To Finish the Transgression:
The Church's Evangelization of the World
The Great Transgression of the Nation of Israel was the rejection of their Messiah. "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone [Jesus] which the builders [Jewish priests and scribes] rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" (Matthew 21:42 cp. Psalm 118:22-23).
One of the great mysteries of this Church Age is the obstinacy of Israel to Jesus-- their Messiah. But, Isaiah prophetically recorded Israel's reaction to her Messiah. "For He [the Son] shall grow up before Him [the Father] as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He [Jesus] hath no form nor comeliness; and when we [Israel] shall see Him [Jesus], there is no beauty that we should desire Him"
(Isaiah 53:2).Israel's loss was the world's gain. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 15:16), made it his practice to attempt to deliver the Gospel in each community to the "Jew first, and also [then] to the Greek [Gentile]" (1:16). Rejection from the Jews was common to Paul. Listen to Paul's discourse to the Jews of Antioch of Pisidia. "16 Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience... 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I [Jehovah] work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you
[Habakkuk 1:5]. 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath... 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of Everlasting Life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:16,41-42, 44-46).
But, how can the Holy God (Joshua 24:19) in this Church Age of world evangelization "finish the transgression" (Daniel 9:24)? He has given man the godlike capacity to freely choose to accept or reject the "Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1Timothy 4:10). Still, we have underestimated the capabilities of God. Certainly He does good, because "there is none good but One, that is, God" (Mark 10:18); but, how can He also take credit for evil? "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things" (Isaiah 45:7).
Only the Almighty can consistently, wisely, uncompromisingly, and sovereignly address evil, while remaining absolutely holy. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13). Even the Body of Christ must maintain this same holiness, while being "simple concerning evil" (Romans 16:19). How? "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
The LORD's motivation "to finish the transgression" (Daniel 9:24) is certainly not to propagate sin, but to bring sin and sinning to a conclusion. "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers" (Matthew 23:32).
Not until that measure of sin is full, will God allow Himself to not forgive. Then and only then, will God not forgive the unforgivable. "31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).
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