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NASB | 2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. |
Subject: Lionstrong, maybe this will clarify... |
Bible Note: Dear Lionstrong, please don't take this as a confrontation, brother. But I do not believe that the church is the New Testament Israel. I know that some Christians do. That's OK. But from what I have studied, I feel that Israel is primarily a nation and believers are Christ's body. Yes, the Jews were (and still are) God's chosen people. God chose them as the only nation in the pagan world to proclaim Him and His righteousness as the one true God. And, yes, believers are a holy, chosen people. Are their similarities between Israel and the church? Yes. But there are also major differences. Though Israel was God's chosen nation, on a personal level, theirs is a story of human failure to keep God's commandments and follow Him. We, as believers, are all members of Christ's body and are no longer under the Mosaic law. We are under the agape law of love in Christ. Some people believe that every promise that God made to Israel as a nation has a NT counterpart to the Christian. I, personally, do not believe that. Hebrews says that we have 'better' promises. God is no longer building a nation. God is building His bride. God did not dwell in the average Irsaelite. God does dwell in us. And God is not finished with the nation of Israel. The day will come when Israel, as a nation, recognizes and turns to Jesus Christ as her true Messiah. Lionstrong, if you'd like to discuss this indepth, then click on my profile and email me. But I do not see the church as a modern Israel. Israel's story is one of turning away from God time and again (so would I except for His grace) and she tried to establish her own righteousness through the flesh. She eventually crucified her own Savior. So I don't believe that she should be a pattern for the church. We already have a pattern - His name is Jesus Christ and we are His body and bride. To answer your question directly: No, I do not believe that this verse directly applies to the church. Why? Because, as the true church, in order to come to Christ we must humble ourselves (Jesus said 'as children'). We DO pray, we do not need to seek His face (He is inside us). We have turned from our wicked and unbelieving ways. And God did hear and answer our prayers. In the fullness of time God sent His Son to take away our sins. He accomplished this on the cross. He HAS FORGIVEN our sins. It is finished! It is not faith to pray for something that God has already accomplished. Faith is saying, "Thank You!" Peace, Bill Mc |