Page 273 - Bible Writers Theology Original

known that the covenant of the circumcision entered into by God with Abraham was foreshadowing Christ. He also should have known the real meaning of "the promised seed". This is implied by the answer Jesus gave to his question: "Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?" Simeon,whowas"waitingfortheconsolationofIsrael",knewbetter. While holding the child Jesus, he blessed God and said, "mineeyes have seen thy salvation. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people" (Luke 2:25,30-31). PaulalsoexpressedhissorrowaboutthestumblingoftheJews over the promised salvation: "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the prom ises" (Romans 9:3-5).
As with Nicodemus, the Jewish religious leaders were apparently with out excuse for not correctly interpreting the various facets of the salvation to come, as foretold in the scriptures. The fountain to be opened to the house of David for the washing of sins and unrighteousness was foretold by
Zechariah(Zechariah13:1). TheLambofGodwasreportedbyIsaiah(kaiah 53:7; John 1:29). The pouring out of the Spirit of God upon all flesh in e lastdayswasprophesiedbyJoel(Joel2:28). Theremovalofthestony ' to be replaced by the heart of flesh, which is Christ, was praised by God through Ezekiel (II Corinthians 3:3-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27). Through Ismah 12:1-6 and other related prophecies, it was declared that God of the Old Testament would be "Yeshua: God our salvation." This, together with the Genesis account of the creation of man (Genesis 1:26-27), should have point edtheJewstothenewmanintheimageofGod. CompareIsaiah12with Genesis 1:27 and 3:15 to see a great revelation of Yeshua.
Paulwasnotignorantofthismystery. HedeclaredthatChrist,ourpeace,
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15). He made this statement concluding his
parallel between the Jews and their circumcision on the one hand, and the
Gentiles "...strangers from the covenants of promise..." and uncircumcision on the other hand. (Ephesians 2:11-12). The Jews with their circumcision
received Him not because they were blinded (John 1:11) while to those who received Him (Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles), "...gave he power to become the sons of God...Which were bom, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). Those who received Him are those who obtained the real circumcision, "putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2:11)
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