It was not to long ago that a lady on my Facebook friends list told me that we are not in GOD's plan as Israel is. To this statement I was shocked to say the lease for this revealed to me that she and others clearly are not reading the Bible by faith which is part of the law or requirement of GOD. Then I found the following statement written by Norman Grubbs sometime ago, speaking on Romans 6-8. So I copied it for sharing here, with little editing by me, before I get today's devotional from my e-Sword program.
"THE GREAT DECEPTION"
"The main consequence of our yielding to Satan at the Fall was that he deceived us all (Revelation 12:9) into thinking that we have a human self which can operate and manage itself, even as he lyingly thinks he can manage himself. In fact, we are only operated and managed by the deity of self…or Spirit of Truth or spirit of error (1 John. 4:6)…who owns us. This was symbolized in the Garden by receiving the fruit of one or the other of the two trees. So when the Law, which is meant to expose Satan's lie, comes to us in our deluded condition, Satan has the laugh on us. We obey his self-for-self sin laws, being his slaves, and cannot obey God's hidden laws.
We who are saved admitted our sins in their outer forms and received forgiveness and justification through our Lord Jesus the agent of Christ, and the new birth of the Spirit. But we were still too blind to recognize the depth of Satan's deceit in us. We thought that as saved (redeemed) and new creatures heading towards Christ's salvation, we could still take a share in managing ourselves.
Paul explains the full meaning of redemption through our dying in Jesus' death to sin…Satan's indwelling…and becoming alive in His resurrection to God's Spirit now indwelling us (in His salvation). But it is meaningless to reckon and say that we are now dead to sin and alive to God while that root deception is not yet out of us and we think we are more than a people managed only by the deity spirit in us as vessels, branches, temples, slaves, or wives."
The Gentiles Included as Children of Promise
"That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel . . . that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Ephesians 3:6 and Galatians 3:14)
"The implications of becoming children of promise through the law of faith and love, which takes hold as a receptive force in the promises of God is monumental. One of the consequences that holds outstanding significance is highlighted in our present verses. It involves the Gentiles.
It is quite obvious in the Old Testament that God had great plans for the Jews (for Israel, as His chosen people). "'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6). God's plans ultimately included the Gentiles (the nations of the world). "Oh, praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Praise Him, all you peoples! . . . The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Psalm 117:1 and Isaiah 60:3). Nevertheless, the Jewish people would have a special place in God's purposes. "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2).
In light of these Old Testament truths regarding Israel, it was an astounding revelation when the Holy Spirit began to unfold through the Apostle Paul the full participation that the Gentiles would have in the promises of God: "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs." By believing the promises of God, the Gentiles would have full partnership shares ("fellow heirs" ) in the inheritance of God for His people. The Gentiles would also be "of the same body." This body or family that includes Gentiles and Jews, is the church of the indwelling Christ. "And He is the head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18). Jew and Gentile would comprise the one new unit, the church. Now do not loose sight in this fact, the church, body and family are the same meaning as belonging to GOD. There is no longer a separation. Also, the Gentiles would be "partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel." Through the promises of the gospel of grace, Gentiles would share fully in eternal life, daily blessing, and intimate access to the LORD-God. By faith in the God of Abraham, the Gentiles would also enjoy (along with any Jew who believes in Jesus the poser of the Spirit of Messiah) the promise of the Spirit: "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ's agent, Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Yes, now the Holy Spirit would dwell in the lives of all who would believe - - not only the Jew, but also the Gentile!"
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