Habib Khoury said:
Greg, I left you a message on the BAMI BLOGCAST. Please read it.
I did a study, many years ago, on the history of the Jews. Unfortunately, due to my hard drive crashing and my disk destroying the file, I've lost ALL the information I had on it:(
Dr. Habib,
One of my professors at the ITC; who is now the Dean of Morehouse (Dr. Harold V. Bennett); wrote an excellent scholarly book on the history of the tithe. I recommend you get it. It's called:
INJUSTICE MADE LEGAL:
Deuteronomic Law And The Plight Of Widows, Strangers, And Orphans In Ancient Israel.
Chris Magrum said:
succeptability to sin is an imperfection.
MY RESPONSE: The Lord God is perfect, and so is His Image of God. Everything the Lord created was originally perfect. He created man perfect, with freedom of choice, not with a fallen nature susceptible to sin.
Habib - Thank you. I attempt to convey what I believe I have received from the testimony of the Scriptures. I'm neither flowery in my speech nor masterful in writing. But I do attempt to be understood. Happy to hear your feedback.
Here's that link. It is more of a "booklet," rather than a [large] book:
Of Whom Does the Prophet Speak" -- by Victor Buksbazen -- an in-depth view of Isaiah 53 and the prophecy of Christ, hundred of years before his birth. Isaiah 53 underscores the truthfulness of Divine Revelation as exemplified in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures:
http://www.thebookwurm.com/isaiah53.htm
Kathy Phillips said:
They are not saved by their own doing, but rather because God, by His OWN Honor, honors the covenant He made with their fathers. They are judged as a nation, not on an individual basis. Their sin was atoned nationally once a year by the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies and sprinkling blood on the mercy seat. The daily sacrifices (specifically the burnt offering) in the temple spoke of the constant prayer going up before the Lord. 6am and 6pm, round the clock day and night the burnt offering burned, and all the personal offerings brought were always burned ON TOP of this one. It was because God looks at Israel as a nation, and they will be judged and rewarded as such, not on the basis of individual actions or belief. You don't have to like it for it to be true. Think it's not fair? Don't make the mistake of thinking God must be fair. Remember He is Sovereign.
Kathy, I am sooooooooo confused.... are you saying that Israel is going to bypass all judgement? Like now?? Because I haven't heard of anybody sacrificing animals over there lately... And when you say "Don't make the mistake of thinking God must be fair"... Doesn't it say in the bible that God is a JUST God?? That means he is fair.. I don't know where you are getting your theology from.. but it is thrown off.
Also, I saw a documentary on hell.. about people who had gone there and God gave them a second chance. There was a man on that documentary that was a holocost survivor. He had died and gone to hell.. and was pulled out of a furnace and God gave him a second chance to live. So I think it is very foolish to think that people get a free pass like that. I mean doesn't the cross mean anything?? I'm not God... I don't get to make decisions on other people's eternity. But his word is his word. I'm just sayin.............
I Hope some of these Scriptures may Help.
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.
Col 3:12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man's covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise.
Gal 3:19 ¶ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one.
Gal 3:21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 ¶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 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.
Gal 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 2:17 ¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Rom 2:18 And knowest [his] will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:25 ¶ For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
He describes the true circumcision, v. 28, 29. (1.) It is not that which is outward in the flesh and in the letter. This is not to drive us off from the observance of external institutions (they are good in their place), but from trusting to them and resting in them as sufficient to bring us to heaven, taking up with a name to live, without being alive indeed. He is not a Jew, that is, shall not be accepted of God as the seed of believing Abraham, nor owned as having answered the intention of the law.
To be Abraham’s children is to do the works of Abraham, Jn. 8:39, 40. (2.) It is that which is inward, of the heart, and in the spirit. It is the heart that God looks at, the circumcising of the heart that renders us acceptable to him. See Deu. 30:6. This is the circumcision that is not made with hands, Col. 2:11, 12. Casting away the body of sin. So it is in the spirit, in our spirit as the subject, and wrought by God’s Spirit as the author of it. (3.) The praise thereof, though it be not of men, who judge according to outward appearance, yet it is of God, that is, God himself will own and accept and crown this sincerity; for he seeth not as man seeth.
Fair pretences and a plausible profession may deceive men: but God cannot be so deceived; he sees through shows to realities. This is alike true of Christianity. He is not a Christian that is one outwardly, nor is that baptism which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Christian that is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God.
Nathan Bickel said:
Lesli K: Regarding your February 13, 2011 12:16:39 AM EST response to Habib: You asked: "Habib, can you explain why God blinded the Jews to himself??" Perhaps, I can make myself useful and helpful to ad to what Habib stated. I quote from a topical sermon message entitlted: "The Major Reasons why the Christian Message is Rejected and Regarded as Foolish (11/7/10):" http://www.moralmatters.org/Ser11-7-10WhyChristianMessReje.html Please scroll down to the part where it says: "The Ultimate Reason Why the Christian Message is Rejected and Regarded as Foolish." There are remarks about the unbelief of the Jew and also, the Gentile. Then, (even more so) to zero in on your question to Habib, you might want to read another topical sermon message of mine, that explains why God allows the blindness: "Why are many people hard of spiritual hearing? -- Why will many human souls end up experiencing eternal damnation?" http://www.thechristianmessage.org/2011/02/why-are-many-people-hard-of-spiritual.html I even quote the late William MacDonald who explains some of this, with the description of: "judicial blindness."
Nathan, The explination of why the Jews reject Christ on that website are pure garbage. I am not saing anything negative about Christianity at all, I like Christians whom take their faith seriously. I am just what that website says about Judaism's reasons for rejecting Christ is wrong. I know, as an Orthodox Observant Jew our reasons, but I have no reason or desire to debate. It is the work of Saton that has divided us and I will not help him, will you? The bottom line is we all worship the same G_d, the G_d of Abraham Issac and Jacob. That we disagree if Messiach has been here or not matters not to Judaism as we beleive every good Christian will have a place in Gan Eden (Heaven). I just wanted to point out bad information about my faith when I see it.
Shalom,
Jeff L
Lesli K, don't make the mistake of equating fairness with justice. They are not always the same. Another thing to wrap your mind around is that God is infinite; we are finite. God knew exactly what buzzards we'd turn out to be and he still went to the Cross of Calvary and died for us anyway.
No one (not even the chosen people) is going to get a free pass. However, God's chosen people are being brought into the fold on a different time table than ours (the gentiles). There will come a day when every knee bows, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. Those of the chosen race who continue to reject God will be treated like the rest of the unbelievers in the very end.
Dr. Habib has really muddied the doctrinal waters here, and most of his assertions are extra-Biblical. You must go through a lot of semantic contortions in order to believe what he seems to be teaching in this thread and on his blog.
My best advice is to be like the Bereans in Acts 17: "10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men."
It is never wise to take the words of any man as "gospel gold." We must always compare them with Scripture to see whether these things are so. :) God gives wisdom liberally and freely to all who ask.
Odin - Re: Your February 13, 2011 11:52:28 PM EST posting:
I hear you. Or, at least I can, somewhat empathize with what you are saying.
Recently, I posted a lengthy topical sermon on thechristianmessage.org - how Christ's Great Commission Command [Matt. 28] is thwarted because of the failure of pastors and their churches to clearly convey the important teaching of Scripture about the "Priesthood of all Believers."
In that message, I made mention of the fact that pastors have the duty and obligation to teach the flock, how to "contend for the Christian Faith." [Jude 3-4]
As Christians, we are to ever continue, learning. We are not to use the Scriptures, but, rather to allow the Scriptures [its message] to use, us. [That's where the precious Holy Spirit, helps, as we submit ourselves, to His Word]
I've read some of Dr. Khoury's comments, and, am particularly impressed with the last long one. He is absolutely correct in stating that Christians need to feed on the Word, and in the process, they will be learning to think more systematically in terms of the Bible's teaching. [or, "doctrines."]
The better we understand the Scriptures, the better we can function as Christ's royal priests and play our part in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission Call [Command].........
