WHAT ARE ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH?
MF Blume
April 10, 2016
Ephesians 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye
also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
• “YE ALSO”… GENTILES!
So, after Paul says we’re not only TOGETHER with Jesus, but also
WITH believing ISRAEL who entered the new covenant, he says…
THIS FELLOWSHIP between Jews and Gentiles IN THE CHURCH .,..
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the
same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Why?
• FOR THIS PURPOSE…
Ephesians 3:9-11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in
God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10) To the
intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
(11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ
Jesus our Lord:
Before, the resurrection power was to show God’s GRACE TO US! Eph. 2:7.
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus.
- Now He’s showing GOD’S MANIFOLD WISDOM
And the UNITY OF SAVED GENTILES WITH ISRAEL shows ALL MEN AS WELL AS PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS HIS MANIFOLD WISDOM – 3:10!
First it shows the universe HIS GRACE.
• Secondly it shows the universe HIS WISDOM!
AND it’s HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE!
Then he tells us to not faint because of his persecutions he endures for preaching this message.…
Then He prayed for us AGAIN!
In chapter 1 he prayed for our eyes to be opened to see the resurrection power TOWARD US.
• He’s praying again!
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) Of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, (16) That he would grant you,
according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by
his Spirit in the inner man; (17) That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to
know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto him that
is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh IN US, (21) Unto him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
end. Amen.
- Paul prayed we Learn the DIMENSIONS of this TEMPLE,
after he said we are built together with believing Jews into a holy
temple.
- The more we KNOW of the dimensions of this temple, the MORE HIS SPIRIT FILLS US.
- GOD FILLS HIS TEMPLES!
Exodus 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
2 Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and
singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and
thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the
trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD,
saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the
house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the
fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the
sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
He will have glory through all ages like He said this was accomplished for!
• Until you SEE the union of SAVED ISRAEL AND
SAVED GENTILES, you will not realize how MUCH POWER we have!
HOW TO BE FILLED TO UTTERMOST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same
month: and the whole assembly (qâhâl) of the congregation of
Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church (ekklēsia); and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it.
So, when the disciples heard Jesus say "ekklesia" they knew He meant
the assembly just as Moses called the people Israel the assembly and
congregation many many times.
• What Jesus spoke of was an extension what Israel already knew.
• Israelites were the ekklesia in the first century.
80 times was "qahal" translated "ekklesia" in the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint.
This new covenant was for Israel.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house
of Judah: (32) Not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring
them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I
was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (33) But this
shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After
those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be
my people.
Hebrews 8 refers to Jeremiah’s prophecy.
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the
sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Hebrews 8:6-10 But now hath he obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant,
which was established upon better promises. (7) For if that
first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been
sought for the second. (8) For finding fault with them, he
saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
(9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of
Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them
not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I
will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
It stood on the fact the old covenant had a fault so we’re in a better covenant now.
• Hebrews 10 also refers to Jeremiah’s
prophecy and points out another angle that tells us how good our
covenant is.
Hebrews 10:11-19 And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away
sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice
for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13)
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
(14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness
to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I
will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write
them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no
more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no
more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10 takes the part that says he will forget out iniquities, and on that basis says we can come boldly to the throne!
• No worries about God hanging your iniquities over your head.
But all the while, this covenant we have that’s better than the
old, and causes God to forget our sins, was originally prophesied FOR
ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
And that’s what happened.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Roman empire is the world then known. “Oikomene”. Not “cosmos”.
• Roman Empire.
• So, in Acts Peter is speaking to men of Judea.
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,
and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at
Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God
did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The promise is first to ISRAEL!
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
3,000 souls were added. All Israelites.
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Only Jews were being saved.
• Israel.
Act 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Act 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
• Only Jews!
In Acts 8 Then HALF Israelite/Gentiles (Samaritans) came into the New Covenant.
• It was because THE GOSPEL IS TO THE JEW FIRST.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Romans 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
UNSAVED Jews were enemies to the Church, but GOD STILL LOVED THEM.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your
sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers'
sakes.
And they can GET BACK ON THE OLIVE TREE!
Romans 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief,
shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
But they have to believe.
If they stay under law they are cursed:
Galatians 3:9-10 So then they which be of faith are blessed with
faithful Abraham. (10) For as many as are of the works of
the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the
law to do them.