Posted on 08/10/2006 12:22:56 PM PDT by OrthodoxPresbyterian
Remind me never to eat salad at your house!
It is? Galatians 6:16 is a cryptic reference to an "Israel of God." By logical inference from the surrounding context, I completely agree with you (6:15 discusses about how the ritual of circumcision and the state of uncircumcision are irrelevant), but it's overstating the case by a lot to say "Galatians 6:16 [makes it] Biblically-Mandantory that you believe that God's "Israel" in Prophecy = "THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH."
Now that makes for an interesting post! First and foremost, because you are self-aware of how your personal epistemology works. I've only met a few Christians who have ever considered it that deeply, and fewer still who have gone ahead and categorized it as you have!
As for me personally (and I suspect this might be generally true for Calvinists), mine reverses #1 and #2. Not because I discount personal revelation per se, but because of how it's received - it's experiential by nature. Being a Calvinist, I hold my own senses and powers of reasoning suspect, given my belief in Total Depravity. I've been fooled by the Adversary often enough, through my own emotions and senses, that I have learned not to trust them w/o matching my experiences with God's written word. Thus, your "indirect knowledge" becomes my primary knowledge, and any "direct revelation" I might receive is held subservient to it.
That's not a criticism of your own experiences, BTW, nor an argument of your ordering. I'm just saying that I appreciated the insight into how you think through things, and to offer you some insight into how this Calvinist keeps his own thoughts ordered/captive, and his head on straight.
Well you at least got one thing partially right. Then again, who sent the soul of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus to Hades for three days?
I remember a popular seminary question in Old Testament Survey, given as a test after each book of the Old Testament was surveyed, was to either write an essay on the particular book or trace the crimson thread of redemption through the same book of the Old Testament. After each book, varying degrees of book related questions were provided, but the same crimson thread of redemption option was available on each book review.
Thank you so very much! Hugs!
The NT writers never limit the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah to national/racial Israel. It is always universalized.
= = = =
It would be difficult for me to think of more of a straw dog; irrelevant point, issue--in terms of what God is doing with the blood/DNA/genetic descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in our era.
When God speaks of reconciling ALL CREATION; that ALL CREATION waits eagerly, expectantly, yearningly, groaningly for the manifestation of the sons of God . . .
most of us kind of get the impression that that includes all Blood Israel AS WELL AS The Church . . . as in . . .
ALL CREATION = ALL CREATION . . . evidently excepting those who are determined to opt out in rebellion and must be encapsulated in hell--whatever that place is.
BTW, just thought I'd mention that what you are calling "blood Israel" is the same as what I've been calling "nation of Israel" - the mortal descendants of Jacob.
Thanks. Had gathered that.
Seems like we have to . . . be super careful in terminology and then it's not enough! LOL.
Ahhh well.
Many profit from your words, for sure. They are clear and easy to digest.
Mine are more like flinging snipets in the wind. Yet, I have some confidence that HIS WIND will blow them where He wills it to hearts truly seeking such truths.
Heading to Promise Keepers in several short hours . . . whee. Colo Springs. I pray and trust it will be a blessed conference. Usually prefer the going and coming but really enjoy the mass worship. And, certainly it's a polished program geared to the mentality and values of MOST of the men likely to be there. They do a good Scriptural job of it.
Now for some scant hours of sleep. Oh, that's right--to make bed first. Wheeee.
LUB,
May God bless you and keep you in your rest and your journey - and may He bless all the participants in the Promise Keepers assembly.
Oh my. Is this really what you believe? I am not a despensationalist,(sp?) but this is just way beyond the pale to me. No offense at all meant to you Topcat, but I can't see this being true at all. This sounds very much like a quote from a terrible book I just read called The End of Faith written by a communist antiGod liberal who says Christians are a danger to the survival of all the planet.
Again, just to make sure, as I do not like to get into any kind of disputes with fellow believers, I did not post the reply to you in any way to insult you or your beliefs! I am just rather dumbfounded by the statement about Christian Zionists. Here I go again with my Rodney King like why can't believers all love each other and get along??? :-)
You've been "Sigh"-ing alot lately, dear Quix! (: May a new Time of Refreshing come for you from God the Holy Spirit!
THANKS TONS FOR THE PRAYERS. AMEN.
Thanks for noticing. I hadn't.
A-G thanks for all your prayers and kindnesses, too.
Happy Blessed weekend to all . . .
I believe Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, not Greek, but I could be wrong. (I was once--smile.)
The modern church as most of us know it, has little or no power to be anything, but there is a time and I believe it's near, that the TRUE church, Christ's church, will arise and be a great power. We need to get rid of churchianity and begin to depend on Christ and Christ alone and to hear and obey what He's telling us in these times.
Did the disciples speak Aramaic or Greek? Thanks for the info. I guess I realized the NT was written in Greek and not Aramaic but thought the language of the day was Aramaic, at least for the Jews.
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