Physical vs Spiritual

Deceptions rarely stand alone in a religious environment. A deception usually breeds more deceptions in order to build a structure of interwoven deceptions that appear to all be supporting one another as truths.

One of the tell-tale indicators is how the language is used, with deceptions often being referred to as “obviously true” despite a lack of biblical evidence to support them.

The concept of “moral” law is a good example. Nowhere in Scripture does it state that any law constitutes being “moral” law, let alone the entire Decalogue. Yet the concept is accepted as true despite this, and the requirement stated in Scripture is to prove all things, not to accept all things should they appear to be “obviously” or “apparently” true.”

(Proverbs 3:5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Ask those who believe in “moral” law to define it. And ask how it contrasts to “ceremonial” law and how that is defined. It’s like watching a deer illuminated in the headlights, because the organization they belong to that proffers the concept has not defined the terms outside of circular reasoning. Most members are reluctant to answer, knowing that any answer they proffer may well not meet the criteria of any ‘official position’ of the organization. They are satisfied to simply parrot the belief/claim and leave it at that.

I proffer the concept that if there truly were such a thing as “moral” law, they would be laws where there is NEVER an excuse or justification for violating them. Murder is always wrong when properly defining ‘murder.’ Same with adultery, bearing false witness, and idolatry, to mention a few.

The concept of ‘moral’ law also raises another, associated issue. Are we discussing “moral” law in the context of a person being justified and declared morally upright because they keep or comply with “moral” law? And if so, then what of those who, say, never commit a murder, yet have a deep seated hatred of another, which Scripture identifies as the “spirit of murder”?

This would also be hard to embrace, given the statements by Paul that no one will be justified by the works of the law. What ties this all together is Jesus’ declaration about the Pharisees, who we could argue at least kept the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) yet Jesus referred to them as children of the devil and that they hated Him without a just cause.

(John 15:25) But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

No matter what Jesus did before them, in their sight, even raising the dead, was rejected in favor of the law. To them, the Messiah to come would be validating both them and the law they administered, so that, they charged even the followers of Christ Jesus for being ignorant of the law and thus cursed as a result.

(John 7:48-49) Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

Dare I point it out? The law was more important than God Incarnate. And if you put something, anything, above and greater than God, then what is that ‘thing’ to you? It is the ‘god’ you serve and obey. It is your idol; whether made of stone, or the product of your imagination, or both.

(John 4:23-24) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Can we agree then that the Pharisees, whose focus was about the law and the works of the law that were physically oriented, were not worshiping God in spirit and in truth? They were rejecting truth by rejecting He who was the personification of Truth, and where spirit is about things non-corporeal; outside the realm of physical things and outside the realm of the heart, mind, and soul, where their focus was in relation to the physical body and outward appearances.

A believing Christian then sees themselves in relation to Christ in association with the heart, mind, and soul. False Christians, unbelievers, not being led by the Holy Spirit, will focus then on the physical things, such as the works of the law that have no bearing, no impact, on the heart, mind, and soul, even as was the case with those Pharisees.

The works of the law, and most everything in the law, pointed forwards to the Messiah to come; the Christ we know to be the Son of God, who is also God. It is a concept impossible for those focused on the physical to fully grasp, being a spiritual concept. For God exists in a spiritual realm and not a physical one where physically-, carnally-minded people try to understand the nature of God through a physical filter.

The physical sacrifices were typology of Him. Circumcision was typology of conversion, performed by the Holy Spirit, where under the law, a Jew was not complete unless and until he was circumcised. And in this spiritual reality, a “man” becomes complete in Christ through this spiritual “circumcision” “performed without hands”.

(Colossians 2:11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

As an aside, note carefully the wording and reference to sin, being sins of the flesh… not sins of the law. For the Gentiles were never required to come under the law, through a physical circumcision according to the law. This spiritual circumcision of the heart brings one into the New Covenant “law” of the Spirit and not the old covenant law of the physical letter… that kills.

Where Sabbatarianism, such as Armstrongism and Adventism, expose themselves as non-spiritual is their embrace of the old covenant Sabbath rest for the physical body that followed six days of physical work; ignoring the typology which they vaguely comprehend in regards to the sacrifices and circumcision. There is a spiritual “rest” found in Christ; a rest for the non-physical component of mankind associated with the heart, mind, and soul. The author of Hebrews points out this spiritual rest as a cessation of a former work, even as God ceased from the work of the physical universe where that typology meets its completion in the spiritual creation of a new man; a new creature / creation where all things have become new; different than the old.

(2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What were the “old things” that passed away? Everything associated with the old man, including his previous works of the flesh and sins of the flesh. A man in Christ enters into God’s rest. The rest God entered into millennia ago and still resides in is a permanent rest or “cessation” from the act of physical creation. This is a typology of our rest/cessation of our former works of the physical flesh, leading to eventual death, and in contrast our conversion/transformation places us within God’s rest, that is life ETERNAL. We now reside in this condition for the rest of eternity; having entered into God’s rest with Him that will never end. Death has been swallowed up by life.

This is all spiritually discerned, and as such, rejected by those still held by the flesh; still under the bonds and chains of sin. All they know and understand are physical things, along with physical rites and rituals that were typology of what was to come. People reject the concept due to having evil hearts of unbelief; held captive to sin by their very nature; their hearts, minds, and souls that have not undergone any spiritual awakening through conversion via the Holy Spirit, to the end that they end up actively resisting the Holy Spirit in favor of their own efforts under a physical law that condemns physical, carnal people led by the flesh.

************

It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11

************

You’ve Left… Now What?

You’ve dared to question. You’ve dared to be honest with yourself. Huge steps. And then the really huge step… you left. But now what? Where is the truth? Who has it? Does anyone? How do know who has the truth? How do you find them?

Let me share with you what happened for me.

For me, what got me to questioning Ron Weinland’s teachings, was at FOT 2005 when he stated that Christ was created. I just about had a cow! I was attending with my Mother, and I remember that evening, she was talking to me, asking me questions, as if to see where I stood. I was shocked that she would even entertain the idea. But she seemed to accept is so quickly and so easily. I was beside myself.

Upon returning home, I continued to listen to Ron every Saturday and immersed myself in the Bible, in search of truth. I started by asking questions of my spouse, who had been New Covenant for years. Everything I heard seemed to make sense. Then I would call my Mother and ask her questions. Everything I heard seemed to make sense. How could that be? They believed differently, so how could they both seem to make sense?

I went around and around in circles for a good week like this, asking them questions. That’s when I realized I had gone to the wrong source in search of answers. They weren’t with my Mother. They weren’t with my spouse. They were with God. I told God: “I want to know the truth. I want your truth. I don’t care what it is, I have no preference… if we’re to keep holy days, fine. If we’re not, fine. It doesn’t matter, all I want is your truth.”

I spent, literally, ten solid months immersed in study, and I repeated my request to God frequently… and you know what? He granted it… and I’m not the only one who asked for this and received it. I’m convinced this is what’s required in order to receive the truth; truly and without preference, wanting God’s truth.

Ask yourself, and be honest; “Do I have a preference? Would it matter to me if “A” was the truth and not “B”, or vise versa?” This can be revealing, and being honest with yourself is highly respectable.

In case you’re thinking it, I’ll mention something my sister said when she was trying to figure our if Ron Weinland was God’s prophet or not. She said that some of us need others to teach us stuff because they know more than we do.

Well, it is true that some are more mature in the Word than others and that’s why I love Bible discussions with others, but the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Read these verses:

1Jn 2:26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Jn 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Jn 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth.

1Co 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Mt 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

So, you’ve left… Now what? You ask yourself if you have a preference. If you do, then you have something to work out. Talk to God about it. If your sincere, I’m sure he will help you with that… and then when, or if, you don’t, you tell God, and you ask him to reveal his truth to you, you dig into your Bible and you see anew!

You don’t need to set out looking for a new teacher. Don’t be counting on someone else for your salvation. It is your responsibility to make sure you are receiving the truth. You can’t ride someone else’s coattail into the Kingdom. Don’t mistake what I’m saying, I’m not negating church, church and fellowship is great, I’m saying just don’t rely on someone else for truth. Rely on God and his Holy Spirit to teach you all things.

God bless you in your quest for his truth.

You may be interested in reading my articles: Do We Need To Be Taught By Others?, and: On Bereans & Poem From Ex-Member

Common Legalist Arguments - Part I

I am going to start a series where I attempt, in my own flawed way, to answer common arguments that have been posed to me by legalists.

I am only addressing one argument at a time, and I will only answer that one particular argument. Anyone who expects me to answer all possible tangents will be disappointed. I ask for patience on the part of the reader. Thank you!

Argument #1

"The law is harder to keep; the Spirit helps you to keep it, grace makes up for your failures."

This is a teaching in Armstrongism, that the law was "magnified", and magnified means made harder to keep.

Do a search for the word magnified and see how the one and only thing magnified is Jesus. But let's go with the claim.

OK. How was it magnified? How did He make the law harder? The Bible doesn't say. For example, where is the verse that tells how is the Sabbath harder to keep? Nowhere. How is it harder, then? We don't know. Just trust us, it is? One would no doubt reply, "It's a summary of many things." But I would implore one to consider a few things that appear to have been left out.

First off, making it harder is a change. I thought the law was not to change one bit, not one jot or tittle?

The law cannot save, it only condemns (ROM. 4: 15; GAL. 3: 10), and without mercy (HEB. 10: 28). The law has no provision for saving, it only has provisions that punish. That is, after all, why Jesus had to come. To be fair, most do not look for the law to save, they just feel the law is necessary for Jesus to save. So, let's change the word "save" to "declare innocent". The law has no provision to declare a lawbreaker innocent when the law was legitimately broken. The only people who had a way out under the law were people who broke the law unawares or against their own will. That's it. The law had no provision whatsoever for people who willfully violated it. You know in your heart of hearts and so do I - we all have willfully violated it. There is no provision in the law to declare the guilty to be innocent. It was a one-and-done thing.
Think about this for a minute with me. So, I am to believe, after all mankind was already made guilty, that Jesus then made it far easier to be made guilty? Why? We are already guilty!

No man could keep it perfectly before, so how do you make it harder? You can't make "slip up once and you're dead" harder. If you have no hope then you have no hope. There can't have EXTRA no hope. A purpose of the law was to bring men under condemnation (ROM. 5: 20). The law did that perfectly. So why make it harder after it completed its goal?

Another purpose of the law was to bring Israel to the time of Jesus (GAL. 3: 24). Well, that has come. Why couldn't grace just make up for the law as it was? Think about that.
The only, and I mean only, thing that can declare innocent is The Judge. He cannot do that through law, which has no provision for it. He does it through grace. Why on earth make it harder after grace has come in?

Saying there is both the need for law and an out for violating the law (with grace) is as if God said, "You're already condemned, and I'm going to make it super easy to be even more condemned. But don't worry about that, you can't be condemned because you're under grace." Grace makes the law toothless and therefore pointless. So, I have to keep the law, but it's OK because I don't actually have to keep the law. That's just a fancy way of saying I don't have to keep the law in the first place. Plus it's just confusion.

You cannot keep it! You cannot. You will not. If no one could keep it perfectly before, and it's harder now, you cannot and you will not keep it perfectly. You will be condemned again. And you have! (Be honest, now. You know you've sinned.) It's hopeless. You will need to rely on grace again. So, what is the difference, then, between those who try yet inevitably fail to keep a certain selection of the law, and, say, a Protestant who doesn't even try and just does their best to believe in Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit? The hopeless attempt?? Really? This is a great place to ask, "Where does it say that?"

How much law do I have to try yet fail to keep in order for my inevitable failure to adds value to me? 1%? 3%? 46%? 72%? If the answer is 100%, then I ask, why don't Armstrongists do that? I have shown multiple times how the COGs don't recognize the whole law. Not even remotely! The reasoning given to me was, "Herbert Armstrong changed the law out of necessity." A man changed the law?? What happened to "not one jot or one tittle"? Believe it or not, a group of guys and I sat down one day and calculated how many of the 613 laws Armstrongism recognizes. We concluded roughly 3%. Three percent!! So, God (or Herbert Armstrong) got rid of 97% of the law, and that somehow makes it harder? 
So, the doomed attempt at keeping roughly 3% of the law is what adds value? What sense does that even make?

Now the Spirit helps us keep this selection of the law? People in the Old Testament are said to have had the Spirit (Joseph, David, etc). The Spirit didn't cause them to keep the law perfectly at that time. If the Spirit helps you to keep the newer, harder, smaller law, then why can't any man do it even today? Why did they fail? Why have you and I failed? (And be honest, you know you have, and you know you'll do it again.) Is God not able to complete a task?

(ROM. 2: 23) You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

For one who demands law, breaking the law dishonors God. The little bit that you keep does not honor Him when the parts you break are dishonoring Him! This is the curse of law.

(ROM. 2: 25-27) 25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?

Again, what is the difference, then, between those who try yet inevitably fail to keep a certain selection of the law, and, say, a Protestant who doesn't even try and just does their best to believe in Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit?

(GAL. 3: 10) ...“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Three percent is not all things! You know and will admit to yourself that you often break the law. I did! I broke it all the time! I tried and I tried, and I begged and pleaded for forgiveness, and I promised my heart out that I would do better next time. Yet I failed. So did everyone else. But you expect Christ to make up for that fact. Notice how the uncircumcised (the one without the written code) can fulfill "the righteous requirements of the law".

(ROM. 2: 29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter...

How can this be? Inwardly? The Spirit? What fulfills that? Love! (ROM. 13: 8, 10; GAL. 5: 14) Love fulfills the righteous requirements of the law. Not the Sabbath. Not the 10 Commandments. But love. Faith and love.

You don't keep the law, even though you try, and you know you don't. Neither did I. Armstrong taught certain select parts of the law, 3%, yet mankind cannot help but fail. No one has succeeded (but Christ), and no one can. In that, we see that it is the hopeless attempt that counts.

So, let me get this straight... We both have faith in Jesus Christ. I'm condemned if I don't attempt and fail to keep the law. But no one can keep the law, so you're condemned too. Even if you try to keep the law, you're condemned same as me. But it's OK for you because there's no penalty at failing so long as you're trying? So, we both have faith, we both fail, but in order for it not to matter we have to at least try to do something no one can possibly do? That is the same as saying the hopeless attempt at keeping the law counts as righteousness.

That's not what God says:

(ROM. 4: 5) But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness

Faith is accounted for righteousness! Our hopeless and failed attempt, is that actual righteousness? No. Of course not. A failed attempt is by definition unrighteousness according to the law. It is not actual righteousness. So, is it accounted for righteousness? No. But faith is credited as such. Failure is implied as each of us have already failed. But righteousness is a gift accounted to us by faith. It cannot be earned in any sense. So, this earning grace by trying to keep the law is pointless.

Naturally, we ask - whose righteousness? If righteousness is accounted to us by faith, it is not our righteousness. No. Then whose is it? The righteousness belongs to Jesus! It is His righteousness that is accounted to us by our faith in Him. This is the only way to be more righteous than the Pharisees.

(EPH. 2: 8-9) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

One must ask, how does any good come if we are such failures, then? As Paul says, "by promise".

(ROM. 4: 13) For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Jesus Christ was the promise. But we are one body and one bread with Christ (I COR. 10: 16-17) through faith (ROM. 4: 13), and thus heirs to this same promise (GAL. 3: 29). The law is not supplementary to that, but is in all actuality contrary to it!

(ROM. 4: 14-15) For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath...

The law does not bring the grace you seek at all, but wrath. The law voids faith and harms the promise. Is that really what you want? But faith establishes it!

(ROM. 4: 23-25) 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

We are not justified by the law, righteousness is not of law, we are not called to the law, the law is not the Gospel, the law can void the promise, the law can only condemn us.. what good is it, then? What good does anyone hope to gain from it? Especially from a partial selection of it?

(GAL. 2: 16) knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

(GAL. 2: 21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

(ROM. 5: 1-2) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

CONCLUSION

What was Argument #1 again? "The law is harder to keep; the Spirit helps you to keep it, grace makes up for your failures."

All evidence points to justification by faith, not by the law. The gift is by grace so that no one can boast.

None of the things in the following list comes from the law:

Justification (GAL. 2: 16)

Righteousness (GAL. 2: 21)

The Spirit (GAL. 3: 2)

Perfection (GAL. 3: 3; HEB. 7: 19)

Miracles (GAL. 3: 5)

Inheritance (GAL. 3: 18)

Life (GAL. 3: 21)

Grace (GAL. 5: 4)

Faith (GAL. 3: 12)

So then, what are you seeking to get from the law?

Loved by God, I hope we can clearly see why Argument #1 is simply not feasible. God bless you and prosper you in your studies and prayers into this. I pray He graces you with a clear understanding of the New Covenant to which all Christians hope to attain.

[Also see Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, & Part VIII]

************

It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

************

Focus

Focus


One of the commonalities of those who are leaving religious cults is that they ask, “where then is the one true church?” To answer this question is to try and get the person to quit thinking along the lines of “cult-think.”

For those within false religious groups, and those coming out of them, their focus tends to be on physical things as well as doctrines. The “true church” they seek is the one that has “the most truth” and this “truth” is subjective, based upon the individual’s beliefs, and not necessarily any eternal, universal truth.

What’s wrong with this picture then? Frankly, everything.

Matthew 7:16: Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Nowhere do you find a declaration in Scripture that says you will know true Christians and the true Church based upon their doctrinal beliefs. Ironically, these same people who insist the one true church is the one teaching the truth will in turn declare that no one, and no organization, has all truth. Yet many who read this will claim that true Christians are those who keep the sabbath; that the sabbath is the sign of a true Christian.

Talk about cognitive dissonance! If you believe this, then let me ask you a pertinent question: Can a false Christian keep the sabbath? If so, then how can you claim that true Christians keep the sabbath because it is the sign of a true Christian? If this were indeed true, then a a false Christian who keeps the sabbath, automatically, as a result of his keeping the sabbath, becomes a true Christian!

Allow me therefore to re-direct your focus for a moment to what Jesus said in the passage cited above; you shall know them by their fruits. Is belief in a doctrine fruit? Let’s do a review regarding fruit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. — Galatians 5:22-25

I could ask how it is one walks in the Spirit by observing physical things such as the sabbath, but this is not the point I am trying to make. The point I am trying to make is that, if we see someone demonstrating these spiritual traits, can we conclude or consider them to be Christ’s?

Again, as a point of focus:

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. — Luke 10:25-28

Jesus called these the “Two Great Commandments” on which all the law hangs. Yet I do not recall HWA ever citing this passage as an example of what one must do in order to be saved. HWA was fond of quoting from Matthew 19, citing part of the narrative out of context.

What’s the focus here? Did Jesus say anything about doctrine? Did He emphasize what we believe, or what people are to do?

What results when people argue and disagree over doctrines? Does this demonstrate love for one another; esteeming others greater than yourself? Indeed, doctrine can be important, but all too often doctrinal disputes demonstrate a lack of love for others.

So here’s the rub, for those of you who still believe you have to keep the sabbath. If a person demonstrates the fruit of the spirit, but does not keep the sabbath, are they likely a true Christian, or is their faith in Christ counted as nothing to you if they do not keep the sabbath? Conversely, if one keeps the sabbath, but does not demonstrate or produce this fruit of the spirit, can you honestly say this sabbath keeper is a true Christian, because of the sabbath?

If one has left the WCG or any of the splinters, having rejected the letter of the law teachings of HWA, one learns very quickly that with the majority of those within the group they were in based their friendship and love conditionally, based upon their beliefs; their doctrines. Leave the belief system, and you are shunned like a leper. Jesus’ words about having love for even an enemy are foreign to their ears.

Truth for a true Christian revolves around faith and love; not doctrine. If doctrine and doctrinal issues arise and create conflict, one cannot help but conclude there is a violation of faith and love, regardless of the veracity of the doctrine under debate.

Indeed, by their fruits you will know them, and the wielding of doctrinal issues and debates can and will expose the fruits.

Bill Hohmann

************

It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

************

Ron,

Just a few things:

Flowery, syrupy love. Yes, how fake. Apparently love should be sober and formal. Sounds so... warm and loving. But then that makes sense coming from a man who admittedly has to work at showing affection.

You're always going on about Elohim insinuating it means family/God family. Show me proof. You won't find it. You say Jesus' name is Jesus Christ. No, Christ is one of His titles, just as is Yahweh and Rock and Savior, et al. You also say that you will be gods... um, no. Only the Father and the Son are God. Again, God said there was no God created before Him, nor will there be one created after.... we were created... which is also proof that Jesus did not have a beginning.

Last week you went on about Mother Teresa, how people are selfish, there's nothing good in anyone... she was not of God.

So based on this reasoning not a single person is of God... and Ron, you are no exception.

You seem to have a habit of making arguments that don't hold water.

Like "How can He inherit what's already His? The Bible says Yahweh inherits, which I talk about in "Did Jesus Have A Beginning? RePost. Anyone who studies and researches scripture should know that.

You go on about people who who say they have new truth and how haughty they are about what they saw and believed. Well, you tell me; how are you any different? Where is your proof that you have the truth?

I have proof that you are a false teacher, a false prophet leading people away from Jesus. So easily proved. So easily it's laughable.

PKG is your church, yes yours, it's not God's, you don't teach what the Bible says. You teach twisted lies. You pervert the word of God.

Members,

Maybe it's just not your time yet.

You need to understand; Unless you wake up and repent (before the return of Jesus/or the death of your physical body - which ever comes first), I believe you will not be the Bride of Christ. I believe that once you realize the truth, you will accept it and thus be in the kingdom... but not as the Bride. I want you to be part of the Bride of Christ. I want that for you. How could I not?

 Members, can you prove me wrong? Go back and read the Yahweh article (the quickest, easiest one to investigate) then comment or e-mail me the proof that those scriptures don't prove Jesus did not have a beginning, that Jesus is not Yahweh too. Define what those scriptures actually mean, if you don't agree with me. If that particular teaching of Ron's is wrong, what else is?

If I was working on a math problem and got it wrong, how would you show me the actual solution? You wouldn't just say "that's wrong" or "I don't see it that way," you'd go through the steps to show me the solution to the problem, (unless, of course you didn't care).

So Ron was talking about the cesspools on the internet; do you think my blog is a cesspool? Do you think your going to grow sick spiritually because you "dig though the garbage" on my blog? Because you "swim" in my so-called "icky tank?" "eww." Ron says some of the stuff on the internet almost got to him and he had to battle it. I find that interesting. Sounds like he almost saw the truth of God, but sadly, Satan was able to keep his hold on him. 

Well, I ask you, where are my lies. Show me proof.

Let me ask you this; how is Ron any different than me? Where is the proof that he has the truth?

Don't believe his lies and his tricky, crafty words. Tell me how he is any different. Show me the proof. This blog shows proof that he does not have the truth. As RW likes to say: anyone with the eyes to see will see. Anyone called of God will see it is the truth. Unless your being called, you're just not going to see it.

You can't be one with God when you've been cut off, alienated from Jesus.

The unity and oneness you have, this family that Ron talks about, is not with God, it's with Ron. Ron is not of God. He teaches a different Gospel and a different Jesus.

Ron, It's interesting... are you telling your congregation it's okay to keep FOT in their homes? Because, you said they cannot possibly grow spiritually at home, just them and the Father and Jesus. I guess it's okay since you can teach them with your sermons. You sure have a lot of holes in your teachings. You contradict yourself repeatedly. I was wondering; will they be keeping the entire Feast, or just a few days? You know, with the huge deal you make about Pentecost and which day it should start on, and the importance of Sabbaths. But I suppose it would be okay, if you give them permission. Then it won't be counted as a sin for breaking Gods very specific rules for keeping annual Sabbaths. Wow, they are so lucky to have you... the special 'called one'... whose every prophesy failed.

(By the way members, for those of you who lost your jobs last FOT, or who will lose them this time, or lose them again - let me give you something to ponder; God is love, God is love, God is love... and He expects you to prove it by losing your jobs and struggling financially? God is love, God is love, God is love.)

Then you go on about Jn. 14:10-19 and obeying Jesus' commands - like the Old Covenant Ten Commandments were the only commands ever given by God! Jesus said obey my commands, but you say Jesus was not the God of the Old Testament, yet you talk like Jesus is talking about the commands given at Sinai, which makes them the Fathers commands, not Jesus'.

You mock those who say they have loved God their whole life. You say they have not and they have a lot to learn, (you know, not 'keeping God's law & all). Well, as you know, everyone sins. Does it mean you, Ron, really did not love God before He allegedly revealed "truths" to you? Do you have a true blue tried and tested method to find out if someone has the 'truth' and thus, 'loves' God? Get over yourself. You are so self-righteous.

Tell me, how can you, Ron, know God if you can't admit the truth of Jer. 23:5-6 and Is. 48:12-13, 16. Is it because one of the most difficult things people face, is that their belief might be wrong, to acknowledge it and accept the truth - God's truth?

This is what those verses say;

Jer. 23:5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD (Yahweh, the self-existent, eternal). [In this case, the Father], "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King [Jesus] who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.

6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD (Yahweh, the self-existent, eternal) Our Righteousness.

[Who is the righteous branch? Jesus is. What will he be called? Yahweh Our righteousness. Which Yahweh? The Son.]

Is. 48:12 "Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.

[The speaker identifies himself as the First and the Last, and then goes on to say;]

13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.

[Here, this speaker says he laid the foundations of the earth and spread out the heavens. Who is this speaker, aside from the creator and the First and the Last? He identifies himself further in the following verse;]

16 "Come near me and listen to this: "From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there." And now the Sovereign LORD (Yahweh, the self-existent, eternal) [In this case, the Father] has sent me, with his Spirit.

[He says the Sovereign Yahweh sent him, meaning; the Sovereign Yahweh sent the individual who laid the foundations of the earth, and spread out the heavens, the One who identified himself as the First and the Last.]

[More simply put; Jesus says the Sovereign Yahweh sent the individual who laid the foundations of the earth. Jesus is the creator. Jesus is Yahweh. The Father is Yahweh.]

Jesus said He came to reveal the Father. Interesting. What's to reveal? He's the God they've always known, isn't He? After all, according to you, Jesus didn't exist then.

It's amazing how what you "know," is 'from God', but not what I or anyone else knows. Everyone proclaims they have the truth - what makes you ANY different from them? Where is your proof? You don't have it. You know full well Ron, that when your first set of prophesies failed, that it was proof that God was not working with you, because God is not a liar. Can you tell us which of God's prophets He made look like a false prophet because what was proclaimed did not come to pass? You can't because God said when that happens, they are prophesies that did not come from Him.

Ron, you have told the congregation to go back to all the 'truths' God has given your church. Well, you need to tell them to go to their Bibles and 'truly' study, because they clearly don't. You and I both know that if they did, you'd be penniless. You must be pretty scared. How would you pay the taxes on your house? Yikes. Pretty clever how you came up with the plan and got a big chunk of their second tithe. Things are pretty tight with people dropping out, huh? Have you been investing or...? What's the plan for your financial stability when your second set of dates fall through?

************

It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on my current understanding. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

What Is the Fate of Old Covenant Keepers?

What of those who choose to be under the Old Covenant, what of their fate? Do they have the Holy Spirit? Is their salvation at stake? If not, where do they wind up in the Kingdom? What resurrection do they receive?


These are questions I have been asking myself for two or three years now. I have realized, as of late, that there is obviously a consequence or Paul would have said nothing to the Galatians.
He would not have told them that they were alienating themselves from Christ, had fallen away from Grace. He would not have told them that Christ would be of no value to them at all.

If you do not keep the Holy Days or the Sabbath... guess what? Your salvation is not in jeopardy! I repeat, you, by no means, jeopardize your salvation by not keeping Sabbaths! There is nothing wrong, however, with observing them if you realize it is no longer commanded, as long as you know it's not a command and that salvation cannot be attained, or get you closer to attaining it by doing so.

Consider the following verses: Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

[If you can gain salvation by keeping the Sabbaths, then.. Christ.. died.. for ..nothing. And if He died for nothing, He is of no value to you.
Consequence: If He is of no value to you, He cannot dwell within you, no Holy Spirit, because you are cut off from Him.]

Gal. 5:2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

[Notice his statement; "Mark my words" i.e.; "I'm warning you. If you rely on O.C. laws for salvation, Christ will be of no value to you at all."

Consequence: If Christ is of no value to you, you do not have Christ dwelling in you. He cannot pay your debt if you are relying on O.C.]


Gal.2:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
[If you believe that keeping the Sabbaths are a requirement for attaining salvation, then you are under a curse because if you don't keep the law in it's entirety, flawlessly, you cannot be credited righteousness.
Consequence: Since, obviously, everyone sins; without repentance, on this path you will not be part of the Bride.]

Gal. 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
[If you rely on the O.C. laws for salvation, Christ is of no value to you- meaning; rather than receive salvation through Him, you are attempting to gain it by your own efforts.
Consequence: Without repentance, you are destined for the pit, because there is no such thing as a perfect human, and perfect is what you'd have to be in order to obtain righteousness though O.C. observances. You cannot have the Holy Spirit if you are cut off from Christ. You cannot receive the grace you have fallen away from.]

Gal. 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
[The analogy that Paul uses here, of the two women, is so clear. The Slave Woman is the Old Covenant. The Free Woman is the New Covenant. We are not children of the Old Covenant, but of the New Covenant.
Consequence: Those who keep Old Covenant laws because they believe they are required to, will not inherit with the Bride of Christ. You will not be part of the Bride of Christ.]

Gal.3:11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."

12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Now, I know some, if not all of you don't believe you are keeping the Old Covenant, but you are.
Why do I say this? How do I know? Because the Bible makes it quite clear. The Sabbaths are Old Covenant, that is; the Mount Sinai law, which was given to the Israelites. Jesus ended that Contract when He died on the cross to pay our debt for the sins we commit and have committed. Which brought into effect, the New Contract.

Don't be so easily fooled into thinking that you are to keep things from the O.C. because you think Jesus magnified the law. He did not!

For goodness sake, surely you realize that contracts can have similarities. Do you think that if God were to give you a new contract, that it could not contain anything about Love? 

God can make as many contracts as He chooses and everyone of them can and will be about Love. Do you think God was so shortsighted that He used up His one contract that could contain Love? Do you really think that if He makes a new contract and it doesn't use the ten examples written in stone, of what Love is and isn't, that it means this new contract permits sin!? Of course it doesn't.

Do you really need God to spell out for you what Love is? The ten items written in stone were merely ten examples of what Love is and is not, which didn't even include every sin that man has committed! It doesn't mention pedophilia, but that doesn't mean it's not a sin! So why would you think that by not being under the ten commandments, (part of the Old Contract), that it would mean sinning is okay?

You are keeping the old contract/covenant, you are not keeping a modified or amplified contract. That is not permitted! Paul tells us this is so;

Gal.3:15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.

So you see that the contract could not have been modified or amplified in any way!

As Christians we should know what we believe, and we should know why we believe it. At some point in time we should be able to somewhat easily lay it out for others who may ask us about what and why we believe what we do.

Read the book of Galatians and do some thinking. You are intelligent, and I know you want God's truth.

I know that if you read something in the Bible that doesn't quite fit with your current beliefs or make sense, you will ponder over it and consider it rather than just read past it and ignore it, because we are seekers of truth, and as such, we pour through the scriptures with the goal of getting to know God and learning about the things that will please Him. We are on a quest for truth. It's an ongoing education, so we may have to say; "Well, as I understand it at this point in time, I believe/think it means..."

************

You know what I think about the quest for truth and how to find it?

It's pretty simple actually;

1)WANT THE TRUTH
if you don't truly want it, you won't get it

2)DON'T ASK OTHERS WHAT THEY THINK THE TRUTH IS
leave it to God to reveal this, He is smarter than people

3)TELL GOD YOU WANT THE TRUTH
now that you know you want it, you need to tell Him you want it

4)TELL GOD YOU HAVE NO PREFERENCES FOR WHAT THE TRUTH IS
for me, I told Him; "It doesn't matter to me; if I am required to keep Sabbaths fine, if I am not required to, fine. I am only interested in pleasing you."

5)TELL GOD YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN PLEASING HIM
we have no one to be loyal to but Him

6)GET A THREE RING BINDER WITH POCKETED SUBJECT DIVIDERS
this is better than a notebook, as it is easy to rewrite, add, and rearrange papers, the pockets/pouches are good for loose and/or small items

7)MARK THE SUBJECT(S) YOU WILL BE STUDYING IN YOUR BINDER
some of mine are; "Did Jesus have a beginning?"; "144,000"; "Accepting Jesus on the death bed"; "Do we need to be taught by others?"; "Old/New covenant"; "Names of Jesus"

8)OPEN YOUR BIBLE

9)OPEN YOUR PAPER OR ONLINE INTERLINEAR
this is necessary for examining the Greek or Hebrew word in question

10)OPEN YOUR PAPER OR ONLINE GREEK/HEBREW DICTIONARY
this is necessary for examining the Greek or Hebrew word definitions for better understanding of a words meaning and translation

11)ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU HIS TRUTH

12)BEGIN TRACKING YOUR SCRIPTURES;
you will need to refer back to these frequently to remember what you are learning, they are also your references when sharing what you have learned with others.

13)BE WILLING TO INVEST TIME INTO YOUR QUEST
this is an ongoing commitment; Jer. 30:21 "...for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?' declares the LORD."



So, what is the fate of the old covenant keepers? My understanding at this time is: Without repentance;

• alienated from Christ and thus,

• do not receive the Holy Spirit, the deposit, the guarantee of inheritance,

• not an heir with Christ

• not the Bride of Christ,

• destiny?...the pit.

With repentance;

• not the bride of Christ, and if not the Bride...

• destiny?...second resurrection...

• ... so where is your place in the Kingdom as one who is not part of the Bride?

I am interested in truth so, if anyone has any other insight on this subject, I would be happy to examine it if you would like to add something or if you feel I have overlooked something, or...

Ron Said Vs Jesus Said

So, if Ron says there are brokerage problems it's part of the tribulation...
earthquakes, part of the tribulation - interesting how all the 'usual' is now 'the tribulation' - He says it's amazing what people will believe. Well, yes.. it..is! I'm just astounded! Ron speaks LIES... and some BELIEVE! Look at the tragedy of Myanmar. Tribulation! Problem? Yeah, Ron said it happens in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand. What page of the book was Myanmar on? We won't even get into Ephraim and Manasseh.

Look, did you see that earthquake in the Aleutian's? It's a sign people! We're in the tribulation! Wait a sec. Which one? Cuz the Aleutian's are hit almost every day, multiple times a day, and have been for years. Does that mean the tribulation started YEARS ago?

Ron says the reason people don't want to obey God is...SEX! Yep sex. And Ron feels sorry for people whose lives have been hurt by sin. WHAT? Wait a sec! EVERY life is HURT by sin, because EVERYONE sins!

Ron is NOT a nice person. He is sadly lacking in LOVE, kindness, mercy, & compassion. He is condescending, arrogant, mocking and rude. He resembles, in NO WAY, Christ, AT ALL, and we all know it. You hear it when he speaks. You push it to the back of your mind, ignore it, but it's there.

He lives in the old covenant - a harsh, harsh place. You need to understand that the new covenant is where Jesus is. Here, there is LOVE, freedom, peace, forgiveness & salvation. It really isn't difficult to understand. Living in the old covenant isbeing on a dead-end road that empties at the Pit, or outside the kingdom. I truly wish you could see that.
You see that bus off in the distance? You see that person with His arm up in the air, waving you over? It's Jesus. He has a bus ticket for you, but there's a catch; You have to leave the road your on & accept the bus ticket in order to get on the bus, because it's on a different road; The narrow road to Salvation.

Don't cling to Ron for the hope that Jesus will be back in three years. He'll come when it's time. Why would you want to live a lie? It's kinda like; "hey, if you were to find out that my wife/husband was cheating on me, don't tell me, I don't want to know." Why live a lie? Don't let him stand between you and God anymore. 

If John said in 1 Jn. 2:24-27 "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."

why would you believe it when Ron says you must be taught by him? If Jesus said in Mt. 18:20; "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Why would you believe Ron over Jesus? Why would you believe Ron when he says you can't study at home and expect to grow spiritually?

If Jesus said in Jn. 14:26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Why would you believe Ron over Jesus?

If Jesus said in Jn. 6:45 "It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." Why would you believe Ron over Jesus? Why would you live a lie?

*****

This blog contains articles that clearly and easily refute the things Ron passes off as the truth of God; (As I always say; Ask God for guidance before you begin & don't limit yourself to the scriptures provided in these articles, find lots more of your own! Do As Bereans Did.)


--- DID JESUS HAVE A BEGINNING?

---Do We Need To Be Taught By Others?

---Works Vs Faith---God' Law ...A MUST READ!!

---Ron Weinland & The Emperor's New Clothes

---Can God Die?

---The US & Britain; In Prophesy? Pt.1 of 2

---The US & Britain;InProphesy? Pt. 2 of 2

---Galatians; Holy Days Or Pagan Days?

---Response To: Galatians; Holy Days or Pagan Days...

---WHAT LAW ARE WE BOUND TO, & WHEN?

--- "A Lasting Ordinance, For the Generations to come"[ sorry, that blog has been deleted]

---Who Are The 144,000?

Mom, Brothers, I love you.

Who Are The 144,000?

• Are there only to be 144,000 resurrected when Jesus returns?

• Abraham’s children are as numerous as the stars. Are only 144,000 of them to be resurrected? Are there only 144,000 stars?

Ron says that the 144,000 & the great multitude are one and the same.  He says God's not calling everyone.  He says God's church is a little flock.

Alright, it was a little flock back in Jesus' day. Do you think it's STILL that little?

Mt. 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...

Jesus told His disciples to go make disciples of all nations! Was Jesus confused? Why would He say that if His church was to consist of 144,000 people?
Do you think 144,000 is little? How about 500,000? What about 1,000,000?

Well, 'big' and 'small' are relative.

Small, compared to what? Small compared to your household? Compared to your family and relatives? Small compared to your town, your state, your country? Compared to the people alive at the current time, or perhaps those from the last 1 or 200 years? Small compared to WHAT?

I'd like you to try something. Get a piece of graph paper out & mark out a square about 32 x 32 (of the small squares). That represents about 6.5 billion people (currently on the planet). Now color in one of those single little squares. That represents about 6.5 million people. WOW! That square you colored in is SO SMALL! How much of that little colored square do think totals 144,000? A little dot in the corner. What if that colored square were the number of people in the first resurrection, (6.5 million)? Wouldn't that be SMALL!? Trace out a 10 by 10 section, that's 100 squares. That represents 650 million people! Wouldn't that be small!? Look how many of the 32 x 32 squares remain. Remember this sheet represents only people alive RIGHT NOW. Now consider all who have EVER lived and ask yourself again, what "small" is. Everything is relative.

(See bottom of page to see how this is calculated).

Mt.9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful… [Out of the BILLIONS, or more, people who have existed and now exist, are 144,000 Plentiful? Doesn't 144,000 sound more like the number of a sheaf offering than a total harvest? See Lev.23:10 .]
Alright, next step...

Rev.7:4-8, We see here, that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes, numbered and named specifically. [What Herbert Armstrong proclaimed as proof, was no such thing. The US is not Israel. His proof is NOT proof. It is founded in fables and legends. He just gave some scriptures and added a make-believe story for them. There is nothing in the bible that backs him up. Nothing. Why would God list 12,000 from each specifically named tribe of Israel if He was not being literal? (More on British Israelism coming soon.)]

These below, however, come from every nation, tribe, people and language. Read what it says. Trust the Holy Spirit that God GAVE YOU and read it! It doesn't need to be Saturday, and you don't need to be taught by Ron!

Rev.7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

There are two groups; the 144,000 and the great multitude: She who has a husband, (Israel, the original bride of Christ), and she who is barren and has no husband, (Gentiles, who would become part of the bride of Christ, once that door was opened by His sacrifice, making the two become one, as stated in the two scriptures below.)

Ga.4:27, Is.54:1 say that the barren woman [Gentiles, aka, anyone not an Israelite] will have more children [of God/great multitude] than the woman [Israel/144,000] who has a husband (Christ). [As Herbert always said; 'Are you getting this!?' This is HUGE!
Ignore that old programming in your head and tune in to God's word. Why did God give you the Holy Spirit in the first place? Is it incompetent? Of course not! If Jesus says; "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them", what is the reason? Is it to observe you because He can do nothing else? Is it out of His hands because it's RON'S job to do the teaching!? For crying out loud. Of course not. If you haven't already, please, read my post, Do We Need To Be Taught By Others? (Actually, all of the material on this blog connects together, and can be quite helpful.
Please, don't just read them, look up the scriptures. Really think about them. Find more scriptures. Use and interlinear if you can get your hands on one. And pray for guidance!)

If the 144,000 are literal descendants of Israel, (genetic Israel), then Ron's belief that they are the only ones in the first resurrection, means that Gentiles, (those not genetically Israel), are not included. Which means you would have to ignore the fact that God said that She who has no husband would bear the larger group, (the numberless multitude), and exclude them from the resurrection. Or, if believing the 144,000 are both Israel and Gentile, we're back to a minute group consisting of both.

    These two physical groups; a group of genetic Israelites and a group of non-genetic Israelites, become one spiritual bride of Jesus. Like the Father & the Son are One, and yet, Two, or a Husband and Wife are one.

• When you become a believer you become a child of Abraham (Ro.9:6-8; Gal.3:6-14).

• Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel (Ro.9:6-8 Note v.8!). [Meaning, just because one is genetically an Israelite, it's not automatic qualification. There is more to belonging to God than that.]

• We were formerly excluded from citizenship in Israel but thanks to Christ, no longer (Ep.2:11-22; Jn.1:11-13).I do not believe that the 144,000 are the only ones in the first resurrection. I do believe that the great multitude ARE in the first resurrection, (Re.7:9). I do not believe that the Great Multitude is a group of144,000. I believe that the 144,000 are the children of "she who has a husband", and that the great multitude are the children of "the barren, desolate woman."

Gal. 4:27
For it is written:
"Be glad, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband."

Are there any doubts as to what that verse means? [Galatians is a great book; my favorite.]

I believe that God IS not calling everyone, as Ron says, but that He is calling FAR MORE than 144,000, and that the great multitude are those who are not genetically from the tribes of Israel (and not everyone who is descended from Israel is Israel) and ARE in the resurrection that takes place at Jesus’ return, and are not excluded, because;

Christ made Gentiles and Israelites ONE (Ep.2:13-18). There is NO DIFFERENCE between Jew and Gentile (Ro.10:12). They are one group spiritually, but two groups genetically - as a combined family of biological and adopted children. Just as in any case today, where a family adopts a child; The biological children and the adopted children are different genetically, but the same, as in, they are now one family.

You don't need to be part of a teeny tiny 'privileged' group to feel special. Don't you feel special just because God called you? Because you belong to Him?

Some of you may be familiar with this story;
Some local ministers ran an add in the paper. They would be on the court house steps, writing checks to pay for parking tickets; all you had to do was to show up and present your parking ticket, and a check for the amount of the debt would be written. Did these people have to qualify in some way? No. It was a gift. Get the picture?
You may also want to see my post, Works Vs Faith.

THE GRAPH PAPER:

The square root of 1,000 is about 32 (hence 32 squares)

6.5 million x 1000=6.5 billion

1 square is 1/1000 so 1 square=6.5 million if 1000 squares = 6.5billion