Restricting God to "part of the Church" is racist.
God does not restrict Himself to "part of the Church".
The Son of Man returns with and for his people
- Thread starter Randy Kluth
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God does not restrict Himself to "part of the Church".
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
Okay. But why divide the world population up into two groups, circumcised and uncircumcised? I understand the need to divide the work into manageable sizes, by why this division?
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
Have you ever played on a team? How does the referee treat the team, as individuals or as a team?
Suppose two teams are playing American football. The umpire witnesses a player commit "pass interference." Does the umpire penalize the player or the team? The Team. The penalty for pass interference is the loss of 15 yards. Even though a single individual was responsible, the entire team is penalized.
Suppose two countries make a peace treaty. Two ambassadors meet together to negotiate the terms of peace, and when the deal is done, the two heads of state shake hands and sign the agreement. From that moment forward, the two countries are at peace. The individuals involved weren't acting on their own accord. They were acting as representatives for their respective countries. Each country has agreed to not make war with the other one. If one soldier shoots a soldier from the other country, he has violated the treaty for the entire country, not merely for himself.
Do nations contain individuals? Yes. But the nation is an entity all to itself and is treated as such.
When God made a covenant with the Hebrews, he formed them into a nation, giving them laws and courts. The covenant was a national agreement between God and a people taken as a whole.
Consider, if God intended to treat the Hebrews individually, he would not need a temple service, a religion, or a prescribed culture. These things only make sense within the context of a national experience.
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
I made the point previously. If God was dealing with Israel as a unit, He would have slain the entire nation when one individual sinned. But He didn't.
He dealt with each individual, individually.
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
I don't see a problem.
Suppose I sent a letter to French Christians and in that letter, I mentioned things that are unique to the French. Does that mean that each and every Christian is French or does French stuff? No. How does that follow?
Likewise, Peter sent a letter to some Hebrews talking about stuff that is unique to Hebrews. Is Peter saying that all Christians are Hebrews? No. The Hebrew believers are part of the Body of Christ, just like all believers, but we don't all share the same culture, the same family line the same history with God. We just don't. To conclude that all Christians are Hebrews because Peter referred to some Christians using Hebraic terminology is mistaken.
To repeat:
Cite the Scripture in which Peter is describing only "part of the Church".
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
I told you why. Peter addresses his letter to the Diaspora. He mentions the fact that they were once "not a people", which is only true of the Northern Ten Tribes. His terminology is used exclusively in reference to the Hebrews everywhere else in the Bible.
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
CadyandZoe
Well-Known Member
Didn't you read? Peter refers to the Diaspora as "a chosen race?" What race is he talking about?
The Church. I've described the grammatical connection between "ye" in 1 Peter 2:5 and 1 Peter 2:9. "Ye" is the Church.
But unsurprisingly, you still don't get it, and probably never will.
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The Church is not the "Hebrew experience". It is the Christian Experience.
God is not a racist.
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I'm not sure where you are getting this from.
I'm pointing out to you what Jesus instructed those whom He sent out, and to whom He Himself was sent. If that, to you, is racist, that's you, not me.
I've been speaking of God maintaining a distinction between Israel and the gentile nations, you've called that racist, if I'm understanding you correctly.
I'm pointing to a place where Jesus affirms and is governed by this distinction beween Israel and the gentile nations.
I don't see anyone "restricting God to part of the church".
In Christ, by faith in Christ, we have access to God being, justified in Jesus' death, whether Jew or gentile. Just the same, the Bible shows God selecting Israel from among the other nations, and the Bible shows God maintaining that distinction, even to the end of the age, when Jesus returns, and beyond, into His kingdom.
Isaiah 59:20-21 KJV
20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Paul shows the NT application of this passage to Israel as contrasted to the Gentiles:
Romans 11:25-29 KJV
25) 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.
26) 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:
27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
29) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
And closing affirms that "the gifts and calling of God", that He doesn't regret, or have a change of heart. The word itself speaks of not having a concern after. God called this nation, and gave them a land.
Much love!
The gifts and the calling are terms associated exclusively with those who have put their faith in Christ. They have nothing to do with "nation" or "land".
Upon whom does God bestow His gifts?
Romans 12:6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
1 Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:28
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
God's gifts were not, and are not, bestowed upon those of Paul's countrymen who are enemies of the gospel.
They are bestowed exclusively upon God's Beloved Election, His Holy Chosen People: His Church.
To them, and to no others, His gifts are without repentance.
To whom is God's calling directed?
1 Corinthians 1:26
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1 Corinthians 7:20
Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
God's calling was not, and is not, directed to those of Paul's countrymen who are enemies of the gospel.
It is directed exclusively to God's Beloved Election, His Holy Chosen People: His Church.
To them, and to no others, His calling is without repentance.
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