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               COMMENT: The term “gentiles” in each of these cases refers to those of
               the 10 northern tribes of Israel who, at that time, were in the Diaspora. It
               can also be proven that Cornelius was an Israelite in the service of Rome.
               About ten years after YEHOVAH God started His spiritual Ecclesia, He be-
               gan to call those Israelites of the 10 northern tribes to repentance and sal-
               vation. Since the promises of salvation were made to Abraham and his de-
               scendants, then those of the House of Israel  (known  as “Gentiles” at the
               time) could also become heirs to these promises.


               11. How does one who is of the House of Israel and a direct descendant of
               Abraham become an "heir" to the  spiritual promises made to  Abra-
               ham? Galatians 3:27-29.


               COMMENT: Paul shows that the only way these Israelites of the northern
               10  tribes  (House  of  Israel)  can become heirs  to the promise  of salvation
               made to Abraham was, like those of Judah, by accepting the Messiah and
               living YEHOVAH’s  way of life.  Thus  Israelites  from every  nation may be-
               come "heirs" of the spiritual promises YEHOVAH God made to Abraham by
               accepting the Messiah.


                                                                  12.  What do  we also read
                                                                  in Galatians 3:7?


                                                                  COMMENT:  If  you are  a spirit-
                                                                  begotten  descendant of  Israel
                                                                  Abraham  is  your  "father"  in  the
                                                                  faith,  and  you  become  eligible  to
                                                                  inherit the spiritual promises!

                                                                  Is  it enough to be  an Israelite  of
                                                                  the House of Israel by natural birth
                                                                  to claim the promises? Or must
                                                                  they also become the Messiah’s to
                                                                  receive these promises?


                                                                  In Romans        11, Paul      illustrates
                                                                  spiritual sonship through the Mes-
                                                                  siah by way of the analogy of graft-
                                                                  ing branches onto an olive tree.


                                                                  12. Does Paul show that the Isra-
                                                                  elites,  represented  by  the  branch-
                                                                  es of an olive tree, have been spir-


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