HF098 - A Holy Nation in Christ
To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003
Subject: Bible Study HF098 - A Holy Nation in Christ
Hebraics,
In the study to follow we want to see how the 'ekklesia' (church) remained somewhat a mystery in the former testament, that is, until the time of her appearing, yet afterwards she became not only the espoused of Christ, but also became a holy nation in the earth. It is in the sense of Christianity being a 'spiritual' nation without borders that we want to look at in this study.
This is Bible Study HF098 - A Holy Nation in Christ.
In the study of Scripture it is is important to keep in mind the adage that the New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New. The testaments are not disjoined. They are a continuous flow of revelation and truth. This is why you can find Christ in all the Scriptures. This is also why the apostle cautioned us to never 'exceed' what is written. (1Co4:6)
Jesus was teaching in the temple when certain of the chief priests and elders accosted Him concerning His authority. He simply responded by asking where John received his authority. Of course being fearful of not accepting John as a prophet, they demurred.
Jesus continued His teaching. Then He gave a parable that set them on their heels. It is the parable of the land owner. In the parable the land owner is the Father. The Son is Jesus Christ. The vine-growers are the religious leaders of Israel. The landowner sends servants (prophets) to receive the harvest. The servants are killed, one after the other. Finally He sends His Son.
What then do the vine-growers do? They say to themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance." While there is more to be said about the parable, what we need to see at this point is that Jesus let these religious leaders know that He knew that they themselves knew He was the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel. (That is a mouthful.)
Hope this is not confusing. In summary, Jesus was telling these leaders that they knew exactly who He was. Not only had their 'brood' been responsible for killing the prophets, but they would also be responsible for the death of Messiah. (Of course we know that His death on the cross was predetermined by God Himself.)
The Lord then directs them to the Scriptures, in saying, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"
He looked straight at them, and said, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it." (Cf. Matt22:23-46) The Greek term for 'people' is ethnos, which speaks of a race or a nation. (This term is generally used to designate non Jews, that is, Gentile peoples or foreigners.)
The Jewish leadership tried to seize Jesus, but the peoples would not allow it. However, they should not think it strange that Jesus said the kingdom, that is, the direct rule of God, would be removed from them, and this direct rule would be given to another people group. The prophets themselves had more than once pointed to this fact.
You can hear the Spirit of Christ in the prophet Isaiah, as he writes, "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not seek Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' to a nation which did not call on My name." (Isa65:1)
This is a clear prophecy concerning the church that would come out of the nations, and that it would itself constitute a holy nation, though not a nation to be reckoned among nations. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world.
The very next verse in Isaiah is equally telling. The Lord said, "I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts." The rebellious people was the Jewish leadership during the time of Christ, and to those who would follow them thereafter.
Many of the Jews at the time of Christ felt they were above all other peoples. They distained the Gentiles to such a degree, that no Torah-observant Jew would even enter the home of a Gentile. But the Lord spoke to this also. In describing the rebellious people, He speaks of their character; "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!'" (Vs5)
Bear in mind that the earliest Christians were in fact all Jews. It could easily be said that Christianity is a Jewish religion, except that Christianity was never intended to be a religion to begin with. It is a people born of heaven who are yet in their earthly bodies. Thus Christians make up a spiritual nation group that is interspersed throughout humanity. And so there is in the earth a 'heavenly' nation.
Does this heavenly nation have a name? Yes. Its formal name is Christianity. This is because its citizenry are called Christians. But this too was given by prophecy. In the same chapter of Isaiah (65), God's program for the holy nation in Christ is laid out.
In speaking to the Christ-rejecting leadership and those who rally to them, He says, "But you who forsake the Lord [Jesus Christ; 'the Lord of glory'] .... I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer..." (Vss11,12) --- The slaughter took place in 70 A.D. ---
And finally the Lord says, "But My servants will be called by another name." (Vs15) This is the second time the Lord calls attention to His peoples being 'called' by another name. He also speaks to this in Isaiah 62:2, concerning the apostolic Church going forth from Jerusalem like a burning torch.
It says, "And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate."
To appreciate what is being said here it is important to understand Hebraisms. Included in this one Scriptures are two terms that speak of a prophet speaking. First, "My servants will be called by another name." The calling refers to something given by prophecy.
The second term nails it down quite well; "Which the mouth of the Lord will designate." The mouth of the Lord is a term for a prophetic utterance that comes directly from the Lord Himself. Thus we see the fulfillment of this in Acts 11:26; "...he brought him [i.e. Barnabas brings Saul/Paul] to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."
And so not only does God's 'new nation' have a new name, but it is also the name that we are to glorify God by. Does this surprise you?
Listen carefully: "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Make sure none of you suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name." (1Pe4:14-16)
I realize that everything under the sun likes to use the term 'Christian' but that doesn't matter. They are accountable for God for how they used the name. That doesn't change the matter of the name itself. We are to glorify God in the name 'Christian.'
Now let's carry this a step further. Can it be said beyond a doubt that God's new covenant people make up a true 'heavenly people', that is, a spiritual nation in the earth? Yes, quite easily. We simply need to compare Scripture to Scripture.
The same term 'nation' that is applied to God's Old Testament people is given to His New Testament people. Without detailing this too much, let's simply hear the prophet again; "And a nation which knows you not will run to you, because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you." (Isa55:5) The context is Christ Himself.
Peter says, "But you [ekklesia; church] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1Pe2:9,10)
The afore Scripture connects both to the statement made by Moses, but also to the rejected cornerstone prophecy given by Isaiah, that is, the same prophecy that Jesus quoted to the religious leaders. So God has a spiritual nation in the earth that represents Him. This nation is in the world but it is not of the world. Its headquarters are in heaven.
Paul confirms this in saying, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Phil3:20,21)
The term 'citizenship' is politeuma. It is a governmental term and speaks to the business of government, or the working of an administration. It short it means that all our 'nation' business comes from one source, heaven itself, where the throne of God is. (This is the only place this term is used in the New Testament.)
Not only are we citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, not only are Christians subjects of God's holy nation, not only do we have citizenship rights, privileges, and responsibilities, but we also have an issue of 'divine administration.'
In concluding the study let me mention that the term kingdom of God simply speaks of the direct rule of God. When a person is born again, they are given a heart to the kingdom. But the administrator of all kingdom business is the work of the Holy Spirit. And this is why the apostle Paul said, "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom14:17)
Are we a holy nation in Christ?
The study is open.
Blessings,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)