Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Giannis - 11 months ago
    Lbooth , pt 2

    Gal 3:29, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

    Heirs of what? Of the kingdom of Heaven.

    Gal 4:28-31, "28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

    The children of promise are the church.

    Israel is now considered the spiritual Israel which includes both Jews and gentiles who believe in Christ. Both are the Bride of Jesus. There is no other bride, there is no other Kingdom. On this earth there will be the 1000 year kingdom of Christ where both the saved jews and gentiles will reign together with Him. The church has inherited all the promises given by God to Israel. The only promise to israel (in flesh) left is that they will be saved when they will ask for Jesus during the tribulation by antichrist at the end.

    Rev 20:4, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

    Those beheaded mentioned above are not only Jews, are they?

    Finally that "rightly dividing the word of God" simply means to put doctrines in their right place and order.

    This is how as I see it.

    GBU
  • Lbooth1955 - In Reply - 11 months ago
    respondinging to part 2

    Galatians 3:29 tells us, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." From a dispensational view, this does not mean the Church has taken Israel's earthly promises. The promise goes back to Genesis 12:3-"in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." In Christ, that blessing is extended to Jew and Gentile alike in the Body of Christ. Our inheritance is heavenly and spiritual ( Eph. 1:3; Phil. 3:20), not Israel's land or her kingdom program.

    In Galatians 4:28-31 Paul explains that we, like Isaac, are children of promise, contrasted with Ishmael, born after the flesh. But this does not make the Body of Christ "spiritual Israel." Romans 11 shows clearly that Israel as a nation remains distinct and that God's covenant promises to them are not cancelled but postponed until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. The Church is called a "new man" ( Eph. 2:15), a separate creation altogether, with a heavenly hope.

    Much confusion comes from calling the Church the Bride. Scripture never uses that title for the Body of Christ. The Bride belongs to Israel ( Isa. 62:4-5; Rev. 21:2). We are the Body, already seated with Christ in heavenly places ( Eph. 2:6). Mixing these programs erases the difference between prophecy and the mystery.

    Revelation 20:4 speaks of those beheaded in the Tribulation who will reign with Christ a thousand years. These are not the Church but saints who endure Israel's prophetic program. We, the Body, are delivered from wrath to come ( 1 Thess. 1:10) and caught up before that time ( 1 Thess. 4:16-17).

    Thus, rightly dividing the Word ( 2 Tim. 2:15) means recognizing God's two distinct programs: Israel's earthly kingdom and the Church's heavenly calling. Both will be fulfilled in their proper place and order, to the glory of Christ.

    This is not hard to understand!

    G&P
  • Giannis - In Reply - 11 months ago
    Thanks for the discusion Lbooth. GBU



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