Who Are God’s Chosen People? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 68

November 19, 2022 By admin

WEBCAST –

So, what about the Jewish people and the Isrealite nation? Are they God’s chosen people, or not? Are they in some sort of favored category apart from all other people? What is the bottom line for the Isrealites, now that Jesus has come?

To complicate their condition even further, in the initial three decades after Jesus’ earthly ministry, the most consistent and vociferous opposition to the early Christian movement came from the national and religious leadership of the Jews. Although the Apostle Paul was faithful to take the Gospel of Christ “to the Jew first”, it was they who antagonized him to the point of repeatedly trying to kill him and undo the impact of his ministry.

So, what was the status of the Jewish people and nation in God’s sight in the mid-first century? Were they still “chosen” or “favored” by God? Are they spiritually different in some way to all other people of the time? What is their status today, nearly 2,000 years later?

The Acts of the Apostles, Part 68 – Outline (PDF)

Divine Mercy Trumps Judgement – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 72

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From Him, Through Him, and To Him – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 71

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Religion Can Be Bad For You – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 70

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Bottom Line for Israel – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 69

WEBCAST – A Pew Research survey in September 2021 reported that 73% of Americans believe in heaven while 62% believe in hell. 39% of Americans believe that people who do NOT believe in God can go to heaven. Surprisingly, 34% of Protestants and 68% of Roman Catholics believe that people who do NOT believe in […]

Who Are God’s Chosen People? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 68

WEBCAST – So, what about the Jewish people and the Isrealite nation? Are they God’s chosen people, or not? Are they in some sort of favored category apart from all other people? What is the bottom line for the Isrealites, now that Jesus has come? To complicate their condition even further, in the initial three […]

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know… – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 67

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Fit for Heaven, Perfected Bodies – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 66

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We Shall All Be Changed – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 65

Becoming Fit for Heaven – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 64

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The Answer is Blowin’ In the Wind – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 63

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Status in Heaven, Struggle on Earth – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 62

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It’s Really Hard to Change – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 61

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The Fight of Our Lives – Acts of the Apostles – Pt. 60

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Does Sin Equal Grace? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 59

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Understanding Heavenly Citizenship – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 58

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Like Father, Like Son – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 57

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Do You Have to Be Bad to Be Good? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 56

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Is God Grading On the Curve? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 55

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Did Your Family Have Rules? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 54

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Paul Starts the Book of Romans – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 53

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What Happens in Corinth Won’t Stay in Corinth – Acts of the Apostles Pt.52

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We Really Do Need Each Other – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 51

WEBCAST – As we have examined the ministries of the Apostles in Jerusalem, of other key individuals whose ministries were highlighted in The Acts of The Apostles, and then that of the Apostle Paul and his missionary companions, it is obvious that God’s people need other believers around them in order to live for Jesus […]

Address Wrongs, But Aim for Restoration – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 50

WEBCAST – If you are meaningfully involved with others for a period of time, eventually there will be disagreements and tensions between you. Most often such issues are minor and do not escalate to the level of hurt feelings and open conflict. However, sometimes they do. When that happens it takes a lot of […]

How Are Those “Best-Laid Plans” Working Out? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 49

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Practical Directions for New Covenant People – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 48

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Past, Present, and Future – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 47

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To Eat or Not To Eat – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 46

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Nobody’s Perfect…Not Even Jesus’ Followers – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 45

WEBCAST – If we focused only upon the problems which were reported to the Apostle Paul and then addressed in the letter called “1 Corinthians”, we would conclude that nothing good was going on in or among the believers in Corinth in 55AD. But that was not the case. The letter mentions a lot of […]

What Happens in Corinth Won’t Stay in Corinth – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 44

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Paul’s Cure for Growing Pains – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 43

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Birth Pains and Growing Pains – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 42

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Power & Preaching / Magic & Mythology – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 41

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The Gospel and Urban Renewal – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 40

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Go West, Young Men – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 39

WEBCAST – As the Gospel of Christ began in the East, its future was sovereignly forged most significantly through a “western expansion”. Although it grew modestly in the regions North, East, and South of Israel, the Christian movement would expand and flourish in the West. The Book of Acts details the story of the initial western […]

We Are Not All Boy Scouts – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 38

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What If You Were Chosen To Write the Bible? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 37

WEBCAST – As James sat down to write the Holy Spirit was sovereignly controlling his pen without taking away or negating the natural process of his human authorship. James wrote freely and creatively, yet was penning God’s very words as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1:21). What he wrote on parchment was […]

How Do You Know? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 36

WEBCAST – How do you know that you have had your sins forgiven by God and that you are now in the state of His favor? Is it based solely upon the fact that you had previously prayed “the sinners’ prayer” and “asked Jesus into your heart”? In addition, perhaps you have been baptized as a symbolic profession of your inner faith in […]

The Question of Inner Faith Without Outer Works – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 35

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Faith Without Works Is… – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 34

WEBCAST – In the roughly fifteen years since Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, new communities of His followers had been established in hundreds of villages, cities, and towns. The Holy Spirit prompted James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, to write to the dispersed believers that there were many significant issues in these “new covenant” communities to […]

The Historic Danger of Disparate Faiths – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 33

WEBCAST – From the day of Pentecost onward the Good News had been spreading out in all directions from Jerusalem. However, during this era of slow travel and equally slow communication there was infrequent uniformity of thought and practice between local fellowships of Jesus’ followers. Somebody had to give authoritative instructions to the new Christian movement […]

Protecting The People Whom Christ Has Purchased – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 32

If you have trusted in Christ and followed Him earnestly for some time you have undoubtedly observed people coming into and wandering out of the Christian faith and community. People who had earlier expressed some measure of identification with Jesus do forsake Him regardless of how energetic their initiation was. The Apostle Paul was very […]

When the Future Appears Dire – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 31

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, I don’t know about you, but my life has not gone the way I thought it would go. That is true for the overall path of my life, but also true for many of the smaller episodes within it. Often when circumstances led me to believe that the […]

“…in weakness and in fear and in much trembling” – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 30

WEBCAST- The Apostle Paul seems to be such a perfect person. Before he was converted to faith in Jesus on the road to Damascus he appeared to be a perfect Jew. Once he was converted he appeared to be a perfect Christian, yet he was not. When Paul left the city of Athens after proclaiming […]

What People Today Need To Hear, From Us – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 29

WEBCAST- When the Apostle Paul arrived in Athens after fleeing from persecution it was the university center of the world. Nearly 400 years had passed since the greatest philosophers of antiquity had taught there – Pericles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Sophocles. Almost all modern philosophies have their roots in these men. Yet they and those […]

Living in the Garden of Good and Evil – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 28

WEBCAST – Two thousand years ago as the Good News about Jesus was being spread westward into Europe it encountered a culture and worldview that were vastly different from the Jewish world it came from. In Athen, Greece was the pinnacle of classical philosophy and the cradle of western civilization. It also was overflowing […]

Calling All Women! – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 27

WEBCAST – The reinstatement of sharia law in Afghanistan has heightened the world’s awareness of Islam’s perception and treatment of women and girls. In recent decades Christianity has received similar criticisms that it was rooted in misogyny and has throughout history denied the full equality of women. The key question on the subject, however, is whether […]

Getting in Trouble for Talking – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 26

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers Albert Einstein was once asked what he believed to be the best formula for success in life. He replied, “If ‘A’ equals success in life, I should say the formula is ‘A = X + Y + Z’. He went on to say, “X being work and Y […]

Playing To Your Strengths – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 25

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, What are you good at? What activities are you naturally gifted to do? For what tasks or jobs have you been trained and experienced to do? In what roles do you feel both comfortable and confident? For example, if you have a degree in education and have taught […]

Everyday People – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 24

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Believe it or not, it was everyday people (Thanks, Sly Stone) just like you that won the western world to Christ. With the arguable exception of the Apostle Paul who was marvelously gifted and educated, the expansion of the New Community of Jesus followers was done by everyday […]

Perhaps We Are Too Hard on the Judaisers – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 23

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Do you know that both Jews and Muslims practice circumcision as a sign of their being in a covenant relationship with God? That’s right…even the Muslims who are now controlling Afghanistan. Both groups look back in history to their common ancestor, Father Abraham, and hold firmly to God’s […]

Are We Children of God, or Servants? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 22

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Jesus told a number of parables using the characters of a father and his son(s). In some of those stories He either assumes that His hearers know, or He describes the differences between a son (or daughter) and a servant/slave. Sons (or daughters) are in an advantaged position […]

Solving the Second Major Issue – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 21

WEBCAST- Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Note: The introductory paragraphs below are the same as I sent out last week. They apply precisely to this week’s discussion Bible study, and it is doubtful that I could improve upon them for this Lord’s Day. The “Table Discussion Questions” are updated. It is unlikely that we today […]

The First Internal Controversy – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 20

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, It is unlikely that we today can overstate the amount of internal tension and strife the New Community of Jesus Followers were experiencing in 48 AD. Although it had grown immensely in numbers and geographically in the 18 years since Jesus died, rose, and ascended into heaven, its […]

Why Don’t You Keep God’s Laws? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 19

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, You say that there is only one God Who is always the same and never changes. You say that He has spoken to humanity in the Scriptures and there given us His laws. And, you say that you are one of HIs followers. So, if that is so […]

According To His Will – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 18

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, When God sent Barnabas and Saul from the city of Antioch to the West in 46 AD He had a plan to eventually bring the majority of the people in Europe and the Americas to identify as followers of His Son. This plan has played out over the […]

Small Decisions Change the World – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 17

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Certain seemingly small decisions made in the past impact the subsequent history of the entire world in immeasurable ways. Most decisions do not. Other previous decisions impact the lives and very existence of a much smaller segment of people. This concept is what historians and philosophers call “contingency”. […]

How the West Was Won – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 16

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, One of the troubling aspects of a secular view of the world is that there is no guarantee or mechanism by which the wrongs committed in this world will not ever be paid for and made right. The unrighteous actively wrong others with seeming impunity while those who […]

Uncivil Rest -Acts of the Apostles Pt. 15

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Learning How Difficult It Can Be – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 14

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Tear Down That Wall! – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 13

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Not “E Pluribus Unum” – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 12

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Saul Sees the Light – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 11

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Going Global – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 10

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You Meant It for Evil – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 9

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They All Lived Happily Ever After? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 8

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It Only Takes a Spark… – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 7

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A Lot On Their Shoulders – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 6

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What Could Possibly Go Worng? – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 5

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Defending Their Turf – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 4

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The First Pushback is Pushed Back – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 3

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, The whole of the nation of Israel, but especially the city of Jerusalem, had been simmering in tension for over three years. At the Passover festival more than three years earlier a prophet from Nazareth named Jesus had accused and physically thrown out the religious traders in the […]

The New Community Begins – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 2

WEBCAST – Dear Sisters and Brothers, Tomorrow God’s people around the world will gather with joy to proclaim and rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene from the dead. There is no greater event in history that deserves our attention and response. Fifty days following Jesus’ crucifixion and death and seven days after His […]

A New Era Begins – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 1

WEBCAST – Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers, Although we ended our series through Jesus’ life and ministry two weeks ago, the story continues on. What He did for fallen humanity did not end with the cross or in the grave. Nor did it end when He “led captivity captive”, taking Paradise and its inhabitants […]

“He Descended Into Hell” Conclusion – March 14, 2021

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“He Descended Into Hell” Part 4 – March 7, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters, My Dad had a saying about a person who explained things in far too much detail. He described such a person this way – “If you ask him what time it is he’d tell you how to build a watch.” I’m afraid that I might be guilty of that in seeking to understand […]

“He Descended into Hell” Part 3 – February 28, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters, When I was in my mid-20’s I was taught to study and interpret the Bible by Tom Brown. He would admonish his students NOT to use Bible commentaries or other books, but rather to use the Bible itself as THE main resource to interpret and understand itself. He told us that if we went to […]

“He Descended into Hell” Part 2 – February, 21, 2021

Dear RCF brothers and sisters, We are continuing with our discussion Bible Study tomorrow morning, February 21st, about the mystery of what Jesus did between His death and resurrection. The Apostles’ Creed states that “He descended into hell”, but did He? If so, why? If not, then what did He do during those hours? Last week we looked at the key words used in the Scriptures […]

“He Descended into Hell” Part 1 – February 14, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, A number of weeks ago the question was asked in our discussion Bible study about where Jesus went after His death on the cross and before His resurrection. Specifically, did He “descend into hell” like the Apostles’ Creed states? We will be addressing and answering that question this Sunday, February 14th, and likely for the […]

The End of the Beginning – February 7, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, In this final section of The Harmony of the Gospels Jesus gives His disciples their final instructions for a worldwide ministry before He returns to heaven. This was not merely a matter of information, but revelation. Whatever type of spiritual veil they had over their minds which prevented them from understanding His mission […]

You Say You Want a Revolution? – January 31, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Jesus’ transformation of humanity was never intended to end at the completion of His thirty-three year life. The plan which was conceived in eternity prior to the creation of the universe was always that Jesus would come to earth and provide the complete means of mankind’s redemption. He did that first by […]

You Could Cut Their Fear With a Knife – January 24, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, After Jesus was crucified and buried, it was reasonable for Jesus’ closest male disciples to fear that the Jewish leaders might arrest and prosecute them. If that happened they could be crucified as well. The Sabbath which began at the time of Jesus’ burial gave them 24 hours of potential relief […]

Fearful and Flummoxed – January 17, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, When Jesus was crucified and died, the hopes of the multitudes who thought that He was going to redeem Israel from Roman rule were dashed. Thursday evening’s Passover was celebrated with expectancy as many Jews believed that Jesus was about to set them free, just as Moses did for their ancestors […]

“Perhaps We Were Wrong About Jesus the Nazarene?” – January 10, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Compared to Jesus’ public ministry the past three years, His arrest and trials were witnessed by comparatively few people. Many of those who observed what was happening to Jesus during and after His arrest, such as the Roman officials and soldiers, had only modest personal interest in the proceedings. The huge […]

He is Brought Before Pilate – January 3, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, This coming Sunday, January 3, 2021, we will begin the new year by focussing on Our Lord’s final trial, condemnation, suffering, and death in our discussion Bible study. We will end our time together by reflecting upon these events in the manner He instructed His disciples to, by having “The Lord’s Table”. Therefore, please […]

The Battle Ahead – December 20, 2020

Dear Friends, Two Sundays ago we saw how people, without even knowing it, can try to derail God’s plans. Since before the world was created God had planned that His Son would die as the Passover Lamb Who would rescue people from their bondage to sin and its penalty. God’s timeline was in jeopardy until […]

Final Instructions – December 6, 2020

Dear Friends, If you knew that you only had only hours to live, it is likely that you would want to tell the most important people in your life the most important information they needed to know. That is true regarding Jesus’ final evening with His chosen apostles. During that final Passover evening Jesus communicated […]

The Die Is Cast – November 29, 2020

Dear Friends, Sometimes you just have to just move on. Differences and tensions that you have experienced with others for a long time have not improved despite your best efforts to explain your perspective and position. In fact, despite your best efforts and explanations over time the more entrenched others have become and the die is […]

There is No Convincing Some People! – November 22, 2020

Dear Friends, The current political division in the United States demonstrates that it is nearly impossible to convince people that their views may be wrong. Because their minds are so entrenched that they are right they could never even consider that they might be wrong. That was certainly the case with the religious leaders of […]

The Breach Becomes a Breaking Point – November 8, 2020

Dear Friends, In our discussion Bible study last Sunday we saw Jesus send three more “miracle-bombs” into Jerusalem just prior to His final entry into Jerusalem to get those in the capitol city to believe in Him as their long-promised Messiah. “Miracle-bombs” are notable public miracles which Jesus did outside of Jerusalem which had an enormous impact within the city of […]

The Lord’s Supper and “Harmony” – November 1, 2020

Dear Friends, There are three important happenings at RCF which you need to know about for this Sunday, November 1st. 1. Daylight Savings Time – Remember to move your clocks back. If you don’t stay up later than normal on Saturday you get an extra hour sleep! 2. The Lord’s Supper – We will be beginning our time together commemorating Our Lord’s sacrifice […]

Dropping “Miracle Bombs” in Jerusalem – October 25, 2020

Dear Friends, If you wanted to change a major policy in our nation today, there are two ways you could go about it. One way would be to travel widely and speak throughout the fifty states to get a majority of people to agree with your ideas. A second way would be to travel only […]

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Welcome to River Christian Fellowship!

Our Services

9:30 am – 10:50 am Every Sunday

9:30 am – 10:50 am
Every Sunday