I have gotten a little off track in the last couple of days because of the comments that have come in on my last post. I find this to be a great advantage because the original purpose of this blog was to challenge people in their biblical understanding.
I would ask that you read the comment section of my previous post before you finish reading this post.
Many times as believers in this "Age of Grace" (and I was guilty of this for years) we remember that the Old Testament was for the Jews (under the law) and we think of the New Testament (Matthew to Revelation) as intended for us. This has affected much of our church doctrine, and contributed to the plethora of denominational differences that are in existence today. Paul wrote a letter to the Romans almost two thousand years ago that I think we fail to heed. I am including an excerpt from that letter. I would encourage you to weigh in on what you think that Paul was trying to get across to those believers.
Romans 11:19 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25For 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. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
I know that many of you have heard messages on these verses over the years, but are they properly applied? What is Paul talking about here? Is he talking about one individual at a time, or is he talking about a group? How should these verses affect our study and application of the Bible? Let me put it this way, 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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
When the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, will the Bible then be outdated? If not, what part of the Bible will Israel turn to for instruction and doctrine? What part of the Bible are you currently using for doctrine? Let me warn you, if you begin to get a glimpse of what Paul is saying, you will no longer be able to read and study the Bible in a casual manner.
I will tie some of the ideas in this passage to the prophecy in Malachi as I write additional posts over the next several weeks. If you don't want to get lost, write in with your comments and questions. If I do not hear from people, you may get left behind because I will not know what to clarify.
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4 comments:
Somehow we think it's all about us ("Christians").
Somehow that doesn't come from the Bible itself.
Am I on the right track? ;)
You are on the right track. You know that. The difficulty will come in on the delineation of what is meant for us (or what is about us). Is it as clear cut as some would propose? Where would you draw the lines?
Do you believe that it is simply the epistles written by Paul? How do you decide where the line is?
The standard answer would be the OT and the NT.
The next person may say Matthew through Jude and leave off Revelation. Some would say Acts or Romans through Revelation. What are your thoughts and why is this even important?
I think you already know my answer. The easy answer is that Paul wrote to the Gentiles, and EVERYTHING else was written for the Jews.
The hard part is that Paul wrote to both. When Paul wrote to the Jews, he changed his wording to create more unity between the two gospels; and when the apostles learned of Paul's doctrine, they started changing their words to account for what Paul was revealing.
Neither of them clarify their specific audience every time, and they both use the same words for their target audiences. Paul even identifies himself with both groups.
Maybe it's ALL written for the Jews (past Jews under law, present Jews under grace, future Jews under Kingdom law) and we're just eavesdropping.
I'm going to say *some* of Paul's letters *apply* to us (at least in part).
It's important for these reasons:
1. It's humbling to see how lucky we are that we even get a chance to be saved - since we're not God's people or intended followers.
2. It's important because the means of our salvation is found by correctly dividing the word.
3. If we don't know God's (current) plan for us, we can't have effective churches.
4. We alienate God's people by (incorrectly) telling them that they don't know God and are going to hell.
5. We can't know God's role for our lives if we don't know how to find it in scripture.
6. Whole religions and denominations exist because people have been unable to see the distinction - probably causing millions to die unsaved thinking they are - and even more spend their entire life dedicated to a losing/God-less cause.
7. Hard-to-grasp scriptures/concepts make sense when you know why different parts say conflicting things. You no longer have to explain them away or alter their meanings to justify your beliefs.
8. It makes sermons a lot easier to listen to when they're not totally off-base.
Maybe I shoulda made that a top-ten list so that the last one could be #1 and the punch-line. I'm sure there are more.
Okay, you have forced a follow up post!
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