THE SAINT. THE JEW. THE GENTILE
This is a bit long, but I assure you it is worth it.
I pray God gives you and I understanding as we delve into this very important topic.
It is important that every man who comes to the earth get an idea of what this (earth - or creation) is all about. Please let me say what I have believed so far.
I will talk as if I have the Grand Plan with me. And you know that I do not. But I have the Bible and you will judge my words by your understanding of my expositions from the Book of Romans. Do we have a deal? Good.
A Brief Intro.
When God looks at the earth, He sees men classified only into any of these three categories. A man is either a Jew or a Gentile. When he accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord, he becomes a Saint. So we have Israel (natural descendants of Abraham), the Church of Jesus Christ, and Every other person outside these two. You can argue all you can, tribes as created by God is for community, these three are the only families on earth. Okay a few Scriptures to back up that point;
Rom 2:9-10
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
(KJV)
Act 15:18-19
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
(KJV)
1Co 10:32-33
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
(KJV)
Jn 7:35
35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
(KJV)
1Ti 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(KJV)
I know you have an opinion already about this. So let me share my own.
An Outlay of Romans.
Paul did a good job of laying out God’s universal plan in the Book of Romans.
Romans Chapter One and Two he dealt with how God handles those who sinned without the Law. You know, those who never knew there was a God of Abraham, who just followed their consciences in doing what was right. Read it yourself.
Romans Chapters (part of 2), 3,4,5, 6 shows how Sin is the Universal Leveler and Grace the Universal Lifter. And Faith the Universal Access.
2:17-29 shows how little an advantage a Jew has over a Gentile on the account of Righteousness. 3:10 says ‘There is no-one righteous’.
Vs 9 says both Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin.
Chapter 4 showed how Abraham himself was justified outside the Law through Faith.
Chapters 5 and 6 shows that Adam started the Human Race; Abraham started the Jewish Race; Christ, the Christian Race (or the Church).
Romans Chapter 7 - 8 settles why we still seem to struggle with Sin even after Christ came and the way out. Jesus took away our Sin not our Flesh. The Holy Spirit is the way to enjoy what Christ delivered to us.
In Romans Chapter 9-11, Paul clarified where the Jew stands in all these. Let us just go straight to 11:28. (see, if all I achieve is to make you read the book of Romans with more attention, I am fulfilled).
Romans 11:28 now.
‘as far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the Patriachs’
You see, the Gospel came primarily for the Gentiles. (See again 1 Tim 3:16) Israel had the Election. Are you still surprised that the Jew just cannot understand the Gospel? They have to be so deaf for this Gospel to be so loud to the Gentiles. That is the wisdom of God - not mine. I could think of a better way. Oh dear, did I say that? I must be very stupid.
So Paul told us, all Israel will be saved in 11:26 and this he had called a MYSTERY in 11:25. You can not accept it because of what it is - a mystery of God’s mercy. We must submit our self to His mysterious mercy upon us Gentiles and upon the Jews. He is God, we are not!
In Romans Chapter 12, Paul admitted that no one can accept God’s perfect plan (or will) except the mind is renewed. (vs 2).
So what is the advantage of being in Christ (the Church) over the Jew ?
We have the righteousness of God and not under pressure to establish our own. Rom 9:30-33
We know so much more than the Jew. We know the righteousness that comes from God and that is all there is to know. Rom 10:2-3
Romans 13, established what Romans 12 started. The Universal Commandment is Love. Let the Jew or Gentile or the Saint thrive to love.
Once again, the advantage of the Saint is that Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit - not his. How easy it is for the Saint!
Who will go to Hell? The Gentile ?
Not exactly. He has two options only.
1. Become a Jew. I do not mean ‘practise Judaism’.
2. Accept Christ as Lord. I do not mean ‘practise Christianity’.
How hard it is to be a Gentile!
Not exactly. It is easier to accept Christ than to become a Jew. That is why the Gospel has been going so strong around the world.
Who is the Jew ? How about the hybrids?
‘Em... Em.. Apostle sir. How about the Americans with Jewish blood somewhere in their lineage? Are the Jews or Gentiles?’
The same could be said about Ishmael. He descended from Abraham too, did he not? But to Isaac belong the inheritance.
Well, Jesus is the way. The surest way.
I still want to say ‘The Only Way’. That is what I believe too.
- Adeolu Olumodeji.
This is a bit long, but I assure you it is worth it.
I pray God gives you and I understanding as we delve into this very important topic.
It is important that every man who comes to the earth get an idea of what this (earth - or creation) is all about. Please let me say what I have believed so far.
I will talk as if I have the Grand Plan with me. And you know that I do not. But I have the Bible and you will judge my words by your understanding of my expositions from the Book of Romans. Do we have a deal? Good.
A Brief Intro.
When God looks at the earth, He sees men classified only into any of these three categories. A man is either a Jew or a Gentile. When he accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord, he becomes a Saint. So we have Israel (natural descendants of Abraham), the Church of Jesus Christ, and Every other person outside these two. You can argue all you can, tribes as created by God is for community, these three are the only families on earth. Okay a few Scriptures to back up that point;
Rom 2:9-10
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
(KJV)
Act 15:18-19
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
(KJV)
1Co 10:32-33
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
(KJV)
Jn 7:35
35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
(KJV)
1Ti 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(KJV)
I know you have an opinion already about this. So let me share my own.
An Outlay of Romans.
Paul did a good job of laying out God’s universal plan in the Book of Romans.
Romans Chapter One and Two he dealt with how God handles those who sinned without the Law. You know, those who never knew there was a God of Abraham, who just followed their consciences in doing what was right. Read it yourself.
Romans Chapters (part of 2), 3,4,5, 6 shows how Sin is the Universal Leveler and Grace the Universal Lifter. And Faith the Universal Access.
2:17-29 shows how little an advantage a Jew has over a Gentile on the account of Righteousness. 3:10 says ‘There is no-one righteous’.
Vs 9 says both Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin.
Chapter 4 showed how Abraham himself was justified outside the Law through Faith.
Chapters 5 and 6 shows that Adam started the Human Race; Abraham started the Jewish Race; Christ, the Christian Race (or the Church).
Romans Chapter 7 - 8 settles why we still seem to struggle with Sin even after Christ came and the way out. Jesus took away our Sin not our Flesh. The Holy Spirit is the way to enjoy what Christ delivered to us.
In Romans Chapter 9-11, Paul clarified where the Jew stands in all these. Let us just go straight to 11:28. (see, if all I achieve is to make you read the book of Romans with more attention, I am fulfilled).
Romans 11:28 now.
‘as far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the Patriachs’
You see, the Gospel came primarily for the Gentiles. (See again 1 Tim 3:16) Israel had the Election. Are you still surprised that the Jew just cannot understand the Gospel? They have to be so deaf for this Gospel to be so loud to the Gentiles. That is the wisdom of God - not mine. I could think of a better way. Oh dear, did I say that? I must be very stupid.
So Paul told us, all Israel will be saved in 11:26 and this he had called a MYSTERY in 11:25. You can not accept it because of what it is - a mystery of God’s mercy. We must submit our self to His mysterious mercy upon us Gentiles and upon the Jews. He is God, we are not!
In Romans Chapter 12, Paul admitted that no one can accept God’s perfect plan (or will) except the mind is renewed. (vs 2).
So what is the advantage of being in Christ (the Church) over the Jew ?
We have the righteousness of God and not under pressure to establish our own. Rom 9:30-33
We know so much more than the Jew. We know the righteousness that comes from God and that is all there is to know. Rom 10:2-3
Romans 13, established what Romans 12 started. The Universal Commandment is Love. Let the Jew or Gentile or the Saint thrive to love.
Once again, the advantage of the Saint is that Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit - not his. How easy it is for the Saint!
Who will go to Hell? The Gentile ?
Not exactly. He has two options only.
1. Become a Jew. I do not mean ‘practise Judaism’.
2. Accept Christ as Lord. I do not mean ‘practise Christianity’.
How hard it is to be a Gentile!
Not exactly. It is easier to accept Christ than to become a Jew. That is why the Gospel has been going so strong around the world.
Who is the Jew ? How about the hybrids?
‘Em... Em.. Apostle sir. How about the Americans with Jewish blood somewhere in their lineage? Are the Jews or Gentiles?’
The same could be said about Ishmael. He descended from Abraham too, did he not? But to Isaac belong the inheritance.
Well, Jesus is the way. The surest way.
I still want to say ‘The Only Way’. That is what I believe too.
- Adeolu Olumodeji.
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