The Living Witnessess of Christ:
(Romans 10: 12-18) (NIV) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile---the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blessed ALL who can call on him, for "Everyone who calls on the Lord will be SAVED".
How then can they Call on the ONE they have NOT Believed in? How can they Believe in the ONE of whom they have NOT heard? How can they Hear without Someone to Preach to them? How can they Preach unless they are Sent?As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!" But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has Believed our message?" Consequently, Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: "Did they not hear? Of course they (Israelites) did!" "Their voice has gone out into all the earth." (Romans 10: 9-10) That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you are saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are Justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess, and are saved. The word "Lord" (Greek Kyrios) is translated the name of Israel's God (Yahweh), Paul, when using this Word Jesus, is referring Deity to Him. Salvation involves inward belief ("with your heart ") as well as outward confession ("with your mouth"). In the sense that both Jews and Gentiles are on the Same footing as far as Salvation is concerned. Peter cited this same passage (Joel 2:8-32) "and afterward," I will pour out my spirit on All people your sons and daughters will prophesy, and your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and Women I will pour out my Spirit in those days...And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be Saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be Deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the Remnants, (survivors) whom the Lord calls. These scriptures were Fulfilled in (Acts 2:17-21) on the day of Pentecost (A.D 33) in Jerusalem. Through the preaching of Peter/11Apostles/120 disciples 3000 souls were Saved in the name of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:14-15). Some might argue that Jews had never had a fair opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel, Paul by means of series of rhetorical questions, states (in reverse order) the conditions necessary to call on Christ and be saved. "1) A preacher Sent from God, 2) Proclamation of the message, 3) hearing the message, 4) believing in the message. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" The quotation is from (Isa. 52:7), which refers to those who bring the exiles the good news of their imminent from captivity in Babylon. Here it is applied to gospel preachers, who bring good news of release from captivity of sin. (verses 17-18) Faith comes from hearing the message; the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I (Paul) ask: Did they (Jews) not hear? Of course they Did. "Their voice has gone Out into all the earth, their words to the Ends".Their voice. The quotation is from (Ps.19: 4), which refers to the testimony of the heavens to the glory of God. Here "Their voice" is applied to the gospel preachers and is used to show that Israel cannot offer excuse that she did NOT have opportunity to hear, since preachers (Apostles) went everywhere as Jesus had commanded them to be Witnesses in (Acts 1:7) "But you will receive Power when You will be my Witnesses in Jerusalem, and in All Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." These words (originally used to describe God's revelation in nature) appropriately describe the widespread preaching of the gospel, and Paul uses them to show that Jews had sufficient opportunity to hear the message of Redemption. (Romans 10:19-21) Did Israel Not understand? The quotations that follows (from Deut. 32:21) answers this question by suggesting that the Gentiles, whom the Jews considered to be Spiritually unenlightened, Understood. Surely if they (Gentiles) understood the message, the Jews could have. The Gentiles, those who are not a nation of God are forming the sense that Israel was. The responsibility for Israel's rejection as a nation rested with Israel herself! She had failed to meet God's requirement, namely Faith.
(Romans 11: 1-36) There has always been a faithful remnant among the Jewish People. As it was in Elijah's day, so it was in Paul's day. Despite widespread of Apostasy (renegade), a faithful remnant of theJews remained. The grounds for the existence of the remnant were NOT their good works, but God's grace. The righteous standing before God, which eluded the greater part of Israel the elect because they refused the way of Faith God made them blind to spiritual truth in Jesus Christ. The spiritual dullness of the Jews had continued from Isaiah's day to Paul's day. The
"Rich of Gentiles" references to the abundant benefits of Salvation already enjoyed by Believing Gentiles, which had come about because of the Rejection of the gospel by the Jews.
(V- 12) That rejection caused the Apostles to turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48, 18: 6). (Verse-26) Israel's hardening is Temporary, NOT Permanent until the total number of the Elect Gentiles comes in. The total number of the elect could be mostly Gentiles and some Jews of every generation. The Salvation of the JEWS will, of course, be on the same basis as anyones salvation: Personal Faith in Jesus Christ crucified and rose from the dead. The Deliver will come from Zion! The quotation is from (Isa. 59:20), where the deliver ("Redeemer") seems to refer to God. The Jews understood the text to be a reference to the Messiah. (Revelation 11:1-19) I (John) was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measures the temple of God but Exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months, and I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are Two Olive trees and the Two lamps stand that stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
Four events will happen at the Same period 1,260 days, 42 months, and 3 1/2 years.
1) (Rev. 11:1-5) Holy City trodden down by the Gentiles. (42 months).
2) (Rev. 11:3-9) Power given to Two Witnesses to Prophecy. (1,260 days)
3) (Rev. 12:1-17) The Woman (true Bride of Christ) protected by God by fleeing into the wilderness from Satan. (3 1/2 yrs)
4) (Rev. 13:1-19) The beast leopard/Lamb; devil, mother of Harlots (false bride of Christ) false prophets.. Were given Power to make War with the Saints, and to Overcome them who keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Zech. 4:11-14) Then I asked the angel, "What do these Two Olive Trees on the right and the left of the lamp stand? He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said. So, he said, "These are the Two who are anointed" to serve the Lord of all the earth.
Two Olive Trees stand for the priestly and royal office and symbolize a continuing supply of oil. Two branches stand for Joshua the Priest and Zerubbabel from the royal house of David. These two leaders were to do God's work (e.g. on the temple and in the lives of the people) in the power of his spirit. The combination of the priestly and royal lines and their functions points ultimately to the Messianic King-Priest and his office functions. These two Witnesses in (Revelation 11) may symbolize testifying Apostles/prophets who will be Martyred for Proclamation of Truth in Jesus. (42 months X 30= 1,260 days). They were clothed in sackcloth, a coarse dark cloth woven from the hair of goats or camel. It was worn as a Sign of Mourning and Penitence (Joel 1:13; John 3:5-6; Matt. 11:21). The imagery emphasizes that the Spirit of God supplies the power for effectiveness testimony. (Mark 6: 6-13) (NIV) Then Jesus went teaching from village to village, calling the 12 to him, and he sent them out two and two, and gave them authority over evil spirits...and if any place will NOT welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them. They went out and Preached that people should repent. (Luke 10:1-23) After this the Lord appointed 70 others and sent them two and two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go...Jesus said, "He who listens to you Listens to me; he who Rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects me rejects Him (the Father) who Sent Me". Why did Jesus send the Apostles out in the missions two and two or sometimes three or four as a group? (John 8: 17-18) It is also written in your Law, that the testimony of two men is true (Deut. 17:6; 19:5). I am One that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me. And yet my judgment is true: For I am NOT alone, but I and the Father that Sent me. Just as Salvation for Gentiles involves Forgiveness of Sins, so the Jews, when they are saved, are forgiven by the mercy of God---his forgiveness based ONLY on their Repentance and Faith. Paul's praise to God, whose wisdom and knowledge brought about his great plan for Salvation of both Jews and Gentiles. (Eph.1: 1-14) Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the Saints who are at Ephesus.
Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ...In love God predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ...(Verses 13,14) In whom ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of Your Salvation: in whom also after that ye Believed, ye were Sealed with that Holy Sprit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
#1) The parable of the Fig Tree/Faith (Matthew 21: 17-22) This parable of Jesus was given during His last days before Calvary as He gathered His own around Him for final teaching. In the city, Jesus found hatred and plots to kill Him by those He wished to Save. So, He left Jerusalem for Bethany where He found Loving fellowship, gratitude and peace. Having spent the night in such a quiet place, Jesus returned to Jerusalem and on the way cursed and destroyed the fig tree.
This parabolic act, our Lord Jesus explained, was His only miracle of Judgment, and that against a barren tree, behind the mere destruction of the tree there was a parabolic significance. Difficulties have risen regarding our Lord's unique action. Some say that it was an act of injustice, seeing it was not "seasons of figs."
Why would he expect fruit when it was not the season? But although the usual time of the figs was about June, it was in the month of April the tree was cursed. There was, however, a kind of first Ripe fig, before the time of the full harvest of figs, on certain trees, as Isaiah points out (Isa. 28:4). The was the fact of nature known by all of those with Jesus. Whenever such first ripe figs appeared, they did so before the leaves appeared. Jesus, knowing that this tree was one producing figs before leaves, saw nothing but leaves where there should have been no leaves at all. Leaves suggest fruitfulness, but fruit was lacking which indicated a false development of show and appearance. The tree had failed in its purpose and was therefore smitten with destruction.
The meaning of the parabolic action is not hard to find. Israel is pictured as a fig tree, and He came to the nation, His Nation expecting fruit. Leaves of religious formalism He found in abundance, but the fruit of holiness was lacking. Jesus rejected the tree, emblem of the nation. Cursing the fig tree was the forerunner of the national Judgment. Inspire of the outward appearance of Life, Israel was spiritually Dead. Fruit was professed but not possessed. #2) The Parable of the Householder and the Heir. (Matthew 21:33-46). The Scribes and Pharisees had tried to impeach the Savior, only to find them in turn impeached of Him. They had discounted Him as the Son of God having All authority. He now, in a further condemnatory parable, sets forth who he is to die at the hands of His foes.
Jesus exposed a breach of sacred trust in a parabolic presentation of Israel's Past history, and of the future punishment for the betrayal of such a trust. First of all, we think of the privileges bestowed on Israel by God, here likened to a householder, a father, Lord of the vineyard.
Frequently, we read of Israel, endowed with peculiar privileges. Israel, as an honored vine, was hedged round about by it Owner (God), which can be looked upon as the law with all its ordinances. Through such (Deut. 7:8; Eph. 2:14), the Jewish Nation was separated from other nations because of the Peculiar mission she was to exercise, which was to bring the Savior, Jesus Christ into the world.
Although they represented and were responsible to God, they persistently betrayed His trust. Having made them answerable to Himself, He went into "a far country," leaving them apparently to themselves. After the first planting of His vineyard, and after the deliverance out of Egypt, the giving of the Law, and the Possession of Canaan, Israel did have extraordinary manifestation of the presence of God (Deut.34: 10-12).
When the time of fruit drew near, the owner (God) sent his servants to collect what was due. We believe the "servants" to be noble array of prophets, who as ambassadors of God had a special commission to remind the nation of its obligations and to the call people and rulers. But the privileged children of Israelites abused their privileges. Jewish rulers became wayward, selfish and turned against God-inspired ministry disturbed the rulers' conscience and robbed them of the respect of the people.
Isaiah was saw asunder. (I Kings 18:13; 22:24) Amos was murdered with a club. (II Kings 6:31,22)
John the Baptist was beheaded. (Matthew 23: 29-37)
Stephen was stoned to death. (Act 7:5) The "householder" was slow to deal with the hopeless evil of the "Husbandmen". How patient he was!
Israel proved so wayward, yet God expended more and more labor and patience to win her to Himself. At last, God sent His Son, His Heir. To contrast between the Old Testament prophets and Christ is marked: The former were God's servants. Christ was His Son and Heir. The sending of Christ was the last trial of divine mercy with His Covenant-people. Then there came the decision to kill the Heir "Let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance and they slew him." (Acts 2:23) Peter charged the Jewish rulers with the murder of Jesus.
How brave and fearless it was of Jesus to confront His foes and predict that they would kill him, and try to seize the vineyard (Acts 4:25-27). Then Jesus went on to ask the question, "When the Lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen?"
Passing in righteousness sentence on themselves, the Pharisees said,
"He will miserably destroy those wicked men." a sentence executed when the Romans destroy Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (over 1 millions Jews bodies were cast over Jerusalem walls). The people were cut off from the privileges, which for thousand of years they had possessed.
The kingdom of God was to be taken from the Jews, and from the nation they represented, and given to another nation, which the Lord forecast here casting off the Jews. What was the other "nation" to which authority over God interests passed? Was it not the Church, which Peter describes as "a holy nation" (I Peter 2:9)? This "nation" consists of All regenerated persons and is constituted on a different principle and held together by different bonds. It is not after the flesh, but after the Spirit that citizenship is obtained in this Christian commonwealth, in which Saved Jews and Gentiles are One. (John 10:14-18) Jesus said, "I have other Sheep which are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be One flock, and One shepherd..." (NIV) To the Christians Gentiles at Ephesus Paul wrote (Ephesians 2:1-22) For by grace ye are Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. That at times ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our Peace, who has made both us (Jews and Gentiles) One, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. For through Christ we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father.
Now, therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and built upon the Foundation of Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the building fitly framed together growth unto a holy temple of the Lord.
#3) Parable of the Marriage Feast and Wedding Garment (Matt. 22).
The father is described as "a certain king," and without doubt, this was Jesus' description of His Father in Heaven. The King who made the marriage feast is our heavenly Father; the Bridegroom is His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ; the Bride is the Christian Church who have been called out of the world down through the ages by the servants through the gospel invitations. Everything is ordered for the pleasure of the King's Son. The Servants, who compels the guests to come in to the feast. By the "Marriage" we are not understand "the Marriage of the Lamb" (Revelation 19), although the festival here will result in that thrilling union taking place when Christ presents His True Church to God. All that we presently experience and enjoy is a "Dinner," but the "Supper," the last festival, is yet in the future. John the Baptist had referred to Jesus as a "Bridegroom" (John 3:29),
a designation He, Himself, confirmed. All throughout the Old Testament, the union between God and Israel is spoken of under figure of the marriage covenant. There is a hint stated by Paul when he speaks of the Church as the "Wife." of Christ; and by John when he calls her, "The Bride, the Lamb's wife."
We have here a fitting description of the spiritual banquet set before men and women in the blessings of the Gospel, "a feast of fat things" (Isa. 25:6). The glorious feast He has spread includes Pardon of sin, Favor with God, Peace of conscience, the exceeding great and promises, Access to the Throne of Grace, the Comforts of the Spirit, the well-grounded assurance of eternal life. To all who avail themselves of such a bountiful provision there is the great feast "The marriage Supper of the Lamb."
The tragedy unfolded in the parable is strange refusal of the invited guests to attend the royal celebrations. The King, it would seem, sent forth three invitations, yet all were rejected. All men were "bidden." Israel had been "bidden" by long prophetic hints of the approach of the Salvation. Since the Pentecost, the Spirit has "bidden" men and women to come to the gospel feast. The First Invitation: (Matthew 22:1-3), those who invited "would not come." The invitation was not rejected, but returned. They were honored by the royal request, but treated it somewhat indifferently. It is said that in the East, it is the fashion to give a preliminary invitation to a feast, somewhat indefinite as to day and hour, and then follow it up with definite invitation when the feast is actually ready. But those in the parable receiving the first invitation decided to abstain from attending before the second one reached them.
The Second Invitation was more Explicit and Urgent (Matthew 22:4-7). The dinner was prepared, and all things were ready for the marriage celebrations. The further group of servants, however, was not more successful than the first. This time the kindness of the King was met with contemptuous mockery. "They made light of it, and went their ways." Their business interests meant more to them than any obligation to attend a marriage festival as the king's guests. The remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them. What a strange response to infinite mercy! Acting in this way, they had sinned against the King, his Son, his Servants, and themselves.
What was the reaction of the slighted insulted King! "He was wroth, and sent forth his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city." The prophetic aspect of this parable was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, in the year 70 A.D. when the armies of Titus completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple buildings. Stones were even pried apart to collect the gold leaf that melted from the roof when the temple was set on fire. This parable, then, was distinctively one of Judgment! Those armies, made up of Romans soldiers, were carrying out His pronounced sentence upon a nation utterly rejecting both His son and His servants. Those armies were "the rod of God's anger" scattering the people who were spared over the face of the earth.
The Third invitation reveals divine mercy seeking other objects (Matthew 22:8-10). But those who were bidden "were not worthy." The King's goodness was not quenched by the ingratitude and evil of the previously invited guests. The grace of God had been scornfully Rejected by the Jews! now the invitation goes out to the Gentiles, who were deemed unworthy any of the privileges of Israel. The Gentiles responded to the great gospel cry of "Whosoever." The king's Servants were to go into the highways or mere geographical boundaries, which the Apostles and disciples did as the book of Acts and Revelation clearly show.(Matthew 16:13-20) Jesus said, "I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter (detached stone) and upon this rock (bedrock, Jesus) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 24:14) Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a Witness unto All nations; and then shall the End come. (Matthew 28:16-20) after Jesus was raised from the dead He told his apostles/disciples "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, Son and Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you. And Lo, I am with you always, even unto the End of the world."(Acts 1:8) Jesus said, "but ye shall receive Power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: ye shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, in Samaria, and unto the Uttermost part of the earth." (Gal.2: 7-9) On the contrary, they saw that I (Paul) had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. (Revelation 14:6) written by John the apostle in (95 A.D.) I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. For the time has come for thee (Jesus) to reap for the harvest is ripe. He that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.(Matthew 24: 29-31) Immediately after the distress of those days "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light: the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four wind, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Act 5: 27-42) The apostles, appeared before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priests, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name (Jesus Christ) Peter and other apostles replied, "we must obey God rather than men", but a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, he addressed them: "men of Israel, these men (apostles). Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about 400 hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing."
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the day of census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: "Leave these Apostles alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God." (Acts 9:1-6) Jesus appeared to Saul of Taurus, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now, get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. (II Cor. 13:8) Saul wrote many years later, We Can not do anything against the truth but For the truth. The Wedding Garment: When the king came to see his guests, and the guests who came did not enter the great hall immediately. Opportunity was given them to array themselves in appropriate garments provided by the king. T hose gathered from the highways would be poor and poorly clad. It was the custom in some parts of the East to supply royal guests with some simple robe, securing the uniformity of all present. The king saw there a man, which had not the wedding garment. Then the king said to him, "Friend, how camest thou in here not having a wedding garment? But when the king asked him the reason, Jesus used a slightly different word for not". Me, who suggested not merely the fact that he lacked the wedding garment, but he did so definitely, of his own thought, of his own will, and intention. The man determined not to have it on. His presence in the feast is the supreme sign of his rebellion against the order set up of which this marriage feast is the great symbol. Realizing his sin in refusing the King's order, he was speechless and silent as his judgment was pronounced. The man was to be bound and taken away from the light and joy of the feast and cast into the darkness outside.
Does it not imply the laying aside of the garment of sin and self-righteousness, and clothing ourselves with the divine righteousness of Christ? Every sinner must comply with the King's terms, if they are going to experience the King's grace. The garment, as a symbol of Christ's all-perfect righteousness, for Paul exhorts us to "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." The garment, therefore, representd a Christ-covered life. If men die without such a garment, then they can never participate in "the marriage supper of the Lamb", which is only for Believers or Saved sinners. "For all who die without Christ as their covering, there is the doom of "the blackness of darkness forever." In concluding His parable Jesus said, "Many are called, but Few are chosen " (Matt. 20:16; 22:24). Those who are called, but failed to accept Christ's invitation, will DIE in their sin. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, has a guard 24 hours a day. Every hour on the hour, 365 days a year, a new soldier reports for duty. When the new guard arrives, he receives his orders from the one who is leaving. The words are always the same: "Orders Remain Unchanged." The same could be said of the orders that Jesus gave to His disciples and apostles. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His followers, "You shall be Witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8). He also said, "Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:16-20). (Romans 1:16-17) For I (Paul) am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jews first, and also to the Gentiles. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (I Cor. 1: 18-27) For the Preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God...For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (II Timothy 2: 1-2) Thou therefore my son (Timothy) be strong in grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commitment (entrust) thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach other also.
