Romans
3:9a
"What
then? are we (Jews) better than they?
(Gentiles)
Back
before Paul came along, what would the answer have been? Absolutely!
Because beginning with Israel’s experience in Egypt, what did God
tell the Hebrews? “I have put a division between you and the
Egyptians, and never again will you be like the rest of the world
around you.” (paraphrased) So they went through those 1500 years or
so, with that mentality? That they were a favored people, a set apart people and they
were. Do not ever take that away from them, but now with Paul and the
Age of Grace, the Church Age, they have lost that place of privilege, and Paul can
say, "there is no difference." Before reading on we will
look at Hosea 12 because in it is found an interesting statement
beginning at verse 9 it states this: “I...the Lord they God....I
have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and
used similitudes
(H1819, parables, to perceive something as something else, to resemble),
by the ministry of the prophets.” This is why we maintain that when we hear or read God's word we must first ask the Spirit of Truth to reveal to us, as with a clear eye, a clear mind, what His meaning is. And this is more so when we are reading any word of prophecy, because if we take it one, out of context we are in error, two, if we take it literally we are in error, and three, if we assume that we know and understand we are in error. For we do nothing but deceive our selves and if we are in a place of a teacher or pastor we will lead others blindly. This
is most humbling and I for one believe it is meant to be so.
Hebrews
chapter 10 and verse 25. Beginning with verse 21:
Hebrews
10:21-33
“And
having an High Priest over the House of God; Let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let
us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is
faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke
to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is*; but exhorting one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth (the
knowledge of Christ and the One Body), there
remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking
for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two
or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall
he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and
has counted the blood of the covenant**,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite
unto the Spirit of Grace? For we know Him that has said, Vengeance
belongeth to Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The
Lord shall judge His people ***. It is a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the Living God. But call to remembrance the former days,
in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of
afflictions (the
pressure to return to their Jewish roots);
Partly, while ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and
afflictions; and partly, while ye became companions of them that
were so used.”
*many
have made religion and the assembling together a habit, such as
Israel's feast's and other holidays.
**the
understanding of this Gospel of Grace which carries and supports the
New Covenant by the same name inaugurated by Jesus in the Last
Supper. ***now
understand that the writer is addressing Jewish believers in the
Messiah, for He no longer called Israel His people.
Remember
what God told Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 31:
Deuteronomy
31:16
“And
the LORD said to Moses, Behold, thou shall sleep with thy fathers;
and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the
strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will
forsake Me, and break My covenant which I have made with them.”
This
is in plan language.
Now
hear what the Spirit is saying through the Prophet, David:
Psalm
81:8, 11, 13 “Hear,
O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt
hearken unto me;.....But
my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of
me....Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked
in my ways!”
Then
we find in Isaiah:
Isaiah
1:3, 3:12, 5:13,
“The
ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth
not know, my people doth not consider.......As for my people,
children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people,
they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy
paths......Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they
have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their
multitude dried up with thirst."
Now
here is the heavy one again from Isaiah:
Isaiah
63:6
“
And I will
tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury,
and I will bring down their strength to the earth.”
Jeremiah
says this:
Jeremiah
8:21, 13:10, 15:1
“For
the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black;
astonishment has taken hold on me......This evil people, which
refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their
heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them,
shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.....Then said
the LORD to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my
mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and
let them go forth.
Hear
what the Prophet Ezekiel says:
Ezekiel
36:20
“And
when they entered to the heathen, whither they went, they profaned
my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the
LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.”
Then
hear the Prophet Hosea:
Hosea
1:9
“Then
said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will
not be your God.
Now
hear the Prophet Micah:
Micah
6:3
“O
my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied
thee? testify against me.”
And
finally from Malachi:
Malachi
2:9
“Therefore
have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,
according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the
law.”
God
is in deed long suffering and patient with mans ignorance...lack of
understanding. Returning to Romans chapter 3.
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