The faith of Jesus Christ versus the faith of man

[jeremiah1five]

Christ is betrothed to the church that consists of both Jews and Gentiles.

Eph. 2:14
Romans 9:4
Acts 15:14
Gal. 3:28

This is God's message to the children of Israel by the prophet Hosea:

14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
And bring her into the wilderness,
And speak †comfortably unto her.
15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence,
And the valley of Achor for a door of hope:
And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth,
And as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi;
And shalt call me no more tBaali.
17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth,
And they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field,
And with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground:
And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth,
And will make them to lie down safely.
19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever;
Yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,
And in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness:
And thou shalt know the LORD.
Hosea 2:14–20.

God has called Israel as a people His Bride.

And as far as Israel also being the Church of God:

In the KJV the word "church" is "ekklesias" which means "called out [ones]"
The Law (Moses) and the Prophets all identify Israel being "called out" of Egypt. It is also used of Jesus as a baby who was "called out" of Egypt after those that sought His destruction in Jerusalem had died and it was safe to return.
Beside this God calls the children of Israel He called out of Egypt and into the desert and onward a "great congregation." Solomon calls Israel a "great congregation" when they gathered to worship the God of Abraham.
Bride and Church are used to identify Israel in the Old Testament and the gospels (Church Christ will build populated by Jews.)
Nothing has changed when Saul and others identify the Church as a Church of Jewish Christians. It is misidentify and misinterpretation to assign "Bride" and "Church" to Gentiles, at least to non-Hebrew Gentiles. But the Jewish Church did include mixed heritage Jews. These are they who Saul addresses in his Ephesian letter:

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11–13.

Same language as Peter:

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38–39.

And the Lord only calls Abraham's seed, they are after all the recipients of the Abrahamic Promise, the Mosaic Law of God, and the New Covenant.

If it was otherwise, I would say so.

 

[jeremiah1five]

I reject most of what you think God says. You are interpreting through a bogus preconceived theology.

No, I am not.
There is no Ark of the Covenant built for Gentiles and the animals that were sacrificed were slain and whose blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat to atone the sins of the children of Israel. Jesus, who died in accordance with the Law, died in place of the animal whose blood (life) was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of the Hebrew Ark of the Covenant.
Jesus did not change the Law and die for Gentiles.
He fulfilled the Law and died for the children of Israel, His people (Matt. 1:21.)

 

[brightfame52]

He is the biological seed of Abraham, even going back to Adam

That's natural not spiritual, the spiritual seed of Abraham is not according to blood Jn 1:13.

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus has a seed but not natural Isa 53:10

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

 

[civic]

This is God's message to the children of Israel by the prophet Hosea:

14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
And bring her into the wilderness,
And speak †comfortably unto her.
15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence,
And the valley of Achor for a door of hope:
And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth,
And as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi;
And shalt call me no more tBaali.
17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth,
And they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field,
And with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground:
And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth,
And will make them to lie down safely.
19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever;
Yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,
And in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness:
And thou shalt know the LORD.
Hosea 2:14–20.

God has called Israel as a people His Bride.

And as far as Israel also being the Church of God:

In the KJV the word "church" is "ekklesias" which means "called out [ones]"
The Law (Moses) and the Prophets all identify Israel being "called out" of Egypt. It is also used of Jesus as a baby who was "called out" of Egypt after those that sought His destruction in Jerusalem had died and it was safe to return.
Beside this God calls the children of Israel He called out of Egypt and into the desert and onward a "great congregation." Solomon calls Israel a "great congregation" when they gathered to worship the God of Abraham.
Bride and Church are used to identify Israel in the Old Testament and the gospels (Church Christ will build populated by Jews.)
Nothing has changed when Saul and others identify the Church as a Church of Jewish Christians. It is misidentify and misinterpretation to assign "Bride" and "Church" to Gentiles, at least to non-Hebrew Gentiles. But the Jewish Church did include mixed heritage Jews. These are they who Saul addresses in his Ephesian letter:

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11–13.

Same language as Peter:

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:38–39.

And the Lord only calls Abraham's seed, they are after all the recipients of the Abrahamic Promise, the Mosaic Law of God, and the New Covenant.

If it was otherwise, I would say so.

no its not since none of those passages I quoted in the NT were quoting the OT.

thats nothing but eisegesis on your part.

 

[brightfame52]

He fulfilled the Law and died for the children of Israel, His people (Matt. 1:21.)

That's the Church the Body of Christ which includes Gentiles, that is the Mystery. Gentiles rejoice with His people Rom 15:10

And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

 

[Victoria]

Start a new thread as I suggested and I would happily respond.

Greetings Jim,

I hope you, & yours had a lovely Thanksgiving

I was just sharing some scriptures to help show what @jeremiah1five said is indeed Biblically accurate. That's all.

Btw, start with a question you think I cannot answer, and let see if I can. When you just rebuke Jim and I (very gracious I might add) You are rebuking men that have been in the faith for over 100 years combined, I think we have covered your subject a few times over during this span.

Greetings Red,

And I hope you, & yours too had a lovely Thanksgiving

A JW too once told me that she's been a Jehovah's Witness for four decades. If we can reason w/ one another that, no matter how long someone has been in the faith, no one is immune to deception. Would you agree? The apostle Paul speaks of an apostasy that would occur toward the end of God's grace period (i.e. 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 4).

 

[Victoria]

There is not one thing special about having Abraham bloodline, Abraham was made special by grace alone.

His faith was counted for righteousness, amen.

Through Abraham's seed (i.e. Isaac, Jacob), however, all (Gentile) nations shall be blessed.

Isaac Settles in Gerar
(Genesis 26: 2-4)

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;


Peter, the apostle of the scattered, speaking:

Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham,
And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25

1st Peter 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (special) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak
unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 19:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2

For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Psalm 135:4

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Peter 2:9


Peter, James, & John are apostles to the Israelite's:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:1

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:10

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:.. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:12

 

[jeremiah1five]

I reject most of what you think God says. You are interpreting through a bogus preconceived theology.

The "bogus preconceived theology" I used to have came out of Gentile theology books, from the classics to the modern ones. From Augustine to Martin Luther, to Vos, Hodge, to Grudem and others.
But once I began to come across Scripture that directly challenged those "bogus preconceived theologies" from Gentile theology books I had to make a conscious decision: Do I continue to believe the "bogus preconceived theology" books in Gentile's theology or do I take Scripture as written and reject those "bogus preconceived theology" books from Gentiles?

I am not STUCK on "bogus preconceived theology" books that I followed so blindly as before thinking men like Vos, Hodge, and Grudem knew MORE about what I have in my own hand and the anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life.

I trust the KJV and the Holy Spirit - along with an excellent linguist, James Strong - and know how to study the Scripture with the same Holy Spirit that anointed Saul, Peter, James, John, and the other "pillars of the early Jewish Church." I am equal to them, and they are equal to me.

When the Scripture - the Old Testament - clearly reveals God saving the Hebrew people through the centuries with three Hebrew covenants I have to ask, "Where's the Gentile covenant through which God saves them found in the Scripture (Old Testament)? Not only that but what is this Gentile's name that was recipient of the Gentile covenant God made? What are the terms of this covenant?

When Jesus Himself says, "I came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill [it]" then this to me means that Jesus didn't change anything with regard to the Law of Moses and the covenant that bears Moses' name. This means Jesus did not add to it or subtract from it, but fulfilled it as written by Moses.

AND if Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses as written and was called "the lamb of God" then I understand He was God's provision to take a substitutionary role in place of the actual animal that was sacrificed under the Law and in accordance with the dictates of the Law of Moses directing how and which animal is to be sacrificed in accordance with the Law and realize that if the animal under the Law was sacrificed yearly on Passover observance to atone - however temporarily - the sins of the children of Israel, then being substituted by God Himself finally and eternally permanently to atone the sins of the children of Israel, then it's easy for me to know and understand that God's sacrifice was more intimate, more comprehensive, more enduring, more complete, more effective in scope than any animal that was sacrificed under the Law and for a temporary purpose by men.

So, can you answer these points I bring up that made me pause as to what I had learned through reading those "bogus preconceived theology" books from the men I mentioned, because if we Christians are only supposed to regurgitate what is written in those "bogus preconceived theology" books then why even study the Bible? It would be better to read and memorize what in in those "bogus preconceived theology" books and leave off personal study of the Scripture and along with that the need to "ask, seek, and knock" in order to be led by the Spirit who is led by the Word of God to become more versed in "bogus preconceived theology" books more than independent personal study of the very Word of God.

The very nature of my Christianity is found in the fact that I am a child of truth being raised by the Spirit of Truth in the Word of Truth of the God is Truth, and THAT is the truth!

I no longer follow blindly the "bogus preconceived theology" books by men with names like Luther, Augustine, Hodge, Vos, and Grudem and others who have published works, but instead having been set free by Christ to follow Him I can say without a doubt I am free indeed! I AM FREE from those "bogus preconceived theology" books that YOU are still chained to and in bondage still with.

I am a BIBLICAL Christian. Tghat's the only kind there is in existence. If ones' Christianity is not Biblical, then it is NOT Christianity.
And that's the bottom line.

 

[jeremiah1five]

That's natural not spiritual, the spiritual seed of Abraham is not according to blood Jn 1:13.

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus has a seed but not natural Isa 53:10

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

The spiritual seed of Abraham is the same natural seed of Abraham.

If you're going to claim, "born not of blood," then we can forget Isaac and Jacob for they were born of blood and to whom God's promises were passed down as an inheritance.
We can also do away with Jesus for He was born of blood related to king David and to Abraham.

The seed he shall see is of God seeing HIS SEED, Jesus.

 

[jeremiah1five]

no its not since none of those passages I quoted in the NT were quoting the OT.

thats nothing but eisegesis on your part.

Anything that is quoted in the "New Testament" that cannot be tied to the Old Testament prophecy is eisegesis NOT exegesis for it falls upon one's interpretation of a 'free-floating' statement in the New Testament that has no Old Testament grounding and foundation.

To what was those New Testament passages referring to when they were made and first written? Does the author where they are found explain what he means or is that now up to the interpretation of whoever is reading them today?

As is said, "If it is not chapter and verse, then it is chatter or worse."

These are what you posted:

Eph. 2:14
Romans 9:4
Acts 15:14
Gal. 3:28

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:14.

You hold that Saul is referring to non-Hebrew Gentiles. I hold he is referring to mixed-race Jews. These are the offspring of those Jews taken and exiled into Gentile lands for over 700 years, and the which 29-35 generations of Jews grew up as Gentiles fully assimilated into Greek culture in the Gentile lands they grew up in. They knew nothing of Hebrew culture and were called "Gentile" by Jews the same that mixed-race Samaritans were called "Samaritan" and not "Jew" and with the same prejudice since they were seen by Jews as being less than Jewish.

4 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;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 9:4–5.

In Romans Saul is providing the totality of salvation. Saul says these points of salvation all pertrain to Israel - NOT Gentiles.

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Acts 15:14.

Notice the words "out of." God went to Gentiles and took OUT OF THEM [a] people for His Name.
The Jews were scattered among Gentiles by God Himself and along with this scattering God also prophesied He would later gather them and bring them back into their land.

You also refer to this passage:
Take note of the language. I will help you with this.

23 But before faith came, we [JEWS] were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our [JEWS] schoolmaster to bring us [JEWS] unto Christ, that we [JEWS} might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we [JEWS] are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye [JEWS] are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you [JEWS] as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye [JEWS] be Christ’s, then are ye [Still JEWS and] Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:23–29.

Saul is writing to Jews who were under the Law, he says. He calls the Law a "schoolmaster." Gentiles were NEVER under the Law so here we know Saul is addressing Jews. These Jews were sons of Abraham who were now followers of Messiah/Christ. These Jews wrote to Saul and were concerned of their status being heirs of Abraham's promises but now were followers of Messiah. Saul comforts them and says,

And if ye [JEWS] be Christ’s, then are ye [Still JEWS and] Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The ONLY heirs of the promises God gave to Abraham were Jews.

Not Gentiles.

 

[jeremiah1five]

That's the Church the Body of Christ which includes Gentiles, that is the Mystery. Gentiles rejoice with His people Rom 15:10

And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

Rejoice does not mean inclusion into any of the Hebrew covenants.
You're reading more into these words than they carry.

 

[jeremiah1five]

His faith was counted for righteousness, amen.

Through Abraham's seed (i.e. Isaac, Jacob), however, all (Gentile) nations shall be blessed.

Isaac Settles in Gerar
(Genesis 26: 2-4)

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;


Peter, the apostle of the scattered, speaking:

Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham,
And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Acts 3:25

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak
unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 19:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2

For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
Psalm 135:4

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Peter 2:9


Peter, James, & John are apostles to the Israelite's:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1 Peter 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:1

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:10

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:.. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:12

And what Scripture tells you Gentiles would be blessed (with faithful Abraham)?

 

[Jim]

No debating, only showing what the scriptures say about the bride, the Lamb's wife, given you believe it's the BoC. It's not.
The mystery is about a new man, made for the heavens.

Rev 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

You think the bride, the wife of the lamb, is not those in Christ? Seriously?

 

[Jim]

I am a BIBLICAL Christian.

Who rejects much of what the NT bible says.

 

[Victoria]

And what Scripture tells you Gentiles would be blessed (with faithful Abraham)?

Greetings jeremiah1five,

My only intent here was to confirm w/ scripture that God hasn't replaced literal, national Israel w/ the Body of Christ... & also that Gentiles are not the bride, the Lamb's wife. Replacement Theology teaches that we've become the true, spiritual Israel.

Other than that, I'm not entirely sure what theological position you hold. It's quite possible we may part ways at this point, for I am what you would call, a not-so-common Dispensationalist b/c scripture literally means: Jesus Christ came only to the circumcision (Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:4), sent the twelve only to the circumcision (Matthew 10:5-6), & sent Paul to the uncircumcision
(Acts 9:15; Galatians 2:7-9).

 

[Jim]

Other than that, I'm not entirely sure what theological position you hold. It's quite possible we may part ways at this point, for I am what you would call, a not-so-common Dispensationalist b/c scripture literally means: Jesus Christ came only to the circumcision (Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:4), sent the twelve only to the circumcision (Matthew 10:5-6), & sent Paul to the uncircumcision
(Acts 9:15; Galatians 2:7-9).

And what exactly do you think that means with respect to the "wife of the Lamb"?

And before you answer that, do you not believe that Jesus Christ sent Peter to Cornelius (Acts 10), an uncircumcised?

 

[Victoria]

Rev 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

You think the bride, the wife of the lamb, is not those in Christ? Seriously?

The Lamb's wife is the New Jerusalem. We're members of Christs' body, not tribes as described in Revelation 21.
Israel is promised an earthly inheritance, the Body of Christ a heavenly.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4

 

[Victoria]

And what exactly do you think that means with respect to the "wife of the Lamb"?

Unless we interpret scripture literally, as God intends, we will fall into error.

And before you answer that, do you not believe that Jesus Christ sent Peter to Cornelius (Acts 10), an uncircumcised?

Peter being sent to Cornelius was for him to learn that the Gentiles were no longer unclean.
Paul was God's chosen vessel to bear Jesus' name to the Gentiles, not the twelve.

 

[Jim]

The Lamb's wife is the New Jerusalem. We're members of Christs' body, not tribes as described in Revelation 21.
Israel is promised an earthly inheritance, the Body of Christ a heavenly.

Are you saying that those of Israel who were saved do not have the promise of the heavenly inheritance. Also, what do you think Revelation 21:1 means when it says, "the first heaven and the first earth had passed away"?

 

[Jim]

Unless we interpret scripture literally, as God intends, we will fall into error.

And just how so you interpret the wife of God literally?

Peter being sent to Cornelius was for him to learn that the Gentiles were no longer unclean.
Paul was God's chosen vessel to bear Jesus' name to the Gentiles, not the twelve.

But that does not mean that the teachings of the twelve are inappropriate for Gentiles. Peter's recognition that, "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him"(Acts 10:34), is echoed in Paul's statement that "There is neither Jew nor Greek"(Gal 3:28).

And once again, this has nothing to do with the faith of Jesus versus the faith of man.