THE JERUSALEM NOW AND THE COMING HOLY CITY
Today, reply is on the shared sacred origin, eternal purpose, and ongoing process for both Christianity and Judaism. Correctly understood, “new wine must be put into new bottles,” the focus must be on divinity, for it is that GOD has used mankind to accomplish specific sacred works, not that mankind has used GOD. The establishment of the Tabernacle, the Temple, and Jerusalem as the Holy City were all done to make visible the pattern of things in heaven as well as to direct the minds of men to the things that are to come. The embodiment of divinity in flesh and human form, and the death of Jesus Christ on the cross has served to affirm the divine commitment to Creation, and depict the utter destruction of sin. Even so, for Christians, the same cultural and secular history that serve as an heritage and platform for social identity as a Jew is (1) a foundation for divine revelation that makes Deity knowable and known to created beings and living creatures; (2) a sphere of existence, life, and active presence wherein divinity appears and expresses sovereign will (e.g., judgment, divine law, sanctification, wrath against sin); (3) a device for redemption and salvation that allows the living to recognize and resist, yet, does not completely eliminate the operations of sin; and (4) the sacred knowledge vital for comprehending divine operations to transform those joined to divinity through the Son of GOD to exist as immortal and incorruptible. The establishment, events within, and operations of Israel as a kingdom or nation on the earth must be understood as a very small part of a vast divine work intended to impart spirit content from the makeup of divinity. GOD fashioned the first pair (Adam) to display the image of GOD, and continues to use the living to demonstrate and proclaim his character, nature, makeup, ownership, and sovereignty. Through his fellowship, friendship and promises to Abraham; the covenant agreements from the time of Moses; and the commitments to the dynasty of David, GOD became a certain hope of the Hebrews, and would manifest as the protector of ancient Israel. Even so, GOD is never to be regarded as having become a material thing, their chattel, their possession, or their private property. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Dr Yes level 9” (with 114,449 points on Level 7, a member since August 27, 2007) posted the following:
What does biblical history have to do with Christianity?
Jesus never said the gentiles could have the Jewish bible. Jesus also never said they could rename it the “Old Testament”.
Biblical history is Jewish history.
Biblical history is Jewish history.
So why do Christians feel vindicated when something from Jewish history is dug up?
Update: Atheists don’t deny Judaism because it is an actual culture. Whereas Christianity is just a religion.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Romans 3: 29-31, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Thoughts On Divine Personhood (12/07/2017); One Root, One Harvest (11/12/2017); The Peace of Jerusalem (08/09/2017); Continuing A Perpetual Covenant (08/03/2017); A Threat Against Judaism (07/17/2017); One Complete Divine Revelation (07/09/2017); Proclaiming A New Kingdom? (04/13/2017); Benefits of His Kingdom? (04/11/2017); More About the Trinity? (03/30/2015)
“Dr Yes level 9”, be careful not to confuse secular history and sacred revelation. The GOD who made use of ancient Israel has sovereign authority and power over more than a single ethnic group having peculiar cultural traditions. Consider the following that addresses the GOD of Israel as the GOD of the whole earth:
1. For mankind on the earth to apprehend the existence and operations of divinity, there must be a consciousness and process among created beings and living creatures that responds to the existence of Deity as the origin and source for the spheres of life and all that appear within them. While Deity (we also may say, the fullness of divinity; the GODhead; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) may appear occasionally, and not use a single, unchanging carnal, material, or physical form, there must be mechanisms among the living for recognition that divinity is an “active presence;” there must be aspects of personhood that allow communication, exchange, interaction, and continuing relationship; and the divine essence (we also say, breath, spirit, Word) must be manifest using the elements of continuum (we say, past, present, and future) from the finite frameworks of time and space. Anything less would result in chaos, flux, and multiple streams of formless matter in place before the founding of heaven and earth.
2. The living must manipulate a vast array of data from their senses (e.g., appetite, hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) and impose order on disparate experiences using features of the mind such as emotion, intellect, imagination, and recall. They also are to contain deposits of spirit matter as aspects of their own finite makeup, whereby GOD is understood as knowable, accessible, and approachable. The unchanging priorities and stability that describe divine “personhood” include the elements of immortality, incorruption, eternal purpose, purity, and truth. Thus, a sacred process of revelation has been continuing on earth that may be spoken of for mankind as development, and unfolding spiritual progression. In the same way there are multiple traits, behaviors, and expressions that distinguish individuals, Christian believers increasingly acknowledge that GOD is the sum and totality of all divine spirit substance. Included are balance, completeness, faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
3. Christians receive the Bible as a collection of holy writings that document the appearance of GOD (both in heaven and on earth) by using thousands of events within thousands lives over the course of thousands of years. Where the Jewish people are named as the first guardians and keepers of this sacred library pertaining to holy gifts and tools that have come by revelation, Christian believers are the final recipients of these divine things as beneficiaries, heirs, and a new creation through Jesus Christ. In addition to divine law, proclamations, promises and prophecy, the use of specific individuals as agents in service to GOD appear. Bible reports also highlight the divine use of family, tribes, inheritance, and priesthood along with GOD’s use of assemblies and collectives such as nations, kingdoms, and one-world empire (e.g., Egypt, Rome, Babylon). To continue mankind’s relationship with divinity GOD has required the participation of Gentiles as well as Jews; and has shown unwavering support that includes atonement, forgiveness, Incarnation, reconciliation, repentance, and even, resurrection from the dead.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended regarding the person of Jesus Christ. (For example, 4. Jeremiah 9: 23-26, King James Version (KJV): 23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.
Colossians 1: 16-22, KJV: 16 For by him 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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment