“CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE!”

Romans 9:6-13                        (ESV)

“6 But it is not as though the word of GOD has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."

8 This means that it is NOT the children of the flesh who are the children of GOD, but the “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE” are counted as offspring.

9 For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,

11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad-in order that GOD's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-

12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger."

13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

“The JEWS” have always been thought of as GOD’s chosen people, simply because they were descendants of Abraham (John 8:33).  However, I am not of the PHYSICAL bloodline of Abraham, but my FAITH IN GOD makes me a part of the “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”.  Being in the PHYSICAL bloodline is what the Pharisees, the ones who were thought of as the highest ranked of the JEWS, were banking their holiness on.  Unfortunately for them, Hebrews 11:6 says “without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please GOD...”.  Your “bloodline” has nothing to do with your SPIRIT!  

Trusting in anything other than your FAITH that JESUS is the SON OF GOD and came to earth to provide a ransom for the souls of man is the ONLY way to get to HEAVEN.  John 6:44-46 “NO ONE can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him...”.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not your own doing; it is the GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works, so that NO ONE MAY BOAST.”  We have no ability within us to live a life HOLY enough to escape Judgment.   Only by GRACE through FAITH in the finished work of JESUS CHRIST can we experience Heaven.  

Modern day “Pharisees”, similar to the times of JESUS, have convinced themselves that as long as they follow “their rules” they are in great shape with GOD.  However, in John 8 JESUS told the “scribes and Pharisees” that YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL!!  They “thought” they were walking with GOD, that they were doing what was “required” to enter Heaven.   But in John 8:45 JESUS told them “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe ME.”  GOD IN THE FLESH was walking in their midst and they couldn’t even SEE HIM!  

The scribes and the Pharisees were not the only ones who couldn’t SEE HIM though!  In Luke 24, Scripture records that TWO DISCIPLES were walking and talking on the road to Emmaus.  In verse 31 it is recorded “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized HIM. And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT.”  These disciples KNEW JESUS, yet they could SEE HIM, and then they couldn’t SEE HIM.  

We don’t need to get all caught up in our Holiness that we can’t SEE JESUS walking in our midst.  As “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”, our FAITH that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of GOD is all we need.  We should live our lives HOLY, not because we have to show our obedience to HIM, but because we DO love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose!  Being “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE” is the greatest gift ever, and we need to realize that!!!