So we should disregard Romans chapter 11 then?
I think you all think I'm arguing with ya, but I'm not.
There is a day when the branches that were broken off due to unbelief shall be grafted in again.
There are other branches that will never be grafted in again.
But you can't discount the origen of Christianity which has it's foundation in Judaism, which has it's foundation in Christ.
The Apostles themselves were Jews and they were "converted" to Christianity, not the other way around.
It's cyclical... and intertwined.
Christ called out for himself a people. Israel. Israel failed in that it had no faith and lived in unbelief. Agnostic if you will.
When Christ came to earth, he called out 12 disciples that were jews. This is the remnant.
God blessed this remnant and told them to go out and multiply.
Those that opposed them called them Christians. So being considered a Christian which in their eyes is a slang, are our enemies for the gospel sake.
So that the gospel could be spread not only to the lost sheep, but other sheep abroad.
That be us, who are not of the jews. Or of jewish heritage by physical birth.
And through faith in Christ we are grafted into the tree of life.
Romans chapter 11 tells us that at some point God will graft the ones who come to have faith back in.
God knows how to keep and tend his garden better than I do.
He's the master of tree surgery. Just like circumcision of the heart. We can see the physical but we can't see the spiritual operation by which God does these things.
The difference with the Judeo/Christian isn't in their faith in Jesus Christ. It's that they still continue under the law of Moses.
They see these, like the Holy Days and the feasts as blessings. But they also recognize the finished work of Christ on the cross.
They just haven't crossed over yet.
I believe these are much different than the Zionists, in that Zionists don't believe in Christ at all.
So I'm not disagreeing, I'm just explaining how I see a difference in the branches.
Much Love
Hugs
God still has some among them as believers, some few did believe in Christ as will some yet to be born will believe in Christ.
Romans 11 is speaking to nations not individual people. The nation of Israel and the gentile nations broadly, not individually.
Refer to that hardness has come upon the jews, so the gospel went to the gentile nations and at the end after the fullness of the called gentiles believe, at the very end of the age, the gospel will go back to the jews.
Romans 10 clarifies also about the unbelieving jews and gentiles. And v20 is significant as to those who God calls, they find God as they were not seeking or asking for God, God did that.
And v16-17 also much significance as to why people believe.
And v18, The jews also heard the gospel, but did not believe in the gospel, this was of God's will, refer back to Romans 11. AND JOHN 12 that shows this was God's will, that they not believe in Christ. Notice, I highlighted this in purple, it is very important concept.
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John 12
These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
Who Has Believed Our Report?
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with
their eyes,
Lest they should understand with
their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
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Romans 10
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
“Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
“I will provoke you to jealousy by
those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”