Inheritance of God’s blessings is not determined by human convention such a birth order…it is determined by God’s intention. Neither Jacob nor Esau would gain the promised inheritance by virtue of being Isaac’s children. Esau would not gain the inheritance by mere virtue of being the first-born. To the contrary, Jacob, the younger, gained the inheritance by virtue of God’s declaration.
Neither were deserving, but the Lord chose Jacob over Esau in order to display that grace only comes according to God’s declaration. It is God who determines the recipients of grace. The created order will not lay claim to grace apart from God’s directive.
And so it is in the New Covenant.
According to God’s declaration, who are the recipients of God’s covenant promises?
Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The declaration is that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Covenant inheritance does not come by human convention. Neither last name nor church attendance will merit the inheritance. It comes because of God’s declaration to include as heirs’ people who once were not heirs.
Romans 9:25-26 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.'” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.'”
Who is deserving of grace? No one, and yet God chose the nation of Israel through Jacob and he chooses the church through Jesus.
And so therefore, the Kingdom of God is not comprised of citizens who have gained entry by virtue of family heritage or a particular birth order. It is comprised of people, even the least of people, who have responded to God’s own declaration.
The common bond we have together as members of the church is our status as undeserving, unqualified people, yet joined to fellowship by the declaration of God.
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