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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Israel Is the Church, #9
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (Romans 9:6,7)
What does Paul mean by saying that being one of Abraham's descendants does not qualify the individual to be a part of spiritual Israel? Paul is declaring that Isaac and Ishmael were both Abraham's descendants, but God chose only Isaac to carry on the Messianic anointing. No spirit of prophecy rested on Ishmael.
It is true that Ishmael was born of a concubine and was not a child of both Abraham and Sarah. This makes no difference in reckoning lineage. Several of the sons of Jacob were born of the two women who were servants of Jacob's wives. Yet they are considered to be genuine descendants of Israel.
Esau was the legitimate son of Isaac and Rebecca, but Jacob became Israel and Esau was rejected by the Lord.
The point is, the true Seed, Christ, is always by prophetic promise, never by the flesh alone.
Abraham's descendants are reckoned only through Isaac. It is not the children of the flesh but the children who are by the Divine anointing, the prophetic promise, who are counted as the descendants of Abraham.
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. (Romans 9:8)
A Divine promise preceded the birth of Isaac.
For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. (Romans 9:9)
A Divine promise was given to Rebecca concerning the birth of Jacob and Esau.
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:10-13)
There is physical Israel, the physical descendants of Abraham through Jacob. Then there is spiritual Israel—those whom God has elected to be His royal priesthood, chosen from among physical Israel and also from Gentiles ordained to eternal life by the Lord.
Membership in the royal priesthood, in spiritual Israel, is always by promise and election, never by physical birth.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28,29)
To be continued.