When you're talking about Jewish eschatology it is always
best to know that their view of end times doesn't line up completely with
Christian ideas. This "new
Jerusalem" might or might not be the same as the one in the book of the Revelation. They have had several "new
Jerusalems" throughout their history and are still looking for this one of
which Isaiah wrote. The Jerusalem at
present certainly doesn't qualify as it is not their own and there is no temple
there, rather a Muslim temple occupies the most sacred site in all
Judaism. We, because of Jesus, have a
fuller revelation of this new Jerusalem but not in certain details. We know it is truly a new creation, one that
comes down to a ruined world as an overlay of sorts, a true new beginning. We are looking for a new creation to replace
the one we have ruined and while Jerusalem is the centerpiece of that new
creation there will also be participation by all who have accepted Jesus as
Messiah.
Peter thinks it is a magnanimous gesture that he is willing
to forgive seven times but Jesus raises the bar impossibly high to either
seventy-seven times or seventy times seven.
It all begins with the parable. The
parable tells the truth about us and sin, that our sin is so great we have no
hope of repaying it without a debt forgiveness.
You know who else knows that?
Anyone who believes in reincarnation.
They know that there is such a deficit created by sin in our lives
(however that may be defined) that we will have to get endless do-overs to try
and make up that deficit. Goodness is
defined by them, not by God so how can anyone actually know they have done
good? The parable tells us that
essentially we have required such grace that it is immeasurable and because we
have received such grace we have no choice but to bestow that same measure of
grace on others who sin against us. Notice,
however, it is based on recognition and confession of an existing debt.
Preparation for entering the city is washing the robes,
which is also translated as doing the commandments. Does that leave out grace? No, nowhere in Judaism is anything other than
grace taught as a principle. The sacrificial
system is completely dependent on the principle of grace. He has no obligation to forgive but He
created one when He gave them that system.
If you do as commanded with a sincere and contrite heart concerning sin
you will receive forgiveness. He chose
to bind Himself this way, He chose to be a forgiving God who so desired
covenant with a people that He created the covenant in such a way as to make an
everlasting covenant possible. He bound
Himself in a way that He did not require of Abraham as the representative of
the people who were to come from him. Entrance
to the city is dependent on washing the robes in the righteous blood of
Jesus. It is, was and ever shall be
based on the goodness and grace of God.
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