So, while we are proof-texting like a drunken sailor, we might consider this: Jews lived and died as the the King of the ......................................... JEWS. His lineage was ..............................Jewish. He was killed by the ............................. Jews. The church was EXCLUSIVELY ................................ JEWISH THROUGH ACTS 7. All of his immediate disciples were .............................................Jews. Everyone in the upper room (both occasions) were .................................Jewish. The expansion of the ministry (to the Gentiles) is first given to Peter in a vision sometime after the cross. When Jesus sends his 12 out on mission, they are sent to the .......................Jews and "not to the Gentiles ) Matt 10:5,6. In Matt 15:24, Christ tells us that His mission is to the .............................................Jews and not to anyone else." Why? How can this be? Because of John 4:7 -- "salvation is of the Jews."
When Christ speaks of the "few there be" who will accept the salvation offered to them, He is speaking to the Jews and of the Jews. Does He intend to included all of mankind? Absolutely -- and He does. But there is a politic to this inclusion that began with Adam and came down to the world through Israel. The picture of the uncountable multitudes in Rev. 7 is a blessed hope for us all ........................ and is UNDENIABLE, folks (in a meaningful sense of the word.)
I should get three points for this slam dunk !!!!
Pastor Smithson
In a message dated 4/11/2005 5:33:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
How do we reconcile Matt 22:14 "many are called; few are chosen" with passages like Rev. 7:9 "more than could be counted .. from every nation and tribe?"
Do we realize that statements such as Matt 22:14 ARE LIMITED to the Gospel Accounts? When Christ speaks of "many are called and few are chosen," He is speaking of the Jews.
When His ministry is expanded to include peoples from every nation and tribe -- things start looking up. Praise God.
Does anyone know of teaching outside the Gospel Accounts that counter the Revelation picture? I cannot find one reference.
JD
================================================================="I came to seek and save the lost " was in the Gospel accounts too. Was that only for the Jews? I thought you said the other day that you turned the other cheek. That was Gospel too. Are you Jewish? It is true that Jesus was born under the law and remained under the law until He was crucified, but His messages were the good news of the Gospel, to everyone able to receive it. One of those messages said Few there be that find it.
When Sodom and Gomorrah went down, few eszaped God's judgment. When water covered the world and all flesh died that was not in the ark, few escaped God's judgment. When Israel left Egypt for the promised land, of all the slaves that started the journey, two made it to the promised land.
See any pattern here?
Terry
