RE: [TruthTalk] Jewish baptism

[Slade Henson]

It seems Messiah was saying that the Jewish people could not rely strictly on their heritage from Avraham. Remember… the essence (heritage from Avraham) is not as important as the function (the acts of Avraham).   -- slade   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Judy Taylor Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 10:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [TruthTalk] Jewish baptism   Hi John:   Why would a Jew believe he was born a "child of God"?  God is a Spirit and noone was born of God until the Church was birthed at Pentecost.  The Jews were connected to God because of the covenant with Abraham but this would not the same as a spiritual birth.  judyt "Child of God" in the sense that they were the people of God, the chosen ones.  Are you saying that the first centruy Jew (non-disciple of Christ) was not a child of God by birth, a people of God by birth, in their own mind.   You have got me a little off guard.   I have never been "corrected" on this point before  --  and for an old guy, that is saying something.    Splain please. John     Yes that's what I'm saying.  Well actually Jesus said it Himself.  The Jews prided themselves because they were the children of Abraham genetically and they thought this would put them over no matter what - but Jesus told them that if they were truly the children of Abraham they would have a different kind of spiritual fruit in their lives. (John 8:39) John the Baptist told them the same thing (Matt 3:9, Luke 3:8).  Yes God chose the natural generation of Abraham to work through (by covenant) and He expected a spiritual harvest or spiritual fruit from them - and He still does.  judyt