Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Partial Hardening of Israel

Rom.11:25 For I don't desire you to be ignorant, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

When reading the letter to the Roman's we must never lose sight of its context. When we parse verses out of context to the whole of the letter we have but one small piece of the puzzle, a piece of sky, or perhaps a piece of lake? No one know until the rest of the puzzle start being connected that identifiable objects start appearing.

Heb. 6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
6:2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 6:3 This will we do, if God permits. 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 6:5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6:6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

Roman's is a complex argument of Christ superiority over the law of God given through Moses to Israel, God's chosen people. Imagine if you will living under God's righteous law in a nation that had been formed by it, and had been under it for thousand's of years. Suddenly a person in the name of Christ claims he will fulfill the law and set its side for a new heavens and earth. Thus, is the setting of letter to Roman where Paul alone out of all the apostles explains why God must set aside his judgment under the law for Christ righteous in a new law, a new covenant, this was a totally new concept, and it was highly offensive to the Jewish faith. Moreover, many Jews had converted into Christianity and its was their natural inclination to revert back to the old law as God's righteousness, rather than Christ righteousness, which is also true in to day world for Jews and many Christian's.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

What Harden Israel?

Many see the Israel's partial hardening as some magical gook God rubbed into Israel eyes, and at some moment in time he removes his magical gook from their eyes unblinding them to the truth of Christ, as if he made it happen from his own evil heart so he could bring in the Gentle nations, and suddenly God's evil heart disappears and all fleshly flesh will be saved

James.1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

What then harden Israel heart? Simply put, in context to the letter to Roman's their own self-righteousness sought by the law of God. Yes, Israel self-blinded themselves by seeking self righteousness through God's law. Their entire system had become built upon seeking self-righteousness through the application of the law. The power, the strength of their nation came from its superior law raised above the nations of the Gentles.

Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn't follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Just as all great nations have done, or do in putting leader at the top who uphold the law, Israel was the same, it had become steep in self-righteousness by works of law. The magical gook was the false application of God's law in their own hearts that harden them. Some of Israel harden into personal righteousness, while other humble themselves knowing they could not keep the law. There were vessels of wrath being formed, but also vessels of mercy being formed long before Christ on earth, and while Christ was upon earth, all within the same house hold of faith (the Jewish Faith). The law was the dividing point, for the truth of the fallen flesh, it either humbled ones in heart, or it made one haughty in heart. (a vessel of mercy, or a vessel of wrath)

Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Rom.9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.

Rom.9:21 Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction, 9:23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory, 9:24 us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 9:25 As he says also in Hosea, "I will call them 'my people,' which were not my people; and her 'beloved,' who was not beloved."{Hosea 2:23} 9:26 "It will be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There they will be called 'children of the living God.'"{Hosea 1:10}

The same division exist in every nation on earth, there are law keeper that think they are superior to others for keeping the law; found right down into business, religion, family, and friends, into every fiber of human society. One cannot get around judgments through law in giving one personal merit as being better than someone else, it is the fundamental standard of all law, judgment of human conduct if it is good or bad.

In other words, if the nature of a monkey is to climb trees one would not think it could be changed by telling the monkey it was wrong. No! The person has to work within the nature of the animal, by putting it in a cage where it can't climb, or something other than believing we could changes its natural instinct to climb by words.

Telling people they are sinners and they live by works of law was not enough, it like telling the monkey not to climb it simple can't understand climbing is not what its suppose to do. God gave Israel the law to change our hearts, would we become humble, or haughty, would we look up to salvation from our sins the law judged us as, or would we look at others at the speak of sin in their eye so we could judge our standing with God as better, that is, as more righteous than the other guy, by works of law that we imagine we were doing?

Luke.7:36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee's house, and sat at the table. 7:37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
7:38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner." 7:40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." He said, "Teacher, say on." 7:41 "A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 7:42 When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" 7:43 Simon answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most." He said to him, "You have judged correctly." 7:44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 7:45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 7:46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
7:48 He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 7:49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 7:50 He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Israel harden itself against the Son of God because they found his life worthless by their judgment from the law. They judge him in self-righteousness not by the true righteousness God's law, which rewarded Christ with life for not sinning that is the reward of the law. Comparing themselves against true righteousness (Christ) blinded them to anything good in Christ (they mistakenly judge him by a law for sinner not made for righteous men without sin. Hence, as a nation, they did not need him unless he went along with the program already set up, that is, a law created for sinner that was being used falsely. Christ was flatly rejected and murder by those in power in Israel and those loving their nation, more than God. They had made an idol out of God's righteous law, they had made an idol out of the prophets of God by honoring them and their tombs. They were a nation of idolaters thinking they were serve God by their idolatry, when in fact, they reject God's righteousness in the law, and reject Christ righteousness for self-righteousness in works of law.

Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Matthew 23:29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous.

Matthew 7:12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin,{ cumin is an aromatic seed from Cuminum cyminum, resembling caraway in flavor and appearance. It is used as a spice.} and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Many today, long for the day when Israel will be restored to its former glory, where they can go back to that old idolatry so they uses verses from Paul's letter to the Roman to establish their agenda for true righteousness. Missing the entire point of letter to Roman's that rejects national righteousness as idolatry the very thing Israel failed over. Israel of God is not fleshly, that is, of man's works at all! The Israel of God is Spirit and truth found in each person heart in worshiping God not by sight, but in faith, in not comparing ourselves against flesh and blood, but Christ in the law of love.

1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:36 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.

Romans 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

Romans 11:7 What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

Romans 9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.

Galatians 4:23 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

Galatians 4:29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

John 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew,{The word translated "anew" here and in John 3:7 (anothen) also means "again" and "from above".} he can't see the Kingdom of God."

Without the law fleshly Israel no longer existed for any purpose, certainly not righteousness where God rest. The laws righteousness was completed and done away with in Christ righteousness, the old heavens under the law, was rolled up, put away, for a new heaven, instituted by Christ blood, in a new covenant. God did not leave Israel, Israel left God for self-righteousness when making the righteous law of God into an idol to build up unrighteous men as righteous by works of law. The animal blood sacrifice that actually proved the law did not make Israel righteous, but atonement did was destroyed two thousand years ago, where indeed has all those sin God that are still practicing the law condemning them as unrighteous?

Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Galatians 5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

Restoration of All Israel

Restoration to God's people has not changed from the start of sin entering into this world which is the message of Roman's restoration is not fleshly Israel becoming powerful again rebuilding its gates, no! Restoration is the removal of sin from mankind that which the law could not do , the law only provoked sin in us by magnifying it through the power of the law. The law did not take sin out of us, how then can one be declared righteous by law that give power to sin in us? The did not make us better than someone else (without sin), just as Israel provoked God's wrath over self-righteousness we may do in Christ if we practice righteousness through fleshly laws.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Rom. 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom.8:15 For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba{Abba is an Aramaic word for father or daddy, often used affectionately and respectfully in prayer to our Father in heaven.}! Father!"
8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

Rom. 8:19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
8:20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 8:21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.

It is the power of Christ life without corruption of sin that is his Kingdom of righteousness that conquered sin, death and Hades not fleshly Israel, or its laws> Fleshly Israel was weak a beggarly shadow of the righteousness to be revealed in Christ. Christ restored what was lost, the life of Adam, the father to the human race. Adam was to procreate sinless children of God to fill our earth with God's righteousness. But he sinned, and he died in his sins. He was the only human son of God directly created by God's Spirit, Christ replaced Adam's lost life to sin, he conquered as a sinless man this world, fleshly Israel did not conquer this world with its mundane laws. Christ is the restorer of what was lost to God, he is the restore of all Israel the spiritual Israel birthed by God's Holy Spirit as son's of God, by the living word of God Christ Jesus, not fleshly son's from a fleshly Israel that could not put away the filth of their own flesh by works of law.

1Cor.15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
15:18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 15:21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. 15:24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
15:27 For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet."{Psalm 8:6} But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
15:28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

Christ opened the door to the lowly and humble whom cried out to God for righteousness sake, those were thirsting for true righteousness not their own through works of law, only a liar would believe they are righteous by some law. Only a superficial person could put on the pretense they have made themselves righteous by God's law by applying the law in their life made to point out sin and not remove it. Those humble in spirit hungering for righteousness knew they fell short of God's glory, knowing that nothing if honest in them made them worthy of association with God's holiness.

Matt.5:2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.{Isaiah 57:15; 66:2}
5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.{Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13}
5:5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.{or, land. Psalm 37:11}
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
5:11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

For those with real faith in God, in his goodness and love, looked longingly for a time their sins would be taken away once for all times, a gift given them by God's love. Such a seed came, out of fleshly Israel as God promised would happen for the faith and love of Israel's forefathers. Such love and faith is the Israel of God, not the flesh prideful person boasting in their goodness before man and God.

Matt. 6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does, 6:4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 6:5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Nothing within God's word ever indicates differently God did not chose fleshly Israel because it was special or above other nations, God chose Israel for the love of Abraham, God saved Israel time and again for the love of his own name, not because they were good and righteous but because God promised Abraham his seed would come through Israel.

John 8:39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

John 8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Galatians 3:7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."{Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18}

Galatians 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

Galatians 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Israel is a name, it is what that name means to God in faith in him that is truth and Spirit. It is about one man's heart without the name Israel, or any name recognized by great leaders at the time. It was about Abraham's faith in God which is the heart of all Israel of God. That is why God cannot lie, or promote a lie like the nations of our earth that accepts the good and evil found in all governments, religion, and commerce and boasting that it comes from God because they use God's name,and/or laws given Israel, that is not God's standard of true righteousness.

1Cor.1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

God instead puts his name only on those righteous who are made righteous by his place of pure worship the Son of God. Christ is God's temple not the Jerusalem below rejected because of its unrighteousness. All must be made righteous through the last Adam, Christ Jesus, all must have their sins blotted out by the pass over lamb to be the Israel of God. All must walk in faith, not in sight of fleshly Israel, all must come up, to a heaven high mountain (the new Jerusalem above) if they wish to be associated with the city having real foundation. All must put away righteousness by law, and accept the gift of unmerited kindness to be spiritual Israel, the Israel of God, not in name, but in true righteousness.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;"{Genesis 15:16} and he was called the friend of God.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

Completed: November 19, 2016

Danny I have a question about the scripture you quoted in Mathew 5:2-12 was Jesus talking about the144,000 ?

Dear Sandra,

Thank you for your question. I am uncertain exactly where your thinking is on this subject, but I will give this a try so please let me know if I covered your question?

First, the division of earthly hope and heavenly hope is something that the WTS promotes, subsequently, giving the impression that before Christ those in Israel were somehow less worthy of the heavenly calling. Moreover, this thought is used within the WTS between two classes of those of the heavenly class, closed by the WTS teaching around 1935, and new merging Great Crowd an earthly paradise hope that now consumes all WTS teaching.

The righteousness Jesus spoke to in the Sermon on the Mount was the everlasting righteousness that God's people longed for since sin entered into our world. Israel had a temporary righteousness that pictured the coming true righteousness found in the life of Christ Jesus.

Israel had become a nation seeking righteousness by works of law, this caused those who were honest hearted, that is, seeking true righteousness to be poor spiritually. Israel people had become corrupted with man righteousness (works of flesh) instead of the righteousness God provided too Israel (blood) had become hypocrites boasting in the power of the flesh instead of the power of the redemptive blood of the only righteousness God provided for Israel had.

Israel was redeemed by the blood of the pass-over lamb it was formed by the law of God. Israel became apostate when they thought the law redeemed them instead of the blood given too them by God's mercy. Israel forgot the power of the law was sin, not righteousness of the flesh, the flesh could not be righteous according to the truth of the law.

Those formed by faith in Israel were but a remnant that were longing for true righteousness knowing the truth of their own condition when trying to live up the teachings of a self-righteous works of law religiously ruling class who had power over the people by the law. They had an outward appearance of righteousness. In other words, the leaders were somehow of greater righteousness than the people, because of their teaching the law.

When God brought the system to its end, at his appointed time, he sent his people to true righteousness in Christ Jesus. That meant that each person wanting to serve God must be born again into Christ just as Israel had been born again into Moses at the Red Sea after their own deliverance by blood of the pass-over lamb.

1Cor.10:1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
10:2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
10:5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 10:7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."{Exodus 32:6}

Now each one would be made part of the real temple, Christ, in his glorified body in heaven, true, righteousness would be given each one as a free gift of God's love. They would be filled not with the law of Israel, but with the life of Christ by Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

The hostility of the flesh, which caused division between Israel and God, the sinful flesh was removed, put to death under the new covenant, the power of the law was lost, destroyed, completed because it had nothing to judge any longer because the flesh was put to death. God's people now seen the reality of Spirit and truth rather than the shadow of the old Israel under that which could not perfect anything of our flesh. That is, could not remove sins that separated Israel from God, separated how? Israel, its people, could not be God's son's, born again by the righteousness of animal blood. The law itself could not bring one into true righteousness because it condemned all flesh as unrighteous, with exception of Christ flesh, the new pass-over lamb. The blood of animal could not complete redeem humans it required a perfect human life, that which Adam lost for us.

Israel stays blinded through self-righteousness by works of law to this day. However, within a one hundred years the Christian's born into a Spirit world, into a Spirit temple, into Christ Jesus spirit life were oversown by fleshly weeds, and their fleshly teaching of righteousness by works of law returning to works of the flesh boasting in their flesh as righteousness before men boast in the power of the flesh. False brothers created an earthly corrupt world wide empire as part of Babylon the Great making human righteousness by works of the flesh as salvation rather than Christ Jesus righteousness, which the WTS is part of.

The formation of weed religion for those claim to be of Christ righteousness is a combination of old law, and new covenant law making it a mystery that very evil, Those teaching it say Christ the tree of life for those wheat (planted by God, by his will, by his Spirit) that Christ has two kinds of fruit on his tree (his life as giving all of us life), has both good, and corrupt fruit (evil, sin of the flesh) (Christ who removed the judgment of the flesh by killing it burying it in his death). If we are Christ life, part of his life, we cannot have two fruit, not unless we have an earthly religion made by man that all have teach all institution have two fruit on their tree, which is impossible taught by angels of light, that is, of false righteousness.

Matt.7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
7:16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

Hence, the Sermon on the Mount should not be divided into groups it applies to all of those seeking righteousness through Christ. When the new heavens are full of God's children and our earth it will be not by human righteousness through any religion, it will be by the life of Christ, which there is no other name given among mankind that we may be saved, or serve God.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Rom.8:10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Rom.8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.
8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Heb.11:36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
11:37 They were stoned.{2 Chronicles 24:20-21} They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.{Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10} They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
11:38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
11:39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise,
11:40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.