CoreIssue
02-03-2006, 10:12 AM
Quote:The Jews and the Law
17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-- 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."[2]
Before Christ was even born. In fact for centuries prior the Jews had become a proud and egotistical people holding that since they were the chosen who were given the Law and called to be his preachers that they were a superior people who could talk down to the Gentiles. In fact even separate themselves from the Gentiles because they were so superior.
But in their pride they failed to see their own sins. They failed to preach to the Gentiles, committed the sins the Gentiles did but had a split mind that held themselves innocent of sinning or having the condemnation of sin and so much more.
Read carefully what Paul just said. He is not speaking of them stealing money from each other, sexual adultery and so on.
Paul is accusing them of spiritual theft, adultery and idolatry against God. Which is why the Jews at large rejected Christ, became hard hearted and caused the Mosaic Covenant to be annulled with God turning to the Gentiles and forming the Church.
The Gentiles were suppose to be brought to God by the Jews being his priesthood on the earth. They failed and God made the Gentiles via the Church another priesthood to do what they had failed to do.
And that is why the Body of Christ is made up of two heirs, sharers and members who are both called priests. Church and Israel.
Quote:25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
Those into Replacement Theology love verses like this. That see it as proof Church has either replaced Israel by absorbing Israel into the Church and disbanding it as an independent entity. Or they see Gentiles being made into Israelites thus becoming one with the Jews and thus ending Israel's unique status and promises made to Abraham of fulfillment through his physical seed. Now his spiritual seed will fulfill his promises.
That is not true. Circumcision was a covenant sign given that the Abrahamic Covenant would be fulfilled through his seed. The Mosaic and Land Covenants used that sign to indicate Israel was in obedience and would receive the land along with the related promises.
So indeed for a Jew to be circumcised but break the Law was the same as not being circumcised. He was not under the promises the sign represented.
Quote:26If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
Note the statement here.
For a Jew to be under the Mosaic Covenant and the Land Covenant they had to be physically circumcised. No exceptions granted. But here speaks of those not circumcised but keeping the Law being as if they were circumcised.
The issue here is obedience to God, not the Abrahamic Covenant or the Land Covenant. And the Jews understood that clearly when reading this since they knew the Abrahamic Covenant could never be fulfilled through Gentiles or even uncircumcised Jews.
The Abrahamic Covenant is an eternal covenant. God said is must be fulfilled as given. And it can only be fulfilled via the physical seed of Abraham in which Gentiles have no place.
Quote:27The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[3] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
The Jewish pride issue. The reality of substance over symbolism.
Quote:28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
The Mosaic Covenant required more than symbolism and legalisms in the earthly world. It required spiritual commitment and change as well.
And no Gentile could ever be a Jew outward genetically.
Quote:29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
Being Jewish in the full sense means being in a covenant relationship with God. And that is more inward than outward in meaning.
And note very clearly here this is aimed at the Jews, not the Gentiles. Paul is saying to be a true Jew physically he must be one as well spiritually.
In the verses where Paul says we are all Jews spiritually it is a different context. A different meaning.
But when speaking of covenants to Israel and what it means to be a physical Jews you never see a statement that is includes Gentiles in the declarations and meanings.
Paul repeatedly makes it clear that in the Church Age no one is a saint without being Church. Yet Israel still has a special meaning and place in God's plans that will be fulfilled future.
One has to remember that at this point in time Israel does not exist. Jews exist, yes. But Israel the covenant nation does not.
17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth-- 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."[2]
Before Christ was even born. In fact for centuries prior the Jews had become a proud and egotistical people holding that since they were the chosen who were given the Law and called to be his preachers that they were a superior people who could talk down to the Gentiles. In fact even separate themselves from the Gentiles because they were so superior.
But in their pride they failed to see their own sins. They failed to preach to the Gentiles, committed the sins the Gentiles did but had a split mind that held themselves innocent of sinning or having the condemnation of sin and so much more.
Read carefully what Paul just said. He is not speaking of them stealing money from each other, sexual adultery and so on.
Paul is accusing them of spiritual theft, adultery and idolatry against God. Which is why the Jews at large rejected Christ, became hard hearted and caused the Mosaic Covenant to be annulled with God turning to the Gentiles and forming the Church.
The Gentiles were suppose to be brought to God by the Jews being his priesthood on the earth. They failed and God made the Gentiles via the Church another priesthood to do what they had failed to do.
And that is why the Body of Christ is made up of two heirs, sharers and members who are both called priests. Church and Israel.
Quote:25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
Those into Replacement Theology love verses like this. That see it as proof Church has either replaced Israel by absorbing Israel into the Church and disbanding it as an independent entity. Or they see Gentiles being made into Israelites thus becoming one with the Jews and thus ending Israel's unique status and promises made to Abraham of fulfillment through his physical seed. Now his spiritual seed will fulfill his promises.
That is not true. Circumcision was a covenant sign given that the Abrahamic Covenant would be fulfilled through his seed. The Mosaic and Land Covenants used that sign to indicate Israel was in obedience and would receive the land along with the related promises.
So indeed for a Jew to be circumcised but break the Law was the same as not being circumcised. He was not under the promises the sign represented.
Quote:26If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
Note the statement here.
For a Jew to be under the Mosaic Covenant and the Land Covenant they had to be physically circumcised. No exceptions granted. But here speaks of those not circumcised but keeping the Law being as if they were circumcised.
The issue here is obedience to God, not the Abrahamic Covenant or the Land Covenant. And the Jews understood that clearly when reading this since they knew the Abrahamic Covenant could never be fulfilled through Gentiles or even uncircumcised Jews.
The Abrahamic Covenant is an eternal covenant. God said is must be fulfilled as given. And it can only be fulfilled via the physical seed of Abraham in which Gentiles have no place.
Quote:27The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[3] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
The Jewish pride issue. The reality of substance over symbolism.
Quote:28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
The Mosaic Covenant required more than symbolism and legalisms in the earthly world. It required spiritual commitment and change as well.
And no Gentile could ever be a Jew outward genetically.
Quote:29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
Being Jewish in the full sense means being in a covenant relationship with God. And that is more inward than outward in meaning.
And note very clearly here this is aimed at the Jews, not the Gentiles. Paul is saying to be a true Jew physically he must be one as well spiritually.
In the verses where Paul says we are all Jews spiritually it is a different context. A different meaning.
But when speaking of covenants to Israel and what it means to be a physical Jews you never see a statement that is includes Gentiles in the declarations and meanings.
Paul repeatedly makes it clear that in the Church Age no one is a saint without being Church. Yet Israel still has a special meaning and place in God's plans that will be fulfilled future.
One has to remember that at this point in time Israel does not exist. Jews exist, yes. But Israel the covenant nation does not.