The first video link at the end of this article, is to a free YouTube video about Bible teachers who excessively press the issue regarding divisions/differences between Jews and Gentiles. Salvation in Jesus Christ of the New Testament we now live in, was in-fact to the Jews first (Jesus "king of the Jews"). However, God called all nations to salvation in His Son, who bled, died and was resurrected from the tomb. The "new birth" in him was offered to all people/nations and ethnicities. THE ADDITIONAL FREE VIDEO links below, are to other Holy Bible teachings I also published recently on YouTube (more to be posted on SelfGrowth.com, soon). - - -
AS I BEGIN THIS ARTICLE, let us remember that mankind obtained a "sinful nature", via the sin of Adam and Eve. Hyper dispensationalism in the area of pressing the truth regarding Jews first being preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Gentiles being presented the gospel, in-essence as an afterthought, is dangerous. Salvation via such a message may be hindered, plus Old and New Testament reading may be discouraged as well. FIRST, do not these scriptures I will now post below, show that God always intended to bring Gentiles into His kingdom? This being salvation (being "born-again) through His Son - Christ Jesus.
Even before the Lord paid our death penalty for sin on the cross, he moved powerfully in the lives of Gentiles.
The recognition between God and men, that a man was of faith in the one true God Jehovah, was circumcision (removing the foreskin of the male genital). All people before and after the time of Abraham were not Jews until they were circumcised, including Abraham who was the first man to become circumcised at 90 years old. He circumcised himself, as commanded by God as a sign of a salvation covenant with Him.
Afterward all people who followed Abraham's custom, especially His belief in the one true God, became the Hebrew/Jewish nation when the males were circumcised at eight days after birth. God told Abraham, that he would become the father of MANY NATIONS. Israel, the Jewish nation is only one of the many nations God promised to be "children of Abraham" (Galatians 3:6-9).
FOLLOWING IS A STRONGLY TOUTED SCRIPTURE, by those who want the distinction between Jews and Gentiles, in hyper dispensational fashion, to be on the minds of Christians at all times. Was it a matter of God literally hating Gentiles and loving only Jewish people or was it actually a matter of God's sovereign timing? - - -
Matthew Chapter 15 (edited only for length of article purposes - no intended change in meaning). - - -
"...a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him (Jesus), saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. ... I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ...It is not meet (proper) to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered ... O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
THIS ONE FOLLOWING BELOW, shows that Jesus did tell Gentiles, that they would be among God's Children.
John 4: 1-26 - "...He left Judaea and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. ...Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink....Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. ...Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. ...Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh (the Messiah), which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I THAT SPEAK TO THEE, AM HE.
NOW SCRIPTURES, recognizing non-Jewish, Gentile nations in the Old Testament - - -
Isaiah 49:6 "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
Malachi 1:11 "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."
WHY IS EXCESSIVE TOUTING of the heathenistic-ness of some Gentiles, a dangerous position in regard to its relationship to salvation in Jesus Christ? Because when taken too far, it can cause non-Jewish people seeking relationship with God, to believe they are just barely acceptable to God under His grace toward them, regarding eternal relationship with Him through His precious son, who is messiah to the WHOLE WORLD.
DOES GOD HATE and detest any creatures (people) who are made in His own image and likeness (1 John 3:15)? When you look at a consensus of New Testament scriptures especially, they all say that God Loves THE WHOLE WORLD (John 3:16). Over and over again in the Holy Bible - New Testament, this is clearly stated. Yes, salvation began with the Jews because they brought us all things godly, including Jesus Christ - King of the Jews! We Love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem but we also know that within the salvation of Jesus Christ, we are ONE BODY OF BELIEVERS (Christians), whether Jew or Gentile - Galatians 3:28-29.
1st Free Vid Link: https://youtu.be/WwIiOuCpoPM - (Title: "God Loves Jews but BARELY ACCEPTS GENTILES?")
2nd Free Vid Link: https://youtu.be/gpujtp0xcIQ - (Title: "ADULTRY ENTICEMENTS Society Has Gone TOO FAR")
3rd Free vid Link: https://youtu.be/1h9FSFqEKfI - (Title: "The ANI-CHRIST Will Soon Appear in these END TIMES")
I am a graduate of Liberty University (1996) for completion of theological studies (33 college credits), and I completed "Bible Survey" with Assemblies of God - Berean College. I consider myself a "Bapticostal" (a Baptist also having Pentecostal beliefs). Bible studies are one of my most-covered book subjects. I am, however, careful to only address those subjects I believe God has given me correct revelation on. I was a Christian Youth Minister, beginning in 1983 for approximately 18 years. During, between and after youth ministries I served in other church capacities as well, including interim pastoring and retirement home ministry. MOST IMPOTANTLY, I am a redeemed man, who has received salvation by acceptance of Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and what he did for me in shedding his blood and dying for me on the cross, and in his resurrection from the dead, giving me the promise of eternal life, purely by grace; not due to anything I have done, other than to accept it freely.