The True Children of Israel

(Alternative intro)

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Chapter 8 ends on a note of assurance. Those saved in the way of which Paul is writing have been foreknown and predestined by God, and they are assured that this brings them to glory and that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Then what about

Chapter 8 ends on a note of assurance. Those saved in the way of which Paul is writing have been foreknown and predestined by God, and they are assured that this brings them to glory and that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Then what about the Jews? Did not the same God give the same assurance to the Jews as his “elect”? But the Jews for the most part were outside the church. Paul must face squarely the fact that, as a whole, Israel had rejected its Messiah. What does this say about the purposes of God? If God cannot bring his ancient people into salvation, how do Christians know that he can save them? Will the Christian salvation also be superseded one day? If Paul’s position was a valid one, he had to show that “believers of today are the heirs of a valid promise” (Leenhardt).4 The first eleven chapters of Romans are a unity, and this is important. Paul is not here proceeding to a new and unrelated subject. These three chapters are part of the way he makes plain how God in fact saves people.

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 343–344). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.Chapter 8 ends on a note of assurance. Those saved in the way of which Paul is writing have been foreknown and predestined by God, and they are assured that this brings them to glory and that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Then what about the Jews? Did not the same God give the same assurance to the Jews as his “elect”? But the Jews for the most part were outside the church. Paul must face squarely the fact that, as a whole, Israel had rejected its Messiah. What does this say about the purposes of God? If God cannot bring his ancient people into salvation, how do Christians know that he can save them? Will the Christian salvation also be superseded one day? If Paul’s position was a valid one, he had to show that “believers of today are the heirs of a valid promise” (Leenhardt).4 The first eleven chapters of Romans are a unity, and this is important. Paul is not here proceeding to a new and unrelated subject. These three chapters are part of the way he makes plain how God in fact saves people.

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 343–344). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Chapter 8 ends on a note of assurance. Those saved in the way of which Paul is writing have been foreknown and predestined by God, and they are assured that this brings them to glory and that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Then what about the Jews? Did not the same God give the same assurance to the Jews as his “elect”? But the Jews for the most part were outside the church. He struggled emotionally dealing with the fact that, as a whole, Israel had rejected its Messiah. His pain over their rejection was so deep that he could even wish for God to cut him off if it would mean the salvation of his kinsmen ()

Chapter 8 ends on a note of assurance. Those saved in the way of which Paul is writing have been foreknown and predestined by God, and they are assured that this brings them to glory and that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Then what about the Jews? Did not the same God give the same assurance to the Jews as his “elect”? But the Jews for the most part were outside the church. Paul must face squarely the fact that, as a whole, Israel had rejected its Messiah. What does this say about the purposes of God? If God cannot bring his ancient people into salvation, how do Christians know that he can save them? Will the Christian salvation also be superseded one day? If Paul’s position was a valid one, he had to show that “believers of today are the heirs of a valid promise” (Leenhardt).4 The first eleven chapters of Romans are a unity, and this is important. Paul is not here proceeding to a new and unrelated subject. These three chapters are part of the way he makes plain how God in fact saves people.

What does this say about the purposes of God? If God cannot bring his ancient people into salvation, how do Christians know that he can save them? Will the Christian salvation also be superseded one day? If Paul’s position was a valid one, he had to show that “believers of today are the heirs of a valid promise”. The first eleven chapters of Romans are a unity, and this is important. Paul is not here proceeding to a new and unrelated subject. These eleven chapters are part of the way he makes plain how God in fact saves people.

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 343–344). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Previously we read how Paul struggled emotionally dealing with the fact that so many of his jewish contemporaries - his fellow Israelites, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. His pain over their rejection was so deep that he could even wish for God to cut him off if it would mean the salvation of his kinsmen ()

Romans 9:3 NASB95

For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

In our text today we will learn how Paul moves from his expression of sorrow to subject about the sovereignty of God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is not petty deity that He is unable to accomplish his plans and intentions among His creation but He is rather an almighty God continually accomplished His plan according to His timeline. Through Paul’s arguments we will learn four points regarding the true children of Israel - the promised descendants of Abram.

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Observe God’s covenant with Abraham ()

Genesis 12:1–3 NASB95

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Key points in this text:

Genesis 17:6–8 NASB95

“I have made you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

I will make you a great nation.

I will bless you and make your name great.

You will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you.

I

I will curse those who curse you.

In you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.

In v.2 God promise Abram that he be a great nation, to also mean that he will have many descendants. This promise is amplified in where God promised that nations and kings would descend from the aged patriarch. This promise (which is expanded in the Davidic Covenant of will be realize in the Davidic throne with Messiah’s kingdom rule over the Hebrew people.

2 Samuel 7:12–16 NASB95

12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

The Davidic Covenant refers to God’s promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is later summarized in and . This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience.

Note a significant point: all the promises in Scripture are based upon this single promise to Abraham; that is, if the promise made to Abraham is voided and done away with, then all the promises of God’s Word are invalid. God’s Word and His promises will have failed. In light of this there are two things that make some people think the Word of God has failed.

All the promises in Scripture are based upon this single promise to Abraham; that is, if the promise made to Abraham is voided and done away with, then all the promises of God’s Word are invalid. God’s Word and His promises will have failed.

There are some people who think the Word of God has failed for this reasons:

First, Israel rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ, when God sent Him to earth. Ever since that day, very few Jews have turned and followed Christ. Where is the nation that God promised Abraham?

Second, the Gentiles are the ones who are following God through His Son Jesus Christ, not the Jews. Therefore, it looks like God has turned from Israel to the Gentiles.

all the promises in Scripture are based upon this single promise to Abraham; that is, if the promise made to Abraham is voided and done away with, then all the promises of God’s Word are invalid. God’s Word and His promises will have failed.

These two facts cannot be denied. They are a fact of history. How then can God’s Word and promise to Abraham ever be fulfilled? Have God’s Word and promise failed? Is God’s Word now invalid?

all the promises in Scripture are based upon this single promise to Abraham; that is, if the promise made to Abraham is voided and done away with, then all the promises of God’s Word are invalid. God’s Word and His promises will have failed. In light of this there are two things that make some people think the Word of God has failed.

Forcefully, Paul declares that God’s Word has not failed. God’s Word and the promises of it are effective and still valid. God is not done yet. He is fulfilling His promise to Abraham: a nation is being born to Abraham, a nation which is the true Israel and the true children of God.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 179). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Romans 9:6 NASB95

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

the true children of God are not members of a particular race or institution: “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Many Jews considered themselves children of God because by virtue of …

Birth - being born in the nation of Israel as an Israelite.

Religion - not only born but also raise in the Jewish religion.

Many Jews erroneously believed that God’s promise to Abraham meant that every citizen of the nation of Israel was a child of God as long as he was circumcised and half-way practiced the religion of Judaism.

Many Jews felt that God’s promise to Abraham meant that every citizen of the nation of Israel was a child of God as long as he was circumcised and half-way practiced the religion of Judaism.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 180). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Romans 9:7 NASB95

7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”

Just because the are a descendant of Abraham does not make them the promised children of God.

Observe the exchange between Jesus and some Jews starting in .

----- (OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO THIS TEXT AND READ QUIETLY ALONG WITH ME)

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” 39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but He sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! ( This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.) 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? (In Hebrew we read that Jesus was without sin.) And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” 39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.[h] 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”

39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.

Many Jews believed that they were children of God because of their godly heritage. They trusted in the fact that their parents and so many others in their roots (genealogies) worshipped the God of Judaism. They considered themselves to be children of godly forefathers; therefore, they professed to believe in God no matter what kind of lives they lived. FAITH EVENTUALLY BECOME A MATTER OF PERSONAL DECISION!

“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.[h] 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.”

Many Jews believed that they were children of God because of their godly heritage. They trusted in the fact that their parents and so many others in their roots (genealogies) worshipped the God of Judaism. They considered themselves to be children of godly forefathers; therefore, they professed to believe in God no matter what kind of lives they lived.

Not everyone who will call Him Lord will enter the kingdom of God.

They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”

Matthew 7:21 NASB95

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Who is true, who is not.

Luke 3:8 NASB95

8 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Luke

Romans

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 180). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Romans 2:28–29 NLT

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

Romans 9:7–13 NLT

7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” 13 In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

Let’s compare the birth of Ismael with that of Isaac.

Ismael, as scripture states, is not the promised son that God was talking to Abraham and Sara. At that time Sara was too old to get pregnant. Without waiting on God and trusting Him she recommended to have a child with the maid servant Hagar who bore a child with Abraham named Ishmael.

Ishmael represents all who seek the promise of God—that is, to become children of God—by their own works and efforts.

A common view that salvation is by good works of man to whom the bible declares as unrighteous. Man’s goodness is not good enough for God, because the heart where that goodness comes from is not right with God.

Ishmael represents all who seek the promise of God—that is, to become children of God—by their own fleshly works and efforts.

Romans 3:10–12 NASB95

10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

Except for Christ, the only human who walked this Earth and had no sin.

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 181). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Roughly about 10 years after Ishmael was born, Isaac was born through Sara. Isaac represents those who seek God through faith. Isaac was born through faith.

Gen 1

Genesis 18:1 NASB95

1 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

God appeared to Abraham and told him that Sarah was to bear the child of promise, the very child whom God had promised to Abraham when He first called Abraham (see ).

Genesis 18:1–3 NASB95

1 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 180). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Genesis 16:15–16 NASB95

15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

Genesis 15:15–16 NASB95

15 “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

Gen

Genesis 17:17–25 NASB95

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” 22 When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. 24 Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Sarah Laughed too - in …11And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12So she laughed to herself,saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’…

Genesis 17:17 NASB95

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Gen

Genesis 17:21 NASB95

21 “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.”

God appeared to Abraham and told him that Sarah was to bear the child of promise, the very child whom God had promised to Abraham when He first called Abraham (see Ge. 18:1f).

Genesis 17:

God appeared to Abraham and told him that Sarah was to bear the child of promise, the very child whom God had promised to Abraham when He first called Abraham (see Ge. 18:1f).

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The true children of God are those who believe and trust in God and His promises. How do we know this?

Scripture says so. Isaac was the promised child, and what are we to do with God’s promises? - TRUST, BELIEVE. Read God’s Word and promise to Abraham.

Genesis 21:12 NLT

12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

Prior to v. 12:

: 8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.[b] 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

Romans 9:7 NASB95

7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”

The children of the flesh are not the children of God’s promise. The birth of Ishmael was due to man’s effort. He was born because Sarah and Abraham were trying to secure the “promise” by their own works. Ishmael was entirely the product of natural, human, carnal, and fleshly plans. Abraham and Sarah were trying to bring about the promise of God by their own efforts and works. God had absolutely nothing to do with Ishmael’s birth.

God specified that it was through Isaac through whom your descendants will be counted and not from the illegitimate son of Abraham through Hagar the maid servant. His name was Ishmael born before Isaac and is considered to be the father of the Arabic nations.

The children of the flesh are not the children of God’s promise. The birth of Ishmael was due to man’s effort. He was born because Sarah and Abraham were trying to secure the “promise” by their own works. Ishmael was entirely the product of natural, human, carnal, and fleshly plans. Abraham and Sarah were trying to bring about the promise of God by their own efforts and works. God had absolutely nothing to do with Ishmael’s birth.

Thought 1. Being born to Jewish or Christian parents does not automatically make you the Child of God.

• a citizen of a particular nation, no matter what nation it is nor how good and benevolent the nation is

Thought 2. Being a member of a Christian church does not automatically make you a Christian - aka a child of God. A person does not become a child of God by being …

• a member of a particular religion or institution, no matter how true and godly the religion or institution may be

• a citizen of a particular nation, no matter what nation it is nor how good and benevolent the nation is.

Thought 2. Being born to Jewish parents does not automatically make you the Child of God. Being born to Christian parents automatically make you Christian.

• a member of a particular religion or institution, no matter how true and godly the religion or institution may be

Thought 3. A person becomes a child of God through faith in the promises of God. A child of the promise is a person who believes the promise of God, a person who …

1. A person becomes a child of God through faith in the promises of God. A child of the promise is a person who believes the promise of God, a person who …

• does not seek to secure the promise by his own efforts and works.

• follows through on his belief, waiting upon God to fulfill His promise.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 181). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

In the providence of God, believers have been highly privileged just as Israel was. Believers have been given the name of God’s own Son, Christian, which means a follower or a disciple of Jesus Christ. What we must guard against is bringing shame to the Lord’s name. Too many profess His name, but do not really trust and follow Him. True believers in Christ trust Him and because they trust Him, THEY WORSHIP and OBEY HIM.

Thought 2. In the providence of God, believers have been highly privileged just as Israel was. Believers have been given the name of God’s own Son, Christian, which means a follower or a disciple of Jesus Christ. What we must guard against is bringing shame to the Lord’s name. Too many profess His name, but do not really follow Him.

Believers, too, have the glorious privilege of being adopted by God through faith (see notes, Adoption—; ; Deeper Study # 2— for discussion and application).

1. Believers, too, have the glorious privilege of being adopted by God through faith (see notes, Adoption—; ; Deeper Study # 2— for discussion and application).

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Romans (p. 174). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

The True Children of Israel

Introduction

1. They know that God’s Word, His promise, has not failed (v. 6).

The Davidic Covenant

Note a significant point:

2. They are not members of a particular race or institution (v. 6).

3. They are not of any particular heritage (v. 7).

4. The true children of God are the believers of God’s promise (vv. 7–13).

The birth of Ishmael: Abraham was 86 years old.

The birth of Isaac: Abraham was 99 years old

Lessons Learned

CLOSING COMMENTS