Before the first gathered people were scattered, God said He would make a New Covenant with people of faith. (a) [see end notes for all Scriptures] The renewed call to faith in His oversight did not involve a natural place, but involved writing “His laws and ways in people’s minds and hearts.” (b)
This second call to faith would focus on what the first gathered people refused: personal interactions with our Eternal Father. These people would respond to the abiding presence of God which would teach them how to really think, act, worship, and live natural lives as people of faith.
The Second Call
Some 1500 years after the first visionary call and deliverance from slavery, God intervened a second time. By this time in history, the general perception of God’s will for people of faith had deteriorated into a religion of rules and restrictions. The Jewish Torah contained over 600 Laws.
The prophet Daniel declared: “One like the son of man” (c) would come to influence and oversee this response. He said this kingdom’s reality “would never end or cease to be in the earth.” (d) This call came as a spiritual awakening, a rebirthing of God’s vision for people of faith.
During this second call to faith, Jesus Christ proclaimed: “the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God (His reigning presence) is at hand (within your reach), repent and believe in the gospel (good news).” (e) This declaration was to all; “Whosoever will” could partake and live as “born again” (from above). (f) This kingdom experience was “not coming with signs to be observed… behold the kingdom of God is in your midst,” (g) in the middle of, between your interaction.
Jesus explained God’s kingdom reign does not produce a utopian state or a perfect life condition, it is a developing reality; “full of mystery…a fruitful understanding…spreads like sowing seed…expands to affect everything…is a costly treasure…and can appeal to all.” (h) While God’s reigning oversight allows for “tares among wheat” and “wolves among sheep,” (i) our pursuit of the vision brings “righteousness, peace, and joy.” (j) This reign was not coming by force, yet “everyone is forcing his way into it.” (k)
Leaders of the old order opposed this unmanaged faith. So, Jesus announced the kingdom would “be taken away from you, and given to a nation (a people) producing the fruit of it.” (l) And, “this generation” (m) alive in that day would see it. Paul confirmed the old is “made obsolete…is ready to disappear.” (n) Those called “the holy people” were about to see their “end time.” (o) To illustrate the former was no longer relevant, the Holy City and Temple were destroyed in 70 AD.
God’s kingdom reign does not produce a utopian state or a perfect life condition, it is a developing reality.
“New Birth”
Jesus instructed people to “Follow me (my example).” (p) He even prayed that followers would, “be with me where I am.” (q) Jesus asked that people would respond to God’s insightful presence during this life, as he did. He desired that we follow God’s guidance so we could live this life more “abundantly.” (r) Responsive people are even called “a nation producing the fruit of it.” (s)
Before the crucifixion, Jesus said “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you…and will disclose myself…and we (my Father and I) will come…and make our abode with you.” (t) After the resurrection, the “anointed man” they had known began appearing as “a spirit.” This changed their perception of Jesus. God-in-Christ was now with them as an abiding presence of the Spirit.
When Jesus ascended out of natural sight, 
he verified, “I am with you always.” (u) As John the Baptist foretold, (v) on that Day of Pentecost, Jesus returned to baptize people in the presence of God’s Spirit. (w) Now they could understand how Jesus would always be with them. God’s immersing presence became readily available; for it was “poured forth upon all mankind.” (x)
Despite the overlords of the existing religious order, a new class of people accepted the vision. Like airplanes that function and soar within the limitations of gravity, people of faith responded to the presence of God within the restrictions of their natural circumstances and various cultures.
People began relating to the abiding presence of God-in-Christ and to baptizing immersions in His presence. (y) Multitudes began to experience this “new birth” of awareness. (z) Responders became the “Body of Christ,” (aa) visible illustrations of God’s abiding presence in the earth.
When Jesus ascended out of natural sight, he verified, “I am with you always.”
A Spiritual Awakening
This call to faith was a spiritual awakening. The new reality “upset the world” concepts of God in a temple or on a shelf. (bb) This call to faith focused on personal fellowship with the abiding presence of God. Like the first call, God spoke of this response as “a holy nation.” (cc)
For over 300 years, people of faith proclaimed “God is with us!” (dd) God responds to our desire to be more like Jesus, as better expressions of our Eternal Father’s character, attitude, and personality (CAP). People became examples of God’s love and light in their own communities.
While God did not have a problem with the different perceptions people developed, men began to try and congeal, to standardize perceptions and practices of faith in God. Some began to promote the idea that there should be authorities over areas. A teacher of the day, Ignatius, taught “we should follow a bishop as Jesus followed God, respect elders as apostles, and bring honor to bishops as unto God.” Once again, a two class system was introduced into the faith response.
In 313 AD, the converted Roman Emperor Constantine assembled area authorities into councils to form a standardized belief system. These councils functioned for over 200 years, arguing over what would be official doctrine. Once decided, they declared all other views and experiences to be heresy. Like Israel of old, as leaders began to take control, freedoms began to slip away.
Eventually, worship of God apart from official beliefs and practices were forbidden. Within a few generations a veil seemed to come over the minds and hearts of people of faith as God’s presence “with us” became a forgotten reality all over Europe and the Mediterranean regions. History tells us that in 500 AD, all sacred writings were removed from the public and the reading of Scripture was restricted to the ministry class.
Once again, people of faith became subject to overlords. This time it was a spiritual type of captivity. In this short overview of approximate dates, keep in mind that changes involve processes of beginnings and endings, with overlapping starts and stops. (ee)
- 1500 BC – God frees people out of slavery to live under His guidance, yet personal interaction is refused.
- 1000 BC – The people choose to be like other nations with a king and begin losing freedoms.
- 500 BC – The national experience ceased and the people were dispersed.
- 00 AD – God-in-Christ calls people into personal fellowship with the presence of God.
- 500 AD – Faith’s response came under religious controls and sacred writings are withheld. One religious system exercised control over public responses of faith for the next 1000 years
We can learn much from God’s two historical calls to be “My people.” Our next blog will shine light on God’s third call to respond to His guidance and live free of the world’s two class system.
This call to faith focused on personal fellowship with the abiding presence of God.
a) Jeremiah 31:31-34; b) Hebrews 8:10; 10:16; c) Daniel 7:13-14; d) Daniel 2:44-45; e) Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17; f) John 3:3, 16; g) Luke 17:20-21; h) Mathew 13:11, 19, 23, 24, 31-33, 44-46, 47; i) Matthew 13:24-30; 7:15; j) Romans 14:17; k) Luke 16:16; Matthew 11:12; l) Matthew 21:43; m) Matthew 23:36; 24:34; n) Hebrews 8:13; o) Daniel 12:4-9; p) Matthew 16:24; John 12:26; John 13:15; q) John 17:24; 14:3; r) John 10:10; s) Matthew 21:43: t) John 14:18-23; u) Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; v) Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; w) Acts 2:33, 39; x) Acts 2:16-17, 32-33; y) Acts 2:1-6, 41; z) John 3:3-6; Acts 1:5; aa) 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:12; bb) Acts 17:6; cc) 1 Peter 2:4-10; Exodus 19:6; dd) Romans 8:31; Matthew 1:23; ee) Ezekiel 1:16; 10:10
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author