The Old Testament scriptures were accessed by the Jews. They were Jewish
scripture, Linda, not Gentile scriptures. You would not find a
Gentile Christian walking around the countryside with the "Bible"
under arm in those early years. I made it clear
that I was speaking of the Gentile Church and I will add - the Gentile Church
of the first century and early second century -- after the fall of Jerusalem and it's associated impact on the Early Church.
And, the "Bible" is a specific book containing N.T.
scriptures ............... what did these folks do until the books of the
"Bible" were decided upon by the Church? Relationship
!!! Their relationship with Jesus. I am not fostering some
false teaching here. If you don't believe in a "relationship"
with Jesus that is something other than Bible study, then we do have a
disagreement. My reading of your posts show a
"relatioship" that is valued (by you) and as distinct a circumstance
as prayer or fellowship or the breaking of bread.
Jd
JD, no wonder you are SO
confused about everything.
You don’t even realize that the O.T. was NOT just Jewish scripture—it IS scripture TODAY for every
Believer, just as it always has been—just as much so as the N.T. There
is NO difference between a Jewish and non-Jewish Believer—we are just
Believers, and God does not favor one over the other. I don’t even
know where to begin with you. You, being a babe in Christ after all these
years—how do I know where to start feeding you milk, let alone meat?
And we are not saved by “relationship”
with Christ, but by His Blood, and His indwelling Presence. This comes to those
who have received Him as Lord and Savior.
Without that there IS NO relationship with Christ. Relationship is
the result; not the cause. You claim that we worship
scripture? I say that you worship the god of “Relationship”.
This is the result of pure Humanism, which is the religion that you have
converted to. Repent! Izzy
Romans 11
Israel
Is Not Cast Away
1I say then, God has
not (A)rejected His people, has He? (B)May it never be! For (C)I too am an Israelite, a descendant
of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God
(D)has not rejected His people whom He (E)foreknew… 5In the
same way then, there has also come to be at the present time (I)a remnant according to God's gracious
choice.
11(P)I say then, they did not stumble so
as to fall, did they? (Q)May it never be! But by their
transgression (R)salvation has come to the Gentiles,
to (S)make them jealous.
12Now if
their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the
Gentiles, how much more will their (T)fulfillment be!
13But I am
speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as (U)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I
magnify my ministry,
14if
somehow I might (V)move to jealousy (W)my fellow countrymen and (X)save some of them.
15For if
their rejection is the (Y)reconciliation of the world, what
will their acceptance be but (Z)life from the dead?
16If the (AA)first piece of dough is holy, the
lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
17But if
some of the (AB)branches were broken off, and (AC)you, being a wild olive, were
grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the
olive tree,
18do not be
arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that (AD)it is not you who supports the
root, but the root supports you.
19(AE)You will say then, "Branches
were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
20Quite
right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you (AF)stand by your faith (AG)Do not be conceited, but fear;
21for if
God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
22Behold
then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you,
God's (AH)kindness, (AI)if you continue in His kindness;
otherwise you also (AJ)will be cut off.
23And they
also, (AK)if they do not continue in their
unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24For if
you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted
contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who
are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
25For (AL)I do not want you, brethren, to be
uninformed of this (AM)mystery--so that you will not be (AN)wise in your own estimation--that a
partial (AO)hardening has happened to Israel
until the (AP)fullness of the Gentiles has come
in;
26and so
all Israel
will be saved; just as it is written,
"(AQ)THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE
UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
27"(AR)THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
(AS)WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
28From the
standpoint of the gospel they are (AT)enemies for your sake, but from the
standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for (AU)the sake of the fathers;
29for the
gifts and the (AV)calling of God (AW)are irrevocable.
30For just
as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of
their disobedience,
31so these
also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they
also may now be shown mercy.
