The Birthright: Salvation and the Role of the Firstborn

“TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FIRSTBORN, ENROLLED IN HEAVEN.” (Heb 12:23)

In ancient culture, the birthright served as an inherit blessing from father to eldest son, or the firstborn. When Abraham was promised a son or heir that would come from his body, the birthright was promised to Isaac, as he was to be the firstborn son. This would later become known as the “children of promise”, as those in Christ are considered the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.

Becoming heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:29) gives us the rights and privileges of the firstborn son. It is through the role of the firstborn in which we receive the blessing of the birthright, which is our inheritance to eternal life. When we are born again, we are fulfilling the role of the firstborn through the Body of Christ.

♦Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

♦Romans 8:29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

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Who is the Israel of God?

If you were to ask such a question to the vast majority of Christians today, they would promptly respond that it is the political state of Israel created in 1948. In general, the average Christian would consider themselves to be the “church”, while separating Israel to a country in the middle east.

Though a doctrine called dispensationalism, there is a distinct separation between who the “church” is and who “Israel” is, and the majority are taught this within their congregations, and very few question it. Ever since the introduction of the Scofield Bible (1909), taught in seminaries nationwide, which separates church from Israel, not only has prophesy been manipulated, but it is quite an identity crisis, when all throughout Scripture the assembly of God, Israel, is always His people, a covenant people of God. 

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

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Joseph’s Dead Bones and Ezekiel 37

Hebrews 11:22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

The other night as I was putting our girls to bed, we were having a discussion that led to the topic of bones. As I was bringing up the topic of the Israelites carrying the bones of Joseph out of Egypt, suddenly, like a rush of mighty water, the Holy Spirit, flooded my mind, giving me revelation on such being a foreshadow to the prophesy in Ezekiel 37, of the dry bones.

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Children of Promise

Introduction

Many would have you believe that being of Jewish descent qualifies someone to be Yahweh’s chosen people, who are to inherit the kingdom of God. Many will also tell you that God’s kingdom includes the physical land of Israel, earthly Jerusalem/temple, etc. But is this really what the word teaches brothers and sisters? Let us strive to be like the faithful Bereans (Acts 17:11), searching the scriptures diligently for ourselves, in order that we will receive only the truth that is taught by the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13) and not by man’s wisdom, which is foolishness with God (1 Cor 2:6-16). In this two-part study, we are going to examine a series of key passages and find out who the word establishes as the children of promise.

Some people think the covenant made at Sinai (aka old covenant) was the first one, but this is not true. It was preceded by the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham, which was made because of his faith and obedience. Part 1 will focus primarily on this covenant, and part 2 will bridge the understanding to the new covenant, which is now in effect through Yahshua Messiah. As you read on you will find that both covenants are integrally and forever linked in an amazing way! We will also be looking at the covenant from Sinai, as one of the major points of focus will be contrasting old and new covenants.

Through Yah’s covenant with Abraham, the promises of blessing/people and inheritance/land went to him and his seed (seed = offspring/descendants). Keeping the words faith and obedience in mind is crucial to understanding this study. Moreover, we must keep this question in mind: “Who is the seed of Abraham?” What you will find is that without being identified with the covenant promises of Abraham, we cannot be children of God. And in like fashion, without being identified with Christ through faith and repentance, we cannot be counted as children of Abraham, and neither therefore as children of God. We will also be touching on what is counted as the true promised land, which is the kingdom of Heaven.

Please read all passages carefully and pay particularly close attention to content in all caps, and especially content that is in bold font. All passages are KJV unless otherwise noted. You may notice that all the passages are in order of appearance by book, chapter, and verse (correlating to most Bible versions anyway). I do not always use this method, but rather when it seems to work/flow well, and moreover to aid in understanding. On we go! Continue reading “Children of Promise”

The Land of Promise

There are many today who believe that the current land over in Israel holds a biblical mandate or a “divine right” belonging to those who identify as Jews. The current ideology, influenced by the Scofield reference bible, holds to the belief that Yahweh did not uphold or fulfill His promise given to Abraham, and the Israelites did not conquer all the land. Because of such, those who claim to be physical descendants today, can claim the promise of Abraham pertaining to the land, along with the political state of Israel, created in 1948. This is known as Zionism. However, I am going to examine this today and propose to you that there is currently no covenant that governs the right for the political state of Israel to lay claim to land, and that the old covenant that governed the Israelites access to the land ended with the ratification of the new covenant. 

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The Queen of Harlotry

Many people have, or have had speculations about the identity of the Whore of Babylon, mentioned in the book of Revelation. I myself have come through various thoughts over the years, however have become more concrete in my understanding of such, based upon how we can apply scripture to not only history, but scripture itself for interpretation, and of course the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Continue reading “The Queen of Harlotry”

The Barren Fig Tree

Last month my husband and I purchased a fig tree, and on our way home, I began to think of the parable of the fig tree. You see, this little fig tree that we had purchased was to replace the one we had to cut down in our yard a year or so prior. The previous owners of our home had planted this fig tree right at the bottom of the porch and it had become fairly obtrusive and never produced any fruit.  So, my husband, cut it down, and down she went.

What is the parable of the Fig Tree?

Luke 13:6He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Yeshua was speaking of Himself here as the “certain man” and the fig tree represented the House of Judah, and Israel as a whole. Later on, we see Yeshua curse the fig tree and it withered away, which was a foreshadow to the destruction of Jerusalem: Continue reading “The Barren Fig Tree”

Ezekiel’s Two-Sticks Gathered into One

Initially, when I had written some of this content, I had intended it to be included in my previous post “Barley Harvest, First-Fruits and Ezekiel’s Dead Bones”, as I wanted to include a lot of content from Ezekiel 37. However, it became quite obvious to me, that I had to create a separate post continuing on with Ezekiel 37.

The prophesy mentioned in Ezekiel 37:15-28, concerning the “Two-Sticks” or rather two kingdoms, being the House of Israel, and the House of Judah, was fulfilled and were brought together into the Hand of Yeshua/Jesus upon His death with the ratification of the New Covenant through His blood. Continue reading “Ezekiel’s Two-Sticks Gathered into One”

Barley Harvest, First-Fruits and Ezekiel’s Dead Bones

Isaiah 26:19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.

Yeshua/Jesus was resurrected from the dead during the Feast of Unleavened Bread on first-fruits, as the sheaf offering. This is why He is called our “First-fruits”(1 Cor 15:20). This is in regards to the first fruit offering of the ripe barley harvest, which happens during the Feast of Unleavened Bread: Continue reading “Barley Harvest, First-Fruits and Ezekiel’s Dead Bones”

In Their Generation

Was Yeshua/Jesus lying when He said this?:
 

Mark 9:1Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, THERE ARE SOME STANDING HERE WHO WILL NOT TASTE DEATH UNTIL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD ARRIVE WITH POWER.”

Who was He talking to? (I answer below)

I am not usually too big on commentaries, however will read them from time to time through Bible hub, as further insight and confirmation to what the Spirit has shown me. In such, I am in agreement with Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, from Matthew 16:28, (which is a cross reference to Mark 9:1):

“The solution of the problem is to be found in the great prophecy of Matthew 24. In a sense which was real, though partial, the judgment which fell upon the Jewish Church, the destruction of the Holy City and the Temple, the onward march of the Church of Christ, was as the coming of the Son of Man in His kingdom. His people felt that He was not far off from every one of them. He had come to them in “spirit and in power,” and that advent was at once the earnest and the foreshadowing of the “great far-off event,” the day and hour of which were hidden from the angels of God, and even from the Son of Man Himself (Mark 13:32). The words find their parallel in those that declared that “This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 24:34).”

Yeshua/Jesus told His disciples this, and told them in their generation. That was the first century.

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