This Esau business is symbolic but not without purpose since it is necessary to subdue vanity. I just know you won't understand this since you don't seem to understand how being firstborn is code for being brought out of that which is corruptible flesh, nor therefore what the cause is of that corruption.=Eventide;567504]I know that.. I'm simply following the logic of your comment.. that anyone who is firstborn ends up being carnal, like your reason for Esau being carnal..
Adam was the first man according to a carnal nature. Esau is symbolic of that. That is why his actions are carnal. The Old Testament came first according to the letter through which we have knowledge of sin and righteousness by carnal works, the carnal nature. While the New Testament is about the Spirit and righteousness by faith in the promise which one cannot believe in if one believes righteousness can come by works of the flesh. The carnal nature is dissolved through the renewing of the mind, not through human choice, but by the Spirit of Truth. Ishmael was firstborn, out of human works or choice while Isaac was born by promise. These all mean the same thing.Why do you make it sound as though I wouldn't agree with this.. this has nothing to do with it.. what I'm trying to understand is your BASIS for saying that Esau was carnal.. and you said that it's because he was born first.. I then asked if we should ignore what the scriptural facts are with respect to Esau and simply chaulk it up to his being firstborn.. ?
I think the reason for Esau's condition is precisely because of what HE DID.. iow.. he SOLD his birthright to satisfy his flesh.. not because he didn't have a choice in the matter.
Yet you claim we are all condemned in the nature of Adam. Hypocritical reasoning in my view. Moreover, the scripture says that before they were born and had done neither good nor evil God had already chosen. So where is this freewill that supposes it chooses it's destiny? For the scripture expressly says pertaining to this that it was done this way so that it may be through the election of God, not of works. Furthermore, scriptures go on to say what it means by works, it is not of him who willeth nor him who runneth but of God who showeth mercy. If you knew what a carnal mind is, you would know that the carnal mind cannot choose to be spiritual without the mercy of God. Hence Paul says over and over, you will then say to me why does He find fault for who has resisted His will, which is of course the next logical thing to say if we are under the impression that we had a freewill.
Last edited by a moderator: