What do you think was God`s Purpose in making - the Nations, Israel and the Body of Christ?

[Marilyn C]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -

1. The Nations.

2. Israel.

3. The Body of Christ.


If you can only comment on one group, then that is fine.

 

[for_his_glory]

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

God created us to have fellowship with Him and in the fullness of joy within what He has created here on earth. God created all of us in order to enjoy us and for us to help take care of His creation. This was all in the beginning before there were any nations, before Israel existed or even the body of Christ. But, we messed up by falling away from Him by the temptations that Satan put before us. Does that mean God has no more pleasure in us, no, as God loved us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son Christ Jesus that we can be reconciled back to Him for His good pleasure.

 

[Who Me]

The nations are a reminder to those who are aware that sin and rejecting God has a consequence.

ISRAEL is an example of God's love for the world.
Israel was to have been a practice example of the benefits of following God.

The body of Christ, Christians are to be an expression of God's love and an example of the benefits of obedience to God's laws.

 

[Hidden In Him]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -

1. The Nations.

2. Israel.

3. The Body of Christ.


If you can only comment on one group, then that is fine.

Interesting question, sister. And btw, I have moved your thread to Theology, since it seemed a little more the appropriate place for it.

My reply is similar to Who Me's. I think God's purpose was to show the consequences of either walking in God's favor or rejecting Him. Jesus taught that the road is narrow that leads to Life, and few there be who find it, and by comparison I think He choose Israel out of all the nations of the earth to reflect that. Not that some are predestined for salvation and others are not, because much of Israel got rejected - those who did not choose to obey Him from the heart. But those who truly love Him and honor Him will be blessed when all is said and done, and the meek shall inherit the earth. Those who rejected Him, though they were powerful in the flesh, will receive the opposite.

 

[Marilyn C]

Interesting question, sister. And btw, I have moved your thread to Theology, since it seemed a little more the appropriate place for it.

My reply is similar to Who Me's. I think God's purpose was to show the consequences of either walking in God's favor or rejecting Him. Jesus taught that the road is narrow that leads to Life, and few there be who find it, and by comparison I think He choose Israel out of all the nations of the earth to reflect that. Not that some are predestined for salvation and others are not, because much of Israel got rejected - those who did not choose to obey Him from the heart. But those who truly love Him and honor Him will be blessed when all is said and done, and the meek shall inherit the earth. Those who rejected Him, though they were powerful in the flesh, will receive the opposite.

Thank you HIH,

Now to whom did Jesus say the road was narrow etc? Yes, to Israel. There was no Body of Christ at that time.
And the same with `the meek shall inherit the earth.` That was to Israel.

When Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit was sent to build and mature the Body of Christ the Lord, the Head of His Body gave further revelation for us concerning our inheritance.

We are most blessed to have the inheritance of ruling with the Lord on His own throne in the third heaven. (Rev. 3: 21) The other areas of God`s great kingdom will also have rulership all under the sovereign Lord.

Salvation is just the means to God fulfilling His purposes for - the nations, for Israel and for the Body of Christ.
If all God wanted to do was show consequences He could have done that at the beginning and saved a lot of pain and suffering over the centuries.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

God, our Creator, shows his justice and mercy to his creation, the nations, and the church. It's his quality of mercy when people trust in him as their Judge and receive that quality through faith in Jesus, and it's his justice when they turn away from him.

 

[Marilyn C]

God, our Creator, shows his justice and mercy to his creation, the nations, and the church. It's his quality of mercy when people trust in him as their Judge and receive that quality through faith in Jesus, and it's his justice when they turn away from him.

Hi Bruce,

I agree God is surely showing His great mercy, and with that He has a purpose for each group in the New Heavens and New Earth.

 

[Fastfredy0]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -
1. The Nations.
2. Israel.
3. The Body of Christ.

God’s purpose and man’s purpose are one and the same: to glorify God and enjoy him forever; as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all.
The end is his own glory. All his works in creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Proverbs 3:4), preservation (Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:11a), providence (Psalm 33:10; Daniel 4:35),and redemption (1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 1:6, 12, 16) have this end in view. Henry Thiessen – Lectures in Systematic Theology
God cannot will any other thing but himself as his end, because there is nothing superior to himself in goodness. Stephen Charnock - Existence and Attributes of God

God cannot so properly be said to make the creature his end, as himself. For the creature is not as yet considered as existing. Edwards, Jonathan. The Complete Works of Jonathan Edwards

As there is none more excellent than himself, nothing can be his end but himself (sola Deo Gloria); as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all; “Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things” (Romans 11:36).

 

[Marilyn C]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -
1. The Nations.
2. Israel.
3. The Body of Christ.

God’s purpose and man’s purpose are one and the same: to glorify God and enjoy him forever; as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all.
The end is his own glory. All his works in creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Proverbs 3:4), preservation (Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:11a), providence (Psalm 33:10; Daniel 4:35),and redemption (1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 1:6, 12, 16) have this end in view. Henry Thiessen – Lectures in Systematic Theology
God cannot will any other thing but himself as his end, because there is nothing superior to himself in goodness. Stephen Charnock - Existence and Attributes of God

God cannot so properly be said to make the creature his end, as himself. For the creature is not as yet considered as existing. Edwards, Jonathan. The Complete Works of Jonathan Edwards

As there is none more excellent than himself, nothing can be his end but himself (sola Deo Gloria); as he is the cause of all, so he is the end of all; “Of him, and through him, and to him, are all things” (Romans 11:36).

Hi Ff,

Yes, to glorify God forever.....standing still or.........?

 

[onlysaved]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -

1. The Nations.

2. Israel.

3. The Body of Christ.


If you can only comment on one group, then that is fine.

Everything that happens is God's doing and all of it has one purpose.. His glory..

That's all we need to know and understand. Everything else causes needless speculation which leads men down side roads that may or may not be accurate and can lead to false doctrine and misunderstandings about the charecter of God.

 

[Marilyn C]

Everything that happens is God's doing and all of it has one purpose.. His glory..

That's all we need to know and understand. Everything else causes needless speculation which leads men down side roads that may or may not be accurate and can lead to false doctrine and misunderstandings about the charecter of God.

Hi onlysaved,

Yes, for God`s glory. And He has told us in His word what He has purposed and that is important if He wants us to know. Otherwise, the Bible could have been just - John 3: 16.

May the Lord lead you (& us) in discerning His Word.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

So, what do you think (from God`s word if you can) was God`s purpose in making -

1. The Nations.

2. Israel.

3. The Body of Christ.


If you can only comment on one group, then that is fine.

The answer you seek lies within Deut. 32:8-9

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations (Tower of Babel),
When He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel (Sons of God, Dead Sea Scroll).
For the Lord’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

Through a divine intervention, God scattered the original natiosn across the face of the earth and set boundaries between them, those nations, 70 in total according to the Table of Nations in Gen. 10, were disinherited, among them was Peleg (Gen. 10:28). About eight generations down from Peleg, God chose Abraham and made a sacred covenant with him. Jacob, Abraham's grandson, was the legitimate heir, and the twelve tribes were God's chosen people, they had an exclusive relationship with God. In the NT, this relationship was no longer exclusive, it was extended to the Gentiles through the adoption of the Holy Spirit, but contrary to the replacement theology, the original Israel is NOT replaced by the Gentile church, instead Gentiles/nations are being assimilated into the Commonwealth of Israel, and that is the Body of Christ. It is written in the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The gospel came to Jews first, then it's preached to the Gentiles, this is the times of the Gentiles, also known as the Church Age; at the end of the Church Age, though, the gospel will return to the Jews.

 

[Marilyn C]

The answer you seek lies within Deut. 32:8-9

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations (Tower of Babel),
When He separated the sons of Adam,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the children of Israel (Sons of God, Dead Sea Scroll).
For the Lord’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

Through a divine intervention, God scattered the original natiosn across the face of the earth and set boundaries between them, those nations, 70 in total according to the Table of Nations in Gen. 10, were disinherited, among them was Peleg (Gen. 10:28). About eight generations down from Peleg, God chose Abraham and made a sacred covenant with him. Jacob, Abraham's grandson, was the legitimate heir, and the twelve tribes were God's chosen people, they had an exclusive relationship with God. In the NT, this relationship was no longer exclusive, it was extended to the Gentiles through the adoption of the Holy Spirit, but contrary to the replacement theology, the original Israel is NOT replaced by the Gentile church, instead Gentiles/nations are being assimilated into the Commonwealth of Israel, and that is the Body of Christ. It is written in the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The gospel came to Jews first, then it's preached to the Gentiles, this is the times of the Gentiles, also known as the Church Age; at the end of the Church Age, though, the gospel will return to the Jews.

Hi CYN,

Good detail there and explanations. Now all that is in time, so what do you think is God`s purpose for each group in the New Heavens and New Earth?

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Hi CYN,

Good detail there and explanations. Now all that is in time, so what do you think is God`s purpose for each group in the New Heavens and New Earth?

In the New Heavens and New Earth there'll be no distinctions between different ethnic groups, all will be one church united with Christ. A shocking revelation that the Sadduccees failed to comprehend and perhaps most Christians cannot accept is that, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. " (Matt. 22:30) The logic is, death is defeated in resurrection, and since there's no death, there's no need for birth to replace the dead; no birth, no sex; no sex, no marriage. I can go further, as I suspect that there won't be any kind of human relationship, only our eternal relationship with God remains.

 

[Marilyn C]

In the New Heavens and New Earth there'll be no distinctions between different ethnic groups, all will be one church united with Christ. A shocking revelation that the Sadduccees failed to comprehend and perhaps most Christians cannot accept is that, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. " (Matt. 22:30) The logic is, death is defeated in resurrection, and since there's no death, there's no need for birth to replace the dead; no birth, no sex; no sex, no marriage. I can go further, as I suspect that there won't be any kind of human relationship, only our eternal relationship with God remains.

I think all that is to do with the Body of Christ.

If you disregard the Nations and Israel as separate groups, then it seems you think God made them for no eternal purpose. It seems to me if all God wanted was one group He would have made that much earlier on.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

I think all that is to do with the Body of Christ.

If you disregard the Nations and Israel as separate groups, then it seems you think God made them for no eternal purpose. It seems to me if all God wanted was one group He would have made that much earlier on.

You misunderstood. Each ethnic group does have their unique teleological purpose, as I've pointed this out - "I (Paul) am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)" but that's not ETERNAL purpose. Eschatologically speaking, the only eternal purpose is eternal relationship with God, regardless of your ethnicity. Gentiles and Israel are separate groups, but they don't have separate messiahs, Jesus is the only way.

 

[Marilyn C]

You misunderstood. Each ethnic group does have their unique teleological purpose, one of them I've pointed out - "I (Paul) am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)" but that's not ETERNAL purpose. Eschatologically speaking, the only eternal purpose is eternal relationship with God, regardless of your ethnicity. Gentiles and Israel are separate groups, but they don't have separate messiahs, Jesus is the only way.

I agree that Jesus` sacrifice made the way for people to be saved. However, not all people have the full revelation of Jesus sacrifice but it covers all who turn to God.

So why did God make a New Heavens and New Earth if there is only one group in eternity?

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

So why did God make a New Heavens and New Earth if there is only one group in eternity?

Because there will be only one bride of Christ in eternity. Humanity comes in full circle, it began with one family, it will end as one entity. There is neither Jews nor Greeks, male nor female, free nor bound, for all are one in Christ.

 

[Marilyn C]

Because there will be only one bride of Christ in eternity. Humanity comes in full circle, it began with one family, it will end as one entity. There is neither Jews nor Greeks, male nor female, free nor bound, for all are one in Christ.

Yes, in eternity there is only one city that is likened to a bride. However, there will still be the nations of the saved on the New Earth, (Rev. 21: 24) and also those who are Kingpriests with Christ on His own throne in the third heaven. (Rev.3: 21)

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Yes, in eternity there is only one city that is likened to a bride. However, there will still be the nations of the saved on the New Earth, (Rev. 21: 24) and also those who are Kingpriests with Christ on His own throne in the third heaven. (Rev.3: 21)

So? New heaven and new earth are not old heaven and old earth, where there're 200+ nations governed by watcher angels, aka "sons of God" in Deut. 32:8. These are merely nations of the saints' origins, and these original nations will no longer exist, do you believe in that?