ISRAEL THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM: The Great Commission
(Study 4-G)

At the stoning of the deacon Stephen, the confirmation of the covenant with the Jewish nation was ended. This did not mean that the Gospel was no longer preached to them, but after this point, they were no longer the sole recipient's of the Father's teachings and particular mercy.

Although the earthly nation of Israel had failed at its mission, Yahweh nevertheless accomplished His purpose through the chosen ones, and "Israel" as a concept came to signify more than just the physical bloodline of Abraham. In our last study, we briefly met an individual who would lead the way in bringing other nations under the commonwealth of Israel, but first the Church would need to be prepared for the change.

As our Messiah, seated at the right hand of Power, continued His work for us in the Sanctuary above, His servants on earth were about to truly give the Gospel to "all the world for a witness unto all nations." (Mat 24:14) This study will show us the means by which this was accomplished.

QUESTIONS:
01) What nation was to be the recipient of the New Covenant instituted by Christ? (Jer 31:31, Mat 26:26-28)
02) Would this be a spiritual, or an earthly Covenant? (Heb 8:10, 2Cor 3:3-6)
03) What were the Old Testament prophets' predictions concerning the Gentiles and salvation? (Isa 11:10; 49:6; 56:6,7; Jer 16:19; Mal 1:11)
04) What did a messenger from heaven tell the Gentile Centurion named Cornelius? (Acts 10:1-6)
05) What vision did the apostle Peter have when he was praying at this time? (Acts 10:9-16)
06) What insight did he receive from this unusual occurrence? (Acts 10:28,34,35)
07) What did he then do with the Gentile family? (Acts 10:44-48)
08) How did the Jewish Christians receive the new converts? (Acts 11:1-4, 15-18)
09) What was the Pharisee Saul doing during this time period? (Acts 8:3, 9:1,2)
10) What happened to him on the way to Damascus? (Acts 9:3-9)
11) What did he do when he met Ananias the disciple? (Acts 9:10-12, 17,18)
12) What was his immediate response to this change in his life? (Acts 9:19-22)
13) How did his former brethren react to this? (Acts 9:23-25)
14) How did the disciples react to him initially, and what changed their minds? (Acts 9:26-29)
15) How did Paul realize that he had been called to preach Christ to non-Jews? (Acts 22:19,21; 13:16,42-46; 18:1,4-6)
16) What occurred among the Gentiles during the course of Paul's various missionary journeys? (Acts 15:1-3,12; 21:18,19)
17) What is a Gentile's relationship to this New Covenant with Israel? (Rom 11:13,17-19; Eph 2:11-13)
18) Does the inclusion of Gentiles into Israel mean that individual Hebrews are lost because their nation fell? (Rom 11:1; 1:16; 10:1,11-13; Acts 4:10,12; Rom 11:23,261)
19) What is the means by which both Gentiles and Hebrews are now added to Israel? (Acts 2:5,38; 10:47,48; 11:1; Eph 4:4,5; 1Cor 12:13)
20) What does Christ say concerning those who join His family? (John 15:15-17, Mark 16:15)

Note1 The word "so" is the Greek "houto: in this way"


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