The Children Of The Promise Are Counted For The Seed; For This Is The Word Of Promise - Part 2139

Apostle Paul shares his heart when he wrote to the Romans -- "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 9:1-5)

The Israelites definitely knew that God is One. Indeed, the first commandment (in both the old and new) states, "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord!" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) But I digress. Paul continues writing in Romans 9:

"Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the Seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall Thy seed be called. 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. For this is the Word of promise." 

Just to be clear, Jesus is the Word that was with God and was God, made flesh and having dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18) And ye shall call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us.

It is in this context, that the Lord said that "at this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls;) it was said unto her, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is [further] written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

"What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then [it is] not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shews mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My Name might be declared throughout all the earth." 

Therefore, hath He mercy on whom He will [have] mercy, and whom He will He hardens. But this is a difficult teaching for God's believed creation to understand, because these have not turned their hearts, souls, minds and strength unto Him, and received His goodness and grace and mercy. Had we done so, we would understand how much the Lord God who created us in the beginning loves us -- indeed, beyond measure. So apostle Paul continues, explaining the magnitude of love for His people, writing: 

"Thou wilt say then unto me, "Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?" Nay but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed [it], "Why hast Thou made me thus?" Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? [What] if God, willing to shew [His] wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

As He saith also in Osee, "I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, "Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God." Esaias [Isaiah] also crieth concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: for He will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." And as Esaias said before, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha." (Romans 9:6-29)

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness." (Romans 9:30-31)

You see, the Lord has a plan in the latter days to invite His children -- those who will love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength -- into His body of Christ church. This is why He said, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)

He has invited us into His peace. Thus, don't let the things of this world keep you from looking up, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen. Therefore, when you/we art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even now, in what we know as the latter days, turn to the Lord thy God, and be obedient unto His voice, and He will give you rest.

JESUS -- King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is calling to those whose hearts desire Him to become the children of the living God. Today is the day of salvation! Stand in the offering plate.