Tag: missionary

A Christian Missionary in China ~ Part Two

I asked AI how it would respond to the Chinese Man’s questions which he asked in Part One.

Here is how AI answered…

Missionary: Thank you for reading the Old Testament and for your thoughtful questions. Let’s clarify these important points together.

Chinese Man: You said that I had sinned against God according to the law found in this book. But, what I see in this book is that the law was a covenantal law between a God named Yahweh and a people named Israel. I am not in that covenant. How can I be guilty of breaking a law I was never under? That is like saying I am guilty of breaking laws in a country I’ve never visited.

Missionary: You’re right that the Mosaic Law was given specifically to the people of Israel. However, sin isn’t limited to breaking that specific law. According to the New Testament, all people have a moral awareness of right and wrong, which Paul describes as the law written on their hearts (Romans 2:14-15). This means that everyone has an inherent sense of God’s moral standards, and all fall short of these standards in various ways, regardless of whether they are under the Mosaic Law.

Chinese Man: Assuming I actually am under this law, you said that I could not keep it even if I tried. But, in the story of this book, Yahweh fully expected the people to be obedient, and when they were disobedient He disciplined and punished them. If they repented and turned back to Him, He forgave them. If they were obedient, He blessed them. You said I needed to trust in the perfect righteousness of another, but I don’t come to that conclusion from reading this book. If I were an Israelite, I would try my best to follow the law, and if I failed I would confess my failing, turn back to Yahweh, and trust He would forgive me. Where does it say that I need to trust in the righteousness of another?

Missionary: The Old Testament indeed shows that God called Israel to be obedient to His Law and provided a means for forgiveness through repentance and sacrifices. However, the New Testament reveals that these practices were a foreshadowing of a greater sacrifice. Jesus Christ is presented as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Law on behalf of humanity (Hebrews 10:1-10). His righteousness can be imputed to us through faith, meaning that through Jesus, we can be seen as righteous before God (Romans 3:21-22). This is a core message of the New Testament: that by trusting in Jesus, we receive the righteousness we could never achieve on our own (Philippians 3:9).

Are these good answers?

Notes on Romans – Part I

Chapter One

Who What Where Why When

Who: Paul and the believers in Rome, especially their leadership, who are likely fellow Israelites.

What: A letter.

Where: Rome with Spain in mind.

Why: Paul did not plant the Roman church, but he wants their support. He wants to prove his gospel mission to the Romans, and to prove himself an apostle worthy of their support for his missionary journeys further west.

When: The first century AD.

Vs. 2-3 — Paul makes it clear that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah.

Vs. 5-7 — Paul received a mission from Israel’s Messiah to go out into the nations (Gentiles) to bring people into the faith of the Messiah. The Jesus followers in Rome are included in this group: those among the nations.

Vs. 8 — The faithfulness of the Jesus followers in Rome has been proclaimed in all the cosmos. The cosmos: the vertical world created by Yahweh — the heavens, the powers and principalities, the priesthood, all Israel, the temple.

Vs. 9-13 — Paul wishes to come to Rome. He has gathered fruit from among other nations, and now he wishes to do the same in Rome.

Vs. 14 — Greeks were not “people from Greece” as there was no Greece in the first century. To be a Greek was to be a Hellenized person, one who adopted the Hellenistic culture, a civilized person. A barbarian was one who was not Hellenized.

Vs. 15-17 — Paul wants to proclaim the good news about Israel’s Messiah to those in Rome — to the Jew first (Judaean Israelites) and also the Greek (dispersed Hellenized Israelites [John 7:35]). The gospel was for Israel. Their Messiah had redeemed them from the transgressions they made against their first covenant with Yahweh (Hebrews 9:15) and now their Messiah was calling all Israel to Himself, Israelites from among the Judaeans, and Israelites from among the nations. Perhaps non-Israelites could become Israelites, but Paul’s gospel was for Israel alone.

Vs 18 — The wrath of God is revealed from heaven — that is the throne-room of Yahweh at the height of the Israelite cosmos.

Vs 19-21 — God revealed Himself to these people to the extent that they are without excuse. Did God reveal Himself only enough to condemn these people, but not enough that they could not live lives to please God. No, of course not. These people knew God enough to give Him glory and thanks. And what people had been given this revelation? Israel. (Deuteronomy 4:7-8; Amos 3:1-2)

Vs 22-31 — Israel exchanged God’s truth for a lie and thus were handed over by God to their evil desires which are in direct conflict with the 10 commandments (vs. 29-30).

Vs 32 — Israelites, knowing God’s decree that those who do such evil things are deserving of death, not only do them, but approve of the non-Israelites (non-covenant people) who do them.

A Christian Missionary in China ~ Part One

Missionary (M): You have sinned against God and are under His wrath. Hell awaits you.

Chinese Man (C): Oh my! Please tell me: What is sin?

M: Sin is an offense against God. It is falling short of His standard.

C: How can I measure my sin? What is the standard?

M: The standard is God’s law.

C: Please show me this law so that I can know how to live up to God’s standard.

M: You are incapable of following the law perfectly and will never meet God’s standard. You must trust another to do so for you: a perfect Man who never sinned, and whose righteousness can be imputed to you.

C: That’s sounds interesting, but I don’t quite understand. Please, show me this law first so that I can see if I am capable of following it myself.

M: Here, I have a copy of the Old Testament in the Chinese language. In there you will find the law I speak of. I will leave it with you. I will be back to visit your village in two months. Please read it before I return and I will answer all your questions.

***Two Months Later***

M: Have you read the book I gave you?

C: Yes, all of it. I am confused though and have some questions.

You said that I had sinned against God according to the law found in this book. But, what I see in this book is that the law was a covenantal law between a God named Yahweh and a people named Israel. I am not in that covenant. How can I be guilty of breaking a law I was never under? That is like saying I am guilty of breaking laws in a country I’ve never visited.

Also, assuming I actually am under this law, you said that I could not keep it even if I tried. But, in the story of this book, Yahweh fully expected the people to be obedient, and when they were disobedient He disciplined and punished them. If they repented and turned back to Him, He forgave them. If they were obedient, He blessed them. You said I needed to trust in the perfect righteousness of another, but I don’t come to that conclusion from reading this book. If I were an Israelite, I would try my best to follow the law, and if I failed I would confess my failing, turn back to Yahweh, and trust he would forgive me. Where does it say that I need to trust in the righteousness of another?

Exam for Pastors

You want to be a pastor? You must answer the following questions. Support each answer with scripture.

  1. In Romans 4 & 5 it is written that where there is no law there is no transgression and sin is not imputed. The law being referred to is the Law of Moses. In Hebrews 9 it is written that Christ’s death redeemed those who transgressed the first covenant, or in other words, Christ died to redeem those who sinned against the Law of Moses. What law do people today transgress requiring redemption by the death of Christ?
  2. In Hebrews 8 it is written that Christ is the Mediator of a better covenant, a new covenant. This new covenant replaces the first covenant. The first covenant and the new covenant are described in Jeremiah 31. In Jeremiah 31 it is written that the new covenant is made with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Are non-Israelite followers of Christ included in the new covenant? If yes, how?
  3. In Romans 9 it is written that the children of promise (not flesh) are counted as the true seed of Abraham. Does the “true seed” of Abraham include non-Israelites? If yes, how?
  4. In Romans 11 it is written that nations (Gentiles) are grafted in. What are the nations grafted into?
  5. If you could ask a first century AD non-Israelite Christ follower what benefit he receives from following Christ, what would he say?
  6. In today’s world, who is the true Israel?

I asked AI to answer these questions. Here are the AI’s answers…

1. What law do people today transgress requiring redemption by the death of Christ?

According to Christian theology, all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This sin includes transgressions against God’s moral law, which encompasses the principles of the Mosaic Law but is seen as a broader, universal moral standard. Jesus’ death is viewed as a redemptive sacrifice for all humanity’s sins, providing a path to forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

2. Are non-Israelite followers of Christ included in the new covenant? If yes, how?

Yes, non-Israelite followers of Christ are included in the new covenant. The New Testament explains that through faith in Jesus Christ, Gentiles are grafted into God’s people. Paul elaborates on this in Galatians 3:28-29, where he says that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, and that all who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

3. Does the “true seed” of Abraham include non-Israelites? If yes, how?

Yes, the “true seed” of Abraham includes non-Israelites. This concept is explained in Romans 9:8, where Paul states that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s descendants. This promise is fulfilled through faith in Christ, making all believers, regardless of ethnicity, part of Abraham’s spiritual lineage.

4. What are the nations grafted into?

In Romans 11, Paul uses the metaphor of an olive tree to describe the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s covenant people. The nations (Gentiles) are grafted into the spiritual tree of Israel, becoming part of God’s covenant community. This signifies that Gentiles share in the spiritual blessings and promises originally given to Israel.

5. What benefit would a first-century AD non-Israelite Christ follower say he receives from following Christ?

A first-century AD non-Israelite Christ follower might say that they receive several benefits from following Christ, including:

  • Salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus.
  • Forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.
  • Inclusion in a new spiritual family and community of believers.
  • The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, providing guidance, comfort, and transformation.

6. In today’s world, who is the true Israel?

In Christian theology, “true Israel” refers to all those who have faith in Jesus Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. This concept, often called “spiritual Israel,” emphasizes that being part of God’s people is not determined by ethnic or national identity but by faith in Christ. Paul discusses this in Galatians 6:16, referring to believers as the “Israel of God.”

***

These answers are typical for what we might hear in the Church today. But, let’s look at them more closely…

  1. AI is correct in saying all humanity has fallen short — all have missed the mark (all sin), but AI assumes that all humanity is under the law of Moses, or at least all are under some sort of “broader understanding” of the Mosaic law. But, only Israel was given that law. So how would non-Israelites even know how to obey it, or some “broader understanding” of it?
  2. I would agree that non-Israelites can enter the new covenant, but only by being grafted into Israel, which is what Romans 11 is all about. It’s still about Israel though.
  3. AI points to Romans 9:8 and says that the children of promise are the true seed of Abraham, and that one is a child of promise through faith in Christ. That’s fine, but notice in Romans 9 Paul is only talking about Israel. The children of promise are Israelites who have faith in Christ.
  4. Non-Israelites are grafted into Israel, not a new religion called Christianity. God’s covenant people is Israel.
  5. Addressing AI’s points one by one: 1. Salvation from what? 2. Forgiveness of sins against what law? 3. Yes, okay, but what is this family? 4. I agree with this point.
  6. The “Israel of God” as mentioned in Galatians 6 is still Israel — the “true seed of Abraham” Romans 9.

I put these points to AI, and here’s how it responded…

1. Broader Understanding of the Law

While the Mosaic Law was indeed given specifically to Israel, Paul in Romans 2:14-15 mentions that even Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do things required by the Law, showing that the requirements of the Law are written on their hearts. This suggests a moral awareness inherent in humanity that aligns with the Law’s principles. Thus, sin isn’t limited to transgressions of the Mosaic Law but includes actions contrary to this moral awareness.

2. Non-Israelites and the New Covenant

Romans 11 indeed speaks about Gentiles being grafted into Israel, symbolizing their inclusion in God’s covenant people. This inclusion doesn’t negate the focus on Israel but expands it, making the covenant accessible to all who believe in Christ, creating one unified people of God.

3. Children of Promise in Romans 9

While Romans 9 does focus on Israelites, Paul’s broader theology, especially in Galatians 3:7-9, extends the promise to include Gentiles who have faith in Christ, making them spiritual descendants of Abraham. This inclusion is a crucial aspect of the New Testament’s message of universal redemption.

4. Grafted into Israel

Non-Israelites being grafted into Israel emphasizes their integration into God’s covenant people. However, this integration is through faith in Christ, which is the foundation of what later became known as Christianity. Thus, it’s not about a new religion but about the fulfillment of God’s promise through Christ.

5. Benefits of Following Christ

  1. Salvation from Sin and Eternal Separation from God: This salvation is not just from physical or national peril but from the spiritual consequences of sin.
  2. Forgiveness of Sins: Even without the Mosaic Law, humanity has a moral conscience, and Christ’s sacrifice offers forgiveness for these universal moral transgressions.
  3. New Spiritual Family: This family is the body of Christ, the community of believers, transcending ethnic and national boundaries.
  4. Holy Spirit’s Presence: Guiding, comforting, and transforming believers’ lives.

6. True Israel

In today’s world, “true Israel” can be understood as those who, through faith in Christ, are part of God’s covenant people. This includes both ethnic Israelites and Gentiles who believe in Christ, forming one spiritual family under the new covenant.

***

Again, these are typical Christian answers, and I have to say that I am impressed with the AI’s ability to give these answers. I know it is just taking these answers from what’s already out there, but it is still pretty amazing.

I could probably continue the discussion with AI, but I already know what kind of answers I would get.