Even if the conditions under which God fulfills promises are made change, does that mean His faithfulness dies with the Old Covenant as well? If the promises made to Israel and all that was foretold concerning them do not meet their fulfillment under the New Testament, that is what the ramifications are. And if even the least of all promises made are not fulfilled, how can we be sure that the "Better Promises" will be? Is the unchangeable nature and faithfulness of God keeping the Old Covenant in effect?
A covenant is an agreement. The old covenant agreement involved responsibilities from 2 parties: God and Israel. If the old covenant agreement is done away with, then so are the responsibilities of both parties.
If your claim is that God's responsibilities under the covenant are still in effect, you should be able to show clear NT scripture (not debatable interpretation), that states this.
Are the natural branches able to be grafted back in again if they do not remain in unbelief? And what warning is issued to those branches grafted in that were not part of the natural olive tree?
Please answer my question first, which was asked first, and then I will answer your questions.
Again, What is the natural olive tree that the natural branches were broken off of, Israel or the Church?
Yet Paul seemed to believe that Hosea was referencing Gentiles. It would not otherwise make sense for him to appeal to Hosea as it concerns the salvation of the Gentiles if Hosea had not made reference to the Gentiles.
Correct, Paul believed the passage in Hosea about the northern kingdom being united with the southern kingdom was being fulfilled by the Gentiles being included with the Jews in the vessels of mercy. So why wouldn't this same principle be applied to Ezekiel 37, which is also about the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom being united under one king?
But were they exiled and scattered throughout the nations as the Jews were?
Greeks lived all over the known world in what is known as the greek diaspora.
There is the godly and the ungodly among Israel but the distinction between the Israel of the Spirit and the Israel of the flesh is not made until the New Testament.
So who are God's people, those that reject Him, or those obedient to Him? Can God's people reject the Son?
But what nations have descended from Ephraim? In such a case, then a tribe of Israel truly would be lost. But the scripture never said that any of the tribes would be lost. Only scattered.
The bloodlines of the divorced, exiled, and scattered descendants of the northern kingdom mixed with the nations. I have no idea what nationalities their descendants are. Paul simply refers to them as gentiles. So that's what they were.
However, it could be argued that due to their rebellion, God at some point, would have regarded the Northern Kingdom as being spiritually no different than the Gentiles.
Bingo. Paul confirms hosea 1, which is about the northern kingdom being united with the southern kingdom is fulfilled with the gentiles being included with the Jews in the vessels of mercy (Romans 9:23-26).
Israel consists of those who both continue in their rejection of Christ and those who have embraced Him. One day, Israel will consist only of those Jews who have embraced Christ after the unbelief has been purged from them. But that does not mean that Israel will lose its distinctiveness as a nation. God has made clear that He would forever preserve them as a nation and people. (Jer. 30:11, 31:35-37, 33:20-26)
I disagree that God's people are those that reject him.
No, but it remains consistent with the basic image it portrays. Israel being punished only for its owns sins is not consistent with the image of one who suffers for the sins of others.
And literal being born again is not consistent with repentance and turning to God. but the picture of birth points to new creation through Christ. Again a shadow is not an exact replica.
That remnant being what will remain of the nation when that day comes.
Good, we agree.
Paul did say that they would not always continue in unbelief and could be grafted back in. (Rom. 11) And the nation of Israel, far from being destroyed is still alive and thriving despite having faced judgment before and yet you find it impossible that the nation as a whole would ever possibly repent?
Context = 1st century Jerusalem which bears no resemblance to modern day Israel.
Just show which scriptures that state that God is not capable of fulfilling in the New Testament what was not fulfilled beforehand.
Straw man argument.
And yet in spite of that, He has promised to preserve Israel as a distinct nation. (Jer. 30:11, 31:35-37, 33:20-26) There must be a purpose in that as well.
He has, through His Son (1 peter 2:9).
That has been used to point to Christ's relationship with the Church. As for why marriage was created in the first place, that is a subject far removed from this thread.
Again, shadows and pictures that point to reality in Christ.
When it comes to comparing scripture with scripture, it is not enough to note the similarities. We must also take into account the differences as well. The scriptures being compared may not be talking about the same thing.
God spoke to the prophets in visions and dreams, which were riddles and parables. They were pictures pointing to Christ.
Numbers 12:7-8 If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision,
I will speak to him in a dream; not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.
We should always use scripture to interpret scripture. Again, shadows are not exact replicas.
Numbers 12:7-8 If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision,
I will speak to him in a dream;
7not so with My servant Moses;
he is faithful in all My house.
8I speak with him face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the LORD.
Ezekiel's vision of this temple depicts it on earth, not in Heaven, but one thing is for certain: When the New Jerusalem does arrive, the footstool will be much closer to the Throne than it presently is now. This shadow is portrayed just as literally as the reality. A study on the similarities and differences between the two would be great but not meant for this thread.
Visions that point to reality in Christ, not realities themselves.
Numbers 12:7-8
If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision,
I will speak to him in a dream; not so with My servant Moses;
he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face,
clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.
Hosea 12:10 spoke through the prophets
and multiplied their visions;
I gave parables through the prophets.
The passage is in reference to the New Jerusalem described in the 21st chapter of Revelation wherein it is stated that Christ will be that Temple of which we will be a part. We will forever be dwelling in His presence.
Will you ever leave the body Christ, whether you are on earth or in heaven?