The Holy Scriptures commonly referred to as 'The Bible' are the written records (letters) recorded by the apostles and various prophets of the word, the deeds of the people, and Gods plan for them.
The Bible is divided into two major sections named 'Old Testament' & 'New Testament'. The old testament was in effect up until the death of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus was crucified, The 'New Testament' went into effect at the time of Jesus's death.
Heb_9:16 (For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.
Heb_9:17 For a testament is of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)
To explain this in a little more detail, if you hire an attorney to write a 'Last Will & Testament' for you, you know that this only goes into effect upon your death.
So anything you bequeath (give away) upon your death is written in your 'Will' (Last Will & Testament). It can include any specific directions to those who are your heirs, like conditions or stipulations that they must agree to or conditions that they must meet in order to inherit. But it does not legally go into effect until your death. Similarly the grace of God through Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and remission of sins was not available during the life of Jesus Christ but did become available for all upon his physical death on the cross.
Act_2:23 --him, given up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye, by the hand of lawless men , have crucified and slain.
Act_5:30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom *ye* have slain, having hanged on a cross.
So when Jesus was crucified, his 'Testament' went into effect and those who believe on Jesus Christ are no longer governed by the old testament (aka 'The Law').
Christian Perspective as a historical note: Israel tried to follow the law's of God to be a righteous people (see Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Numbers), but like anyone today was prone to sin and was not able to achieve righteousness on their own so by the law's standards everyone had sinned. During that time God would forgive their sins when the high priest would make a sacrifice for the people at the temple of God. They offered animal sacrifices every year at the temple but this only 'rolled' their sins back for 1 year. It had to be repeated every year.
God had a better plan for His people and wanted the people to believe on him to love him and to have FAITH in him. Not just obeying Him through their religious deeds because it was the 'law'.
He wanted them to love him and have him in their minds and hearts.
The Plan
So God made another way (Jesus) so that whoever would believe on Jesus would not be ashamed.
See Romans 9:32
Rom 9:31 But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because it was not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling-stone,
Rom 9:33 according as it is written, Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence: and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.
Though the Apostles of Jesus were all Jewish people who traveled with him and others who believed on him became disciples by believing on Jesus, over all, the Jewish people did not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, (many still do not accept him as the Messiah). John The Baptist said;
Joh_1:10 He was in the world, and the world had its being through him, and the world knew him not.
Joh_1:31 and I knew him not; but that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore have I come baptizing with water.
Joh_1:33 And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, *he* said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Why do Christians have so much persecution? Why is it rare that a Christian is respected, or acknowledged? Because they didn't recognize Jesus either and as it is written the servant is not above the Master..
1Jn_3:1 See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
I believe the Bible (Holy Scriptures) to be the inspired word of God. Both old and new testament are relevant to our lives in my opinion but in case you're one of those people who are only interested in the new testament let me share this.
Christians believe that jurisdiction of old testament law ended when Jesus was crucified for our sins.
The bible uses a lot of analogy's and one is the analogy of Jesus as 'The Vine'.
Joh_15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh_15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
So that explains how Christians (followers of Christ) come in the picture but where does that leave the Israelites?
Jesus said God could graft them (Israel) back into 'the vine'.
(to be continued).
The Bible is divided into two major sections named 'Old Testament' & 'New Testament'. The old testament was in effect up until the death of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus was crucified, The 'New Testament' went into effect at the time of Jesus's death.
Heb_9:16 (For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.
Heb_9:17 For a testament is of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)
To explain this in a little more detail, if you hire an attorney to write a 'Last Will & Testament' for you, you know that this only goes into effect upon your death.
So anything you bequeath (give away) upon your death is written in your 'Will' (Last Will & Testament). It can include any specific directions to those who are your heirs, like conditions or stipulations that they must agree to or conditions that they must meet in order to inherit. But it does not legally go into effect until your death. Similarly the grace of God through Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and remission of sins was not available during the life of Jesus Christ but did become available for all upon his physical death on the cross.
Act_2:23 --him, given up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye, by the hand of lawless men , have crucified and slain.
Act_5:30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom *ye* have slain, having hanged on a cross.
So when Jesus was crucified, his 'Testament' went into effect and those who believe on Jesus Christ are no longer governed by the old testament (aka 'The Law').
Christian Perspective as a historical note: Israel tried to follow the law's of God to be a righteous people (see Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Numbers), but like anyone today was prone to sin and was not able to achieve righteousness on their own so by the law's standards everyone had sinned. During that time God would forgive their sins when the high priest would make a sacrifice for the people at the temple of God. They offered animal sacrifices every year at the temple but this only 'rolled' their sins back for 1 year. It had to be repeated every year.
God had a better plan for His people and wanted the people to believe on him to love him and to have FAITH in him. Not just obeying Him through their religious deeds because it was the 'law'.
He wanted them to love him and have him in their minds and hearts.
The Plan
So God made another way (Jesus) so that whoever would believe on Jesus would not be ashamed.
See Romans 9:32
Rom 9:31 But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because it was not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling-stone,
Rom 9:33 according as it is written, Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence: and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.
Though the Apostles of Jesus were all Jewish people who traveled with him and others who believed on him became disciples by believing on Jesus, over all, the Jewish people did not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, (many still do not accept him as the Messiah). John The Baptist said;
Joh_1:10 He was in the world, and the world had its being through him, and the world knew him not.
Joh_1:31 and I knew him not; but that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore have I come baptizing with water.
Joh_1:33 And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, *he* said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Why do Christians have so much persecution? Why is it rare that a Christian is respected, or acknowledged? Because they didn't recognize Jesus either and as it is written the servant is not above the Master..
1Jn_3:1 See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
I believe the Bible (Holy Scriptures) to be the inspired word of God. Both old and new testament are relevant to our lives in my opinion but in case you're one of those people who are only interested in the new testament let me share this.
Christians believe that jurisdiction of old testament law ended when Jesus was crucified for our sins.
The bible uses a lot of analogy's and one is the analogy of Jesus as 'The Vine'.
Joh_15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh_15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
So that explains how Christians (followers of Christ) come in the picture but where does that leave the Israelites?
Jesus said God could graft them (Israel) back into 'the vine'.
(to be continued).
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