Jesus: The Seed That Was Planted

Now, let us delve deeper into Jesus' born-again experience to explore His preeminence as the first of many brethren. Just as a seed must be planted in the ground to produce a great harvest, Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection made Him the Firstfruit of a new creation. However, this creation occurred in the lower parts of the earth. Let us examine Jesus' teaching about this phenomenon.

John 12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

In the Scripture above, Jesus uses the analogy of a single grain of wheat falling to the ground. That single grain remains alone until it begins to grow. As it develops into a plant, it eventually produces hundreds of grains of wheat.

The crucial aspect of this parable is understanding that the grain of wheat, after it dies, becomes the plant. Simply put, the grain and the plant are the same—the plant is what the grain originally contained within itself.

Calling headlong into the pit of hell due to their belief in the many false doctrines and traditions of men that have been delivered to the Church in the name of revelation. If there has ever been a time or need for the real apostles of God to stand up and proclaim the truth, it is now!

Matthew 7:6

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

We don't have time for debates or stupid arguments concerning genealogies or any such like. It is a time for truth! Those who have been given such truth must allow the Holy Ghost to place us in settings where that truth will not be given to the swine.

It is sad, but true, that the Body of Christ has no real understanding of its salvation. That is why so many in the Body are falling away from the faith. Many of them never really understood what they were born into. And because of that lack of knowledge, they perished under the leadership of many who exploited this ignorance.

But I am only one of possibly many, who have been called to speak the truth to the powers that be and those who are wannabes. In order to teach this mystery of Christ, called salvation, we must go back to the eternal past– a time before the beginning.

The Mystery Of Election: A Divine Decree Of Grace

This chapter delves into the profound and often perplexing Doctrine of Election, a cornerstone of Christian theology. It explores the concept as a process rooted in God's foreknowledge, love, and eternal plan. We will journey through scripture, seeking understanding of this divine choice and its implications in our lives.

THE ELECT: Those who are chosen by God to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ.

Many who are trying to teach the Word of God know this definition to be true. The truth of it is not the real issue among the different schools of thought. However, the how, why, and fairness of it remain a debate among the spiritually unlearned or immature.

Scriptural Emphasis on Foreknowledge and Predestination

God's election is not an arbitrary act, but a process deeply woven into His eternal nature. His foreknowledge, a pre-existing awareness of future events, plays an essential role in this selection. He knew, before the foundation of the world, those He would call to Himself. In this foreknowledge, lies His love; a love that extends to encompass the elect:

Romans 8:29-30

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Let’s look at the definitions of some of the key words used in the above verses.

Foreknow: to know or have knowledge of beforehand. In layman’s terms, it means that God knew everyone who would be born on this planet before they were born.

Conformed to the image of his Son: to be fashioned like unto. To be made the same as another.

The firstborn among many brethren: the first begotten of the many sons of God.

He didpredestinate: to decide, ordain, choose, or appoint in eternity.

He also called: To give a name and/or title.

Justified: to be made just, free, innocent, or righteous.

Glorified: to cause the dignity and worth of a person to become manifest and acknowledged.

It is a fact that the Father chose those whom he would predestinate or elect to become the sons of God. This is clear, just from the above passages and definitions. Now that we understand the meanings of the keywords used in these verses, we can delve into the why, how, and fairness of this divine election.

I have wanted to minister this truth for quite some time now. But I was not quite sure how to articulate it in a manner that the Body of Christ would understand, and most important of all, believe it. But then the Lord spoke to me, “Their belief or unbelief is not your responsibility.” This I must say was liberating, yet frightening in light of the Lord demanding that the focus of the apostolic mantle be on the basic truths about salvation, emphasizing the magnitude of ignorance in the Body of Christ. This truth starts with the divine election. Nevertheless, Paul comes through for us. He explains divine election and predestination like no other.

Romans 9:3-5

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

A Side Note For The Hebrew-Israelites

First of all, we are about to dissect a testimony Paul gives of his fellow countrymen who walk according to the flesh. Before we get into the deeper details of the election, let us take note of the fact that Paul was born a Jew, according to the flesh, which is why he is able to call the Israelites, brethren.

The Israelites received the Law of God, the privilege of servitude, and the covenants–not simply one covenant, but both covenants: that of Moses and that of Christ. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11

Secondarily, Who are Israelites;to whom pertaineth theadoption: the Hebrew-Israelites received the promises that were given to Abraham, (who, by the way, was not Jewish, but a Chaldean Gentile from the nation of Iraq). That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14.

Finally, it does not matter what your genealogy is, all must be adopted into the royal family of God through Jesus Christ. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Romans 9:8

Now, back to election.

Romans 9:10-28

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 -- It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

On the surface, that is, without rightly dividing the Word of God, one might be tempted, as Paul stated, to see God as unrighteous in His selection of those he would favor versus those He would hate. However, it is the understanding of the sovereignty of God that is missing in this scenario.

Before the children were born, the Lord declared that He loved one and hated the other. Now for all practical purposes, the Lord has to have a reason to hate anyone. This is the work of His foreknowledge. He knew these fellows before they were born and merely responded to their dispositions. The Father knew that they both would be sinners and devious in their ways. However, He also knew that Esau would have no respect for God’s grace in his life, which was given with his birthright, whereas, Jacob would wrestle with God all night long to receive a divine blessing.

Therefore, the Lord predetermined how He would use each of their lives to work inside of His eternal purpose. Thus, the purpose of God will stand by election and not of works. The will of man or the strivings of man, matter not. It is the election of God, according to His divine purpose, that prevails. Based upon His foreknowledge, God will have mercy on whom He will and likewise destroy whom He will.

Romans 9:17-21

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

These same principles of predestination apply here. The Lord knew the heart and mind of Pharaoh before time. Therefore, He simply used him to fulfill His purposes. Here, He tells us of His purpose: “To show forth His power and that His name might be declared throughout the earth.” Beloved, the Lord knows every heart and mind that will live upon this earth. With this knowledge, He is able to use His power over us to predetermine how we will fit inside His eternal purpose. The choice of whether we will be vessels of honor or dishonor still remains with us. Therefore, it is not profitable to be angry with God for decisions we make concerning our attitude toward Him and righteousness.

Romans 9:22-23

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

The Lord long-suffers with vessels who have rejected His ways. These are fitted or prepared for destruction, while He uses their rejection of the truth to magnify that same truth in the vessels of mercy. He is an awesome God!

It is already predetermined that the chosen are to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus. All died in Adam, and all live in Christ. This is the loving opportunity the Father gives the sons; to live again. The plan is for the Church to manifest Christ on the earth. It is to make men aware that God is real, Jesus is alive, and life can only be found in Him.