jeremiah1five

Israel didn't reject Him. Sure, at His crucifixion the crowd did call out for his crucifixion but the crowd around the cross is not Israel. Not all. The religious leaders were the ones who rejected him but not all there either. Nicodemus and Josep of Arimathaea received him. Weeks/months later in Acts 6 it says a "great company of priests were obedient to the faith." At the Feast of Harvests 3000 Jews were saved. So, God was keeping His covenant promises despite the sin of His people, and He did come to die for the sins of His people. That's not what Jesus was saying. It has nothing to do with Him, it has to do with her. The same thing can be understood with regard to the Roman centurion who asked Jesus for healing his servant. It has to do with knowledge. And faith rests on knowledge. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. Mt 15:27–28. How can that one statement cause Jesus to declare her faith as "great"? I submit that it was because she believed the First Covenant Scriptures about him. Not only that, but as Gentile she knew her place with regard to Israel holding all the covenants, the promises, the prophecies - everything with regard to salvation. Gentiles own nothing. First, she identified Him as a son of David. She understood "my lord said to my Lord, sit here till I make your enemies your footstool." Jesus responded with a test about taking the childrens (of Israel's) bread and cast it to dogs (non-covenant - God made no covenant with Gentiles). Her response is what moved him. She agreed. Said it was [the] truth. "Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their MASTER'S table." In other words, as Gentile she directed Jesus to the prophecies that one day that same bread (of Life) would come to Gentiles and that all she wanted were a few crumbs right now against that day. She knew Scripture. And by her knowledge of Scripture, and her faith/trust looking forward to that day Gentiles would get the whole loaf, Jesus rewarded her and healed her daughter and said, O woman, great is thy faith. It was all about her, not Him. As above, Israel did not reject their Messiah. The religious leaders did. Temporarily. God keeps His word, and He still has Promises to keep to Israel in the days ahead (post-cross) and later towards the end times. God Promised Israel a New Covenant and that day began on the Feast of Harvests with the coming of the Holy Spirit as per Joel outpouring upon the House of Israel and 3000 Jews were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit of Promise. Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders and His words do not apply to Israel proper: 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. Mt 21:44–45. And He didn't say, kingdom of "heaven," He said, "kingdom of God." The kingdom of heaven will always belong to Israel. But the kingdom of God is Christ Himself. HE will be given to the "ethnos", not the kingdom of heaven. And this is happening right now as the Times of the Gentiles is towards the end of its age. And when the Times of the Gentiles is ended God turns His full attention back on Israel and as Saul said, "All Israel shall be saved." Saul doesn't say they will come to 'accept' their Messiah, but merely that "all Israel shall be saved." Gentiles come from Japheth and Ham. Shem comes from Eber and Eber is the beginning of the Hebrews which went through Shem and Abraham is descendant of Shem. Thus, Abram is Hebrew: 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; Gen. 14:13. In the Abrahamic Covenant faith is not a requirement in this covenant. It's not even mentioned as God made mention of obedience in the Mosaic Covenant. So, the Abrahamic Covenant is one-sided. While Abraham slept God made covenant to Himself. Abraham and his seed are the recipients of the land and the blessings. I don't know what to make of the rest of your "two-seed" comment. Maybe later. We (saved Gentiles and saved Jews) are still today two people. This "making into one" will occur at the end of human history. Gentiles do not come from the seed or loins of Abraham. The covenant is with Abraham and his seed and there are no Gentiles that come from his seed. The New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is between God and the House of Israel - No Gentiles. IF God wanted Gentiles as part of the New Covenant the time to say so is Jeremiah 31:31-34, but God says nothing of the sort, so Gentiles are not part of the New Covenant God made with the House of Israel no matter how much Saul discusses Messiah's effect upon their covenants and promises and prophecies. That's all it is: discussion and trying to understand Messiah's effect upon their religion. And since Saul writes to Jewish Christians that had this concern about Christ and the Abrahamic Covenant Saul eases their minds in saying if you are Christ's you also Abraham's son/children. And they needed to hear this because some after tasting the heavenly gift and experienced the powers of the world to come wanted to return to Judaism because of persecution for their faith in Messiah, but Saul addresses these things to as they all muddle through the beginnings of the New Covenant and having to search the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets to make sense of what God was doing in and to Israel. Actually, if one is a seed of Abraham the whole covenant applies to them. Both land and blessings. The New Covenant began with the giving of the Holy Spirit in the first century on the day of the Feast of Harvest. The Church that Christ said He was going to build is a continuation of the Church in the desert at the time of the Tabernacle except they were called the "Great Congregation." The Law is type and shadow of the Holy Spirit and it is HE (that Law) which God promised to put in their inward parts, and He began to do that by giving the Promised Holy Spirit to Jews and in this began to lead and guide His people Israel from within (kingdom of God is within you) on fleshly tables of the 'heart' instead of from without and written on stone. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33. 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38–39. And God was effectively calling out a people to Himself. The Church that Christ was building was four decades worth before the destruction of the Temple and was populated by Jews for forty years at least until the destruction of their Temple. While the Temple stood the "ism" of Judaism remained and everything happening to Israel was seen through the lens of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets in order to make sense of these events taking place first in Jerusalem, and then throughout the then-known world. The three peoples are: 32 Give none offence, neither to the [unsaved] Jews, nor to the [unsaved] Gentiles, nor to [Jewish Christians in] the church of God: 1 Cor. 10:32. God will keep ALL His Promises He's made to and for Israel. ALL of them.

Your thoughts?

The New Covenant: 31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more. Jer. 31:31–34. There are no Gentiles mentioned here, or anywhere in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets of God making Covenant with Gentiles. None. God is saving Gentiles without a covenant. If God meant to include Gentiles, there would be a record in the Scripture when the covenants were made of God's intention to include Gentiles but there is none. Israel is the Bride of Christ. Israel is the Church of the Living God. At the Marriage Supper Israel is there through Covenant. Gentiles are there through invitation. Matt. 22.

Here's a Scripture from the lips of the Savior: 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Mt 15:24. There is no evidence in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets of God ever making covenant with Gentiles. And the mere discussion by the New Covenant writers (Saul, Peter, James, John, etc.) of Gentiles and their relationship to Christ does not make them part of the covenants of God with Israel. Jesus is a Jewish Messiah. He was Promised to Israel. He came to Israel and taught them for 3 years. He died on a cross for Israel as per prophecies and covenant. God sent Christ to His covenant people ONLY and Christ says so a couple of times. The disciples were sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Christ sent His disciples into Gentile lands to herald to the twelve tribes scattered that their Messiah had come and that God has kept His Promises. God spends 4000 years of covenant with a certain Hebrew and his seed, then to his seed directly, sends them prophets, establishes a Jewish nation and kings to rule that nation. God gives this nation of people His Law and progressively reveals more and more of Himself to this nation of Jews, and after 4000 years of dealing intimately with the Jews, Messiah dies for their sins, is buried and resurrected, ascends into heaven has promised the Jews a future nation with their Messiah, Redeemer, and King sitting on David's throne, and once Messiah ascends the first message He sends to the early Jewish Church He promised Israel He was to build and 4000 years of establishing His Bride and Church who are Israel, His first message and letters are to Gentiles??? There's a disconnect there my post answers. I'll leave it at that.

Mentioning Gentiles in his letter to Ephesus does not mean it was addressed to them. The Ephesian church was founded by Jewish Christians and populated by Jewish Christians until soon after the destruction of their Temple. So, the early Church Christ was building was founded by Jews and everything about this founding was Jewish for about 4 decades after the Feast of Harvests. The Times of the Gentiles did not begin until the Destruction of the Temple and soon after.

Yes, that's true. More comprehensively the ekklesia began in the desert at the time of the Tabernacle after God "called out" His people out of Egypt. They were known as the "Great Congregation" of over 3 million descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. There were two peoples. The covenant sons of God and the non-covenant daughters of men. Abram was known as Abram the Hebrew, purportedly from the loins of Eber. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; Gen. 14:13. Christ died for Israel His Church and Bride. And all men are not Israel: 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph. 5:25. The ekklesia began in the desert at the time of the Tabernacle except they were called the "Great Congregation" of over 3 million people from the loins of Jacob. 8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 2 Ch 7:8. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Ps 35:18. Making two (Jew and Gentile) into one will be done when His elect all get to glory. First, Saul is writing to Jewish Christians in the region of Galatia. Thus, his words must be taken in context to who he is writing to: Jewish Christians. Second, Jews that became born again were concerned about the effect their Messiah had on the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants. Saul's letter describes Abraham, Moses, the covenants, the promises, the prophecies, the history of the Jewish people, their culture, their religion, their rituals and practices, and overall, Jewish issues and concerns. All of these things he writes about the Gentile would be oblivious to being carried away by their dumb idols. Case in point: 23 But before faith came, we [Jews] were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our [Jews] schoolmaster to bring us [Jews] unto Christ, that we [Jews] might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we [Jews] are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye [Jews] are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you [Jews] as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye [Jews] are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye [Jews] be Christ’s, then are ye [Jews] Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal. 3:22–29. One main theological belief and prayer of the Jewish men was they would pray God "I thank thee, O' God/Yahweh, that I was not born a Gentile, or a slave, or a woman." But in one sentence the Pharisee in Saul destroys that theology before establishing that if you are Christ's/Messiah's then it's perfectly well and good because your relationship as a son of Abraham in covenant is maintained. And that question was one that the born-again believers in the Jewish Church had to address as in the beginning they muddled through the New Covenant and Messiah's effect on their covenant and religion. It was Saul's way of comforting those worried about their standing in the Abrahamic Covenant. Actually, it is the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to impute Christ's Righteousness to only those whose names are in the book of life of the lamb slain from [before] the foundation (creation) of the world. God still command His New Covenant Jews to maintain separation from the world of non-covenant anyone: 15 Love not the world [unbelievers], neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 Jn 2:15. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4. God wants His covenant people to maintain their purity and conversation. There is no such thing as ex-Gentiles. After the destruction of the Temple - and even before - Gentiles never were and never today are in Covenant with God when they become born-again. If God wanted Gentiles in Covenant with Him, He would have made covenant with them but there is nowhere in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets (Jewish Scriptures) of God making any covenant with Gentiles nor the seed of Gentiles. The New Covenant is with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, and if God wanted covenant with Gentiles, He would have included them in the New Covenant found in Jeremiah 31:31-34. But He didn't. God is saving Gentiles without covenant. Israel is both from below and from above. That is the covenant they have and the prophecies of Israel's identity before God is maintained and not mixed in this world. God has covenant with the House of Israel not Gentiles. God has maintained distinction: 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 1 Co 10:32. And at the time this was written the Church of God was populated by Jewish Christians and distinct from unsaved Gentiles and unsaved Jews.

Good thing I regard the Scripture and not the 'face' of man. Jewish Christian (Jewish Christ-follower, Jewish Messiah-ite,.)

You are right about one thing. The Church ("called out [ones]") didn't begin at the Feast of Harvests. It began in the desert with the children of Israel at the time of the Tabernacle. Then, they were called the Great Congregation. The children of Israel were "ekklesia" called out of Egypt and are the original Church. This Church is begun with Israel and will continue when the Times of the Gentiles is over, and the Time of Jacob's Troubles begin, and God turns His full attention back to Israel His Bride, then Saul's words "and all Israel shall be saved" will be complete. From Adam all the way to today there have always been two groups of people, covenant and non-covenant, Jew and Gentile. After Abel and continuing with Seth and his family also known as the "sons of God" (Gen. 6), God has made covenant with a certain family line. This continues today as far as covenant goes for God made no covenant with Gentiles nor with any Gentile and his seed. Christ didn't die for "all men." He died for His Church and Bride Israel. And "all men" are not Israel. Christ Himself says He was not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The New Covenant is with the House of Israel. The New Covenant Church is a continuation of the Old Covenant Church in the desert and was populated by Jews. The first four+ decades the Jewish Christians had to muddle their way through the Law, Psalms, and Prophets to rightly understand Messiah's effect upon the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants and the prophecies concerning Messiah. The New Covenant writings of Saul, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John, etc., are only discussions of that effect of Messiah on their religion. What Christ brought forth was fulfillment of the covenants, promises, prophecies God gave and sent to Israel. The New Covenant is with the House of Israel as described in Jer. 31:31-34. Gentiles are not "partakers" with the House of Israel and their New Covenant for there is no mention in this New Covenant of Gentiles being "partakers." I think you've over analyzed the Scriptures and misunderstood many things about Israel's Covenant to the point of including and seeing the New Covenant Scriptures as Jewish Christians writing to Gentiles when this is not the truth. The New Covenant was a Jewish phenomenon that was particular to Israel of twelve tribes. The "other flock" Jesus mentions in John 10 are not Gentiles but Samaritans. Even being half-Jew God's Covenant stands despite the prejudice of Israel proper. And bear in mind that Jesus did not have problem with the people He came to serve and die for. His initial issue was with the religious leaders because He taught the spirit of the Law, and they only understood the letter of the Law. Also, calling some of these religious leaders "devil" is not a reference to Lucifer or Satan, or any other angel that sinned but as the word is defined, He was calling them "traducers" or "liars." A man can have only one father and later a "great company of priests were obedient to the faith" in Acts 6. So, they couldn't have been born in covenant with the sign of circumcision, Lucifer as their "father" and become sons of God through new birth. From the concept in God's Mind to create man and from this mass of humanity call out a people to Himself He always saw His elect as sheep. Even before the new birth they were sheep and after the new birth were sheep. Those whose names are written by God in the book of life of the lamb slain from [before] the foundation (creation) or the world (Rev. 13:8.) There is correlation between the New Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant, specifically, the Law. The Law is type and shadow of the Holy Spirit, and it is HE [that Law] whom God promised to put in the inward parts of covenant Israel in the New Covenant. The Law written on stone instructed and guided Israel from without and the Law in the New Covenant will instruct and guide Israel from within written on fleshly tables of the 'heart.' The Kingdom of God (Christ is the Kingdom of God) comes not with observation but is within you.

Can't be. Jews have been waiting for their Promised Redeemer for hundreds of years. They are the original Christians but didn't get that designation until the first century in Antioch. Still, they awaited their Christ.

First, Saul is writing to Jewish Christians at Rome. Second, although it appears to say that "calling on the Lord" means like I would "call on Tony at the barber shop" it doesn't mean that. Since, Saul is writing to Jewish Christians who have been born again and saved and filled with the Holy Spirit as per the New Covenant God made with the House of Israel, Israel is already in covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and for them "calling upon the Lord" is taken in context to this truth. They are already in covenant relationship with God. The Scripture is clear that no man (or woman) has the capacity let alone the will to call upon the Lord whom they hate. The whole letter addresses Israel's history, their Law, their prophets, their Scripture (Saul is quoting from the First Covenant Scriptures), their religion, their culture, their covenants - Abrahamic/Mosaic/Davidic - covenants, their rituals and practices, the New Covenant, etc. These are things that Gentiles would know nothing about being carried away with their dumb idols. Saul also says: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Rom. 3:11. Jesus Christ Himself echoes this truth: 19 And this is the condemnation, that light [CHRIST] is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light [CHRIST], because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light [CHRIST], neither cometh to the light [CHRIST], lest his deeds should be reproved. Jn. 3:19–20. Humankind is bound in sin. They are servants of sin. They hate Christ neither come to Christ nor do the call upon Him. They love their darkness. Thus, in Romans 10 Saul is writing to a people in covenant with God and "call upon their Lord" is another way of saying "worship." Saul quotes from the First Covenant to Jews who have been saved and know their Scripture. They know the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant, and everything else Sail writes about in his letter to Rome.

The New Covenant: 31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more. Jer. 31:31–34. This New Covenant began in Jerusalem in [approximately] A.D. 33 during one of Israel's Feasts under the Law, the Feast of Harvests (Pentecost). Jews who escaped or remained in Gentile lands after their conquest and subsequent Exile first by the Assyrians in 722 BC and Babylon in 586 BC, came to this Feast as commanded by God under the Mosaic Law. It was a time of celebration. During the early morning hours while the 11 apostles of the Lamb (plus one: Matthias) prayed in the upper room the Holy Spirit of Promise came and indwelt these men and they began to speak in tongues. The languages they spoke were identified by the Jews who came to the Feast from Gentile lands. Most likely they were "Hellenized" Jews influenced by Greek culture in the places they lived. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:4–11. The disciples were accused of being drunk at the third hour of the day (9am) but Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. Peter defends this event as evidence of the Promised Holy Spirit God said He would send to Israel as part of this New Covenant and also gives these onlookers an outline of the promises and prophecies from Joel and King David as proof that these things they were witnessing were indeed from their God. Getting to my point, Scripture says that 3000 Jews were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit of Promise that day, and when the Feast was over these Jews began their journey back to their homes in Gentile lands. They took with them their experiences, Peter's outline of Scriptures explaining this phenomenon, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives back to their homes. It is not unreasonable they spoke of their experience with other travelers along their journey back home and it is not unreasonable that others were saved at their sharing. After all, it was an "Outpouring" Scripture says, and God had begun to do a new thing in the earth that affected the people of Israel. When these Jewish Christians returned home, as their custom, they attended their synagogues and shared their experiences. I'm sure others were saved and delivered as well. Soon, a rift occurred between the Judaizers and the Jewish Christians due to the fact that the Judaizers could not reconcile how their Long-awaited Messiah had died on a tree especially since it is said in their religion that anyone who hung on a tree was cursed. They stumbled at this stumbling stone. Soon, these Jewish Christians began to gather and fellowship in their homes. This is the beginning of home church fellowships, and in time, at Antioch is where they were first called "Christian" or Christ/Messiah followers. The one thing they needed to do is search their Scripture of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets to understand the effect the coming of Israel's Messiah had upon their Covenants and their Judaic religion. Slowly but surely, they began to piece together everything pertaining to their Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants and what Messiah's arrival (and departure) related to them meant. It was trial and error. But for the most part, while their Temple still stood the "ism" of Judaism remained and their understanding of everything that happened since Pentecost was seen through the lens of the First Covenant Scriptures of Law, Psalms, and Prophets. The New Covenant writings of Saul, Peter, James, John, Jude, etc., were written by Jewish Christians to and for other Jewish Christians in the cities and towns they were addressed to, such as Corinth, Ephesus, the region of Galatia, Philippi, Thessalonica, etc. And all these writing were explanation and discussion of Jesus Christ, Israel's Messiah and His effect upon their Covenants and Promises. The first Jewish churches in these cities were populated by Jews who received Jesus bar Joseph as their long-awaited Messiah. There are no new covenants in these writings we have today called the New Testament canon. Thus, every book and letter, every prophet and apostle and their writings, everything we call New Testament Scripture was written by Jews to and for other Jews in New Covenant with God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made no covenant with Gentiles. There is nothing in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets in which the God of Israel had made any covenant with Gentiles. There is only ONE Covenant in existence, and it is between the God of Israel and the people of Israel of twelve tribes. God is saving Gentiles without a covenant. But up until the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem the "ism" of Judaism remained. And everything that happened with regard to this New Covenant and the people of Israel was "Jewish" through and through. 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Rom. 9:4–5. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Mt 15:24. The Times of the Gentiles will soon end, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob turns His full attention back to Israel when the two Jewish witnesses of Revelation arrive, they will use the Hebrew/Jewish Scriptures of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets to herald before Israel their Messiah and as Saul said, "all Israel shall be saved." At the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Israel will be there by Covenant. Gentiles will be there by invitation. Matt. 22.

The term "calling on the Lord" means "worship." And in order to worship one must be saved and in relationship with God. It doesn't mean what it seems to read, that one can "call" on the Lord and He comes.

The New Testament writers worshiped regularly in the Temple. They were well versed in the Jewish Scriptures as demonstrated by their numerous references to the prophecies and practices of the Hebrew Scriptures. The most prolific New Testament writer, Paul, wrote almost half of the 27 New Testament books. His Jewish background is indisputable. He was a son of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin, and a Pharisee. Paul boasted that prior to becoming a believer in Yeshua (Jesus), he was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of his own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of his fathers. His familiarity with Jewish tradition, thought and theology remained an integral part of his preaching. He drew heavily from the Hebrew Bible, and the audiences to whom he preached were well acquainted with the Hebrew Scriptures. Paul’s Jewishness is evident in the focus of his writing as well. This is true of all the New Testament writers. For if the book dealt only with Gentile issues, it could hardly be regarded as Jewish. The pages of the New Testament clearly follow the framework of Judaism. The first four books, the gospels, addressed a Jewish audience. They echoed the pattern of historical narratives interspersed with instruction found in the Torah. “The controversies between Jesus and the Scribes/Pharisees have no reference outside the community of Israel; Jesus’ preaching of the coming kingdom could have had meaning only for Jews; the synagogues in which Jesus reads from the prophets, heals the sick, and forgives sins are Jewish houses of worship for believing Jews and not unconverted gentiles.…” The Jewish festivals that are celebrated throughout the pages of the New Testament were not feasts of interest to the Gentiles but were part of the daily life of the Jewish people. The four gospel accounts contain numerous references to the Hebrew Scriptures, references that deal with the messianic theme. This is clearly seen in the narration of the birth of Yeshua. His conception was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and referred to in Matthew: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (1:23). His birth in Bethlehem was foretold by the prophet Micah in chapter 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times,” and quoted in Matthew 2:6. Matthew also relies heavily on Hebrew Scriptures. In the second chapter of his narrative, he relates the flight into Egypt of Joseph and Mary (Miriam) and the slaughter of the innocents by Herod. Going back to the law of the Nazarite in Numbers 6:1-21, Matthew concludes this story with Joseph’s return to Israel to settle in Nazareth, “And he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, ‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23). This appeal to fulfilled prophecy continues with Mark, who prefaces his gospel account with, “It is written in Isaiah the Prophet.” He cites Isaiah, “A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare the way for the Lord” (40:3), and Malachi, “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me” (3:1). “It is written” occurs time and again in the pages that follow as the New Testament writers buttress their arguments with the Hebrew Scriptures-the Law, the prophets and the writings. The two testaments fit together; one does not supersede the other. “The New Testament is regarded by Christians as the fulfillment of the prophecies and the teachings contained in the Old.” In Acts 2:14-28, Peter, known as “the apostle to the Jewish people,” began his ministry with a lengthy quotation from the Hebrew prophet Joel. He then affirmed that Yeshua was the Messiah, citing Psalm 16:10, “Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27). His hearers, with the events of the crucifixion still fresh in their memory, were “cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ “(Acts 2:37). For the most part, the New Testament depicts Jewish people dealing with other Jews on questions of importance to their people. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles run after all these things.” Yeshua goes on to encourage his followers to “seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The heavenly kingdom and God’s righteousness were familiar concepts to Yeshua’s Jewish followers. Likewise, when Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them, “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” The Book of Acts tells how Stephen, the first Jesus-believing Jewish martyr, stood before his accusers and cited the history of his people. This Jewish man spoke before a Jewish crowd, about their Jewish ancestors. And, not unlike many of the Jewish prophets of old, Stephen was dragged out of the city and stoned. The book of Hebrews begins with: “In the past God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.…” The writer then refers to passage upon passage from the Hebrew Scriptures. Hebrews 11 has been called “The Roll Call of Faith.” It honors Abel, Enoch and Noah for their faith and goes on to commend the patriarchs, Moses and Joshua, as well as Rahab. It then follows with the heroes Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah and concludes by touching on the many unnamed heroes in Israel’s history. Verse 34 and following speak of those who “quenched the fury of the flames and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” The unnamed martyrs, those who were tortured, mocked, scourged and who suffered affliction and torment for the sake of the God in whom they believed are all cited. These men and women gave themselves as a part of Israel’s bloody legacy-Jewish martyrs, dying in the name of the God of their Jewish ancestors. The whole chapter is a summary of Jewish history, not Babylonian, not Egyptian, not Roman history. The book of Hebrews lives up to its name. It was written by a Hebrew to persons of Hebrew descent who were well acquainted with their Scriptures. Other New Testament writers concern themselves with Israel and with Jewish matters. James addressed “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1). Peter addressed “God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered.…” (1 Peter 1:1). Jude, in his brief letter, speaks of Sodom and Gomorrah, Michael the archangel, Moses, Cain, Balaam and Korah. These references would be baffling to anyone lacking knowledge of the Torah. In the last book of the New Testament, Revelation, we see God’s continual care for his people Israel. It is written that the tribes of Israel will one day be revived and identified (Revelation 7) and that a glorious New Jerusalem will have twelve gates inscribed with the names of the tribes of Israel (21:9-27) In its authorship, content and focus there is hardly a book more Jewish than the New Testament.

George, Jesus had a very short ministry to His Father of three human years on the planet, well, actually only to Israel. The 'greater' works that He said we would do meant as in sequence, counting, as in age, and a person born-again in his or her early twenties could very well live several decades into his seventies and that's a lot of years and a lot of works to perform in his or her service to their Lord. The Greek word is: μείζων Transliteration: meizōn meaning many, or much. We get the English "Mega" from this word.

God keeps His Promises and God expects His people to keep their promises. Divorce was allowed because of Moses. But from the beginning it was not allowed. And it is still not allowed, but Christians disobey God in the choice for a mate, and second, in deciding to get divorced. Imagine if Christ were to divorce His Bride, the Church, because of some sexual or non-sexual sin.

QUOTE: "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 I myself do not know of any church that completely follows this passage of scripture. If you attend a church that dose follow this completely, or you yourself follow it ? How is it carried out? Are all the women in your church silent not allowed to speak at all? As Paul seems to be saying here? How dose that work? Also I don't understand what Paul means here by saying "as the law says". I thought that when Christ died, we were free from following "the Law". What law is Paul referring to here?" RESPONSE: When Paul wrote this to the Christians already saved at Corinth the subject matter from 1Co. 12-14 has to do with the gifts of the Spirit of which he is addressing the Vocal Gifts (prophecy, interpretation, tongues). It makes no sense for Paul to instruct in the vocal gifts - of which he is speaking about prophecy and then at conclusion he commands the women to remain/stay quiet. Although Corinth was a Roman province it still had Hebrews/"Jews" living in these territories and with a synagogue sprinkled here and there that housed the Chosen People of God every Saturday for worship. Under the Law the men and women would sit separately - men sat with men and women sat with women. This made communication with their husbands very disruptive when a question was needing an answer, the women could not turn to their side-kick and ask, but the question would be shouted across the room. "As saith the law" does not refer to the Law of Moses, but the law of the synagogue which parted the husbands and their wives from sitting near each other. There is nothing in the Law of Moses about women not talking/shutting up in congregation. As a matter of fact it was the women - in my guestimation - that outnumbered the men in the vocal gifts of which prophetess and prophecy were hand in hand.

First, Jesus is speaking to His people, a people ALREADY in Covenant with Him and are all awaiting the Promised Kinsman-Redeemer and Messiah - to sit on David's throne and rule all the world, and people, and tongue, and tribe. This "come to me" has to do with relationship, not salvation.

Atonement ends all that. Either Jesus died on the cross at Calvary and all the sin of God's Elect is atoned on that day (it is and was - the Holy Spirit in us is proof this happened), or He didn't and Jesus' death meant nothing if God is still in the atonement/forgiveness stage with His people. The verses you use have to do with relationship, not salvation. Relationship.

Your pastor is in error. Either all sin of God's Elect are forgiven or they are not. Either Christ died for the Elect on that day at Calvary and atonement was made, or Christ did not died for the sin of the Elect? Any sin of the Elect not paid for by the Son would have kept Jesus in the tomb/grave. Another thing...the kingdom of God is Christ Himself. Christ is within the born-again Covenant believer. And the kingdom of God is Christ in you. But WHO is the kingdom of God? The answer is Christ Himself. Romans 14:17 (KJV) 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Father = Righteousness Son = Peace Joy = Holy Spirit. Righteousness, peace, and joy are within the believer because the believer is possessed of Christ. Lo! the kingdom does not come by observation for the kingdom of God is within you. Right?

Music that is made by anyone will minister to the soul. Spiritual music - music ordained of God - will minister to the spirit. Which one do you want to feed?

God hates it because it is of the world.

What did you fast? Food? Water? Marital relations? And who told you to fast 40 days?

God has never 'held sin of the Elect against them.' Never. God is Immutable (does not change.) He contemplated His named-Elect as holy and sinless and that is the way He has ever seen us and them. Always.

One of the great purposes of fellowship with brethren is the ongoing dispensing of spiritual gift-usage and the knowledge of having someone near and dear. We need access to each other's spiritual gifts and all they are in Christ. There are circumstances that require dis-fellowship and rejection but one who is not dead is still alive in Christ and needs Doctor Jesus being possessed by Christ in the other brethren to strengthen and support. The difference as to when the brethren overcomes their sin or not can all be had in the assistance of their brethren - no matter what shape their lives - spiritual and natural - are in. As with Peter, Jesus said, "when you recover, strengthen the brethren." And so on and on.

How about the Profit of Love? 1 Corinthians 13:3 (KJV) 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.