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Colossians 3:12
King James Version
12 Put on therefore,
as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering;
How much power does man have?
How much influence do they have to institute change?
What power do we really have?
They must take cue from the cat.
Especially the cat who understands Scripture.
Which, only the SPIRIT of GOD makes possible.
When this post is done, you'll see the reason for our ease.
That's why we were surprised at Martin Luther.
You know, the Protestant reformer.
Who once preached to the Jews.
Then turned against them.
He taught this about salvation early in his ministry:
Luther taught that salvation and, consequently, eternal life are not earned by good deeds; rather, they are received only as the free gift of God's grace through the believer's faith in Jesus Christ, who is the sole redeemer from sin. Luther's theology challenged the authority and office of the pope by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge,[4]
-- Wikipedia
So, we thought he understood GOD's way:
Luther's first known comment on the Jews is in a letter written to George Spalatin in 1514:
Conversion of the Jews will be the work of God alone operating from within, and not of man working — or rather playing — from without...[2]
-- Wikipedia
Over time, the Jews disappointed him.
An Alsatian shtadlan, Rabbi Josel of Rosheim, asked a reformer Wolfgang Capito to approach Luther in order to obtain an audience with the prince, but Luther refused every intercession.[5] In response to Josel, Luther referred to his unsuccessful attempts to convert the Jews: "... I would willingly do my best for your people but I will not contribute to your [Jewish] obstinacy by my own kind actions. You must find another intermediary with my good lord."[6]
-- Wikipedia
Luther's attitude towards the Jews changed.
Heiko Oberman notes this event as significant in Luther's attitude toward the Jews: "Even today this refusal is often judged to be the decisive turning point in Luther's career from friendliness to hostility toward the Jews."[7]
-- Wikipedia
How is it, that Bible-believing Martin Luther missed this part about Scripture?
Romans 11:25
King James Version
25 For I would not, brethren,
that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;
that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
That was one of the EARLIEST, and MOST POWERFUL, verses SPIRIT taught this cat early on.
A true eye-opener.
That got our thinking right, and has been the basis for our "salvation" article.
Once you understand that verse, you get salvation right.
The salvation of Jews is tied up with the salvation of Gentiles, and vice-versa.
How, then, can we judge each other harshly?
We're all in this together.
GOD designed it that way, hello.
Did Martin Luther also forget these elements?
Which pertain to GOD's plan of salvation.
In relation to Jews, and Gentiles:
Romans 11:32
King James Version
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Romans 11:11
King James Version
11 I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid: but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles,
for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:19
King James Version
19 Thou wilt say then,
The branches were broken off,
that I might be grafted in.
GOD never gave up on the Jews.
No matter their many transgressions.
He never will.
Why should we?
Yes, there will be judgment.
But there will also be a remnant.
Let apostle Paul remind us of GOD's love for Israel:
Romans 11:1-4
King James Version
11 I say then,
Hath God cast away his people?
God forbid. For I also am an Israelite,
of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people
which he foreknew.
Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias?
how he maketh intercession to God
against Israel saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets,
and digged down thine altars;
and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him?
I have reserved to myself seven thousand men,
who have not bowed the knee
to the image of Baal.
Now you see why we're at ease.
GOD's in charge.
He knows who are His.
2 Timothy 2:19
King James Version
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.
It's only GOD who can change hearts.
In His own perfect way, will, time, and purpose.
Especially when it comes to His chosen people.
Ezekiel 36:24-28
King James Version
24 For I will take you from among the heathen,
and gather you out of all countries,
and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you,
and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land
that I gave to your fathers;
and ye shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
As workmen for GOD, we need to have patience.
JESUS taught us patience.
For He knew prophecy.
He is the "spirit of prophecy".
He understood what was in man.
He knew the hearts of men.
John 2:24-25
King James Version
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them,
because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man:
for he knew what was in man.
That's why He told His apostles:
Matthew 7:6
King James Version
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet,
and turn again and rend you.
Matthew 10:11-15
King James Version
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter,
enquire who in it is worthy;
and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy,
let your peace come upon it:
but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you,
nor hear your words,
when ye depart out of that house or city,
shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you,
It shall be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment,
than for that city.
Matthew 10:16
King James Version
16 Behold,
I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:
be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves.
Let us not bewail the fact people don't want to believe the gospel.
With man, things seem impossible.
But with GOD, all is possible.
Matthew 19:25-26
King James Version
25 When his disciples heard it,
they were exceedingly amazed, saying,
Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them,
and said unto them,
With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible.
As born again, we share the gospel.
But we can't convert people, through our own energy.
We don't have such power.
Only JESUS does:
John 15:5
King James Version
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
Before JESUS went up to heaven, He told His apostles:
Luke 24:49
King James Version
49 And, behold,
I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from on high.
We need anointing from the HOLY SPIRIT.
That we may rightfully share the gospel of CHRIST.
We can't give up on the Jews.
We're not perfect ourselves.
We must not be arrogant.
GOD has not given up on anyone.
Why should we?
2 Peter 3:9
King James Version
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
We really must have faith in the LORD.
We must keep on the path.
And be strengthened by SPIRIT.
Knowing JESUS always helps His faithful.
Isaiah 26:3-4
King James Version
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever:
for in the Lord Jehovah
is everlasting strength:
Wikipedia references:
2 Martin Luther, "Luther to George Spalatin Archived 2007-07-02 at the Wayback Machine," in Luther's Correspondence and Other Contemporaneous Letters, trans. Henry Preserved Smith (Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society, 1913), 1:29.
4 Ewald M. Plass, What Luther Says, 3 vols., (St. Louis: CPH, 1959), 88, no. 269; M. Reu, Luther and the Scriptures, (Columbus, Ohio: Wartburg Press, 1944), 23.
6 Luther's letter to Rabbi Josel as cited by Gordon Rupp, Martin Luther and the Jews (London: The Council of Christians and Jews, 1972), 14. According to "Luther and the Jews". Archived from the original on 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2017-03-21., this paragraph is not available in the English edition of Luther's works.
7 Heiko Oberman, Luther: Man Between God and the Devil (New York: Image Books, 1989), p.293.
Related material:
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