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THE “CANAANIZATION” OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH. The Call vs. Culture – An Eternal Problem. I. The Call of Israel. God had chosen Israel to be a holy nation . The Abrahamic covenant had called them to be a blessing to all nations. They were to represent Him to the world.
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THE “CANAANIZATION” OF ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH The Call vs. Culture – An Eternal Problem
I. The Call of Israel • God had chosen Israel to be a holy nation. • The Abrahamic covenant had called them to be a blessing to all nations. They were to represent Him to the world. • They were given the covenant of the Law to tutor them how to fear God and how to live justly with one another. • They were to be a kingdom of priests. See Exodus 19:6.
I. The Call of Israel • They were the covenantal community of faith. • They were given the divine gift of revelation from God and expected to believe it by faith. • They were a people of God’s own possession. See Exodus 19:5.
II. The “Canaanization” of Israel – • Read Judges 2:11-23. • Instead of destroying the Canaanites, Israel joined them. • They turned away from YHWH, the God of Israel. • They began to worship Baal. • They participated in the cultic practices of Baal worship including sexual immorality. • They participated in their sacrifices. • They intermarried with them. • Israel had become just like their pagan neighbors.
III. The Call of the Church • Called as saints • Called out of darkness and into light • Called not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person. See 1 Corinthians 5:11. • Called to freedom to serve one another. See Galatians 5:13. • Called to walk in a manner worthy of God, with humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance and love for one another. See Ephesians 4:1.
III. The Call of the Church • Called to a new life of righteousness, and holiness of the truth. See Ephesians 4:24. • Called not for impurity but for sanctification. See 1 Thessalonians 4:7. • Called for salvation, sanctification and glory in Christ. See 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. • Called for eternal life. See 1 Timothy 6:12.
III. The Call of the Church • Called by grace through faith for good worksprepared by God. See Ephesians 2:8-10. • Called to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession to proclaim the gospel. See 1 Peter 2:9. • Called to be a light to point others to Christ. See Matthew 5:16.
III. The Call of the Church • Called to be a living sacrifice, not conformed to this world, but transformed to live out the will of God. See Romans 12:1-2. • Bottom line: Called to be God’s hands, feet, and heart on earth; called to be holy and different than the world around us.
IV. The “Canaanization” of the Church • Divorce • Materialism and the Poor • Sexual Disobedience • Racism • Lifestyle habits • Faithful remnant • Bottom line: Learning to think Biblically and theologically DOES matter.
V. Applications and Implications • The Holy Spirit is still at work. I can be different. • I should evaluate my life in light of Biblical truth, not the world’s standards. • I should guard myself against the gradual slide into cultural relativism. • I am to be in the world, but not of it. But am I being truly transformed?
V. Applications and Implications • My checkbook reveals my true priorities. My practices belie my beliefs. • God is faithful to forgive me and restore me. • I am an ineffective witness if there is no evidence for change in my life. • Grace compels me to live according to the revealed Word of God.