From the creation of Adam up to the scattering of the nations
at Babel, all were members of that particular group. There were families,
or sub-divisions, but none had the preeminence. Them were 70 of these nations
as you will find in Genesis 10. But these were given up as recorded in Romans
1:18-32 and Genesis 11 where they were scattered abroad.
But there arose at that time, probably the very year that
the tongues were twisted, a man chosen to be the head of a new nation which
would be a blessing some day to the nations who were given up at that time.
That was Abram of Ur of the Chaldees. This blessing was transmitted thru Isaac,
Jacob, the twelve patriarchs, and finally Christ, the son of David (of
the tribe of Judah). So then, those who were children of these patriarchs
were members of God's chosen people, Israel. It was a blood relationship,
not political. But finally at the end of Acts, Israel, the wife, was divorced.
And then began a long period of time when no nations were blessed
through the only channel, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
So at the present time, God is not working in any way with
a nation, or the nations. He has no earthly purpose. His family today consists
of those who have been accepted in the Beloved, adopted as sons, and members
of the church which is the body of Christ. The purpose today had been a secret
or mystery hidden from ages and generations until revealed by the apostle
Paul. And instead of blessings here on the earth, it has to do with blessings
in the heavenly places. So then, instead of there being an earth program
today, it is entirely concerned with the heavenly places.
There is nothing to do to become a member except to believe
the record. In other words, it takes faith. And since the program is on the
basis of grace and not of worth, it is a grace by faith salvation as it says
in Ephesians 2:8-10, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Do not mix this with John 3:16, which has nothing to do
with heavenly places, but with life on earth. Resurrection as a result of
this life is not described or even mentioned. There is no group or nation
to join. No membership. But there is no bar to their accepting the truth of
the dispensation of the mystery and becoming members of the church which is
His body. And of course, many over the years have done that very thing. In
fact it is not very likely that any will be members of the church except via
the message of life in John's gospel. But we leave the decision on this point
up to you. Our main concern is, Are you a member of the Body?
