New Believer's Question ........

[MissBrattified]

I think the "relationship" aspect has more potential than anything else. God in the OT was nothing if not a God of contradictions. Even amidst His own strict rules and laws, He would step beyond them if a person or group of people turned to Him.

Maybe its a controversial statement, but aren't Jews more of a religious persuasion and culture than race? That is, anyone who converts to Judaism, is essentially a Jew. Or am I wrong on that point?

Regardless, in the OT, God showed mercy to people outside of the Jews, IF they turned to Him. E.g., Ninevah, Ruth, Rahab, etc. (Were the Ninevans Jews or Heathens? Were they heathens only because they didn't worship God?)

And, if everyone came from Adam, then essentially everyone started out with the same free will to choose God, and by the choices they made or their ancestors made, they ended up in a different place. I don't see in scripture where God set aside a little group from the very beginning, and said, "I'm only going to love you, everyone else I will hate." No, people set themselves apart, like Cain and Esau.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think the "relationship" aspect has more potential than anything else. God in the OT was nothing if not a God of contradictions. Even amidst His own strict rules and laws, He would step beyond them if a person or group of people turned to Him.

Maybe its a controversial statement, but aren't Jews more of a religious persuasion and culture than race? That is, anyone who converts to Judaism, is essentially a Jew. Or am I wrong on that point?

Regardless, in the OT, God showed mercy to people outside of the Jews, IF they turned to Him. E.g., Ninevah, Ruth, Rahab, etc. (Were the Ninevans Jews or Heathens? Were they heathens only because they didn't worship God?)

And, if everyone came from Adam, then essentially everyone started out with the same free will to choose God, and by the choices they made or their ancestors made, they ended up in a different place. I don't see in scripture where God set aside a little group from the very beginning, and said, "I'm only going to love you, everyone else I will hate." No, people set themselves apart, like Cain and Esau.

This is very good Abigail and is part of what I was thinking in regard to Eric's question.

I didn't get into this though last evening because I wasn't sure just how to present it in a way he - whose 2nd languge is English and is still learning and who is also a very new believer (16 yrs old) --- would be able to understand and comprehend.

He's a smart boy and he's doing great learning our language but some of this is a little complex in communicating to someone like him.

Thanks for articulating so well.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think the "relationship" aspect has more potential than anything else. God in the OT was nothing if not a God of contradictions. Even amidst His own strict rules and laws, He would step beyond them if a person or group of people turned to Him.

Maybe its a controversial statement, but aren't Jews more of a religious persuasion and culture than race? That is, anyone who converts to Judaism, is essentially a Jew. Or am I wrong on that point?

Regardless, in the OT, God showed mercy to people outside of the Jews, IF they turned to Him. E.g., Ninevah, Ruth, Rahab, etc. (Were the Ninevans Jews or Heathens? Were they heathens only because they didn't worship God?)

And, if everyone came from Adam, then essentially everyone started out with the same free will to choose God, and by the choices they made or their ancestors made, they ended up in a different place. I don't see in scripture where God set aside a little group from the very beginning, and said, "I'm only going to love you, everyone else I will hate." No, people set themselves apart, like Cain and Esau.

Yes, Abi...as I understand it, they are Hebrew by reason of birth, a Jew by reason of religious belief...and good post btw.

As for the subject at hand, Felicity, I have thought about it most of the day and am no further ahead with an answer than I was at 3:00 this morning.

I just keep thinking about the Cross...what a different world it was before God made Himself a body and came to this earth, and what a difference His precious Blood has meant to mankind.

Not exactly the answers young Eric is looking for I guess, but what has been with me all day...

[Newman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think the "relationship" aspect has more potential than anything else. God in the OT was nothing if not a God of contradictions. Even amidst His own strict rules and laws, He would step beyond them if a person or group of people turned to Him.

Maybe its a controversial statement, but aren't Jews more of a religious persuasion and culture than race? That is, anyone who converts to Judaism, is essentially a Jew. Or am I wrong on that point?

Regardless, in the OT, God showed mercy to people outside of the Jews, IF they turned to Him. E.g., Ninevah, Ruth, Rahab, etc. (Were the Ninevans Jews or Heathens? Were they heathens only because they didn't worship God?)

And, if everyone came from Adam, then essentially everyone started out with the same free will to choose God, and by the choices they made or their ancestors made, they ended up in a different place. I don't see in scripture where God set aside a little group from the very beginning, and said, "I'm only going to love you, everyone else I will hate." No, people set themselves apart, like Cain and Esau.

MissBrattifield- I thought your point about God showing mercy to non-Jews that turned to Him to be right on the money and something I had never considered before.

However, I am not as comfortable with the last paragraph although I can't say its technically wrong in what it actually said.

Yet, it seems to me that God did indeed set Israel apart from the beginning; if not loving them more; at the very least intending to use them to point the way to Christ.

And so God blessed Abraham's seed that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in him (Genesis 18:18) and told the Israelites that if they kept His commandments, "ye shall be a peculiar people ABOVE all people..." (Ex19:5).

So overall; I think that we must find that Israel at the very least; had a headstart.