Harvest Letter
Charles and Barbara Green’s
2008 Summer Harvest Report
Why is it—things don’t usually work out the exact way we plan? Through many years of ministry and world-wide travels, we have come to know that we can plan, but God rules. We had great plans to spend the latter part of June in Paris and the first part of July in London—the “tale of two cities.” The story of the change is too long to tell in this short report…but we did not go. We have stayed in a fabulous country called The United States of America. But I am definitely going to share one important thing I promised in my last letter to you.
WHY DID ISRAEL MISS THE KINGDOM, AND HOW CAN THEY GET IT AGAIN?
In our last four reports, we shared with you the important “Essentials of the Faith.” We discussed THE CROSS, then THE RESURRECTION, then THE CHURCH and finally, THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I closed the last report by asking, “Why did Israel miss the Kingdom, and what can they do to regain their place in the ultimate plan of God?”
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 14 verse 17, the Apostle made this statement.
“The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but it is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” The most important word here is the word “Righteousness.” The Peace and Joy flow out of the righteous relationship we have with God through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. All of this is possible because Jesus died on the Cross, shedding His blood, paying the penalty for our sins. We don’t have to die for our own sins—Jesus took our place; He died for our sins, also making it possible that our old sinful nature can be “re-born” so that we can be like Him.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL ONLY WORK IN A RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE
So, we learned the Kingdom of God is—righteousness, bringing to us peace and joy through the activity of the Holy Spirit upon our lives, in our lives and flowing out of our lives. We cannot define the Kingdom without using “Righteousness.”
The whole concept of Sin, Righteousness and Salvation can be summed up in one power- ful verse of Scripture found in 2 Corinthians 5:21: For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. What this means is very simple—God has caused His Son Jesus, the Christ to become sin for us. This act of Grace made it possible for us to become the Righteousness of God—to be like Him. It sounds incredible, but it is true. Now, it is time to answer the important question:
HOW DID THEY MISS IT AND HOW CAN THEY GET INTO THE KINGDOM?
We come again to the Bible, Romans chapter ten, and the answer is clear—Israel missed the Kingdom of God because they missed the Righteousness of God.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. Romans 10:1-4
The people of Israel were like so many religious people today—they believed they could earn righteousness by their good works. None of them could ever keep the Law, but they still believed that keeping the Law was the only way to become righteous. This of course was and is an impossible task. Then God made it so easy. Jesus is the ONLY way to deal with the Law—Jesus fulfilled it and then placed it in the archives of God. He is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who will believe! [see verse 4] So easy….
But, if Israel were ‘ignorant’ of God’s righteousness, would not submit themselves to His righteousness and then set out to establish (create) their own brand of righteousness, in doing this THEY MISSED THE KINGDOM OF GOD—they missed the Kingdom personified in Jesus and the Word He spoke. True righteousness is in Him… and only in Him! [Acts 4:10-12 confirms Jesus as the only source of Salvation]
Know this—there are not two ways of salvation, one for the Jew and another for the Gentile. There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus, Who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” [John 14:5-6] Anyone and everyone who will call on the Name of the Lord can be saved and receive God’s Righteousness—God’s Kingdom into their lives. The people of Israel do not have to wait until the coming of the Lord to receive God’s Salvation. It is available now!
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [Gentile]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:12-13
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