FROM THE HOLY INFANT JESUS
UNTO MATURE MANHOOD
(Acts
4:30 & 27 – Eph. 4:13)
Let me be perfectly
clear: This is not a Roman Catholic
polemic on behalf of their understanding concerning the “baby Jesus” – this content would, I
presume, be found to greatly enhance their enlightenment, and for that matter, at
least all our understanding of the “infant Jesus” as used in Acts 4:27 and Acts
4:30 which centers on the word “Servant” as used in most English translations
or “Child” in other translations, including the KJV.
Frankly, this “child” is
neither the Greek words “teknon” (“a child” – Strong’s G#5043) or “teknion”
(“a little child” – used always in the plural) nor the traditional word for
“servant” or “slave” (doulos – Strong’s G#1401). The Greek words used here in Acts 4:27, 30 (paida and paidos)
according to Strong’s Concordance are derived from "paidion (pahee-dee-on)
- Paidion, a diminutive of pais, (1) signifying ‘a
little or young child’; (1a) it is used of an infant just
born."
I was somewhat amazed
to hear Peter and John rehearsing the “threating” of the “rulers and elders
and scribes . . . [along with] Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and
John and Alexander, and as many as were of the high-priestly family” (Acts
4:5-6) who when Peter and John “came to their own” (believers), when
released, they had initially acclaimed the “name of Jesus Christ the
Nazarene” before these authorities (Acts 4:10) – then they were admonished
by these political and religious authorities “to no longer speak on this
name to any men . . . not to speak at all, nor to teach on the name of Jesus”
(Acts 4:17-18). However, again, returning
to their fellow disciples they acclaimed His name as “Your holy infant Jesus”
and that it was “through Your holy infant Jesus” that “healing and
miracles and wonders” were wrought.
Those gathered upon
the return of Peter and John announced the following account by reciting Psalm
2 as they addressed their prayers to Almighty God:
“Why do the nations
rage, and the peoples devised foolish things?
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled on the
same day against the Lord, yea, against His Christ (His Anointed)” (Acts
4:25-26).
Yes, “against His
Christ” – but His Christ is clearly defined as domiciled “through Your holy
infant Jesus.” The assembled spoke
in this manner, as well:
“And now, Lord,
look upon their threatenings, and give to Your servants (NKJV – or “slaves”
KJV – Greek word used here is Strong’s G#1401 – doulois) to speak
Your word with all boldness” (Acts 4:29).
I insert “doulos” in contrast to “pais” to clearly
delineate Luke’s account wherein he knew full-well the distinction between
“servant-slave” and “infant-child.”
Luke had both in “mind and spirit” a most profound truth: Something was being birthed into the world – a NEWBORN – the INFANT JESUS and both “Jew and Gentile” (Acts 4:27—Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Nations [ethnisi – “ethnicities”) and the peoples of Israel were gathered together against Your holy infant Jesus”); yes, were gathered together against this NEWBORN INFANT!
POLITICS &
RELIGION . . . A word to the wise . . .
The “battle” had begun
– the persecution had commenced in earnest – the disciples had been threatened,
warned, not to speak further in this Name!
Those assembled who heard Peter and John’s account turned to Psalm 2 and
acclaimed that their opposers were gathering against the Lord Himself and against
His Anointed One—the HOLY INFANT JESUS!
They knew exactly what they were saying—a NEWBORN was being birthed—it was
the beginning of something entirely new . . . it was the BIRTH OF THE INFANT
JESUS! But why were the disciples in
this initial outburst using such a term?
It is mandatory that
we understand Luke’s amalgamation of this religiopolitical cabal set against
the Holy Infant Jesus—the Anointed One.
To blame but the Jewish religious leadership for the crucifixion of
Jesus, without inculcating the political leadership of Rome, is a prejudicial
preference that is historically false.
The political leadership of the Nations were, as well, wholly set
against His Anointed.
The concoction of
religion and politics is, as was the case with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, a
similar admixture exposed by Elijah’s prophetic ministry—this witch’s brew
conjured up by Jezebel placed the “sons of Belial” (1 Kings 21:10-KJV – i.e.,
two “scoundrels”) who accused Naboth (who would NOT sell his inheritance to King
Ahab) for being against “God and Country” (i.e., “he [Naboth] has
cursed both God and the king” – 1 Kings 21:10). Just as politics (King Ahab) and religion
(Queen Jezebel and her Baal worship) had Naboth, a faithful Israelite, stoned—even
so, did politics and religion crucify the Lord of Glory and commence their
threatening of the disciples. Today, the “Woman rides the Beast” (Revelation
17) – we as believers should leave well enough alone; yet remain steadfast to
our inheritance in Christ!
JOHN 16:19-22 – THE
UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE
Jesus, prior to His
prayer in John 17, and throughout His Upper Room Discourse as recorded in John
chapters 13-17, emphasizes “His going is His coming.” I believe it is here that if we connect the
dots, we shall discover the words Jesus used to explain His “going and coming”
to His disciples in the language of the NEWBORN:
"A little while,
and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me?
Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will
rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A
woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon
as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for
joy that a human being (lit.
“a man” – Strong’s G#444 - anthropos) has been born into the world.
Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart
will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you" (John
16:19-22--ESV).
Yes, “as soon as she has
given birth to the child” – this “child” is the same Greek word used by the
early Ekklesia in Acts 4:27, 29: παιδίον (paidion), which clearly in this context
refers to an “infant” – i.e., a NEWBORN BABE.
In other words, Jesus was relating to His disciples concerning
His soon-coming crucifixion would be a time of great sorrow likened to that of
a mother giving birth to her infant; a human being, a MAN-CHILD. His going to the cross would be a most
painful time for His disciples because an INFANT was being birthed into the
world—once the babe, the infant, the human being, the man, was birthed, then
immediately the mother would no longer remember[s] the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born
into the world.
Now, carefully examine the metaphorical
language Jesus was using here. “You
will weep and lament” – so who’s having the baby? Who is giving birth? Listen up: “. . . you will be sorrowful,
but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”
Is it Jesus who is sorrowful or is it the disciples? Careful!
Are the disciples watching the birth or are they participating in the
birth? From the sound of it—they are
wholly (somehow) engaged in the birthing process.
Something – a NEW CREATION – a NEWBORN – THE INFANT
JESUS – was being birthed and they were to be the full expression of the JOY
that was set before Him . . . they would be that JOY. Yes, this is the object of His JOY set before
Him. I am persuaded that the ambiguity
of these antecedents is purposeful and deliberate. Who is birthing? What is being birthed? Both the disciples and Jesus are rejoicing in
the expression of this JOY! Is it the
FIRSTBORN among many brethren? Is it the
INFANT JESUS? Are His disciples
witnessing their NEW BIRTH?
Indeed:
“. . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
You see, the political and religious
authorities thought they had gotten rid of this “Jesus” – but, BEHOLD: He’s alive forevermore! Now, no matter the sorrow and pain of
crucifixion – notwithstanding how the “heathen raged and imagined a vain
thing” – notwithstanding how the “kings of the earth rise up and the
rulers band together” against the Lord’s Anointed – the JOY expressed in
His NEWBORN, this BABE, this little INFANT – this HOLY INFANT JESUS – the same
one Herod and Pontius Pilate tried to annihilate – has become the FIRSTBORN of
many brethren!
“. . . because whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be
conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the firstborn among many
brothers” (Rom. 8:29).
Could it be that through the Spirit of Promise—“I
am coming to you” (“I am going away and I am coming back to you”—John
14:28)—Jesus was birthing Himself in His disciples? I know that sounds “out there” – perhaps a
bit theologically farfetched . . . but was it, is it?
It’s nigh impossible to ascertain the
antecedents in John 16 – the mother? The
sorrow? The babe? The joy?
Go ahead, try to figure out who’s who; who’s doing what. Is Jesus the mother or are the
disciples? Are the disciples
experiencing the pain or is Jesus? Who’s
the NEWBORN, the infant being birthed?
The JOY is more than just an abstract emotion because such joy demands an
object, which is the very NEWBORN. Then,
what or Who is the object of this joy?
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you
will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me
anything. Very truly I tell you, my
Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in
my name. Ask and you will receive, and
your joy will be complete”
(John 16:22-24).
The JOY set before Jesus was the same joy to
be experienced by His brethren in that they would be living in the reality “in
My Name.” They would pray: “Stretch
out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your
holy infant Jesus” and it would be done unto them! Being “in My Name” – in the Name of Your Holy
Infant Jesus – yes, therein was the outstretched hand of the Father cherishing
His Newborn Babe.
I am tempted to delve into the murky waters of
Revelation 12 and the identity of the woman and her “male child” (Lit. “a son”
--Rev. 12:4-5) . . . but I digress.
THE NEW MAN – NEW CREATION – NEW HUMANITY
Through the sorrow -
then the birth - then the joy! Who or what was being born? I
believe it was the NEWBORN - the NEW MAN - the EKKLESIA Jesus promised to build
- the "revelation of the mystery."
Furthermore, this
seems perfectly in keeping with the NEW MAN of Paul's writings to the
Colossians . . . when a NEW MAN appears, this New Man is NOT full-grown . . .
there is a beginning, growth, and then what happens follows the pattern below:
“His purpose was to
create in himself one NEW MAN (new humanity—NIV) out of the two [Jew and Gentile],
thus making peace, and in ONE BODY to reconcile both of them to God through the
cross” (Eph. 2:15-16).
"And having put
on the NEW MAN, having been renewed in full knowledge according to the
image of the One creating him; where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision
and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, slave or freeman - but Christ is all
things and in all" (Col. 3:10-11).
"And that you put
on the NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:24).
“. . . until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to MATURE MANHOOD to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13--ESV).
“Neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the NEW
CREATION . . . Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of
God (NIV)” or “. . . peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of
God” (KJV) (Gal. 6:15-16).
“So, if anyone is
in Christ, that one is a new creation (lit. “in Christ – NEW CREATION”).
Allow me to briefly
exegete the NEW CREATION found in Galatians 6:16, comparing it with 2 Corinthians 5:17. It
appears rather obvious that Galatians 6:16 – “nothing avails but a New
Creation – nothing counts but a New Creation” tends toward the corporate in
that “as many as shall walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on
the Israel of God” or as the NIV suggests:
“Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God”
(in other words THEY who follow such a rule are now “a part” of the Israel of
God—meaning, it has a corporate connotation).
Whereas in 2
Corinthians 5:17 it “appears” that an individual who finds himself/herself in
Christ is a “new creature” or a “new creation”—and this is how most Bible
translators have so translated the text—the translators have “personalized” the
meaning of the “new creation.” However,
that is NOT how it reads nor can it be taken in context as the singularity of
an individual alone—i.e., that individual is in essence “a part of the new
creation” and not the sum and substance of a New Creation.
The Greek is most
fascinating here. Both Galatians 6:16
and 2 Corinthians 5:17 use Strong’s G#2537 and G#2937 in succession—in that
order. “A new creation” in BOTH cases,
giving, in particular, 2 Corinthians 5:17 an altogether corporate rendering,
which is the obvious case in Galatians 6:16—that is, the “NEW CREATION is THE
ISRAEL OF GOD” (NIV). Yes, “all
things are new” in the New Creation.
Substantiating the corporate nature of this claim is the context in
which it is given in 2 Corinthians 5, to wit:
“And all things are of
God, who reconciled US to Himself through Jesus Christ, and giving to US
the ministry of reconciliation . . . and putting the word of reconciliation in US
. . . WE ARE ambassadors, as God is exhorting through US, WE
beseech on behalf of Christ . . . we might become the righteousness of
God in Him . . . but working TOGETHER, WE also call on you not to
receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor. 5:18-20; 6:1).
Attempting to tie in
the NEW MAN - the NEW HUMANITY - a NEW
CREATION (Gal. 6:15) to this INFANT being
birthed is NOT a stretch of the "theological imagination" - indeed,
the NEW MAN, the NEWBORN manifesting is the NEW CREATION where neither
"circumcision" or "uncircumcision" avails anything but
a NEW CREATION - therefore, we can boldly assert, as
Paul: "As many as shall walk by this rule, peace on them,
and mercy, and on the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16). Yes, a
NEW HUMANITY was being birthed . . . the very ISRAEL OF GOD!
As we decipher further
Paul’s statement in Galatians 6:16, it is imperative that the claim of the
INFANT JESUS be recognized as the NEW MAN wrought under both the New Covenant
and the New Commandment be “theologically connected.” The “mature manhood” (Eph. 4:13—ESV) or “full-grown
man” (ERV) or “a perfect man” (NKJV) has gone from infancy to maturity. Indeed:
“Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there
by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their
deceitful scheming. Instead speaking the
truth in love, we will GROW to become in every respect the MATURE
BODY of him who is the head, that is Christ . . . From him the whole
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows
and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:14-16).
Yes, from infancy – this
INFANT JESUS is growing by the “growth in life” to become the MATURE BODY – “unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Can we go so far as to say that this INFANT
JESUS has been growing ever since the resurrection brought forth the FIRSTBORN
of a NEW HUMANITY, a New Creation? I
think so.
Moreover, maturity in
Christ cannot be manipulated by human ingenuity or organizational gifting but
solely by the Life of Christ—it is wholly organic, other worldly, without human
endeavor but wrought by the Spirit of Promise, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit
of the Living God working in us all to mature and expand His New Creation.
FINALLY . . . THE
ISRAEL OF GOD
I would be remiss not
to inject into this conversation that which yields itself to such maturity are
those “whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal
life” (Gal. 6:8-NIV) – but in vain are those “After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying
to finish by means of the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3-NIV) – O FOOLISH GALATIANS!
Consequently, they who
vainly would attempt to bifurcate the benediction of Paul's "peace and
mercy" by claiming it is given, on the one hand, to the ethnic Galatian
believers in Yeshua and then (separately), on the other hand, this same
"peace and mercy" is given to those Jews known as the "Israel of
God" do horrific exegetical injustice to the Word of God! NO, NO, NO
- the only thing that avails is the NEW CREATION wherein both ethnic Galatians
of the nations and Jews (uncircumcised/nations and circumcised/Jews) find
themselves – TOGETHER as the New Creation – which IS the Israel of God.
These Galatians from
the Ethnos/Nations and these Jews constitute not only the NEW CREATION but
together they are the very ISRAEL OF GOD! To suggest otherwise flies in
the face of Paul's entire letter to the Galatians - Paul declared the ONE NEW
MAN when he withstood Peter to his face when Peter would NOT eat with Gentile
believers in Galatia and separated himself to eat only with Jewish believers -
Paul said that Peter was NOT LIVING BY THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL (Gal.
2:5, 14) - we are all in the "S"eed - we are all "children of
promise" - (Isaac--Gal. 3:29) - and with this Paul asserts the One New
Man principal:
"For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you
are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:27-29).
DISTINCTION YES –
SEPARATION NO. The "inseparable message" contained in Commonwealth
Theology was announced by Peter and John upon their return from their initial
encounter with these religiopolitical leaders--their "fallback
position" was the INFANT JESUS was being birthed through them! This
was the New Man, the New Creation, the Israel of God - this is the TRUTH OF THE
GOSPEL and that is the "revelation of the mystery kept secret since the
world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known
to all NATIONS" (Rom. 16:25-26).
And, yes, this is the
MYSTERY OF CHRIST, even His Ekklesia, to wit:
"I, Paul, the
prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles (ethnon) - if indeed you have heard
of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that
by revelation He made known to me the MYSTERY (as I have briefly written
already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY
OF CHRIST), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it
has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the
Nations, should be fellow heirs, of the SAME BODY, and partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became minister according to
the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power" (Eph. 3:1-6). (Lit. “Joint-heirs – a “Joint-Body”
– “Joint-Sharers of the promise of Him”)
"This is a GREAT
MYSTERY, but I speak concerning Christ and THE EKKLESIA" (Eph. 5:32)
The revelation of the mystery is the bringing together of the two distinct peoples (i.e., JOINT) into the ONE NEW MAN (the “One New Humanity”), so making peace through the blood of His cross, both Jew and Greek (Eph. 2:15). Hidden, yes, but wholly promised through the prophetic Scriptures! Even so, there is neither "male nor female" but there are "brothers and sisters" - there is neither Jew nor Greek but there are Jews and there are Greeks - but in Christ we are inseparable! Distinct, yes – inseparable, NO! This is the EKKLESIA Jesus is building – from start (INFANT) unto the “whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:13) made for the New Creation – the Mature Man – the One New Man.
REVELATION OF THE
MYSTERY – COMPLETE GOSPEL
I would like to expand
upon the COMPLETION GOSPEL found in Romans 15:29:
“But I know that when I come
to you, I shall come in the fullness (lit. “completion”) of the gospel of
Christ.”
The Gospel of the Grace of
God unto salvation from Acts 20:24 and the Gospel of Peace unto reconciliation
of peoples (Rom. 10:15) is designed by the Almighty to make of the Two (Jew and
Gentile) One New Man--so MAKING PEACE.
True, most folks do not fully
understand the Gospel of Salvation to be saved from the Wrath of God (the
penalty of sin--Jesus took the "wrap" for us) but they scarcely
comprehend the reconciliation of hostile peoples and the cure not only for sin
but the cure for division -- not only in the Body of Christ but between the
peoples of the world!
It's the same Gospel but it's
the complete Gospel - once, I believe, folks can be persuaded that He not only
desires for sinners to be saved from sin's penalty and be granted
eternal life in Him but (also) He prayed that they all may be ONE in the
fellowship of the Father and the Son - personal peace - corporate peace.
Most folks can readily grasp
the difference and most believers, sadly, hardly hear of the difference, let
alone embrace the COMPLETE GOSPEL - but Paul's presentation to the Roman
Christians (book of Romans) is simplified wherein Romans 1-8 reconciles the individual
believer to God through the blood of Jesus unto personal glorification; while
Romans 9-16 reconciles us to one another through the preaching of the Gospel of
Peace--which is not just one's personal Peace with God but His Peace He prayed
for in John 17: THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE.
"But I know that
when I come to you, I shall come in the COMPLETION of the blessing of the
gospel of Christ . . . Now the God of peace be with you all.
Amen" Romans 15:29,
33.
The fullness or
COMPLETION of the blessing of the gospel of Christ is the manifestation of the
Kingdom of God among the elect - both branches of the One Olive Tree (Rom.
11:11-27; Jer. 11:16) - now and into the prophetic future.
This FULL GOSPEL
(sorry, my Pentecostal brethren) is the gospel we preach (or should be
preaching) - this should be the dominant theme when the gospel is proclaimed -
and, by the way, it is in full accord with Acts 15 at the Jerusalem Council
regarding “what to do with the nations entering into the assembly” which was
originally considered but a “Jewish sect.”
The restoration
of the Tabernacle of David - the United Kingdom of David – was in view in Acts
15 and has embedded within its message the only place in the book of Romans
where the Kingdom of God is mentioned: "For the Kingdom of God is
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" - smack-dab in
the middle of brethren quarreling over their pet doctrines and
practices--Romans 14:17 -instead we hear:
"Therefore let us
pursue the THINGS WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE and the things by which one may EDIFY
ANOTHER."
In other words, the
United Kingdom—aka, Tabernacle of David—found in Acts 15:16-17 is intrinsically
connected in matters of unity in diversity with the Kingdom of God in Romans 14
which is full of “divine tolerance” between members of the United Kingdom of
David, the Tabernacle of David—which is in point of fact: The
Commonwealth of Israel (Eph. 2:12)—dare I connect the dots?
Our beloved brethren
who would twist Acts 15’s Jerusalem Council on this amalgamation of Jews and
those elect from the Nations entering into the singularity of the Commonwealth
of Israel—i.e., the Tabernacle of David--by projecting its exegesis into the
future Second Coming of the Deliverer Who shall roar out of Zion, have not only
completely missed the mark of the ultimate, immediate prophetic fulfillment of
why the elect from among the nations were beating a path into the assembly of
the Firstborn (in the first place) – but have inadvertently/ignorantly or
purposefully separated God's Eternal Plan and Purpose for creating in Himself
ONE NEW MAN, so making peace (the goal of the cross) - for “nothing else avails
but a new creation” which is the very Israel of God--plain and simple (Gal.
6:15).
Cleverly devising and
manipulating the conjunction kai (in Gal. 6:16) to grant peace
and mercy to Galatian gentiles - AND that the same goes for Jews who
alone bear the enlightenment as the Israel of God - is not only a
contortion of the Word of God but the entire thrust of Paul's overall message
domiciled in his confrontation with Peter over the TRUTH OF THE
GOSPEL (Gal. 2) - Jewish and Antiochian believers should all eat
together at Messiah's Table - ENOUGH OF THIS SEPARATION STUFF . . . the CROSS
produces the New Creation in the here and now—not in the sweet by-and-by (Gal.
6:12-14).
No, the
proper "sense" of Galatians 6:16 is found in, oddly enough, the
NIV:
Galatians 6:16, NIV:
"Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule--to the Israel of
God."
Galatians 6:16, "Peace
and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They
are the Israel of God."(God's Word Translation)
Even the Phillips
translation gets it (if you interpret it properly)! "But in
Christ it is not circumcision or uncircumcision that counts but the power of
new birth. To all who live by this principle, to the true Israel of God, may
there be peace and mercy!"
******
Instead, distortions
like this pervade Christendom:
16 Peace and mercy be
upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their
lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish
believers). (Amplified version--parenthesis in the Amplified V.)
16 Peace and mercy to those
who ·follow [walk/live by] this rule—and to ·all of God’s people [L the Israel
of God; C either: (1) Jewish Christians or (2) the church as the “new
Israel”]. (Expanded Bible) (Notice: Somehow keeping the two
separated!)
******
There is but one New Covenant -the MYSTERY
REVEALED!
The Healing of the Nations
In the strictest sense
the New Covenant is the very essence of the COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD that cleanses
ALL who call upon the Name of the Lord, for the forgiveness of sin and freedom
from its penalty—both Jew and Greek; however, this New Covenant is likewise the
very BASIS and ESSENCE of the COVENANT OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM
BOTH . . . listen carefully:
"My servant
David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will MAKE A COVENANT OF
PEACE with them (with both Judah and Ephraim - Ref. Ezk.
37:15-23), and it shall be an EVERLASTING COVENANT with them and
multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My
tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall
be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify
Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore" (Ezk.
37:25-28).
NOTICE: The New
Covenant - THE COVENANT OF PEACE - was strictly made between these Two Houses
(Judah and Ephraim/Joseph) - the MYSTERY revealed was to bring the
ethnos/nations into His One New Man, New Creation, to wit (read carefully):
"If indeed you
have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for
you, how that by revelation He made known to me the MYSTERY (as I have briefly
written already, by which when you read, you may UNDERSTAND MY KNOWLEDGE in the
MYSTERY OF CHRIST), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men,
as it HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: [NOW WHAT IS THIS MYSTERY NOW REVEALED,
ONCE HIDDEN BUT NOW REVEALED?] . . . that the Nations (aka
Gentiles) should be fellow heirs, of the SAME BODY, partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel . . . that I should preach among the
Nations the unsearchable riches of Christ . . . to the intent that NOW the
manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the EKKLESIA to the
principalities and powers in heavenly place" (Eph. 3:2-10
excerpts—my emphasis).
His EKKLESIA He is the
building of the INCLUSIVE Commonwealth of Israel!
On the one hand there
is nothing new - BUT on the other hand, there is something altogether
new: the ONE NEW MAN!
Brethren, it is
this INCLUSION of the nations into the Commonwealth of Israel
(viz., the MYSTERY OF CHRIST so revealed), into the singular New Covenant, the
Covenant of Peace between them both that is the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY once
hidden but is NOW revealed: That the nations/ethnos/gentiles should be
fellow heirs of the SAME BODY! Ephraim, swallowed up among the nations,
who is no more, is brought back into this Covenant of Peace--EVEN ALL THE
NATIONS, EDOM, MANKIND (Acts 15:17).
“After this I will
return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David (aka, the United Kingdom of
David), which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set
it up; so that the rest of mankind (lit. Edom—Amos 9:11-12) may
seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles (lit.
Ethnos/Ethnicities/Nations) who are called by My name, says the LORD
who does all these things!” (Acts 15:16-17; Amos 9:11-12).
THERE ARE NOT TWO NEW
COVENANTS - nor is the Covenant of Peace separate from the EVERLASTING COVENANT
- the nations, the ethnos have been included, brought into, the Commonwealth of
Israel - brought into the covenant He made and promised in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and
Jeremiah 31:31-34.
God's ultimate plan is
UNIFIED, SINGULAR, two nations, MADE ONE under King David WITH the inclusion of
the Ethos/Nations! The only thing NEW about the Ekklesia is the
following: ONE NEW MAN, SO MAKING PEACE! It was always there--IT
JUST GOT BIGGER!! Do we SEE it?
In all above
references the unmistakable imprint of the New Covenant is made with Judah and
Ephraim (Israel) with the repeated statement: "I will be
their God, and they shall be My people" - thus, the ultimate
consummation throughout all time and eternity will be His New Jerusalem
inclusive of His chosen, His elect, the full expansion, if you would of His
Bride, the GREAT MYSTERY: Christ and His EKKLESIA (Eph. 5:32) - for:
"Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be
His people . . . God Himself will be with them and be their God"
(Revelation 21:3).
This is the ultimate
manifestation of the New Covenant! What is it about the “leaves
of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations” we don't
understand (Rev. 22:2)? - Thus ends the notion of repopulating the universe
with humanoids (sorry - the NATIONS "which came against Jerusalem shall
go up from year to year to worship the King" at the Feasts of
Tabernacles in Zechariah 14:16-19 do so during His Millenarian Reign on the
Earth--"from year to year" (vs. 16) but the NATIONS in the
"eternal state" of the New Jerusalem are already HEALED, and, I
hasten to add, stay healed - no need to repopulate the universe or earth - but
who knows, I could be wrong - but I'm not wrong by INCLUDING the Nations/Ethnos
into the immediate Commonwealth of Israel, into the One New Man, and ultimately
into the New Jerusalem, the Holy City of Rev. 21-22 and Ezekiel 40-48, the
Bride of Messiah.
Let's not theologically
tamper with the EKKLESIA He is building - let's enjoy the MYSTERY REVEALED!
Doug
Krieger -
