What only a minutely few God-seekers realize is that the Word–the God of the Old Testament (Jn. 1:1-4,14)–came to earth to bring salvation to Israel, along with those Gentiles who would become spiritual Israelites by obeying His Law. In order to make keeping His Law easier, He would write it in the hearts of those who truly LOVE HIM: “If you (12 disciples) love Me, keep (obey) My commandments” (Jn. 14:15,21; 15:10).” Only those disciples who do, He said, would remain in His love and would have the same relationship with the Father that He has. Note that Christ’s relationship with the Father is based on His (Christ’s) love for (obedience to) the Father. Those who do not keep his Law reject those Words. Billions of churchites have not only rejected those and other such commands, but have “nailed the Law to the cross,” thereby destroying it. This in spite of Jesus declaring that He had “… NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW” (Mat. 5:17). First John 3:4 tells us that “To transgress (break) the Law is sin; for sin is the transgression of the Law.” THE LAW DEFINES SIN. TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW DOES AWAY WITH SIN. No sin=no need of a Savior. By destroying the Law, the church has rejected its Author. Refusal to obey His Law (to sin) separates us from Him (Isa. 59:2).

In order to make a saving relationship with Him more easily accessible, He writes His righteousness-defining Law on the hearts of those who truly love Him, who seek Him from the heart simply because they want to please Him. Salvation is the end result of a life walk that proves one’s love for Him by obeying His Law. His Law is found from Genesis to Revelation. The Ten Commandments is a summary of that Law.

At this point we will begin to examine numerous Scriptures that prove beyond a doubt that Jesus Christ came to earth to save His chosen people and to restore the once-great Kingdom of Israel to her former splendor which she exhibited while David was her king. In Amos 9:11 God swore that He would one day restore the tabernacle of David to its glory days of old. Let God prove that He will indeed do this, and how.

In Acts 1:6,7 we find the disciples asking the resurrected Jesus: “Lord, will You at this time RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?” He told them that He did not know WHEN the Father would restore it. The entire gospel message involves the COMING KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH–THE RESTORATION OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL. He had been teaching the disciples about that kingdom for the past 40 days (2,3). They were to spread the gospel (kingdom) message throughout the world. How were they to do this? He tells us.

In Acts 2:5 we find that Jews had gathered in Jerusalem from “every nation under heaven” to celebrate Pentecost. These Jews, having been scattered throughout the world along with their Israelite brethren, spoke the languages of the nations in which they then lived. When they heard the disciples speaking in all those different languages, telling them what they had done to their Savior, they came under conviction and asked the disciples, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter told them to repent (of disobeying God and killing their Messiah), to be baptized and to obey God–His Law–the same “one Law” ancient Israel was commanded to obey (Exo. 12:49). That Law was spoken to them and written in stone a few days later at Mt. Sinai. Isaiah 42:21 prophesied that the Messiah would come to earth “to magnify the Law and make it honorable.” The Institutional Church, having rejected “all that Jewish stuff,” refuses to believe what the Old Testament prophets said. This in spite of God’s statement that His  New Testament church had been founded on the teachings of the PROPHETS  and the apostles (Eph. 2:20).

But repenting, being baptized and obeying God was not all Peter commanded the multitude of Jewish visitors to do. In Acts 2:36 he tells them to “… let ALL THE (SCATTERED) HOUSE OF ISRAEL KNOW …. ” what had happened. “For the promise (of the Holy Spirit–salvation) is to you (Jews) and to your (Jewish) children, AND TO ALL WHO ARE AFAR OFF (scattered 10 tribes).” The Jews were to return home where they were to tell those of the House of Israel that their Messiah had come. Recall that Jesus had told the disciples that the Father had sent Him “… ONLY TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL” (Mat. 15:24). He had earlier (10:6) told the disciples to take his kingdom message ONLY to those same lost sheep. L.J.

Israel part 10