"One In Christ"

What is the relationship between Jews and all non Jewish people who are referred to as Gentiles? Before we attempt to answer this question, we need to state that all people are God's people since He created all of us. Our message this week will address this question believing it will clear up some confusion.

Ephesians 2:11-14 says, "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision . . . remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one."

When we study carefully these very important verses we learn that Jehovah God made all people "One In Christ." How did this happen? It all happened when God in His love and mercy for all people sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross and be resurrected. As a result, this became the most important event in all of history!

Notice in Ephesians 3:11-12 the Apostile Paul explains that before God sent Jesus to earth He established His Covenant with the Jewish people making them His Chosen People. Verse 12 says Gentiles "Were without hope and without God in the world." However, Jesus changed all this. Romans 10:9-13 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus Is Lord,' and believe in you heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be 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."

Today, all of God's people, Jew or Gentiles, can be saved by believing in their hearts and confessing with their mouth "Jesus Is Lord And God Raised Him From The Dead." This is without question the most important decision all of God's people need to make. I pray all of you reading this message have made this very important decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank  

The Helper Of Israel

During The last six weeks, our messages have centered on Jehovah God establishing a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. Genesis 12:1-3 were the foundational verses for these messages in which God said to Abraham:

I Will Make You Into A Great Nation {Israel}

I Will Bless You {Jewish People}

You Will Bless All Nations

I Will Bless Those Who Bless You

I Will Curse Those Who Curse You

This message is repeated 22 times in Genesis and this is why we gave it so much attention.

What is the current situation in Israel? Israel is still surrounded by enemies. Gaza is a small piece of land on Israel's South West border and is controlled by the terror group Hamas that desires to destroy Israel. They build tunnels into Southern Israel towns attempting to invade these towns. Hamas has thousands of terrorists storming the Israeli border and lately are burning tires causing thick, smelly smoke to roll over Israel.

On Israel's Northern border, the terror group Hezbollah has thousands of rockets and missiles pointing to Israel. Both Russia and Iran have troops in neighboring Syria. Iran also threatens to destroy Israel. Ezekiel 38, 39 prophesies that Russia will invade Israel.

How does Jehovah God respond to all these threats to destroy His Chosen People and their land? Isaiah 41 is called "The Helper Of Israel." In Isaiah 41:10-11 God encourages His People by saying, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengten you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." God tells His Chosen People do not fear; I am your God; I will help you; your enemies will be disgraced and will be as nothing.

Israel desperately  and continually needs our prayers! Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem." This is not a suggestion, it is a directive from Jehovah God!

May The Lord Bless You And Kepp You This Day And Every Day,

Frank    

God's Chosen People And Their Land

Frequently when God's People refer to Him with respect, they call Him The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As part of our current series of messages, we have learned that God established His Covenant with Abraham and it was continued through his son Isaac.

This Covenant states that:

God Will Establish A Great Nation {Israel}

God Will Bless The Jewish People

The Jewish People Will Be A Blessing To All Nations

God Will Bless Those Who Bless Israel

God Will Curse Those Who Curse Israel

God Gave The Land Of Israel To The Jewish People

This week we will look at Jacob and learn how God's Covenant with Abraham,  Isaac and their descendants was continued through Jacob and his descendants. Isaac was 40 years old when his wife Rebekah gave birth to two sons - Esau and Jacob. Jacob became a deceiver and caused Esau to sell him his birthright and deceived Isaac causing him to bless Jacob before Esau who was the older son.

Genesis 28:1-2 says, "So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him 'do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there.'" Even though Jacob was a deceiver, notice how Isaac still blessed him. Why? The God Given Covenant promises started through Abraham and Isaac must continue through Jacob.

Genesis 28:10-15 says, "Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood The Lord and He said, 'I am The Lord, The God of your father Abraham and The God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying . . . All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring . . . I will not leave you.'"

Jehovah God showed Jacob a miraculous vision confirming The Covenant already established through Abraham and Isaac saying:

I Am The God Of Abraham And Isaac

I Will Give You And Your Descendants The Land Of Israel

All Peoples Of The Earth Will Be Blessed 

Through You And Your Descendants

I Will Not Leave You

This is the last message in the series illustrating how God chose the Jewish People for a specific mission and gave them the Land of Israel in the process. This message is repeated 22 times in the book of Genesis. Jehovah God desires for us to understand this message and believe it. Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

     

God's Chosen People And Their Land

Our message this week is the fifth in a series illustrating how Jehovah God chose the Jewish People for a very important mission and gave them the land of Israel in the process. In the first message we shared that this is mentioned over 20 times in the Book of Genesis alone. 

God Truly Wants Us To Understand This Message!

Last week we learned that God was to perform the miracle of granting Abraham and Sarah a baby boy to be named Isaac even though they were both well advanced in age. The Covenant God established with Abraham continues through Isaac.

In Genesis 26 Isaac is now an adult, God spoke to him in verses 2-5 and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed."

A number of times notice that the foundational verses of Genesis 12:1-3 are confirmed by God when He says He Will Bless His Chosen People; He Will Keep The Covenant Established With Abraham And All The Nations Of The Earth Will Be Blessed Through The Jewish People. 

God Truly Wants Us To Understand This Message!

Also, Jehovah God proclaims again that He is giving the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and their descendants. Genesis 26:3-4 confirms this when God says TWICE to Isaac, "To your descendants I give all these lands." When God spoke to Isaac He was physically located at Gerar that is part of current day Israel. God clearly desires for us to understand: 

Israel Belongs To The Jewish People! Amen And Amen!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank