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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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