6)
Not as though the word of God hath taken none
effect. For they are not all
7)
Neither, because they are the seed of
Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall
thy seed be called.
8)
That is, They which
are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the
children of the promise are counted for the seed.
|
W |
hen
reading the Word, Man usually forms his own opinion of what it means. This is
why it is so difficult for people to accept truth. Along with not wanting to be
“told” anything, we have our own opinion concerning what is, and is not,
necessary.
Though
salvation is replete with benefits for the submissive, Man tends to try to
preserve his flesh—even after salvation.
What
even Apostolics seem to forget is that when we are
saved, we are saved from our fleshly life. What Jesus
does not do is simply enhance our life in the flesh.
Though
we look for, and are frequently steered to, natural blessings, the offers that
God makes saints are not to please the flesh. He is not primarily concerned
with our fleshly existence, but rather, our spiritual life.
Many
Christians look upon the Jewish nation as those who are the favored and blessed
of God. No saint who has been redeemed should find himself envious of the Jews,
for scripture tells us that one is a Jew not because of any outward sign, but
because of what is on the inside. Too much emphasis is placed on the physical
life of the Jews, and on others as well. But, the
greatest promise made to the Jews was spiritual and so, too, our greatest
promises after salvation are spiritual. The only way to acquire these spiritual
promises is by walking in the Spirit, rather than the flesh.
It
is important that we remember that the promise made to us is through the Lord,
as opposed to through the Jews. Meaning what? That the promise
is inherited through the Lord and open to all. So, it would seem to
behoove all to become a child of God by faith through Jesus.
The
point of salvation is not to allow us to better ourselves in the World as
commonly perceived, but rather to glorify and magnify the Lord. The problem is
that many will serve the Lord to a point (having a form of godliness), but are
unwilling to give themselves wholly unto the Lord.
As
we look about the Church and the World, it should be easily evident that all
that happens is planned. Nothing happens but that God knows, cares, and has an
ultimate goal. After all, if He did not intend to show the greatness of His
deliverance, salvation and “keeping” power, He would only have needed to save
those in the easiest situations. Most of us are a testament to the fact that
this is not the case, and as such, need to be about the business of praising
and thanking him.
In
that we are the spiritual seed and it is the spiritual seed which is blessed,
we must be witnesses of the fact. One who does not intend to show this cannot
set limits upon what he is willing to do. Many make the mistake of getting
saved with this in mind. Such a man finds himself wasting much time being
unproductive for the Lord while one totally submitted is used of Him.
Never
be deceived—all the natural blessings in the world cannot preserve life. Neither
can a natural being inherit eternal life. One must be a spiritual being with
his treasure in spiritual blessings—for only the spiritual seed will survive.
One of the
blessings promised the spiritual seed is that of support. He does not and
will not allow us to be overwhelmed by the cares of this life. He says that
He will not “...suffer us to be tempted above that (we) are able, but will
with the temptation make a way of escape that (we) might be able to bear it.”
What is our responsibility? To be committed—not just temporarily,
but for a lifetime.