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.
Context is everything, Israel. James was writing to CHRISTIANS who were already saved! He was writing from Jerusalem, which was undergoing a famine. So he was telling who about the NEED?
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:" James 1:1
Works NEED to be done when there is a need! That is Christ's will for the life of each Christian. But we are justified by FAITH, not by these works.
Yes, we need to OBEY God, but we do not EARN our salvation through those works. We do them because we are "in" Christ and we love him, and he is the center of our existence. We help the needy because they are human, and Christ demands nothing less!
Paul's justification by faith is not contradicted by James plea to help the poor and needy, esp. at a time of famine. Instead, both Biblical writers reflect the truth that Christ lived and preached, even to dying on a cross that WE, the lost, the spiritually needy, might be saved through the vicarious sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins.
"The Christadelphians are a millenarian Christian group who hold a view of Biblical Unitarianism. The movement developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century around the teachings of John Thomas, who coined the name Christadelphian[1][2] from the Greek for "Brethren in Christ".[3][4][5]
Claiming to base their beliefs solely on the Bible, Christadelphians differ from mainstream Christianity in a number of doctrinal areas. For example, they reject the Trinity and the immortality of the soul, believing these to be corruptions of original Christian teaching.
They were initially found predominantly in the developed English-speaking world, but expanded in developing countries after the Second World War. There are estimated to be 60,000 Christadelphians in around 120 countries worldwide. Congregations are usually referred to as ecclesias."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christadelphians
"In their heretical book titled, SALVATION by James and Deb Flint, these Christadelphians teach a false plan of works salvation, requiring water baptism, a changed life, keeping all the commandments, and just about everything else to be saved..."
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/christadelphians.htm
You do not believe Jesus Christ was divine, you believe in salvation by works, that is the definition of a quasi-Christian cult. Be what you want, but do not deceive believers who truly believe in the finished work of Christ, both God and man on the cross, for our sins.
I ppnly wish I had her schooling but I have the same word as she does to speak abouut.
There are many who sound good but upon further study are weak and flawed.in thology.
So now why dont we close this before people degrade themselves and end up spuabbling like fish wives?
I have supported everything I have written with Scripture, including the original Greek. You have maligned my character, saying I am in a cult, when in fact, I am the only one posting Scripture in context.
But I am thankful you admitted you are a Christadelphian. Now I know what stronghold to pray about in your life.
May God save you from these false and unbiblical doctrines, which have left you outside if the Kingdom of God.