"Fulness of the Gentiles be come in " means that when the Romans have completely captured and overrun the city of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel, then the day of Israel has ended, and the day or fulness of the Gentiles has begun. The teaching that the times of the Gentiles began back in 500 or 600 BC is only imagined by man. From the beginning of Israel, to the end of it, were the times of Israel, not the Gentiles.
Adeyemi Babajide Damilola on Romans 11 - 10 years ago
Romans 11 36. That means every person, every corporation, every stock bond, everything on this planet belongs to God. You don 't really own anything. You need to realize, God owns it all, so that 's why you have to look to Him to have all your needs met.
the gifts and calling of God are without repentance God does not change his purposes when God appoints you to operate in a specific purpose no man or predicament that can overwrite the plan of God Ours is to dwell in the light as his in the light and be partaker of is grace
it does not matter what one believes this scripture says; it only matters what one knows this scripture says; truth is not based on what you believe; but on what you know without a doubt; it is a fact that the lord has come for the jews and gentiles alike;for it is written means old test and jesus is the deliverer that has come for them and there will not be another time for them as god and paul sais they please not god but still can come and be born again like all those that trust the lord only for salvation; he is that deliverer.
I can claim it with ease mark! and so can all who are saved. Here's a new "perspective" with ALL advantages: JESUS IS IN YOU AND GOD TOO (since they are one) We ALSO receive the Holy Spirit upon being saved who is also one with the Father. >>>> 1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.>>> also see ACTS 8:8 and elsewhere on the Holy Spirit! Peace.
It's amazing how many people want to prove Jesus a liar. Why? Self-Righteousness. Remember, my Savior Jesus Christ new what it was like to be a man. He felt what we feel when it comes to sin. He also had a HUGE advantage. The Father in him. No other human being could claim that at the time or since. Perspective people. Perspective.
Juan, don't be confused. Jesus had many titles in the Bible and they all applied! Here are a few more and where to find them.
Chief Cornerstone: ( Ephesians 2:20)
Firstborn over all creation: ( Colossians 1:15)
Holy One: ( Acts 3:14; Psalm 16:10)
Judge: ( Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8)
King of kings and Lord of lords: ( 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16)
Light of the World: ( John 8:12
Prince of peace: ( Isaiah 9:6)
Son of God: ( Luke 1:35; John 1:49)
Son of man: ( John 5:27)
Word: ( John 1:1; 1 John 5:7-8)
Word of God: ( Revelation 19:12-13)
Word of Life: ( 1 John 1:1)
Alpha and Omega: ( Revelation 1:8; 22:13)
Emmanuel: ( Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23)
I Am: ( John 8:58, with Exodus 3:14)
Lord of All: ( Acts 10:36)
True God: ( 1 John 5:20)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith: ( Hebrews 12:2)
Bread of Life: ( John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom: ( Matthew 9:15)
Deliverer: ( Romans 11:26)
Good Shepherd: ( John 10:11,14)
High Priest: ( Hebrews 2:17)
Lamb of God: ( John 1:29)
Mediator: ( 1 Timothy 2:5)
Rock: ( 1 Corinthians 10:4)
Resurrection and Life: ( John 11:25)
Savior: ( Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11)
True Vine: ( John 15:1)
Way, Truth, Life: ( John 14:6)
In reference to one of the above comments which stated, "The Lord will not show mercy to those who don't earn that mercy". I pray tell me, which one of Adam's children can claim the merit of having earned God's mercy? If we had to earn it, then it would not be mercy, God would merely be paying a debt He owes ( Romans 4:4). Besides, who can give anything to God so as to earn anything He gives? Absolutely none. (See Romans 11:35-36). Mercy is a manifestation of God's grace to the undeserving.....like me. I thank God it is based on His goodness and not my labor, thus I have hope.
to complete from Rom.11:19-24 When God is finish with the Gentiles He will reinstate Israel. Israel was set aside because of unbelief. The gentiles have favor because of their belief. Therefore they should not be proud, but intrinsic nature does not matter to or deter God. They should realize that God is capable of setting the
gentiles aside and of grafting Israel in again. this is precisly what He will do.
God is too great for us to understand with the human mind. We will never be able to understand his actions and so by faith we live, breath and have our being. Through Him we move through this earth doing what is that perfect and acceptable will of God. To him I give all glory, honor and praise.
Verses 17-20 - A little lesson on finding scripture truth in the age of grace (church age) when reading and comprehending the gospels:
1. The apostle Paul is the apostle to the gentiles, church age Christians ( Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13);
2. We must use Paul as our checks and balance to reach doctrinal truth for Christians in the church age, which means if a person is not sure about a verse knowing who the writer is (Jew) writing to Jews, Gentiles, or both and always what time (age )is the writer referring to;
3. We must always refer to what the Pauline epistles says about the subject in question;
4. In these verses, what Paul says aids us to come to the correct truth. "Signs are for the Jews ( 1 Corinthians 1:22);
5. In Mark 16:15 them=apostles and there are two separate commissions given:
a. Verse 16, the charge to go out and be a soul winner (great commission);
b. Verses 17 and 18, this commission is for apostles only (apostolic commission), how do we know this, because of the term signs are only for the Jews and no one else in the gospels ever was given the sign gifts except the Jewish disciples (apostles) and was given by Jesus himself not just the holy spirit.
6. So if you are a gentile believer and think you can handle deadly serpents and drink deadly things and not die. I can tell you of true accounts where gentile believers did these things and died. Because these gifts are for handpicked Jews by Jesus only and will not be seen again until the tribulation age when God is dealing with the Jews for the second time, to receive Jesus as their messiah. Gentiles seek wisdom=word of God ( 1 Corinthians 1:22), start 2 Timothy 2:15.
@Elizabeth Lee,
This is why Christians need to study dispensational truth by Clarence Larkin. I Timothy 2:15, God’s plan of salvation for all mankind has never wavered, Ephesians 1:4, Matthew 25:34, God’s method may change, but not his plan. Jesus first purpose was the Jews and have the Jews to have the oracles of God and to evangelize the world, but the Jews rejected him as their messiah John 1:11. So the kingdom of heaven was postponed and ushered in the church age (kingdom of God). The responsibility has now been given over to the gentiles ( Ephesians 3:1-10) until the time of the gentiles become in ( Romans 11:25), at the rapture of the body of Christ. When Christ stated that it is finished on the cross of Calvary, salvation was available for mankind and extended to whosoever would invite Jesus into their heart as savior, Romans 10:9-13, I Timothy 4:10.
@James,
The scripture about the salvation of all Israel is mainly in Romans 11:26. In verse 36 of same chapter, it says God will have mercy on all (which suppose the unbelievers). And verse 25 ‘’ until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in’’.
All this very clearly shows that ‘’all’’ and ‘’fulness’’ here are restricted to all the saved of israel and the fulness of the saved from among the gentiles.
All and fulness are used in figure of speech to stress the great numbers… and therefore should not be taken litterally.
God bless you.
@Dales,
The principle is that ‘’the gifts and calling of God are without repentance’’ Romans 11:29. Therefore it is our duty to strive to meet the marks, because God’s calling is abiding.
So when God calls somebody or gives duty to that one, God never dismiss that one before the person disqualifies by him/herself, like it happened with Saul in 1 Samuel 15:11. Yet if the person comes back to God, God will receive him/her, which unfortunately never happened with Saul.
Now coming to commandments, there have been situations when God rescued the people that were gone astray, in tolerating some practices, just to give them opportunity to upgrade. Like Jesus Christ said: ‘’Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so’’. Matthew 19:8. God through Moses has tolerated divorcement, because of people’s unbelief.
God bless you.
I believe some of Paul's writings is dealing with Israel under the old covenant, while it was still active. However, when the New Better Covenant was established Israel was placed under a new agreement. In the new agreement those who are chosen according to election embrace Jesus as LORD and Savior. Remember, in the new covenant there are no Jews or Gentiles; only saints. Eph. 2:1- The covenant Paul speaks of is the new covenant and it is within that covenant the nation of Israel is covered. Also, the wild olive branch [other nations]are grafted into the new covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ, according to the promise made to Abraham. 'In thy seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed. ( Gen 22:18)Finally, I believe Paul is speaking to two different kinds of people 1 natural Israel and spiritual Israel. Natural Israel must believe and once they believe they are pulled into the new better covenant becoming citizens of heaven. Remember, the body of Christ is totally different from the world.
Saint Paul’s writing to the Romans present us with another challenging theology to deal with. The whole concept which is conveyed throughout this passage can be classified under REMNANT THEOLOGY. Yes, I strongly believe that God is a God of dispensation who works in TIME and SEASON. See Galatians 4:4, Ephesians 1:10. The time line of the history of divine providence from the day of the fall of the First Adam has been that of restoration and the preservation of the remnant of the children of Israel. Despite the providential struggle for restoration and preservation of the remnant of Israel, God has been working through CONVENANT THEOLOGY. In each historical age of the dispensation of restoration, God had always made himself manifest to his children through what I called COVENANT. That is why we cannot really disassociate DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY, CONVENANT THEOLOGY, and REMNANT THEOLOGY:
Saint Paul in Romans 11:5 is trying to convey a transcendent Truth about God which is through the GRACE of God, a remnant will always be preserved in all generations, irrespective of the circumstances. The word remnant itself should not only be understood within the light of all those who are being saved or the kept aside by the LORD, but the word remnant should be understood with the mindset of those whom God has chosen as an instrument to save the lost. The word remnant does not necessarily mean that they are those whom has chosen through his Unconditional Election to go to heaven. For example, in the days of Joseph, he was chosen as a remnant to preserve his brothers from the great famine which was to later befall the land. See Genesis 42. In the case of Joseph, we can see that he was unconditionally chosen by God’s election of Grace, and by means of this divine election of grace, his salvation was assured by God himself but his being chosen was for the preservation for the remnant that was to go through moments of hardship.
This again takes us to another argument in the book of Revelation 7:4-8 where in every twelve tribe in Israel God had or God has preserved at least twelve thousand people to be saved. If we have to make a multiplication of the twelve thousand people by the twelve tribes of Israel, that God had or has preserved in history, then we will come to the conclusion of having 144,000 remnant preserved as it is described in the book of Revelation 14:1- Does it mean that only 144,000 people are going to heaven? I say no. why? This is how I explicate myself. This 144,000 people stands for the remnant which God has kept for himself which he will use to work out the salvation of those who have not yet been saved so that through them others will be saved and come to the complete knowledge of the saving grace of God. If we can logically agree with Genesis 42 that Joseph was sent into Egypt because God in his master plan wanted to use him to preserve the remnant that was going to survive the famine, then it is obvious that the 144,000 people have the same providential role to play like Joseph.
In conclusion, the theology of Unconditional Election has never really meant to mean God has chosen others to be saved while he has predestined others for perdition. It does not suffice quoting the story of Esau and Jacob, but one thing remains certain that anybody who has been uncondionally set apart by God’s Unconditional Grace is only a bridge through whom the unsaved are saved. E.g, Esther.
Here in Revelation 10 the hour deliverance of Daniels people, Israel, is at hand ( Daniel 12:1; Romans 11:26), Israel is to be grafted in their own olive. This is the season when he finishes with the Gentiles, for it is the hour they are cut off from the olive tree because because of unbelief. In Revelation 10 the pillar of fire, the angel of the covenant visits his Gentile church, the tender mercy of of God: whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. It is the season of manifestation of sons, its the hour of deliverance from bondage to corruption ( Romans 8:18-23). It is the dispensation of the fulness of time ( Ephesians 1:10). It is a prophetic age ( Malachi 4:5-6; Revelation 10:7, 11). Paul in speaking to his people the Jews warned them: Beware therefore, least that come upon you, which is spoken of the prophets: Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish: for I do a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you ( Acts 13:40-41). In Revelation 10:4 we read: seal those things the seven thunders uttered and write them not. The same voice said in ICorinthians 2:10 but hath revealed them by the spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, the deep things of God. In Amos 3:7 we read we read the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. It is the age of the restoration of the word and the power. In verse 3, the angel or messenger of the covenant had a little book open: the making known of the words of the covenant, the restoration of all things; Malachi 4:5-6 season, Elias surely come and and restore all things (Mathew 17:11-12- note here the present and future application of these verses, for scripture has compound revelation). When God visited Israel to fulfill Genesis 49:24; 15:13-16 he descended in a flame of fire and sent Moses ( Exodus 3:1-9). This chapter is connected to Daniel 12, I Corinthians 14:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and many other scriptures surrounding the second coming, both in old and new testament. A brief commentry has just been touched on this chapter.
Chapter 11 is a fulfilment of the last half week of Daniel 9:24-27. The Messiah was cut off in the midst of the last week. The Prince to come, Rome destroyed the city , Jerusalem, and the sanctuary, the temple. They failed to recognize the hour of their visitation. Israel fell by the edge of the sword, and were carried captive to all nations ( Luke 21:20-24; 19:41-44), Jerusalem was left desolate (Mathew 23: 37-38). Israel was cut off from its own olive tree and the Gentiles were grafted into the good olive tree ( Romans 11:17-28). Between the ending of the 69th and and 1/2 week to the last half week the gospel turned to the Gentiles. Paul's commission ( Acts 9:11-16; 13:46-47; 22: 14-21; 26:12-18) was a fulfilment of Isaiah 42:6. In Acts 13:47 Paul says: for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that though shouldst be salvation to the ends of the earth; in Isaiah 42:6 it says: -- and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. Here in Revelation 11 the time of the gentiles is fulfilled ( Luke 21:24). Israel is back in there homeland when these two witnesses begin their ministry. The Gentile church is cut off from the olive tree, spewn out from his mouth for failing to recognize the hour of their visitation( Romans 11:20-22, Rev. 3:16; Malachi 4:5-6). Revelation 11 takes place between the second and third woe, for the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpets are the 1st, 2nd and third woes respectives. These three woes are the three world wars. Between the 2nd and third woe Israel is back in there home land; at the same time the Gentiles receive their last message ( Revelation 10). The Gentiles fail to recognize the hour of their visitation. It is the hour of wrath, God recompenses tribulation to them that trouble the bride ( 1Thessalonians 1:5-8). God opens a fountain of healing for Israel. There will be a fountain fountain open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem ( Zechariah 13:10, 12:10) . God will pour a spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced. Revelation 11 opens Israel to recognize the feast of atonement. They will be turned from atonement of bulls and goats to the atonement of the lamb of God. The sixfold purpose of the visit of angel Gabriel to Daniel will be perfect realized to Israel in this chapter ( Daniel 9:24) . By the time of the two witness begin there ministry they will begin the temple worship ( Rev. 11:1-12). The two witnesses are killed in Jerusalem by the beast. The beast represents the gentile kingdom. Jerusalem here in Revelation 11:8 spiritually is called Egypt or Sodom. In Exodus 20:1-2 Egypt is referred to as the house of bondage. In Galatians 4:24-26 Paul likens the Jerusalem that is to the bondswoman Agar and mount sinai in Arabia, which is also in bondage with her children born after the flesh. Jerusalem from above representing the freewoman which gendereth children of the promise, born after the spirit. After the ministry of the two witnesses christ sets up his kingdom upon the earth. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdnm under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him ( Daniel 7:27). The Messiah will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 2:10-22 we read of the day of the Lord of hosts in which the Lord Will arise to shake terribly the earth. In chapter 24:5-6 Isaiah of says (of this day) the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and a few are left. Jeremiah says: a noise shall come even to the ends of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh: he will give them that are wicked to the sword ( Jeremiah 25:27-38 ). The nations shall drink the cup of the wrath of the almighty God. God had promised Abraham a blessing to all the nations through his seed, that is Christ. He was given for a covenant of the people,for a light of the Gentiles. Before the desolation of Jerusalem Paul had these words to say to the Gentiles: and if some of the branches broken off and thou being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakers of the root and the fatness of the olive tree: boast not against the branches, but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root but the root thee. Thou wilt say the branches were broken that I may be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standeth by faith. Be not highminded but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he spare not thee.--- for if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted in their own olive tree ( Romans 11:17-26)? The beginning of the gospel was foreran by Malachi 3 messenger ( Mark 1: 1- 3); Jesus pointed in Mathew 11: 10: for this is he, of Whom it is written, Behold I will send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before me. He was the forerunner of the first coming and he went before him in the the Spirit and power of Elijah, and many of the children of Israel he turned to the Lord their God ( Luke1:17) .He, Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith. He promised in Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets. We read in the scripture, concerning the second coming: and at midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh (25:5) there is the messenger that is to forerun the second coming, the supper time messenger( Luke 14:17, Revelation 19:9). The forerunner of the second coming will have the spirit of Elijah just as the first forerunner. He will have a world wide ministry because the curse of Isaiah 24:6 will follow after the days of his ministry. The Gentiles (church) will be Judged just as Jerusalem was destroyed by General Titus. The Malachi 3 messenger with the spirit of Elijah ministered the other side of the the atonement before death burial and ressurection. The messenger of Malachi 4 with the spirit of Elijah minister this side of the atonement before the rapture of the church
Maria Concepcion Alvarez-Alcantara on Romans 11:29 - 12 years ago
The word "without repentance"(KJV) or irrevocable "(NIV)would direct to the only purpose why the Lord Jesus Christ was sent by His father and that is to REDEEM those who were under the law (the Jews)Gal.4:4-5...Redemption of a thing is unconditional if the owner is committed to buy back the thing he loves, be it defective or not as long as he loves it. The gentiles do not fall on this verse.. John 3:16 applies to all people who believes in Jesus Christ so that by faith in Jesus Christ they could be grafted on the branches of the olive tree.In Ezekiel 36..God said it is not for the sake of His People but for the sake of His name which was profaned by His chosen people, God will sprinkle water on their faces to cleanse them, that is why even "without repentance" God would still redeem His people.
How Many Are Sealed?
10 Jesus said to those in line for this sealing: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” ( Luke 12:32) Other scriptures, such as Revelation 6:11 and Romans 11:25, indicate that the number of this little flock is indeed limited and, in fact, predetermined. John’s next words confirm this: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.”— Revelation 7:4-8.
11 Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing. ( Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation—12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.— Galatians 6:16; Revelation 20:4, 6.
12 Although the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes were given the first opportunity to be chosen for spiritual Israel, only a minority of that nation responded. Jehovah therefore extended the invitation to the Gentiles. ( John 1:10-13; Acts 2:4, 7-11; Romans 11:7) As in the case of the Ephesians, who previously had been “alienated from the state of Israel,” now non-Jews could be sealed with God’s spirit and become part of the congregation of anointed Christians. ( Ephesians 2:11-13; 3:5, 6; Acts 15:14) It is appropriate, then, for the 24 elders to sing before the Lamb: “With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”— Revelation 5:9, 10.
13 The Christian congregation is “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9) Replacing natural Israel as God’s nation, it becomes a new Israel that is “really ‘Israel.’” ( Romans 9:6-8; Matthew 21:43) For this reason, it was quite proper for Jesus’ half brother James to address his pastoral letter “to the twelve tribes that are scattered about,” that is, to the worldwide congregation of anointed Christians that in time would number 144,000.— James 1:1.
When we fully understand how much God loves His creation to have sent his only begotten Son to bring salvation to us all - then we must understand that He would indeed leave a "remnant" (vs 5) until His Son,Jesus, returns again! Amen. He will not abandon His love - that would be us - even though the nations defy His existance - religions discredit Him - and people mock Him in their belief (not His) of who He really is and what He really wants from His children. Simply put - we must serve Him in His fullness, in His Glory, and in His love. Be Blessed!!
Looking at people as they are today; sometimes it looks like GOD has cast us away. GOD has not cast us away. People have fell from their first love which is to be GOD. We have the spirit of slumber, eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear that the Spirit of the LORD is trying to reveal himself to us. Riches and power, tangible things have become our GOD'S. They cause us to fall from the grace of GOD. He does not want us to be cast away, he wants us to look up and live. We should boast not in ourselves, but in the LORD; who shed his blood on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus is come that we might be saved from ungodliness, but men have gone about to establish their own rightousness. GOD is yet having mercy on the unbelievers. We must seek his face and (turn from our wicked ways) then he will hear from heaven and thus heal the land. We do not know the debth of his love for us and we will never understand his ways. If we give of ourselves and our first fruits (being tithes and offerings) to the church he will again give back to us. We were created for his Glory. We need to realize that all that we are and all that we have is already his. TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE, IS DOING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO; GOD REIGNS FOREVER; AMEN
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
This reminds me of analysing poetry in english class. There are so many layers to God's word. I am amazed that even if there is a verse that I have heard for the millionth time I can still take something out of it.
If you base your salvation on anything that man can change by a vote of your church denomination, then your professed salvation is not of God. Only God’s grace and what Jesus did at the Cross (the Gospel) can save a man’s soul.
REGARDING VERSES 8-10: The difference between those of mankind that are born of God, and those that are not, is that those that are not have not received Christ. Until they do, they CANNOT repent in the way of true repentance. This is why no one need repent IN ORDER to receive Christ, since one CANNOT until and unless one does, and this is why the gifts and the calling are WITHOUT repentance.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
As, it is the love and GOODNESS OF GOD in Christ that LEADS a man unto repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yet, we are still all brothers in Christ, regardless of those that have not received Him from and with their hearts so that He may be IN them. As, He died for ALL, even for those who are considered to be SINNERS as we were before we recieved Him. ROMANS 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Also, while we that are born of God cannot commit sin, as far as WITH the 'mind of Christ,' which is God, and which we have, we CAN sin WITH THE FLESH, by yielding to sin, and thereby serving sin. ROMANS 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH the MIND I myself serve the law of God; but WITH the FLESH the law of sin.
The MIND refered to is NOT the CARNAL mind, whch is FLESH:
Romans 8:7 Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
But the MIND of Christ, which is SPIRIT:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND OF CHRIST.
Although we CAN sin, that NEW CREATURE we each are in Christ CANNOT. If we serve sin with our flesh, thereby LETTING sin have it's way, we are allowing our OWN WILL, instead of God's to take control. However, having the MIND of CHRIST, God HIMSELF gave us HIS WILL to resort to, meaning we can SAY NO to our own fleshly; carnal, will, and turn it back to the WILL of God:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
That 'TO WILL' is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God, PRAISE GOD, He has made it EASY on us:
Romans 6:12 LET NOT sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We are GODLY because we have RECEIVED, and have continued to LOVE, Christ, DESPITE our inclination to yield to sin, and thus we REMAIN IN Him, having our sins COVERED by His BLOOD, giving us grace, and time, to repent of any sin/s we have not yet repented of, and receive the forgiveness for, the and cleansing away, of our sins the moment we repent.
It is BECAUSE we have received Christ, and ARE thus SPIRIT BEINGS; SPIRIT of God's Spirit; BORN of God, that we, despite our sins, are GODLY, and it is BECAUSE we are GODLY that we CAN, and, by God, we WILL repent of; CONFESS, our sins unto the LORD. Hear this Old Testament prophetic prayer that clarifies that the GODLY are inclined to sin, as far as to yield to it, and to HAVE SIN to admit to, and confess, unto the LORD. And as you read, take note that the GODLY are those that, DESPITE their sins, TRUST IN THE LORD, are BLESSED, RIGHTEOUS, UPRIGHT IN HEART, COMPASSED ABOUT WITH MERCY, AND SONGS OF DELIVERANCE, and HID in Christ, HID from the WRATH of God, as the blood of Christ covers our sins:
PSALMS 32:2 BLESSED is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For THIS shall EVERY one that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my HIDING place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt COMPASS ME ABOUT with songs of DELIVERANCE. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, MERCY shall COMPASS HIM ABOUT.
11 Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, ye RIGHTEOUS: and shout for joy, all ye that are UPRIGHT IN HEART.
NONE of this means that a born again child of God can serve sin, and refuse to repent, and still be saved in the end. God's Word warns us. God is a just God, warning the righteous to NOT forsake Him, and warning the unrighteous to turn unto Him.
In the meanwhile, prior to physically dying, which if one that received Christ dies with any sins being unrepented of, then that person had to have ceased to LOVE the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus. And that soul will be cut off from Him:
Colossians 1:23 If ye CONTINUE IN the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE IN them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
ROMANS 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Even if we yield to sin, to, at that point NEED to repent, IN ORDER TO continue in the goodness of God, it is God's GOODNESS that, at that point, LEADS us UNTO repentance.
So, what is the problem if we serve sin, if we WILL, however eventually, repent? Well, in the meanwhile we get bombarded with lies and feelings of DOUBT that we ARE godly, righteous, blessed, etc., and we start THINKING as if we are NOT these things, and our JOY and CONFIDENCE becomes less and less. THAT is how Satan WANTS us to think and feel. But since Christ has died for our sins, Satan can NOT any longer make us his servants, and KEEP us in bondage to sin. It is NO LONGER Satan's grounds; jurisdiction; right. As, NOW, it is only WE, YOU YOUSELF, I MYSELF, that can keep us, you, me, being a servant to, in bondage to, sin, meaning we can STOP IT, REFUSE IT, by turning unto the LORD to repent, and thereby be cleansed and receive the forgiveness of God INSTANTLY, and then PROCEED to CONTINUE in obedience unto the Lord. Any time we yield to sin, the FIRST STEP before we can continue to WALK in the Lord, is down on our knees, heartfully speaking, and repent. Is NOT repenting of our sins INSTILLED in the VERY prayer that Jesus instructs us to pray DAILY?
LUKE 11:3 Give us day by day our DAILY bread.
4 And FORGIVE US OUR SINS; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
When we hate sin, and are quick to repent of it, AND read; eat and drink, the Word; WORDS, of God, the less and less we are inclined to sin, as the LOVE OF GOD perfects us more and more each day.
But, due to the danger of our continuing in sin; putting of repentance, God loves us TOO much to not deal with us here and now for our own good, not according to our sins, which the wages of is death, but in order to correct us, and keep us from the dangers of being in sin:
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and CHASTEN: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without CHASTISEMENT, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
ROMANS 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed
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I will end with saying this unto all those that have received Christ; God's Word; God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, and who are therefore GODLY, RIGHTEOUS, who's righteousness is of the LORD, that, if you have sin, to date, that you have not repented of; have not acknowledged; admitted, and confessed, unto the LORD, here's the thing: You WILL. It's far better for you to not force your heavenly Father to HAVE to sorely chastise you, because He WILL if need be. And you know full well in your heart that, when it comes to where the rubber meets the road, should you be chastised of Him, you will NOT blaspheme Him as if He is unjust, or as if He does not love you (there IS no if,) but you will stand corrected, and repent of your sins before Him. So, knowing you WILL, why wait? There is no good reason to wait, and nothing but MANY good reasons to come clean NOW. Until you do, you, as far as the NEW CREATURE you are in Christ in your Innerman, has fallen asleep at the wheel so to speak, and is either in a spiritual coma, or is getting that way, and the LORD is calling you to WAKE UP! Don't you worry, if He has to SHAKE you, He will, since the longer you ignore Him, the more deaf your spiritual ears get.
And don't believe the lies of the devil telling you 'But you messed up AGAIN, and have repeately, and God's tired of hearing you repent,...'
As, first of all, if you are a MESS, you are your heavenly FATHER'S mess, and NONE of Satan's business whatsoever. You ARE upright, but it is Christ that is bearing you up. The moment you repent, it is embracing the One that holds you up.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Dear Rosie, Regarding your question, 'How do I become perfect in love so that fear will no longer be part of my daily life?'
The more you read God's Word (WORDS,) the more FAITH increases in you, along with all of the other fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
So, just read, read, read. It is the same as to EAT spiritual meat, and drink spiritual drink. It's not about just merely memorizing the scriputures, no more than is eatting for physical nourishment about memorizing how physical food tastes.
And, daily repent of; confess, your sins unto the Lord, or if you can't think of any, ask Him to forgive you for just in case. As, to repent is a priviledge for those that have received Christ. No one CAN repent in the way of true repentance without FIRST receiving Christ. That is WHY there's no need to repent IN ORDER to answer His call, and receive Him:
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Since you HAVE received Christ, you WILL repent, because you believe and trust in God, and therefore you are BLESSED, your are GODLY, and RIGHTEOUS, and UPRIGHT, and the GOODNESS of God SURROUNDS YOU:
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(By the time the Lord is through CLEANSING us with His blood, and forgiving us, there is NO guile or any unrighteousness whatsoever! And all it takes is a moment each day, or sometimes maybe several moments.)
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall EVERY ONE that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
ONLY the GODLY will humble themselves, and bring forth the FRUIT of the mouth MEET FOR; WORTHY OF, repentance, due to true sorrow of heart; being sorry for any sin, even any we didn't mean, nor intend.
Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the FRUIT of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore FRUITS worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And it is GOD Himself that gave you the GIFT of His Spirit that makes you WILLING to repent:
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
If we were not inclined to sin, as to yield to it in some way, He would not command us, upon receiving Him, to ABIDE in Him, to FOLLOW AFTER Him etc... We DO abide in Him, as we continue to obey His command to love, and to confess; repent of, our sins when, or in case we, disobey Him, so we can proceed to CONTINUE in Him. And, as we do these things:
John 15:4 ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear FRUIT of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits MEET FOR REPENTANCE:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and JUST TO FORGIVE us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For GODLY sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt BE CONDEMNED.
As we repent of; confess, our sins daily, we KNOW we are then CLEAN, and up and ready to CONTINUE to WALK in Him, UN-defeated!
So, all we need do is to BELIEVE, RECEIVE, SAY, SPEAK, CONFESS, God's Word unto us, as we read it. And He has A WORD for EVERYTHING good unto us:
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
He even instilled 'repenting of sin' in the very prayer He instructs us to pray daily:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our DAILY bread.
12 And FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As you remember to repent, TAKE JOY, in reading, and confessing, God's Word, unTO you, as for what you are, and have, in Christ, in God, by faith. And that faith will become manifested, as God, by His Spirit, will PERFORM His Words that you confess by faith, and perfect you more and more each day:
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which WORKETH BY LOVE.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is PERFECTED in us.
Romans 13:10 LOVE WORKS NO ILL to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love DWELLETH IN GOD, and God in him.
Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Psalms 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
To me it is live by God's word or Perish. Simple. (I love the fact that I can find the King James Bible online it helps me in my studies. Great job ya'll.
Chief Cornerstone: ( Ephesians 2:20)
Firstborn over all creation: ( Colossians 1:15)
Holy One: ( Acts 3:14; Psalm 16:10)
Judge: ( Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8)
King of kings and Lord of lords: ( 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16)
Light of the World: ( John 8:12
Prince of peace: ( Isaiah 9:6)
Son of God: ( Luke 1:35; John 1:49)
Son of man: ( John 5:27)
Word: ( John 1:1; 1 John 5:7-8)
Word of God: ( Revelation 19:12-13)
Word of Life: ( 1 John 1:1)
Alpha and Omega: ( Revelation 1:8; 22:13)
Emmanuel: ( Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23)
I Am: ( John 8:58, with Exodus 3:14)
Lord of All: ( Acts 10:36)
True God: ( 1 John 5:20)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith: ( Hebrews 12:2)
Bread of Life: ( John 6:35; 6:48)
Bridegroom: ( Matthew 9:15)
Deliverer: ( Romans 11:26)
Good Shepherd: ( John 10:11,14)
High Priest: ( Hebrews 2:17)
Lamb of God: ( John 1:29)
Mediator: ( 1 Timothy 2:5)
Rock: ( 1 Corinthians 10:4)
Resurrection and Life: ( John 11:25)
Savior: ( Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11)
True Vine: ( John 15:1)
Way, Truth, Life: ( John 14:6)
gentiles aside and of grafting Israel in again. this is precisly what He will do.
1. The apostle Paul is the apostle to the gentiles, church age Christians ( Acts 9:15, Romans 11:13);
2. We must use Paul as our checks and balance to reach doctrinal truth for Christians in the church age, which means if a person is not sure about a verse knowing who the writer is (Jew) writing to Jews, Gentiles, or both and always what time (age )is the writer referring to;
3. We must always refer to what the Pauline epistles says about the subject in question;
4. In these verses, what Paul says aids us to come to the correct truth. "Signs are for the Jews ( 1 Corinthians 1:22);
5. In Mark 16:15 them=apostles and there are two separate commissions given:
a. Verse 16, the charge to go out and be a soul winner (great commission);
b. Verses 17 and 18, this commission is for apostles only (apostolic commission), how do we know this, because of the term signs are only for the Jews and no one else in the gospels ever was given the sign gifts except the Jewish disciples (apostles) and was given by Jesus himself not just the holy spirit.
6. So if you are a gentile believer and think you can handle deadly serpents and drink deadly things and not die. I can tell you of true accounts where gentile believers did these things and died. Because these gifts are for handpicked Jews by Jesus only and will not be seen again until the tribulation age when God is dealing with the Jews for the second time, to receive Jesus as their messiah. Gentiles seek wisdom=word of God ( 1 Corinthians 1:22), start 2 Timothy 2:15.
This is why Christians need to study dispensational truth by Clarence Larkin. I Timothy 2:15, God’s plan of salvation for all mankind has never wavered, Ephesians 1:4, Matthew 25:34, God’s method may change, but not his plan. Jesus first purpose was the Jews and have the Jews to have the oracles of God and to evangelize the world, but the Jews rejected him as their messiah John 1:11. So the kingdom of heaven was postponed and ushered in the church age (kingdom of God). The responsibility has now been given over to the gentiles ( Ephesians 3:1-10) until the time of the gentiles become in ( Romans 11:25), at the rapture of the body of Christ. When Christ stated that it is finished on the cross of Calvary, salvation was available for mankind and extended to whosoever would invite Jesus into their heart as savior, Romans 10:9-13, I Timothy 4:10.
The scripture about the salvation of all Israel is mainly in Romans 11:26. In verse 36 of same chapter, it says God will have mercy on all (which suppose the unbelievers). And verse 25 ‘’ until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in’’.
All this very clearly shows that ‘’all’’ and ‘’fulness’’ here are restricted to all the saved of israel and the fulness of the saved from among the gentiles.
All and fulness are used in figure of speech to stress the great numbers… and therefore should not be taken litterally.
God bless you.
The principle is that ‘’the gifts and calling of God are without repentance’’ Romans 11:29. Therefore it is our duty to strive to meet the marks, because God’s calling is abiding.
So when God calls somebody or gives duty to that one, God never dismiss that one before the person disqualifies by him/herself, like it happened with Saul in 1 Samuel 15:11. Yet if the person comes back to God, God will receive him/her, which unfortunately never happened with Saul.
Now coming to commandments, there have been situations when God rescued the people that were gone astray, in tolerating some practices, just to give them opportunity to upgrade. Like Jesus Christ said: ‘’Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so’’. Matthew 19:8. God through Moses has tolerated divorcement, because of people’s unbelief.
God bless you.
TCHINDA FABRICE MBUNA
Saint Paul’s writing to the Romans present us with another challenging theology to deal with. The whole concept which is conveyed throughout this passage can be classified under REMNANT THEOLOGY. Yes, I strongly believe that God is a God of dispensation who works in TIME and SEASON. See Galatians 4:4, Ephesians 1:10. The time line of the history of divine providence from the day of the fall of the First Adam has been that of restoration and the preservation of the remnant of the children of Israel. Despite the providential struggle for restoration and preservation of the remnant of Israel, God has been working through CONVENANT THEOLOGY. In each historical age of the dispensation of restoration, God had always made himself manifest to his children through what I called COVENANT. That is why we cannot really disassociate DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY, CONVENANT THEOLOGY, and REMNANT THEOLOGY:
Saint Paul in Romans 11:5 is trying to convey a transcendent Truth about God which is through the GRACE of God, a remnant will always be preserved in all generations, irrespective of the circumstances. The word remnant itself should not only be understood within the light of all those who are being saved or the kept aside by the LORD, but the word remnant should be understood with the mindset of those whom God has chosen as an instrument to save the lost. The word remnant does not necessarily mean that they are those whom has chosen through his Unconditional Election to go to heaven. For example, in the days of Joseph, he was chosen as a remnant to preserve his brothers from the great famine which was to later befall the land. See Genesis 42. In the case of Joseph, we can see that he was unconditionally chosen by God’s election of Grace, and by means of this divine election of grace, his salvation was assured by God himself but his being chosen was for the preservation for the remnant that was to go through moments of hardship.
This again takes us to another argument in the book of Revelation 7:4-8 where in every twelve tribe in Israel God had or God has preserved at least twelve thousand people to be saved. If we have to make a multiplication of the twelve thousand people by the twelve tribes of Israel, that God had or has preserved in history, then we will come to the conclusion of having 144,000 remnant preserved as it is described in the book of Revelation 14:1- Does it mean that only 144,000 people are going to heaven? I say no. why? This is how I explicate myself. This 144,000 people stands for the remnant which God has kept for himself which he will use to work out the salvation of those who have not yet been saved so that through them others will be saved and come to the complete knowledge of the saving grace of God. If we can logically agree with Genesis 42 that Joseph was sent into Egypt because God in his master plan wanted to use him to preserve the remnant that was going to survive the famine, then it is obvious that the 144,000 people have the same providential role to play like Joseph.
In conclusion, the theology of Unconditional Election has never really meant to mean God has chosen others to be saved while he has predestined others for perdition. It does not suffice quoting the story of Esau and Jacob, but one thing remains certain that anybody who has been uncondionally set apart by God’s Unconditional Grace is only a bridge through whom the unsaved are saved. E.g, Esther.
10 Jesus said to those in line for this sealing: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” ( Luke 12:32) Other scriptures, such as Revelation 6:11 and Romans 11:25, indicate that the number of this little flock is indeed limited and, in fact, predetermined. John’s next words confirm this: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.”— Revelation 7:4-8.
11 Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing. ( Numbers 1:17, 47) Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation—12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.— Galatians 6:16; Revelation 20:4, 6.
12 Although the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes were given the first opportunity to be chosen for spiritual Israel, only a minority of that nation responded. Jehovah therefore extended the invitation to the Gentiles. ( John 1:10-13; Acts 2:4, 7-11; Romans 11:7) As in the case of the Ephesians, who previously had been “alienated from the state of Israel,” now non-Jews could be sealed with God’s spirit and become part of the congregation of anointed Christians. ( Ephesians 2:11-13; 3:5, 6; Acts 15:14) It is appropriate, then, for the 24 elders to sing before the Lamb: “With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”— Revelation 5:9, 10.
13 The Christian congregation is “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9) Replacing natural Israel as God’s nation, it becomes a new Israel that is “really ‘Israel.’” ( Romans 9:6-8; Matthew 21:43) For this reason, it was quite proper for Jesus’ half brother James to address his pastoral letter “to the twelve tribes that are scattered about,” that is, to the worldwide congregation of anointed Christians that in time would number 144,000.— James 1:1.
This reminds me of analysing poetry in english class. There are so many layers to God's word. I am amazed that even if there is a verse that I have heard for the millionth time I can still take something out of it.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
As, it is the love and GOODNESS OF GOD in Christ that LEADS a man unto repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yet, we are still all brothers in Christ, regardless of those that have not received Him from and with their hearts so that He may be IN them. As, He died for ALL, even for those who are considered to be SINNERS as we were before we recieved Him.
ROMANS 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Also, while we that are born of God cannot commit sin, as far as WITH the 'mind of Christ,' which is God, and which we have, we CAN sin WITH THE FLESH, by yielding to sin, and thereby serving sin.
ROMANS 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH the MIND I myself serve the law of God; but WITH the FLESH the law of sin.
The MIND refered to is NOT the CARNAL mind, whch is FLESH:
Romans 8:7 Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
But the MIND of Christ, which is SPIRIT:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND OF CHRIST.
Although we CAN sin, that NEW CREATURE we each are in Christ CANNOT. If we serve sin with our flesh, thereby LETTING sin have it's way, we are allowing our OWN WILL, instead of God's to take control. However, having the MIND of CHRIST, God HIMSELF gave us HIS WILL to resort to, meaning we can SAY NO to our own fleshly; carnal, will, and turn it back to the WILL of God:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
That 'TO WILL' is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God, PRAISE GOD, He has made it EASY on us:
Romans 6:12 LET NOT sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We are GODLY because we have RECEIVED, and have continued to LOVE, Christ, DESPITE our inclination to yield to sin, and thus we REMAIN IN Him, having our sins COVERED by His BLOOD, giving us grace, and time, to repent of any sin/s we have not yet repented of, and receive the forgiveness for, the and cleansing away, of our sins the moment we repent.
It is BECAUSE we have received Christ, and ARE thus SPIRIT BEINGS; SPIRIT of God's Spirit; BORN of God, that we, despite our sins, are GODLY, and it is BECAUSE we are GODLY that we CAN, and, by God, we WILL repent of; CONFESS, our sins unto the LORD. Hear this Old Testament prophetic prayer that clarifies that the GODLY are inclined to sin, as far as to yield to it, and to HAVE SIN to admit to, and confess, unto the LORD. And as you read, take note that the GODLY are those that, DESPITE their sins, TRUST IN THE LORD, are BLESSED, RIGHTEOUS, UPRIGHT IN HEART, COMPASSED ABOUT WITH MERCY, AND SONGS OF DELIVERANCE, and HID in Christ, HID from the WRATH of God, as the blood of Christ covers our sins:
PSALMS 32:2 BLESSED is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For THIS shall EVERY one that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my HIDING place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt COMPASS ME ABOUT with songs of DELIVERANCE. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, MERCY shall COMPASS HIM ABOUT.
11 Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, ye RIGHTEOUS: and shout for joy, all ye that are UPRIGHT IN HEART.
NONE of this means that a born again child of God can serve sin, and refuse to repent, and still be saved in the end. God's Word warns us. God is a just God, warning the righteous to NOT forsake Him, and warning the unrighteous to turn unto Him.
In the meanwhile, prior to physically dying, which if one that received Christ dies with any sins being unrepented of, then that person had to have ceased to LOVE the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus. And that soul will be cut off from Him:
Colossians 1:23 If ye CONTINUE IN the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE IN them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
ROMANS 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Even if we yield to sin, to, at that point NEED to repent, IN ORDER TO continue in the goodness of God, it is God's GOODNESS that, at that point, LEADS us UNTO repentance.
So, what is the problem if we serve sin, if we WILL, however eventually, repent? Well, in the meanwhile we get bombarded with lies and feelings of DOUBT that we ARE godly, righteous, blessed, etc., and we start THINKING as if we are NOT these things, and our JOY and CONFIDENCE becomes less and less. THAT is how Satan WANTS us to think and feel. But since Christ has died for our sins, Satan can NOT any longer make us his servants, and KEEP us in bondage to sin. It is NO LONGER Satan's grounds; jurisdiction; right. As, NOW, it is only WE, YOU YOUSELF, I MYSELF, that can keep us, you, me, being a servant to, in bondage to, sin, meaning we can STOP IT, REFUSE IT, by turning unto the LORD to repent, and thereby be cleansed and receive the forgiveness of God INSTANTLY, and then PROCEED to CONTINUE in obedience unto the Lord. Any time we yield to sin, the FIRST STEP before we can continue to WALK in the Lord, is down on our knees, heartfully speaking, and repent. Is NOT repenting of our sins INSTILLED in the VERY prayer that Jesus instructs us to pray DAILY?
LUKE 11:3 Give us day by day our DAILY bread.
4 And FORGIVE US OUR SINS; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
When we hate sin, and are quick to repent of it, AND read; eat and drink, the Word; WORDS, of God, the less and less we are inclined to sin, as the LOVE OF GOD perfects us more and more each day.
But, due to the danger of our continuing in sin; putting of repentance, God loves us TOO much to not deal with us here and now for our own good, not according to our sins, which the wages of is death, but in order to correct us, and keep us from the dangers of being in sin:
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and CHASTEN: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without CHASTISEMENT, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
ROMANS 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed
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I will end with saying this unto all those that have received Christ; God's Word; God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, and who are therefore GODLY, RIGHTEOUS, who's righteousness is of the LORD, that, if you have sin, to date, that you have not repented of; have not acknowledged; admitted, and confessed, unto the LORD, here's the thing: You WILL. It's far better for you to not force your heavenly Father to HAVE to sorely chastise you, because He WILL if need be. And you know full well in your heart that, when it comes to where the rubber meets the road, should you be chastised of Him, you will NOT blaspheme Him as if He is unjust, or as if He does not love you (there IS no if,) but you will stand corrected, and repent of your sins before Him. So, knowing you WILL, why wait? There is no good reason to wait, and nothing but MANY good reasons to come clean NOW. Until you do, you, as far as the NEW CREATURE you are in Christ in your Innerman, has fallen asleep at the wheel so to speak, and is either in a spiritual coma, or is getting that way, and the LORD is calling you to WAKE UP! Don't you worry, if He has to SHAKE you, He will, since the longer you ignore Him, the more deaf your spiritual ears get.
And don't believe the lies of the devil telling you 'But you messed up AGAIN, and have repeately, and God's tired of hearing you repent,...'
As, first of all, if you are a MESS, you are your heavenly FATHER'S mess, and NONE of Satan's business whatsoever. You ARE upright, but it is Christ that is bearing you up. The moment you repent, it is embracing the One that holds you up.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The more you read God's Word (WORDS,) the more FAITH increases in you, along with all of the other fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
So, just read, read, read. It is the same as to EAT spiritual meat, and drink spiritual drink. It's not about just merely memorizing the scriputures, no more than is eatting for physical nourishment about memorizing how physical food tastes.
And, daily repent of; confess, your sins unto the Lord, or if you can't think of any, ask Him to forgive you for just in case. As, to repent is a priviledge for those that have received Christ. No one CAN repent in the way of true repentance without FIRST receiving Christ. That is WHY there's no need to repent IN ORDER to answer His call, and receive Him:
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Since you HAVE received Christ, you WILL repent, because you believe and trust in God, and therefore you are BLESSED, your are GODLY, and RIGHTEOUS, and UPRIGHT, and the GOODNESS of God SURROUNDS YOU:
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(By the time the Lord is through CLEANSING us with His blood, and forgiving us, there is NO guile or any unrighteousness whatsoever! And all it takes is a moment each day, or sometimes maybe several moments.)
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall EVERY ONE that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
ONLY the GODLY will humble themselves, and bring forth the FRUIT of the mouth MEET FOR; WORTHY OF, repentance, due to true sorrow of heart; being sorry for any sin, even any we didn't mean, nor intend.
Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the FRUIT of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore FRUITS worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And it is GOD Himself that gave you the GIFT of His Spirit that makes you WILLING to repent:
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
If we were not inclined to sin, as to yield to it in some way, He would not command us, upon receiving Him, to ABIDE in Him, to FOLLOW AFTER Him etc... We DO abide in Him, as we continue to obey His command to love, and to confess; repent of, our sins when, or in case we, disobey Him, so we can proceed to CONTINUE in Him. And, as we do these things:
John 15:4 ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear FRUIT of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits MEET FOR REPENTANCE:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and JUST TO FORGIVE us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For GODLY sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt BE CONDEMNED.
As we repent of; confess, our sins daily, we KNOW we are then CLEAN, and up and ready to CONTINUE to WALK in Him, UN-defeated!
So, all we need do is to BELIEVE, RECEIVE, SAY, SPEAK, CONFESS, God's Word unto us, as we read it. And He has A WORD for EVERYTHING good unto us:
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
He even instilled 'repenting of sin' in the very prayer He instructs us to pray daily:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our DAILY bread.
12 And FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As you remember to repent, TAKE JOY, in reading, and confessing, God's Word, unTO you, as for what you are, and have, in Christ, in God, by faith. And that faith will become manifested, as God, by His Spirit, will PERFORM His Words that you confess by faith, and perfect you more and more each day:
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which WORKETH BY LOVE.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is PERFECTED in us.
Romans 13:10 LOVE WORKS NO ILL to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love DWELLETH IN GOD, and God in him.
Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Psalms 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.