Philip James
Well-Known Member
Hello @Philip James,
Thank you for responding. I asked you for Scriptural confirmation of what you had said in your response to me in reply#15 (quote)
* The verses you have given which you believe confirm that the Lord has wed His people Israel are:- John 3:29 and Ephesians 5:32-33. However, with respect to you, neither of these Scriptures tell me that the Lord has wed His people 'Israel'. In fact, Israel as a nation is at present in a Lo-ammi condition ('Not My People') so is not at present united to the Lord, being in a state of unbelief.
Hello charity,
It seems like you are indentifying Israel only with those who rejected Jesus. But what does Paul say on the matter...
Rom 9:8
This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
Rom 11: 1-5
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Of course not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life."
But what is God's response to him? "I have left for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt to Baal."
So also at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
It is this remnant who accept Jesus, that enter into the new covenant with Him. And it is these Israelites, who welcome the gentiles into that union.
* Also the reference from Ephesians uses the figure of marriage to describe the union between Christ and His Church, which is one of Oneness. I can't therefore accept these references as proof texts of what you are saying.
Indeed, we are untied to Christ, as a bride is united with her Husband. This is clearly what Paul is pointing out.. and yes, the bride and Her Groom are One!
Now John 3:29 identifies John as the best man and Jesus as the bridegroom, so there IS a wedding going on... who is the bride?
Matthew 9:15
Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."
Here again we see that a wedding is going on.. who is the bride?
* Re. the cup of the last supper: 'Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.' (Luke 22:20) This was said by the Lord to His disciples at the keeping of the Passover Feast. They were men of Israel, for whom this feast was obligatory. As men of Israel they would understand what the Lord was referring to, for the prophets had spoken concerning the New Covenant which God would make with His People Israel (Jeremiah 31:31), for which the Lord would be the Mediator (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15 & Hebrews 12:24).
As you point out here it is indeed 'men of Israel' to whom Jesus says 'this cup is the new covenant..'
And that same cup, that One loaf that was broken, continues to be faithfully shared and passed on from generation to generation...
And Peter makes it clear that the new covenant foretold by the prophets has been entered into here:
Acts 2:15-18
These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
'It will come to pass in the last days,' God says, 'that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.
Peace be with you!