Quote Originally Posted by John146 View Post
Read it again in context. Part of the evidence that you have been born of God is that you love the children of God and keep His commandments. It's similar to what is said here:

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This is a general reference to Christians and Christians are identified as those "which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.".
I don’t deny that one with faith and given His Spirit will display love, especially toward the brethren. But John does not say God will “cause” us to display this love.

But God has already put His Spirit within His people! Is that causing them to perfectly walk in His statutes without fail? No. So, it doesn't make sense to conclude that God putting His Spirit within someone has something to do with them perfectly walking in His statutes at all times.
I don’t think that putting His Spirit within us causes us to walk in His statutes. When He both puts His spirit within and writes His Torah on hearts, this will “cause” His people to walk in His statutes and no one will teach “know the Lord” to his neighbor down the street for ALL will know the Lord for the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth. This has NOT happened yet. We still must teach “know the Lord” to our neighbors, ALL do not know the Lord and the knowledge of the Lord does not cover the earth. All of these things are connected to the implementation of the New Covenant which has not happened yet.

Since the spiritual seed of Abraham are the ones who make up spiritual Israel then what is the difference between the spiritual seed of Abraham and spiritual Israel? None! Yet you are trying to say those are two different groups? You're not making any sense to me at all.
To be a member of the “spiritual seed of Ab club,” you have to have faith and faith alone. It’s open to the public. To be a member of the “spiritual Israel club,” you have to be a circumcised member of the “spiritual seed of Ab club.” It’s a private club that requires not only faith but circumcision. Abraham came first. People were joining that club long before the “spiritual Israel club” was even in existence. Its formation came about when the Mosaic Law was implemented. All who were already in the “spiritual seed of Ab club” automatically became members of the “spiritual Israel club,” also known as remnant Israel.

No, the faithful Israelite is part of the groups that Paul mentions in Romans 9:6. One is spiritual Israel and the other is the nation of Israel (natural descendants). A natural Israelite is part of natural Israel by physical birth but they are only of spiritual Israel by way of spiritual birth.
Just because faithful, circumcised Joe Jew can be a part of spiritual Israel through spiritual birth, doesn’t mean that faithful, uncircumcised George Gentile can be a part of spiritual Israel through spiritual birth.

Can't you see that the requirement for being a spiritual seed of Abraham is the same as the requirement for being part of spiritual Israel?
No, you have to be circumcised to be a part of spiritual Israel.

So, what is the difference between the two? None. What you're saying here is like saying that you can't be a Christian without being a part of the church. Does that means Christians and the church are two different groups? Of course not.
No, that’s not what I’m saying. In your comparison, the Christian would be spiritual Israel and the member of the Church would be the spiritual seed of Abraham. So, that doesn’t work. It’s more like saying you that you can’t be a pastor (“spiritual Israel”) without being a member of the Church (“spiritual seed of Ab”). Anyone can be a part of the Church through faith, but only those who are called to special service within that group can be a pastor.