Often, from the four Gospels people mix up passages about Israel and apply them to the Church today. This can be harmful to the student of God's Word and can also lead to confusion or a frustrated faith in the person of Christ. I write these words at ChristianBlog to those who study their Bible and desire to rightly divide God's Word as a good workmen for Christ should.
The Kingdom Message given to Israel during the 3 years of Jesus' Earthly ministry is not to be mixed up with the message of the Gospel, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ foretold by the Prophets...preached today in the Church to both Jew and Gentile.
Here's a little comparison between Israel and the Church
Jesus said in Matthew 5:13...Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
When Jesus used the expression, "salt of the earth", He could not have been describing Christians. If this metaphor is applied to the Church, Jesus would have declared the Body of Christ would be cast out and trodden under foot of men. This contradicts what Christ said of the Church:
Matt 16:18... I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
As I have written previously in two recent Blogs...
Jesus "spoke" Judgment on the fig tree..."literally"
Jesus cried over Israel's rejection...
The gates of hell have prevailed against Israel through the pages of history, but never the Church. Israel was the salt and light of the nations, but they lost their savor and have been trodden under foot of men historically.
During the ministry of Christ Israel rejected the Messiah. In the future Millennium (after the Rapture and Great Tribulation) all of Israel will "accept" the Messiahship of Christ. Divine Judgment and flaming fire will renovate the Earth. There will be unity between all human beings. There will be unity between man and Christ. Perfect unity will be restored on Earth. There will be no rejection toward the truth of the Torah and the Messiahshp of Christ.
Jesus spoke of this perfect unity on Earth in Matthew's Gospel.
Matt 18:19...Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
This is a picture of the perfect unity that Jesus was describing in the Kingdom on Earth. The perfect unity of all Israelites must be first enacted before Israel can have the earthly Kingdom. Notice that when it says, "agree on earth as touching any thing" ,"it does not say agree in "faith" nor does it say agree in "prayer". Instead, this agreement is a condition of Israel's inner being where they are to be so united with each other that it would bring in the Kingdom of Heaven. When Israel moves into perfect harmony, all the Kingdom is going to be granted to them and the dominion of earth will also be granted to man by our heavenly father. This truth is brought out in many other passages in the four Gospels.
Jesus also said in,
Matt 6:14-15...For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Israel had to forgive those who transgressed against them in order to be forgiven. The holiness of the Law is the full requirement for Israel to have the Kingdom on earth.
At the same time Christ taught these things, He also condemned the Hebrew nation for not performing the works of the Law. He openly condemned the Hebrew nation for violating the Law by not practicing what they preach. In Matthew Jesus describes the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees:
Matt 23:2-3...Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus made a simple statement,
Matt 5:16...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
What were the good works Jesus was speaking of? It was Israel's obedience to the Law of Moses. Obedience was a light that shined to God and to humanity. Without light Israel walked in darkness and could not accept Christ as the promised Messiah.
Israel was the "salt of the Earth". Israel lost its savor. Israel has been trodden under the foot of men throughout the pages of history.
Matthew 5:13...Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
The Kingdom message to Israel is the object of the four Gospels. The Kingdom message is a simple message that's slighted this day and Age and sometimes even "spiritualized". The ministry of Christ (under Law) to Israel is not to be confused with the ministry of Holy Spirit (under Grace) to both Jew and Gentile in the Church. This is right division of God's Word. The Gospel of the Kingdom was preached under Law. The Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection is preached under Grace. This is right division of God's Word.
Christ purchased the Church with His own blood. Acts 20:28, Christ is the builder of the Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. The Church is not trodden under the foot of men. Christ is the Head of the Church. Christ exercises His power and authority in His Church of which we are all members.
In the Glory of the cross we see this beautiful picture of unity between Jew and Gentile in the Church today under Grace...Why? Christ abolished the enmity of the Law and through His suffering and death at Calvary He now gives us the Spirit of God...under Grace. Glory!
Eph 2:15-18...Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
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