The Earnest of Our Inheritance
Nations, Gentiles and the Church
By G.S. Hammans
By G.S. Hammans
unto the glory of God by us... who hath also sealed us, and
given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2Cor. 1:22
~ END ~
Contact Us
Acts 10:35 [1] Peter said in every nation he that feareth Him (God) and worketh righteousness
is accepted with Him. He did not say they were born again. If they were born again of water and
Spirit as in John 3:5 [2] they would no longer be a member of a nation. They would be a member
of the body of Christ as in Romans 12:5 [3]. We are baptized into that body ICo. 12:13 [4] and
Gal. 3:27 [5], Ro.6:3 [6]. I believe the way to fulfill John 3:5 [2] is to obey Acts 2:38 [7].
When you are baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost as in Acts 2:4 [8], you have been brought forth (born again) from being a member of a nation to being a member of His body Ro. 12:5 [3] and ICo. 10:17 [9] and Eph. 1:22,23 [10]. When this happens, Phil. 3:20 [11] declares that our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven. The one keeping his citizenship in heaven will be the one having power over the nations Rev. 2: 26,27 [12]. What nations? the nations in Rev. 21:24 [13] and 22:3 [14]. These nations are saved Rev. 21:24 [13] but not born again. If they had been born again i.e. brought forth by water and Spirit John 3:5 [2] and Acts 2:38 [7] they would be part of the city Rev. 21: 2,10 [14] because those that are baptized into Christ are not only spoken of as part of His body but also as the bride of Christ 2Cor11:2 [15].
The Jewish disciples that followed Christ were part of the nation of Israel. They were redeemed and reconciled to God by the death of God's Son Ro 5:9 [16] and 2Cor. 5:19 [17] but they were still part of the nation of Israel. People of the Gentile nations Eph. 2:11 [18] were also made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph.2: 13 [19]. Both Jew and Gentile nations are reconciled to God in one body by the cross Eph.2:16 [20] but they both have access to the Father by one Spirit Eph. 2:18 [21] and are baptized into one body by one Spirit ICor. 12:13 [22]. When this happens, they are no longer a part of Jew or Gentile nations that redeemed by His blood Eph. 1:7 [23]. They have been brought forth (born again) by means of water and Spirit John 3:5 [2], Acts 2:38 [7] Acts 2:4 [8] and they have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son Col. 1:13 [24]. Their citizenship is no longer a part of the nations of earth, but it is in heaven Phil. 3:20 [11].
ICor. 10:32 [25] God recognizes two nations i.e. Jews and Gentiles, but He also recognizes a third group call the church which is His body Eph. 1:22, 23 [10]. If you are a member of one of these nations that has been redeemed to God by your faith in His blood Ro. 5:1-9 [26] and you want to be a part of His body which is the church, then obey Acts 2:38 [7] and you will be born again and your citizenship will be in heaven and not on the earth. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift 2Cor. 9:15 [27]!
When you are baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost as in Acts 2:4 [8], you have been brought forth (born again) from being a member of a nation to being a member of His body Ro. 12:5 [3] and ICo. 10:17 [9] and Eph. 1:22,23 [10]. When this happens, Phil. 3:20 [11] declares that our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven. The one keeping his citizenship in heaven will be the one having power over the nations Rev. 2: 26,27 [12]. What nations? the nations in Rev. 21:24 [13] and 22:3 [14]. These nations are saved Rev. 21:24 [13] but not born again. If they had been born again i.e. brought forth by water and Spirit John 3:5 [2] and Acts 2:38 [7] they would be part of the city Rev. 21: 2,10 [14] because those that are baptized into Christ are not only spoken of as part of His body but also as the bride of Christ 2Cor11:2 [15].
The Jewish disciples that followed Christ were part of the nation of Israel. They were redeemed and reconciled to God by the death of God's Son Ro 5:9 [16] and 2Cor. 5:19 [17] but they were still part of the nation of Israel. People of the Gentile nations Eph. 2:11 [18] were also made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph.2: 13 [19]. Both Jew and Gentile nations are reconciled to God in one body by the cross Eph.2:16 [20] but they both have access to the Father by one Spirit Eph. 2:18 [21] and are baptized into one body by one Spirit ICor. 12:13 [22]. When this happens, they are no longer a part of Jew or Gentile nations that redeemed by His blood Eph. 1:7 [23]. They have been brought forth (born again) by means of water and Spirit John 3:5 [2], Acts 2:38 [7] Acts 2:4 [8] and they have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son Col. 1:13 [24]. Their citizenship is no longer a part of the nations of earth, but it is in heaven Phil. 3:20 [11].
ICor. 10:32 [25] God recognizes two nations i.e. Jews and Gentiles, but He also recognizes a third group call the church which is His body Eph. 1:22, 23 [10]. If you are a member of one of these nations that has been redeemed to God by your faith in His blood Ro. 5:1-9 [26] and you want to be a part of His body which is the church, then obey Acts 2:38 [7] and you will be born again and your citizenship will be in heaven and not on the earth. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift 2Cor. 9:15 [27]!