children" and "adoption of sons" we would draw attention to the fact that the difference

is found only in the English version: the Greek word itself is the same in every case.

If we found it impossible to confuse the company who have the adoption in Rom. 9:

with those who have in Gal. 3:, 4: and Heb. 3: 1 & 12:, much more shall we find it

impossible to confuse the high and holy calling that goes back before the foundation of

the world, and leads up to where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and which was a

mystery hid in God until revealed to the apostle Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us

Gentiles, with either of these two spheres. This third sphere of blessing belongs to the

dispensation of the Mystery. It has no connection with the promises made to the fathers

or with any covenant, old or new.

Once again, we pause. We have been reminded that there is a covenant in the

Scriptures that was made before Abraham, namely, the covenant made by God with

Noah, but whoever thinks that this covenant was made with an elect people needs to read

the Scriptures for himself, where he will find that it belongs to all mankind and so does

not come into the argument at all. They who snatch at such irrelevant items must be

destitute of sound reasons for their claims, and will only mislead those possessed of but

the smallest knowledge of the Scriptures, or who virtually wish to be thus persuaded.

This high calling of the mystery has its citizenship.

The citizenship of Israel is not in view here, neither is the citizenship of the

New Jerusalem, for this citizenship belongs to a sphere where Christ sits at the right hand

of God. This church is not actually called "The Firstborn", but as it forms the very body

of Christ, Who is revealed in Col. 1: as both Firstborn of all creation and Firstborn of the

dead, it amounts to the same thing. If, by virtue of the adoption, Israel has pre-eminence

over the nations, and if those whose sphere is the New Jerusalem have pre-eminence over

angels ("know ye not that we", the saints of the second sphere, the church during the Acts

period, "shall judge angels"?) (I Cor. 6: 3), then, by the analogy of faith, we shall expect

that those who have the adoption and citizenship in the highest sphere of all, will have a

corresponding pre-eminence. This indeed is the case for, in His capacity as Head of the

Church, which is His body (Eph. 1: 23), the ascended Christ is said to be set

and the Church is said to be "seated together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus"

(Eph. 2: 6).  In this exalted sphere, neither nation nor angel is mentioned, but only the

spiritual rulers of glory. This is adoption indeed!