Howard King

(All scripture is in King James version)

THE LAW OF LOVE!

Owe no man anything is something that is a real struggle for most today. When we buy a house or car, we go into debt most of the time but let me say that it can be done after a while to purchase those things free and clear. We should not use credit cards any more than we have to either, but the most important thing we can get from these verses is the Law of Love!

Rom 13:8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

The only law that we are under today is Love. IF you love others in a Godly way, you will do the moral law! The moral laws like do not commit adultery, kill or steal or covet which is found in all sin, are good laws of course but by loving others and thinking of them you won't do that anyway. Loving others and doing what is best for them fulfills all the law that is necessary. We don't "follow" law meaning to pursue after it but rather we "pursue" Christ and love others therefore we "do follow" the moral law! We are not called to be under the Levitical law and ordinances, but we are called to love!

We should be light in a dark world which is showing love. We should walk honestly and not get drunk and lusting for others. We should Put On our Lord Jesus Christ, because like it says in 1 John 4:8 "God is Love"!

AUTHORITY!

One thing I see missing through our country is the lack of respect for authority. We no longer respect and honor authority, and it's not just kids either but rather adults also.

Rom 13:1 " Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

We should respect positions even if they are bad authorities. Even if they don't lead and don't know Christ. For example, a wife can respect and love her husband even if he is not a believer and not a good husband. If he asks her to do something illegal or something she feels uncomfortable with she can say "I can't do that, but may I get you something to eat or drink". You see she showed love and respect and still was able to stand up for what she believes in. Now I know that won't work with all men, because many are just mean, but they too can be brought under authority if they abuse and always remember that ALL of us are under some authority in this world.

We should respect the office of the President no matter who is in charge even if we disagree with them. Let us stop making fun of and calling names and acting like the world and start behaving as saints and light and children of God in this fallen world. The more Christians respect and honor authority the more we can teach others and especially our children. Remember more is caught than taught sometimes.

Remember to pray for those in charge and that starts at home. Husbands, dads, wives and mothers are all authority figures in the home. Pastors, teachers and policeman as well as mayors, governors and senators are all people who need our prayers and support. Pray for them now more than ever and let us get back to being Godly by respecting our authority. If we can't respect WHO we can see how we can ever respect WHO we CAN'T see, namely Jesus Christ our Lord!!!

LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN!

Now living peaceably with all men is not easy but we are told to do so.

Rom 12:17 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

We are to try to live a life of peace but that does not mean that we are to be men-pleasers or soft when it comes to ungodliness. Jesus as well as Paul rebuked a lot, yet they were men of peace. The peace we should want comes from being one with Christ as well as one with fellow saints. It is impossible to be one with an unsaved person yet if possible, we should still stive to live in peace and minister to them when we can.

Vengeance is an act of "playing" God and is hard not to do toward others. We should also remember vengeance doesn't have to look like the Hatfield's and McCoys as they tried to kill one another. It can be as simple as withholding love from someone because of an act they did toward you or doing something on purpose that you know will hurt them because they hurt you. Let's leave vengeance up to God and as much as possible give ourselves to others.

Members In One Body!

After Rom.12:2 and understanding who we are by renewing our minds we then know our Worth! Then we move into our Walk and Work. Our Walk is our mindset and attitude, and our work is our ministry to one another. We are members of One Body, and that body is Christ. This takes a humble attitude and a servant's heart.

Rom 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

These particular gifts are ministry gifts and should not be taken to be above another or separate in any way. All may have these in some way. Certain people may teach better than others, but that doesn't mean that the one ministry is above the other. Just because a pastor has 10,000 people doesn't make his ministry better or worse than the pastor that has 10 people. To add all of these gifts can be in everyone today to a certain extent.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

The key to all work and ministry is LOVE! Love for Christ first and then Love for others. Desiring that ALL may come to Christ! Desiring All to be saved and have eternal life through Christ! That all may experience His peace, grace, mercy and love! That we may edify the body and grow to maturity.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Honor all and be at peace with one another if possible. Now it is not always possible but attempting and desiring is good. Pray and be patient and bless others when you can and always remember WHO you are serving and that is Jesus Christ our Lord!

Transformed!

God's good, acceptable and perfect will for all of us is to be transformed.

Rom 12:1 " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Our spirit has already been transformed that is if we are saved. From death to life, from dark to light, from being in Adam to being in Christ, so our spirit is transformed. But our soul and body have not been and so we must choose daily to walk after that which we have in the spirit, and that is Christ. Our soul is our mind, will and emotions and what can also be called our thinker, chooser and feeler. We have to THINK and CHOOSE to believe the truth of the word. To put on what is true about us now and to put on Christ. We have to choose to not walk in rejection and failure as well as shame and fear. To not live in sorrow or death or depression. To not live in anxiety, worry or doubt! We have to put off our fleshly thoughts and put on the righteous and godly thoughts in Christ. This takes work to receive, rest and renew our minds in those truths. It takes time to grow in choosing but we all must start somewhere and continue daily. This our daily sanctification or you could say our daily transformation process.

As we do this, we will then present our bodies as LIVING sacrifices. Most sacrifices are dead, but we are alive, and we can choose to be a holy and acceptable sacrifice unto God! This sacrifice is our TRUE worship. Yes, we can go to church and sing worship songs and call that worship, but our true worship is in how we live. Our daily living and thoughts are how we really show WHO we worship!

The misunderstanding of the grafted tree!

One of the most confusing and misinterpreted scriptures are found here in Romans 11. The normal teaching we hear is that the body of Christ is grafted into the olive tree. Now we must first always remember we don't change known doctrine for unknown doctrine. We know for sure that we are a new creature and different from Israel. We know that we are never called trees either, only Israel is called trees, so then who are these gentiles that will be grafted in.

Rom 11:13 "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

We have already established that chapters 9-11 are all about Israel's fall, restoration and God's mercy on the gentile world, and how God can show mercy to whom he wants and again I repeat the great verse to prove this is found in verse
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

We must first identify the wild olive tree and that is the little flock. This is the poor, hurting and faithful little flock of Israel. Now we can see who these gentiles are. These gentiles are those of the tribulation when Israel is brought back in, restored and to set up the earthly Kingdom. (Rev 7)

How do we know this because we are sealed (known doctrine) for eternity therefore we cannot be broken off but those who go through the tribulation period can. Sometimes the simplistic way is the best way.

If you get the big picture, then the details fall into place. And of course, all this shows God's great mercy and wisdom toward all mankind.

read on....

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

IF BY GRACE THEN IT IS NO MORE OF WORKS!

A lot of believers still want to "work" their way to salvation and live that way daily. In fact, many unbelievers say they can never be a Christian because they sin too much and don't want to give that up. You see their focus is on their "works", their sin instead of on Christ works and God's grace!

Rom 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"

Israel did the same thing because their focus was on their works. They failed to believe that Jesus was their Messiah and therefore they have fallen away from the grace of God. They have missed the opportunity to have their kingdom and to be the priest to the world but God knowing this has taken that fall and made it into an even GREATER opportunity by offering salvation to the gentile world.

That offering to us today is called the gospel of grace! That's what "grace" means when it comes to the gospel today, the offering of salvation without Israel, law or works. The understanding of salvation by faith alone in the works of Christ alone. By His cross, blood and sacrifice we now can have eternal life! By His death, burial and resurrection we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life!

OH, MAY WE BE SO THANKFUL AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY TODAY!

HAS GOD CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE?

Israel has been and still are a disobedient people, but God has not and will not forget them.

Rom 10:18 "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

They have rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Just like many today in the Body of Christ they think they can gain righteousness by their works and all God wants for them is to come by faith.

But God will give them another chance again as He always has. He will fulfill His part of the covenant He made with them, but they must still come by faith. Faith that Jesus is the Messiah! Faith that He is to be their King! To give Him that place of preeminence and those that do come by faith will be saved and a part of the earthly Kingdom.

Rom 11:1 "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

After the tribulation period, Israel will come to faith and will be a Kingdom again and Jesus will reign as their King and we that are saved today will come from heaven and there will be a New heaven and a New earth and we will join them and be one IN CHRIST!

YOU ARE A PREACHER!

Oh yes you are! All of us are preachers because preach means to "PROCLAIM"! We ALL are to proclaim Jesus as Lord!

Rom 10:14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now you may not be behind a pulpit or serve in a position, but we all are to proclaim. We can proclaim Christ at work or at Walmart. I have a friend that passes out tracts everywhere he goes and talks to people on the streets and at his work by handing out these tracts. He probably "proclaims" and brings more people to Christ than those who preach at a church.

Notice the wording that Paul uses in verse 15, "how shall they preach except they be sent"! Well, ALL of us are "sent"! This is why the worldwide church has grown so fast and so big because we are a Body not a nation. We are NOT limited in anyway by borders or religion or anything else. We are an "organism" NOT an organization!!! We are a LIVE working member of the Lord Jesus's Body!

So, we share our faith, and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Share your faith by using the word of God. Be sincere and genuine and use the word as much as possible. Your testimony draws people in, and the word tell them they too can be saved. They too can have eternal life. They too can know this Jesus who died for them. This Jesus Who loves them and forgives them.

Be a Preacher and proclaiming JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

WHOSOEVER!

Paul's great desire was that Israel would be saved yet they rejected Christ.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Notice it says that Israel tried to establish their own righteousness, and they did this by doing works of the law without faith and without their Messiah. They could not grasp that God had brought them their Messiah and that it was Jesus. They wanted a warrior and Kingly looking Messiah. They wanted their idea of what a leader should be. What they really wanted was the power! What they really wanted was to be in control and be "GOD" themselves under a religious veil!

Jesus is the end of the law and Jesus is the righteousness of God! The only way to be "right" before God is to recognize Jesus as our Lord and Saviour! We do this by faith alone in HIS works alone!

6 "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

WHOSOEVER means everyone has the opportunity to believe and be saved! Whosoever means that God did not choose some to salvation and others not be saved as Calvinist preach. Whosoever means that it is our responsibility and our free will to choose Jesus, just as Israel had the free will to choose and denied Him. Whosoever expresses the free will of man to come by faith and to trust in the Living Lord and that name is above all names, the name of JESUS!

WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN!

Once again Paul gives a bottom-line answer and that is Israel missed the boat again because of their unfaithfulness! They missed the righteousness and reconciliation with God by not receiving the risen Messiah. They thought if they could just do THE works of the law, they would be fine, but the law always condemns and can never be perfected. The stumbling stone that they and many today fall over is FAITH!

Rom 9:30 "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

BUT gentiles did attain salvation and righteousness and reconciliation because we believed by faith! We received it all once and forever.

Now no matter what dispensation the bible was in it was always by faith. Before and after Israel was formed it was by faith. Then Israel was given the law and covenants, and it was still by faith. Now they did have to show their faith by their performance in other words by their works. But even if they failed, they could still show their faithfulness by going through the works process of atonement for that sin. In other words, fix the fix by doing what they were told to do by faith.

BUT gentiles do not need to do works for atonement because of the cross work of Christ. The cross of Christ was sufficient therefore we do not work but simply believe and trust in the finality of the works of Christ!

Don't try to fix the fix that has already been fixed through Christ! Keep walking by faith!

Rom 9:19 "Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

MERCY ON ALL!

Rom 9:7 "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."

Remember yesterday's devotional and that I pointed out that chapters 9-11 are about Israel primarily. Now as we move on verse by verse through the chapters, we see Paul stating what God's intent, and that is to say to ISRAEL I can save gentiles just like I saved you! I can have mercy on all men just like I have showed mercy to you Israel! I can save gentiles without you Israel, but I also want you.

Rom 11:32 "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all."

Romans 11:32 sums up ALL 3 chapters and tells us the point that God is making. ALL men were in unbelief and ALL men deserve hell but by faith we can be saved by work of Jesus and the mercy of God shown to us in Christ.

Now let's look at the story of Esau and Jacob described here and how God chose the younger over the older. Usually, the older one gets the blessing, but God wanted to say this is MY work. I can choose the younger over the older if I want. Now who does Jacob represent ISRAEL and who does Esau represent Gentiles. And by the way Esau was not hated like in our English-speaking way but a better way of saying it is not as loved as much. Read the story in

Gen 29:31 "And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren."

She was not loved as much yet blessed just as Esau was not loved as much but blessed and prospered. Leah and Esau were not chosen yet was still blessed. Leah had children who became the head of the 12 tribes of Israel and Esau was blessed with prosperity and riches. To add one more important thing that the quote Paul uses for Esau is in Malachi 1:2 meaning that years later Esau was truly hated for his unbelief but not before.

The story of Pharoh who also chose to harden his own heart so God allowed him to be hard yet if Pharoh had Not hardened his heart and believed he too could have been saved. But God said I will still show mercy and compassion on the rest of the world even if Pharaoh thinks he is God. By the way Pharaoh means "great house" and was thought to be Divine and was worshiped as a god!

So, God can show compassion on ALL men as He has always desired that ALL men come and worship Him through Jesus Christ our Lord!

ALL ABOUT ISRAEL!

The next three chapters are all about Israel and their fall! Notice every chapter begins with Paul desiring and wanting Israel to repent and not deny Christ. He wanted them to accept, receive and worship their risen Messiah!

Rom 9:1 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:"

Rom 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Now the reason I said this first before going verse by verse is that Reformed/Calvinist use these chapters to say that God chose certain people to be saved and not others. That He did not desire for all to be saved but that He wanted only certain ones and chose them before the world began and that is FALSE! They say that Jesus ONLY died for the few chosen and not for ALL. That Jesus blood was not for ALL but for only for the ones chosen before the world began! Calvinism is the cult and plague of the church today! Sadly, many churches are buying into it and converting and perverting the Body of Christ. Some of you may go to a Calvinist church and don't know it which is really the idea of a cult isn't it.

Read 1 Timothy 2 and see that just this alone show that is not true,

1Ti 2:3 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

His desire is for ALL men to be saved, and He died for ALL! If you belong to a church that is Reformed/Calvinist LEAVE! If you don't know if they are then ask them or read their belief page on their website. Although they do tend to hide it in their belief page by being wordy or just lying about it, but you can usually see it if you read hard enough. The wording will go something like this

Salvation is thoroughly a work of divine grace from beginning to end. Before the foundation of the world the Father elected to save a people who would compose the church. Jesus Christ purchased the salvation of those individuals through his life, death, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to all who believe, creating the gift of faith in their hearts, and he keeps them in that faith forever.

Notice that He chose "a people" before the world began AND THEN puts faith in their hearts!!!! Notice they are NOT saved BY FAITH but after they are saved God puts faith INTO THEM!

By the way Christian counseling or other type of ministries believe this also. In fact, this quote is from a so-called Christian counseling site. Don't buy into this perverted gospel which is really no gospel at all! If you know that they believe this and stay you are really saying this is what you believe and at the same time you are being indoctrinated into a false gospel!

BE WISE AND CHOOSE WISELY!