Category: The Nation Israel

The Converted Nation and The Translated Word #5

Friday, February 5, 2016

“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19,20 KJV).

Herein do we see God’s head of the nations—Israel!

God’s original covenant with Israel, the Abrahamic Covenant, was unconditional. He would graciously make her a channel of blessing to the nations without her religious efforts (Genesis 12:1-3). Nevertheless, Israel preferred religion, so God gave it: the Mosaic Law was “added because of transgressions” (Galatians 3:19). The Law was a conditional covenant—that is, dependent upon Israel’s obedience or disobedience to all of God’s commandments.

As with Abraham fathering Ishmael instead of waiting for God’s promised son, Isaac (Genesis chapters 16 and 17), God proved to Moses and the succeeding Jewish generations that Abraham’s nation must depend on Him to accomplish His will for them rather than their futile struggles. Instead of realizing they were sinners like the Gentiles, Israel grew prideful of her relationship with the one true God. Jews thought they were better than the nations, not realizing of course that God had given them His Word so they could share it with the nations.

Thankfully, Galatians 3:14-25 says that Israel’s sins committed under the Mosaic Law economy do not cancel the Abrahamic Covenant. In Israel’s program, Jews who acknowledge their sins and their need for Jesus Christ, they will inherit the Abrahamic Covenant. By virtue of Christ’s shed blood, the New Covenant is how God will one day cancel Israel’s sin debt and cause them to become His people (Ezekiel 36:22-38; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:1-39), His kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10).

Zechariah 8:22,23 predicts: “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (cf. Isaiah 2:2,3; Habakkuk 2:14)! 🙂

*NOTE: Saints, after a two-year delay, we have finally launched our new flagship ministry website, arCGraceMinistries.org! Here, you will find our Statement of Faith, links to all seven of our ministry websites, as well as news items, and information on how to purchase our (new) Bible study booklets now in print!

The Converted Nation and The Translated Word #4

Thursday, February 4, 2016

“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19,20 KJV).

Herein do we see God’s head of the nations—Israel!

God proved to Abraham that he in his own strength could never produce the nation He wanted for His glory. The Abrahamic Covenant was God’s gift to Abraham and the seed that God would give him. Abraham was to do nothing to get it because he could do nothing to get it. God in His grace would do for Abraham what he (a sinner) could never do—produce a son that God would accept. Isaac was Abraham’s miracle son (Genesis chapter 17). The nation descending from Abraham would be God’s doing, not man’s doing.

Some 500 years after the Abrahamic Covenant, Israel is enslaved in Egypt. JEHOVAH God, by Moses, rescues them from Egypt. They will learn His Word and dwell in His land. In Exodus chapters 14-18, as Israel journeyed to the Promised Land, God provided for her every need. In chapter 19, however, Israel fell into the trap of religion. Rather than relying on God’s grace, they wanted to work their way into fellowship with Him. They would attempt to be His nation in their own strength. Note: “[5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Verse 8: “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”

Israel failed to learn they would be God’s special people only because He would redeem them from sin. Instead, they accepted His Covenant of Law—now, they could only be His people if they obeyed Him. God, willing to show them their inability, obliged. Israel would have to learn she needed to be “converted!”

The Converted Nation and The Translated Word #3

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19,20 KJV).

Herein do we see God’s head of the nations—Israel!

One of the most famous Bible verses is the first, Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” It is not until we come to Paul’s ministry and Colossians 1:16 that we see how God structured the Heaven and the Earth to function: “For by him [the Lord Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

In the original creation, there was perfect governmental organization. God created beings to serve Him in Heaven (angels) and other beings (humans—Adam and Eve) to serve Him on Earth. In Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19, we read about Lucifer/Satan leading a rebellion in the spirit world among the angelic hosts. This chief evil spirit then caused Earth to be polluted by recruiting mankind to follow him in Genesis chapter 3. Satan had the governments of both Heaven and Earth; he tainted them and most of their creatures with his sinful agenda.

God formed the nation Israel to do with Adam had failed to do—assume Earth’s governments for His glory (earthly kingdom). Israel was to reclaim Earth for Jesus Christ’s glory. Israel was to magnify God’s Word in the Earth, thereby undoing what Satan had done on Earth! (However, nothing was said about God’s purpose and plan for restoring Heaven unto Himself. We do not learn this secret plan of God until we come to Paul’s ministry, the books of Romans through Philemon. God kept that information secret until He was ready to reveal it.)

To restore Earth to Himself, God desired Israel to know Him first. They were to learn His Word, enjoy His goodness, and, as per the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3, they were to then take that knowledge and salvation to all the nations of the world! Let us see what Israel did….

The Converted Nation and The Translated Word #2

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19,20 KJV).

Herein do we see God’s head of the nations—Israel!

With 50 chapters, Genesis is one of the Bible’s largest books. Its first 11 chapters cover the first 2,000 years of human history. Chapters 12 through 50, however, cover only the next 300 years or so. Twenty centuries covered in 11 chapters, and only three centuries covered in 39 chapters. Why this drastic disproportionality? Simple!

Adam, once given “dominion over… every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28), had willfully lost it to Satan in chapter 3. God’s king of Earth relinquished his crown and Satan grabbed it (Matthew 4:8-10)! His purpose in creation would now be delayed. So, God had a plan to reclaim planet Earth and bring it back under His headship. From Adam (chapter 1) to Abraham (chapter 12), God was isolating a bloodline (people) for His name, so details are scarce there. Once that lineage was firmly established, from Abraham onward, the Bible’s focus on mankind narrows increasingly—Abraham’s son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons. By the time Genesis ends, Israel, no longer a small tribe, is now destined to become a nation of millions of people. But, let us not get ahead of ourselves….

Note Genesis 12:1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant: “[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” That covenant passed to Isaac, then to Jacob, and finally to Jacob’s 12 sons (and thus Israel’s 12 tribes). Israel was to be a great nation, that the Creator God be made great in the Earth!

The Converted Nation and The Translated Word #1

Monday, February 1, 2016

“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 147:19,20 KJV).

Herein do we see God’s head of the nations—Israel!

Friend, if you have ever attended, or are still attending, services in a denominational church, there is no question that you have heard of “the nation Israel.” More often, however, you have heard her verses quoted as though they were to and about you. There is a lot of talk about Israel, a lot of reading her verses, but almost nothing said about why God formed her. Systematic theology—the curriculum used in most seminaries and Bible colleges—practically ignores the nation Israel. Nearly 80 percent of our Bible focuses on the nation Israel and God’s plan for her. To misunderstand Israel is to complicate most of the Bible. As one brother says, “You will never understand your Bible if you never understand the nation Israel!” (Now we know why precious few ever understand the Bible!)

Today’s Scripture concludes Psalm 147, one of the book’s five closing “Praise ye the LORD” psalms (146-150)—see the opening and closing verses of these chapters. Israel is exhorted, both in history and in the future, to praise JEHOVAH God for Him giving them His Word. Of all the nations, up to that point in history, God had only given His Word to Israel!

Moses told Israel, just before re-giving her the Law in Deuteronomy chapter 4: “[6] Keep therefore and do them [God’s commandments]; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. [7] For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? [8] And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”

Why did God select Israel? We shall see!

Bible Q&A #230: “What does 1 Corinthians 15:29 mean?”

We Have Seen Strange Things Today! #2

Thursday, January 28, 2016

“And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day” (Luke 5:26 KJV).

What did these people see that was “strange?”

As Jesus taught and healed people, a group of men brought a paralyzed man on a bed (verses 17-19). “[20] And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. [21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? [22] But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? [23] Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? [24] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.”

Notice verse 22. How could Jesus reveal the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees? Who alone but God can read minds? (Those were some shocked people indeed!) Jesus is validating His identity: He is their Messiah, and God the Father has given Him the power to accomplish His will on earth! He can heal Israel of her sin problem. Note the next verse: “And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.”

How quickly did the sick man rise up? After Jesus prayed and laid hands, and prayed some more? After accepting a “collection” from the man? After the man had enough faith to be healed? No, the Bible says “immediately.” And the Bible says Jesus looked at the faith of the people carrying the man, not the faith of the man. It was nothing like those phony “healing” campaigns on “Christian” television networks! Christ said, “Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.” That paralytic instantly jumped up from off his sick bed and walked home glorifying God. Yes, God’s Word is “powerful” (Hebrews 4:12)…able to do the most extraordinary things! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Who is the ‘them’ of Romans 5:14?”

We Have Seen Strange Things Today! #1

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

“And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day” (Luke 5:26 KJV).

What did these people see that was “strange?”

Let us begin in context: “[17] And it came to pass on a certain day, as he [Jesus Christ] was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. [18] And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. [19] And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.”

While Jesus Christ is teaching, and healing the sick, the hypocritical Pharisees and Mosaic-Law scholars are watching Him to catch Him in a mistake. Meanwhile, certain men are attempting to bring in a bed on which a paralyzed man lies. They want Jesus to heal him, but crowds blocking the entrance into the building keep them outside. So, these men—undeterred—climb on the rooftop and lower the sick man’s bed down through the ceiling, right before Jesus: “[20] And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. [21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

Jesus forgives the man of his sins, thereby angering the Pharisees and scribes. This Jesus of Nazareth is claiming to be the JEHOVAH God of the Old Testament! They finally have Jesus in a tight spot, or so they “think.” Too blind to see it, they do not know that paralyzed man symbolizes them (Israel), spiritually paralyzed, unable to do anything. But, just like the paralytic, God can heal Israel, too. Note how verse 21 obviously indicated Jesus Christ is God Himself manifested in human flesh!

But, Christ will awe them again shortly….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Did John 10:16 predict the Church the Body of Christ?”

Hated Without a Cause

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

“But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25 KJV).

No marvel the world hates us Christians—they hated Christ first!

On the night of His arrest, our Lord uttered a long discourse (John chapters 14-16) to His disciples in the upper room. In that light, we read today’s Scripture in context:

“[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. [23] He that hateth me hateth my Father also. [24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law [Psalm 69:4], They hated me without a cause.”

While these verses were not spoken to or about us, the world persecuting believing Israelites parallels the world persecuting us believers today. The commonality is the Lord Jesus Christ, who indwells both born-again Jews and the members of the Body of Christ. “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). “Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). Lost people do not hate us personally; they do not realize it, but they hate Jesus Christ who lives in us. Let it be for that reason alone that they hate us. May we not be hated for acting obnoxious, contentious, or unrighteous! 🙂

333’s 1700th – The Reign of Grace

Monday, January 25, 2016

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20,21 KJV).

Dearly beloved, devotional #1700 is here!

Readers, friends, and brethren, these last 4½ years (!) have been quite a learning experience for us all. With each passing day, we are moving onward and upward in the Holy Scriptures. For years, we were spiritually starved in denominational systems. Whether we were lost and sitting in spiritual ignorance, or saved and sitting in spiritual ignorance, praise our Lord Jesus Christ that we have been delivered from that mess!

Today’s Scripture says the Mosaic Law was instituted to point out “the offence.” The Law is God’s straight line (righteousness) to manifest our crooked one (sin). Still, in His grace, He sent His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to die for our sins, resurrect, and give us eternal life—His life! Sin only leads to death, but by Jesus Christ, grace will reign through righteousness unto eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We have daily victory over sin by simply relying on Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. The grace life will be manifested in us and through us who believe!

As our world rushes toward more uncertainty, more problems, more error, and more darkness, let us not lose sight of what really matters—the eternal Word of God being deposited into our eternal souls. We have all been privileged to take a few minutes here every day—for 1700 days nonstop!—to look at the preserved words of God. We were all wondering if our Saviour would come in 2015. He has not come yet, of course. Whether or not He comes in 2016, we must be about our labor in Him. More studies must be written about the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and more people must be reached with it. May we all continue to let grace reign in our Christian lives!

Beloved, thank you for your prayerful support, and onward to #1800! 🙂

(NOTE: By the way, we have some VERY exciting ministry news to be revealed in the coming weeks!! Please stay tuned!!!)

Zealous for the Word!

Friday, January 22, 2016

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jeremiah 20:9 KJV).

Once God’s Word gets in us, it will burst forth to reach others!

I recently had a phone conversation with a Christian brother who is new to dispensational Bible study. A Christian sister, a coworker of ours in the ministry, had introduced him to proper Bible study months ago, but he is just now really grasping the information. He was ever so excited. We spent over an hour talking, plus his questions. In fact, he is sharing some Bible study DVDs with his wife, and now she is interested in learning God’s Word God’s way.

The dear man will soon reach a crossroads in his Christian life. It is finally beginning to sink in that his denominational church has not been honest with him. After studying the Word of God rightly divided, he sees that the information contained therein is quite different from what his preacher has been teaching him. Now, he is bursting forth with joy that he understands his Bible. He cannot keep quiet much longer at church—he wants to tell others there. I encouraged him to bring to his church some of those truths of God’s Word rightly divided. Before he permanently leaves that assembly, I advised that he should attempt to reach any and everyone there that he can. He agreed.

Today’s Scripture reminds me of this dear brother. He has gotten a grip on God’s Word, and now God’s Word has gripped him! With a paper and pen in hand, he was scribbling down the Bible references I was giving him. He knows the opposition is coming, but he was preparing himself with verses so he can speak up for Jesus Christ’s glory! May we do as that dear man in Christ. May we do as the Prophet Jeremiah of old. May we let God’s Word work in us believers so mightily that it comes through for all to see and hear!