GENTILE BELIEVERS

[cheercoach]

In the days of Christ, the Gentiles were not under the Mosaic Law, they were not promised a Savior. How then did they come to belief in Christ and from what did they repent? What is the Gentile's relationship to Abraham?

Why do many (gentile) Christians want to put people under the law when it was never given to Gentiles in the first place and was fulfilled by Christ?

[Guest yod]

which law are you talking about?

The one where dancing isn't allowed?

Or the one where instruments can't be used in the church?

Or the one where wine with a meal is forbidden?

or the one where women can't wear make-up?

Gee...there are so many laws in the church.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Cheercoach,

In the days of Christ, the Gentiles were not under the Mosaic Law, they were not promised a Savior.

Well, you are right and wrong. There were many gentiles who wished to participate in Judaism and of course they fell under the law:

Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

Leviticus 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Leviticus 17:10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

Leviticus 17:13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

These are but a few of the verses governing "strangers" which is the Hebrew word "ger" which basically means those not born of the land of Israel. If they wished to participate in the Judaic culture, they had to agree to all the customs and laws. Many gentiles did this for the land was flowing with "milk and honey". It was the "nations" without that did not have the Law of Moses or the prophets. These are spoken of here:

Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another)

Indeed the "gentiles" were promised a "savior":

Isaiah 42:6-7 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Acts 13:47-48 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

How then did they come to belief in Christ and from what did they repent?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:9-15 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

What is the Gentile's relationship to Abraham?

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Romans 4:9-13 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Why do many (gentile) Christians want to put people under the law when it was never given to Gentiles in the first place and was fulfilled by Christ?

Who specifically are you talking about? Did you know that all the Mosaic commandments are repeated in the New Covenant EXCEPT for the observation of the Sabbath?

Please explain yourself a little better.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest yod]

yeah...what he said!

Good to see you around DE...

You disappeared on me for a week or two.

[cheercoach]

I'm not really sure what my question was.

I guess that I was just wondering how the Jews, who had the prophets, were so reluctant to accept Christ. And the church exploded through the gentile population. I know that it was the work of the Holy Spirit. I guess what I'm getting at is that most people (especially) in the U.S. today, have more of God's word than the Jews did and it seems that they are more reluctant to receive Christ than people of nations that have limited knowledge of God's word. So, what is the problem? Is it that we (the church) are not taking the gospel to them in the power of the Holy Spirit?

The law I was referring to isn't the ten commandments. I was referring to the law of man that requires all believers to conform to their idea of what a Christian should look like.

Sorry, I know I don't make much sense.

[Dad Ernie]

I'm not really sure what my question was.

I guess that I was just wondering how the Jews, who had the prophets, were so reluctant to accept Christ. And the church exploded through the gentile population. I know that it was the work of the Holy Spirit. I guess what I'm getting at is that most people (especially) in the U.S. today, have more of God's word than the Jews did and it seems that they are more reluctant to receive Christ than people of nations that have limited knowledge of God's word. So, what is the problem? Is it that we (the church) are not taking the gospel to them in the power of the Holy Spirit?

The law I was referring to isn't the ten commandments. I was referring to the law of man that requires all believers to conform to their idea of what a Christian should look like.

Greetings Cheercoach,

You ask why the Jews did not accept Christ when they had the law and the prophets. I believe your answer is here:

Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.

Jesus had a mission to fulfill all OC scripture referring to Him. AND to send the Gospel to the Gentiles. I see God using the Jews as instruments to ensure that Jesus went to the cross and the Gospel sent to the Gentiles. From Pilate's reaction (I see nothing wrong in this man), Jesus death would not have come about if it weren't for the Jews. In Acts we are told by Peter that it was the Jews that killed Jesus, and later Paul tells us the same thing.

You may want to read Romans 9-11. Think of it as a book within a book, as it regards the Jews and their ultimate salvation.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest yod]

And the answer to your overall question is that after a while, it is human nature to assume that "our" experience is the only one.

What I mean by that is that the jewish people had God in a nice little box and therefore did not recognize Him when He didn't stay there. This also explains your question about American christians....and why denominations start up as a revival but the fire eventually fades as they turn into just another religious denomination

[Adstar]

Yes there have been plenty of box makers down throught the ages. They never like it when God does not co-operate and get into their boxes

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Blood Stained Soul]

And the answer to your overall question is that after a while, it is human nature to assume that "our" experience is the only one.

What I mean by that is that the jewish people had God in a nice little box and therefore did not recognize Him when He didn't stay there. This also explains your question about American christians....and why denominations start up as a revival but the fire eventually fades as they turn into just another religious denomination

I agree....the sad thing is that by having God in the box they are robbnig themselves of true relationship with HIM by allowing HIM to do what HE wants done in their lives...

[angels4u]

When our relationship with God right, and when spend time with God, all the boxes be gone and there will all have an open line........all the covers of the boxes be gone too:)

The Holy Spirit will set you free if we surrender and Let HIM be Lord of our lifes

As long as we hold on to our own we will still be living in boxes