Romans 11 likens us, who remain in God, to the wild olive branches grafted into the true olive tree. Some other verses show that we are in the process of putting off our old self and putting on the new self.

Eph 4:17-24 『So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.』

The above verses state that we must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. We are to live a different life than that of the Gentiles. Satan makes all kinds of crafty schemes to plant the Gentiles's hope and desire in our hearts. However, if we give in to the temptation of Satan and become assimilated into the world, we go against God's will and become cut off from the true olive tree.

Everything about us, including our nature, thoughts, and lifestyle, should be changed. Our "old self" mentioned in the book of Ephesians means our original nature as the wild olive branches. When we remove our old self, we can become one with the true olive tree, as part of it.

The Bible clearly tells us what pleases God, the true olive tree. We should all be changed and please God by devoting ourselves to preaching the gospel, obeying God's will willingly, loving God's commandments, respecting and loving everything that belongs to God, and so on.

It is said that parents like the child who more closely resembles them. We must resemble God in full. Since God is pleased with the salvation of all human beings, we should also be pleased with their salvation and preach the gospel diligently, so that we can lead all mankind to the kingdom of heaven. With this spirit of faith, we must become one with God.

Now, many of our brothers and sisters in Zion throughout the world preach the gospel of God joyfully despite the scorching heat. They are all beautiful, resembling God. Until the day when the glory of Father and Mother resounds throughout the whole earth and the universe, let us put off our old self and put on the new self, so that our original nature as the wild olive branches can be changed into the nature of the true olive tree. Then we can be said to have been reborn and changed. I earnestly hope that you all bear much good fruit and receive the abundant blessings of the Holy Spirit, so that you will become a royal priesthood to rule over the nations in the kingdom of God.



God bless you :)

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