ONE MORE AMOS II

In yesterday’s Journal entry I mentioned the final chapter of Amos tells of a Restoration of Israel and then includes “of all mankind and the Gentiles” (Amos 9:12). It was looking forward to the New Way in Christ Jesus to redeem all people.

In Acts 15 is the record of the Council at Jerusalem of the early believers trying to figure things out as followers of Jesus. Peter, an apostle, stood and told of the Gentiles receiving Christ and the Holy Spirit the same as anyone else. Then Paul and Barnabas, apostles, spoke: “Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles” (Acts 15:12).

After all the discussion concerning the mixture of the Old and New Covenants, Law and Grace, James, an apostle, speaks:
“Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’” (Acts 15:13-18)

James gives an exact quote of Amos 9:11-12. All things are fulfilled in Jesus and the work of the cross. As John wrote:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Jesus