LLM Question for 7-24-2012, and, The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 3 of 3

First the Question: Christians today, members of the Body of Christ, are part of the BrideGROOM and NOT the Bride of Christ. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-22-2012

Question: The ELECT of God in this Dispensation of GRACE, the Dispensation of the Mystery, are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT elect Israel. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! So then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel. God’s ELECT in this Age and Dispensation of GRACE are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”. Now, out of the 741 responses we received to this question, 90.5% of you got it right! Good job once again. Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at an in depth look at…

The Three Elections of the Nation of Israel, part 3 of 3

THE ELECTION HATH OBTAINED IT: AND THE REST WERE BLINDED

After reading in Romans 11:7, “The ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded”, we read in Romans 11:8, “according as it is written.” In Romans 11:25, after reading that the time of Israel’s blindness will come to an end, we read in the next verse, “As it is written.”

It is very interesting to study “as it is written” in Romans 11:8 and in Romans 11:27, with John 12:37-42; that Israel did NOT believe, BECAUSE Isaiah 53 had to be fulfilled; and that Israel COULD NOT believe, because Isaiah 6:9-10 had to be fulfilled, “Go and tell this people (Israel). Hear ye indeed, but understand not: and see ye indeed, but perceive not…Make the heart of this people fat and make their eyes heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and be healed.”

Not many years after this prophecy in Isaiah 6:9-10, Zedekiah, their king was blinded, and “the times of the Gentiles, politically, began.” (2 Kings 25:7; Daniel 2). Israel was under Caesar, the Gentile world-ruler, during the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24), when John 12:37-42 was quoted, explaining why Christ’s own received Him not. They did not believe and could not believe; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and God’s plan of redemption might be accomplished.

Surely when we read John 12:37-42 we think of some verses in the ninth chapter of Romans, and well may we ask the question asked in Romans 9:20 after reading Romans 9:15-23. So Christ, in incarnation, was rejected by Israel, not only “as it is written”, but that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

As we read in 2 Kings 25:7 that Zedekiah was blinded, and “the times of the Gentiles, politically” began, let us read in Acts 13:5-13 that BARJESUS, the Jew, was blinded, and because of his blindness, a Gentile believed. Then see that God was getting ready to fulfill Isaiah 6:9-10 again and usher in “the times of the Gentiles, spiritually.”

So then in Romans 11:6 we have the “ELECTION” of Israelites by Grace; the rest of Israel blinded. “AS IT IS WRITTEN” in Isaiah 6:9-10. This blindness is still upon Israel. God’s ELECT in this Age and Dispensation of GRACE are members of the Body of Christ, and NOT “ELECT ISRAEL”.

ISRAEL WILL AGAIN BE ELECTED

As touching the “ELECTION”, when Israel shall be saved, in fulfillment of Ro­mans 11:26, this will be, because they are beloved for the fathers’ sake, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, because this is God’s covenant when He shall take away Israel’s sins. (Romans 11:26-29). All of this will be al­so, because “it is written” in the Old Testament.

So we learn that during the period, from Abraham to Moses, Israel was “ELECTED”. In the days of the Apostle Paul Israel was “ELECTED”. And after the Body of Christ has been com­pleted and taken home to glory, Israel will again be “ELECTED”.

At the time the rest were blinded, God turned to the gentiles with the Ministry and Message of “RECONCILIATION”. (Romans 11:15 and Romans 5:10-11). At that time Gentiles obtained mercy because of Israel’s unbelief. At that time God gave the Gentiles the opportunity of being rich, because of the diminishing of Israel (Romans 11:12). At that time God sent salvation to Gentiles, as it had NEVER been sent before. (Romans 11:11, Acts 28:25-28).

When we learn that God will fulfill His future Kingdom plan with His “Kingdom” nation redeemed and restored, “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7), because “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18), we know that God will establish His millennium of righteous­ness and peace on this earth. When we read in 1 Peter 1:18-23 that Christ was foreordained from BEFORE the foundation of the world to die on the cross for the redemption of the human race, we can believe that Christ’s death was the LORD’s doing. Therefore, the quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10 in John 12:37-42.

But why the quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10 in Romans 11:7-10 and in Acts 28:25-28? If God purposed, from before the foundation of the world, that Christ and the Body of Christ would be one flesh (Ephesians 5:31-32), that Jews and Gentiles would be reconciled in one Body by the cross, thus forming ‘ONE NEW MAN’ (Ephesians 2:15-16), would we be in error, if we should say that Israel’s rejection of their Messiah and the Grace Gospel after Christ’s resurrection was the LORD’s doing? Or should we just rest our case with the LORD, and say with the Apostle Paul, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past-tracing-out! Who hath known the mind of the LORD? Who hath been His counselor?”

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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