(C&MA Great Commission Fund tour from Feb 27 – Mar 10, 2004, in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia)
1Cor 11:23-26 we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes
The heart and foundation of the gospel and of the New Testament and of our faith as Christians is Jesus the Messiah and Him crucified, risen from the dead, ascended to glory, and coming again to judge and rule. Our sins are forgiven through faith in the once-for-all sacrificial and atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. We have fellowship with God our Father and with His Son, and with one another through the Holy Spirit indwelling all who are born again by the Word and the Spirit of God.
God is not partisan or sectarian. His choosing of one people to His “peculiar treasure” is not at the expense of His love and ultimate purposes for other people(s). God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe on Him should not perish but inherit eternal life. That’s about as broad , and as restrictive, as can be. Christians are bearers of good news. Our only legitimate message is the good news of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
Israel and most of the Arabic speaking countries are located in the 10/40 window. Most of those Arab-speaking countries are Islamic. Not all Arabic-speaking people are Arabs, for example, Egyptians and Iranians. Nor are all Islamic nations Arabs, such as Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and many of the former Soviet states. About half of the Jewish people live in Israel. Most of the other half live in the U.S.
Israel’s salvation is connected to the fullness of the gentiles comeing in. This gives you incentive to continue taking the gospel to the Arab and Islamic peoples, who are gentiles, i.e., not Israeli or Jewish. God wants to give them a new heart and a new spirit, so that they will know Him and Jesus Christ His Son. The gentile Christians have a specific calling as such to provoke Israel to jealousy and to show them mercy – for the gospel’s sake, and in response to the mercy shown them by the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.
The Christians’ full redemption at the first resurrection is linked to the salvation of “all Israel” – that full remnant of all the tribes of the children of Jacob, who turn from ungodliness and have their sins forgiven when they look upon Him whom they have pierced. Then will the fountain of grace and supplication be poured out upon the nation of Israel.
God is working to unite Abraham’s family through the good news of Jesus Christ, the beloved Son who brings all who love Him home to our heavenly Father. There will be peace in the family only when the children accept the will of the Father and His love for Jesus. Whoever loves Jesus as their Lord and Savior will also know that the Father loves us just as much as He loves Him.
YHVH God is working from both the Jewish and gentile sides to fulfill His redemptive history and purposes for eternity. He has given us an active part in that, once we have been joined to the Lord Jesus through new birth. We become co-laborers with one another as we serve Him. But, thank God, He will do it! That is our security and hope. YHVH has done it! Jesus lived and died and rose from the dead and lives forevermore! Nothing is too great for Him to do!
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of YEHOVAH”! “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”
