shalom Acceptance and Rejection In Romans, chapters 9, 10, and 11, Paul illuminated the fact that Israel, the chosen people, rejected what God had promised, and in reference to the nations he stated: “But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Rom 10:20-21; Lev 26; Eze 20). Israel objected; Israel, as a whole, refused and remained in unbelief and disobedience. Then the apostle continued:“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” (Rom 11:1-2).God did not cast away His people, although His people rejected Him. After all, He came to His Own and His Own received Him not. Only the ones who received Him and believed in His Name received the right to be children of God (Jn 1:11-12). Until today, the veil is over their hearts and can only be lifted by the revelation of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 3:12-18). We are living at the end of the time of grace, and as with Israel back then, it is now happening with the Church of the nations:“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profi t them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Heb 4:2). The election must be received and experienced personally by each individual. True faith is anchored in the promises of God, and only true faith leads into the fulfi llment. The matter currently at hand is that all believers let themselves be integrated in His predetermined counsel. Faith must be followed by obedience; we see this in particular with Abraham when he was supposed to sacrifi ce Isaac (Jas 2:21-26; Gen 22). Abraham did not act according to his own discretion – he obeyed and did what the LORD had commanded him. That is how faith was justifi ed by the deed. That is precisely what it is about with regard to His chosen people and also with the Church! Faith without the corresponding deed is dead and only a lip service. The Apostle Peter pointed out: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (1 Pt 2:6; Ps 118:22).It is marvelous: All those who do not place their trust in themselves or in a man, but in Him, the precious chief cornerstone, are built up jointly as living stones and will never be put to shame: “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacri- fi ces, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (v. 5) – and we are His house – the pillar and foundation of the truth (1Tim 3:15; Heb 3:6).“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Pt 2:7-8; Isa 28:16). Here, the true believers who place their trust in the LORD are clearly being distinguished from those among His people who do not believe as the Scripture says. At the fi rst coming of Christ, the religious builders discarded the cornerstone; now they are rejecting the capstone (Zec 4:7; Acts 4:11). Our LORD and Redeemer is the First and the Last. HE is Alpha and Omega, the cornerstone and the capstone. In order that everyone can determine for oneself whether he or she belongs to the true believers, the elect, the predestinated ones or to those who take offense at the Word which God has promised for our time, everyone should read the corresponding verse once again: “… which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Pt 2:8). That hurts, but that is how it is. It is always about the promised Word of the hour and about what God is presently doing. Whoever does not receive and believe it is destined to remain in disobedience and unbelief, to take offense and to be condemned. For some He is the Rock of Salvation, for the others the stumbling block. Whoever does not believe God stumbles over it on account of disobedience against the Word. And, amazingly enough, here it speaks of appointment as well. Whenever the time of fulfi llment came, all of the elect believed, recognized the time at hand, and had a part in what God was doing. The following applies to them: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pt 2:9-10). Paul, who had a direct responsibility because of the divine calling, introduced himself like this: “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness …” (Tit 1:1). The apostle showed how important it is to believe the truth and what the consequences are if the truth is not believed: “… And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie …” (2 Ths 2:10-11). Divine love for the Word is the prerequisite to have it revealed and to be kept safe from any lie. Addressing the true believers, the apostle wrote the following, which I also apply to all those who now truly believe: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctifi cation of the Spirit and belief of the truth …” (v. 13). In the Epistle to Timothy, the man of God wrote: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons …” (1 Tim 4:1). We have, after all, arrived in the end time and see that this Word is also being fulfi lled. As sure as every true doctrine comes from God, so does every false doctrine come from misleading spirits, even from demons. Only the Spirit of truth leads into all truth (Jn 16:13). And only “… as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom 8:14). Then he showed his co-worker at the time – and today all of us – the requirement: “… thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”(1 Tim 4:6; Isa 28:17). The apostle admonished us with these words: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (v. 16). Amen. “These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our LORD Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing …” (1 Tim 6:2-4).The Son of Man said: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (Jn 7:16-17). Every true servant who was indeed sent by the LORD can say the same. First, we must be prepared to do the Will of God, only then will it be revealed to us. At fi rst, the risen LORD taught His apostles for 40 days (Acts 1:1-5), then He commanded them: “… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you …” (Mat 28:20). The apostolic doctrine documented in the Bible is the doctrine of Christ; it is in force as the only true doctrine until the end (Acts 2:42). We also have to take this Scripture very seriously: “… that no lie is of the truth.” (1 Jn 2:21). In view of the true believers we read: “For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (2 Jn 1:2). To this we say: “Amen!” In 2. Tim 3, Paul further described the circumstances during the end time: “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” (2 Tim 3:8). Indeed, they always rise against the one whom the LORD has called to preach the absolute truth in connection with the Plan of Salvation. They are men of corrupt minds. Hereto it must be said that every true doctrine makes sense and every false doctrine is nonsensical. From the days of Moses, we also have the report in Num 16 that from the very tribe of Levi, which God had chosen to the ministry in the temple, Korah, the despiser, rose up against Moses. This Levite let jealousy arise in him; he looked at Moses, the man called by God, with contempt and thought that this man claimed too much for himself. And behold: He quickly gathered a group around him. Yes, and then God judged this Korah, who despised the unparalleled commission of Moses, and put an end to him along with his group. Why was this example written down for us? As a warning (2 Tim 3:16). The false prophets and christs who are making their appearances are not the ones who harm the believers of the end-time message, but instead “… of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). They claim that they have been called out by the ministry of the messenger, but then they go their own ways, like Dathan and Korah, and form factions which believe their special revelations. The Epistle of Jude says this about them: “These be they who separate themselves …” Every ministry placed by God, however, is provided for the edifi cation of the Church (Eph 4:11-16). Indeed, if it were possible, the very elect would also be misled by the cunningly devised fables. But, thankfully, it is not possible. The elect see through the religious deception; they remain in the Word and in the Church Just as 7000 remained of Israel in the days of Elijah and did not bow their knees before Baal, as the man of God set forth in Rom 11:5, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Amen. Only the elect are the Bride of the Lamb who will be taken up into glory at the Return of Christ. They are the wise virgins who will be ready and go into the marriage supper (Mat 25:10; Rev 19:7). To them applies the beatitude: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (Mat 13:16). Their eyes see; their ears hear; their hearts believe; they recognize the day of God’s merciful visitation. To them apply all nine beatitudes; they are pure in heart and will see God (Mat 5:3-12). As the elect, they remain in the Word and reject any interpretation; they abide in the grace and the love; they walk in the ways of God; they listen only to what the Spirit of God has to say through the Word of God to everyone in the Church. AMIN
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 08:20:01 +0000
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