Study of the Bible Community Group
The Bible unfolds like literature, and we follow the instructions like marching orders. The last orders supersede the previous ones. So the New Covenant (Testament) gives the design of who we are, what we do, and how we meet. What do you see in it, that can help us live better?
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, would be restored again in the future by Christ. 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. 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 to Christ, he comes to us.
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).
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, would be restored again in the future by Christ. 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. 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 to Christ, he comes to us.
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).
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.
....The way I seem to understand is that Israel is blinded to an extent until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in...
...I think the reason given biblically was that there rejection of Christ caused them judgement and dispersal into being stuck in the belly of the whale...That was Europe or being stuck amongst those who hate without a cause...
...Once the fullness of the Gentiles come in the end of the age under the rule of the Gentiles during this great tribulation ends and Israel is restored and the love and kindness of God will go back forth from Israel like it once did...
...I think this was Paul explaining this by saying God did not give up on his people and his love is greater than all and will be so manifest even our good up against that love will bring all of us a tear!...
...I think the love and wisdom of God far exceeds any wisdom we think we hold....A true Shepherd of loving kindness and forgiveness He is and bowing to this is well deserved....When I think this way I learn better of what humility really is about!
I think there dispersal and judgement came way before Christ. It started with Moses in the wilderness not listening to God and doing His ways. And we see even after that with the Kings and prophets. They never listened!
Even when Christ does return, they will still be gathered to their homeland for awhile. We see bible prophecy revealed with the gathering even today and Israel becoming a nation in 1948. We live in wonderful times my friend! We see the problems with Syria as it is told in Isaiah 17. And then after that God willing, we will see Russia come down and team up with the middle east to attack Israel, (Ezk 38&39. Zech 12-14)
We see so much happening now, it's wonderful! So we know that Christ is soon to return.
...I think it is called being stubborn...Like a dad telling one something good and then being dumb we think we always know better when dad did in the first place...Then all take their lumps and this is when the mercy, love, and grace of God is shown...Forgiveness to one undeserving of it is a strong love...Equal to doing good to ones own enemy which in this shows a real love to that person...
...You hear this recorded by Stephan the Apostle who even forgave those stoning him...He said to forgive them because the darkness that owned them blinded them to the evil that owned them and Stephen forgave them while dying from them...
...A quite potent forgiveness that he learned from Christ who hurt not 1 person ever...
...Showing mercy and forgiveness to one not deserving of it is potent...Potent, because no greater loving kindness is shown above it...
...I believe this is why Christ said those forgiven more love more because their wrongs erased and forgotten propels one to the one who gives the mercy...
...So for now on I refuse to boast about myself because my good is a dirty rag and God's good is a perfection...
...I think Mary understood this in perfect when Christ threw out all charges against her...There maybe was none who loved Christ more than her...
...I hope for many of us this is shown and we fully understand the mercy seat of God and the love that he holds above all; great and small...Charges dismissed to me is much better than a suffering jail...And the one who dismisses the charges against me is the one's whose mercy I would never forget!