God's is No Respecter of Persons.

God's Chosen People

Note: To hear Original Christian Country Gospel Music by J Stone Grant, proceed to the end of this presentation below. Then, click View My Complete Profile. Then click on AUDIO CLIP. You will then be able to select whatever song you would like to hear! God bless …

The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments are written in Blue. May we all have ears to hear.

Sometimes, the people of Israel are called God’s Chosen People, not because they are better than anyone else, but because of incorrect perspectives at play. Romans 3:23 states that ... ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God; We know the Scripture under the New Covenant under Grace, teaches us that “God is no respecter of persons.” They are called God’s chosen people, because God chose to intervene through them, that is to say God the Father Creator of all things, chose to work through their lineage going all the way back through Joseph/Mary unto David, Judah, Jacob, Issac, Abraham and even all the way back to a couple named Adam and Eve circa 4,004 BCE … to bring forth the Messiah … the Saviour … for not only the people of Israel, but also for “Whosoever Will” receive Him from among all mankind.

Note: The word Jew comes from the name of the people of the Tribe of Judah. Therefore, remember … “All Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews.” This is just a point to remember. You’ll need to know this, for later discussions. Now … moving on!

Let’s look at some Scriptures that make it perfectly clear. God is no respecter of persons.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, …

Romans 11:1-36 Makes it clear that in God’s Kingdom … there is always a remnant out of Israel who have received Christ Jesus. And from out of the Gentiles (other peoples of the world) there are also those who have received Christ Jesus. They are grafted in together. I suggest studying this entire chapter. There are also many of those from among all people, whether Israel or Gentile, who reject Christ Jesus. I’m trying so hard to get our readers to see, that “God is NOT a respecter of persons.

Luke 2:25-32  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him (the baby Jesus) up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 

So, those of us from among all people, who believe in, and place our trust in Christ Jesus, under Grace, are now His chosen people. Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. 

John 15:16-19  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The Parable of the Tenants (Under Law)

Matthew 21:33-41 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder (God Almighty; the Master of the house), which planted (instilled doctrine in) a vineyard (Israel), and hedged it round about (or sanctified it; set it apart), and digged a winepress (provided a place to grow into maturity) in it, and built a tower (Temple), and let it out to husbandmen (the farmers, land / religious workers; Pharisees / Sadducees), and went into a far country (went away): And when the time of the fruit drew near, he (the Master of the house) sent his servants (the Prophets) to the husbandmen (the farmers, land / religious workers; Pharisees / Sadducees), that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen (the farmers, land / religious workers; Pharisees / Sadducees) took his (the Master’s servants (Prophets), and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he (the Master) sent other servants (Prophets) more than the first: and they (the farmers, land / religious workers; Pharisees / Sadducees)   did unto them likewise. But last of all he (the Master) sent unto them his son (Christ Jesus), saying, (Surely) They will reverence my son (Christ Jesus). But when the husbandmen  (the farmers, land / religious workers; Pharisees / Sadducees) saw the son (Christ Jesus), they said among themselves, This is the heir (the Master’s Son Christ Jesus … see Matthew 28:18-20 below); come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him (Christ Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane), and cast him out of the vineyard (out of the people of Israel, and caused Him to carry a cross to a place called Golgotha outside the walls of Jerusalem), and slew (crucified and killed) him. When the lord (the Supreme Master) therefore of the vineyard (Israel) cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He (the Supreme Master) will miserably destroy those wicked men, (those in Israel who turned against Christ Jesus and demanded He be crucified, saying let his blood be on their own heads Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children, which was completed in 70 AD when the Supreme Master used the Roman General Titus and his army to completely surround and destroy the people of, and the entire city of Jerusalem, including the Temple, to the point, to where all of the land of Israel became a desolation, except the remnant of those who escaped prior to being surrounded circa 3 ½ years earlier) and (the Supreme Master) will let out his vineyard (His Kingdom under Grace) unto other husbandmen (unto “Whosoever Will” from among all people), which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 

Christ Jesus the Son is rejected by God’s Kingdom under the Law of Moses, but becomes the Head of God’s Kingdom under Grace. The SWITCH  began on Calvary’s cross at Golgotha, the Curtain to the Holy of Holies rent in twain in the Temple, Jesus arose from the dead, appearing to well over 500 witnesses, ascended upon High to the Right Hand of the Father, sending the Comforter, in the form of the Holy Ghost, into the 120 gathered in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost and then God Almighty using the Roman General Titus to destroy the Temple and all of the people within the City of Jerusalem in 70 AD. There was a remnant who had previously escaped, by heeding the warnings from Christ Jesus before He went to the cross.

Matthew 21:42-44  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation (people) bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, (after He arose from the dead, and before He ascended upon High, he said) All power is given unto me (Christ Jesus ... the Heir) in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age). Amen. 

That should be clear enough. We see the Chosen Lineage, from Adam to the Cross of Calvary, bringing forth the Messiah, who is Rejected by God’s Kingdom under the Law of Moses. Then we see that old order destroyed, and the Messiah, the Risen Christ, becoming the Head of God’s Kingdom under Grace, made up of, and working through, “Whosoever Will” from among ALL people. 

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Note: Under Grace)

Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.(Notice here that this Parable takes up where the Parable of the Tenants leaves off) But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he (the King) to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment (Christ Jesus is our righteousness; the wedding garment): And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. 

Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

And God spoke to Abram (a high father) in Genesis 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 

Genesis 17:1-7 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham (a populous father of a multitude); for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 

And once again in … ) Acts 10:34 … Peter … said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Now, please read the first paragraph of this teaching again. I pray this clears up the phrase “God’s chosen people” and shows that the Christian Gospel is for “Whosoever will” from among all people everywhere!     

                                       J Stone Grant

A Coming Judgment

The Parable of the Ten Virgins ... A Coming Judgement

Note: To hear Original Christian Country Gospel Music by J Stone Grant, proceed to the end of this presentation below. Then, click View My Complete Profile. Then click on AUDIO CLIP. You will then be able to select whatever song you would like to hear! God bless …

The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments are written in Blue. May we all have ears to hear.

Now let’s take a look at “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” as Jesus taught it in …

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were FOOLISH took their lamps, and TOOK NO OIL with them: But the WISE TOOK OIL in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 

I think we’ve all previously learned and/or should certainly know by now, that OIL in the Word of God is always representative of THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 2Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2Corinthians 4:7 But WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

One more thing before we continue. Keep these Scriptures, written by the Apostle Paul, in the back of your mind as we proceed. 1Corinthians 15:42-45 & 47-48 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, AND there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last (…sometimes called the second) Adam (Christ Jesus) was made a quickening spirit. …  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: AND as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. Ok … let’s get back to the Parable of the Ten Virgins …

The Parable shows us that ALL are confessors, and that they are ALL people who have come out to meet the bridegroom. What matters is to show the difference between the confessors. There are both false and real confessors.

Then the Lord explains this further by making a distinction in the ten virgins. He calls five foolish and five wise. The difference is not in going out, because they all go out. They also all have lamps. The distinction lies IN HAVING or NOT HAVING OIL IN THEIR LAMPS. What makes the foolish virgins foolish is that they have no oil. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and in some cases prophets were anointed with oil. The New Testament believer is anointed with the Holy Spirit in this way. The LAMP speaks of the INNERMOST BEING or the DEEPEST PART OF THE HEART within the living soul of the body … that is to say the VERY HEART OF ALL TEN OF THE EARTHEN VESSELS. Remember, they all have lamps. But, now to anoint an earthen vessel with OIL is to fill the  innermost and deepest part of the heart with the Holy Spirit of the Lord … or should we suffice it to say this lifts up or resurrects the WISE … THOSE WHO HAVE EARS TO HEAR (via the entrance of the second man) who is the Lord from Heaven) … by His Quickening Spirit. Remember: Zechariah 4:6 … Not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts. So, some had oil in their lamps and some did not. Five were wise, and five were foolish!

While the bridegroom delays His coming, all ten of the virgins fall asleep. Having possession of the Holy Spirit does not prevent the wise virgins from falling asleep. This indicates that the entire confessing church, even those who have the Holy Spirit living within, lose sight of the Lords return, and become complacent in regard to when it actually happens. In the early days of the church, the believers were looking forward to ‘the coming of the Lord’. But, I believe, because of some people having an incorrect perspective in the understanding of the Word, the ‘delay of His coming’ was misunderstood by several, and the expectation of the event subsided back then, as well as over the many generations since. This complacency is still alive today in the minds of many believers.

Ok, let’s take a look a what happens at midnight! Then, when it is midnight, when the night is at its darkest hour (In other words, when it’s time for our carnal flesh body to die, and to leave it and the entire world behind), there is a SHOUT. The bridegroom cometh! The call of the Holy Spirit is: “Behold, the bridegroom!” The person of the bridegroom awakens the sleepers from their sleep.(unawareness) Upon awakening, the one who was sleeping realizes … that it is time for the carnal flesh body to DIE. That’s why it sounds as follows: “Come OUT, (of your body) to meet HIM” (Christ Jesus in the Spirit and Glory of our Eternal Heavenly Father). In Matthew 25:1 … In the beginning of their walk with Christ Jesus, the people ‘CAME OUT’ and ‘WENT FORTH’ at the CALL OF HIS WORD, to receive Him. (That is to say when they first believed, repented, then freely chose to forsake all, denied self and followed Him … This moment in time, is the beginning of the first resurrection process, when they themselves were first given a measure of faith … chosen by Christ Jesus and ‘passed from death unto life) NOW at the end of their time on earth; at the ‘APPEARANCE and COMING OF HIS PRESENCE’  the cry is TO ‘COME OUT’  AGAIN. ‘COME OUT’ means: complete separation from the carnal flesh body, and the entire world … in order ‘TO MEET HIM’ (Christ Jesus in the Spirit and Glory of our Eternal Heavenly Father). (This is about meeting ETERNAL LIFE IN ITS FULLNESS. This is about meeting Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, face to face) Those who have died to self, surrendered to Christ Jesus, and experienced a real relationship with Him, by His Spirit or through His Word, who have passed from death unto life. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power ...They that have received OIL IN THEIR LAMPS … are SAVED from the power of the second death.

Remember when Jesus said in the Gospel of John “Marvel not at this.” All the virgins wake up. Both real and false Christians are preparing to meet the bridegroom. They all trim their lamps. They let the light they have shine again. That is also the moment that the foolish come to the discovery that they have no oil. They see that their lamps are going out. They had only lit the wick, but had not supplied themselves with oil. The lamp without oil represents a man who does not possess the Holy Spirit. The lamp of a natural person can sometimes let light shine for a while, giving the impression that there is oil, but in reality such a lamp goes out quickly.

John 5:24-29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death (from being Spiritually dead) unto life (unto Life in the Eternal Living God). Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in Himself; AND HATH GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT also, because He (Christ Jesus) is the Son of man. MARVEL NOT AT THIS: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves (ALL that are walking around Spiritually Dead) shall hear His voice, And shall come forth (AWAKE); they that have done good (THE WISE), unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil (THE FOOLISH), unto the resurrection of damnation. 

There is enough time between the Call and the Coming to make everyone’s condition clear. Now the foolish come to the discovery that they have no oil. They miss the essence of the light. The light they possessed was but an appearance. They recognize that the wise do have oil. They see that the wise have a real relationship with the bridegroom. Their question to the wise is whether they may have some of their oil. But the wise know that they cannot supply oil. So, they refer the foolish to those that SELL (Preachers, Teachers, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Witnesses) in order to BUY (to repent and lay down ones entire life, surrendering all to Christ Jesus … that’s the price) for themselves. In Matthew 16:24 He said … If ANY MAN will come after me (Christ Jesus), let him deny himself, (stop living his life his way) and take up his cross, (change over to what God has called him to do) and follow me. (follow Christ Jesus in living life His way)

Revelation 3:16-22 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to BUY OF ME gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: IF ANY MAN hear my voice, and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, and will sup with him, and he with me. TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith ... 

When the foolish have left to buy oil, the bridegroom comes. The wise, those who are ready, Enter the wedding feast with him. Then the door is closed. When the other virgins come, they also want to go in. They want to go inside and beg the Lord to open up for them. But for the foolish virgins it is too late. They should have been ready when the bridegroom presented himself. The Lord clearly indicates that there is no connection between Him and them. He does not know them. He does not pretend not to know them, but He really does not know them. They have never surrendered to him. There has never been love for him in their hearts. They found him interesting, but they never bowed before him.

The Lord Jesus extends a warning in the purpose of the parable to be on the alert. It is to move the wise to keep their eyes wide open and not fall asleep, and it is to move the foolish to become wise NOW by buying oil before it’s too late. Before Jesus went to the cross He said this in John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he (the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth) is come, he will reprove (convict: Strongs G1651) the world of SIN, and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince (the Devil; the ruler; chief magistrate; Strongs G758) of this world is judged.

Romans 14:8-12 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that HE might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 2Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Psalms 91:1-16 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

                                                    J Stone Grant