DAY 28 JANUARY 2014 Theme: A FOREIGNER WHO HAS JOINED THE LORDS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT SAY, THE LORD WILL NOT LET ME WORSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE; A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CASTRATED SHOULD NEVER THINK THAT BECAUSE HE CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN, HE CAN NEVER BE PART OF GODS PEOPLE. Text: ISAIAH 56:3-8 GNB. In the Old Covenant, a foreigner could be counted among Gods people only if the Jewish rite of initiation [the Circumcision ritual] was performed on him. To become one of Gods people [a Believer at that], he literally became a Jew; the membership code was that strict. [GENESIS 17:11-14, 20-21, 23-27; 21:1-4. EXODUS 12:43-48]. Even at that, a foreigner of certain nationality was permanent barred from membership of the LORDs community for as long as the old covenant and the old nation lasted. [DEUTERONOMY 23:3-6]. There were wounds to heal between the nations [by Gods one saving act, not by the mere wishful political acts of men and women] and the time had not yet come by reason of the Law that held them bound [not in Gods divine wisdom and prerogative of Mercy], so the barriers stood high up like centuries-old walls. Then, in the words of Moses, the man that gave the commandment while he yet reigned as Gods prophet to Israel, No man who has been castrated or whose penis has been cut off may be included among the LORDs people. No one born out of wedlock or any descendant of such a person, even in the tenth generation, may be included among the LORDs people. [DEUTERONOMY 23:1-2 GNB]. In this case, it is not only the foreigner but also the native-born Jew who is condemned by the sentence of the Law that excludes particular people and persons from the LORDs community not so much for sins committed but for defects and conditions that dont particularly serve the purpose of God and uphold His community! Who benefits from defects and conditions like that, and theres neither alternative nor remedy in place at the time? Its a new revelation then that Yahweh gives and people everywhere, Jews and Gentiles alike, had better gotten it line for line and in its very spirit [in its active power and the understanding it really holds]. A Jew, for instance, who doesnt get the new revelation [with its new understanding and new power] is only an old person [an old genius at best] who stays behind God in Gods past and crosses not a line with God into Gods own future; the past, indeed, is where he himself dies and is buried! He may have been a believer before, not anymore! Yahweh through Christ Jesus heals the wounds of His People and tears down the walls of hostility between the nations, calling them all to faith and obedience! This way, Yahweh Himself puts an end to Jew-Gentile dichotomy according to the new revelation in prophecy and brings it to light by the power of the gospel of Jesus whom He sent! So theres no more talk of Jew or Gentile in the LORDs community, the Body of Christ; all are Christians, Yahwehs new Temple that He has built to include them all! One is no longer considered a Believer if he is a Jew or Gentile; one, by Yahwehs divine revelation, is a Believer if he is a Christian! [MATTHEW 15:21-28; 28:18-20. MARK 16:15-16. LUKE 7:1-10; 24:45-47. JOHN 4:1-30, 39-42, 46-53; 6:37-40; 12:20-33; 15:18-27; 16:1-4; 20:21. ACTS 9:1-31; 10; 11:1-18. GALATIANS 1:11-24; 2:1-21; 3:1-14. ROMANS 1:16-17; 11:13-32; 15:7-33; 16:17-20, 25-27. EPHESIANS 2:11-22; 3:1-6. COLOSSIANS 3:9-17]. Did God do all of that great work of all times just so that we Christians will turn back to think and talk of ourselves only in terms of Catholic and Protestant? Are we really Christians? It is for all of us Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike, to seek to know and live the truth of the gospel of Jesus! Our Catholic sentiments and Protestant sentiments will only make us hold jealously to Church doctrines and practices that are false provided they are ours and to ignore or dispute those that are true if they are not ours, thus keeping us [supposed Christians] in the darkness of our ignorance, which darkness spreads over to the rest of the dark, deeply religious world! How does that serve Christ and glorify God? Does it really show we are Christians? Christians love one another and so they relate, accept, tolerate, help and respect one another as they also gladly teach and learn from one another! [JOHN 13:34-35; 17:21-23. ACTS 2:41-42, 44-45; 4:32-35; 11:19-26. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:12-13; 6:11-13; 7:2-16. PHILIPPIANS 1:7-19, 27-30; 2:1-11. EPHESIANS 4:1-24; 5:1-2. ROMANS 5:5. 1 PETER 1:22-25; 3:8; 4:7-8. 1 JOHN 2:7-11, 18-21; 3:1-3, 11-24; 4:7-21]. TO BE CONCLUDED
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:52:14 +0000
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