| << | Contents | >> |
The Coming Increase of Christ in His House
“My name shall be great among the nations.”
Is it true that Christianity will experience an increased revelation of Christ in her midst and a massive growth in numbers? If so, how will we come to such glory? Is the answer to have more and larger mega churches? Should we try new evangelism programs? More focus on youth?
Before we address the above questions, let’s examine this basic question. Why did the Lord arise in power among the nations to begin with? We know that He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die and rise again for our salvation. No argument there. But there is another part to the answer. God turned to the nations to provoke the nation of Israel to jealousy, “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:11). Any eschatology that claims insight into the early apostles’ hearts, must address the issue of God’s love and plans for Israel. The Lord intended to do something among the nations in order to get her attention.
But today, that nation does not appear to be very impressed with the Church’s present relationship with God. Are we missing something? Should we try to look more Jewish, celebrating Old Testament holy days, keeping feasts, etc.? Did Paul teach such an approach?
Paul certainly loved Israel. He would have given up his own salvation if he thought that would save them (Romans 9:1-5). But we do not read of him teaching Gentile believers to keep feasts and Sabbaths to evangelize the Jews. Since the Colossian Church was made up primarily of Gentiles, wouldn’t the apostle have encouraged them to observe Jewish holy days to impress Israel if that was God’s strategy? Yet in his thought, Sabbath days, etc. are mere shadows and not the reality that cast them. “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).
While Paul loved Israel and longed to see her saved, he certainly held no illusions about some inherent goodness residing in his people. Today, some believers go perhaps a little far in identifying with the Jewish nation. To them, Christians must support Israel not only for her right to exist, but also in every action she takes. But Paul did not think this way. For example, he clearly opposed his nation’s treatment of the churches. Even though he loved his people, he did not mince words when describing Israel as both spiritually fallen and under wrath, headed for destruction (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). Today, some believers even go so far as to state that having a proper love for Israel is the foundation of the local church. But churches are to be built on Christ, not just His love for Israel.
Jesus had prophesied that great ruin would come to Israel within a generation:
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
In spite of this, Paul kept interceding on their behalf: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Would not God’s mercy ultimately triumph for them? In response, the Lord began to show the apostle His redemptive plan and specifically how He would accomplish it. He would turn to the Gentiles and bring to fullness a work in their midst. This would so provoke the Jews that they would then turn back to Him.
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
So, what specifically is coming to fullness among the Gentiles? The NIV phrases Paul’s comment such that when the full number of Gentiles comes in, all Israel will be saved. But the word “number” is not in the Greek manuscripts. Paul simply informs us that some sort of “fullness” is coming among us.
To answer our question, let’s consider Paul’s teaching concerning Israel’s basic failure. They were zealous for God, but they were ignorant of His righteousness and sought to establish their own. Then when their Messiah stood in their midst, they failed to submit to the righteousness of God
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
(Romans 10:3).
So how should we define God’s righteousness? Clearly, it is not something we can apprehend by keeping laws and rules. Long before the Old Testament laws were given, the Lord declared Abraham to be righteous simply because he believed and obeyed Him (Romans 4:3).
God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a multitude, that through him all nations would be blessed--indeed, he would be heir of the world (Genesis 17:4; 22:17-18; Romans 4:13). This promise would not be realized by human efforts but by simply believing the One who had made the promise. The problem was that to become father to a multitude, Abraham would have to father at least one child. However, as much as he and Sarah tried to conceive, they simply could not. When Sarah suggested that her husband become involved with Hagar, the servant girl, it seemed like an acceptable solution. But it wasn’t.
There is no record that the Lord spoke to Abraham for 13 years after his initial involvement with Hagar and the birth of their son Ishmael. Imagine thinking for years that your child is the guarantee of God’s promised multiplication only to one day hear Him say otherwise. Yet, God did not return to condemn Abraham; He came in mercy to reveal and interrupt Abraham’s misguided zeal. Today we need God in His mercy to interrupt His Church.
Those who bring forth spiritual Ishmaels[1] today are not false prophets any more than Abraham was. Today, many of God’s people are His friends; we love Him, hear His voice, and in some measure, see His purpose. The problem is, like Abraham, we simply don’t wait for the Lord to bring to pass what He has promised.
The Christian life is not about doing works for God, or trying to help Him fulfill His promises. Rather, we are to worship, wait, and obey. In Scripture, to wait is to expect. It is not the waiting of one in a recliner chair as he naps. Rather, it is the expectation of one at the starting line of a footrace as he anticipates the sound of the starter’s pistol. Believers expect the Lord to move actively in their lives. As we see what He is doing, we can then cooperate with Him in His work. Jesus lived such a life perfectly.
God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants; the fulfillment of this promise meant multiplication. Today we who are of faith are Abraham’s children (Galatians 3:7). As believers, we inherently know that we are to multiply. Massive numbers of people will yet come into God’s Kingdom. But His promise is not based on the Church’s attempts to multiply, but on His own faithfulness.
Genuine faith is more than mere mental agreement with sound Christian teaching. It has to do with lifestyle. Abraham left his city and pursued the Lord and His purpose. He left what was comfortable and went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).
When he got to the Land of Promise, he lived there as though it was a foreign land, even though God had promised it to him. He did not start announcing to all who could hear that it now belonged to him. Nor did he start killing Canaanites to take it over. Many years later Joshua would express faith by killing Canaanites, but Abraham expressed his faith by living peaceably with them. Timing is crucial; God reveals His Kingdom when we move in harmony with Him according to His schedule.
Treating the land as foreign and not as his own possession, Abraham lived in tents, temporary dwellings with no foundations. Permanence would only come when God began building. So he waited for the city with foundations designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:9-10). All the Old Testament children of Abraham who lived by faith looked forward to something more than mere real estate in the Middle East. They saw themselves as pilgrims seeking a homeland. Therefore, God prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:12-16).
But how would He begin construction? Obviously, He would have to lay the foundation. Looking forward, Isaiah prophesied that the foundation would be a precious and tested cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16). Many years earlier, Abraham had also looked ahead and recognized God himself walking into the land and becoming the basis for the heavenly project (John 8:56). The Bible concludes with a vision of that city. It is actually the Lamb’s bride, and her origin is Heaven (Revelation 21:9-10). So among other things, God’s work is a house, a city, and a bride.
In many ways, we who are Abraham’s children are still waiting. Since Jesus said that He would do the building, we recognize the Church age as the time of construction (Matthew 16:18). We must cooperate with Him as He builds His house, His city. We do not have the right to organize corporate ministries to extend God’s Kingdom. We only have the right to worship, wait, and obey. We are involved with His project; it is not our own. True faith believes in the One who said He would build His Church. We will seek to only move in oneness with Him. Human initiative to “get the job done” will continue to bring forth spiritual Ishmaels in our day. But the child of promise is also emerging from the heavenly initiative. Can we tell the difference? Is it not important to ask the Lord to help us in this matter?
Search Comments
This page has been visited 0010 times.
| << | Contents | >> |
10 per page