The Daily Word of Righteousness

Grace, and the New Covenant, #16

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (Luke 6:27)

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (Romans 12:14)

What commandment of the Lord does not apply to Christians? That we love and bless our enemies? Paul taught the same. That we rejoice when we are persecuted? Paul taught the same. That we should live in a holy, righteous manner? Paul taught the same. That we should abide in Christ as He abides in the Father? Paul declared:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Jeremiah would have no problem with the teaching of righteous, holy behavior. However, he certainly would not understand a God who no longer required righteous, holy behavior of Israel!

Another unscriptural teaching:

The current teaching that the Book of Hebrews does not apply to Christians but to unsaved Jews. Again, this is an attempt to prove that Christians are not obligated to press forward to righteousness, to the rest of God.

That the writer of Hebrews was writing to Christians is revealed as follows:

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ; (Hebrews 3:1)

If the writer was addressing members of the "heavenly calling," then he was speaking to all Christians—Jews and Gentiles alike.

A sincere, intelligent Christian should be able to see the error of distinguishing between Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. Paul was adamant that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ!

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27-29)

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)

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

The teaching that God is finished with the physical land and people of Israel and the Christian Church is now the only Israel of the Kingdom of God. To believe this is to be ignorant of what both the Old and New Testaments have to say on the subject. Jeremiah of all people would have us know that God has promised to bring His chosen people back to the land and to bless them there.

And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. (Jeremiah 3:16-18)

To be continued.