Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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The One True Church
Chapter 20 – A Tale of Two Israels
In his classic historical novel – A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens (1812-1870) titles the first chapter “The Period.” And its very first words are:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…”
If this contrasting description was appropriate for the period of time about which Dickens was writing, it is all the more appropriate for the period of time covered by the New Testament writings.
As you saw in the scriptures I quoted for you in a previous chapter, fleshly Israel and spiritual Israel were at odds with each other throughout the New Testament. Here are a couple more examples.
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Galatians 5:3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
Galatians 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Galatians 6:16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Consider this irreconcilable tension between physical Israel and spiritual Israel in the light of something Jesus said.
Mark 3:24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
What then was going on and how would this struggle be resolved? It would follow the pattern set by Rebekah’s pregnancy with the twins Esau and Jacob.
Genesis 25:23 The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
The older (fleshly Israel) would serve the younger (spiritual Israel). Of course, the older was the nation and the younger was the church.
From the resurrection of Jesus to the right hand of God until the coming of the kingdom of God, fleshly Israel and spiritual Israel were at odds. The nation persecuted and the church endured.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
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