Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joel: New Covenants, New Hearts, and a Holy Spirit

[TomL]

Tommy boy, I already dealt with those verses. They say nothing about a salvation covenant between the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and non-Hebrew Gentiles. What you are doing is making Jesus out to be a liar, for Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Mattthew 5:17.

Any change in the Law of Moses would DESTROY the Law. But according to your interpretation of the Bible that's exactly what you've done. You make Jesus to be a liar. First, the is no Scripture in the Old Testament of a salvation covenant between the God of Abraham and non-Hebrew Gentiles. So, if there is NO COVENANT between God and non-Hebrews, then where is all this 'talk' that non-Hebrew Gentiles are getting saved and becoming born-again by a Spirit that was never ever promised to non-Hebrews? Under the Law of Moses, specifically, the Ceremonial Law, the animal that was sacrificed was killed in worship of God for the yearly atonement of the sins of the children of Israel. For Jesus, the lamb of God (John 1:30), He perfectly obeyed every aspect of the Law of Moses, and in doing so, was killed - just as the sacrificial lamb - to atone finally and eternally the sins of the children of Israel.

Jesus fulfilled the law in dying and established

that faith rather than law would be the grounds by which we would be justified


Rom 3:28 For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Gal 2:16 but knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, if not by faith in Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

Rom 5:1 Therefore, because we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal 3:11 Now it is clear that no one is justified in the sight of God by the law, because “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”

Gal 3:24–25 So then, the law became our guardian until Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Rom 3:20–22 For by the works of the law no person will be declared righteous before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets—that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no distinction,
Gal 5:4–6 You are estranged from Christ, you who are attempting to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace. For through the Spirit by faith we eagerly await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love

Faith is the grounds upon which we would be declared righteous

Phil 3:9and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith,
Rom 9:30–32What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—even the righteousness that is by faith. But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain to the law. Why that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble,
If you are seeking righteousness by the law then you are among those who have stumbled

Faith is the grounds upon which we would receive the Spirit

Galatians 3:2 (LEB) — 2 I want only to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 3:5 (LEB) — 5 Therefore does the one who gives you the Spirit and who works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 3:14 (LEB) — 14 in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

John 7:38–39 (LEB) — 38 the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 (Now he said this concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive. For the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)

And in fact Gentiles did receive the Spirit -

Acts 10:44–48 (LEB) — 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message. 45 And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

Acts 11:15–18 (LEB) — 15 And as I was beginning to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as also on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave them the same gift as also to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” 18 And when they heard these things, they became silent and praised God, saying, “Then God has granted the repentance leading to life to the Gentiles also!”

Acts 15:6–19 (LEB) — 6 Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. 7 And after there was much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. 9 And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way those also are.” 12 And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Men and brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After these things I will return and build up again the tent of David that has fallen, and the parts of it that had been torn down I will build up again and will restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ 19 Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,


It was the fulfilment of a promise of an Abrahamic blessing.

Gal 3:14 in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Declaring gentiles descendants of Abraham, indeed heirs

Gal 3:29And if you are Christ’s, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Scripture plainly shows the work of God bringing Gentiles into the fold and confirms it.

Ephesians 2:11–22 (LEB) — 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh, 15 invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself. 17 And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near, 18 because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


You on the other hand, are working against God.

 

[TomL]

Jesus didn't die for non-Hebrew Gentiles. You have no Biblical support for that pet theory. So, what you and others are doing is either making Jesus out to be a liar, for He said He did not come to change the Law of Moses, but to fulfill. But your interpretation of the Bible, specifically the New Testament, that Jesus died for a people who were NEVER included in the Mosaic Covenant and forcing a change in the Law of Moses.

Really?


John 1:29 (KJV 1900) 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 3:14–16 (KJV 1900) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:42 (KJV 1900) 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

John 6:33 (KJV 1900) 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:51 (KJV 1900) 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Romans 5:18 (KJV 1900) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (KJV 1900) 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

1 Timothy 2:4–6 (KJV 1900) 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 Timothy 4:10 (KJV 1900) 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Titus 2:11 (KJV 1900) 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV 1900) 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

1 John 2:2 (KJV 1900) 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:14 (KJV 1900) 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

You have denied much of the New Testament

 

[TomL]

Are you making Jesus a liar in that He did not come to fulfill the Law but to change the Law to include non-Hebrew Gentiles who in the past were NEVER part of the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants; or by your interpretation of the Bible are making Jesus change the Law of Moses to include non-Hebrew Gentiles, Gentiles who were never included in the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants. On top of this, you also ignore the truth of God that the New Covenant is between the God of Abraham and the House of Israel and the House of Judah?

31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,
That I will make a new covenant
With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:31.

Above is the prophecy by Jeremiah of a New Covenant for Israel. I don't see non-Hebrew Gentiles mentioned in this passage. I can post the other three verses and none of them mention, name, or include non-Hebrew Gentiles. Take my word for it. Non-Hebrew Gentiles are not included in this covenant nor in any Hebrew covenant for that matter. Anyone who sees non-Hebrew Gentiles in these passages above have a condition the Bible identifies as Heresy. And only Heretics add to the Bible things not there in the text.
That is the bot-tom line.

So you just ignore

Ephesians 2:11–22 (LEB) — 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh, 15 invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself. 17 And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near, 18 because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

And

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Gal 3:24–25 So then, the law became our guardian until Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Rom 7:4–6 So then, my brothers, you also were brought to death with respect to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For when we were in the flesh, sinful desires were working through the law in our members, to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to that by which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter of the law.

Gal 3:19 Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom it had been promised, having been ordered through angels by the hand of a mediator.

 

[jeremiah1five]

You are mistakenly conflating the second unnumbered group in Rev. 7:9 coming out of ALL nations (which also had some Israelites as a subset of this resurrected group coming from ALL nations and peoples) with the first numbered group of 144,000 coming from those stipulated Jewish tribes.

But I agree that the 144,000 were all ethnic Israelites. These 144,000 were called the "First-fruits" in Revelation 14:4. They were given this title just as Christ was also given the title of "Christ the First-fruits" in 1 Cor. 15:20 & 23. That means both Christ and the 144,000 all shared the same resurrection event in AD 33. It was Jewish tribal members who rose out of those graves around Jerusalem on the same day that Christ arose, as described in Matthew 27:52-53. God used these resurrected Jewish saints to minister in the early church as those "gifts to men" that Ephesians 4 speaks about.

These 144,000 resurrected Jewish tribal members were raised from the dead as an example of what all believers experience in the resurrection process.

Four times in history God scattered the Hebrew people among Gentiles. The first time was the Assyrian Conquest in 722 BC. The second time was the Babylonian Conquest in 586 BC. The third was from the Romans in AD 70. The third came from 1930s Nazi Germany. At the end of World War II it was a mad scramble between the US and Russia to apprehend - even accept - Jews who were leaders in science and physics, people like Einstein and Max Bohr, among others who were mixed race Jews from Romania, Austria, and others like Werner von Braun, the one who got America to the moon first with his Saturn V rockets.

There was also a time in 1970 called the "Great Exodus" in which many Jews and mixed-race Jews were able to return to Israel. Surely you were alive at the time. The point is that there are still millions of Jews and mixed-race Jews still living outside Israel in western and central Europe, Africa, and the US to name a few that Revelation says will "come out of" these places back to Israel in the future that will even surpass the "Great Exodus" of the early 1970s. They live in Gentile lands so when it speaks of Revelation 7:9 the only interpretation can only refer to Jews and mixed-race Jews for some reason will return to Israel in fulfillment of prophecies by Jeremiah and Ezekiel. These people are NOT non-Hebrew Gentiles. They are the seed of Abraham.


10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations,
And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
He that scattered Israel will gather him,
And keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob,
Jeremiah 31:10–11.

Take note: the Lord has redeemed Israel. Israel shall be saved. The 39 "books" of the Old Testament are Hebrew writings of the Hebrew people. True, Biblical Christianity is Hebrew nor Gentile.

Look at what the Lord says here. Notice to whom the Spirit is given. He is given to Israel:

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.
Ezekiel 36:24–28.

and

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the LORD:
For they shall all know me,
From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
For I will forgive their iniquity,
And I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:34.

According to Saul God has already forgiven Israel all her sins, even the so-called most 'damning one,' that of 'rejecting the Lord' when He was crucified. But that doesn't matter even if it wasn't universally done by the majority of Jews and mixed-race Jews living outside Israel who didn't even know their Messiah and King had come.

Joel prophesied also that God promises His Spirit to Israel - NOT GENTILES.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God, and none else:
And my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward,
That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions:
Joel 2:27–28.

These prophecies concern the Hebrew people. This prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost ten days after the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. On Pentecost three thousand Jews and mixed-race Jews, Samaritans, and others were born-again of the Spirit and the three thousand Jews that Acts two speaks of being born-again is evidence that the God of Abraham, Yahweh, had indeed forgiven Israel ALL her sins and is restored to right relationship with God as Jeremiah states in 31:34.

For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:34.

What a glorious day that was! And every day after that thousands of Jews and mixed-race Jews and Samaritans was restored and returned to the Father of Lights. The time of in-gathering is at hand. The time of refreshing is upon us!
Glory to God in the highest! Doesn't this excite you?

 

[3 Resurrections]

0 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations,
And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
He that scattered Israel will gather him,
And keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob,
Jeremiah 31:10–11.

Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.

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.
Ezekiel 36:24–28.

Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the LORD:
For they shall all know me,
From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
For I will forgive their iniquity,
And I will remember their sin no more.
Jeremiah 31:34.

Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God, and none else:
And my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward,
That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions:
Joel 2:27–28.

Peter pronounced this period of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh as happening at Pentecost. Already fulfilled.


You seem to forget God's promises to Israel in the Deuteronomy 32 "song of Moses" that in their "latter end" that He would take vengeance upon them and judge His people. The curses of God pronounced against His people if they forsook Him are just as much of a reality as the blessings if they remained faithful - which they didn't. Daniel foretold that God would shatter the power of the holy people, and that it would take that "time, times, and half a time" to accomplish this. This was already fulfilled back in the AD 66-70 period.

Christ promised that the kingdom of God would be taken from the Israelites and given to others that would bring forth fruit for Him. The true family of God has never been based on bloodlines or ethic connection to Israel or any other nation. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God". If salvation and status as the family of God were due to racial descent from ethic Israel, Christ would not have told Nicodemus that "Ye must be born AGAIN".

 

[jeremiah1five]

Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.


Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.


Post-exilic return from Babylonian captivity. Already fulfilled.


Peter pronounced this period of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh as happening at Pentecost. Already fulfilled.


You seem to forget God's promises to Israel in the Deuteronomy 32 "song of Moses" that in their "latter end" that He would take vengeance upon them and judge His people. The curses of God pronounced against His people if they forsook Him are just as much of a reality as the blessings if they remained faithful - which they didn't. Daniel foretold that God would shatter the power of the holy people, and that it would take that "time, times, and half a time" to accomplish this. This was already fulfilled back in the AD 66-70 period.

Christ promised that the kingdom of God would be taken from the Israelites and given to others that would bring forth fruit for Him. The true family of God has never been based on bloodlines or ethic connection to Israel or any other nation. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God". If salvation and status as the family of God were due to racial descent from ethic Israel, Christ would not have told Nicodemus that "Ye must be born AGAIN".

Peter was speaking to the twelve tribes of Israel present at Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Harvest. Gentiles had their own gods, hundreds of them. Besides this, God made no covenant with non-Hebrew Gentiles.
God gave Israel His Law, of which one was the Ceremonial Law that instructed and commanded the way Israel was to worship God and how they were to build the Tabernacle, and how they were to kill the sacrifice and what to do with the blood. Did the high priest leave Israel and go to Gentiles and offer sacrifices for their sins?