Are the verses you have provided suppose to convince me of your position? Because none of them say we are adopted first. This is your idea or that of the one who taught you this.
One verse you posted says
Galatians 3:29 (NASB) And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
No where in scripture does it say we are adopted first. Even in this verse it clearly expresses if you belong to Christ. When we belong to Christ is when we first believe.
Paul wrote;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
The vine is Christ we are the branches. Why would we need to be Grafted in if we already are? It does not say we were grafted in before the foundation. How do we belong to Christ? By Faith
MB
Your response is so contentious, yet you and I agree. What is the point of your argument and how does it differ from what I said?
Romans 9:4-8 (NASB) 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
My point is that we are not saved as a direct result of faith as both Calvin & Arminius presupposed. We are saved indirectly by our faith qualifying us for human adoption into the descendants of Abraham, and then inheriting Christ’s righteousness (as an INDIRECT result of our faith) through inheritance.
Colossians 1:12 (NASB)
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Genesis 17:4-8 (NASB) 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 "I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
Note it speaks to Abraham being the father of many nations (not just Israel), and then immediately says the everlasting covenant will be inherited by those descendants (from many nations).
Galatians 4:21-31 (NASB) 21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND." 28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
