Featured The Conundrom.

This is contradicted by scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:11-15 (NASB) 11 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 "It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' 14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. 15 "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;

God says plainly here is is not too difficult for us, the choice for salvation is not made in heaven, and specifically calls out the ability to hear as something we are able to do without heaven’s intervention.

Before you respond that Deu 30 is about the law or just for the Jews of that time, know that Paul directly contradicts that interpretation of Deu 30 and says specifically that Deu 30 is talking about Salvation by faith:

Romans 10:5-11 (NASB) 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

 

Friend, in the post you quoted I mention we are not talking about multiple adoptions, but rather multiple points of inheritance. Faith causes adoption. After faith comes the first inheritance... or the first fruits of the inheritance in the inheritance of the spirit being regenerated. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of the full inheritance yet to come which includes the redemption of not just the spirit but the body as well.

Romans 8:23 (NASB) And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

The concept of “first fruits” imply a staggered or staged redemption, not an all-at-once redemption. It is not the whole crop, but the earliest portion of the harvest.

See it says the Holy Spirit in us is redeemed first and then that Spirit groans within us waiting eagerly for the redemption of the body.

 

Good point, and I agree.

When we have the same faith in the gospel that Abraham had, we become qualified by God as descendants of Abraham and fellow heirs of the world with Christ. Faith doesn’t cause salvation, it qualifies us as descendants.

 

yes, and the ones that are become His sheep!