tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post6606609551010500734..comments2024-03-24T15:19:06.377-04:00Comments on The Continuum: Second Sunday in LentFr. Robert Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-64821159586275401222011-03-21T01:10:45.356-04:002011-03-21T01:10:45.356-04:00Yes, about the preaching of the Gospel. This leads...Yes, about the <i>preaching</i> of the Gospel. This leads us to why. Nonetheless, those of us who <i>were</i> gentiles before we were in Christ, are also among the people called "Israel and Judah" by Jeremiah.Fr. Robert Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-70054223595103753322011-03-20T19:31:59.389-04:002011-03-20T19:31:59.389-04:00Fr Hart,
One more note on the "first" c...Fr Hart,<br /><br />One more note on the "first" claim... Romans 1: 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew FIRST, and also to the Greek."<br /><br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-61340073843669200512011-03-20T17:00:23.290-04:002011-03-20T17:00:23.290-04:00With all due respect, Fr Hart, I believe "fir...With all due respect, Fr Hart, I believe "first" claim is more accurate than "exclusive" claim because, as we know from Romans 8: 29, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren." That is, God in His omniscience knew from the beginning that the lost ones of Israel would reject Christ. Therefore He knew that ultimately there would be no exclusivity.<br /><br />In thinking about the Israelites, and how we as Christians are as you point out grafted into the people of Israel, there is an interesting note in my study bible about "the distinction is between Israel after the flesh, the mere natural posterity of Abraham, and Israelites who, through faith, are also Abraham's spiritual children... Gentiles who believe are of Abraham's spiritual seed." Romans 9: 6-8 talks about this distinction: "... For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall they be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." <br /><br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-27600759530785195952011-03-20T16:05:45.694-04:002011-03-20T16:05:45.694-04:00Not "First claim." Rather, they held exc...Not "First claim." Rather, they held <i>exclusive</i> claim to the New Covenant (at that time yet to be established in Christ's blood). So says Jeremiah: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah (Jer. 31:31)."<br /><br />Therefore, the fact that even the gentiles are made children of Abraham by faith (Romans 4) and grafted in to the people of Israel (Romans 11:17), thus "made nigh" rather than "far off," is no small matter. <br /><br />As for who does or who does not have Israelite blood, or to what degree, it really does not matter. If you have faith that what God has revealed is true, you are a child of Abraham. You are in the New Covenant with all of its promises.Fr. Robert Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-54480715394038243492011-03-20T14:58:06.662-04:002011-03-20T14:58:06.662-04:00In Mark 7: 26, the Canaanite woman is referred to ...In Mark 7: 26, the Canaanite woman is referred to as a Greek and a "Syrophoenician." The children of Israel, according to my study Bible, held "first claim to the blessings of the new Covenant." It was not until after the Resurrection that the gospel was systematically proclaimed to all nations.<br /><br />Ten tribes of Israel were scattered into parts of Europe several hundred years before Christ. Those of us who are of European descent may indeed carry some Israelite blood in our veins.<br /><br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com