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NASB | Romans 11:25 ¶ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 11:25 ¶ I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God's previously hidden plan]--so that you will not be wise in your own opinion--that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; |
Bible Question:
Most Christians I meet talk in terms of mankind going to be with God. But the Bible always speaks in terms of God desiring to make His dwelling with mankind. It is a subtle point, but an important one to look into, I believe. It is not simply being with God -- the direction is important. How many people picture us being in Heaven with God and singing worship songs all day in white clothes? Oh, and don't forget that personal mansion that we are all suppose to have. In reading the Bible we are presented with a picture of God seeking to dwell with mankind. The whole purpose of the Temple, sacrifices, and Law of Moses was to paint a picture of a holy, loving, merciful God seeking to be among His people. The New Testament continues this picture with the Messiah being with us, and then Revelation speaking in the same language. When we in our language flip this direction we are in danger of developing theological beliefs that are contrary to reality. How would our understandings of God and therefore our actions change if we thought primarily of God coming down to dwell among us? |
Bible Answer: The phrases only appear to be contradictory. Our grandson speaks of "Going to grrandma's house." (Apparently I'm just an ancilliary figure in his mind.) At four years of age he is unable to take himself to our house. In the same way, we can speak with great delight at "going to be with the Lord." We lack the ability to get there by on our own. However, our meaning is sitll clear. You are right that God desires to make His dwelling place with man. He provides the new heaven and earth where that will occur, the temple made without hands, and the building materials by which it will be made. It is entirely His doing from start to finish. Nevertheless, I'm excited about going to be with the Lord. :-) By the way, idioms do this kind of thing all the time. For example, we talk about "the sun rising" when we know perfectly well that this is not what is physically taking place. |