“And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord.”
First, Israel’s rejection of Christ was her final flaw. God says, “And it was broken in that day”, speaking of His covenant to save Israel as a nation. God gave her to reprobation because of it – “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink... Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of them (Ps 69:21-22, 24).” He’d been patient for 2000 years, but when His Son was cast off, He cast off the nation, except for the elect among them, whom He’d planned to save all along - (Rom 11:7) “What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”
We thought the promises were to a physical people, but that people REPRESENTED God’s elect out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and tribe – “And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and has redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests”, so that redemption is for the elect who are actually redeemed and saved (Rev 5:9).
Secondly, God’s elect shall be saved among the Jews, because they will come to Christ, who is the terms of the covenant (Jer 31:27-34). God promised a new covenant, not based on how we live and our behavior, but entirely built on God’s faithfulness in Christ Jesus. Having shed His blood, He established Himself just and holy to bless us freely with obedience by the forgiveness of sin. He perfects the gospel in us, saying, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”, so that being forgiven, we shall serve in renewed strength from God who works by the forgiveness of sins. The man comes home justified rejoicing in the power of Christ and loving to people. The rejection of Christ, no matter what else you have is DAMNATION, and the RECEPTION of Christ, no matter who is against you and me is SALVATION for sure – “Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it on the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever (Jer 31:40).” The same city that was ruined shall be built, the elect shall be saved, and we shall live godly.
Thirdly, God’s salvation makes us save others – “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. He produces Christianity in us, making us confess Christ and live that others know Him too (Matt 28:20). He gives us the strength by revealing that power is His to subdue our wills; He can do what we can’t by His love healing us of iniquity and cleansing us to obedience. Christ shall produce Christians until the end – “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-19).”
Lastly, He keeps us from breaking covenant. He kept Israel only upon the condition of serving Christ, but He keeps us serving Christ, and that’s why we shall not die – “so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord”, that God was saving by power Omnipotent and not human (Zech 11:11).
This gospel is not dependent upon us, which makes us dependent upon Him to do His will. Having Christ is sufficient.
We thought the promises were to a physical people, but that people REPRESENTED God’s elect out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and tribe – “And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and has redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests”, so that redemption is for the elect who are actually redeemed and saved (Rev 5:9).
Secondly, God’s elect shall be saved among the Jews, because they will come to Christ, who is the terms of the covenant (Jer 31:27-34). God promised a new covenant, not based on how we live and our behavior, but entirely built on God’s faithfulness in Christ Jesus. Having shed His blood, He established Himself just and holy to bless us freely with obedience by the forgiveness of sin. He perfects the gospel in us, saying, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”, so that being forgiven, we shall serve in renewed strength from God who works by the forgiveness of sins. The man comes home justified rejoicing in the power of Christ and loving to people. The rejection of Christ, no matter what else you have is DAMNATION, and the RECEPTION of Christ, no matter who is against you and me is SALVATION for sure – “Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it on the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever (Jer 31:40).” The same city that was ruined shall be built, the elect shall be saved, and we shall live godly.
Thirdly, God’s salvation makes us save others – “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. He produces Christianity in us, making us confess Christ and live that others know Him too (Matt 28:20). He gives us the strength by revealing that power is His to subdue our wills; He can do what we can’t by His love healing us of iniquity and cleansing us to obedience. Christ shall produce Christians until the end – “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:18-19).”
Lastly, He keeps us from breaking covenant. He kept Israel only upon the condition of serving Christ, but He keeps us serving Christ, and that’s why we shall not die – “so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord”, that God was saving by power Omnipotent and not human (Zech 11:11).
This gospel is not dependent upon us, which makes us dependent upon Him to do His will. Having Christ is sufficient.
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