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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Royal Priesthood, #3
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:14,15) Israel, God's elect, God's chosen, God's royal priesthood, is one whole whether under the old covenant or the new. Israel is the Servant of the Lord, the Body of Christ, the Olive Tree, the Seed of Abraham.
If we would understand the Divine plan we must recognize that within the ranks of mankind there is a group of people whose names were called out before the beginning of the world. They compose the royal priesthood. They have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ so He will be the Firstborn among many brothers.
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 8:29)
This does not mean the elect will become the brothers of the Lord no matter how they behave. In order to gain their predestined inheritance they must seek continually to grasp that for which they have been grasped.
This does not mean everyone else is predestined to be lost. God is willing that all should be saved from wrath, that all should come to repentance.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
The "salvation" of the royal priesthood includes being in the moral image of Christ and being one with Christ in God as Christ is one with God.
The "salvation" of all the other members of mankind means at the final judgment they will not be hurled into the Lake of Fire but will be brought forward into the new heaven and earth reign of Christ, there to take their place as the citizens of the saved nations.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Revelation 21:24)
(Some of the newer translation say "nations" instead of "nations of them which are saved." It makes no difference because it is obvious these nations are made up of saved people. The holy city is the royal priesthood that governs those of mankind who are saved but not members of God's elect, God's Israel.)
Israel ("he struggles with God") came into being when Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees. At that point a huge wall was erected between God's elect, His Church, and the remainder of mankind. God's elect always are to be His witnesses, His priesthood, His representatives among mankind. Because of this God deals with each member of His elect in a very particular manner, while the remainder of people on the earth go about their business.
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:7)
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10)
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21)
To be continued.