I don't read these debated messages until I'm ready to focus on them.
Firstly, Thanks for responding.
Jeremiah 31:3 is not written "TO" anyone but Israel! It is a specific message "TO" them.
It doesn't apply to us as you stated, "God has loved us (His chosen) with an everlasting love"
Here is how the chapter starts.
Jeremiah 31:1-2.
Everything is written for our learning but everything is not written TO us.
God is telling Israel why he is going to do that which is mentioned in the following verses.
Jeremiah 31:4-7. and then-
8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9) They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Now look at verse 10! It's written to you and I and the rest of the world!
10) HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, O YE NATIONS, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
This is future!
It Parallels with Jeremiah 16:14-15.
What you and I should take from that is that God keeps his promises.
If you were to go by what I seem to imply, God certainly cannot exercise His wrath or judgement on sinners because He loves the world (humans). This is not biblically sound and if it is biblically true, all people would be saved, but Scripture does not teach this.
Gigi that's far from anything I ever said.
I said, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" and the whosoever in these passages implies a invitation to EVERYONE!
Indeed, God does love the world. He loves all of His creation. And I did say that He does bestow common grace and mercy upon all humanity. Otherwise, we all would be consumed and destroyed the first time we actively sin. God has compassion on sinful man in many ways. However, Romans 1:18 does teach that God's wrath is upon all wickedness in those who suppress the truth. basically sinners. If I were to go by what you seem to imply, God certainly cannot exercise His wrath or judgement on sinners because He loves the world (humans). This is not biblically sound and if it is biblically true, all people would be saved, but Scripture does not teach this.
I said in my writing that God's SAVING grace and mercy and love is given to the elect, but not to those He did not choose for salvation. If you are of the Arminian persuasion you would be aware that they teach about God's prevenient grace and also saving grace. I agree that God's grace comes to humans in different ways with differing effects as Arminius taught. But I am not Arminian in my thinking. I used to be for many decades, because that was all I really knew. But when I began to examine its teachings against Scripture, I moved away from that.
You said that I cannot attribute something that is for Israel for Christians. This is a tenet of dispensationalism, but is not from the Bible unless you can give me a Scripture that teaches so.
I know that you had some other questions for me. However, I do not wish to get into a back and forth, picking apart each others' viewpoints. I would much prefer that you do as I did-study these topics according to what Scripture says and then present your developed viewpoint on this forum so that others can read both viewpoints and go to Scriptures to see which one better explains what Scriptures do teach.
I appreciate that you are engaging with me. May the truth win out overall.
Here I expound on the details of God's love for us.
Pt. 1
GOD'S LOVE IS THE FOUNTAIN OF HIS COMPASSION, FAVOR, GRACE AND MERCY
As we go on to discuss God's compassion, favor, grace, and mercy we can see that these all flow from His divine love. There is nothing in all of creation comparable to His divine love. It is so great, deep, faithful, and true. Believers can depend on Him to love them forever with a love that is beyond any love they can ever experience among people they know.
The reason that God extends compassion, favor, grace and mercy to His elect is precisely because of His great love that nothing can separate us from, ( Romans 8: 31-39) nor will God ever withdraw His love from His elect ( Jeremiah 31:3)! So, as elect believers we can ever rejoice that He loves us, though we are sinful, because His Son won for us the remission of our sins on the cross. Hallelujah!
I don't think we can every tire of meditating on God's love for us. Nor should we ever minimize it by focusing more on God's wrath for sin and sinners. God's nature is in perfect harmony with all of His attributes. Therefore, we should learn how to hold paradoxes such as His love and wrath. Both are equally and infinitely present in God. He does not change. But when we think about the severity of His wrath, we can remind ourselves of His magnanimous unconquerable, and eternal love for us that manifests in His faithfulness, compassions, grace, mercies and favor upon us and that these will never fail.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.
How lovely is this verse to the ears of forgiven sinners who believe the gospel and put their faith in Jesus Christ!
Blessings of God's New Convenant to restore his nation.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 KJV
Jesus Christ is God that is forgiveness of sins. A God that is a free gift that is better then nothing (zero) Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
A quick overview of the entire chapter of Ezekiel 36 shows that the meaning is primarily in the exodus and eventual regathering of God's people. When we get into a couple chapters later we enter the Ezekiel 38 war which continues showing the fate of nations that fight against Israel. This verse also is used to demonstrate the change in each believer's state; as opposed to the condition mentioned in Jeremiah 17:9 on how deceitful and wicked man's unregenerate heart nature is.
The principle involved in the nation of Israel repenting is found in this verse: Romans 11:25
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
The Lord will therefore use the time of "Jacob's trouble" ( Jeremiah 30:7) to put the Jews through the fire; and at that time 2/3 will perish and 1/3 make it through ( Zechariah 13:8) which signifies the refining fire. Naturally this is preceded by the arrival of the false messiah who will be venerated by many until the time mentioned in Isaiah 10:20 which would be at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
The new covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31 and the next several verses after also could be applied to that which Christ accomplished for those in the church (or church age). It's final fruition will finally reach Israel who rejected the first coming of their king because they didn't recognize Him as the suffering servant; and or assumed He would immediately overtake their enemies and start an earthly Kingdom.
In general I would state that every age or dispensation has a similar fate; a beginning and end. Israel had several Diasporas and in the last days the church in general will fall away.
Romans 11:16-24 shows Israel as distinct from the Church: the "natural branches" are the Jews, and the "wild branches" are the Gentiles.
The "olive tree" is the collective people of God. The "natural branches" (Jews) are "cut off" the tree for unbelief, and the "wild branches" (believing Gentiles) are grafted in. This has the effect of making the Jews "jealous" and then drawing them to faith in Christ, so they might be grafted in again and receive their promised inheritance.
The natural branches are still distinct from the "wild branches," so that God's covenant with His people is literally fulfilled.
Isaiah 62:11-12 "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Moses' prediction of Israel's permanent restoration to the land in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.
Moses said, "THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS!!
SO HOW WILL "ALL ISRAEL BE SAVED?
Zechariah 8-14 , which speak of end-times Israel at Christ's return.
The key verse describing the coming to faith of the future remnant of Israel is Zechariah 12:10.
This occurs at the end of the tribulation.
Also; Zechariah 8:7-8.
Israel will be regathered from the ends of the earth ( Isaiah 11:12.
Ezekiel 36:26 reads, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"
You said,
"Israel failed with the Law of Moses and the tradition of their fathers. Only in Christ shall they reach that state"
Israel wasn't able to reach that state under the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law wasn't given for that purpose!
Ezekiel and Jeremiah states that God was going to do something NEW!
Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Ezekiel 11:19-20.
Ezekiel 36:26-27.
The Spirit within represents a NEW birth. The Law and the Prophet's taught this
Jesus counseled Nicodemus on this in
John 3:5-10.
Nicodemus was expected to Know this being that he was a Teacher of Israel.
The interpretation of the sticks is in passage. Ezekiel 37:16-21.
The two sticks represent the southern and the Northern Kingdom as mentioned.
Also, they will be gathered from every side and brought back into their own land.
Let's take Ezekiel 36 and Ezekiel 37 and put them in its proper context.
There's mention of a new heart and new spirit.
The dry bones.
The two sticks.
Their gathering.
and their own Land.
Ezekiel is writing during the captivity of Babylon but his writings extends past the captivity on into the latter days as do Daniel and Jeremiah.
Judgment of Israel is of a much broader scope than the Babylonian captivity.
We find that in Deuteronomy 28:37 ,64-68.
It's important to note that this dispersion is global, Not Babylon.
Also the gathering Ezekiel is talking about is global and exceeds Babylon.
This is a second gathering! Isaiah 11:9-12.
Isaiah 43:5-6.
When you read this you'll see that it has never happened.
They still have a heart of stone.
Some look at Israel today and say this must be the Church but "in those days" there is more to consider here than just the New heart concerning this prophecy.
I have followed you and others on this great discussion!
Thanks for giving your understanding.
You stated the "beginning" in John 1:1-10 refers to Christ earthly ministry.
I believe we should ask ourselves "What was Christ role in those 3 years?
We know that Jesus's death brought in the new covenant that was Prophesied to come in the OT, ( Jeremiah 31:31) "also other verses". but what was his ministry or Role during those 3 years?
During Jesus 3-year ministry he sought out the ( lost sheep of Israel ).
John is identifying Jesus as "the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And as the "true Light, which lighteth (every man) that cometh into the world". Here John is not talking about Jesus earthly ministry, the lost sheep of Israel or his role.
JESUS ROLE AND THE ENDING OF THE OLD COVENANT IS ANOTHER TOPIC, BUT I BELIEVE THE 3 YEAR MINISTRY WAS ENDING THE OLD COVENANT AND HIS DEATH WAS THE BEGINING OF THE NEW COVENANT.
Jesus as savior was announced in Genesis 3:15.
In John 5:39 Jesus said "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Jesus's ministry as savior was performed in the Old Testament in types, JOHN IS NOT ADDRESSING THE BEGINNING OF NEITHER OF THOSE.
I would like to highlight something in John 1:1-10.
We see Jesus as the word, as God, as life, as light and as the "creator in verse 10",
Jesus is called the light, and that light didn't begin at Christ earthly ministry according to verse 9
This light is also mentioned in 1 John 1:1-7. God is also referenced as that light!
We see the Trinity in the light as the Father and the light as the Son as the same in these passages.
You have the father the son and the Holy Spirit exhibited in John 1:1-10 and 1 John 1:1-7.
The act of intercession; therefore is something crucial to communication throughout scripture that indeed gives us some insight of Hebrews 7:25 (He ever lives to intercede for us). Daniel also repeated this theme in Daniel 9:8-10. God's promise here was the prophetic insight given in Jeremiah 29:10. God stated this would happen; so it appears to be a done deal. There was no promise how many would do this; as is evident from the small group that initially rebuilt the wall; and the disobedience of many was seen with marriages to foreign wives. No doubt worldliness had affected the hearts of those who should have remembered the prosperity God gave them in Babylon and His promises to return after that time. It is a wonder that confession of the sins of church congregations isn't given much attention as compared to particulary egregious ones of individuals as it still affects the overall witness as we see from exhortations written for the churches in Revelation 2 and 3; for example.
Look at God's faithfulness to Israel as stated in Jeremiah 31:36 where the courses of nature would have to change with the sun and moon for God to abandon His covenant promises. In fact the only covenant changed is that related to the method of worship with the law and sacrifices which was of course replaced by the perfect sacrifice under Christ which abolished therefore the old ordinances. (see Hebrews 9-10). The object of worship was therefore Christ; God had stated in Isaiah 1:11; see also Psalm 69:31.
In understanding the New Covenant we should perceive that it is still the same God with the same characteristics today that existed in the Old Testament from eternity. We would on the surface expect that to be a "no brainer"; but how often do we see the fear of God demonstrated as in Acts 5:1-11 with Ananias and Sapphira? Our commitments to God should not be of fools ( Ecclesiastes 5:4). See Matthew 5:33-35 for ungodly vows.
Sin separates us from God, It doesn't bring us to God.
Man in his natural state loves darkness.
Beware of anyone that teaches that sin is good!
Also Beware of the snare that God saves you by his Love and compromise his righteous Judgment.
"God so loved the world, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
(( God didn't excuse our sin, It cost him dearly!
Christ was judged!! He wasn't let off the hook! He prayed 3 times to let this cup pass him!
If it was any other way, God didn't answer him.))
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Read and Study John 3:17-21. and John 16:7-14.
We've been baptized into a body of believers and led and sealed by one Spirit. And that's Christ.
Israel in the OT shows the weakness of man left alone and the absence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. and it is a lesson for you and I.
Judges 2:8-13.
And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
God uses marriage to communicate Christ commitment and relationships to us as seen in
Ephesians 5:23-32.
See verse 32.
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, AND SHALL BE JOINED UNTO HIS WIFE, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH.
(Verse 32)
THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY: "BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.
Praise the Lord that we have a God that is faithful and keeps his promises.
There is one God of all and he is the God of Israel "The fish fruit " also in who he made Promises to also!
Here's one of many.
Jeremiah 31:35-36.
"Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Thank you. I'm sorry that you feel that I berate. I get why you might think that I berate, but Truly it's done in LOVE. What I'm Professing is The Truth, you see, everyone is missing The Message! I'm NOT speaking against the holy bible, I'm rebuking Any declarations that a book is God! God is SO MUCH MORE! A book doesn't "bring" anyone closer to God, and you wonder HOW God reveals Himself to people, Romans 2:13-16. And here is The Prophecy from which it came Jeremiah 31:31-34. You think I call the holy bible frivolous? I call the holy bible holy, just, and good. But, I will never call the holy bible God. Everyone is so incensed that their anger is causing them to sin.
Jema, you ask for a Revelation to "prove" that God has sent me with His Message. Well, Christ was asked the same, Luke 11:29-30; so, what is The Sign of Jonah? Jonah hated the Ninevites, so the Ninevites had No reason to listen to Jonah because Jonah made his distaste obvious. The sign of Jonah is God sending a man who is disliked and even hated to people, who dislike and hate him, to declare their destruction. Why? For if the people "Listen" to their hatred then they will not hear God in the message, but if the people "put away" their hatred they may avoid Destruction.
Jema, you ask me to imagine how quarrelsome we would be without the Bible, very quarrelsome indeed; but, I ask you to imagine how MUCH Faith we would have as a consequence. You see, if everyone yells for you to go left, but God's Holy Spirit directs you right, And you obey God, my God, The Wonders we would witness!
Jema, you ask why the people killed Christ. I tell you, it wasn't because they didn't know He was the Messiah! John 3:1-3 the Pharisees killed Christ because He came to take away their power as priests of God; they were necessary to the people because if a person wanted to seek God, they had to go to them. God "did away with this by making All people a holy nation and priests! Put away anger and Listen!
Yes, I gave a different view by asking a question. Sometimes, a question "tills the field" better than a statement because it gives the reader a chance to come to the conclusion on their own. You see, perspective is key to understanding, and it's perspective that allows us to "see" the another's eyes and understand! Now, concerning the serpent in The Garden; God said Do Not, and the serpent asked "why not"? The serpent did what "the flesh" (sarx) always does, tempt! I'm sure doubt is a part of this, yet I ask is God really ALMIGHTY? Because if He is, and He TRULY is, then "the fall" of man was always The Plan of God from The Beginning! I'll put it more clearly, the fall of mankind was Always supposed to happen. It is either, accept this truth, or believe that satan is at least as Powerful as God. How else did satan get into The Garden and have access to Adam & Eve? God allowed it.
Furthermore, it saddens me to think that you can't tell the difference between The Word Of God (The Holy Spirit), and the holy bible. You see the holy bible is holy, just, and good BUT it is a created thing and God is The Creator of the thing! We are Commanded to Worship The Creator NOT the created! Romans 1:20-25 It is for this transgression that our understanding is darkened. For The Word does and will Endure Forever, somehow I Understand that The Word is God and not a book made of paper and ink! Why else does God place His Law in our inward parts (heart) Jeremiah 31:33-34 Again, The True Gospel is NOT from a book, It is from The Holy Spirit of God.
I am with God sir, and where ever I am it is where God put me! What irks me the most is that I have to speak against a book not because of any ill will for I LOVE the holy bible, I speak against a book because people can't tell the difference from a book and God ALMIGHTY! God is Spirit and we are HIS tabernacles.
Thank you brother S. Spencer for those very pertinent Scriptures relating to the subject at hand. They indeed show the total inadequacy of the Old Law to both save or to gain God's Favor. And if may add, that this time-bound Old Law given to Israel was even revealed in the OT, where there should have been an expectation in Israel that 'something better' was yet to come from the God of Israel.
We can also look at Jeremiah 31:31-33, "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers....After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." And this Scripture is referred to in Hebrews 8:6-13.
There was nothing wrong with the words of the old Law; it simply pointed to their inability to keep it & to the coming Messiah Who could keep it perfectly thus fulfilling it - and through His Death & Resurrection, ushered in God's New Covenant "making the first old - ready to vanish away". And vanish it did, through the Blood of this Everlasting Covenant. Maybe, we should focus our thoughts on how the Holy Spirit given to us, enables us to obey ALL of God's Commandments, not by the letter, but in very specific guidance & provokings in our hearts, as the child of God allows the Spirit to fill his life completely. When we do trust in the Holy Spirit to do this, then there would be no need for recourse to the Law that only brought death.
I agree 100% what you have said that OT Israel knew nothing of a coming Messiah's Sacrifice of His Life for them & substitutionary payment. Hence, the word 'Gospel' mentioned in Hebrews 4 is not the same Gospel they received as is the complete Gospel that the Apostles preached post-Cross. (Perhaps not in the way it is preached in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
I believe the OT saints did what was required of them at that time to make them just with God. Their temporal rituals and sacrifices exemplified the Gospel and perhaps the resurrection was preached by "type" when Issac was offered as a sacrifice by Abraham. Hebrews 11:17-19.
However, could they have perceived it, being that Jeremiah 31:31-34 have not taken place yet?
When we study Hebrews in its entirety, we know that this new covenant was not to come under the Levitical covenant. This is clearly seen in Hebrews Ch 7 and 8.
So, when we look back at this, Israel mind was blinded and there was a veil upon their hearts, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16. "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when "it" shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (The "it" mentioned here is their hearts.)
When Israel turns their hearts to God the veil and the blindness shall be taken away.
This is what Paul is saying in Romans 11.
Israel was incapable of receiving the revelation of the Gospel under the Levitical High Priest and if you study the Gospels carefully, neither could the Apostles until the death of the one that filled the role of the Levitical Priesthood at the Cross.
(I believe this is what John's baptism was all about)
The resurrection began the new covenant under the new Priest hood. ( Hebrews 7:15-16.)
As an example of some of the ostensible paradoxes of the Millennium is the strange question of death. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a dear friend and highly respected Messianic scholar, suggests that death in the Millennium will be for unbelievers only. Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of a resurrection of Millennial saints. This may be why the resurrection of the tribulation saints is said to complete the "first resurrection" ( Rev 20:4-6).
From the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34, it would seem that there will be no Jewish unbelievers in the kingdom; all Jews born during the Millennium will accept the Messiah before their 100th year.6 Unbelief would thus be among the Gentiles only, and therefore, death would exist only among the Gentiles.7 [ Jer 31:35-37 refutes "Reconstructionism" and similar heresies.] Another strange issue is the prominence of sacrifices in the Millennium. It would seem that they are memorials after the fact, just as the sacrifices in the Old Testament were memorials in advance.8
A Time to Study
As recent events have so dramatically emphasized to all of us, it is, indeed, a time to reexamine our perspectives, and to acknowledge in our personal priorities that history includes some shocking "non-linearities": even our most cherished presumptions are subject to cataclysmic challenges! It is time to refresh our understanding from the bedrock of Scripture and to recognize the urgency of the times. I believe we are rapidly being plunged into a period of time about which the Bible says more than it does about any other period of time in history - including the time that Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea!
You stated, "The promise of the physical land to Abraham and the Israelites was a shadow pointing to the heavenly land of promise, the New heavens and new earth.
The Kingdom here on earth is ushered in after the tribulation. It's an everlasting Kingdom with Satan being chained 1000 years, After Satan is released there will be a final rebellion and the inhabitants/Earth dwellers will war against God!
Gigi, if the New heavens and new earth is the Millenium, Are you saying that war is in heaven? The new Jerusalem doesn't come down until after Judgment, and then a new heaven and new earth!
It's has been a lot of jumping around on this topic by you.
I've seen several view changes on this topic, from the kingdom is in heaven, The kingdom is on earth, It's in your heart ect.
David.
Let's go over my post you replied to, Here's the context: Me- He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
Jeremiah 31:10
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off)
HE WANTS THE NATIONS TO SEE IT AND DECLARE IT AFAR OFF! THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE HERE ON EARTH.
The basis of your reply.
God speaks in Parables.
When God uses the term "Israel" or "Judah" or "Jerusalem" He can be talking about the corporate body (National Israel or the New Testament Church) or ALL True Believers (the Elect of God.
David when God is talking about bring a people back to their own Land, he's talking about a people that had one and was removed out of it.
He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
In his days JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And God wants the world to see it!!
Jeremiah 31:10.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He does this for his name sake!
Ezekiel 36:22-27.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land... ( This will be done on earth! There's no heathens in heaven! )
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Hello Jharveys. I'll share very generally on the passage you quoted.
The chapters 30 to 33 in Jeremiah are God's Words to His people (Israel & Judah) giving them His Promise & certain hope for their future restoration back to their lands. Some consider these chapters as applying to their recovery from the Assyrian & Babylonian captivity (in which they were in at the time), but verses such as Jeremiah 30:3,7,10,11 & others seem to indicate that all of Israel will return to their land of promise, & not just the 'few' who came out of the present captivity. The mention of the 'terrible day, none ever like it, even the time of Jacob's trouble, but Israel will come out of it', indicates that there is still salvation & hope for Israel even after going through the coming time of Great Tribulation.
Then chapter 31 continues this theme of restoration for Israel; with verses 1 to 22 concerning the Northern Kingdom (Israel); verses 23 to 26 the Southern Kingdom (Judah); and verses 27 to 40 to both Kingdoms.
So to Jeremiah 31:23-34 (your passage), the message is first to Judah & then God establishes His New Covenant with both houses (from verse 27). To Judah, God tells them that they will know His blessing on Jerusalem (Mt. Zion) where justice & holiness abounds (v23); & the people will thrive in food production (vv24,25). And so to, the New Covenant which still awaits enforcement, vv27-34 and other verses beyond, gives God's Assurance that both man & animals will abound, that He will prosper them & not afflict & destroy them as before, & they will realize that each one is accountable & punishable for their own sins & not blame their fathers (the meaning of verses 29 & 30). That future day, Israel will have God's Laws written upon their hearts (v33), i.e. they will be changed inwardly & not just giving lip-service as previously and all will truly know intimately their God & not a conditional-based Covenant of the old Mosaic Law. Hope that gives you an adequate outline.
When asked that question in Scripture it seems God answers back with one of his many names. like he does when Paul asks in Acts 9:5.
Paul asked Who art thou, Lord? "kurios" (supreme in authority that is (as noun) controller; by implication Mr . (as a respectful title): - God Lord master Sir.)
The Lord answered him simply, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
There are several names for the one and only true God.
Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of God in the Bible:
I've looked up some of those names; Here they are.
Part 1.
EL, ELOAH [el, el-oh-ah]: God "mighty, strong, prominent" ( Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) - etymologically, El appears to mean "power" and "might" ( Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity ( Numbers 23:19), jealousy ( Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion ( Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of "might" remains.
ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God "Creator, Mighty and Strong" ( Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) - the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible's first sentence, the superlative nature of God's power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence ( Genesis 1:1).
EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy]: "God Almighty," "The Mighty One of Jacob" ( Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) - speaks to God's ultimate power over all.
ADONAI [dna; ah-daw-nahy]: "Lord" ( Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) - used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God's dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.
Alan Matthew 13:25....While men slept an enemy came and sowed Tares among the WHEAT.....So the good seed is the WHEAT....As the word of God, that good seed is the bread from Heaven....There is a hidden manna involved.....The very reason the sower goes forth to sow his seed is that he might be multiplied as the stars of heaven.....That was the great Promise that Christ might be mutiplied as the stars of heaven.....Thus the sower and his seed.....Thus the wheat is a baby Christ simply b/c its Christ the bridegroom that is sowing his seed in humanity.....Thats y he has to know us....If he does not know us there will be no fruit which is a baby Christ.....Which is the H.G. the Child of Promise.....Whosoever receiveth one such child in my name receiveth ME....As Jesus said that which is born of the spirit is spirit.....Thats the H.G. that is gonna be born in us via his good seed the living word.....Thats y Peter is saying being bornagain of an incorruptible even by the words of God.....We have to birth a new Creature via his good seed the word......Alan there is only 1 quota for the good fruit.....If I be lifted up i will draw ALL men unto me.....ALL MEN.....And no man can come unto me unless it is given to them of my father.....Which is the father's new covenant Jeremiah 31:34.....I will know them ALL from the least to the greatest.....Alan ya gotta keep in mind that the sower of that good seed is Christ the bridegroom.....That y he wants to know us.....She brought forth a man child that is gonna rule all nations.....Jesus is gonna be multiplied as the stars of Heaven.....Thus the sower and his precious seed the bridegroom's seed thus a baby Christ.....Thats y he is saying blessed are them that follow me in the REGENERATION.....He is gonna multiply/regenerate himself in humanity via his good seed...Thats y Jeremiah saw all men in travail and birth pains.... Jeremiah 30:6 kjv.....The Child is the H.G. THAT Promise Child.....Behold i send the Promise of my father upon you.
"you don't know why I would bring up this matter, as it pertains to our discussion. When in Truth, it reaches to the very heart of it.
Going to the letter, in Hebrew or Greek etc; as you quoted & spoke from, comes from the traditions & teaching of man, the wisdom that's from below, earthy, which makes Mark 7:13, which sprang up in the Apostasy. Isa 55:8,9;
Whereas coming to the Spirit, our Teacher; The Word Rom 10:8; that comes Rom 10:17; within us, produces the fruit, the Word intended Isa 55;11; Isa 14:27;
Bringing this part of the conversation to a conclusion, by giving "the cause & effect of the learning from the letter, verses being taught by God Himself.
1Cor 2:10 which is freely & lavishly given unto us in Christ. Col 2:2,3; Proverbs 8:14;
You said; you don't subscribe to this type of application of sanctification ; citing verses with the word meaning; its plain to me that your faith is coming from books, & not our Teacher; who is Hebrews 12:2. Your trying to understand spiritual things by carnal means, Thus this faith you have is 2Timothy 3:7 Meaning; it will never bring one to the experiential knowledge of God; in Spirit & in Truth. Matt 11:27; For God is a Spirit & only by His Spirit is He manifested & known.
Jeremiah 31:33,34; New Covenant, he's prophesying, not that he partook of it, 1Peter 1:10; & yet he was cleansed & holy under the gospel of his dispensation 2 Peter 1:21; as many were Luke 1:5,6;
Again; what God requires of us, is to walk upright in the knowledge that He has given us.
Thank you for your kind apology, no offense taken, just a misunderstanding. Believe me, in this slow progressive work of sanctification, I've have had many misunderstanding & faltering, receiving His reproofs & admonishments, I've learnt Daniel 4:37; I love the way He gets to me. He always "hit the nail on the head" so to speak,& why? Daniel 2:22, Psalms 36:9;
you have experience Him in Spirit, Chris (in the car)
This new covenant is NOT like the old covenant..... Jeremiah 31:34.....I will make a new covenant NOT ACCORDING to the old covenant....With the house of Israel and Judah......But this New Covenant was addressed to the Gentiles also.....If ya be in Christ Jesus then are you ABRAHAMS SEED....Gal.3:29.....And heirs according to the Promise....That PROMISE of multiplication of Christ seed.....The field being the world.....God so loved the world.....Thus all inclusive of all sinners.....If i be lifted up ( the blood of the new covenant) i will draw all men unto me.....But this New Covenant is dependent on a heavenly birth.....A Child has to be born in us which is the H.G. that Child of Promise....Thats y Jeremiah saw all men in travail n birth pains J 30:6
......There was a Child involved in the O.C which was Isaac whom they refered to as the Child of Promise.....But under this new Covenant the Child is a heavenly Child the H.G.....Which is the Child of Promise.....1 Cor.15:49.....As we have borne the image of the earthly we must also bear the image of the heavenly which is the H.G. the child of Promise.....Whosoever receiveth one such Child in my name receiveth me....Thus the need for the sower and his precious seed to be sown in our hearts.....Initiating a heavenly Birth....Thats y he has to know us.....That his good seed the living word might be sown in our hearts resulting in a spritual pregnancy which is FAITH ....The substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.....Which is the Child of Promise.....The H.G. as that which is born of the spirit is spirit the H.G.....Our new heart and new spirit that new Creature.... Rev. 12 :10...Plz note the Kingdom nor any Salvation comes till the woman gives birth.....Our new birth our good fruit ....Unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in.....Under the O.C. there was a nation of Israel and under the N.C. Comes another Israel they are HEAVENLY..The H.G. AN Israel of God..GB
Even in Jeremiah 31:33,34, God hasn't cleansed them yet & "remembered their sin no more". That is still future Israel turns to the Lord & the sins of the past are indeed forgiven & forgotten, as He graciously deals with us today.
For the greater part of your pages 2 & 3, I'm unsure why you presented that with what we're discussing, so unsure how to deal with it. Was it primarily about considering what the original languages & their meanings/applications are to the Scriptures? That is, going deep into the Word or hearing from the Spirit?
And yes, Romans 14:23 is a great definition of what sin is, which of course would need examination to learn how the working of one's faith in relation to sin brings about either victory or defeat. And I would add, it is both the working of faith & of the Spirit that the believer engages with when confronted with sin; without the Spirit's Power defeat is certain. GBU
OT promises, Isa 54:13Jeremiah 31:33-34; confirmed in NT, Hebrews 8: 10,11,12; why is it that God doesn't remember their sins? Because He has cleanse them of all unrighteousness & has endue them with His Spirit & they sin no more. Jeremiah 32:39-41; The cause & effect of God teaching us Himself, & that by His Spirit John 14:13,14,15; with all His Heart & all His Soul; says the LORD, Selah.
Consider; it was not until the 14th or 15th century that these things became widely available, & then it was only to the learned & privilege. The Apostasy that the Apostles spoke of was already at work in their day & came into full maturity with the Roman Catholic's Rev17:2 for then the world was Rome. Daniel 2:40
Who taught Moses, etc; even Jesus John 7:15; the disciples etc; one educated, Paul & he Philippians 3:7,8,9,10; he relied on Philippians 1:19; What about all the people in time that didn't get a chance to learn how to read or were in the remote regions of the earth were the Scriptures were unavailable? Or hear the Good New being preach in the power of the Holy Ghost? His words are, "from the least to the greatest". His Spirit is able to reach them to the uttermost, even the blind, deaf, dumb-mentally, etc; Jeremiah 32:27;
Chris, everyone; consider these things. God is just, He's not going to condemn someone for something they did not know. Rom 1:17, which comes by Rom 10:17; which is in Rom 10:8; continue Rom 1:19; & that by His 1Cor 2:10; He's that Light that admonish you in the car, follow Him & He will lead ALL that do to the Father. He's the Treasure 2Cor 4:7 that's opens our understanding to the knowledge & the glory of God, it's the face of Jesus Christ.
Here are my comments on the scripture you presented.
Jeremiah 31:33: God will put his Laws in our heart and minds. These would be the same 10 Commandments/Laws as well as the additional emphasis on those commands that Jesus added along with the additional Love your nieghbor command. John 13:34
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
Ecclesiastes 12:13: I think we agree for the most part that Gentiles have in fact received God's laws by by accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and becoming heirs of Abraham, and not only the original 10 but also the additional more comprehensive laws as discussed and clarified by Christ.
Mark 2:27: Yes, Jesus was talking to the Jews/Pharisees about the Sabbath, but now that we are Heirs of Abraham these laws also apply to us. I know we differ on this, but this is my belief based on scripture. Jesus was also talking to the Jews about the Gospel of the Kingdom but then gave it to the rest of the world, so all that believe become the heirs of Abraham/Israel.
And Revelation chapter 22: I agree that this Chapter is Jesus speaking to John, but I believe that Jesus is speaking of all the Commandments including His, and His Fathers - not just Jesus commandments that you referred. Also, hoping we both agree that Jesus is God and so then when Jesus states commandments - He is referring to all Commandments. I also do agree it is His Spirit that promotes us to willfully follow His commandments.
Regarding Romans 8:1-4 I'll reiterate the same comments I made to Giannis above. I agree that if we are Saved/Reborn Christians living our lives in conjunction with God's Holy Sprit that indeed is sufficient to receive salvation per the scripture. Very important: If, we are living by the Sprit we will be embracing God's/Jesus Commandments as the Spirit will certainly be directing us to do so, via God writing His laws in our body and mind.
Thanks Bro. Dan for re-posting that previous comment. Looking at it more closely, these are my observances/responses.
Jeremiah 31:33: this is a new covenant with Israel that the LORD makes, where His Commandments are no longer on a tablet of stone but His Laws written upon their hearts. How does the LORD do this? Is it the same Ten Commandments now impressed deeply in their hearts or by the aid of the Spirit, enabling Israel to know ALL of His Commandments & have the power to obey them, which they didn't have before & with their eyes darkened? Romans 11:7-11.
Ecclesiastes 12:13: the Preacher writes about fearing God & keeping His Commandments. "Man" here must apply to Israel, since the Gentiles had never received any of God's Laws. But when the Gentiles did receive Christ (post Crucifixion/Ascension), learned of His Laws & subsequently received His Spirit, then yes, to fear God & keep His Commandments meant all of God's Commandments which included far more than the Ten: 'the Law of (from) the Spirit'; that 'which frees man from the Law of sin & death' (the Ten Commandments).
Mark 2:27: I see here that Jesus was talking with some Pharisees about the Sabbath. The Sabbath Day was given only to Israel, which has to be the 'man' spoken of. The Sabbath was never given to the Gentiles (Romans, Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians) who were living there at that time; at least we're not told whether they were required to observe the Sabbath Day when it came around.
And Revelation chapter 22: this whole chapter is about Jesus' Words with John. So 'his commandments' must refer to Jesus' Commandments & hence the right to the tree of life. Thus His Spirit gives us all we need to know & obey; it is by Christ's Blood & obedience to His Spirit that we 'gain entrance into the city', never by the Decalogue.
As well, I wrote a little to you on Romans 8:1-4, asking for your comment, if you so wish, as this passage is critical to understanding the Church's position with the Law. GBU
Forgive me for responding to this post so late.
I held off from reading it until now.
I don't read these debated messages until I'm ready to focus on them.
Firstly, Thanks for responding.
Jeremiah 31:3 is not written "TO" anyone but Israel! It is a specific message "TO" them.
It doesn't apply to us as you stated, "God has loved us (His chosen) with an everlasting love"
Here is how the chapter starts.
Jeremiah 31:1-2.
Everything is written for our learning but everything is not written TO us.
God is telling Israel why he is going to do that which is mentioned in the following verses.
Jeremiah 31:4-7. and then-
8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9) They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Now look at verse 10! It's written to you and I and the rest of the world!
10) HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD, O YE NATIONS, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
This is future!
It Parallels with Jeremiah 16:14-15.
What you and I should take from that is that God keeps his promises.
If you were to go by what I seem to imply, God certainly cannot exercise His wrath or judgement on sinners because He loves the world (humans). This is not biblically sound and if it is biblically true, all people would be saved, but Scripture does not teach this.
Gigi that's far from anything I ever said.
I said, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" and the whosoever in these passages implies a invitation to EVERYONE!
I will need more space.
See part 2.
Jeremiah 31:3 is the verse I meant.
Thank you for sharing a bit of your viewpoint.
Indeed, God does love the world. He loves all of His creation. And I did say that He does bestow common grace and mercy upon all humanity. Otherwise, we all would be consumed and destroyed the first time we actively sin. God has compassion on sinful man in many ways. However, Romans 1:18 does teach that God's wrath is upon all wickedness in those who suppress the truth. basically sinners. If I were to go by what you seem to imply, God certainly cannot exercise His wrath or judgement on sinners because He loves the world (humans). This is not biblically sound and if it is biblically true, all people would be saved, but Scripture does not teach this.
I said in my writing that God's SAVING grace and mercy and love is given to the elect, but not to those He did not choose for salvation. If you are of the Arminian persuasion you would be aware that they teach about God's prevenient grace and also saving grace. I agree that God's grace comes to humans in different ways with differing effects as Arminius taught. But I am not Arminian in my thinking. I used to be for many decades, because that was all I really knew. But when I began to examine its teachings against Scripture, I moved away from that.
You said that I cannot attribute something that is for Israel for Christians. This is a tenet of dispensationalism, but is not from the Bible unless you can give me a Scripture that teaches so.
I know that you had some other questions for me. However, I do not wish to get into a back and forth, picking apart each others' viewpoints. I would much prefer that you do as I did-study these topics according to what Scripture says and then present your developed viewpoint on this forum so that others can read both viewpoints and go to Scriptures to see which one better explains what Scriptures do teach.
I appreciate that you are engaging with me. May the truth win out overall.
Pt. 1
GOD'S LOVE IS THE FOUNTAIN OF HIS COMPASSION, FAVOR, GRACE AND MERCY
As we go on to discuss God's compassion, favor, grace, and mercy we can see that these all flow from His divine love. There is nothing in all of creation comparable to His divine love. It is so great, deep, faithful, and true. Believers can depend on Him to love them forever with a love that is beyond any love they can ever experience among people they know.
The reason that God extends compassion, favor, grace and mercy to His elect is precisely because of His great love that nothing can separate us from, ( Romans 8: 31-39) nor will God ever withdraw His love from His elect ( Jeremiah 31:3)! So, as elect believers we can ever rejoice that He loves us, though we are sinful, because His Son won for us the remission of our sins on the cross. Hallelujah!
I don't think we can every tire of meditating on God's love for us. Nor should we ever minimize it by focusing more on God's wrath for sin and sinners. God's nature is in perfect harmony with all of His attributes. Therefore, we should learn how to hold paradoxes such as His love and wrath. Both are equally and infinitely present in God. He does not change. But when we think about the severity of His wrath, we can remind ourselves of His magnanimous unconquerable, and eternal love for us that manifests in His faithfulness, compassions, grace, mercies and favor upon us and that these will never fail.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning:
great is thy faithfulness.
How lovely is this verse to the ears of forgiven sinners who believe the gospel and put their faith in Jesus Christ!
See Pt. 1
Blessings of God's New Convenant to restore his nation.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 KJV
Jesus Christ is God that is forgiveness of sins. A God that is a free gift that is better then nothing (zero) Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Written and Word spoken by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
school book september 8, 2024 jeremiah 31:31-37
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
A quick overview of the entire chapter of Ezekiel 36 shows that the meaning is primarily in the exodus and eventual regathering of God's people. When we get into a couple chapters later we enter the Ezekiel 38 war which continues showing the fate of nations that fight against Israel. This verse also is used to demonstrate the change in each believer's state; as opposed to the condition mentioned in Jeremiah 17:9 on how deceitful and wicked man's unregenerate heart nature is.
The principle involved in the nation of Israel repenting is found in this verse: Romans 11:25
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
The Lord will therefore use the time of "Jacob's trouble" ( Jeremiah 30:7) to put the Jews through the fire; and at that time 2/3 will perish and 1/3 make it through ( Zechariah 13:8) which signifies the refining fire. Naturally this is preceded by the arrival of the false messiah who will be venerated by many until the time mentioned in Isaiah 10:20 which would be at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
The new covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31 and the next several verses after also could be applied to that which Christ accomplished for those in the church (or church age). It's final fruition will finally reach Israel who rejected the first coming of their king because they didn't recognize Him as the suffering servant; and or assumed He would immediately overtake their enemies and start an earthly Kingdom.
In general I would state that every age or dispensation has a similar fate; a beginning and end. Israel had several Diasporas and in the last days the church in general will fall away.
Romans 11:16-24 shows Israel as distinct from the Church: the "natural branches" are the Jews, and the "wild branches" are the Gentiles.
The "olive tree" is the collective people of God. The "natural branches" (Jews) are "cut off" the tree for unbelief, and the "wild branches" (believing Gentiles) are grafted in. This has the effect of making the Jews "jealous" and then drawing them to faith in Christ, so they might be grafted in again and receive their promised inheritance.
The natural branches are still distinct from the "wild branches," so that God's covenant with His people is literally fulfilled.
Romans 11:26-29, citing Isaiah 59:20-21 Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34
Isaiah 62:11-12 "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Moses' prediction of Israel's permanent restoration to the land in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.
Moses said, "THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS!!
SO HOW WILL "ALL ISRAEL BE SAVED?
Zechariah 8-14 , which speak of end-times Israel at Christ's return.
The key verse describing the coming to faith of the future remnant of Israel is Zechariah 12:10.
This occurs at the end of the tribulation.
Also; Zechariah 8:7-8.
Israel will be regathered from the ends of the earth ( Isaiah 11:12.
Isaiah 62:10.
Zechariah 13:8-9
Isaiah 12:1-6 is their song of deliverance.
God bless.
Pt 1
Ezekiel 36:26 reads, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"
You said,
"Israel failed with the Law of Moses and the tradition of their fathers. Only in Christ shall they reach that state"
Israel wasn't able to reach that state under the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law wasn't given for that purpose!
Ezekiel and Jeremiah states that God was going to do something NEW!
Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Ezekiel 11:19-20.
Ezekiel 36:26-27.
The Spirit within represents a NEW birth. The Law and the Prophet's taught this
Jesus counseled Nicodemus on this in
John 3:5-10.
Nicodemus was expected to Know this being that he was a Teacher of Israel.
The interpretation of the sticks is in passage. Ezekiel 37:16-21.
The two sticks represent the southern and the Northern Kingdom as mentioned.
Also, they will be gathered from every side and brought back into their own land.
Let's take Ezekiel 36 and Ezekiel 37 and put them in its proper context.
There's mention of a new heart and new spirit.
The dry bones.
The two sticks.
Their gathering.
and their own Land.
Ezekiel is writing during the captivity of Babylon but his writings extends past the captivity on into the latter days as do Daniel and Jeremiah.
Judgment of Israel is of a much broader scope than the Babylonian captivity.
We find that in Deuteronomy 28:37 ,64-68.
It's important to note that this dispersion is global, Not Babylon.
Also the gathering Ezekiel is talking about is global and exceeds Babylon.
This is a second gathering! Isaiah 11:9-12.
Isaiah 43:5-6.
When you read this you'll see that it has never happened.
They still have a heart of stone.
Some look at Israel today and say this must be the Church but "in those days" there is more to consider here than just the New heart concerning this prophecy.
look at the previous verses. Isaiah 11:6-9.
See pt 2.
I have followed you and others on this great discussion!
Thanks for giving your understanding.
You stated the "beginning" in John 1:1-10 refers to Christ earthly ministry.
I believe we should ask ourselves "What was Christ role in those 3 years?
We know that Jesus's death brought in the new covenant that was Prophesied to come in the OT, ( Jeremiah 31:31) "also other verses". but what was his ministry or Role during those 3 years?
During Jesus 3-year ministry he sought out the ( lost sheep of Israel ).
John is identifying Jesus as "the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And as the "true Light, which lighteth (every man) that cometh into the world". Here John is not talking about Jesus earthly ministry, the lost sheep of Israel or his role.
JESUS ROLE AND THE ENDING OF THE OLD COVENANT IS ANOTHER TOPIC, BUT I BELIEVE THE 3 YEAR MINISTRY WAS ENDING THE OLD COVENANT AND HIS DEATH WAS THE BEGINING OF THE NEW COVENANT.
Jesus as savior was announced in Genesis 3:15.
In John 5:39 Jesus said "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Jesus's ministry as savior was performed in the Old Testament in types, JOHN IS NOT ADDRESSING THE BEGINNING OF NEITHER OF THOSE.
I would like to highlight something in John 1:1-10.
We see Jesus as the word, as God, as life, as light and as the "creator in verse 10",
Jesus is called the light, and that light didn't begin at Christ earthly ministry according to verse 9
This light is also mentioned in 1 John 1:1-7. God is also referenced as that light!
We see the Trinity in the light as the Father and the light as the Son as the same in these passages.
You have the father the son and the Holy Spirit exhibited in John 1:1-10 and 1 John 1:1-7.
God bless.
The act of intercession; therefore is something crucial to communication throughout scripture that indeed gives us some insight of Hebrews 7:25 (He ever lives to intercede for us). Daniel also repeated this theme in Daniel 9:8-10. God's promise here was the prophetic insight given in Jeremiah 29:10. God stated this would happen; so it appears to be a done deal. There was no promise how many would do this; as is evident from the small group that initially rebuilt the wall; and the disobedience of many was seen with marriages to foreign wives. No doubt worldliness had affected the hearts of those who should have remembered the prosperity God gave them in Babylon and His promises to return after that time. It is a wonder that confession of the sins of church congregations isn't given much attention as compared to particulary egregious ones of individuals as it still affects the overall witness as we see from exhortations written for the churches in Revelation 2 and 3; for example.
Look at God's faithfulness to Israel as stated in Jeremiah 31:36 where the courses of nature would have to change with the sun and moon for God to abandon His covenant promises. In fact the only covenant changed is that related to the method of worship with the law and sacrifices which was of course replaced by the perfect sacrifice under Christ which abolished therefore the old ordinances. (see Hebrews 9-10). The object of worship was therefore Christ; God had stated in Isaiah 1:11; see also Psalm 69:31.
In understanding the New Covenant we should perceive that it is still the same God with the same characteristics today that existed in the Old Testament from eternity. We would on the surface expect that to be a "no brainer"; but how often do we see the fear of God demonstrated as in Acts 5:1-11 with Ananias and Sapphira? Our commitments to God should not be of fools ( Ecclesiastes 5:4). See Matthew 5:33-35 for ungodly vows.
Man in his natural state loves darkness.
Beware of anyone that teaches that sin is good!
Also Beware of the snare that God saves you by his Love and compromise his righteous Judgment.
"God so loved the world, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
(( God didn't excuse our sin, It cost him dearly!
Christ was judged!! He wasn't let off the hook! He prayed 3 times to let this cup pass him!
If it was any other way, God didn't answer him.))
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Read and Study John 3:17-21. and John 16:7-14.
We've been baptized into a body of believers and led and sealed by one Spirit. And that's Christ.
Israel in the OT shows the weakness of man left alone and the absence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. and it is a lesson for you and I.
Judges 2:8-13.
And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
That's why Jeremiah 31:31-34 is Prophesied.
God bless.
God uses marriage to communicate Christ commitment and relationships to us as seen in
Ephesians 5:23-32.
See verse 32.
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, AND SHALL BE JOINED UNTO HIS WIFE, AND THEY TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH.
(Verse 32)
THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY: "BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.
Praise the Lord that we have a God that is faithful and keeps his promises.
There is one God of all and he is the God of Israel "The fish fruit " also in who he made Promises to also!
Here's one of many.
Jeremiah 31:35-36.
"Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
I am doing well, I hope you are doing well also.
God bless.
I haven't forgotten you in Christ
Jeremiah 31:3
Thank you. I'm sorry that you feel that I berate. I get why you might think that I berate, but Truly it's done in LOVE. What I'm Professing is The Truth, you see, everyone is missing The Message! I'm NOT speaking against the holy bible, I'm rebuking Any declarations that a book is God! God is SO MUCH MORE! A book doesn't "bring" anyone closer to God, and you wonder HOW God reveals Himself to people, Romans 2:13-16. And here is The Prophecy from which it came Jeremiah 31:31-34. You think I call the holy bible frivolous? I call the holy bible holy, just, and good. But, I will never call the holy bible God. Everyone is so incensed that their anger is causing them to sin.
Jema, you ask for a Revelation to "prove" that God has sent me with His Message. Well, Christ was asked the same, Luke 11:29-30; so, what is The Sign of Jonah? Jonah hated the Ninevites, so the Ninevites had No reason to listen to Jonah because Jonah made his distaste obvious. The sign of Jonah is God sending a man who is disliked and even hated to people, who dislike and hate him, to declare their destruction. Why? For if the people "Listen" to their hatred then they will not hear God in the message, but if the people "put away" their hatred they may avoid Destruction.
Jema, you ask me to imagine how quarrelsome we would be without the Bible, very quarrelsome indeed; but, I ask you to imagine how MUCH Faith we would have as a consequence. You see, if everyone yells for you to go left, but God's Holy Spirit directs you right, And you obey God, my God, The Wonders we would witness!
Jema, you ask why the people killed Christ. I tell you, it wasn't because they didn't know He was the Messiah! John 3:1-3 the Pharisees killed Christ because He came to take away their power as priests of God; they were necessary to the people because if a person wanted to seek God, they had to go to them. God "did away with this by making All people a holy nation and priests! Put away anger and Listen!
Yes, I gave a different view by asking a question. Sometimes, a question "tills the field" better than a statement because it gives the reader a chance to come to the conclusion on their own. You see, perspective is key to understanding, and it's perspective that allows us to "see" the another's eyes and understand! Now, concerning the serpent in The Garden; God said Do Not, and the serpent asked "why not"? The serpent did what "the flesh" (sarx) always does, tempt! I'm sure doubt is a part of this, yet I ask is God really ALMIGHTY? Because if He is, and He TRULY is, then "the fall" of man was always The Plan of God from The Beginning! I'll put it more clearly, the fall of mankind was Always supposed to happen. It is either, accept this truth, or believe that satan is at least as Powerful as God. How else did satan get into The Garden and have access to Adam & Eve? God allowed it.
Furthermore, it saddens me to think that you can't tell the difference between The Word Of God (The Holy Spirit), and the holy bible. You see the holy bible is holy, just, and good BUT it is a created thing and God is The Creator of the thing! We are Commanded to Worship The Creator NOT the created! Romans 1:20-25 It is for this transgression that our understanding is darkened. For The Word does and will Endure Forever, somehow I Understand that The Word is God and not a book made of paper and ink! Why else does God place His Law in our inward parts (heart) Jeremiah 31:33-34 Again, The True Gospel is NOT from a book, It is from The Holy Spirit of God.
I am with God sir, and where ever I am it is where God put me! What irks me the most is that I have to speak against a book not because of any ill will for I LOVE the holy bible, I speak against a book because people can't tell the difference from a book and God ALMIGHTY! God is Spirit and we are HIS tabernacles.
We can also look at Jeremiah 31:31-33, "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers....After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." And this Scripture is referred to in Hebrews 8:6-13.
There was nothing wrong with the words of the old Law; it simply pointed to their inability to keep it & to the coming Messiah Who could keep it perfectly thus fulfilling it - and through His Death & Resurrection, ushered in God's New Covenant "making the first old - ready to vanish away". And vanish it did, through the Blood of this Everlasting Covenant. Maybe, we should focus our thoughts on how the Holy Spirit given to us, enables us to obey ALL of God's Commandments, not by the letter, but in very specific guidance & provokings in our hearts, as the child of God allows the Spirit to fill his life completely. When we do trust in the Holy Spirit to do this, then there would be no need for recourse to the Law that only brought death.
I agree 100% what you have said that OT Israel knew nothing of a coming Messiah's Sacrifice of His Life for them & substitutionary payment. Hence, the word 'Gospel' mentioned in Hebrews 4 is not the same Gospel they received as is the complete Gospel that the Apostles preached post-Cross. (Perhaps not in the way it is preached in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
I believe the OT saints did what was required of them at that time to make them just with God. Their temporal rituals and sacrifices exemplified the Gospel and perhaps the resurrection was preached by "type" when Issac was offered as a sacrifice by Abraham. Hebrews 11:17-19.
However, could they have perceived it, being that Jeremiah 31:31-34 have not taken place yet?
When we study Hebrews in its entirety, we know that this new covenant was not to come under the Levitical covenant. This is clearly seen in Hebrews Ch 7 and 8.
So, when we look back at this, Israel mind was blinded and there was a veil upon their hearts, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16. "But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when "it" shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (The "it" mentioned here is their hearts.)
When Israel turns their hearts to God the veil and the blindness shall be taken away.
This is what Paul is saying in Romans 11.
Israel was incapable of receiving the revelation of the Gospel under the Levitical High Priest and if you study the Gospels carefully, neither could the Apostles until the death of the one that filled the role of the Levitical Priesthood at the Cross.
(I believe this is what John's baptism was all about)
The resurrection began the new covenant under the new Priest hood. ( Hebrews 7:15-16.)
Now Christ faith in them will give them rest.
Thats future for them as a Nation
Part 5.
Millennium Paradoxes
As an example of some of the ostensible paradoxes of the Millennium is the strange question of death. Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a dear friend and highly respected Messianic scholar, suggests that death in the Millennium will be for unbelievers only. Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of a resurrection of Millennial saints. This may be why the resurrection of the tribulation saints is said to complete the "first resurrection" ( Rev 20:4-6).
From the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34, it would seem that there will be no Jewish unbelievers in the kingdom; all Jews born during the Millennium will accept the Messiah before their 100th year.6 Unbelief would thus be among the Gentiles only, and therefore, death would exist only among the Gentiles.7 [ Jer 31:35-37 refutes "Reconstructionism" and similar heresies.] Another strange issue is the prominence of sacrifices in the Millennium. It would seem that they are memorials after the fact, just as the sacrifices in the Old Testament were memorials in advance.8
A Time to Study
As recent events have so dramatically emphasized to all of us, it is, indeed, a time to reexamine our perspectives, and to acknowledge in our personal priorities that history includes some shocking "non-linearities": even our most cherished presumptions are subject to cataclysmic challenges! It is time to refresh our understanding from the bedrock of Scripture and to recognize the urgency of the times. I believe we are rapidly being plunged into a period of time about which the Bible says more than it does about any other period of time in history - including the time that Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea!
Interesting study by the late Chuck Missler.
God bless.
Gigi
You stated, "The promise of the physical land to Abraham and the Israelites was a shadow pointing to the heavenly land of promise, the New heavens and new earth.
The Kingdom here on earth is ushered in after the tribulation. It's an everlasting Kingdom with Satan being chained 1000 years, After Satan is released there will be a final rebellion and the inhabitants/Earth dwellers will war against God!
Gigi, if the New heavens and new earth is the Millenium, Are you saying that war is in heaven? The new Jerusalem doesn't come down until after Judgment, and then a new heaven and new earth!
It's has been a lot of jumping around on this topic by you.
I've seen several view changes on this topic, from the kingdom is in heaven, The kingdom is on earth, It's in your heart ect.
David.
Let's go over my post you replied to, Here's the context: Me- He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
Jeremiah 31:10
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off)
HE WANTS THE NATIONS TO SEE IT AND DECLARE IT AFAR OFF! THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE HERE ON EARTH.
The basis of your reply.
God speaks in Parables.
When God uses the term "Israel" or "Judah" or "Jerusalem" He can be talking about the corporate body (National Israel or the New Testament Church) or ALL True Believers (the Elect of God.
David when God is talking about bring a people back to their own Land, he's talking about a people that had one and was removed out of it.
See Part 3.
I concur with Brother Chris.
God is going to give Israel a heart of flesh.
He's going to restore them right here on earth and fulfil the promises to Abraham.
Jeremiah 23:5-6.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice IN THE EARTH.
In his days JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And God wants the world to see it!!
Jeremiah 31:10.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
He does this for his name sake!
Ezekiel 36:22-27.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land... ( This will be done on earth! There's no heathens in heaven! )
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
God bless.
The chapters 30 to 33 in Jeremiah are God's Words to His people (Israel & Judah) giving them His Promise & certain hope for their future restoration back to their lands. Some consider these chapters as applying to their recovery from the Assyrian & Babylonian captivity (in which they were in at the time), but verses such as Jeremiah 30:3,7,10,11 & others seem to indicate that all of Israel will return to their land of promise, & not just the 'few' who came out of the present captivity. The mention of the 'terrible day, none ever like it, even the time of Jacob's trouble, but Israel will come out of it', indicates that there is still salvation & hope for Israel even after going through the coming time of Great Tribulation.
Then chapter 31 continues this theme of restoration for Israel; with verses 1 to 22 concerning the Northern Kingdom (Israel); verses 23 to 26 the Southern Kingdom (Judah); and verses 27 to 40 to both Kingdoms.
So to Jeremiah 31:23-34 (your passage), the message is first to Judah & then God establishes His New Covenant with both houses (from verse 27). To Judah, God tells them that they will know His blessing on Jerusalem (Mt. Zion) where justice & holiness abounds (v23); & the people will thrive in food production (vv24,25). And so to, the New Covenant which still awaits enforcement, vv27-34 and other verses beyond, gives God's Assurance that both man & animals will abound, that He will prosper them & not afflict & destroy them as before, & they will realize that each one is accountable & punishable for their own sins & not blame their fathers (the meaning of verses 29 & 30). That future day, Israel will have God's Laws written upon their hearts (v33), i.e. they will be changed inwardly & not just giving lip-service as previously and all will truly know intimately their God & not a conditional-based Covenant of the old Mosaic Law. Hope that gives you an adequate outline.
When asked that question in Scripture it seems God answers back with one of his many names. like he does when Paul asks in Acts 9:5.
Paul asked Who art thou, Lord? "kurios" (supreme in authority that is (as noun) controller; by implication Mr . (as a respectful title): - God Lord master Sir.)
The Lord answered him simply, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
There are several names for the one and only true God.
Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of God in the Bible:
I've looked up some of those names; Here they are.
Part 1.
EL, ELOAH [el, el-oh-ah]: God "mighty, strong, prominent" ( Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) - etymologically, El appears to mean "power" and "might" ( Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity ( Numbers 23:19), jealousy ( Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion ( Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of "might" remains.
ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God "Creator, Mighty and Strong" ( Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) - the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible's first sentence, the superlative nature of God's power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence ( Genesis 1:1).
EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy]: "God Almighty," "The Mighty One of Jacob" ( Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) - speaks to God's ultimate power over all.
ADONAI [dna; ah-daw-nahy]: "Lord" ( Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) - used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God's dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.
See Part 2.
"you don't know why I would bring up this matter, as it pertains to our discussion. When in Truth, it reaches to the very heart of it.
Going to the letter, in Hebrew or Greek etc; as you quoted & spoke from, comes from the traditions & teaching of man, the wisdom that's from below, earthy, which makes Mark 7:13, which sprang up in the Apostasy. Isa 55:8,9;
Whereas coming to the Spirit, our Teacher; The Word Rom 10:8; that comes Rom 10:17; within us, produces the fruit, the Word intended Isa 55;11; Isa 14:27;
Bringing this part of the conversation to a conclusion, by giving "the cause & effect of the learning from the letter, verses being taught by God Himself.
1Cor 2:10 which is freely & lavishly given unto us in Christ. Col 2:2,3; Proverbs 8:14;
You said; you don't subscribe to this type of application of sanctification ; citing verses with the word meaning; its plain to me that your faith is coming from books, & not our Teacher; who is Hebrews 12:2. Your trying to understand spiritual things by carnal means, Thus this faith you have is 2Timothy 3:7 Meaning; it will never bring one to the experiential knowledge of God; in Spirit & in Truth. Matt 11:27; For God is a Spirit & only by His Spirit is He manifested & known.
Jeremiah 31:33,34; New Covenant, he's prophesying, not that he partook of it, 1Peter 1:10; & yet he was cleansed & holy under the gospel of his dispensation 2 Peter 1:21; as many were Luke 1:5,6;
Again; what God requires of us, is to walk upright in the knowledge that He has given us.
Thank you for your kind apology, no offense taken, just a misunderstanding. Believe me, in this slow progressive work of sanctification, I've have had many misunderstanding & faltering, receiving His reproofs & admonishments, I've learnt Daniel 4:37; I love the way He gets to me. He always "hit the nail on the head" so to speak,& why? Daniel 2:22, Psalms 36:9;
you have experience Him in Spirit, Chris (in the car)
in Love & Truth
Frankie J
......There was a Child involved in the O.C which was Isaac whom they refered to as the Child of Promise.....But under this new Covenant the Child is a heavenly Child the H.G.....Which is the Child of Promise.....1 Cor.15:49.....As we have borne the image of the earthly we must also bear the image of the heavenly which is the H.G. the child of Promise.....Whosoever receiveth one such Child in my name receiveth me....Thus the need for the sower and his precious seed to be sown in our hearts.....Initiating a heavenly Birth....Thats y he has to know us.....That his good seed the living word might be sown in our hearts resulting in a spritual pregnancy which is FAITH ....The substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.....Which is the Child of Promise.....The H.G. as that which is born of the spirit is spirit the H.G.....Our new heart and new spirit that new Creature.... Rev. 12 :10...Plz note the Kingdom nor any Salvation comes till the woman gives birth.....Our new birth our good fruit ....Unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in.....Under the O.C. there was a nation of Israel and under the N.C. Comes another Israel they are HEAVENLY..The H.G. AN Israel of God..GB
Even in Jeremiah 31:33,34, God hasn't cleansed them yet & "remembered their sin no more". That is still future Israel turns to the Lord & the sins of the past are indeed forgiven & forgotten, as He graciously deals with us today.
For the greater part of your pages 2 & 3, I'm unsure why you presented that with what we're discussing, so unsure how to deal with it. Was it primarily about considering what the original languages & their meanings/applications are to the Scriptures? That is, going deep into the Word or hearing from the Spirit?
And yes, Romans 14:23 is a great definition of what sin is, which of course would need examination to learn how the working of one's faith in relation to sin brings about either victory or defeat. And I would add, it is both the working of faith & of the Spirit that the believer engages with when confronted with sin; without the Spirit's Power defeat is certain. GBU
OT promises, Isa 54:13 Jeremiah 31:33-34; confirmed in NT, Hebrews 8: 10,11,12; why is it that God doesn't remember their sins? Because He has cleanse them of all unrighteousness & has endue them with His Spirit & they sin no more. Jeremiah 32:39-41; The cause & effect of God teaching us Himself, & that by His Spirit John 14:13,14,15; with all His Heart & all His Soul; says the LORD, Selah.
Consider; it was not until the 14th or 15th century that these things became widely available, & then it was only to the learned & privilege. The Apostasy that the Apostles spoke of was already at work in their day & came into full maturity with the Roman Catholic's Rev17:2 for then the world was Rome. Daniel 2:40
Who taught Moses, etc; even Jesus John 7:15; the disciples etc; one educated, Paul & he Philippians 3:7,8,9,10; he relied on Philippians 1:19; What about all the people in time that didn't get a chance to learn how to read or were in the remote regions of the earth were the Scriptures were unavailable? Or hear the Good New being preach in the power of the Holy Ghost? His words are, "from the least to the greatest". His Spirit is able to reach them to the uttermost, even the blind, deaf, dumb-mentally, etc; Jeremiah 32:27;
Chris, everyone; consider these things. God is just, He's not going to condemn someone for something they did not know. Rom 1:17, which comes by Rom 10:17; which is in Rom 10:8; continue Rom 1:19; & that by His 1Cor 2:10; He's that Light that admonish you in the car, follow Him & He will lead ALL that do to the Father. He's the Treasure 2Cor 4:7 that's opens our understanding to the knowledge & the glory of God, it's the face of Jesus Christ.
You ask what define as sin? Rom 14:23;
In Love & Truth
Frankie J
Here are my comments on the scripture you presented.
Jeremiah 31:33: God will put his Laws in our heart and minds. These would be the same 10 Commandments/Laws as well as the additional emphasis on those commands that Jesus added along with the additional Love your nieghbor command. John 13:34
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
Ecclesiastes 12:13: I think we agree for the most part that Gentiles have in fact received God's laws by by accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and becoming heirs of Abraham, and not only the original 10 but also the additional more comprehensive laws as discussed and clarified by Christ.
Mark 2:27: Yes, Jesus was talking to the Jews/Pharisees about the Sabbath, but now that we are Heirs of Abraham these laws also apply to us. I know we differ on this, but this is my belief based on scripture. Jesus was also talking to the Jews about the Gospel of the Kingdom but then gave it to the rest of the world, so all that believe become the heirs of Abraham/Israel.
And Revelation chapter 22: I agree that this Chapter is Jesus speaking to John, but I believe that Jesus is speaking of all the Commandments including His, and His Fathers - not just Jesus commandments that you referred. Also, hoping we both agree that Jesus is God and so then when Jesus states commandments - He is referring to all Commandments. I also do agree it is His Spirit that promotes us to willfully follow His commandments.
Regarding Romans 8:1-4 I'll reiterate the same comments I made to Giannis above. I agree that if we are Saved/Reborn Christians living our lives in conjunction with God's Holy Sprit that indeed is sufficient to receive salvation per the scripture. Very important: If, we are living by the Sprit we will be embracing God's/Jesus Commandments as the Spirit will certainly be directing us to do so, via God writing His laws in our body and mind.
GBU
Jeremiah 31:33: this is a new covenant with Israel that the LORD makes, where His Commandments are no longer on a tablet of stone but His Laws written upon their hearts. How does the LORD do this? Is it the same Ten Commandments now impressed deeply in their hearts or by the aid of the Spirit, enabling Israel to know ALL of His Commandments & have the power to obey them, which they didn't have before & with their eyes darkened? Romans 11:7-11.
Ecclesiastes 12:13: the Preacher writes about fearing God & keeping His Commandments. "Man" here must apply to Israel, since the Gentiles had never received any of God's Laws. But when the Gentiles did receive Christ (post Crucifixion/Ascension), learned of His Laws & subsequently received His Spirit, then yes, to fear God & keep His Commandments meant all of God's Commandments which included far more than the Ten: 'the Law of (from) the Spirit'; that 'which frees man from the Law of sin & death' (the Ten Commandments).
Mark 2:27: I see here that Jesus was talking with some Pharisees about the Sabbath. The Sabbath Day was given only to Israel, which has to be the 'man' spoken of. The Sabbath was never given to the Gentiles (Romans, Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians) who were living there at that time; at least we're not told whether they were required to observe the Sabbath Day when it came around.
And Revelation chapter 22: this whole chapter is about Jesus' Words with John. So 'his commandments' must refer to Jesus' Commandments & hence the right to the tree of life. Thus His Spirit gives us all we need to know & obey; it is by Christ's Blood & obedience to His Spirit that we 'gain entrance into the city', never by the Decalogue.
As well, I wrote a little to you on Romans 8:1-4, asking for your comment, if you so wish, as this passage is critical to understanding the Church's position with the Law. GBU