God demonstrated His Will and His Desire to redeem fallen humanity by establishing a covenant with the people of Israel. He gave, through Moses, the ceremonial, symbolic Law which was a type and shadow of things which were to come, namely, the redemptive work of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can it be explained in a FAIRLY simple and direct way that the Catholic Church, in Her members, is the spiritual Israel, the "Israel of God"?
The Old (symbolic) covenant was done away with when Christ died on the Cross at Calvary and the veil of the Temple was torn in two.
How do we explain that although the SYMBOLIC sacrifices were taken away, and the human/fallible High-Priesthood of mortal MEN was taken away, the notion of Christ's role as the eternal High Priest, offering the eternal Sacrifice of His Body and Blood, continues to this day?
I am trying to explain these things to people who believe that since Christ died for the sins of the world, there is no more sacrifice at all. Everyone who believes is immediately, permanently "saved" and guaranteed Heaven.
How do I explain that the Church IS the people of Israel fulfilled? We go on the Lord's Day to confess sin and offer sacrifice. We have the Law, the Decalogue, and are required to be obedient and not just say we have "faith".
Can anyone demonstrate that there is still a priesthood and that the leaders of the Church are to be the Bishops and the priests they ordain? I know all these things to be true, but it is difficult to explain them all without it turning into a long lecture.
What I've basically told the person so far is that there are two types of disobedience in the world today as relates to Christ:
There are the so-called "Jєωs" who believe they are keeping the Law of God given through Moses, but they do not recognize Christ and thus are under the condemnation of the Law because they sin, but have no sacrifices for sin, and Christ, fulfilling the Law, has done away with the old system. They have law and its curse.
Then there are the so-called Christians who say that they are redeemed by Christ and that obedience is "through faith", meaning their conduct doesn't matter, and they have no law at all to obey other than to "believe". They have turned the grace of God into licentiousness.
I know this is a long and drawn-out post, but I have the problem that I can explain these things, but it would (and does) take a long time.
I am sure there are writings out there that clearly explain how the Church is separate from NATIONAL Israel, but is in fact the TRUE Israel, the society where there are commandments, sinners, confession, penance and Sacrifice.
Can anyone shed any light on how to simplify the explanation?
Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Topic: The Catholic Church as the "Israel of God" (Read 403 times)