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It depends on which gospel they heard and believed and which one God was dispensing at the time.
Israel was Gods choice as His people on the earth.
Deu 7:6-8 KJV For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
This is also why Jesus taught them to pray:
Mat 6:9-10 KJV After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
They were to seek Gods kingdom coming DOWN, whereas Paul tells us that we are already seated in heavenly places and that we should focus on "things above and not things on the earth" (Col 3:2). It's an easy to see the contrast.
Paul also makes it clear that God is not done with Israel:
Rom 11:1-2 KJV I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (2) God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
They will be restored:
Rom 11:15 KJV For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
In the dispensation of the grace of God, God accepts ALL by faith in what Jesus Christ did on the cross.
Rom 9:6-8 KJV Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Far too many people confuse this passage to make it inclusive of everyone. But it is exactly the opposite. Paul here is EXCLUDING unbelieving Israel (not including everyone else).
Gal 4:28 KJV Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
They likely heard that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believed it. They would have an earthly inheritance in the kingdom just like the twelve.
God is dispensing His grace today. If you heard and believed the twelve, then you had better keep the law of Moses... because that is what they taught and did.
Mat 23:1-3 KJV Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, (2) Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: (3) All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 28:18-20 KJV And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It they didn't observe and do all of the law and teach other to do the same, they were NOT obeying the Lord's command.
Yes.
