Читать книгу Christian Zionism ... Enraptured Around a Golden Calf - Abraham A. van Kempen - Страница 23

Paradoxically, Christians are the ‘true' Jews. The true circumcision is the ‘new-birth,' a change of the heart. The Gentile followers of Jesus who acknowledge him as the Messiah are the people of Israel, the people of God contrary to the Judeans who reject him.²

How?

‘In Christ,' God has promised to bless the nations through Abraham's seed (Genesis 12: 1-3), and that seed is Christ. Both the Gospels' genealogies trace the human ancestry of Jesus to Abraham. ‘Abraham . . . is the spiritual father of all who believe' whether they are circumcised or uncircumcised, that is, whether they are Jews or Gentiles (Romans 4: 11-12 GNT).

" ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham and will receive what God has promised. (Galatians 3: 29 GNT).³ "Today, [true] Israel is a spiritual designation, meaning believers in Jesus, whether they descent from Jacob or not."⁴ Wow!

The promised blessing – the Promised Land, the borderless Spiritual Kingdom of God – is given to all who are in Christ. The way to be ‘in Christ' is not by birth but by 'rebirth,' not physically by ancestry but spiritually by faith. What's more, in the English language, the word ‘salvation' sounds so much like the word ‘save.' Though figuratively connected, both words are distinct from each other. Salvation is not rooted in the word ‘save.' Salvation means 'release from bondage.' It comes from the word ‘salve,' ointment, or comforting balm. It's about the anointing – healing oils – of God's Holy Spirit, the indwelling of God's spirit inside our souls, the Divine Surprise.

Nonetheless, especially in English, salvation and ‘saved in Christ' are used interchangeably, offering the quick-fix, short-cut route to heaven. But this has short-changed many new Christians, like my driver in China, who are missing the full glory of Christ. Most preachers do urge their prospective Christians to "ask God to enter their hearts." Many even suggest to "seek the Kingdom of God." But rarely have I heard an Evangelical preacher connect the two at the same time, fully connecting the dots. If God's spirit, the Holy Spirit, resides in your heart, where is the spiritual Kingdom of God? Shouldn't God's Kingdom envelope your entire being by entering into your heart as well? Eternity starts at the point of salvation. It is not just a ticket to heaven. It is a way of life, on earth, living a purposeful life, ‘filled with the spirit' within the infinite confines of God's spiritual Kingdom in the heart. Who wouldn't want to be caged inside God's infinite love and wisdom? Life is not the destination. It is a journey with God. That's heaven on earth, the rebirth or 'born again' triumph.