I think 1 brain did too much acid in the 70s and 80s.
A Cheryl "Crow" song anyone, Tel, perhaps, lol
The name of one of Cheryl Crow's top songs is the best advice I could give to you MADists:
"A CHANGE WOULD DO YOU GOOD"
I think 1 brain did too much acid in the 70s and 80s.
I will concede that some were proselytes and others had attended synagogue enough to know the law.
My point is..........
Being a Jewish proselyte did not get them into the congregation which is the nation of Israel.
Nor did it even make them of the House of Judah.
They were Gentiles.
When they became believers in Christ they were grafted into Israel.
Only then did they become partakers of the tree.
Before that they thought their prosperity was in the Jewish religion.
All this did was make it easier for Paul to explain the operation of God to them.
Paul merely explained to them who they were.
That is, citizens in God's Israel, which is the great congregation.
They had no special status in the congregation by being proselytes, or knowing the law.
Not only that, Paul's letter to them did not give them some special ticket into the imaginary body of Christ invented by Dispy's.
Israel is the body of Christ.
How could they be? They had never heard the gospel of Christ!
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Romans 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Romans 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
What are you afraid of? Be honest.
Hi and how could Jews be " in CHRIST " before Paul ??
Some had faith, it's conjecture to think it's not based on Christ and His cleansing work.
Apollos, another who was neither in Peter's church nor in the Body of Christ, but yet believed Jesus was the Christ.
What "program" were the Romans in before Paul wrote to them?
As I have answered you before several times, I do not see them in any "program" yet.
How can that be?
1. They were not baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit
2. They were not baptized by the Spirit into the Body
Says who?
And, how could they be "in Christ" if not?
Who says the Romans were in Christ, before Paul finished with them?
Paul does:
(Rom 16:7) Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Not only were Andronicus and Junia in Christ before Paul, they were imprisoned for their faith.
What kind of faith would they have to have to go to prison?
The only people that were put in prison for their faith, at that time, were Christians.