GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue47
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble
knees;And make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame
be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
A PEOPLE AND A SAVIOR//
//
/Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was
their Saviour. Isaiah 63:8/
//
As we peruse the pages of the Old Testament we see the same
recurring theme that we do in the pages of the New Testament.This
theme is that GOD has determined to save a people for HIS NAME’s
sake.HE has ordered (i.e.; predestinated, ordained) all things that
come to pass in order to magnify HIS glory in the redemption of that
people which HE has loved with an everlasting love. In order to
manifest this truth, it pleased HIM to set apart the carnal nation
of Israel as a chosen people in the Earth, for a season.It is quite
common for men to believe and declare that this carnal nation, which
encompasses the descendants of Jacob (i.e., Israel after the flesh,
to the exclusion of all other peoples in the Earth), is still HIS
“chosen people”.
Yet that “people” which are the LORD’s “true Israel”, are not chosen
_in_ Jacob but rather _in_ CHRIST.
“/According as _he hath chosen us *in him* before the foundation of
the world_, that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To
the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein _he hath made us
accepted *in* the beloved._” (Eph 1:4-6/) The time of their
“choosing” preceded the choosing of the carnal nation of Israel,
since Israel was chosen in time, whereas the people of GOD were
chosen from before the foundation of the world.
So, it is safe to say that Israel (after the flesh) is but a type
and foreshadow of that true Israel which is loved with an
everlasting love. Herein is this true Israel manifested by their
calling, /“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew,
which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the
spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of
God.” (Rom 2:28-29/) Peter (without a clear understanding) declared
this very truth on the day of Pentecost when he said, “/For the
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, _even as many as the Lord our God shall call_.” (Acts 2:39/)
This is a “mystery” which was not revealed all at once in the minds
of the disciples, even though we can now see its unfolding without
equivocation.“/Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge
in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known
unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit; _That the Gentiles should be
fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in
Christ by the gospel_.” (Eph 3:4-6/) “/Even the mystery which hath
been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to
his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory.” (Col 1:26-27/) Paul, in writing to the Greeks in
Thessalonica said, “/But we are bound to give thanks alway to God
for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because _God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation_ through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(2Thess 2:13-14/)
This proclamation by Isaiah, was first delivered to the Jews, but
the ultimate demonstration of its lasting truth, is brought to pass
as it is applied to that “true Israel” which is a nation not called
out from among the nations of the Earth, but that which is defined
as that Jerusalem which is from above.This is a city not made with
hands.Flesh and blood cannot inherit this Kingdom nor its promises.
This is a city which hath a FOUNDATION whose BUILDER and MAKER is
GOD.Whereas that covenant of Law which was given to Moses was
conditional and depended upon the ability of the flesh to keep the
law, this Covenant, which was given to CHRIST, rests upon HIS
promise, and HE is the FULFILLER of any conditions that could be
found therein.HE will be the GOD of HIS people and they shall be the
people of the TRUE and LIVING GOD.HE has satisfied the claims of the
Law, which demands the death of the sinner, by becoming sin for
those whom HE has loved from the beginning.They were loved by HIM
from the start, and HE will lose none which are given to HIM in this
everlasting covenant.HE is their SAVIOR.
Any consideration that might be had concerning the work of
Redemption, must of necessity be applied to an object.To redeem is
to buy something.You cannot have redemption if you do not have an
object which is bought.One does not go into a store with a blanket
desire to buy everything and then wait for the merchandise which is
on the shelf to put itself into the shopping cart.No indeed a
shopper has a list of things to buy and does not leave the store
without them, after paying for each item selected.
The utter foolishness of man is demonstrated every time men declare
the “false gospel” (see Gal.1:8,9) which says that CHRIST redeemed
all men, and now waits for them to make a decision as to whether or
not they will be saved.This is to make CHRIST no savior at all and
gives men the glory in deciding whether or not to “allow” HIM to
save them.This foolishness is even magnified as men declare
(necessarily) that some for whom CHRIST “paid” the price of their
redemption, shall utterly perish.This is blasphemy and denies that
HE is the SAVIOR of sinners, rather making HIM some pitiful beggar
who has done all HE could, hoping some will be saved.Damnable lies.
JESUS CHRIST, the LAMB of GOD has shed HIS precious blood to _save_
sinners, not to make an _attempt_ to save them.“/But of him are ye
in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according
as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
(1Cor 1:30-31/)HE declares that HE will save HIS people.“/Who is
this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this
that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his
strength? _I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save_.” (Isa
63:1/) /“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me: And _I give unto them eternal life_; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John
10:27-28/)/“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1Pet
1:3-5/)
Thus, we plainly declare that JESUS CHRIST has “_A people_” which
were chosen in HIM and given to HIM in an eternal covenant of
redemption.Peter speaks of them as he writes, “/But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, _a peculiar
people_/(i.e.; a purchased people set apart from the world)/that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light.” (1Pet 2:9/) For it is CHRIST,
/“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself _a peculiar people_, zealous of
good works.” (Titus 2:14/)
In addition, we also plainly declare that JESUS CHRIST is indeed the
SAVIOR of HIS people.HE came by water and blood.That is, HE was born
in the flesh of a natural birth, which is “by water”, and HE laid
down HIS LIFE by the shedding of HIS blood for those sinners which
are HIS.“/For the LIFE is in the blood/.”‘/Without the shedding of
blood there is no remission of sins/.”It must then follow that this
remission does occur when a PROPER BLOOD SACRIFICE is presented to
the FATHER.
The LORD JESUS CHRIST has made such a presentation wherein HE has
canceled the sin debt (i.e.; redeemed) of everyone for whom HE shed
HIS precious blood.HE is therefore the SAVIOR of HIS people and none
can or shall perish for whom HE performed this work of redemption.HE
is a SAVIOR who saves, a REDEEMER who redeems, and a SHEPHERD who
gathers HIS flock.HE calls HIS own sheep by name and they follow
HIM.Do you hear HIS call?“Pass me not O gentle SAVIOR.Hear my humble
cry, while on others THOU art calling, do not pass me by.”“/And for
this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the
first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of
eternal inheritance.” (Heb 9:15/) mam
