What do you think was God`s Purpose in making - the Nations, Israel and the Body of Christ?
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Of course it is very significant, however it is just the means to the end purpose. This will come clear as I answer your questions.
Now I do appreciate your 2 questions. They show insight by you and interest in someone`s motive.
WHY I asked that question concerning the nations, Israel and the Body of Christ.
I posted that question on a few forums to find out what people think concerning God`s purposes. It is something others haven`t really thought of or mainly put down to salvation. As Eph. 4: 13 reveals that the Body is being brought to the maturity and knowledge of Jesus, (His character and His purposes) then I wanted to gauge a little as to how far we are in our understanding of those truths.
My answers to the question - `What do you think was God`s purpose in making the Nations, Israel and the Body of Christ?
I`ll start with God`s overall purpose and then where the different groups fit in. (It will only be a summary though.)
`God....having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times He might gather together all things in Christ, both of which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.` ()Eph. 1: 9 & 10)
I believe that it is the Father`s purpose to have His Son, Jesus as ruler over all His great kingdom. All things in heaven and earth under the Lord. They were made by Him and for Him. (Col. 1: 16) Thus in the New Heavens and New Earth we have all realms and all rulerships under Christ.
1. The Earth - the nations of those who are saved. (Rev. 21: 24)
2. Israel - 2 inheritances - as rulers over the nations on the earth. (1 Kings 2: 45)
Then as the `stars of heaven,` the Old Testament saints will be in the New Jerusalem over the earth. (Heb. 11: 16 Rev. 21: 2 & 24)
3. The Body of Christ - kingpriests with Christ on His throne in the third heaven. (Rev. 1: 6 3: 21)
Davy
Well-Known Member
Davy
Well-Known Member
We mustn't forget that in God's future Kingdom, Israel will be one-third in His Kingdom with Assyria and Egypt:
Isa 19:23-25
23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance."
KJV
Isa 19:23-25
23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance."
KJV
Here is why God created the nations. He did that after the great flood. Before that all people spoke the same language and were united, mostly against HIM.
He separated them into nations by also confusing their language among them. Because when united the fought against God. God had commanded them to spread across the whole earth, but they built a city and a tower. They got exactly what they feared, and they were still fighting against what God had told them to do. And then as the nations, they still fought against God. But they were spread all over the face of the earth as that is what God had commanded them to do. Of course they were forced. The will of God cannot be thwarted, if you try, then it will go hard for you, and yet still God will have His way over you
Romans 9
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”
20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Genesis 11
Now the whole earth had one language and one [a]speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and [b]bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called [c]Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
Matthew 12:25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Even so also kings of this world fought wars and forcibly distributed the people they defeated by various methods, slavery, deportations, death.
Genesis 10:25
To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
AMP
These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their descendants, by their nations; and from these [people] the nations were separated and spread abroad on the earth after the flood.
He separated them into nations by also confusing their language among them. Because when united the fought against God. God had commanded them to spread across the whole earth, but they built a city and a tower. They got exactly what they feared, and they were still fighting against what God had told them to do. And then as the nations, they still fought against God. But they were spread all over the face of the earth as that is what God had commanded them to do. Of course they were forced. The will of God cannot be thwarted, if you try, then it will go hard for you, and yet still God will have His way over you
Romans 9
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”
20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Genesis 11
Now the whole earth had one language and one [a]speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and [b]bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called [c]Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
Matthew 12:25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Even so also kings of this world fought wars and forcibly distributed the people they defeated by various methods, slavery, deportations, death.
Genesis 10:25
To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
AMP
These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their descendants, by their nations; and from these [people] the nations were separated and spread abroad on the earth after the flood.
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God created Israel as in intermediate step to lead the people to the One who was to come who would rule them all in genuine right standing with God, His Son, the Christ.
The old covenant was holy and good and the people were anything but holy and good, aren't they all!
It was a ministry of condemnation and death to the people as it was not of faith but works and performance of the LAW and they failed, they did not continue in His covenant and HE disregarded THEM.
Finding fault with them God established the NC in Christ, which is perfected, our relationship with God is now perfect and complete in Him.
The OC was our tutor to lead us to the NC in Christ.
The old covenant was holy and good and the people were anything but holy and good, aren't they all!
It was a ministry of condemnation and death to the people as it was not of faith but works and performance of the LAW and they failed, they did not continue in His covenant and HE disregarded THEM.
Finding fault with them God established the NC in Christ, which is perfected, our relationship with God is now perfect and complete in Him.
The OC was our tutor to lead us to the NC in Christ.
By the way, the covenant God made with Abraham was not the OC law of Moses. Abraham's covenant was by faith, He believed God and God declared Abraham righteous, the righteousness by faith is in our NC today, Paul said Abraham was the father of us all.
Under the Law of Moses, no one was justified by the LAW. They were all justified by faith, when and if they were justified at all. With many of them God was not pleased, and he judged them and killed them off and diminished them in various ways through wars, captivities, famines and sicknesses, they were under the curse of God as they were not of faith but of works.
Romans 9
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law [a]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [b]by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
Galatians 2:16
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Under the Law of Moses, no one was justified by the LAW. They were all justified by faith, when and if they were justified at all. With many of them God was not pleased, and he judged them and killed them off and diminished them in various ways through wars, captivities, famines and sicknesses, they were under the curse of God as they were not of faith but of works.
Romans 9
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law [a]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [b]by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
Galatians 2:16
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [f]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our [g]tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [d]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Changeless Promise
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God [e]in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [f]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our [g]tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
1. To scatter and keep the people from coming together again as one from the tower of Babel.
2. To show His mercy and grace to a most rebellious nation.
3. to gather gentiles and Jew into one body for a bride for the Lord Jesus.
Hi Ronald,
1. The nations were actually formed by Noah and his sons. (Gen. 10: 32. It was the different languages that you are referring to.
2. Yes, God`s mercy and grace to rebellious Israel some of whom will rule the nations of the world as promised. (1 Kings 2: 2: 45)
3. Yes, to gather the Gentiles and Jews to be the New Man. (Eph. 2: 15) (Israel is the wife, the bride. Isa. 54: 5 & 6)
ewq1938
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Hi ewq,
That is an interesting view. Is this what you mean?
1. Wide angle - The nations are from the beginning to the end.
2. Selected shot - Israel was made by God and was called out of the nations, specifically.
3. Extreme zoom - The Body of Christ is a spiritual organism and thus difficult to see.
ewq1938
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I meant it as an analogy to photography.
Creating the nations is all of humanity, then He focused upon one section, Israel, and then even more focused to the body/bride of Christ.
Ronald Nolette
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but Gen. 10:32 shows how the families were divided at Babel. they were not divided until then.
Genesis 11
King James Version
11 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
this shows the historic event. Gen 10 shows the family lineages that were scattered at Babel.
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