06/06/2025 – “… Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine…” (Isaiah 43: 1-3) // See Spurgeon quote / and comments…
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God….” (Isaiah 43: 1-3)
“Reckon then that to acquire soul-winning power, you will have to go through mental torment and soul distress. You must go into the fire if you are going to pull others out of it, and you will have to dive into the floods if you are going to draw others out of the water. You cannot work a fire escape without feeling the scorch of the conflagration, nor man a lifeboat without being covered with the waves.” Charles Spurgeon
There are many Christians who believe the redeemed Jews and Gentiles are two different groups of people, playing out in eschatology. (*A – below) I don’t: We are in one body in Christ. Check out this article: “Isaiah’s Secret Message to Gentiles: The End Times Mandate to Fulfill God’s Ultimate Plan.”
More: Read Isaiah, Chapters 61 & 62. As I have note recently in a post: Read Romans , chapter 9 through 11, with a crescendo at 11: 24 – 27 – 33.
(*A) – There are four millennial christian views: 1). Dispensational PreMillennialism ; 2) Historic Premillennialism; 3). Post millennialism; 4) Amillenialism. Group #1 would fall into those who believe in Jews and Gentiles, two different groups. I would be in Group #2: Key difference: #1 believes in the pre-tribulation rapture. I don’t. I joke, “sure!: ‘beam me up Scotty’, leave the 7 year tribulation suffering to the Jews.” But on a serious note, I have expressed on multiple occasions that I don’t see why group #1 and group #2 would have to worship in a different church on Sunday. I will say it is commendable of all the brothers and sisters I have rubbed shoulders with in Group #1, I haven’t sensed so much as a hint of anti-semitism. I would think the belief that Jews and Gentiles are two different groups would lend itself more to anti-semitism. On the other hand, there is a growing heresy called “supersessionism” or “replacement theory” , that proclaims the Jewish people are no longer the covenant people of God, that they have been replaced by the Christian church. What about Messianic Jews, are they excluded? Did they cease becoming Jews when they became Christians? So in stark contrast, I would not step into a church that was promoting this heresy.
Thoughts? / Reflections?
Always connection through prayer and by His grace!
Love,
Jimmy