"So let me know if, and when we could start studying Jeremiah to see what is meant in Hebrews 8:8-12, where these verses originated from."
Hi Steve,
I love the Word of God and I lvoe to study it. My greatest pleasures in life are: worshipping the Lord, preaching the Gospel, ministering to people and studying and discussing God's Word. It is great that you want to study Jeremiah 31. Before we begin, however, I think I need to clarify a few points concerning my approach to studying the Bible.
The Holy Spirit and the New Testament are the only infallible guides to understanding the Old Test. The New Testament was given for the salvation and enlightenment of future generations.
In the light of this, it seems that your above statement is backwards. We studied Hebrews to understand Jeremiah 31 and not the other way around.
The prophecies of the Old Test. were obscure before Jesus clearly fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. Before the Cross, the prophecies refering to national Israel's redemption and restoration from Babylonian and Assyrian Captivity were understood somewhat but still confused because of the Messianic prophecies that awaited a future fulfillment. The Old Test. is illuminated by the New, and the New is contained in the Old. None of this was understood before Jesus.
There is one more major point that needs to be clarified before we continue in Jeremiah and Hebrews. I believe we hold somewhat different views concerning the true spiritual meaning of "Israel", or "Jew" etc. It appears that you make no distinction bewteen and Old Test. Jew and a modern Jew---leaving the New Testament Jew out of it for a moment.
I make a distinction between the modern Jew and the biblical Jew.
It will be very helpful if we identify this term carefully before we try to determine what the Scriptures are saving about the Jew both yesterday, today and tomorrow.
So far, we have agreed to the historical and physical meaning of the word Jew. In my next post, I will briefly trace the history and spiritual meaning of the word Jew beginning in the Old Test. and ending in the New.
May the Lord helps to glorify him in our studies and also edify ourselves and the readers. Praises and glory to the Lord now and forever. We love you heavenly Father, we glorify you and we raise the name of your son.
Love in Christ
Emile |
