August, 1998
About the plot to kill Jesus...
John 11.51&52... Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in "one" the children of God who were scattered abroad.
Who was he referring to...? If he were talking of the Jews, that occurred three times a year, at the great Sabbath feasts, that God asked the children of Israel to attend every year. The feast following the resurrection of Jesus...
Acts 2.5... And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
Are these them? James answers the question...
Acts 10.35... But in every nation (and every nation includes the nation of Israel) whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
Romans 10.16... But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" (those who truly believe the gospel, obey the gospel... )
Romans 10.17... So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10.18a... But I say, have they not heard?
Romans 10.18b...Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." (they have heard, they believed, yet they did not obey)
Romans 10.19a... But I say, did Israel not know?
Romans 10.19b... First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation , I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." (we are that nation, individuals who believe, respect, and do the works of righteousness)
Romans 10.20... But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me."(all of us Gentiles who would believe) (please remember that Jesus was sent to the Jews first and some believed... but not all.)
Romans 10.21... But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people."
The sad result of it all...
Matt 21.43... "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God(for the kingdom of God is within you) will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. (Who we now are... believing Jews and Gentiles)
Matt 21.44... "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." It is Jesus who is the stone, the one that the builders of Israel have rejected. The stone, that if a person falls upon it, will receive mercy and forgiveness of sins. To the Jew first and to the Gentile also. Those who reject Jesus will be crushed to powder beneath it. Jew and Gentile alike.
1 Peter 2.8-10...
This holy nation are all Jews and Gentiles who believe the word of God, who is "the Word of God." There is no difference between the believing Jew and the believing Gentile for He has made us all "one" in Jesus. Those who remain are of the world. We who believe are in the world but not of it, for we have been born anew into the kingdom of God.
* You cannot separate the word of God from the Word of God, who is Jesus. (John 1) They are one and the same. Rejection of either one is rejection of the other, for they are the same "one".
We have been created as a new nation, a spiritual one, and I hope that we will not fall into the errors that have preceded our creation as such. Stand true to the word and the Word who is Jesus, reading, believing, obeying, following.
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