I already pointed out Peter said we can learn from the revelation God gave to Israel, but it is still not addressed to us.
Not directly, but it is applicable to all Christians of all ages from his forward. If you don't think so, that's fine with me, as you are surely your own person, but terribly wrong.
Sorry, but I'm not descended from Isaac...
Perhaps you should read what Paul says in Romans 2 and Romans 9 again:
"For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God." (Romans 2:28-29)
"...not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 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 offspring." (Romans 9:6-8)
So, actually, Rich, if you are a Christian, you are descended from Abraham and like Isaac are a child of the promise and thus counted as offspring.
God wasn't talking to me.
Not directly, no, but if you put yourself in the shoes of those to whom His words were directly addressed to, there are timeless truths and promises that are to and for you as much as they were for them.
I can't imagine how confusing the scriptures must be to anyone who fails to discern the people to whom God wrote and when He wrote to them.
I agree. But I would add to that and say, if one does discern these things, but then disregards any connection to or relevancy for us even today, then... Well, perish the thought. As you must know, Rich, Jesus said all of Scripture was about Him. Every single word. Specifically in John 5:46. And, though we don't know the details, we can see it in what His conversation with the two men on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection; Luke tells us that "...beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, (Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." He is the Word made flesh.
Israel are the people descended from Isaac, a very distinct group.
You're talking about physical Israel. But God's Israel is a different group. Again, not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel... the children of the promise are counted as offspring. These are true Jews of God and include people of every tongue, tribe, and nation. Yet again, Paul says in Romans 11:25-26,
"...a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved..."
The church of God is composed of both Jews and Gentiles. The Church of God is a new creation composed of both Jew and Gentile.
Absolutely. This is God's Israel.
"We" means at least two people.
Absolutely, and it denotes togetherness and oneness, absolute unity.
John is a staple of Trinitarians.
LOL! Well, I hope his gospel is a staple to all Christians. It is in God's Word, after all. :) But John's purpose in writing his gospel was different than that of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. His chief purpose was to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ~ which you mention below, so I'll get to that, don't worry...:)
They do have to ignore a few verses. For example:
John 17:3,
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
No comment required when read as written
John 14:28,
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
One part of God is greater than another part? That's not in accord with the Athenasian Creed. Not even close! But the real kicker is that Trinitarians don't think John even knew what he was writing about.
John 20:31,
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Apparently, had John understood the truth, he would have said, "But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
Concerning John 17:3, no trinitarian ignores that verse in any way. As Paul tells us in Philippians 2, Jesus, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." So in that self-acquired state, He could certainly call the Father the only true God, even though, as Paul says, He was in the form of God. What is actually the case is that people of your persuasion apparently ignore what Jesus says basically in the same breath in John 17:5, when, after having said that He glorified the Father while on earth and accomplished the work the Father gave Him to do (17:4), He called on the Father to "glorify (Him; Christ Jesus) in (His; the Father's) own presence with the glory that (He; Jesus) had with (Him; the Father) before the world existed."
Concerning John 14:28, The Father is greater than the Son in the sense that the Father as the One Who sends and commands is "greater" in authority or leadership that the Son. This does not mean that Jesus is inferior in His being and essence to the Father, as John 1:1, 10:30, and 20:28 clearly show. This is a lesser example of course, but clearly makes the point: My earthly father is (was, as he died at a ripe old age a couple of years ago) greater than I in that sense, at least for a time, until I became a man myself and flew the coup, as they say. :) My father was never superior to me in being or essence, and I am not superior to my son.
Concerning John 20:31, I obviously, because I mentioned it above, don't ignore this verse (nor does any trinitarian). Rather, I understand it for what it truly means, that Jesus is God's Christ. 'Christ' is His title, signifying Jesus was sent by the Father to be a King and Deliverer. 'Jesus Christ' means 'Jesus the Messiah' or 'Jesus the Anointed One.' Jesus’ title of 'Christ' means He is God’s Anointed One, the One who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, the Chosen Savior who came to rescue sinners (
1 Timothy 1:15), and the King of kings Who is coming back again to set up His Kingdom on earth (
Zechariah 14:9). That Jesus is the Son of God means that He is of God, and that He is God, which Paul clearly says in Colossians 2:9, "In Him (Christ Jesus) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." Jesus also called Himself on several occasions the Son of Man. Since He is the Son of God and the Son of Man, It cannot be said that He is fully one and less than fully (let alone not at all) the other, as to do so is a glaring inconsistency and obviously in error.
Again, no trinitarian ignores those verses in any way. If there is any ignoring, it comes from folks of your persuasion, as we can see in all three explanations above.
Grace and peace to you.
