Randy Kluth said: "You may not have spent enough time in the Scriptures? What I said, whether you agree or not, should be understood as based on one view of Scriptures, if you are a veteran Bible student."
Do we have to go there? Do I now have to give my credentials? I have done nothing except present Scripture in context. Something I was taught before I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Grace Theological Seminary in 1988. I have been studying the Bible indepth for over 50 years. If we are going to disagree, please let's do so with the Word of God. I take great pains to study verses IN CONTEXT, Randy. That takes a good deal of time. Not only do I look at a verse in CONTEXT, I look at the entire book that way--who wrote, to whom did he write, why did write, when did he write it, etc. THEN I study the chapter before and the chapter after to attempt to ascetain the theme and purpose of it all. Can we please do that?
What do the Scriptures say about TRUE Israel, Randy? Did not Paul clearly state that one is a Jew who is one INWARDLY and the neither circumcision nor uncircumcision have any worth? Boasting in the cross of Christ is the point. (Romans 2:28; Galatians 6:16). Did not Paul states that there is no more Jew or Greek? Has Christ not broken down "the wall of partition" between the two?
Instead of continuing to banter back and forth with opinions, let's look at actual words of Scripture--in CONTEXT.
Ephesians 2:11-21
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to nthe covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, WHO HAS MADE BOTH ONE and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by ABOLISHING THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS EXPRESSED IN ORDINANCES, that he might create in himself ONE NEW MAN IN PLACE OF THE TWO, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in ONE BODY through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, 20 built on the FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the WHOLE STRUCTURE, being JOINED TOGETHER, grows into a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord.
THAT is the Israel of God--the "nation" of God--made up of believers from ALL nations of the world. There is no national Israel and no need for a national Israel. ALL promises are fulfilled in the Church, founded upon apostles and prophets--Christ being the cornerstone.
Do we have to go there? Do I now have to give my credentials? I have done nothing except present Scripture in context. Something I was taught before I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Grace Theological Seminary in 1988. I have been studying the Bible indepth for over 50 years. If we are going to disagree, please let's do so with the Word of God. I take great pains to study verses IN CONTEXT, Randy. That takes a good deal of time. Not only do I look at a verse in CONTEXT, I look at the entire book that way--who wrote, to whom did he write, why did write, when did he write it, etc. THEN I study the chapter before and the chapter after to attempt to ascetain the theme and purpose of it all. Can we please do that?
What do the Scriptures say about TRUE Israel, Randy? Did not Paul clearly state that one is a Jew who is one INWARDLY and the neither circumcision nor uncircumcision have any worth? Boasting in the cross of Christ is the point. (Romans 2:28; Galatians 6:16). Did not Paul states that there is no more Jew or Greek? Has Christ not broken down "the wall of partition" between the two?
Instead of continuing to banter back and forth with opinions, let's look at actual words of Scripture--in CONTEXT.
Ephesians 2:11-21
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to nthe covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, WHO HAS MADE BOTH ONE and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by ABOLISHING THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS EXPRESSED IN ORDINANCES, that he might create in himself ONE NEW MAN IN PLACE OF THE TWO, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in ONE BODY through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, 20 built on the FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the WHOLE STRUCTURE, being JOINED TOGETHER, grows into a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord.
THAT is the Israel of God--the "nation" of God--made up of believers from ALL nations of the world. There is no national Israel and no need for a national Israel. ALL promises are fulfilled in the Church, founded upon apostles and prophets--Christ being the cornerstone.
