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Only Jews God's chosen nation?
(Smile) I think you misunderstood me, dear ANOMOS (mornin' and peace to you!). I did not say that. The Jews certainly were NOT God's ONLY chosen nation. Because they are only one (well, two) of 12 such nations. All 12 tribes of Israel make up God's chosen people, dear one.
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"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
In Christ, yes. But did not Christ himself say "Salvation STARTS with the Jews?" And "We (speaking of the Jews) know what we worship"? And didn't the Prophet say that the time would come when people would "take hold of the skirt of a man who is a Jew? Why were these things said? Because Isaac, son of Abraham's free wife, Sarah, was the chosen one to bear the seed. Not Ishmael or any of the sons of Keturah.
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I see mentioning here both Jews and Greeks, but no other nation like let us say the Romans or the Arabs or the Egyptians.
(Smile, again) First, Paul was speaking metaphorically. There is neither Jew nor Greek in CHRIST... because people of ALL nations will be chosen to BECOME "Israel," the Household of God. That choosing, however, starts with Israel (who some refer to as "the Jews," but that is not ACCURATE)... the "first fruits." Judea and Samaria... the Jews (i.e., Judah and Benjamin, who make up the 2-tribe kingdom of "Judah")... AND the other 10 tribes (who make up the 10-tribe kingdom of "Samaritans").
But secondly, Israel definitely includes Arabs, as many of THEM... ARE of the 10 tribes. Remember, Jerusalem is in PALESTINE. Hence, there are Palestinians... Arabs... who descend from Abraham. Sadly, starting with the return from exile in Babylon, the Jews REJECTED the existence of the other 10 tribes, basically referring to ALL Israelites as "Jews." And so, most today do the same... even though such is inaccurate.
Third, many Egyptians left WITH Israel on the "exodus"... and joined TO Israel, so there are certainly those of Egyptian descent among Israel.
BUT... God turned His attention AWAY from Israel... to the NATIONS... to take out of THEM... a people for His name, yes? Those people, however, START with those OF Israel... Jew and Samaritan... who DID bless the One who came in JAH's name: the HOLY One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah)... who most know as the Christ.
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How can I guarantee that God did not make a covenant with other nations too.
Well, if you don't belong to Christ, perhaps you can't. If you DO belong to Christ, however, you can simply ask HIM... and then listen to what HE tells you. Since his mouth ALWAYS speaks truth, however, you will hear him tell you that, again, "salvation starts with the Jews." Why? Where the Jews "special"? No, not really. It starts with the Jews... because it starts... with HIM - he who came AS a Jew. Israel was only "special" because of the covenant made with Abraham, as to Sarah/Isaac. The Jews were only "special" because of the promise made to Judah, and then to David (the Lion of Judah)... that the Seed that would save mankind would come through that line. And he did.
Even so, there is a very pointed statement made by Christ that should exhort us all to mindful of Jews... as well as Israelites... as well as of ALL mankind:
"To the extent you did [did not do] it to the LEAST of these... MY BROTHERS... you did [did not do] it to me."
The Jews (those who truly ARE... because he is not a Jew who is one on the OUTSIDE)... are certainly Christ's brothers, by blood. Even a least one. Same with those of the other 10 tribes - the Palestinian/Arabs (those who truly ARE Israelites, because not all who are CALLED Israel ARE Israel). They, too, are Christ's brothers... in the flesh... by means of human blood. Most important, though, is that Israel was SCATTERED... to the four corners of the earth. And so, we don't KNOW who is Christ's brother... although we can know who is NOT ("by their fruits").
In that light, it would behoove US to do good to ALL others... because it COULD be that, in spite of their "nationality" and culture... Abraham's blood DOES run through their veins. And so long as their is a DROP... that drop still "speaks" and calls out TO God, the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies... that such one is Abraham's seed. And that includes those who profess to be Muslims. Because the progenitor of that belief system was Ishmael, who was the son of Abraham.
And so, as ISAAC's brother (even if only half), he (Ishmael and HIS progeny) are ALSO Christ's brothers, albeit perhaps, again, the "least."
That would ALSO include those of the east... who could potentially be descendants of Keturah's sons, who Abraham sent TO the east... and so, back to where HE came from.
And we can go on from there. For instance, Ethiopians. By means of Menelik I... SOLOMON's son with Bathsheba... there are Ethiopians who are "Judah"... because that was the tribe OF Solomon. And so on and so on. Abraham's blood... through both Isaac, Ishmael... and even the sons of Keturah... has been spread throughout the earth. In essence, then, ANYONE could potentially be a brother of Christ...
by means of HUMAN blood.
And so, even if one is not chosen to RULE with Christ,
as part of his Body, the NEW Jerusalem, one can still be a SUBJECT of that kingdom... and be granted entry into "her" gates by means of the "good" they did to someone who turns OUT to have been a brother of Christ, even a least one... in body OR in spirit.
Matthew 25:1-40; Revelation 21:9-26And so, while we CAN know who is NOT a brother of Christ in SPIRIT (again, "by their fruits you will know them," meaning those who do NOT belong to him), we DON'T know who is his brother in human BLOOD. And so, it behooves us to do good to ALL... due to the POTENTIAL of such one being a brother (in flesh) of Christ. Which brotherhood, because of being by flesh NOT by spirit, would constitute the one as a "least" one.
We should keep in MIND, though, that such "doing good," is NOT soothing people with flowery words, telling them what they want to hear, to appease their flesh... versus telling them the TRUTH. One truth that can soothe them... is that their sins CAN be forgiven... based on FAITH... in Christ, his resurrection from the dead (which shows death CAN be conquered), his blood (which washes us CLEAN of our sins)... and his flesh (which, as "leaves" from the TREE of Life... can GIVE us life, forever).
But the customary... but empty... words that most WANT to hear? Those can't do that. Sure, they can make someone feel "good"... for a few moments, but ONLY a few moments. And those who need them... never STOP needing them. Because they ARE empty words, words that don't fulfill but for only a moment. The TRUTH that Christ speaks, however, HIS words... give life. And life everlasting. Which is why it behooves us to go to and listen to HIM... and "thirst" for HIS words... than to keep going to men... again... and again... and again... and again... yet come away STILL lacking, STILL feeling unfulfilled... and so STILL needing to hear such empty words... again... and again... and again... and...
It's futility... and vanity... and a striving after the wind!
If, however, such one would only allow themselves to go to and LISTEN to the words of the TRUE Vine, the Root of Jesse, the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit... and his Bride... when THEY call to such one, they would also hear those say to them, some of the MOST beautiful words ever spoken to those of mankind:
"Come! Take 'life's water' FREE!"... Because those are words of TRUE substance. Because drinking from that "water"
is what grants life. Becomes "a fountain" IN such one... "bubbling up to IMPART...
everlasting life." Something temporary words of soothing can't do. That "water" can, though... because it IS the life... of the MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies! His breath, His blood, His semen... His SPIRIT... by means of which those who DRINK of it... can live! NOT just for the temporary "moment" allowed the flesh... but FOREVER! That is the PROMISE of that spirit, that life force!
Question is: does one have faith IN the One who GRANTS it, that "water" - the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA... the CHOSEN One of JAH (MischaJah)?
Because it is those, such ones who "take hold of the skirt of a man
who is a Jew" in Body AND Spirit... and drink of the water the flows "from the innermost parts" of HIM (
John 7:37-39)... who make UP the TRUE Israel. The NEW Jerusalem.
I hope this helps, dear ANOMOS, truly!
Again, peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
Shellamar