Thanks for responding. I have no problem with what you posted. Salvation is Salvation.
Gal 3:16 is about what the "seed" means in the Abrahamic promises. It is speaking about all of the Abrahamic promises, not a subset. It is specifically states that the promises were to Christ (the Messiah). You either accept that Christ is the seed spoken of in each of those promises, or you reject literal and straightforward meaning of Gal 3:16.
The OT Saints and NT Saints are all saved in Christ.
Yes, and modern nonChristian Jews are not OT saints. (Although like Saul to Paul, many could have an unrealized sainthood in Christ).
However, please address post #24 and the question raised there.
You asked a single rhetorical question in your post, #24.
"But what do we read in His reply?" regarding Acts 1:6-7.
The truth is that much like His parables, Acts 1:7 is not a direct answer to the question. You are reading into how He answered the question to bolster your assumption that He was alluding to the fulfilment of some other promise in the manner that someone was asking, but that would be an assumption, not a necessary interpretation.
You are presenting an
eisegesis instead of an
exegesis.
There is a difference between the Salvation promises (spiritual) and the Physical promises
Which Abrahamic promises are you proposing necessarily fall under "spiritual promises" vs "physical promises"? This another eisegesis unless you have a scriptural basis for the division of promises.
Given to elect Israel, which after the crucifixion are called to become Christian.
, and the Kingdom which Christ will bring with Him, which is both Spiritual and Physical. However, if you are Amillennial - you will reject that immediately.
Amill is a possible interpretation, so if that possibility negates the necessity of your interpretation, yes, your interpretation is not necessary.
Sometimes necessity isn't important. Make a compelling case for your claim. But first, make clear exactly what you are claiming and on what scriptural basis.
The promises to Israel and the forefathers, was to inherit the land promised to THEM
And OT spiritual Israel had promises fulfilled to them. Other OT saints of righteousness that looked forward to the coming of Christ and saw His day. True Israel in the OT was composed of OT saints, not just anyone born of Israel, Judah, etc.
, to be ruled over by the Messiah
If you look to Heb 11, the promise of land is paid by equivalency in the heavenly city that God has prepared. Heb 11:15 states that these conscious, dead saints no longer have the opportunity to return to the physical country from where they came. The concept is incompatible with the concept of resurrection into the 1000 year kingdom by elect bloodline Jews.
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned." - Heb 11:15 KJV
Heb 11:15 shows that the people spoken of don't have the opportunity to return. If we look at the verses prior, we can see who was being talked about:
"Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." - Heb 11:12-13 KJV
This is talking about all of Abraham's descendants. Then up to Heb 11:39-40, it gives examples of people that lived by faith that did not receive the promise. A good example out of that section is Moses:
"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." - Heb 11:26 KJV
In Heb 11:39-40, we see the offer of fulfilment through equivalence (or better):
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." - Heb 11:39-40 KJV
"Us" is talking about the intended audience inclusive of the speaker and OT saints. There is no indicator at the beginning of Hebrews whether the audience is gentile converts, or Jewish converts, or generally to the Church as a whole. But the "us" is clearly included in the promise. And the specific promise mentioned leads from the discussion about land.
But the interesting point is that not all of Abraham's descendants inherited the promise "Not all of Israel are Israel", therefore this either is talking about dead conscious people have an expectation potentially in vain, or it is only talking about the elect.
, to be ruled over by the Messiah, to receive peace and safety. THEY have never yet, received these things. But they will, when Christ returns and establishes His physical Kingdom on earth.
To tie this all together, Heb 11 further disagrees with the idea that even ethnic Jews under Christ would receive physical land. Instead, "God has provided something better for us" as they no longer have the opportunity for return from whence they came.
In the land promised to the ethnic Jews.
Abraham wasn't a Jew. Isaac wasn't a Jew. Really, we aren't talking about Jews, we are talking about people of faith. The land promises were to the faithful in the Messiah, people of faith and righteousness. Before the Messiah was revealed there were no parts of the faith that rejected the Messiah. After the Messiah was revealed in Christ Jesus, there are those that rejected the Christ and therefore fell outside of this election unless if God has destined them to come back in (like Saul to Paul).
There are a few things in play here. First, whether 100% of all ethnic Jews would be elected in the faith of righteousness.
Reigning from Jerusalem over all the nations for a thousand years.
Mt Zion, no?
You seem to be under the impression, that the ethnic Jews, who made up the beginning of the Church, were expecting the Church and not the coming Kingdom. This cannot be supported Biblically.
Except for the Church is just the election of people under the Messiah, which based on Heb 11, they were looking forward to. And based on Heb 11, the dead saints of the OT were looking forward to something better than physical land, and gave up the opportunity for the physical land described.
Historically, according to many sources, the ethnic Jew of Christ's ministry on earth, were expecting a Millennial Kingdom.
Secondary historical accounts are fallible. We're talking about what scripture says, which is inerrant.
They read and interpreted the Old Testament Prophecies as literal [... kingdom ... Acts 1:6-7 ... ] Perhaps, they misunderstood. God forbid! But let's explore this possibility.
If indeed they had misunderstood, then this was the perfect opportunity for out Lord to have corrected them.
Acts 1:6-7 bit answered above. The quick recap is that your logic here ignores the fact that Jesus' often spoke in an indirect manner on purpose:
"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." - Mat 13:10-13 KJV
So if one wishes to pursue this idea that the Kingdom has been given to the Church - they must be honest with the Scriptures and give proper interpretation and thus, explanation for what was asked and answered in Acts 1:6 & 7. Trying to explain it away, with other Scriptures, is not a good way to study and come to the Truth. Not saying you would do this.
Christ Jesus is the chosen Israel. Christ Jesus is the seed of the promises.
Through marriage two become one. Christ is the bridegroom to the Church.
The Church includes elect Israelites.