The carnal nation of Israel is
often used in scripture as a type and foreshadow of that nation
which are in spirit and truth the sons of God. Peter makes
mention of this nation in his first epistle. But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation. A peculiar people
that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time
past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which
had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Peter does
not have reference to that carnal nation of Jacob's seed, but rather
that holy seed which is the generation of Christ through the faith of
Christ. They are not known by their carnal bloodline because
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Rather, they
are manifested as the sons of God through the operation of
faith which is the gift of God, as Paul says, for he is not a
Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is
outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one
inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit
and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of
God. Peter addresses himself to this
nation. whom he calls strangers scattered
throughout the provinces of the world. He goes on to describe
them and the manner in which they became a part of this holy
nation and how they shall continue therein. elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the
Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,
who were kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time. He describes the foundation
upon which this nation rests, which is in stark contrast to
any carnal or natural standing which men may assume to have
before God. There are few doctrines in the
scripture which raise the hackles of natural religious men more
than this which Peter sets forth in just a few words. Just as
surely as the generation of Christ is appointed to obtain salvation,
so too those who are called the reprobate are appointed to receive
the fruit of their own disobedience and rejection of that stone which
is laid by God. We live in an age when the rank
and file of those who would call themselves evangelical Christians
almost totally reject the plain and clear message which Peter
sets forth. They can pass sea and land to
make converts by appealing to the free will of man rather than
simply declaring to all that will hear the gospel of the glory
of the blessed God which declares that Christ has obtained the
redemption of his people. and will have all of the glory
in it, as he calls his own sheep by name, and they follow him. The Lord used the parable of
the wedding feast to showcase this truth. He said that wedding
guests were invited to attend the marriage of a king's son,
yet none of those which were invited would come for one reason
or another. Thus the gracious king sought
out a people which were scattered abroad and compelled them to
come to the feast. We see demonstrated the folly
of thinking that men can gain an entrance into the kingdom
of God by instruction in the traditions of religion, the foundations
of sound doctrine, or their supposed free will which is bound by sin.
Israel had all of these things, even prophets of God sent to
them with the clear message of God's mercy and kindness. Yet
they preferred their own way and delighted in their religion
rather than in Him who is the chief cornerstone. Paul says
that Israel, after the flesh, has stumbled. While they embrace
their religion and tradition with great enthusiasm, they nonetheless
perish in it because it is built upon the wrong foundation, which
they willingly embrace, being gladly ignorant of the truth
of God and His righteousness. All who would believe that their
acceptance with God rests on what they do, decide, or embrace
are ignorant of God's righteousness, and in one measure or another
go about to establish their own righteousness. Any who attribute
their acceptance with God to be on the basis of their own
faith and adherence to His commands will perish with natural Israel.
The true gospel is preached in the earth as a testimony to the
goodness and grace of God in sending His only begotten Son
into the world as the Redeemer of His people. Only as a man
is clad in the righteousness of Christ shall he stand before
God. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream dot net.