CJP69
Active Member
Okay, so what I am detecting, and what is primarily responsible for the things I've said to you up to this point, is a desire on your part to mix that which was (and will be again) for Israel under a dispensation of law, with that which is intended only for the Body of Christ. In short, I detect, although it is more implied that overtly stated, a failure to rightly divide the word of truth, keeping that which was for Israel apart from that which is for the Body.It seems you did not read my comments with understanding. That may be my fault but I think I mentioned at least three "gospels."
Galatians 3:8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee (in Abraham' family) shall all nations be blessed.
This verse identifies the gospel (good news, glad tidings) as being that God would justify the nations through one of Abraham's family and on the principle of faith.
Galatians 3:24-26
24 Wherefore the law was our (Jews in context) schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.(gentiles were never under the Law as an operative principle of divine dealing)
26 For ye (gentiles) are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
This requires a dispensation change for Israel.
Read the context with reason and logic and understand that the Abrahamic covenant promise of salvation to all is the subject under discussion. He has made the point that the law, which could save no one, was added as a temporary addendum to the Abrahamic covenant for the purpose of discipline for Israel, but it did not disannul the eternal Abrahamic covenant. This promise in this covenant is the reason God must bring salvation to the gentiles through faith. The law is no longer the operative principle. It has been replaced by faith. It is written to Galatian gentile Christians who had been hoodwinked by Jewish law keepers into thinking they must keep portions of the law of Moses to be saved..
I must post this because it proves what I am saying;
Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after (the Abrahamic covenant promise), cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise (else you have earned it): but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The promise is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is salvation. V14.
Gentiles are saved, not because God made a promise to us, but because he made a promise to Abraham concerning us.
1) We are not part of the second covenant, which is all about Israel. - We, the church with a Jewish foundation Ep 2:20, are partakers of the spiritual blessings of the New Covenant. I showed that to be true in Rom 15.
2) We are not Israel. - I would be the last man to ever make such a claim that the church is Israel.
3) We are not Israel's replacement - Nothing could be more true.
4) nor do any of the promises made to Israel apply to the Body of Christ. - You have not given enough thought to this proclamation. Think about this the next time you take communion. The promise of blessing to the nations come through the Abrahamic covenant. This is the point of Ga 3.
5) There is overlap when it comes to the covenants made with Abraham because God intentionally made him the father of both groups, Israel and the Body, - Abraham is not he father of the church, he is the father of faith, at least that is the way I see it by looking through a glass darkly.
6) but when it comes to Israel in particular, their covenants are conditional, legalistic covenants that are antithetical to a dispensation gospel that is based entirely on grace alone, apart from works. - The only covenant that is conditional and temporary is the Mosaic Covenant. The Abrahamic, Ge 12, the Palestinian, Deut 30, the Davidic, 2 Sam 7-Ps 89, - the New Covenant are all unconditional covenants that requires God to complete and are eternal with those to whom they are made.
7) legalistic covenants that are antithetical to a dispensation gospel that is based entirely on grace alone, apart from works - If it were grace alone, then there would be no condition of faith. The truth is that salvation is by God's grace through the faith of the hearer who is in need of salvation from his sins. Faith in the gospel of Christ is the condition for men to be saved.
It is just an intuition, however, and so I could be wrong. Let me ask you to answer the following four questions....
- Why did the Twelve ask their followers to sell their possessions and live in what we would call today a commune? (Acts 4:32 - 5:11)
- Why were James' followers "zealous for the law"? (Acts 21:20)
- What did James mean when he said "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24)?
- What did Paul mean when he said, "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5)?
Nice! I typically can't get anyone to read it at all!I lack about 20 minutes being through it.