I've never thought of myself as having the "heavenly" calling. However, recently I'm feeling that I should partake at the Memorial. Again, I have no feeling of being anointed whatsoever. However, the more I read from the Scripture; I find myself confused as to my position of partaking the emblems during Memorial. My thought process is, that, since we're 'all one body under one Shepherd', and to benefit from the "ransom provision" of Jesus - that I should be partaking by 'doing it in remembrance' of Him. Romans Chapter 8 shows us that we are no longer under the "law" since we are sanctified in union with Christ by putting faith in his ransom as 'children of God'. Please help me clear this confusion, whether I should partake or not? I really don't know.
As you know, the emblematic bread and wine are symbols of Christ’s flesh and blood. Christ specifically said at Luke 22:20 that the cup of wine represented his blood that was going to be poured out to validate the new covenant and the new covenant is between God and Israel. That is evident from the fact that Jeremiah 31:31 states: “Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant…”
However, Christ did not mediate a new covenant with the 12 tribes, which descended from the 12 sons of Israel; but with the 12 apostles and other disciples. Fleshly Israel and the old covenant were merely the legal foundation for the new Israel that God began forming in the first century. In time it became more abundantly clear that the new covenant included non-Jews as well, so that what is called “Israel” pertains to Christ’s anointed congregation, where 'there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female.'
The new Israel is ultimately to be composed of 144,000 members, who are spoken of in Revelation as being symbolically taken out of the 12 tribes of old Israel.
The purpose of the creation of the Israel of God is in order to establish a kingdom so that all peoples of faith might ultimately inherit the blessing of everlasting life. Only those who are called to be part of that heavenly kingdom, though, are participants in the new covenant.
Keep in mind that it is Jehovah’s purpose to resurrect the vast majority of mankind; the most of which never knew God or Christ before their deaths. Nevertheless, Paul stated that he had hope toward God that there would be a resurrection of the unrighteous masses of mankind. Are they resurrected to heaven though? No, of course not. Only those who are anointed and adopted as spiritual sons are taken to heaven.
So, the point is, those who are destined to receive an earthly resurrection have done absolutely nothing to qualify for a resurrection. They are not even required to excercise faith beforehand. The earthly resurrection is most definitely not dependent upon their being in any sort of covenant with God – neither does survival through the great tribulation require the great crowd to be in a new covenant with God either.
However, while not direct participants, the resurrected dead, as well as the survivors of the great tribulation, will be beneficiaries of the new covenant that God has made with the seed of Abraham. As the original covenant with Abraham stated, all the nations will inherit a blessing through the seed of Abraham. And Paul pointed out to the Galatians the seed of Abraham is the true Israel of God.
In the 8th chapter of Romans Paul referred to the nations that are to receive a blessing by means of the new Israel as “all creation,” which he said is awaiting the revealing of the sons of God. Obviously, “all creation” and the soon to be revealed sons of God are two separate groups.
Keep in mind that the old covenant was with only one nation, old Israel. Likewise, the new covenant is with one nation, new Israel. The individual members of new Israel are the sons of God who are in the new covenant. The rest of mankind is not. Therefore, only those who have been adopted as sons of God are entitled and required to drink the cup of the new covenant.
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Monday, April 03, 2006
Gideon’s 300 and the partaking of the Lord’s evening meal—is there a connection?
When you have lived your life on earth, knowing that we have been made for the earth, the thought of some humans becoming immortal spirits is truly staggering. (Psalm 115:16) Because of this reason and perhaps others, many who are called may not respond to their calling, holding back so-to-speak, thinking and preferring the things behind (earthly things). It's like Gideon’s men who numbered into the thousands, but those who were finally selected to go into battle with Median amounted to a mere 300. The vast majority of the men were sent home to their families, partly because many were trembling in fear.
However, the 300 forgo the opportunity to go back to their families and responded to their calling or choosing to face their adversary who far outnumbered them, as hordes “as numerous as the locusts.” Gideon’s 300 were courageous and vigilant as seeing by the fact that they maintained a position of alertness as they were put to the test down at the water. They boldly accepted their mission and went forward with Gideon into the storm as it were. Likewise those who will follow after Christ must do so courageously.
Now think about the mission of the 144,000. (Revelation 14:1) Their fixed number, like Gideon’s 300, might very well represent those among many who were called to serve in God’s heavenly army. Unlike the majority of Gideon’s men that were trembling or otherwise did not show sign of alertness, the 144,000 made a decision to accept Christ as their Leader against antitypical Median, namely the king of fierce countenance or the 8th and final king of Bible prophecy. Evidently, they will be going up against Satan and his invisible cosmocracy. (Daniel 8:23; Revelation 17:11; Luke 4:6; Revelation 13:2; Romans 16:20) As were the Medianites, the invasionary forces of this king are likewise shown to be as numerous as the locusts. --Judges 6:5, 6.
It is interesting to note that Gideon’s tribal division of Manasseh was the most insignificant, and he was “the smallest in his father’s house,” but that did not keep him from rising to the challenge Jehovah presented before him. (Judges 6:11, 15). Now, just as Gideon, those that are called are cognizant of their calling. Likewise, they experienced some manifestation of God’s spirit to that effect. (Romans 8:15-17) However, it is up to them to accept their calling, irregardless of any raging windstorm. Will they stay in their pinion gazing with fear or will they accept the opportunity to soar as eagles out of their cages? –Revelation 3:20; Exodus 19:4-6,16; Job 38:1; 1 Kings 19:11; Matthew 14:30-31.
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