BIBLICAL STUDIES Community Group
For deeper Biblical exegetical studies, touching on the original languages. All are welcome to join in and post, but please remember to comment on the verses you choose and why they are important for us in our Christian walk.
What is the "hope of Israel" in the bible? Why does Paul say that by the hope of Israel I am bound by these chains? What does it mean and why would he even say that? And does it have anything to do with us?
Well, it has everything to do with us.
Paul knew that God's kingdom on earth in the past, the nation of Israel, an imperfect Kingdom, would be restored again in the future by Christ, to a perfect Kingdom. He knew that there was a time that God was their king. It was an imperfect kingdom. Jesus taught the apostles how to pray that "God's coming Kingdom" would soon appear. We read all thru the OT on the restoration of Israel and how Christ will "set up" that restoration at his appearing.
It started with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God promises Abraham land, inheritance and many blessing. We also read in Hebrews and not only that Abraham DID NOT recieve any promises, no one did. They will get them when Christ returns.
This "coming kingdom" will be worldwide. It was even mentioned to Daniel in chapter 2. Joel 3. All the prophets knew that too. Zech chapters 8-14 tells us about the "kingdom age" when our Lord is actually here on earth and not in heaven as many people believe. We DONT go up to Christ, he comes down to us. Even David knew about this. He was told that someone would come out of him that would reign on his throne forever. Plus he would have to be raised to see it too. 2 Sam 7
Not only does Christ set up the kingdom of Israel again, but reigns on David's throne in Jerusalem forever and ever.
Isaiah 9 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, the power of God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
We also read that all nations will come up to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
Zech 14 tells us that the LORD will be king over the whole earth forever and ever.
So what does have to do with us? Easy answer.....
We can have a part is this too. Christ will grant us immortality at judgement. We will rule with him in the kingdom of earth. We will be a kindom of priest forever. (Rev 1,5&20) And that's what God wanted in the past. He wanted the old kingdom of Israel to be a kingdom of priests to the nations around them to aminister His Word. And now with Christ, His kingdom will be a perfect one.
We can be apart of this only thru baptism. We read this in Galations 3.
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
So we see that thru baptism we now have a chance for God's kingdom here on earth. We are in the promises made to our fore fathers.
Mathew 6 "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." So we see here that this new kingdom will be on earth (not in heaven). And this is God's will.
So this is our hope. Paul says that we should seek for Glory, Honour and Immortality. And hopefull, by God's Grace, we'll be given immortality in God's Kingdom.
Well, it has everything to do with us.
Paul knew that God's kingdom on earth in the past, the nation of Israel, an imperfect Kingdom, would be restored again in the future by Christ, to a perfect Kingdom. He knew that there was a time that God was their king. It was an imperfect kingdom. Jesus taught the apostles how to pray that "God's coming Kingdom" would soon appear. We read all thru the OT on the restoration of Israel and how Christ will "set up" that restoration at his appearing.
It started with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God promises Abraham land, inheritance and many blessing. We also read in Hebrews and not only that Abraham DID NOT recieve any promises, no one did. They will get them when Christ returns.
This "coming kingdom" will be worldwide. It was even mentioned to Daniel in chapter 2. Joel 3. All the prophets knew that too. Zech chapters 8-14 tells us about the "kingdom age" when our Lord is actually here on earth and not in heaven as many people believe. We DONT go up to Christ, he comes down to us. Even David knew about this. He was told that someone would come out of him that would reign on his throne forever. Plus he would have to be raised to see it too. 2 Sam 7
Not only does Christ set up the kingdom of Israel again, but reigns on David's throne in Jerusalem forever and ever.
Isaiah 9 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, the power of God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
We also read that all nations will come up to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.
Zech 14 tells us that the LORD will be king over the whole earth forever and ever.
So what does have to do with us? Easy answer.....
We can have a part is this too. Christ will grant us immortality at judgement. We will rule with him in the kingdom of earth. We will be a kindom of priest forever. (Rev 1,5&20) And that's what God wanted in the past. He wanted the old kingdom of Israel to be a kingdom of priests to the nations around them to aminister His Word. And now with Christ, His kingdom will be a perfect one.
We can be apart of this only thru baptism. We read this in Galations 3.
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
So we see that thru baptism we now have a chance for God's kingdom here on earth. We are in the promises made to our fore fathers.
Mathew 6 "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." So we see here that this new kingdom will be on earth (not in heaven). And this is God's will.
So this is our hope. Paul says that we should seek for Glory, Honour and Immortality. And hopefull, by God's Grace, we'll be given immortality in God's Kingdom.
Even Jesus alknowledged this. During His stay on earth, He encountered a Cannanite woman who asked for healing of her daughter. The woman begged quite a few times. Jesus's disciples tried to get Him to send her away because she wouldn't quit bugging them. Jesus said He was there only "for the lost sheep of Israel." When she finally came and knelt at Jesus's feet, she could be ignored no more. Jesus said, "It's is not right to take the bread from the children and give it to the dogs." She begged Jesus once again, saying, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table!!"
Jesus then aknowleged the fact that jew and greek (non-jew) could have faith in Him and be healed.
Matthew 15
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Even Paul, the great warrior for Christ, acknowleged he was sent for the non-Jews. He started many churches in area's that were non-jewish.
Even in your talk about how Isreal would be restored, you used a scripture that tells us we should not discriminate:
Galations 3
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus
We are one people in Christ. We are "neither Jew, nor Greek (non-Jew)."
I am sorry for bringing this up, but it bothers me!
♥♥•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*..¸.•*¨`*♥ ••*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*..¸.•*¨`*♥
Dear God, raise up elders and young leaders to teach and train the new generation of Israelis who are coming to faith in the Messiah .
I ask that the Palestinian Arabs will come to faith in Christ and embrace God's end-time purpose for Israel; send forth laborers to bring in the appointed harvest from the whole of the Middle East.
May Israel's relationship with the United States be strong, and may our nation-and especially young believers-recognize and support God's purposes for Israel.
May believers in America come to love the Jewish people as they seek to prepare the way for the return of Messiah.
AMEN.
-— ...-
God Bless You All !
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But, like Paul says, we must continue to work for the Lord like it could be tomorrow.
That's Israel4Ever, for this post. Our opinions matter in that they start WONDERFUL
in that they start others to thinking and maybe even to trying to read their Bible and find out what it really says!!!
How will we know unless we ask???
"5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Eph. 2:8- 9
Be careful all of you to read all of what Israel posts. He loves to mix the lies of his cult in with the truth!
[..... trying to deceive even the elect.]
What??????
Doesn't Peter say baptism now saves? But yes, it is God's Grace that will save us. But, Christ tells us that we need to walk a certain path. Christ told the apostles to make sure to preach about baptism too. What does baptism mean to you Marlene? Nothing? What happens to someone when he gets baptized?
Read Romans 6.
Scripture also tells us that Hope saves, Truth saves, Faith saves, Endurance saves. Why should we believe in just half of what Jesus says? We shouldn't.....
["For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Eph. 2:8- 9
Be careful all of you to read all of what Israel posts. He loves to mix the lies of his cult in with the truth!]
Marlene, what does James 2 say? Esp. v 18 & 26....
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I believe that here and in Romans 6 God is trying to tell us that we must show that we have been saved. Yes, deeds are important. The life lived for God is important.
But, we must remember the thief on the cross, too. He asked Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom. Jesus said:
Luke 23
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This man needed no works. His faith that Jesus was the son of God saved him. The gift of God, literelly through Jesus, saved this man.
Yes, "faith without works is dead." But this scripture was speaking to Christians, then and now, who were relying only on their faith in God and his gift of eternal life through Christ. It was speaking to the fact that we must show that we have truly accepted Jesus as savior through our actions and deeds. "Faith" needs to be shown through our life. We must be a mirror reflecting God!!!
Good discussion!!!