Chp.82 - God Has Chosen To Preserve The Promises To Israel In The Church

“For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you ought to understand that [the gifts] formerly among your nation have been transferred to us. And just as there were false prophets contemporaneous with your holy prophets, so are there now many false teachers amongst us, of whom our Lord forewarned us to beware; so that in no respect are we deficient, since we know that He foreknew all that would happen to us after His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven. Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 240). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.

This chapter begins with Justin explaining how the prophetical gifts remain alive and are still preserved for Israel. Though there has been a transition of God's choice of instrumentation to demonstrate these prophetic gifts, the gifts and the call remain alive to Israel's future through the church (Rom.11:29), which again awaits another transition when this instrument of choice (the church) is removed from the world (Rom.11:11;1Thess.4:14-18;Rev.11:7-14;12:5-6) and Israel, again, becomes the instrument of choice to extend His grace and truth to the nations. The offspring of Christ's Word will be visibly caught up to the throne of God, and their word, which will be God's Word and witness, will feed Israel until all is fulfilled for the Day of her salvation from the Deceiver (Rev.20). What Justin is not saying is that God has completely cut off Israel from ever carrying the mantle of His love, again. This transfer was temporary because of unbelief; and because Israel is elect, she surely can be grafted in, again. Romans 11:1–5 (NKJV) 1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 11:11–25 (NKJV) 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Though all of this is not the main point of Justin mentioning this transfer, it needs to be addressed because of the pride and false teaching that even now exists in our days. For some, such as Roman Catholic heretics, teach that salvation is only through the church confession and polity, but Justin teaches salvation through Christ alone. While the universal church has received these prophetic gifts, she concedes that these gifts are not given through the church, but are given by the Holy Spirit and to him whom he wills to give the power to exercise these gifts. Therefore, Justin is mentioning this not to address Israel's separation, but to make her aware of those false churches that exalt themselves over the Word of God.

As I previously said, God has given elders to the church to preside over the Word of God, but this doesn't mean they are over the Word. The Word is over them, and like a president they preside over the meeting place where believers come together for the hearing of the Word. Therefore, all are in subjection to the hearing of the Word, but the Word presides over the meeting, as the elders are in submission to the message of the Word, and speak forth the power of its authority. And so like a president, the elders, each in turn, exercise this authority. So, the prophetic gifts continue in the church to build up the people of God to be His everlasting temple. Having more elders than one prevents the church from growing in, as Justin put it, ". . . godless, blasphemous, and unholy doctrines, forging them in His Name, and deceive many . . .". "Therefore we are most anxious that you be persuaded not to be misled by such persons, since we know that every one who can speak the truth, and yet speaks it not, shall be judged by God, as God testified by Ezekiel, when He said, ‘I have made thee a watchman to the house of Judah. If the sinner sin, and thou warn him not, he himself shall die in his sin; but his blood will I require at thine hand. But if thou warn him, thou shalt be innocent.’4 And on this account we are, through fear, very earnest in desiring to converse [with men] according to the Scriptures, but not from love of money, or of glory, or of pleasure. For no man can convict us of any of these [vices]." Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 240). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Justin now explains the necessity of his business in warning and declaring these judgments of God. For if he fails to warn of the judgment of sin, the blood of those whom he had opportunity to warn will fall upon his conscience, in disobeying the call placed on him who understands the judgment of God. And therefore, Justin confesses his anxiety and fear to fail in declaring these judgments (and promises) to all men separated from the knowledge of God.

But notice what he says about the love of money and the pride of life, that no man can convict him of these things. But God? Surely his God can (and will) convict him of these things. Therefore, he is telling Trypho not to waste his time appeasing his own conscience by digging up dirt or examining the outward appearance of Justin's life. Rather, he is telling Trypho to be convicted in his own conscience about the truth of what is written in the Scriptures. In other words, hear your true fathers and let your true heritage speak to you! No more do we wish to live like the rulers of your people, whom God reproaches when He says, ‘Your rulers are companions of thieves, lovers of bribes, followers of the rewards.’5 Now, if you know certain amongst us to be of this sort, do not for their sakes blaspheme the Scriptures and Christ, and do not assiduously strive to give falsified interpretations. Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 240). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Now therefore, Justin explains, again, why God chose the church (in the Gentiles) to be His chosen instrument. It was because of the rulers who were united together with the thieves and loved the praise of men more than the favor of God. This power to serve prophetically was taken from Israel because of the godless leaders, who were nothing more than blind men leading blind men. Matthew 15:12–20 (NKJV) 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 21:42–46 (NKJV)

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. But when the remnant of the Gentile church is removed from the earth, no more shall the light (of them) shine in it until the day of the Lord's return to rule from Jerusalem, for Israel is the elect nation of God (Rom.11:28). And therefore, Israel is to fear not the wrath to come (Rev.6:16;14:10), for the Lamb is her rescue, and Israel will be restored to the glory and honor of her eternal King! Revelation 18:21–24 (NKJV) 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”