That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Eph. 2:14
REVIEW
We talked about Jacob who became Israel. He had a controversial life from birth to death. He received the Birthright blessing, lived his eventful life and in his final days passed the blessing on to his twelve sons along with Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s two sons) giving them portions of the blessing as if they were sons. This group became the nation of Israel as we know it today. Scripture tells us, Israel leaned upon his staff worshipped God and died.
Jesus and Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”
4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘Youb must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal lifted
16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”
Our Portion
Today we discuss the Birthright Blessing as it applies to us, New Testament believers and the household of faith. It is written we are the household of God. Whereby when we confess Christ or believe on Him, we become heirs to the same inheritance that Christ, the Blessing is only a part of that inheritance.
- The People of Israel.- His Chosen People
Romans 9:4-5 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. - Once Aliens Brought Near Through The Blood of Christ
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Eph 2:12 - His Children
John 1:12
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will
Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:9
So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
- Heirs with Christ
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.… Romans 8:14-16
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:17
- The Mystery of Our Inheritance In God
Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. - Qualified To Share In This Inheritance
Colossians 1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. - Abraham’s Seed
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Genesis 17:7,8
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…
In summary, it began with God’s chosen people, the people of Israel. After reviewing last session of Jacob becoming Israel. And realizing that Jacob’s life had such value and insight (even with a deceitful nature) that God inspired the writer to mention Jacob and Israel in the same sentence or passage of Scripture quite often. Hopefully, you caught that he was the same person. I believe it’s because many of us spend quite a lot of years with the Jacob nature. But he wrestled with God all night before crossing over and going home to his Bethel. He got up and God commended him for being persistent and gave him a new name, Israel.
So, receiving the birthright blessing is more about our journey as the new creation (a born-again) leaving the old nature behind and becoming the new creation which has put old things away. Ready for the new life, the new beginning as co-heirs of Christ. As the Ephesian writer put it, I pray for you that the eyes of your heart be enlightened with the spirit of wisdom and revelation that more and more you get to know the Father and receive the glorious riches of your inheritance in Christ Jesus.