And just how does that part of Paul's Message fit with what he taught about Abraham's Faith and our Faith? And how does that equate with what Christ said in John 8:56 that Abraham rejoiced to see His day, and was glad?
I can post Scripture from Paul all day that counters the direction you and those on the false double gospel theory try to take it...
Gal 4:22-26
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael by a bondservant, and Isaac who was freeborn.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Ishmael was born after a fleshy covenant. But Isaac was born by the Promise by Faith which God gave to Abraham.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
(KJV)
Old Covenant = bondage, Ishmael, Jerusalem today, those who REFUSE The Promise by Faith.
New Covenant = freeborn, Isaac, Jerusalem ABOVE in Heaven, for those who accept God's Salvation Promise through Christ Jesus.
The Promise by Faith God first gave to Abraham was long before the law. The Promise by Faith to Abraham is The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Abraham was allowed to SEE it, and rejoiced and was glad (John 8:56).
You didn't even TRY... to interpret that Rom.11 Scripture, but just threw out a completely disconnected idea!
That standing by faith idea APPLIES EQUALLY TO BELIEVING ISRAELITES TOO! Can't take a knife and cut out Paul's reference to 'faith' there and try to infer that's only about The Gospel going to the Gentiles after Christ's crucifixion, because that's not even the subject right there!
The subject is about Paul warning Gentile believers to not be high-minded because God saw fit to graff them into His Salvation first given to the natural branches of Israel; and that some of the natural branches were broken off. It was because of their having unbelief why Gentiles were allowed in. Then Paul tells the Gentiles to have fear, for they too will be broken off IF they go into unbelief also like some of Israel did!
Rom 11:21-22
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.
(KJV)
Boy! That just dumps the OSAS idea in the garbage, doesn't it folks? Paul says that IF we Gentiles "continue in His goodness" then we will receive His goodness. But IF NOT, then the SAME FATE of unbelieving Israel, the broken off branches, would apply to us Gentiles too! That sure ain't some, "Don't worry brother, nothing you can do to lose your salvation now!" type OSAS message now is it? There's a whole lot of IF's in God's Word. I'm amazed at how many simply pass them over and read into Scripture what they 'want' to believe.
You don't even know who all the seed of Israel are.
Matt 15:24
24 But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
(KJV)
Per OT Bible history, the label "house of Israel" ONLY referred to the ten tribes of Israel that were SEPARATED from the "house of Judah" that dwelt at Jerusalem. God scattered the ten tribed "house of Israel" out of the promised lands first, and they never returned as a people. Just where were those lost sheep? OUTSIDE THE HOLY LAND.
So just WHO was Christ Jesus speaking about with the barren fig tree? The UNBELIEVERS among the "house of Judah", those who began to call themselves JEWS after their Babylon captivity and remnant return to Jerusalem to build the 2nd temple! (see Books of Ezra and Nehemiah) And WHO ELSE returned with that small remnant of Judah to Jerusalem? FOREIGNERS who also took the name JEW (per Jewish historian Josephus).
The MAJORITY of the children of Israel were still captive OUTSIDE JUDEA at Christ's first coming! Where does one think the ten tribes, the majority of Israelites, were then? They were scattered AMONG THE GENTILES outside the middleast! This is all simple Bible history, and there's archaeological evidence to back it up. But the doctrines of men NEVER to come to an understanding about it. Many, many, many of those ten tribed Israelites believed The Gospel of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles. Jesus said it, He was not 'sent' BUT unto the lost sheep of the "house of Israel" (ten tribes of Israel). That means His Salvation would not be accepted by the majority of Jews at that time, but instead by the majority of the ten tribes that were scattered among the Gentiles!
Is there another way to prove that? Yes, for in Jeremiah 24 God reveals WHO the good basket of figs represent. They represent JUDAH in JERUSALEM, and not the scattered ten tribes who weren't even present at Christ's first coming.
But what Richard has no doubt been taught from men's doctrines, is that the house of Judah at Jerusalem, i.e., Jews, at Christ's first coming represents ALL ISRAEL IN UNBELIEF!!! That's simply a doctrine of men, and not God's Word. Richard does the very thing he's accusing others of.
NO, all the O.T. and the N.T. was NOT written just to the Jews!
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(KJV)
And concerning God's Grace, you mean Abraham and Noah didn't find grace in God's sight, nor Moses, nor David, nor the prophets, etc.? What about Christ's Apostles besides Paul? What about Christ's disciples that believed along with His Apostles? Such ignorance to try and separate them from God's Salvation Plan, and that's exactly what the silly double gospel idea does.
But I will admit, there is "another gospel" per Paul. But it ain't the REAL Gospel of Jesus Christ.
God's Grace involves Faith, first and foremost. But its proof is about having works to show that Faith approved! That's the difference. It's common sense too, because if a young lad that had been in an evil gang came to Christ Jesus and kept doing the evil works of that gang, and if the lad continues in that, he will be CUT OFF from Christ, suffering the same fate that the broken natural branches of unbelieving Israel suffered. There is NO agreement between Christ and the sons of Belial.
This is why the 'Once saved, always saved' (OSAS) doctrine is of the devil. It preaches that there IS agreement between Christ and the sons of Belial! That's what it means to preach a Christian won't be judged for turning to a lifestyle of sin after having believed on Christ Jesus.
No one here ever inferred the idea that we can control and manipulate The Holy Spirit. What's sad, is that you don't know how it is possible for Christ to remove The Holy Spirit from a believer that falls away to do the deeds of the sons of Belial.
Matt 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, "Lord, Lord", shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?"
23 And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."
(KJV)
That's very straightforward from my Lord Jesus Christ. That "depart from Me" is the same thing as saying, "get away from Me". That's going to sound pretty strong to a believer who turns to follow the sons of Belial and think it doesn't matter since they first believed.
