The Children of the Promise

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Ladies Daily Devotional

3-04-08

All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.

The Children of the Promise

By Billie Duty

"That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." (Rom. 9:8)

Under the Old Testament, God chose the Israelite nation to be His chosen people. It was through them that He brought His Son into the World, that He might save all men/the world from their sins.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

Today, many believe that the physical nation of Israel is still God's chosen people and that He will return and set up a kingdom on earth in Jerusalem. Careful and diligent study of the scriptures teaches that this is not true.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)

"Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. …"" (John 18:36a)

It was the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus when He walked on the earth; they had Him crucified. But all of this was the plan of God. If Jesus had not died, we would have no hope of eternal life. "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."" (Rom. 9:6-7)

One is not a child of God today because they are a fleshly descendant of Abraham. God's children do not live for or by the flesh, they are a spiritual people. This way of living is learned through studying and applying the teachings of His Son to our lives. We learn to live like Him.

Today, God's children are those who worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24)

Worship in spirit:

True worshipers do not engage in the avenues of worship in a mechanical fashion or while our minds are focused on what we are going to have for Sunday dinner. Our worship to God must be with the inner man. God requires us to be intellectually engaged when we worship.

Worship in truth:

Jesus prayed: "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17). Since our worship is to God, we must give God what He specifies as worship. The key is to understand WHOM it is that we worship and that HE is the audience. (Worship in Spirit and in Truth vs. Covetousness by Paul Ditoro, St. George, Utah)

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" (John 14:6)

People who are obedient to the teachings of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, are children of God.

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17)

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." (1 John 3:1)

QUESTIONS:

1. That is, those who are the _________ of the _____, these ___ ___ the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. (Rom. 9:8 NKJV)

Ans.: children; flesh; are not

2. Under the Old Covenant, who were God's chosen people?

Ans.: The Jews or the Israelite nation.

3. Do you believe that today's physical nation of Israel are God's chosen people?

Prove your answer.

Ans.: No, Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. …" (John 18:36a)

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." (Rom. 9:6-7 NKJV)

4. What is the way to the Father?

Ans.: Through His Son.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)

5. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the ____ _________will worship the Father in ______ and ______; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ___ is ______, and those who worship Him ____ worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24 NKJV)

Ans.: true worshipers; spirit: truth; God; Spirit; must

6. What does it mean to worship in Spirit?

Ans.: True worshipers do not engage in the avenues of worship in a mechanical fashion or while our minds are focused on what we are going to have for Sunday dinner. Our worship to God must be with the inner man. God requires us to be intellectually engaged when we worship.

7. What does it mean to worship in truth?

Ans.: Jesus prayed, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17 NKJV). Since our worship is to God, we must give God what He specifies as worship.

8. Is worshipping God for our entertainment?

Ans.: No, The key is to understand WHOM it is that we worship; and that HE is the audience.

9. Who are the Sons/children of God?

Ans.: Those led by the Spirit of God Romans 8:12-17

10. How do we allow the Spirit of God to lead us?

Ans.: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15 NKJV) God's children do not live for or by the flesh, they are a spiritual people, this way of living is learned through studying and applying the teachings of His Son to our lives. We learn to live like Him.

11. Behold what ______ __ ____the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called _______ __ ___! (1 John 3:1a NKJV)

Ans.: manner of love; children of God

Today's devotional article will also be posted with the Archived OBC Courses on our Home Page. If you are looking for some good Bible class material take a look at this page on our web site. We also have archived OBC Youth Lessons. We always enjoy getting feedback from those who use any of our archived materials.

OBC Ladies Daily Devotional is a part of the Online Bible Class sponsored by the St. George Church of Christ in St. George, Utah. Visit our Web Site and see all our Bible study opportunities which we invite you to be a part of and to enroll your friend

OBC Ladies Daily Devotional Archives Link: Ladies Daily Devo.Archives

http://www.stgcoc.com/for_women%20Main1.htm

If you have questions or comments etc..., please feel free to contact: Billie Duty ladiesdevo@hotmail.com or Sandy Ditoro sjditoro@hotmail.com sjditoro@gmail.com .