Building Jerusalem Part II

Building Jerusalem Part II

Psalm 147:2-3

The Lord doth build Jerusalem: he gathereth together the out casts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

In part I it was stated that the Jerusalem here under consideration is the Jerusalem which is above, the heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26). It is that Jerusalem which the Lord doth continually build up by adding “to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47). It was also pointed out that the out casts are, of Israel; that is, they are the spiritual seed of Abraham and the seed of Israel, being the children of the everlasting covenant of grace (Hebrews 2:16 considered with Galatians 3:16 and 29; Isaiah 45:25; II Samuel 23:5). They who are of this Israel are outcasts from the world, because hated for the truth they hold, (John 15:18). And it is evident that the Lord buildeth this Jerusalem by gathering the out casts together, that is, in Christ.

The out casts are gathered together in Christ Jesus, these out casts have been sanctified (set apart: see Exodus 13:2 and compare with Ex. 13:12) in Christ Jesus from everlasting by the Fathers eternal decree of election of grace (Jude 1; I Corinthians 1:2) having chosen the objects of His love in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4; Jeremiah 31:3). They have been set apart in Christ, as members of His body which is the church (I Corinthians 12:12, 13, Ephesians 5:30, Colossians 1:18) and in time, according to the faithfulness of God, they are gathered together in vital union of life; which union is manifested by faith in Christ, In whom they have fellowship with the Father and the Son. (John 10:28; I John 5:11; 1:3).  These who are, of the world out cast, are gathered together in one body in Christ, for “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) There is but one faith common to this body of believers, and that faith is called the doctrine of Christ (II John 9) and that truth is presented in the gospel. Therefore those only who adhere to this doctrine are of the one body of Christ for it is written “ Whosoever transgresseth, and  abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bideth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (II John 9-11).

He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel: The Father draws His own, whom he had sanctified in Christ before the foundation of the world to Christ Jesus, for “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44). And no one comes to Christ unless it is given him of God “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given him of my Father.” (John 6:65). Our Lord Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). They to whom it is given of the Father, to come to the Father, do come to the Father: in and by Jesus Christ and only in that way and no other. These to whom it is given of the Father to come to the Father in Christ must be washed in the blood of Christ, freed from sin by Christ and made perfectly holy in the Fathers sight before they are allowed to approach the Living God. This was accomplished virtually in the everlasting covenant: which covenant is between the Trinity of persons in the Godhead so that the Lamb was virtually slain according the covenant from the foundation of the world (Revelation 5:6; 13:8).

The justice of God, however, requires actual satisfaction; in order that mercy and truth may meet together; and righteousness and peace may kiss each other: that is, in order that God remain just, while He justifies the ungodly (Psalm 85:10; Romans 3:26; 4:5) and in order that God remain “a just God and a Savior” (Isaiah 45:21). The sin of God’s covenant people must be, actually punished; and put away forever, God must be actually reconciled to His elect, and Christ Jesus is the propitiation (satisfaction of the requirements of divine law and justice for the people of God) for our sins. And not just the sins of Jews but of the sins of His people wherever they are in the whole world (I John 2:2). Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin; therefore one approved and appointed of God must die as the suitable substitute for the children of God. That someone is Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus is one approved of God because sent of God from everlasting (Micah 5:2; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53 throughout; Acts 2:23) and Christ Jesus is the one appointed of God to all the offices of the Messiah for He is Messiah (John 4:25-26; Hebrews 5:1-6). Therefore Christ Jesus must die as the approved and appointed surety of the New Testament (Hebrews 7:22), the divinely appointed substitute who made satisfaction to the law and justice of God for the people of God.

Since the Surety must die instead of the people, God used the wicked of this world to bring about the execution of the Surety of the children of God. God used religious lost men to carry out the divinely appointed program. How very ironic it is that God was pleased to use the seed of the serpent, of the Jews to accuse Christ Jesus, and of the Gentiles to crucify the Lord of glory when, He crushed the serpents head “(Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14; I John 3:8) And it was accomplished in the following Manner.“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man doth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this he spake not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” (John 11:47-52). The law and justice of God considers the body of Christ, and Christ the Head of the body, one. Therefore when Christ Jesus was crucified all the members of the body of Christ were crucified in Him, (Galatians 2:20) they were in Christ from everlasting, in immutable covenant union, and in the eyes of God’s law and justice they have therefore suffered all the wrath of the law of God for sin, all their sins have been put away (Hebrews 9:26) their sins are no more; and the children of God are not guilty, they are declared not guilty and righteous, and are made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because they are one with Christ (II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; I Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53 throughout; Jeremiah 50:20). “He gathereth together the out casts of Israel” “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; evening him;” (Ephesians 1:10). “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:22). Christ Jesus came into this world to gather together, in particular, “the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52). Christ Jesus came into this world to gather together a particular, chosen, predestinated, and everlastingly beloved people, He came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). They who are the children of God hear God’s word, for it is written “He that is of God hearth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (John 8:47). Reader do you, hear, as to understand these things; though these things are so simple  “that he may run that readeth it: (Habakkuk 2:2) yet they who are not of Christ’s sheep believe them not (John 10:26) but Christ’s sheep hear His word, so as to understand and believe them, they hear his voice (John 10:27); the eyes of their understanding being enlightened that they may know the things that are freely given to the children the covenant, (Ephesians 1:17; I Corinthians 2:12). See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com  Hear the truth of the gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org  webcasting live at listed service times.  A.J. Ison