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Faith Testifies of a Heavenly Home

these all died according to faith not receiving the promise rather they from a distance also welcomed and testified that existing strangers and exiles on the earth. For these speak in such a way revealing they were seeking one's native homeland... (Hebrews 11:13-14)


Faith looks to a heavenly home. If it were not so, then how does God reward those of faith who do not receive earthly land and blessings, who are unworthy of this world, martyred for righteousness's sake? Faith believes that God exists and rewards those who seek him. How can someone be rewarded if they are persecuted and afflicted unless by faith they believe in a heavenly reward?  True faith testifies to a heavenly reward and a heavenly home. 

for they speak in such a way revealing that they seek a homeland... now presently they reach out for a better, this exists a heavenly one. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:14-16)

If they were mindful of that (the contrast between an earthly and heavenly home) from which they set out they would have an opportunity to return, but they were longing for a better homeland, a heavenly one. Abraham obeyed when told to set out even though he did not know where he was going, and when he arrived there was a famine in the land so he had to go to Egypt (Genesis 12:1-10). 

The faith of Abraham testifies that he was looking to a heavenly promised land, or else he would have judged according to earthly circumstances and turned back because he did not receive the promise in an earthly manner having arrived there living as foreigners in tents. Certainly, there being a famine in the land he would have even more opportunity to turn back, if he had viewed the promise as an earthly one. 

Faith sees into the things that are unseen. We too are living in tents waiting for a heavenly home. Abraham giving his own son as a sacrifice testified of his belief in the gospel that God would give his own son as a sacrifice. He was fully convinced of this, we see this when Isaac said to him, we have the wood and fire but where is the sacrifice? Abraham replied God would supply. He believed so strongly he would have sacrificed his own son believing that God cannot lie thus would have provided another way or would have raised him from the dead. The faith of Abraham testifies that God can bring into existence things that do not exist.

Now the promises told to Abraham and to his descendant did not say, “And to descendants,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your descendant,” who is Christ (Galatians 3:16)

When God told Abraham "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse" he also said "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). The latter part of this verse is often left out by people who quote this verse, but these are important words in regards to whom the blessing comes. It was inclusive to all peoples of all nations, not just one nation. Abraham would be the father of the people of many nations, foretelling the new covenant and promises that would come through Abraham's seed, referring to the one, Christ (Galatians 3:16).

by faith [Abraham] sojourn in the land of promise like as a foreigner [a foreigner belongs to another homeland] living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob together heirs of the same promise for they were to receive another, the city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10)

Abraham believed in God and went out even though he did not know where he was going and when he arrived he did not receive the promise but lived in tents as if a foreigner in the land. This speaks to us today, the faith of Abraham looks to a better promise, a better land, and a heavenly home. Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a treasure found, all that of earthly value will be relinquished to possess this heavenly treasure. One can not follow Jesus unless he believes that he will be rewarded for seeking him. And if he believes the reward, thus treasure is earthly he will fall away when persecution comes. 

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. Now, the scriptures foreseeing that God would justify the nations, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand saying in you all nations are blessed. So then the ones from belief are blessed together with Abraham the believer (Galatians 3:6-9)

The Mosaic Law, service in the temple and circumcision of flesh set apart one nation as God's people. But the promise to Abraham was before these and to all peoples of all nations, foretelling that the blessings and promises would come through Christ. All of the promises are yes and amen in Jesus. Do you believe this? You must choose between Moses, who was a servant in the house and Jesus, who is the owner of the house. The Law coming later does not annul the former. And in a sense we can say the covenant established in the blood of Christ was a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham thus was the former testament not yet manifested. God not having anything greater to give an oath by, himself gave the oath to Abraham, and God cannot lie. 

for he is our peace, the one making us both one and breaking down the dividing wall in his flesh, the hostility of the Law of commandments, in regulations, so that to create in himself one new man... (Ephesians 2:14-22)

There are not two kinds of Jews, both fleshly and spiritual. In the new covenant, both the Jew and the people of other nations are made as one. The dividing wall between the Jews and the other nations was abolished in his flesh. Thus one spiritual house of God exists. "Rather, a person is a Jew inwardly and circumcision is of the heart in the Spirit, not the written code, this person's praise is not from man but from God" (Romans 2:29). 

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abundantly giving to all who call on him (Romans 10:12) 

There is no distinction between two peoples (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:29-30; Romans 10:12; Romans 9:24; Romans 15:12; Colossians 3:11). God's calling is to all peoples of all nations (Romans 4:11-12; Romans 9:24; Romans 14:9). As to the promise, the root (Jesus being that root of Jesse in which the promise would come) is established upon a better covenant, based upon faith, according to grace so that it comes to all peoples. Paul explains it this way, like as grafting of branches into a tree, other peoples of other nations were grafted into the tree through faith and others through unbelief were broken off. The tree is the church. Also expressed as a spiritual house Jesus being the foundation, built on the apostles (who believed and received the blessings of Jesus) and the prophets (who saw the promise from a distance and welcomed it). 

Jesus said to them I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes through the Father except through me (John 14:6)

This is a foundational principle of Christianity. We either believe the words of Jesus or reject them. There is no other way to justify a nation or people coming to God except through Jesus. Through unbelief, some stumbled over the stumbling stone, they were broken off and others through belief were grafted in. And what are we grafted into? the people of other nations by faith become the sons of Abraham and partake of the same promises as the Jews who believe in Jesus, which is the church, the body of Christ. One body, one church, one faith, one Spirit, one Lord, and one Father of us all.  

We can praise God because we are his children through a new birth into the kingdom of God. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that he is our Father and we are his children. Jesus was born a Jew under the Law to redeem those under the Law who were held in captivity. He came among his own and they did not receive him but to those who did receive him, he gave them the right to become children of God, not born of earthly means but from God (John 1:8-13).

the one born of the flesh exists flesh, and the one born from the Spirit exists spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born anew (John 3:6-7)
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). This is true for any person of any nation. Jesus came for this purpose to give all people of all nations the right to become children of God, both the Jew of the flesh and the gentile of the flesh become one new man, a spiritual man, a new creation in Christ. "For through him [Jesus] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). So not only are the sons of Abraham defined by faith but also through the new birth of the Spirit, as we saw earlier Paul writes a sign of our covenant is circumcision of the Spirit. Jesus is a stumbling stone to some because they do not have the faith of Abraham who heard the gospel and believed, by faith he saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them.
therefore existing no longer strangers and aliens but rather fellow citizens, the saints and belong to the house of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the foundation stone existing Christ himself in all [peoples and nations] joined together growing into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also built together into the dwelling place of God in Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Faith testifies we are strangers and aliens seeking a heavenly home with the saints. The Spirit testifies that we belong to the house of God. And this house includes both Jews and other nations that believe in Jesus. The House of God is a spiritual house in which we all [no distinction according to fleshly birth] are living stones built up into a spiritual temple to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5). We do not serve according to the Law, in food and drink, earthly sacrifices and offerings to appease his anger and atone for sin nor do we offer tithes to participate in the holiness of that placed on the altar. Jesus is the vine, the one in whom we live, who gave a  sacrifice and offering acceptable to God once and for all, and in him we have holy communion.

To build up those things which were torn down by Jesus in the flesh is to make oneself a transgressor (Galatians 2:18). For we died with Christ and the one who is dead is released from the Law to live in the new living way of the Spirit not the written code (Romans 7:1-6). Through the Law, we died to the law so living to God, crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:18). If Jesus died once and for all, what do you call a people who would build up a religious system that again makes sacrifices and offerings to atone for sin? Do they trample the son of God underfoot and profane the blood of the covenant in which we are made holy and insult the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29).

There is more to be said on this topic. Read Galatians and Hebrews for more insight. In the future, we might look more into things, like how Jesus exists our great high priest, which pertain to this topic. To set up an earthly system of priests that again offer sacrifices for the atonement for sin is a total rejection of the great High Priest. Would this be an abomination, a sacrilege, a desecration to those who have been made holy in the blood of the eternal covenant? If Matthew 24:15–16 speaks of the anti-Christ setting himself up in a temple, does this not imply that the temple would have to be built? And would we of the church allow such? Could the great delusion be that many Christians will help usher in the end times? Interesting...

The new covenant establishes the sons of Abraham are based upon faith and these will be peoples from all nations who believe in Jesus and become partakers of an eternal inheritance and a heavenly home. These are the elect and will not fall under the deception of the antichrist. All the promises of God have their yes and amen in Christ, therefore the eternal promise of land must also come through Christ. And it will, everything will be made new, there will be a new heaven and a new earth because the first has passed away and the holy city, the new Jerusalem, will come down from heaven (Revelation 21:1-5). 

For these speak in such a way as to reveal to us they were seeking one's native homeland... (Hebrews 11:14)

Those of faith like Abraham reveal they are seeking a heavenly home. They testify of such, looking not to promises of a kingdom of heaven on this corrupt earth, nor of a God existing in a holy land here, nor one fleshly nation called the people of God, but of many spiritual people in whom God dwells, peoples of many nations being built into a spiritual house unto God. People of faith long for "a better homeland that exists a heavenly one," and "for this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God for preparing a city for them."

On Jordan's stormy banks, I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie

I am bound for the promised land
I am bound for the promised land
Who will come and go with me?
...


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