another message on Hell.

:3  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. :4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 

There are no real self-made men. We have to be in Christ to bear fruit, to bring glory to God, and to share this great truth with the darkened world around us.

:5  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. :6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 

This is a second reminder of being cast into the fire. Also, being apart from Christ means we can do nothing or nothing to bring Him glory.

:7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is yet another reminder of the importance of prayer. If we pray according to His will, He will answer it and it will be done.

John 5:19  Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. :20  "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 

The example Jesus gives us is the example of His relationship with the Father. He cannot do anything that He has not seen His Father do. He is the perfect example of His Father, just as we need to be the example of Jesus here on earth.

:21  "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  :22  "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, :23  so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Jesus is both Savior and Judge. Most people can’t imagine Jesus judging anyone or throwing anyone into Hell. They don’t really know the true character of a righteous, holy, perfect God.

More next Saturday