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An Apostolic Fellowship
The Name "Christadelphians"
A Distinctive Foundation
The Whole Bible
God, Creator and Father
The Vital Earth
Israel in God's Purpose
Promises to the Patriarchs
The Truth about Mankind
Man is Mortal
The Nature of Jesus
Son of God not God the Son
The Devil and Satan
The Good News
Baptism
The Kingdom of God
When Christ Comes...
The Life of Discipleship
Peace of Mind
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Israel in God's Purpose The careful
reader of the Bible will be in no doubt that the nation of Israel has occupied a special place in the purpose of
God. But many people today find this difficult to reconcile with the nature of the modern State of Israel. How
did the "special relationship" arise?
The Bible account shows us that the human race, in the early centuries of its existence, massively abandoned
the true worship of God, so that "the earth was corrupt....and filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11),
thus bringing the divine judgment of the Flood. It was not long, however, before mankind began to show again the
same tendencies to evil. God therefore determined to build up a special community, by whom His Word would be preserved.
So he chose Abraham, a man of faith, and made outstanding promises to him and his descendants, involving the future
possession of the land of Canaan (later Palestine or Israel) and blessings for all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3;
13:14,15).
Abraham's descendants were brought out of Egypt by God's power and were eventually settled in 12 tribes in the
Promised Land, Israel. There they lived under the Law, a system of regulations given them by God through Moses,
with the intention of training them to be a people devoted to His service. In the following centuries the Jews
repeatedly neglected the worship of God and turned to worship the idols of their pagan neighbours, and as a result
were driven out of their land by the invasion of foreign powers. They lived for centuries scattered and persecuted,
as God has warned them would happen (read Deuteronomy 28). Nevertheless, despite their waywardness, the Jews preserved
the Word of God both in the land of Israel and during their exile in other countries.
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