Is the Commonwealth different to the Kingdom

[Sean]

Shalom All

I was wondering what you guys think about the teaching that the commonwealth is different to the kingdom. It goes something like this that Jews are in the Kingdom, that gentiles are in the commonwealth, so they only have to keep the "common laws", and that the rest of is only for the Jews. I'm guessing that "common laws" are the noachide laws / ten commandments.

Rabbi(s) Chester from Torahlight teach this, and I'm looking for input, as it's causing a lot of division in our small congregation right now.

- Sean

[lawrenceofisrael]

Well if they say that they are obviously misled. Firstly Jews are the tribe of Yehuda which is one of twelve tribes of the Israelites. Secondly the Almighty always talked about the strangers within the Israelites that the same law is for them and the town Ninive were Jona was sent to was from the gentiles i believe. So we are not strangers anymore as the apostle said so how could we be allowed to do something of which God says it is an abomination??
And Noach for example knew about clean and unclean animals which the noahid laws lack.

ve shalom ve rachem aleichem

[skccab]

Shalom Sean,
I could be wrong...but my understanding is that yes, indeed, we (all of us who trust in Yeshua's finished work) are "the commonwealth" of Israel. Within that commonwealth, also known as the Kingdom of God, there are no Jews, no Gentiles, no second-class citizens, we are one new man under the One God of Israel. Our citizenship is under that glorious Banner.
For that reason, I believe wholeheartedly that the is for all the members of Abba's family. We are one family, one household, one set of instructions on how to live righteous lives. There are things that we cannot observe anymore (such as levitical/Temple instructions) and there are things that are intended for the physical land of Israel - but we each must walk to the best of our ability in the light that Adonai has shined upon us. We do NOT do this for favor or salvation but becaused we ARE favored and saved and oh, so grateful.
As for the physical Israelites (not just the Jewish people) that do not believe - they are still God's chosen, and there are promises that belong to them, their heritage; but their salvation will come to them as it has come to anyone since the cross - trusting in Yeshua's completed work of redemption. If an Israelite does not trust in Yeshua, he/she may be of Jacob but they are NOT of the Commonwealth of Israel that Rav Sha'ul spoke of.

skccab

[David Ben Yosef]

Apr 4, 2010 19:03:08 GMT -8 skccab said:

Shalom Sean,
I could be wrong...but my understanding is that yes, indeed, we (all of us who trust in Yeshua's finished work) are "the commonwealth" of Israel.

I believe an understanding of what is meant by the term "Commonwealth" should be undertaken before any doctrinal conclusions are reached. The word commonwealth is only found one place in the entire Bible [Eph 2:12]. And it says that when Gentiles were/are uncircumcised, they were/are aliens to the commonwealth of Israel. That's a good place to start.

Apr 4, 2010 19:03:08 GMT -8 skccab said:

Within that commonwealth, also known as the Kingdom of God...

Huh? Israel, as a Nation, is not the Kingdom of HaShem. Also, nowhere does the Brit Chadasha teach the Kingdom of HaShem is a present reality [Acts 1:6]. When Sha'ul seems to be speaking of the Kingdom as a present reality, he is calling those things that be not, as if they already were [Rom 4:17]. In these instances, Shau'ul is exercising the use of the Bilical Hebrew idiom of "The Prophetic Pefect."

Apr 4, 2010 19:03:08 GMT -8 skccab said:

If an Israelite does not trust in Yeshua, he/she may be of Jacob but they are NOT of the Commonwealth of Israel that Rav Sha'ul spoke of.

As a reminder [and this goes for all forum members] stating that the natural seed of Avraham is excluded form Israel, but Gentiles who have faith in Yeshua are now included, is replacement theology, and is expressly forbidden at Ahavat Elohim forums [per the rules]. I would strongly caution one and all before making such statements. You could find yourself with a warning [at the very least].



Shalom