The following is from the Mid-Acts Perspective; which studies Scripture in its contrasts in light of that distinct ministry of God among the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul.
Its my hope that as you read through it you end up rejoicing in it a a manner similar to how Paul ends up rejoicing at the end of what had to have been three tough chapters for him to have to write - Romans 9 thru 11 - given his great love for his beloved people: Israel.
The following then is an understanding of Paul's statement in 1 Thess. 2:16, is based on Psalm 110; Matthew 12:30-32, John 1, Acts 3, Acts 6, Acts 7, Acts 9, Acts 13, Romans 5, Romans 9-11, Galatians 2, Galatians 2, Ephsians 3, and 1 Timothy 1, Hebrews 2.
If you'll read those chapters, you'll note their influence throughout this post's wording.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Paul writes that the Jews are "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, filling up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost."
Paul is relating that in its continued resistence of his Gentile ministry, Israel is only continuing to prove that God's having turned from them in His wrath is justified; was based on just cause, on His part...
First, Israel resisted God; and killed His prophets.
Then, Israel resisted the Son; killing Him.
Finally, Israel resisted the Spirit; killing Stephen.
By this, Israel filled up, or reached the height of its sins, against the Godhead.
At which point, God concluded Israel stiff-necked in the uncircumcision of their hearts to their Circumcision gospel's offer of repentance and calling, turned from them in the severity of His wrath, setting their Circumcision calling aside.
He then saved their chief blasphemer: for a pattern of God's longsuffering in His goodness, to them that should hereafter believe.
This, under a different, once hid in God, gospel: a gospel of the Uncircumcision.
For, actually, when Christ appeared to Paul, he had been unsaveable under the terms of Israel's Circumcision gospel, as he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit in the uncircumcision of his heart against said gospel's distinct offer of repentence, and calling.
Instead of repenting of their sins against God, as His people and receiving His Son as their Lord and their God - for that is Who He is to that nation - they crucified Him.
Their Circumcision gospel offerred them forgiveness of that crime, that God might still use them for a blessing in all the Earth.
But Israel refused its offer, gainsaying, or speaking against the Spirit thoughout said gospel's call.
By this, Israel had joined the world's rebellion against the LORD and His Christ, thus, why Stephen saw Christ standing at the right of God.
Prophetically, He is to arise out of His throne, at this point, where He awaits in exile, until He rises to begin to move things towards making His enemies His footstool.
Still, Israel had been under the Law for righteousness, that by Israel's trangression under the Law to the rigteousness the Law called them to walk by faith in, Israel's transgression might nevertheless abound and thereby be made apparant to that nation, and by that bring them to Christ.
Thus, although where there is transgression under the Law, the Law worketh, or calls for God's wrath, because Israel had been under the Law that Israel might by the Law be made aware of indwelling sin, God, instead of allowing Israel's rapid course towards the Great Day of God's wrath: Daniel's 70th week, He overruled Himself in His Grace once more.
The Law had entered that the trangression might abound. But where Israel's sin abounded, God's Grace did abound much more.
Rather than allow that nation's then rapid head toward's the wrath of Daniel's 70th Week, He instead set that nation aside, after having sealed their elect - those who had believed prior to this change - concluding the rest blind for a season.
At which point, God saved Paul, and with him, began to reveal an Uncircumcision gospel to that God had kept hid in Himself.
A gospel He would now send out this new, unexpected Apostle to the Uncircumcision with: to the Gentiles; that they might be saved.
Israel, in its continued resistence of Paul's Gentile ministry, is actually resisting God on this; proving He was justified in having concluded them in uncircumcision, to their Circumcisiom gospel's calling, which was why He turned from them in His wrath.
Of course, this begs the question of what became of their Cirumcision gospel's promise in its purpose, thus, in its calling?
Hath God cast away His people whom He did foreknow to their unique, distinct, calling and purpose in His plans for this Earth?
God forbid! Rather, through their fall, and temporary setting aside of their Circumcision gospel's calling and purpose only until the fulness of the Gentiles in their Uncircumcision gospel's purpose and calling be come in, the salvation of God has gone to the Gentiles.
But being that it is an Uncircumcision gospel, and Israel was concluded in Uncircumcusion, individuals Jews still have access to God; their national calling per its Circumcision gospel now on hold to await its fulfilment in that nation's children not yet born until sometime after the fulness of this Uncircumcision gospel be come in.
God is not through with Israel. For the gifts and calling of God as to His purpose in that nation for this Earth through them, are without repentence.
Simply put, God is not slack as to His determined gifts and calling of Israel as men count slackness; He will not repent, or change His heart on these things. For He has sworn by no greater than Himself:
For in His speaking to Israel with regard to that Great Day of His wrath, He assurred them, "I am the LORD, I change not; THEREFORE ye sons of Jacob are not consumed," Malachi 3:6.
True, that "as concerning the gospel," that Paul preached among the Gentiles, "they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes."
Its my hope that as you read through it you end up rejoicing in it a a manner similar to how Paul ends up rejoicing at the end of what had to have been three tough chapters for him to have to write - Romans 9 thru 11 - given his great love for his beloved people: Israel.
The following then is an understanding of Paul's statement in 1 Thess. 2:16, is based on Psalm 110; Matthew 12:30-32, John 1, Acts 3, Acts 6, Acts 7, Acts 9, Acts 13, Romans 5, Romans 9-11, Galatians 2, Galatians 2, Ephsians 3, and 1 Timothy 1, Hebrews 2.
If you'll read those chapters, you'll note their influence throughout this post's wording.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Paul writes that the Jews are "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, filling up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost."
Paul is relating that in its continued resistence of his Gentile ministry, Israel is only continuing to prove that God's having turned from them in His wrath is justified; was based on just cause, on His part...
First, Israel resisted God; and killed His prophets.
Then, Israel resisted the Son; killing Him.
Finally, Israel resisted the Spirit; killing Stephen.
By this, Israel filled up, or reached the height of its sins, against the Godhead.
At which point, God concluded Israel stiff-necked in the uncircumcision of their hearts to their Circumcision gospel's offer of repentance and calling, turned from them in the severity of His wrath, setting their Circumcision calling aside.
He then saved their chief blasphemer: for a pattern of God's longsuffering in His goodness, to them that should hereafter believe.
This, under a different, once hid in God, gospel: a gospel of the Uncircumcision.
For, actually, when Christ appeared to Paul, he had been unsaveable under the terms of Israel's Circumcision gospel, as he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit in the uncircumcision of his heart against said gospel's distinct offer of repentence, and calling.
Instead of repenting of their sins against God, as His people and receiving His Son as their Lord and their God - for that is Who He is to that nation - they crucified Him.
Their Circumcision gospel offerred them forgiveness of that crime, that God might still use them for a blessing in all the Earth.
But Israel refused its offer, gainsaying, or speaking against the Spirit thoughout said gospel's call.
By this, Israel had joined the world's rebellion against the LORD and His Christ, thus, why Stephen saw Christ standing at the right of God.
Prophetically, He is to arise out of His throne, at this point, where He awaits in exile, until He rises to begin to move things towards making His enemies His footstool.
Still, Israel had been under the Law for righteousness, that by Israel's trangression under the Law to the rigteousness the Law called them to walk by faith in, Israel's transgression might nevertheless abound and thereby be made apparant to that nation, and by that bring them to Christ.
Thus, although where there is transgression under the Law, the Law worketh, or calls for God's wrath, because Israel had been under the Law that Israel might by the Law be made aware of indwelling sin, God, instead of allowing Israel's rapid course towards the Great Day of God's wrath: Daniel's 70th week, He overruled Himself in His Grace once more.
The Law had entered that the trangression might abound. But where Israel's sin abounded, God's Grace did abound much more.
Rather than allow that nation's then rapid head toward's the wrath of Daniel's 70th Week, He instead set that nation aside, after having sealed their elect - those who had believed prior to this change - concluding the rest blind for a season.
At which point, God saved Paul, and with him, began to reveal an Uncircumcision gospel to that God had kept hid in Himself.
A gospel He would now send out this new, unexpected Apostle to the Uncircumcision with: to the Gentiles; that they might be saved.
Israel, in its continued resistence of Paul's Gentile ministry, is actually resisting God on this; proving He was justified in having concluded them in uncircumcision, to their Circumcisiom gospel's calling, which was why He turned from them in His wrath.
Of course, this begs the question of what became of their Cirumcision gospel's promise in its purpose, thus, in its calling?
Hath God cast away His people whom He did foreknow to their unique, distinct, calling and purpose in His plans for this Earth?
God forbid! Rather, through their fall, and temporary setting aside of their Circumcision gospel's calling and purpose only until the fulness of the Gentiles in their Uncircumcision gospel's purpose and calling be come in, the salvation of God has gone to the Gentiles.
But being that it is an Uncircumcision gospel, and Israel was concluded in Uncircumcusion, individuals Jews still have access to God; their national calling per its Circumcision gospel now on hold to await its fulfilment in that nation's children not yet born until sometime after the fulness of this Uncircumcision gospel be come in.
God is not through with Israel. For the gifts and calling of God as to His purpose in that nation for this Earth through them, are without repentence.
Simply put, God is not slack as to His determined gifts and calling of Israel as men count slackness; He will not repent, or change His heart on these things. For He has sworn by no greater than Himself:
For in His speaking to Israel with regard to that Great Day of His wrath, He assurred them, "I am the LORD, I change not; THEREFORE ye sons of Jacob are not consumed," Malachi 3:6.
True, that "as concerning the gospel," that Paul preached among the Gentiles, "they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes."
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