The importance of Jews as a people, and their use as a divine mechanism together with sacred law are the focus, today. Many ethnic groups and nations have been used to reveal the character and nature of divinity displayed as the favor and disfavor of Deity. Consider again the following from the Bible, and the discussion appearing below: Galatians 3: 26-29, King James Version (KJV): 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you 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 are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Isaiah 63: 7-10, KJV: 7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to his lovingkindnesses. 8 For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction, he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Also, Romans 2: 25-29, KJV: 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “sevil” (Level 2 with 330 points, a member since February 12, 2010) posted the following:
Jews, how can your prophets POSSIBLY be moral examples?
jacobs dad preferred his murderous son esau, and jacob had to trick him into getting his blessing for marriage...... david did nothing when his daughter tamar was RAPED, and also committed adultery and killed the woman's husband.... solomon charged such heavy taxes on his people for the building of fancy buildings that his people rebelled..... and finally, the jews exterminated the canaanites, killing every man, woman, child, and animal that belonged to them.... so, how on earth should your prophets be seen as moral?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 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; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Romans 9: 1-8, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Religion and Moral Progress? (10/23/2015); Ye Are Abraham’s Seed (07/10/2015); Endowed With Spirit? (05/08/2015); The Decalogue A Moral Guide? (04/15/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014); Gentiles and the Law? (09/19/2013); According to This Word (09/20/2013); Why Jesus Must Be A Jew (03/18/2013); The Benefit of Grace (03/19/2013)
“sevil”, most Christian believers have made the same mistake that appears in your question regarding the morality and uprightness of the Jews as a people. The Jews were to be special to GOD, while not exactly so to mankind. Because the critique is mistakenly narrowed to a single ethnic group, the opposition of sin as the common condition for all mankind is missed, and men fail to grasp the otherwise unmet needs for divine remedies for all created beings and living creatures to be in proper relationship to their Creator. In the same way divine law has been provided to make sin known and visible, the operations of sin through mankind are to be seen as a device for sin’s exposure. Sin opposes the continued existence of sacred law, the Law Giver, and the divine order maintained through the law. Sin may dominate awareness and self-will in the living, and will not appear contrary to ones makeup and inborn spirit. Through the Jews, GOD has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ to make possible humanity receiving a fresh deposit of life essence (we say, breath, spirit, Word) from the makeup of divinity. The full revelation of divinity to the living, therefore, is through law and judgment as well as by Creation and salvation. Consider the following points from the holy writings. Correctly understood, the focus of the Bible is the eternal living GOD, not the Jews:
(1.) John 4: 22-26, King James Version (KJV): 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(2.) Romans 3: 1-3, KJV: 1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
(3.) Romans 10: 16-21, KJV: 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, LORD, who hath believed our report? 17 So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went unto all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation will I anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Deuteronomy 7: 6-11, KJV: 6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto you fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. 11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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