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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 24
ROMANS 9:4,5
Paul writes:
Romans 9:3b,4
"...my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises;"
Now I would like to take a few minutes here to talk about the service of God which of course began when God gave the tabernacle to Moses, and then set up the priesthood with Aaron as the high priest. There is nothing in this Book that gives us the right to celebrate certain high days of the year, there is nothing in this Book that tells us to celebrate the birth of Christ. Turn to the Book of Colossians. As far as Judaism is concerned, although that was certainly the system that God gave to Israel yet so far as you and I as believers are concerned, we are not to incorporate any of the services of Judaism into the Church Age. Colossians 2:14
The Book says nothing about practicing a system of worship in this Age of Grace. Christ nailed all that to His Cross, and we are now free. In fact what does Paul say in Romans Chapter 14:
Romans 14:5
Every day is alike for the believer, we are to serve God just as much Monday through Friday as we would on Saturday and Sunday. Now turn to the Book of Galatians Chapter 4, and this little letter Paul of course wrote specifically because the Judaisers of Galatia were convincing the Gentiles that they had to keep the Law of Moses if they wanted to experience salvation. Galatians 4:8
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods."
That the service of the sanctuary, well it was the system, it was their ritual, which of course God gave to Israel, but what did the idolaters do? "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, `Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.'"
Well what did Paul mean? Superstition is never the other direction, superstition is never man somehow seeking God. Superstition is always man fearing opposing the powers of evil. Here again Paul is using the same analogy and word that Israel was steeped in with their system of worship, and the pagans were doing much the same with their ritual and services.
Galatians 4:9a
"But now, after that ye have know God,..."
Where did all of Paul's converts come from? The whole world around Paul was steeped with paganism, mythology, idol worship and so that is what he is referring to in verse 8. Verse 8 again.
Galatians 4:8,9
"...when ye knew not God, ye did service (you went through all the superstitious ritual) unto them which by nature are no gods." Why? Verse 9 again.
What's Paul talking about? Religion, ritual, service, somehow appeasing a Holy God, and we're to have none of that. But remember for Israel that was all part of their heritage, it was the very center of Jewish life. Now let's go back to Romans Chapter 9, and verse 4 again.
Romans 9:4
To Israel were given the promises. All of our Old Testament is prophecy, prophecy, prophecy, and to whom is all that prophecy written? Israel. All of God's prophecy is given to the Nation of Israel, and this is what Paul is talking about. Not only the Covenant promises, but even the prophetic promises, that everything God has promised the Nation of Israel is still going to happen. Now it's not being fulfilled per se yet, but the stage is being set so that the promises that God made to this Nation of Israel can certainly come to pass.
Romans 9:5
All pertain to the forefathers of this little nation of Israel. The coming of The Messiah, The Christ; that's the eighth one in verse 5:
Romans 9:5
"Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. "Christ then as the all in all." Turn to the Book of Colossians again. Colossians 1:15,16
"Who is the image of the invisible God, (Well what does that mean? God is invisible. The Trinity, the Elohim of the Old Testament was that invisible Godhead - Spirit. Verse 16:
"For by him (God the Son) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: "
When people have the audacity to take this Person of the Godhead, God the Son, and bring Him down to the very level of the other gods of mankind's dreaming, what a blasphemy. I'll never forget years, and years ago when I first started teaching in just a little home Bible class of people from various denominations, and I'll never forget when I made the statement that Jesus Christ was the Creator of Genesis 1, and saw mouths drop open all over the room. Genesis 3:15
"The seed of the woman."

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