"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" (1st Peter 2: 9)
A Jew, Hebrew, or Israelite is a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Just because a person is born in the land of Israel, however, does not necessarily mean that that person is a Jew, or Hebrew, or Israelite: for a baby can be born in Israel without having Jewish parents.
People can also become Israeli citizens, but that does not change them to Jews, Hebrews, or Israelites.
Thirdly, people can convert to Judaism, but that does not change their bloodline, as if they are Jewish by birth, or children of the bloodline of Abraham: for people can choose to become members of the Jewish religion, but that does not mean they become Jews. In fact, people can join Judaism from nations outside of Israel, but that does not change their pedigree to Jewish.
Abraham was the first Hebrew. He was not born as a Hebrew, nor did he have Hebrew parents: for Abraham was chosen of God out of a land of darkness to become the father of a new nation, a nation not characterized by race or skin color, and a nation not made by human hands, but a nation created to be ambassadors of God, and a nation that would be unique among all nations---a one-of-a-kind.
For God said unto Abraham, "And I will make thy seed as dust of the earth: so if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." (Genesis 13: 16) and again, "I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (Genesis 17: 6)
Later, God reaffirmed the covenant He made with Abraham by saying unto Moses, "ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19: 5-6)
Jesus said,
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you...." (John 15: 16)
Like Abraham, Christians are a chosen people of God, or a new nation of people, unique upon the earth---a one-of-a-kind.
Just as Abraham was not born a Jew, nor are we born as Christians, but are born again of the Spirit of God because of the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus. (John 3: 3)
But unlike the Jews that were given the land of Israel, Christians do not have a land that is called the land of the Christians: for we are a nation without borders: a nation of pilgrims, living in and passing through this world in which we live, so that this world is not our home: constantly looking to and pressing forth to reach "a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2nd Corinthians 5: 1)
As a nation without borders, we are a mixed multitude, but not characterized by race, nor by skin color, and we dwell among people in nations of darkness.
We are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;" called out of darkness because of Christ, "the light of the world".
Like Abraham, Christians have been called out.
Like Abraham, Christians have been chosen.
Like Abraham, Christians are the children of God and no longer children of darkness.
The Christian Nation, therefore, is a nation of people.
We are a nation without a country, and a nation without geographical boundaries: for the Gospel of Christ is not limited to certain people, nor to people of certain nations.
We are a nation not limited by race, nor by the color of skin.
We are a nation guided by the light of Christ, and not a nation guided by the light of darkness.
Just as Abraham detached himself from the land of his nativity, we also detach ourselves from the lands of our own nativities as we also detach ourselves from the world system in which we live, for we know that we are pilgrims and simply passing through,
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2)
A Jew, Hebrew, or Israelite is a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Just because a person is born in the land of Israel, however, does not necessarily mean that that person is a Jew, or Hebrew, or Israelite: for a baby can be born in Israel without having Jewish parents.
People can also become Israeli citizens, but that does not change them to Jews, Hebrews, or Israelites.
Thirdly, people can convert to Judaism, but that does not change their bloodline, as if they are Jewish by birth, or children of the bloodline of Abraham: for people can choose to become members of the Jewish religion, but that does not mean they become Jews. In fact, people can join Judaism from nations outside of Israel, but that does not change their pedigree to Jewish.
Abraham was the first Hebrew. He was not born as a Hebrew, nor did he have Hebrew parents: for Abraham was chosen of God out of a land of darkness to become the father of a new nation, a nation not characterized by race or skin color, and a nation not made by human hands, but a nation created to be ambassadors of God, and a nation that would be unique among all nations---a one-of-a-kind.
For God said unto Abraham, "And I will make thy seed as dust of the earth: so if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." (Genesis 13: 16) and again, "I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (Genesis 17: 6)
Later, God reaffirmed the covenant He made with Abraham by saying unto Moses, "ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19: 5-6)
Jesus said,
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you...." (John 15: 16)
Like Abraham, Christians are a chosen people of God, or a new nation of people, unique upon the earth---a one-of-a-kind.
Just as Abraham was not born a Jew, nor are we born as Christians, but are born again of the Spirit of God because of the love and grace of God in Christ Jesus. (John 3: 3)
But unlike the Jews that were given the land of Israel, Christians do not have a land that is called the land of the Christians: for we are a nation without borders: a nation of pilgrims, living in and passing through this world in which we live, so that this world is not our home: constantly looking to and pressing forth to reach "a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2nd Corinthians 5: 1)
As a nation without borders, we are a mixed multitude, but not characterized by race, nor by skin color, and we dwell among people in nations of darkness.
We are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;" called out of darkness because of Christ, "the light of the world".
Like Abraham, Christians have been called out.
Like Abraham, Christians have been chosen.
Like Abraham, Christians are the children of God and no longer children of darkness.
The Christian Nation, therefore, is a nation of people.
We are a nation without a country, and a nation without geographical boundaries: for the Gospel of Christ is not limited to certain people, nor to people of certain nations.
We are a nation not limited by race, nor by the color of skin.
We are a nation guided by the light of Christ, and not a nation guided by the light of darkness.
Just as Abraham detached himself from the land of his nativity, we also detach ourselves from the lands of our own nativities as we also detach ourselves from the world system in which we live, for we know that we are pilgrims and simply passing through,
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2)
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