seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
I wonder if Jesus had brothers and sisters in the centuries before He was Begotten on earth. Was Jesus the only one? Did God have lots of children, but only one that was Begotten on earth? If Jesus didn't have brothers and sisters, did He always want them? God set the laws back in Genesis and Exodus. God put them in writing so humans could understand them. Abraham followed the rules but once in a while he would slip up too. He slept with Hagar even though she was a slave and could not decide to be with him. They did that back then. People counted the sons. A man with no sons was worthless. He couldn't even bring in the crop without sons.
Once Sarah got pregnant, Hagar and Ishmael had to go. Sarah was the mother of all Jews through Abraham and Isaac. Hagar was the mother of all Gentiles through Abraham and Ishmael. When Sarah ran Hagar and Ishmael out of camp, God promised to take care of Ishmael and his children.
Then when Jesus came along.... He included all of Abraham's children to join His family in Heaven. All of Abraham's offspring could be one big Nation of Believers. Jesus could have all the brothers and sisters he could imagine.
Jesus invited everyone, including the Samaritan and that poor woman at the well.
Jesus didn't care if the thing was cut. Jesus didn't stop to ask, "are you of Ishmael or Isaac" before healing the blind or the lame. He included everyone.
All you have to do is believe. It doesn't matter, according to Paul, which side of Abraham's family you are from. Jew or Gentile, all are invited.
Jesus offered those who Believe, a seat at the table at God's place. He already had permission. We are invited inside His Father's Place.
When I was a kid, my mom insisted that I should not go into anyone's home. My friends were not invited into my house, mom already had enough kids to be responsible for. She didn't need the neighbor's kids messing things up too. The exception was.... I could go to someone else's home... if I was "invited". That meant it was a birthday party or a brownie meeting or something equally formal.
Jesus "invited" us all. He even invited us to be part of the family.
Jesus said "my home is your home".
Why would God invite everyone, absolutely every one of those humans, to His House? Because Jesus already cleared it with Him. Jesus invited us!
It won't be too crowded in Heaven. Don't worry. Lots of humans will accept the invitation, but most won't. Most will say the invitation is a scam.
Jesus invited us.
It is not a scam.
