Can Christ Remarry ??

[By Faith Alone]

No scripture needed really. God's 'marriage' covenant with national Israel was the old covenant. Israel sinned and God divorced the whole nation (they tried, and failed, to purify themselves with the blood of animals). God, through Christ, will marry spiritual Israel, the church, whose conscience will be perfected through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Yes. Scripture IS needed. Go to the book of Hosea for the answer. God will be a husband to them again.
There is no such designation as "the Bride of Christ". It is the PASSOVER LAMB to which this title is attached. He was the pass over lamb for the nation Israel.

The "Bride of the Lamb" is an elect from the elect NATION of Israel. The "bride" is the "Pearl of Great Price". "The Pearl of Great price" are MARTYRS found in the Lamb's book of life. Their special reward is to live and reign with Him for a 1,000 years in the Millennium. They are listed in Hebrews 11 along with those who did not take the mark during the great tribulation and were martyred:

Rev 13:8...whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Luke 11:50.....That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Yes. Scripture IS needed. Go to the book of Hosea for the answer. God will be a husband to them again.
There is no such designation as "the Bride of Christ". It is the PASSOVER LAMB to which this title is attached. He was the pass over lamb for the nation Israel.

The "Bride of the Lamb" is an elect from the elect NATION of Israel. The "bride" is the "Pearl of Great Price". "The Pearl of Great price" are MARTYRS found in the Lamb's book of life. Their special reward is to live and reign with Him for a 1,000 years in the Millennium. They are listed in Hebrews 11 along with those who did not take the mark during the great tribulation and were martyred:

Rev 13:8...whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Luke 11:50.....That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

I meant that no one 'key' scripture is needed. I agree that the bride of Christ will be chosen from the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel, and who will also have been called into his church.

 

[Danoh]

I meant that no one 'key' scripture is needed. I agree that the bride of Christ will be chosen from the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel, and who will also have been called into his church. [/END QUOTE]

You're confusing God's PROPHESIED Plan and Purpose FOR ISRAEL redeemed FIRST as His "kingdom of priests" OVER the Gentiles FROM "His Bride - the New Jerusalem - ALL of which IS even now ON HOLD "TIL the fulness of thr Gentiles be come in" - you're confusing that with "the Church which IS His BODY - a co-heir WITH Him."

We are His FELLOW-heirs WITH Him. Israel, His SERVANTS.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[By Faith Alone]

I meant that no one 'key' scripture is needed. I agree that the bride of Christ will be chosen from the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel, and who will also have been called into his church. [/END QUOTE]

You're confusing God's PROPHESIED Plan and Purpose FOR ISRAEL redeemed FIRST as His "kingdom of priests" OVER the Gentiles FROM "His Bride - the New Jerusalem - ALL of which IS even now ON HOLD "TIL the fulness of thr Gentiles be come in" - you're confusing that with "the Church which IS His BODY - a co-heir WITH Him."

We are His FELLOW-heirs WITH Him. Israel, His SERVANTS.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[Danoh]

Prior to Israel's fall, in its rejection of the Spirit's offer of THEIR PROPHESIED Grace, Israel is "the Circumcision" - the people of the Covenant of Circumcision "in the flesh made by hands" TO WHOM a Grace had been PROPHESIED.

BUT with their fall in their rejection of this PROPHESIED GRACE, they have now rejected God (in the OT) the Son (in Matt. - John) and the Spirit, in Acts 2-7.

At which point, God, seals the elect of that nation - "they of [belonging to] the Circumcision which believed" "and THE REST were blinded" [concluded blind to the Spirit's offer of THEIR PROPHESIED GRACE].

They are now "in UNcircumcision" - "sinners of the Gentiles." No better off in their status before God than the Gentiles have been, ever since He gave them up "in the UNcircumcision of their heart" called one GENTILE out from among the Gentiles - Abram: a Chaldee - and began a new, a Covenant people through him, his son Isaac, and his son Jacob [later renamed by the Angel of the Lord "Israel"].

BUT God is NOT through with Israel, for HIS Covenant with those three - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - is not only HIS Word to them - HIS Covenant OF PROMISE - is ALSO TO a countless number of the children of THE PROMIS IN ISAAC - a countless number of which ARE YET TO BE BORN.

Thus, HE places HIS Plan and Purpose for these amazing people on hold AT THE SAME TIME THAT He begins to unveil a "righteousness OF GOD WITHOUT the Law" that His Covenant People entered into WITH HIM at Sinai - a Law which CANNOT disannul His promisess to Abrham, Isaac, and Jacob AND their DESTINED countless CIRCUMCISION descendants.

He puts that on hold, and begins to reveal "A MYSTERY" it turns out He had all along planned on ALSO working - this Plan and Purpose having to do, NOT with NOR through Israel over THE EARTH as His PROPHESIED Kingdom of Priests OVER the Gentiles, BUT rather, "A NEW CREATURE" destined to reign OVER the Heavenlies - a new creature called "THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY."

God began to unfold this "MYSTERY OF CHRIST" in A NEW APOSTLE - the Apostle Paul.

It is towards filling up this Body, that this new Apostle: himself saved AFTER both he and his nation - Israel - were concluded IN UNCIRCUMCISION - is sent out with a "gospel of [belonging to] the UNcircumcision."

His is an EVERYMAN WITHOUT DISTINCTION gospel, as God has, in this age (which began with the saving of Paul) concluded Israel "under sin" that He might have mercy on both Jew and Gentile "until the fulness of [this GENTILE MYSTERY grace DIRECTLY, rather than, AS PROPHESIED - directly through Israel] be come in.

It is at some point "AFTER THIS" that God will once more begin to deal with Israel as His COVENANT people "FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM" and THROUGH them the "Gentiles WITH His people" FROM His Bride - THAT HOLY CITY - the NEW Jerusalem."

Makes sense, a new name, a new covenant, a new city for Jacob!

In summary, today Jews and Gentiles are saved through Paul's God given gospel of the UNcircumcision and made the Body of Christ - God's New Creature: Heaven its destined home, thus, our catching away BEFORE God BOTH, ONCE MORE, AND AT LAST, begins to deal with Israel towards HIS fulfilment of HIS plan and Purpose FOR THR EARTH through HIS Covenant WITH THEM.

This is all there - in Acts WHEN VIEWED THROUGH THD LENS OF ROMANS AND EPHESIANS - NOT - THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Only THEN does the balance of the NT [divide] lay itself out "rightly."

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[By Faith Alone]

We are not the "Bride". We are the church which is...HIS...body. We are under no covenant at all but we DO go directly to the Mediator of the New Covenant..Jesus Christ Himself.
The Bride
There is a difference between the two groups presented in the Scriptures..... Israel as a wife and the new group set forth as...... “The Bride of the Lamb” . The pair are in view here.
In Matthew 13 there are two parables that deal with a treasure. They differ from one another as the NATION of Israel differs from the faithful overcoming REMNANT and just as a restored WIFE differs from a BRIDE. The entire nation of Israel is in view in the parable of Matthew 13:44.... “The Treasure”. The remnant according to the election of grace there is shown a smaller group as the “one pearl of great price” as seen here:
Matt 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
In Genesis 12 we see the birth of the special nation that was separated and called to higher glory than any other nation on earth. When this People was redeemed from Egypt here are the Words the Lord had for them:
Ex 19:5-6.... Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.......And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy... nation...... (that disproves “priesthood of believers&#8221
Deut 14:2.....the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Deut 26:18-19 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people.........
And to make thee high above all nations …...
Ps 135:4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure .
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels ; and I will spare them, (the faithful little group)

The term “peculiar treasure” represents the ENTIRE nation of Israel and they were secure in their position by the unchangeable character of God:
Rom 11:29 ….the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The “Jewels” or the “One pearl of great price” in Matthew 13:46 represent those faithful overcomers who honour the Lord in a day of Israel's apostasy.
In the day of Israel's blessing (yet future) there shall be one jewel that shines brighter than the rest and that will be the remnant of faithful ones who endured throughout the days of Israel's departure. This will be seen in the parable of the “one pearl”.
Another name for Israel:
Psalms 83:3-4 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

That should be considered in connection with what follows.
The next item to notice:
“when a man hath found.....he hideth”. The hidden treasure IS HIDDEN AGAIN until the day when both the treasure and the field are claimed. When the Lord Jesus walked the earth He limited His ministry to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Romans 15:8, Matthew 15:24). He came to seek and to save that which was lost of that nation. Israel could never meet the standards under law to be the treasure. They must be redeemed. They will never be a kingdom of priests by their own merit but solely upon the basis of redemption:
Rev 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Up to Matthew 16 the Lord had not mentioned His death. In verse 44 He hides the treasure. He then reveals the great price which He is about to pay for its redemption. His death on the cross secured the treasure and the field. There the Lord Jesus gave everything. In Luke 19:11-27 we have further light cast upon this hiding of the treasure. If anyone should think by His words that the kingdom was to be set up AT ONCE....the Lord said, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, AND TO RETURN”. The second hiding of the treasure is symbolically declaring the postponement of the kingdom.
When day of MANIFESTATION comes these words will be heard:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (unto the ages of ages).

This parable emphatically states that no matter the opposition God's purpose for Israel in the Kingdom will be fulfilled. I would imagine this comforted the hearts of the disciples. They would see how irresistible is the purpose of Him.... He Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will will NOT fail. With this God has given His answer to the evil one. Satan had hidden his “leaven” ….BUT..... the Lord had hidden His “treasure”. The day will dawn when the Lord will remove the stain of sin and the corruption of the enemy and soon He will come with His two-fold purpose...... to “make up His jewels” (Malachi 3:17) and.... to set up His Kingdom and then shall Israel be a grand and glorious crown in the hand of their God.
In contrast with this parable of the treasure (which symbolizes the whole/entireity of Israel without reference to the individual faithfulness of any one member of that elect nation) we have the parable of the Pearl.
The very same Jews who were “enemies because of the gospel” were still “beloved because of the fathers”. DOUBLY precious in the sight of God has has always been that believing remnant from Abraham onwards. These are an election from among the elect. These are dealt with in the parable of the Pearl:
Matt 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

 

[By Faith Alone]

Now to the meaning of the parable.
Right down through history since the time of Abraham there has been a faithful remnant. These will form one group at the end....... “holy brethren, partakers of the....HEAVENLY CALLING”.....“who died in faith, not having received the promise”. More concerning the remnant according to the election of grace is seen in Isaiah 1:9; 7:3 (Shear-jashub...... “the remnant shall return”), Isaiah 11:11, 16, Ezekiel 9:4-6; 14:22 and Joel 2:32 (compare the remnant on the day of Pentecost), Micah 2:12; Romans 9:27 and 11:5.
The overcomers of the Apocalypse includes the 144,000 sealed of the tribes of Israel and the various groups mentioned in Revelation 12:17, 14:1-5, 15:1-3 and 20:4. They all appear to be part of this great company called by our Lord “The Pearl of Great Price”. Pearls are compared with holiness in Matthew 7:6....the partakers of the heavenly calling are called “HOLY brethren” in Hebrews 3:1.....and “SAINTS of the Most High” in Daniel 7:22. Pearls are compared with wisdom in the Old Testament:
Dan 12:3 And they that be WISE shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (unto the age and beyond).
These wise ones “understand” and “instruct many” (Daniel 11:33). They are introduced to the refining process of tribulation before they enter their glory:
Dan 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Anytime we see this elect remnant we find tribulation and suffering. The epistles of Peter and James are full of assuring comfort to those of the dispersion who believed and who were passing through the “fiery trial” and were addressed to this remnant. It is not without significance that a pearl is the product of irritation in the shell of the oyster.
Israel's relationship to God is that of a wife....being unfaithful....has been put away....BUT.... the return of Israel is to be like the taking back of the penitent wife. That is the greatness God's grace and love that He says it will be “as a young man marrieth a virgin”. In reality it will be the taking back again of an unfaithful wife as we can see in Isaiah 62:4, 5 and Hosea 2:19, 20. This relationship with “all Israel” is NOT in view of the book of the Revelation. THAT book is concerned with the overcomers and focuses on the times of trouble that produce the “Pearl”.

After the thousand years' reign and in connection with the new heaven and the new earth:
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
In verses 9 and 10 that fact is repeated. Those who live in this city are the partakersof the “heavenly calling”. It is like Abraham that they desired a better country....that is an heavenly, and for them God hath prepared a CITY. It was this HEAVENLY CALLING (distinguished from the calling “far above all” of the dispensation of the Mystery) that was understood and believed by Abraham and it encouraged and enabled him to live being stranger and a pilgrim on the earth....a sojourner in the land of PROMISE as in a STRANGE country and this was content with a tent and did not settle down because he looked for A CITY which hath THE foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Those are children of faithful Abraham and that is not only according to the flesh but also according to the spirit. Such is that which make up the “bride” and the “pearl”. It is an elect remnant out from an elect nation. Israel viewed as a whole is compared to a treasure and a wife. The remnant (which will include believing Gentiles during the “Acts” period) are viewed as a precious “pearl” and a “bride”.

Clarifying statement:
THE ELECT NATION ...as distinct from the Nations...A treasure...A wife...Earthly calling... and city.
THE ELECT REMNANT ...as distinct from the Nation... A pearl... A bride...Heavenly calling...and city.

 

[Danoh]

By Faith Alone, I sincerely doubt one can be that consistent in proving any other Perspective then the Acts 9 Perspective. Nice job on Israel's destiny, though - very nice.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[By Faith Alone]

By Faith Alone, I sincerely doubt one can be that consistent in proving any other Perspective then the Acts 9 Perspective. Nice job on Israel's destiny, though - very nice.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

Thanks Danoh. As to not being able to prove any other perspective other than Acts 9? I can. Guaranteed.

Beware though. At Acts 9 the olive tree still stands.

 

[Danoh]

Looking forward to your attempt, as, thus far, assertions against Acts 9 continue to prove themselves faulty as to how the passages used AGAINST are to be understood - especially where Paul quotes Israel's prophets is concerned. Still, I find that I still learn something to my edification, so bring it on brother, that that doctrine which is approved bear its intended fruit.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[By Faith Alone]

Looking forward to your attempt, as, thus far, assertions against Acts 9 continue to prove themselves faulty as to how the passages used AGAINST are to be understood - especially where Paul quotes Israel's prophets is concerned. Still, I find that I still learn something to my edification, so bring it on brother, that that doctrine which is approved bear its intended fruit.

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

Surely any honest discussion will bear fruit when we to Scriptures.
I will consider Acts 9 but I will NOT abandon Acts 28 for any reason other than through a SOUND Scriptural basis.
There are certain features that are foretold that must be a sychronous revelation before a dispensation can begin. These features are so unique in character that they cannot be missed or ignored. These features are in connection with the dispensation of the Mystery as most Acts 28ers know.
Here are two:
(1)Israel will fall into a lo-ammi status... not My people....and God will cease (temporarily) to be their God (Hos. 1: 3). Did this take place at Acts 9?
(2)Paul received the dispensation of the grace of God via revelation when he became the Prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles (Eph. 3: 1-13). Did this take occur at Acts 9? There can be but one answer to these questions. No!
They did not take place until the events of in Acts 28 were a historical feature. A dispensation is a "stewardship", as you probably already know. A stewardship is one who receives a commission. A dispensation "begins" when that steward receives the command "Go . . . . . tell this people" (Isa. 6: 9) just as Paul waited until words of the Lord were spoken.... "unto whom now I SEND thee" (Acts 26: 17). Was there any groundwork laid in such a fashion for Acts 9? I also heard there are those that use Acts 13 as the boundary. That is not to say 9 or 13 are to be ignored as to importance.

This is not all the info I have. We can take our time here if you don't mind....UNLESS.. you are ready to say "UNCLE" now?

 

[Danoh]

How dissapointing once more Acts 28 reading INTO is. I mean, you did so well with that post on Israel. As a result see the Acts 28 habit of reading into passages, well, its dissapointing.

You think Israel was not Lo-Ami in their history at other times also? Not TEMPORARILY in their past?

And what, now you have a dispensation beginning with Isaiah " the Law and the Prophets were UNTIL John..."

And Paul declares in Acts 26:17 that the Lord told HIM in Acts 9 "NOW I SEND thee..."

While, those words of Isaiah quoted by Paul at Acts 28 were FULFILLED in Isaiah's day. Unless, they were fulfilled when the Lord quoted them in Matt. 13:13-15; Mark 4:12, and John 12:39, 40, and again when Paul quotes them at Acts 28.

Every time the Acts 2, 11, 13, 15, or 28 Perspectives, along with the Reformed and its various off shoots - EVERYTIME ANY of these Perspectives point to Paul's quoting of Israel's Prophets they ALL read INTO his use of those quotes in the EXACT same way the Calvinists read INTO passages to come up with their Five Points.

Welch consistently does that, as does Bullinger.

In short, nope, I'm no where even near ready to cry uncle -

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[Danoh]

Where you and I will end up on this Acts 9/Acts 28 issue - you guys read too much into the pasages, where allowing them to interpret one another is concerned...

http://www.christianforums.com/t996151/

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

 

[By Faith Alone]

Where you and I will end up on this Acts 9/Acts 28 issue - you guys read too much into the pasages, where allowing them to interpret one another is concerned...

http://www.christianforums.com/t996151/

Danoh
Eph. 4:16

Not reading a thing into them at all Brother. Just taking the plainly spoken revelations and accepting them as given.
How does anyone read anything into Ephesians 3:5 and 9? The Holy Writ says this revelation was top secret until revealed to Paul in 63 AD. It is not that we are reading into anything but there are those that are influenced by Jehudi in the OT. The latest report has never been taken well by anyone even to the detriment of their own theology they reject Truth. Israel was Lo-Ammi before but their relationship to the gentiles never changed until the new revelation given to Paul.

Here is the Mystery:
Eph 3:5-6
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now (AD 63) revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That (the subject of the revelation is) the Gentiles should be fellowheirs (joint-heirs..Gr. sunkleronomos), and of the same body (members of a joint body….Gr. sussomos [only here]…..and NOT joined to an existing Jewish body but of twain…..ONE…..NEW…..MAN!), and (joint) partakers (Gr. Summetochos…joint partakers) of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
That is a three-fold equality now. Israel was divorced….Lo-Ammi (Hosea 1:9)… at Acts 28:28 and distinctions are wiped out. No Olive Tree.
The hope of Israel was for an earthly Kingdom with over comers inheriting the New Jerusalem descending from Heaven. Our calling is to the Heaven far above all. The ONLY calling associated with the fullness of Christ. He is ...KING..over Israel but is the...HEAD... of our church:
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church...

Eph 2:12-16
12 That at that time ye (Gentiles) 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 (AD 63) in Christ Jesus ye (Gentiles) who sometimes (once) were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both (Jew and Gentile)…one.... and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (death to any Gentile that passed this stone barrier) between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh (His death) the enmity, even the law of (dogmatic) commandments contained in ordinances; for to make (Gr. poiema-CREATE) in himself of twain (of the two…Jew and Gentile)….. one….new…. man,….so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity (of the law of dogmatic commandments) thereby (by the cross):

2 Cor 5:17….old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

[Danoh]

There used to be this TV commercial in which some Baker was so overworked that he was beginning to run into himself. He is on his way out the door to work when runs into himself coming home - "I already made the donuts!" his coming home self declares to his going out the door self.

Well, that is your Ephesians two rendering -

You have the Gentiles, made nigh Mid-Acts, once more aliens, far off, strangers, and so on. You have Christ running into Himself "I already made them nigh!"

I guess you need to show that when He turned from Israel at Acts 28, He at the same time turned from the Gentiles once more so that he could once more turn to them that this schizo logic the Acts 28 is so known for, stand once more.

That makes about as much sense as what the Boxer does with the Lord's "your house IS (not will be, as Boxer renders it) desolate." About as much sense as what he does to 1 Cor. 15's "must REIGN, TIL He hath put all enemies under His feet." He twists the Lord's words to the destruction of the Lord's later words (that Israel would one day see His Shikinah Glory in the Temple again, even as He took it with Him that day, as He walked out of the Temple) Boxer twists the Lord's words there that day, to the destruction of the Lord's words later, in in John and in Paul.

But at least you, By Faith Alone, are Dispensational, you still have a hope of clarity as to Paul's unique use of the writings of Israel's prophets, if you're so willing; you're not that far off in this distinction. So I'll leave you with this:

Paul's use of Isaiah at Acts 28 is his application, not of a prophecy which was fulifillef centuries earlier: back near Isaiah's own time, but of its application as to its speaking to the same spirit of disobedience in the Israel of Paul's day that had been the spirit of disobediance in Isaiah's day - in them, as the Lord Himself put it when He too cited Isaiah's same words on this same heart issue, was fulfilled, not Isaiah's prophecy, but his words once more as to the circumcision of their heart.

Fact is that by the time Isaiah had utterred his words God had already turned from Israel TEMPORARILY back then too, just as He had TEMPORARILY ONCE MORE by time Paul utters those words at Acts 28.

Fact is, Paul's EVERY utterance of Israel's prophets has its reasons - none of which violate his Mystery preaching. He makes use of their DISPENSATIONAL concord in the same way the Lord blesses that Syrophenician woman OUT OF the Gentile's own, due time blessing. The Lord could do that only before their due time blessing because to the blessing itself agreed the words of the prophets He had given His words to, to begin with.

Likewise with Paul's use of the prophets where said words are DISPENSATIONAL (apply in all dispensations, as for example, does, the righteousness of God). Thus, the sense of James' words in Acts 15's "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written After this I will return and will build again..." The sense of James's words is that this "gospel which" Paul "preached among the Gentiles" Acts 15; Gal. 2 - that has God doing a work among the Gentiles PRIOR TO His PROPHESIED intent to do so THROUGH a redeemed ISRAEL FIRST Matt. 15; Acts 3, was NOT in conflict with said PROPHESIED intent.

In short, this Mystery "blindness is part IS happened in part TO ISRAEL TIL the fulness of" what God was now doing among the Gentiles DIRECTLY "be come in." It was not in conflict with "the words of the prophets" because God had prophesied various points in Israel's history wherein He would TEMPORARILY turn from them for their disobedience and even work through Gentile powers over them. Thus, that He had kept a Mystery work among the Gentiles secret until He, as He had intended to reveal it, they were fine with that despite their uncertainty about it all - good enough for them was their faith in what they then understood about this Pauline revelation - that "Known UNTO GOD are HIS works from the beginning of the world" Acts 15:18.

Note how that they do not understand this Mystery revealed to Paul. That, all they can attempt to related to is that which had been PROPHESIED from the beginning of the world. As Peter would write of "the wisdom given unto" Paul - "in which are some things hard to be understood" 2 Peter 3: 15, 16.



Danoh
Eph. 4:16