The only way it makes sense

[marie glen]

In Acts 15, concerning the gentile converts - deciding questions about gentile believers, as many were being saved. In that meeting, apostle James quoted the prophet Amos as pertaining to the question at hand.. [Acts 15:16,17]

16 'After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear My name,
says the Lord who does these things

Is Israel a microcosm if the big picture? An example..

"And All Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:26)

Always God said, there would be a remnant of faithful in Israel. A little (remnant, Hebrew -) leaven, will leaven the whole lump.

Through the centuries of the Old Testament, it must have been that the continual sacrificial offerings were saying Israel's sins were covered and she was, as the saying became, saved (from death, the blood of the sacrifices delivering them from death, represented by the angel of death in Egypt).

"And all Israel will be saved."

Acts 15, as we know, is the true first council of the 'church'. Deciding questions about gentile believers, as many were being saved.

The Tabernacle of David - for meeting with God, which had fallen to ruin, God was rebuilding. Jesus came only to (the lost sheep of) Israel. But now, the hut/tabernacle rebuilt, the rest/residue and "remnant" of mankind may seek the Lord!

It's the same declaration as the blood of the OT sacrifices.. If anything much stronger, much better. ("If sin abounded, grace abounds much more..") ..."And so all.. will be saved."

(State of the not yet saved.. they haven't signed the contract yet?) It's like if I owed a huge debt to a big bank (major). And I was sort of in hiding.. defaulting on my debt and dreading the day they catch up with me. But in the meantime a great and wonderful friend paid my huge debt in full. Unknown to me the debt is totally taken out of the books! And in my friend's mind, it's a free gift.

But I don't know about all that! So I am still keeping a low profile, living in the shadows, and fearing the day of the call to court, when my judgment papers are served..

[Ross]

In the ages to come there will no longer be Jew, Greek, Scythian, barbarian..... all will be in Christ.
For me, now, this seems to indicate when the resurrection takes place the people in the equation will be similar to the ratio of Jews to gentiles which is in this age. So the people, though many, will be amongst other spiritual beings of greater number.

Interesting side line about the sacrifices- they know the need a temple, still do not have one so cannot sacrifice. They have all the people ready to go when they can agree about the location of the temple site. They are still looking. Ironically cannot find that till the appointed time.

As for our sins I live in and love the point made in Colossians.

Col 2;13-15 " And although you WERE dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
                    GOD MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST.
                     HE FORGAVE US ALL OUR TRANSGRESSIONS,
                    HAVING CANCELLED THE CERTIFICATE OF DEBT WITH IT'S LEGAL DEMANDS AGAINST US,
                    WHICH WAS HOSTILE TO US.
                    HE HAS TAKEN IT AWAY BY NAILING IT TO THE CROSS.
                    HE HAS STRIPPED THE PRINICPALITIES AND THE POWERS OF THEIR AUTHORITY AND DISGRACED THEM IN PUBLIC
                    BY TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN CHRIST."

Before we were born, planned before the world began, seems pretty inclusive of all creation.

[marie glen]

Amen!

   ..Especially -

Before we were born, planned before the world began, seems pretty inclusive of all creation.

Amen, that seems very logical! :thumbsup:

[Ross]

P.S the "nailing to the cross" would explain why Christ was literally nailed to the cross not just tied like others were tied.
He was also pierced so that the significance of the water and the blood highlighted He paid for us spiritually as well as the flesh.
Totally covered in all regards.

[Ross]

Unknown to me the debt is totally taken out of the books! And in my friend's mind, it's a free gift.

100% paid. Grace is unmerited/unearned favour.
I.M.O divine revelation is what points out the depth of the provision and completeness of the work of Christ.
After all; as far as the east is from the west so are our sins in His sight.