God set apart the Jewish people to bring the rest of the world to him. They were to be the example to the world of Gods love for all human beings. That was there purpose. What happened was some became arrogant with God's favor and others turned to Idol worship.
This is where Jesus' purpose comes in. Jesus' primary purpose was to be the perfect sacrifice for all our sins, that why its important for us to accept him, so that perfect sacrifice can apply to us as individuals. Jesus had a second purpose, the purpose that the Jews had to start with, to minister to the world, to bring the rest of the world closer to God. This is the task that Jesus handed down to his apostles and they handed down to others and so on, until it has been passed to all christans.
Thats why all christans should be ready to answerr questions that someone might have when they are looking for God. There is a story in Acts where God literally transport (picked him up and put him where needed) a christan to an ethiopian to answer question the the ethiopian had while trying to understand the scriptures. This christan answered them and the ethiopian was baptized right then and there. (I could never rememebr that christan's name, sorry)
This is where Jesus' purpose comes in. Jesus' primary purpose was to be the perfect sacrifice for all our sins, that why its important for us to accept him, so that perfect sacrifice can apply to us as individuals. Jesus had a second purpose, the purpose that the Jews had to start with, to minister to the world, to bring the rest of the world closer to God. This is the task that Jesus handed down to his apostles and they handed down to others and so on, until it has been passed to all christans.
Thats why all christans should be ready to answerr questions that someone might have when they are looking for God. There is a story in Acts where God literally transport (picked him up and put him where needed) a christan to an ethiopian to answer question the the ethiopian had while trying to understand the scriptures. This christan answered them and the ethiopian was baptized right then and there. (I could never rememebr that christan's name, sorry)
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Henaynei
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His name was Philip (Acts 8) and he was a Jewish believer - all the Apostles were Jewish believers (Luke 6:12-16 12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to G-d. 13 And when it was day, He called unto him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.) - this was before there were any Christians - in scripture the only people called Christian were non-Jewish believers and this first happened Antioch (Acts 11:26)
Not all believers were by any means called "Christians"
b'Shalom
Henaynei
Not all believers were by any means called "Christians"
b'Shalom
Henaynei
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MariaRegina
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The 4th definition in the American Heritage College Dictionary is the definition you are using.
The first definition of 'holy' means divine or sacred.
The second definition means worthy of worship or veneration.
The third definition implies a person who is living a saintly life.
While the fourth definition means 'set apart'.
So in the Orthodox Christian Church we sing,
'One is Holy, one is the Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen."
This refers to His Divinity.
The Jewish people as the Chosen People of God -- His Holy People -- has two meanings:
(1) The Jewish People are called to be holy as God called them His Holy People. They are called to be saints, to live lives of holiness but they failed again and again. This is why Christ came. He came to be an example of holiness and to reveal God's truth so that we can become saints and live the life to which God is calling us.
(2) Truly, the Jewish people were set apart ... to bring forth the Messiah who was raised in their midst.
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I say that this is a perfect picture of the infant church, zealous Jews for Christ and the law. After all....
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Exceptionally well done. Blessings on you for your answer and its clarity.Hi there!
Let me paint a picture for you...
It's after the creation and fall of man, and God is no longer walking on the earth and talking with man, but the only way to communicate is through prayer.
God sits on His magnificent throne as God the Father, with the presence of the Eternal Word and Holy Spirit there on that singular throne. And God looks at his creations on the earth, looking for upright people who will accomplish His work... and He sees Noah, but God also sees all the peole who are not upright and righteous, and God call Noah to a special work, knowing that Noah will not fail.
You know the rest.
and mankind moves on... and then God spots Abraham. He calls him out of a polytheistic home and out of a polytheistic society and calls him away from his family, and God promises Abraham a land for his obedience.
You know... we don't know if God offered this same proposal to others because there's no other record, but when God offered that plan to Abraham, Abraham listen to what God said, and in time, learned to be so close to God that he was the only person to be called "God's friend".
The reward of that walk with God was the promise of a land and a people of his generations that would serve God, just as God said in the intial proposal.
Jas 2:23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
God chose "a people" and He tested them until they proved themselves... that took nearly 3500 years, until the time of the Babylonian captivity when "those chosen people" stopped trying to incorporate idol worship with worship to God. You see, "those chosen people" failed again and again, but Abraham's faith was the "guarantee" until the time of Christ....and God's promised Abraham a land and a people.
And they have paid a price for being the chosen of God... just as Christian pay a price in this world for being the chosen of God.
God not only is big enough to chose all people, but God did predestine all people to salvation. People either chose God or reject God, that is where free will fits in with predestination.
~serapha~
Fred
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Henaynei
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ah, but the Hebrew definition of the word the American Heritage College Dictionary is defining is Qodesh (Xdq) and in Hebrew is defined, as shown in Strongs Concordance as:
not until it gets into the Greek does the definition migrate to "saint" - and even then that is strained as the Greek word Hageeos (a&gioß) is also used to describe Jerusalem as "the most holy city" and the definition is:
using the same word to define a word is circular reasoning so we are left with "a saint" - how can a city be a saint? this word is used 161 times in the NT and translated as "holy", essentially an undefined term as noted above, and only 61 times translated as "saints" and once as "saint."
In the OT the word "saint" is again connected to a word whose root is Qodesh. The word Qadowsh (Xwdq) is defined in Strong's as:
again, the root meaning, Qodesh, is set apart, consecrated to a unique purpose
b'Shalom
Henaynei
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I believe we should all want to be one of the called and chosen by God. May we when called choose to be grafted in.
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Here is a prophesy to watch the Lord fulfill...
“Therefore fear thou not...O Israel...though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I...will not leave thee altogether unpunished” (Jer 30:10,11).
“Therefore fear thou not...O Israel...though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I...will not leave thee altogether unpunished” (Jer 30:10,11).
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MariaRegina
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ah, but the Hebrew definition of the word the American Heritage College Dictionary is defining is Qodesh (Xdq) and in Hebrew is defined, as shown in Strongs Concordance as:
not until it gets into the Greek does the definition migrate to "saint" - and even then that is strained as the Greek word Hageeos (a&gioß) is also used to describe Jerusalem as "the most holy city" and the definition is:
using the same word to define a word is circular reasoning so we are left with "a saint" - how can a city be a saint? this word is used 161 times in the NT and translated as "holy", essentially an undefined term as noted above, and only 61 times translated as "saints" and once as "saint."
In the OT the word "saint" is again connected to a word whose root is Qodesh. The word Qadowsh (Xwdq) is defined in Strong's as:
again, the root meaning, Qodesh, is set apart, consecrated to a unique purpose
b'Shalom
Henaynei
Okay ...
but does the word 'Qodesh' also imply theosis ? Theosis is growth in holiness so that God radiates from us because He dwells within us. Theosis is reaching a level of personal holiness that is tangibly felt when others see us. Saint Seraphim of Sarov and St. Nectarios of Aegina come to mind. Also Padre Pio also reached this level of sanctity. Padre Pio exuded an odor of sanctity --- an odor of roses in life and in death as did St. Seraphim and St. Nectarios.
We are called to be set apart from the world and to be witnesses of His love. We are called to personal holiness.
Ultimately our calling is based on the old saying:
"Christ became man so that men can become God."
Certainly man does not become God nor can he ever become like God in His Essence (Being), but man is called to become a partaker in God's Divinity through God's Divine Energies.
God's Divine Energies were displayed during the Exodus from Egypt when He guided His Chosen People by day with the Pillar of Smoke and by night with the Pillar of Fire. Grace is one of God's Energies. So, whenever we pray, we are receiving His Divine Energies in our soul and so we enjoy communion with Him.
Read the scriptures. I don't have the exact quote at my finger tips. But, I think St. Paul mentions being a partaker of God's Divinity, and this refers to His Divine Energies, not His Divine Essence, which we cannot see, feel, taste, hear, or smell,
Then there are the words of Christ Himself, "Peter, he who sees Me, sees the Father. I and the Father are One."
[This is quoted from memory]. So, the Scriptures tells us to 'put on Christ'. All who are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. If we put on Christ, we become like Christ and like the Father.
Christ also said, "Be perfect as My heavenly Father is perfect." So we are to be perfect and strive for holiness.
Yes, we are a people set apart ... set apart to become His Holy People ... a people who strive for personal holiness and perfection.
As our love of God and neighbor grows, we should radiate God's love to others. This process of growth in God's love is called theosis.
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Henaynei
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all that may be true except that Qodesh means that which I quoted; set apart, not saint etc.... the Greek work translated into English as "holy" does seem to have the connotations you mention.
However, in this thread we are discussion the "chosen people" i.e. the Jewish people, as stated by G-d in the Hebrew texts and thus it is to the Hebrew word meanings we must look. I asked this thread to explain what they think G-d meant when He said the Jewish people were "chosen" and was told that it meant to be holy - holy in Hebrew means set apart, as for a singular purpose - like the vessels used in the Temple are set apart and have a singular purpose, even the ones with common appearance and otherwise indistinguishable from other such vessels used by everyday folk, except by the fact of their use in the Temple. Not every vessel and tool had an elevated use, some removed blood, others ashes, others the offal and entrails of slaughtered animals; some tools were used to hold a board together while other tools were used to hold the Holy Incense. These were all set apart by the direction of G-d. None were perfect because all were made by the hand of man, and some were used for "unclean" purposes. Nevertheless they were ALL chosen and set apart as instructed by G-d.
So too is Israel. Chosen and set apart, but not perfect. But nevertheless they remain chosen and set apart by G-d's will and direction.
b'Shalom
Henaynei
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MariaRegina
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Do you not believe in the New Testament -- that the New Covenant fulfills and completes the Old Covenant?
Didn't Christ come to show us the way to salvation?
Yes, the Jewish people were set apart ... and called to be holy, not only in the Jewish sense but also in the Greek sense.
The Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, gave birth to God the Word, the Anointed One, Christ our Messiah, King and Very God. She was greeted as "Full of Grace" and "Blessed" - she was a pure vessel.
We are all called to be pure vessels, or our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ died in vain.
He calls us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. He calls us to love one another as God as has loved us.
If we aspire to realize God's plan in our lives, then we will be blessed with holiness and peace.
Remember the blessings and the cursings. When we obey the Law of God, we are blessed. When we disobey the Law of God, then we are cursed.
Christ came to imprint the Law of God in our hearts, so that we would be the Spotless Bride, the Holy Church of God.
And we are told about the banquet where only the guests with spotless garments are to be admitted.
So we are called to holiness and purity of life .... for only the pure of heart shall see God.
Didn't Christ come to show us the way to salvation?
Yes, the Jewish people were set apart ... and called to be holy, not only in the Jewish sense but also in the Greek sense.
The Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, gave birth to God the Word, the Anointed One, Christ our Messiah, King and Very God. She was greeted as "Full of Grace" and "Blessed" - she was a pure vessel.
We are all called to be pure vessels, or our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ died in vain.
He calls us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. He calls us to love one another as God as has loved us.
If we aspire to realize God's plan in our lives, then we will be blessed with holiness and peace.
Remember the blessings and the cursings. When we obey the Law of God, we are blessed. When we disobey the Law of God, then we are cursed.
Christ came to imprint the Law of God in our hearts, so that we would be the Spotless Bride, the Holy Church of God.
And we are told about the banquet where only the guests with spotless garments are to be admitted.
So we are called to holiness and purity of life .... for only the pure of heart shall see God.
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Henaynei
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I do believe that the Ketuvim Natzrim (aka New Testament) is the Word of G-d..... but how I and many others of my faith see it and it's relationship to the T'NaKah (aka Old Testament) veers sharply from yours I'm afraid.
not exactly, G-d had already done that - the way to salvation is through Faith/Trust in G-d as demonstrated by our obedience to His instructions
called to obedience, yes - to perfection, no.
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MariaRegina
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Aria said:
Henaynei said:
Exactly, we try to do our best with the grace of God.
I think we are saying the same thing, but we are stumbling over the words and definitions.
We are sinners, but we are to strive to put on Christ daily.
However, Christ cleanses us from our sins. He doesn't just cover our inquities, because David said in Psalm 51:
[bible]Psalm 51[/bible]
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MariaRegina
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HolyGuardianAngels
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I do believe that the Ketuvim Natzrim (aka New Testament) is the Word of G-d..... but how I and many others of my faith see it and it's relationship to the T'NaKah (aka Old Testament) veers sharply from yours I'm afraid.
not exactly, G-d had already done that - the way to salvation is through Faith/Trust in G-d as demonstrated by our obedience to His instructions
called to obedience, yes - to perfection, no.
The Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, gave birth to God the Word, the Anointed One, Christ our Messiah, King and Very God. She was greeted as "Full of Grace" and "Blessed" - she was a pure vessel.
Hi, Shalom, Pax,
*
Are you CLEANSED from your sins?
[bible]1 Kings 8:63[/bible]
[bible]1 Kings 18:38[/bible]
[bible]1 Chronicles 29:21[/bible]
[bible]2 Chronicles 29:31[/bible]
Considering that these Passages
[bible]Psalm 51:17[/bible]
[bible]Psalm 51:19[/bible]
be quiteTRUE; however, in perspective, we read:
[bible]1 Samuel 7:9[/bible]
[bible]Exodus 12:3[/bible]
[bible]Isaiah 11:6[/bible]
[bible]Revelation 5:6[/bible]
[bible]Revelation 12:11[/bible]
As it stands; I beg to differ with you!!
You may believe he or she may live on Earth, commit heinous SINS,
for which they are indeed sorry , yet, have done nothing about them.
and subscribe to the belief, that when they die the final death and if, they be found in the Holiest of Places, afterwards, Heaven . . . They will not have their sins to “deal with” . . .
But that just ain’t so . . .
Without
Jesus, how do you keep sin OUT of your life. . .
*
If you find yourself in Heaven,
how do you; again, keep sin out of your mind and life . . .
Purity is not like a filthy wash cloth or rag . . .
That a sacrificial bullock can clean . . .
Think for a moment, let’s look at our actions . . .
We everyone of us, knows the saying: Actions speak louder than words . . .
And if someone commits a filthy sin, that action is complete,
their “hands” are, as it were, DIRTY . . .
No sacrificial bullock can ever ERASE the actions perpetrated/committed . . .
The same with a THOUGHT, as Our Lord states:
If ANYONE looks at another, to perform sex . . .
That is IMPURE, the very thought is an action; which No Bullock can erase or
WASH away . . .
Jesus the EUCHRIST;however, cleanses us from Every unrighteousness . . .
NOW:
The Blessed Virgin Mary was/is indeed pure . . .
Not having committed a SINFUL action . . .
*
You must admit that to Prophecy that just any woman/girl/female, would give birth
is not “newsworthy” ; because, females give birth every day .. . .
WHY make mention of it, it is not an unusual EVENT to PREDICT . . . or FORETELL . . .
*
Yet, IF there were something special/different about this particular
woman, then that would
be NEWSWORTHY, the Prophet would be worthy of his hire, to foretell that this woman
would indeed be CHASTE . . . a virgin . . .
Now I want to mention that the very word CHASTE and CHASITY
implies “Humans Beings” which have ACHIEVED this LEVEL of OBEDIENCE to God the Maker , in REAL life. . .
To say that there are no mature individuals, who in their right mind, have never fornicated, is to practice the act of “projection”. . . and is to belittle,
why GOD gave us the 10 Commandments . . .
Which are to be LIVED,
BREATHED and
ACHIEVED not just for a day;
but , his or her entire LIFE.
How can you believe that the Maker,
Who puts emphasis on Living a Profound and Holy life, would take just any ‘ole female
to give Birth to His Only Son. . .
He knew His Son would share the very Flesh, Blood and Life-Force of
The Blesed Virgin Mary and that Slavery to sin,
if she had had any, would make Him a LAMB of Blemish and SPOT . . .
When the Lord washes away
the Filth of the daughters of Zion,
and purges Jerusalems’ blood . . .
Isaiah 4: 4 NAB
Then will the Lord create,
over the whole site of Mount Zion
and over her place of assembly,
a SMOKING cloud by day
and a light of flaming fire by night.
Isaiah 4: 5NAB
We see here by example SMOKING represents something wonderful
and good . . .
while FILTH something EVIL.
Therefore; the LORD HIMSELF
will give you THIS SIGN:
the VIRGIN SHALL
be with child and bear a Son . . .
Once, again, I say,
Would God Himself give the sign of just any old girl bearing
a son . . .
*
And the answer is Negative . .
Our God would not . . .
Isaiah 7: 14 NAB (above)
BLAMELESS
you were in your conduct
from the day you were created,
Until EVIL was found in you . . .
Isaiah 28: 15 NAB
You can’t seriously believe God would take anyone; but,
the purest to bear His Son . . .
I dare say”
It was NOT REHAB who became, the Mother of Christ
nor Jezebel . . .The list goes on of those who did not get the honor . . .
AND without CONFESSION are you not
sinful, still in your sins . . .
or did Elohiem say prayer would work are good as
Solomon’s offering of sacrifice . . .
They forsook the LORD,
their God, Who brought their fathers
out of the Land of Egypt; the ADOPTRD STRANGE gods [practices] which they worshipped and served.
1 Kings 9: 9 NAB
What of Davids’ Sacrifice
[bible]2 Samuel 24:18-25[/bible]
Why this Sacred Phrase:
“Let a YOUNG virgin be sought . . .”
If virgin implies a female child; why, use the word YOUNG . . .
[bible]1 Kings 1:1[/bible]
1 King 2: 45-
1 Kings 3: 1
[bible]Leviticus 12:4[/bible]
[bible]Numbers 8:7[/bible]
In these cases,
sin had still been commited . . .
Holy Mary IS ~FREE~ of SIN . . .
Do you understand . . .
[bible]Revelation 13:8[/bible]
[bible]Ezekiel 3:19[/bible]
[bible]Ezekiel 33:9[/bible]
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But why would our God choose A people in the OT? He's big enough to choose ALL people, isn't He?
It's never made sense to me.
cuz Abraham was COMPLETELY obedient to God, thus was his blessing that his seed would be a great nation, which God confirmed with His Law.
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Henaynei
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G-d is "big enough" to choose any people or tool that best fits His purpose.
But why would our G-d choose A people in the OT? He's big enough to choose ALL people, isn't He?
It's never made sense to me.
A carpenter who sets out to build a sturdy and enduring bridge across a high and wind-driven gorge, in wisdom and discretion driven by the planned purpose and climate of His project, chooses not all of the tools available to Him in His workshop, but only those specifically suited to the task at hand ... should either the bridge, or the house He builds on the other side of the gorge challenge or question what tools the Carpenter chooses to use?
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