Correspondence: Matt. 6:14-15, 18:34-35; Gospels, Israel/the Church Brides?

From: Young Christian: Volume 15, 1925

Matthew 6:14‑15; Matthew 18:34‑35 • 4 min. read • grade level: 7

Question: Please explain Matthew 6:14, 15¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14‑15); and 18:34, 35. W. I. C.

Answer: Matthew 6:14, 15¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14‑15), is governmental forgiveness which we all need day by day to keep us in communion with the Lord.

The Christian has eternal forgiveness besides, which was not known before the death of Christ (Heb. 10:14¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14); 1 John 2:12¹²I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)). We are always forgiven, but we would be unhappy if we did not exercise a forgiving spirit to others (Eph. 4:32³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)). We forgive because we have been forgiven.

Matthew 18:34, 35³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:34‑35), is the same principle, but here it is applied to Israel, who hated the Gentiles (see 1 Thess. 2:14-16¹⁴For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: ¹⁵Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: ¹⁶Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14‑16)), and are cast off for their behavior meantime, till all is paid. See Isaiah 40:1, 2¹Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. ²Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1‑2), for their restoration.

Question: How are the different gospels to be understood? M. C.

Answer: “The gospel of the Kingdom” is what was preached by John and Jesus and their disciples, and is the announcement to Jews and Gentiles that the King of Israel is about to set up His Kingdom. But Jesus was rejected and crucified, and is gone to the Father’s right hand, seated on the Father’s throne, from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.

During this period, since His rejection, “The gospel of the grace of God” is preached to every creature, and all who believe are the church, His body and His bride. It is also called the glorious gospel, or properly the gospel of the glory of Christ, because He is glorified, and those who believe it are called to share His heavenly glory.

When this period is ended, and the saints from Adam down are all raised and the living ones changed, and all caught up to be with the Lord, “The gospel of the Kingdom” will be again sent out to both Jews and Gentiles.

In Revelation 14:6, 7⁶And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ⁷Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6‑7), we find “The everlasting gospel” calling on all that dwell upon the earth to fear and worship God who made all things, the Creator God. This gospel of creation has been going forth ever since man was on the earth. Psalm 19:1-6¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. ²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. ³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. ⁴Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, ⁵Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. ⁶His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalm 19:1‑6), is creation’s testimony. When the hour of God’s judgment is at hand, this special testimony is sent to call the heathen from their idolatry to worship the Creator.

Question: Are Israel and the church both brides of Christ? M. S. L.

Answer: In Vol. 11 of “The Young Christian” (1921), page 334, you will find an answer to your question. I will add a few comparisons and contrasts between Israel and the church; both are kept distinct in Scripture.

Israel is called to inherit Canaan (Ex. 6:2-8²And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: ³And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. ⁴And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. ⁵And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. ⁶Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: ⁷And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord. (Exodus 6:2‑8)). The church’s call and inheritance is heavenly (Eph. 1; 1 Peter 1). Jehovah the great I Am is His name to Israel. He is made known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and we are children of the Father, members of the body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Lord Jesus is the King of Israel and the nations—they are His subjects. He is our Savior, Lord and Head and Bridegroom; we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We shall reign with Him.

The earthly people were chosen from the foundation of the world (Deut. 32:8⁸When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:8); Matt. 25:14¹⁴For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (Matthew 25:14)).

The heavenly saints, the church, were chosen before the foundation of the world (2 Tim. 1:9⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9); Titus 1:2²In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2); Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)).

Israel is now divorced and scattered out of their land.

The church is now being gathered, while Christ is on the Father’s throne. The marriage of the Lamb takes place in heaven, before Israel is restored on earth (Rev. 19). In Revelation 21:9⁹And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9) to 22:5 she reigns above, over Israel and the nations on earth. The church is seen in Revelation 21:2²And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) in heavenly glory: (that is eternity), and Israel and the nations are called “men.” There is no distinction seen between them then. The church is composed of saved Jews and Gentiles, and is caught up to her home in heaven.

Israel, now scattered, are to be regathered into Canaan.

Jerusalem is the bride, or Queen of Psalm 45; and Song of Solomon.

The church began after Christ died, and the Holy Spirit came down.

Israel’s restoration will be a time of joy on earth as many prophecies tell us.

The church is never mentioned in the Old Testament. It was hid in God and never revealed till Paul the apostle was used to unfold it. (Rom. 16:25, 26²⁵Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, ²⁶But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:25‑26); Eph. 3:4-9⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; ⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. ⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; ⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:4‑9)).

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