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Hoekstra: The Truth Promised to Set Us Free

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The following blog post is taken from Bob Hoekstra’s popular devotional Day By Day By Grace. For previous posts in this series, click here.

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31-32)

As we have seen, the Holy Spirit is promised as our guide into all the truths of God’s word. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). A related promise assures us that this truth will have a liberating impact upon our lives. “The truth shall make you free.” This promise of spiritual liberation through the truths of God’s word is such a vital one for man, because various forms of spiritual bondage threaten us all.

Everyone needs liberation from bondage to sin.

Those who first heard this promise of Jesus needed instruction on this. “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’? Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin'” (John 8:33-34). This “whoever” includes us all, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, we can all praise God that His liberating truth can set us free from the bondage to sin. All who trust in the Lord Jesus are justified from their sins (declared righteous in God’s sight) through the redemption price of the blood of Christ: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation [satisfactory payment for sin] by His blood, through faith” (Romans 3:24-25).

The fear of death is another bondage from which people need liberation.

Hebrews speaks of those “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:15). What a tormenting bondage is the fear of death! Yet, Jesus’ liberating truth can deal with this bondage as well. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). All who believe in the one who is resurrection life will live forever. Even if they should experience physical death, the grave has no grip on them. In fact, though their bodies may go into a tomb, they would go immediately into the presence of the Lord. “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

One fundamental area where people need spiritual liberation is bondage from the enemy.

The entire realm of unbelieving humanity lies under the binding influence of the evil one. “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). Even those unbelievers who do not accept the truths of God about Satan and sin are nonetheless captivated by him. Consequently, we are to humbly reach out to them with the truth: “in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Paul was sent forth to proclaim the gospel truth that offers freedom from such bondage: “to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). The testimony of all who believe in the truth of the gospel is this: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13).

The problem of Satan’s binding, hindering, restricting influence did not end at salvation. Many saints (though headed for heaven) are still bound in areas of their thinking and behaving. They are still influenced by the enemy’s lies. They cannot make the liberating confession of Paul and his missionary team: “we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Ignorance of the enemy’s tactics will persist in the lives of those who do not know (or will not yield to) God’s liberating truth. On the other hand, all who are willing to embrace the truths of God’s word will enjoy more and more freedom from the enemy’s lies. They will grow in understanding of, and reliance upon, the victorious purposes of Jesus’ coming to this earth. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 )

Another category of liberating truth: truth to deliver us from the law.

This issue pertains to everyone initially, because we all begin under bondage to the law. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). Everyone who has ever lived, is living now, or will live in the days to come (“all the world”) is initially held in a state of condemnation (“guilty before God”), because of their sin. This guilty condition would persist for a lifetime, if God did not supply a remedy. “The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives.” However, this condition need not persist, because the Lord’s word proclaims liberating truth for this drastic need. “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by.”

The person we were at physical birth died on the cross with Christ, when we believed in Him. The new creature in Christ now stands justified by faith in Christ (not by law performance). “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified [declared not guilty, pronounced righteous in Christ] by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

All of God’s children have experienced these liberating truths, as they apply to justification (our eternal righteous standing before God in heaven). However, many of God’s people are unaware of deliverance from the bondage of the law concerning sanctification (our daily growth in personal, practical godliness on earth). This matter is repeatedly addressed in the word of God. Here, in one of our primary verses for meditation, we see these truths given a sanctification implication. “Now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” Yes, understanding the truth of deliverance from the law determines whether we will struggle in bondage to law performance, or live freely by the ongoing, fresh work of the Spirit of God.

Dear God of truth, I rejoice in the freedom that comes through Your truth! Thank You for setting me free from the bondage of condemnation and judgment that I deserved because of my sin. I praise You for liberation from the fear of death. May I live victoriously by these truths and pass them on to others who need to be set free, in Your holy name, Amen.

Comments

  1. Amen. A blessed teaching and prayer.

    God, in His mercy is always good to keep His promises. And His promises are kept in and through the person and Lord Jesus Christ.

    In Christ
    Mark H NZ.

  2. Jer 17:14
    Chris, these comments by Bob Hoekstra for August 1st and 2nd may be the 2 most relevant postings that I have seen with BLB. I do not disparage the glory of the Gospels that are the word of God yet without the truth imparted by the Holy Spirit and understanding of responsible freedom that only is in Jesus many do not drink but only sip from the Water of Life. God has a people for His Name. His Word is above all His Name because it delivers comprehension of His Name. In like manner these comments from pastor Hoekstra remove stops hindering acceptance of the truth of God. The Holy Spirit begins constructon of His church in Acts. The epistles, the letters further this construction. They demonstrate the Holy Spirit within the apostles. Without Jesus, without the Holy Spirit, without the Father we are nothing. The Father is life and that life for us comes from Jesus Christ.

    • Bobby,

      NT / Replacement Theology do not work when all the Scripture is taken into account and applied, that is why these theologies must eliminate or ignore the OT. The use of the word “yet” in your comment does disparage the Good News (Gospels) and the rest of the WOG. Scripture interprets scripture that is what the Holy Spirit is given for as HE helps us to understand and apply the whole WOG to our lives when given over to HIM. Eliminating, ignoring or redefining the LAW to mean what we want will lead to living as we want and not how HE wants. It also leaves us with no measuring line to go by, so we are left with deciding for ourselves (with or without the Spirit of YEHWEH),what is sin or what is not sin, 2Ti 4:3 HNV. And opens doors for some sort of Spiritual Elite to help those who – how did you put it – “do not drink but only sip from the Water of Life”. Dangerous road to follow.

      J.

      • Mat 12:3-8, Mar 2:15-28, Rom 7:6, 8:2-4, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:16-26, Mat 3:15, iJo 2:27
        The anointing, the infilling, God in us is does the work.

        • 1Jo 2;27, 1Cr 13,
          The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is in us who are in the Father. We are new creatures 2Cr 5:17, Gal 6:15
          We are buried with Him in baptism. We are born again.

          • Luk 22:32, Luk 24:49, Jhn 14, Act 2

            Clearly the astonishments and misunderstandings of the apostles behavior in the gospels is converted, is changed through the promise of God, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

      • Rev 20:1-7

        Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

        Rev 20:2
        He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is [the] Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
        Rev 20:3
        and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
        Rev 20:4
        And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a [fn] thousand years.
        Rev 20:5
        But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
        Rev 20:6
        Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
        Rev 20:7
        Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

      • the Apostles lived the gospels but they were not converted until the infilling of the Holy Spirit. the things of God cannot be understood by human reasoning. the Spirit of God is necessary to drink the water of life; the difference between the Old and New Testaments.

          • Steve,
            If I’m following what you want to say and correct me if I’m not because you only converse in scripture verses that make it possible to miss your point.

            The word “Convert” as a verb has many definitions including the def. it has as a noun.

            As a noun it can mean – One who has been converted, especially from one religion or belief to another.

            Experiencing rebirth (born again) as described by Yeshua in Jhn 3:3 HNV is best described as a “Regeneration” speaking of our human being spirits from “death” to “life”, no communion to communion, no relationship to relationship. No religion involved here or in Life in Yeshua.

            I desired some clarification from Bob D.

            Also, the WOG can be, must be understood by human reasoning. The words are plain to read and understand no matter what language they are translated into. In fact, it takes human reasoning to translate scripture from one language to another. We would not have what we do have to read if not for it. This is why Saints such as Johannes Gutenberg, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale who in his case was murdered by the RCC for holding true to the Hebrew and Greek original text and for providing a way for “common folk” to not have to rely on, let’s say “spiritual elite” to explain the WOG to us. That is a very dangerous road to follow and history shows it.

            J.

        • It is as impossible to understand the Scriptures without the Spirit’s help as it is to read a sundial without the sun. ~William Gurnall

          • Here’s a quote from history,

            “I wish and I ask that our rulers who have Jewish subjects exercise a sharp mercy toward these wretched people, as suggested above, to see whether this might not help (though it is doubtful). They must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in, proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins, bone, and marrow. Such a procedure must also be followed in this instance. Burn down their synagogues, forbid all that I enumerated earlier, force them to work, and deal harshly with them, as Moses did in the wilderness, slaying three thousand lest the whole people perish. They surely do not know what they are doing; moreover, as people possessed, they do not wish to know it, hear it, or learn it. There it would be wrong to be merciful and confirm them in their conduct. If this does not help we must drive them out like mad dogs, so that we do not become partakers of their abominable blasphemy and all their other vices and thus merit God’s wrath and be damned with them. I have done my duty. Now let everyone see to his. I am exonerated. ”
            Guess who wrote it? The author is of the book “The Jews & Their Lies”, look it up.
            I’ll give you a hint – it’s not Adolf Hitler.

            J.

            P.s. Quote: “Either we think for ourselves, or others will think for us.” Author: Not specified.

  5. Steve,

    Again, if I’m following what you want to say and correct me if I’m not because you only converse in scripture verses that make it possible to miss your point and have a conversation with you.

    All that the LORD speaks to HIS followers as “promised” thru HIS SON and SPIRIT can be found in Jer 31:31-34 HNV. Please note who the two parties the New Covenant is cut with. IT IS OFFERED TO ALL (INCLUDING MYSELF BECAUSE I’M NOT JEWISH) through Yeshua’s obedience to the FATHER, but there are only two parties mentioned in the New Covenant. Christians and the Church are not in it and are misinterpreting it as their own covenant with GOD, but that is not what Jer 31:31-34 HNV says.

    J.

    • The reference to Jer 31:31-34 observes that the blindness in part will be removed and Israel will come to worship the Father as He directs. There was no mention of a new covenant. Israel must accept Messiah, they too must be born again. There is no offense that the gentiles who believe have been blessed with salvation for the Father seeks such to worship Him. The New Testament is revelation of the promise, the Holy Spirit, God in us.

      • I meant to say that there is no mention of a New Covenant with gentiles. The actions of the authorities, Nicodemus and Peter reveal they were of a different mind than the Father. Peter eventually grew into union with the will of the Father through the prayers of Jesus and the edification and instruction of the Spirit of God. Israel, Judah will eventually be born again, the New Covenant.

        • I’ve found there is a consistent thread with the false teaching of Replacement Theology in that any scripture that is uplifting and has a positive tone is for Christians and any scripture that is condemning and with a curse applied is for the Jews.

          I see you avoid answering my simple question – converted to what?

          J.

        • Peter converted from his preconceptions and culteral behaviors into conformity with the will of the Father. The apparant disconnect is recognition of Messiah, reconcilliation with the Father and the promise of the Holy Spirit to whosoever will.

        • Thank you. No need to make the answer to a simple question complicated though. I thought you were going to say “Christian” and decided not to be so forthcoming.

          A “Messiah” huh? Something unknown to a “Greek” of Peter’s time, Act 17:16-33 HNV. A Messiah is a Hebrew concept and the Promised Messiah that we follow is only found in the Hebrew culture, unless we want to re-write what race of human beings HE is from (Replacement Theology). Peter’s conceptions and behavior was in fully in line with a Messiah even before he meet HIM face to face, as were all the Jews that followed “The Way”, Luk 7:19-23 HNV.

          There was no “disconnect” as you say. From Peter’s time and before, unless they were forced not to, Yom Kippur was practiced and in full affect and by the FATHERS GRACE the nation of Israel was forgiven of their sins. As long as any Jew was obedient to Torah the FATHER kept HIS side of the covenant, even though some Jews did not there was always a faithful remnant, 1Ki 19:18 HNV.

          Replacement Theology is anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism is anti-Christ.

          J.

          P.s. Do you agree with Replacement Theology?

        • The term, Replacement Theology seems to obstruct scripture. The term,”Replacement Theology” has accused commenters of things they have not said or implied. Replacement Theology is not found in the Word of God. Replacement Theology does appear to reject Jesus.

        • Thanks for the reply, not that you have to explain yourself to me. You can ignore me.
          What you write is well and good, but my question concerns you. Do YOU agree with it?

          Up or down question – Does the Church replace Israel in any way, spiritually, for a time or for eternity?

          J.

        • Here is a simple reply then Jerry. Refer to all the scriptures offered in reply to your questions that precede this entry as they are more relevant than anything that I may say. Personally, I do not have a use for the term that you seek to legitimize.

        • Jerry, what does He who comes in the Name of the Lord ask? Does the New Testament fulfill the Old Testament, yes. Is the New Testament in place now, yes. There is no physical temple instead our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1Cr 6:19
          God has put His laws in our minds and in our hearts. Heb 8.

        • Thanks again.

          First comment, the term does exist and is legitimate as far as the term itself goes. It exists as a False Teaching and my intent and purpose is to expose it as such, not legitimize it. I want the teaching and its promotion to stop being accepted as a viable theology. Pretending it’s not there does not make it go away, in this case at least.

          Second comment, the word Testament is a poor translation of the Hebrew word Brit “covenant” is more in line with the Hebrew concept. Testament as in “Last Will and Testament” does not apply here. There is no written “will” for an arbitrator to read by.

          “New Covenant” (berit “chadash”) would serve for better understanding if read as “renewed covenant” as in marriage vows.

          Compare Jer 31:31 HNV English word “new” (Hebrew word “chadash”) with for example Psa 103:5 HNV, Psa 104:30 HNV, Lev 5:21 HNV, BLB can help with this. You will find the same Hebrew word “chadash” translated to English as “renewed”. You see when a translator does his most necessary work there is an inherent amount of “interpretation” that must be done. This is why knowing the “backdrop” of the culture (Hebrew / Jewish) in the case of Bible translation is valuable. We should read the entire WOG from this perspective. Replacement Theology replaces Israel and if that is the case (not) what I describe above cannot be done and what is inserted is just someone’s interpretation removed from the concepts of the original culture. And that is a very dangerous road.

          But we will see for sure when HE comes again. Thanks’ for your time on this.

          J

    • Jesus Christ is my LORD ans Savior. What have I written to make you think otherwise?
      J.

      • That would be a true and honest statement Steve. Is there anything that I’ve written that gives you reason to think otherwise?
        J.

  6. Jerry S,
    The Jews and Their Lies was written by Martin Luther. It’s amazing to me that someone so well versed in the bible could have had such hatred in his heart for God’s chosen people. It should also give us pause about following church fathers rather than studying scripture on our own with the help of the Holy Spirit.

    Martin Luther was heavily influenced by the state. His was a time of state sanctioned religion. Although he did a lot to advance reformation he backed off and did not go far enough. He could not, for instance, preach from the pulpit about the worlds evil rulers since they were his employer. He either created or supported the Sethite view of Genesis 6 regarding the fallen angels. Satan was very successful in the early church.

    • “state sanctioned religion.” is my concern in the times ahead. Rev 16:13 HNV.

      Luther is also the father of “Sola fide”.

      J.

      • I’m sorry Augustine was who I was thinking of.

        Sola fide is historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

        I think Paul hammers this as true in Romans 9, Romans 10, and Romans 11.

        Do you disagree with Paul, and if so why?

      • I feel like there will be a state sanctioned religion during the tribulation but that it will be a “In place of Christ” religion.

        Do you feel there are other ways to salvation other than Christ? Jesus clearly says there are not.

        Hebrews 9:12; John 14:6; Galatians 3:3; Galatians 6:12; Hebrews 9:12

        • By the LORDS providence I was checking on a conversation I has having with Steve M. and saw your questions. I’m going to use bullet points in an attempt to answer them with clarity and with brevity but not in order of your asking.

          1)Tess, I’ve written too many times that the absolute only thing that redeems, justifies, saves, welcomes us as believers into YAHWEH’s presence is Yeshuas BLOOD shed for all mankind for you to ask if I thinks there is another way to salvation. Flag thrown here! (Football metaphor).

          2)I’m glad you picked up on where I was going with “Sola fide”, a traditional teaching that is an inevitable result if Replacement Theology is followed as truth (not!) when taking into account Luther’s book.

          3)I agree with Paul whole heartedly, in the case the book of Romans, it was written by Paul for the purposes of combating Replacement Theology that was becoming prevalent in Rome; this is a well documented fact. Chapters 9, 10 and 11 make the strongest argument in Paul’s cause against this false teaching. Using “NKJV” (BLB), just look at all the foot notes listing verses from TaNaK that Paul uses. Try reading these chapters with that in mind, in that Paul is reciting to a “nations” from Hebrew scriptures what pertains to both Hebrews and the nations as always intended in TaNaK in an attempt to relay the “Good News” as originally and always intended from TaNaK. Gentile believers are not to think of ourselves too highly and in replacement of those “Jewish Liars” to quote Martin Luther, Rom 11:17-31 HNV. These writings that are often labeled as “new” or “Pauline” to the “non-low church” crowd, if you follow them, but they are not new, it’s just that they have to be “new” to fit into the religious dogma of Christian church tradition.

          4)Concerning Paul, read the story found in Acts 21 HNV, specifically Act 21:18 HNV. Before I start, “James” was not his name; it is in English “Jacob” or pronounced in Hebrew “Yaakov”. The King of England had the name changed to his, also plastering his name on the front cover after co-opting 90% of Tyndale’s translation after William Tyndale was murdered by the Church for holding to the original Hebrew, (that should get the KJV’ers upset). Back to Acts 21 HNV, here Paul is subjecting himself to “James” leader of the Community (qāhal) of Believers in Jerusalem. James (Yeshua’s physical brother) not Peter or Paul lead the early believers of “The Way”. Paul’s actions here show that Paul was submissive to James. That said, The Epistle of James, without any room for argument, explicitly ties “faith” to “works”. Our “faith” is bourn out of our “works” and verifies to the Judge, Mat 25:19 HNV that what we say is genuine. As in wedding vows at the alter need to be shown true by the behavior, deeds, acts, “works” of those who vowed in and during the course of time.

          There is a consistent thread in Replacement Theology in that any scripture verse containing a negative connotation applies to Israel and any scripture verse that has a positive connotation must be for the Church. I’ve written this before to Bob D.

          That’s enough now I’m tired of writing. Not very brief, I pray I was clear.

          J.

          • Thanks Jerry and please forgive me the gaff. You HAVE as you rightly point out ALWAYS affirmed Christ’s shed blood on the cross as our salvation.

            I beleive faith and works are inseperable. You cannot have one without the other or both are illegitamit. I would like to point out however that works are a.product of faith not the other way around. I know in my own life I struggled many years attempting to prove my faith by my works and always failed. When I reaized that it was my faith that was weak and I realigned my perspective I began to realize that with faith at the forfront works not only followed but they actually had more strength. My faith lead to empowerment and the difference was astounding.

            I totally agree with you about Replacement Theology and the evil behind it. when the church married the world satan divided the strength of both Jews and Christians. Dave Hunts book A Woman Rides The Beast is a must read which every Christian would greatly benift from. I believe we are living in the days the bible speaks about and that the increase of knowldge spoken of is in part a veil being lifted in this regard as well as in other areas. We may think RP does not.happen within the church today but we would be wrong. It does and will very shortly come to a climax as we see the world turn its back once again on the Jewish people. i would also like to add that the average believer is willfully ignorant about the Jewish Lord they follow. How can we speak with authority and help shed the light that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah to anyone if.we do not comit to know all about Him. i was VERY dissapointed in our churches when this revelation was given to me and OH how much deeper and fuller my relationship grew with Him when I found Him on every page of the bible and began a indepth study to know the OT.

            Remember dear brother that RP is satans plot to keep us from seeing his next step. I dont worry nearly as much about Israel as I do about us. Be not deceived……knowing OT and NT is the only way to do that. I so wish our churches would wake up to that fact.

            I’m not sure.however what tangable message you are attempting to relay. What outcome are you looking for? bring it home bro!

          • Jhn 17
            The OT is our source for this precious faith. Paul who could wish himself accursed for his brethren, his kinsmen of the flesh acknowledged their unbelief and blindness. Paul was not speaking RT. The history of Israel, Judah does have glory yet more travail, We stand on the stone the builders rejected, our rock and salvation. This is what Peter converted to. The NT has the promise that is more positive than the OT. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit now, He does not dwell in a place accessible only by priests. This is a time of rejoicing that the OT could only look for and awaits the awakening of the people for His Name. Faith does the work of the Father. There is no work that any of us could do sufficient for the inverse. What is the work of the Father? Salvation, savior, Jesus

          • What glory is there in the bloody mess of animal sacrifice? The glory is the Lamb who has the keys of death and hell, the Glory of God.

          • Jerry, I have a baccalaureate degree summa cum laude in business from William Tyndale College. Just tired of contortions to legitimize the illegitimate, false innuendo, and word play. It is not something that should be mentioned in this forum. I am not offering this to brag. However, it is deceitful to attribute to another person that which you have accused yet not established. You may ask me directly and it may be significant enough for a reply or not but you slander a person with false attribution.

  7. Bob, Steve… lighten up! Haven’t you both walked with Yeshua long enough to know HE has a sense of humor? Even if HE doesn’t own a college degree, ba doom… ouch.

    Or, don’t you know that opinions are like sins, everybody has them, ba dang…

    Looking (and laughing, if you can) at ourselves is the very first step the SPIRIT of GOD uses on us in recognizing ourselves as sinners in need of a savior (“savior” is the English translation of H3068, H3467, H3091). Having thin skin is not a good thing, especially looking toward the future we have before us.

    To the point(s) at hand,

    Steve, this will have to be the last time I ask YOU. What particularly have I written that either YOU don’t understand or don’t agree with? Unless YOU tell ME there is NOT much more I can do to HELP YOU understand. As far as I KNOW, we have NEVER met FACE to FACE, so you have NO KNOWLEDGE of anything that makes up who I MAY BEING as I stand before I AM (play on words there, if you missed it, this is done in scripture all the time). And, that being the case, all that YOU write about or directed at ME could only be summed up as YOUR OPINION. Communicating with OTHERS in Bible verses as much as ANYONE can is not going to PREVENT YOU from YOUR OPINION.

    Bobby, you provide me with some of the best discourse on the blog. Must be your “super human thinking” going up against my ‘Lower Church” mentality (you write this stuff, not me). Paul is not reciting Replacement Theology, that’s my point if you missed it. The verses you cite and present are being read from a NT / Replacement Theology perspective. Try reading those scripture verses without casting off “the entire Hebrew race”, because the “entire Hebrew race” is not the message being relayed in the SPIRIT (of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Israel) inspired, entire WOG, Rom 11:5 HNV. Scripture interprets scripture, nothing added, nothing removed.

    J.

    P.s. Bob, I like the smile you have in your photo. And I’ll remind you that neither of you need to reply to my comments.

    • Oh, Hahahahah you were only jesting. We do live with what we say. Now maybe we do not need to be ruffed up by a William Tyndale innuendo anymore. Hey, maybe you could take your foot off the RT throttle too since it does not apply. I’m sure that this Bob is not pleasant for most visitors who seek biblical discussions only to see personal tit for tats. This is the end of replying to matters between persons in comments that I submit here. Smiling is great therapy so that we do not obsess over our inadequacy before our Father. We are only safe because God loves those who believe in the efficacy of His loving Blood.