I agree, that the first century was some kind of reformation of the OT belief, like the reformation of the 16th century was the reformation of the NT belief.
But I see 2 differences there:
a) There was God present in body, in the first century, with his final authority and with his appointed apostles with the similar authority by the Holy Spirit. Its different a little from the work of "men" like Luther or John Hus, if you understand me.
b) It was not only a reformation, but also a new view, new discoveries, in the first century, that Christ has revealed. It was hidden from the previous generations. The reformation of the 16th century re-discover what was revealed before.
BTW, judaism is very dark and apostate till today, not only until Christ
Hi Trofimus. Thanks for the reply.
Sorry in advance for the length of my opinion I am offering .Its hard for me to make appoint without going into what it seems at times to much information. My writing skills suffer, but my goal is to lift up the word of God .
The similarities are in respect to the false authority by which men claim to know God . In both cases the restoring had to do with men seeking the approval of men (fathers, elders, apostles ) in respect to men and their oral traditions that in effect made the word of God without effect. It was Christ’s nemesis. He called them a brood of vipers because they measured faith (not seen) in respect to their oral traditions of men (as that seen) and not the word of God the authority of that not seen .
It alone is the Christian's or inward, born again Jew source of faith by which men
can believe God, who has no form.
We can see Christ applying his principle of a parable/proverb...not to answer a fool according to His folly, Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.By answering a question with a question.
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them,
Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? Mat 15:2
The traditions of men as the body of precepts, especially the fleshly rituals as ceremonial laws which were mere shadows, which in the opinion of the outward Jews(non converted) were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written law, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence. Adding to the law of God by expanding the written law clearly violated and therefore offended the invisible things (faith) of God.
Saul who formally persecuted, all things which are written in the law and in the prophets(sola scriptura) He performed that persecution by killing what he thought was the outward fleshly completion because they did walk by sight as the things of men, looking to the fathers as the final authority. This is shown as Paul now defending what he did previously try to destroy as it reads in Acts 24:13-14 below
Neither
can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy,
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing
all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:13-14
In that statement we can see the oral traditions of men are completely removed.
In effect as a new creature Saul worshiped the God of his fathers rather than worshiping the God of the fathers..(upside down) The improper manner of spirit. called the confederacy.
Paul previously worshiping the fathers (as that seen) as if they were in the place of God. That law of the fathers (not a law of God, our Father ) came by a misguided zeal .
All of the qualifications to include an official letter from the high priest like the Pope along with a promise they would be rewarded by God for getting rid of what they thought was the outward completion. That in which they thought was the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, became their demise .Again it was the wrong, upside down manner of spirit making men the gods in the likeness of men as to what they worshiped . Saul had all the right credential the best theological schools.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers,
and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted
this way unto
the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders:
from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem,
for to be punished. Act 22:3
You could say they turned things upside down, as a wile of the father of lies, Satan, as if the Potter had no spiritul understanding to offer, so then rather men must seek the understanding of the clay.
The law of the fathers,Kings and princes as the things of sinful men with its misguided zeal,it began when the time period of Judges ended. It was the cause of the change .
The apostate Jew at that time had becomes jealous of the surrounding pagan nation who did have an outward body, as kings, princes and fathers in whom they could place their miss guided faith in according to a foundation of necromancy .
They gathered themselves together (not moved by God )and demanded a king. They no longer desired to walk by faith in respect to an invisible King, our living God . God gave them over
temporally to do what they should not.(2 Samuel 8)
I think the first century reformation restored the kind of faith back to the period of Judges with no external representation. The fifteenth century reformation followed.
Therefore because of the refomation the things of men were made to no effect by the unseen, eternal things of God in stead of vice versa .
This was in respect to Elias who came in the Spirit of and power of Christ,the anointing Holy Spirit of God, acting as a Judge, like Samuel
Matthew 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and
restore all things.
Just a thought but I believe Isaiah could be speaking of the first century reformation.
Isa 1:21-27 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:Thy
princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. “Zion” shall be redeemed with judgment, and her (bride)converts with righteousness.
The words: “and thy counsellors as at the beginning” They are not connected to anything seen, again men under Judges were walking by faith the unseen will of God through the scriptures. It was not the counselors of men in view. It was the counselors of men that had become jealous of the surrounding Pagan nations to begin with by which God as King of kings reining from heaven gave them over temporally to do that which they should not of. Therefore sending them a strong delusion to believe the lie. .
David in respect to that which is against God as misguided zeal (kings princes and fathers ) spoke of those kind of counsellors as in the beginning, in Psalms .
Princes also did sit and
speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.leth. My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me
according unto thy word. Psa 119:23-28
Looking again at Isaiah 1, the words: “
afterward thou shalt be called, The
city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
In respect to that new name for Zion’s sake (the heavenly Jerusalem not seen) . In chapter 62 of Isaiah because of the reformation, when the gentiles shall be given the authority to hear God with no division between a born again Jew or Gentile(all the nations) . He again speaks of a new name he will call His born again people.
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Isa 62:1
That new name which the mouth of the LORD shall name I believe is found in Act 11:26, as it reads below.
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples
were called Christians first in Antioch.
Again focusing in on Isaiah 1, the words: “afterward thou shalt be called, The
city of righteousness
We know that God uses architectural metaphors in various parables through out the scriptures to represent his bride, the church, made up of many lively stones as the spiritual house or temple, of God, in respect to Zion.
It would appear that the meaning of the word Christian has lost most of its ability to relate to a righteous city as the b ride of Christ made up of Jews as well as Gentiles(no difference) . . It is defined in different ways but usually in as followers of Christ, which is true, but I think the original meaning loses some value when reconciling the word city. This is because the meaning in respect to city metaphor is put on the back burner. He named us Christian for that very reason. The word Christian without adding another meaning simple means ; residents of the city of Christ, as His bride. that which is also called Zion..
The ian suffix is used along with the founders name . Just as Corinthians denotes the residents of that city whose founder is Corinth. Or the Philippians as to the residents who founder is Philippi. The same applied to the new name he called His people, Christians residents of our heavenly city Zion, whose founder is Christ. . Or in a negative way those who are called Nicolaitanes resident of the city whose founder in Nicolos.
One more example to emphasize the false authority of the fathers, kings and princes as outward source to place their faith in. the same kind of authority the Catholic must use in the necromancy doctrines in regard to what they call Mary, as the queen of heaven, same queen, different name.
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth,
(my addition, in regard to own mouth, the oral tradition of men) to burn incense unto the
queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings
unto her, as we have done, we, and
our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. Jer 44:16
Much to look at. I hope what I am trying to say does not cause confusion.
Thanks again. Your thoughts?
This remnant are the Jews on whom God fulfilled His promises to Israel. And because there is such a remnant (including Paul himself), the promises and election of God has not failed.
