World events are only understood when viewed through the lenses of Scriptural truth.
There are Three Responses to Human Tragedy
1. Errant Secular Humanism (error, Too Earthly Minded To Be Of Any Heavenly Good).
2. Errant Religious Disengagement from human problems, (error, Too Heavenly Minded To Be Of Any Earthly Good).
3. Being Light & Salt, (fact, We are In The World, But Not Of This World).
THE PLAN OF GOD
Human tragedy and human hope can only be understood and addressed when seen from God's perspective. We can know God's perspective because He has revealed it in the Holy Bible. God's solution to the human tragedy of sin and chaos is dealt with in the single, but long running, work of salvation.
God foreshadowed and announced His plan for Divine interdiction in the Old Testament. He would conquer sin and death through the sinless life, sacrificial death and physical resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, eventually establishing His sovereign rule in an earthly kingdom, Securing a people for all eternity.
This prefigured, prophesied salvation and restoration would take place by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. God chose to send His Son through the lineage of a man (Abraham), a family (Judah) and a nation (Israel).
Israel of the Old Testament foreshadowed God's plan through the miracles, revelations, laws, promises, temple, priesthood, sacrifices and feasts. His plan was Accomplished in the Incarnation of the Son of God through the virgin birth of Christ; and will be fulfilled in His earthly kingdom, at the end of the ages.
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH NATURE.
PSALMS 19:1
1 ...The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
ROMANS 1:19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT.
ROMANS 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
HEBREWS 1:1
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH HIS SON.
GALATIANS 4:4-5
4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
EPHESIANS 1:10
10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
HEBREWS 1:1-3
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
HEBREWS 1:8
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
HEBREWS 2:8-10
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his (Jesus) feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
GOD CHOSE ISRAEL
Since God was going to become Incarnate, He needed a human channel. He chose Israel. He did not choose a nation that would be naturally powerful, wealthy, influential. God could have chosen any channel He wanted, but He chose a Hebrew, Israel, the Jew as His three channel conduit. This is why the we find Abraham, Isaac and Jacob referenced as God's conduit. This excludes all other nations and people, including Abraham's descendants through Hagar and Keturah (the Arab world).
Had God chosen any other people, Satan would have attacked them in the same way he has attacked Israel. Israel is not inherently hated by Satan and the world, but rather because it is chosen by God. God could have chosen the Chinese, the African, the Arab, the European or anyone else, but He chose Israel. God chose Israel because He knew the future of Israel. He chose a nation that would not have any inherent value or power in society. The glory of Israel is dependent upon its relationship with God. Israel's place in the world and in world history is because God chose them above all nations. Israel is God's conduit into the world.
THE PROMISES, PROPERTIES AND PRACTICES OF O.T. POINT TO CHRIST AND KINGDOM
* The Old Testament is filled with God's revelation concerning His plan to redeem the world through His Son.
* The promises God gave assured Israel of the coming Messiah, kingdom and victory.
*The properties God gave Israel (land, tabernacle, temple, priestly garments) revealed the nature and events He would employ in redeeming the world.
* The practices God ordained for Israel (sacrifices, celebrations, rituals, dietary and civil laws) were not only appropriate to O.T. Israel, they foreshadowed the coming King and kingdom.
THE BIBLE DEMONSTRATES GOD'S PLAN TO DWELL WITH, AND IN HIS PEOPLE.
* God dwelt WITH Adam in the garden.
* God dwelt WITH Israel in the tabernacle and the temple.
* God dwells IN Christians in the Church today.
* Christ will dwell IN OUR MIDST during the millennium.
CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER DEATH DID NOT END GOD'S PLAN FOR ISRAEL.
* God still has plans for Israel during the tribulation.
* God still has plans for Israel during the millennium.
* Israel was not a brief stopover for God on His way to the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.
THE PLAN OF GOD
Human tragedy and human hope can only be understood and addressed when seen from God's perspective. We can know God's perspective because He has revealed it in the Holy Bible. God's solution to the human tragedy of sin and chaos is dealt with in the single, but long running, work of salvation.
God foreshadowed and announced His plan for Divine interdiction in the Old Testament. He would conquer sin and death through the sinless life, sacrificial death and physical resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, eventually establishing His sovereign rule in an earthly kingdom, Securing a people for all eternity.
This prefigured, prophesied salvation and restoration would take place by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. God chose to send His Son through the lineage of a man (Abraham), a family (Judah) and a nation (Israel).
Israel of the Old Testament foreshadowed God's plan through the miracles, revelations, laws, promises, temple, priesthood, sacrifices and feasts. His plan was Accomplished in the Incarnation of the Son of God through the virgin birth of Christ; and will be fulfilled in His earthly kingdom, at the end of the ages.
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH NATURE.
PSALMS 19:1
1 ...The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
ROMANS 1:19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT.
ROMANS 15:4
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
HEBREWS 1:1
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH HIS SON.
GALATIANS 4:4-5
4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
EPHESIANS 1:10
10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
HEBREWS 1:1-3
1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
HEBREWS 1:8
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
HEBREWS 2:8-10
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his (Jesus) feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
GOD CHOSE ISRAEL
Since God was going to become Incarnate, He needed a human channel. He chose Israel. He did not choose a nation that would be naturally powerful, wealthy, influential. God could have chosen any channel He wanted, but He chose a Hebrew, Israel, the Jew as His three channel conduit. This is why the we find Abraham, Isaac and Jacob referenced as God's conduit. This excludes all other nations and people, including Abraham's descendants through Hagar and Keturah (the Arab world).
Had God chosen any other people, Satan would have attacked them in the same way he has attacked Israel. Israel is not inherently hated by Satan and the world, but rather because it is chosen by God. God could have chosen the Chinese, the African, the Arab, the European or anyone else, but He chose Israel. God chose Israel because He knew the future of Israel. He chose a nation that would not have any inherent value or power in society. The glory of Israel is dependent upon its relationship with God. Israel's place in the world and in world history is because God chose them above all nations. Israel is God's conduit into the world.
THE PROMISES, PROPERTIES AND PRACTICES OF O.T. POINT TO CHRIST AND KINGDOM
* The Old Testament is filled with God's revelation concerning His plan to redeem the world through His Son.
* The promises God gave assured Israel of the coming Messiah, kingdom and victory.
*The properties God gave Israel (land, tabernacle, temple, priestly garments) revealed the nature and events He would employ in redeeming the world.
* The practices God ordained for Israel (sacrifices, celebrations, rituals, dietary and civil laws) were not only appropriate to O.T. Israel, they foreshadowed the coming King and kingdom.
THE BIBLE DEMONSTRATES GOD'S PLAN TO DWELL WITH, AND IN HIS PEOPLE.
* God dwelt WITH Adam in the garden.
* God dwelt WITH Israel in the tabernacle and the temple.
* God dwells IN Christians in the Church today.
* Christ will dwell IN OUR MIDST during the millennium.
CHRIST'S VICTORY OVER DEATH DID NOT END GOD'S PLAN FOR ISRAEL.
* God still has plans for Israel during the tribulation.
* God still has plans for Israel during the millennium.
* Israel was not a brief stopover for God on His way to the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.
