9 July 2022 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29; all scripture quoted is from the King James Version)
Every man and woman born in this world is a natural-born citizen thereof. He inherits all the looks, attitudes, proclivities to sin, and devotion of this world with its false glitter and deceptive intrigues. His ruler is the Prince of the Air, and his doom is assured if he continues in his profligacy without repentance But those who are blessed to hear the prompting of the Holy Ghost to “come to the Mercy Seat of Christ” are received into quite a different kind of Kingdom altogether – that of the Kingdom of God. In actuality, there are two only families in this world – those who belong to dark destiny of Hell, and those who are adopted into the Kingdom of God.
We often hear that God is the’ Father of All Mankind’, but that is only in the creative sense. God is not the Father of those who reject His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Maker of all, but not the Father of All.
We have a wonderful example of the distinctions between the saved of the Lord and the lost in The account of the beggar, Lazarus, and the Rich man who cared little for his fellow man. (see Luke 16:19-31)
The rich man (his name is not given since we need no name in Hell) was not what we would term a really bad guy. He minded his own business and thereby sinned by omitting that which he should have done and did not. He lived lavishly whole those around him, including Lazarus, perished for the meager means of sustenance. We read “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom;” (Luke 16:22) That is quite a contrast to the languishing of Lazarus outside the rich man’s gate. Lazarus was given an angelic escort to the bosom of Abraham and was in the bliss of divine love in the bosom of Abraham. But what of the rich man?
He had no access to Heaven. His name was not written in the Book of Life. In fact, once he died, he had no name at all! “The rich man also died, and was buried.” Notice, there were no angelic hosts to attend to the disposition of the rich man’s soul. If we are not in the favor of the King of Love, there remains only the earth to cover our bones, but worse still, we find ourselves immediately in the fires of Hell. That describes the great distinction between the lost and the elect of God. Peter addresses those whom the Lord identifies as His elect (this time among the Gentiles) in 1 Peter 1:1,2 – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
Citizens of other nations who immigrate to another country may become naturalized citizens of that new country; however, the naturalization must be offered by the host nation. Once Naturalized, the immigrant becomes a citizen in the same sense as those natural-born citizens. If we wish to be accounted the naturalized citizens (adopted children) of God, we must be approved to enter that Gate of Splendor by its Sovereign. Though we are accounted children through the adoption into the family of God, it is only by means of the imputed righteousness of the natural-born and only Begotten Son of the Most High God that we gain access.
Just as an adopted child can do nothing to earn his adoption, neither can any of our good works or even thoughts entitle us to enter the family of God. The adoption is solely at the discretion of the Father. We are made righteous by the imputation of righteousness of the only righteous Man born of woman – our Lord Jesus Christ. We are children by His predestined discretion – not by accident of birth.
The prodigal went away from his father just as many Christian believers may go out of the will and favor of our Father in Heaven. God will not force our return from that land which we preferred to his Housefold. But we will suffer want and ruin in a far land away from our Father. “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.” (Luke 15:15-16)
Which Kingdom do you seek and truly aspire to enter? “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) Long before we apply to be born anew in that land, we must first be admitted and approved by the host Sovereign. Have you been so, Friend?
