OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.3)
The huge gap between Jews and Gentiles
During the Old Testament and the Gospels, there was a HUGE gap (or difference) between the Jews and the Gentiles. The reason for this gap was not because the Jews were discriminatory but because it was God's command and part of His plan. God had a purpose for Israel and this we see very clearly if we look into the Bible from a 'big picture' or 'cover to cover' viewpoint.
Remember that the bible is God's plan or blueprint for the redemption of all of humanity and that there is a very specific and progressive order to the Bible which is clearly divided up into sets of periods, each with a unique purpose and design. We cannot mix content and expect that it will make sense. It is crucial to study the Word based on these divisions and to keep them separated in content and instruction.
Separated for a purpose
Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people [nations]; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
The above verse is God's words spoken over Israel when they were encamped around Mt. Sinai after the Egypt exodus. God's purpose was to separate this nation so that they could be His vehicle to take His word and blessings out to the nations. Without going into detail, remember that humanity (during the age of antiquity, Adam to Abraham) forgot about God due to the ravages of sin (Rom.1:18-25). It was necessary for God to change the way He dealt with people and this (to put it simply) was the beginning of a new dispensation. God took one man, Abraham, out of humanity, and through him, started the nation of Israel. Because of the covenant God made with Abraham, and the blessings bestowed upon this people group, because of the faith of Abraham, Israel was always going to be special to God and have a purpose in His plan to redeem the world.
Let's have a look at another scripture (one of MANY!) that qualifies this,
Leviticus 20:23-26 And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them. 24 But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples [nations]. 25 You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples [nations], that you should be Mine.
Let's continue to investigate the HUGE gap between Israel and the [Gentile] nations.
Another interesting and quite blatant separation is found in the fact that Jews called the Gentiles, dogs. Dogs of this time were a figure of impurity, baseness, and cruelty. It wasn't uncommon for Jews to refer to Gentiles as dogs because they saw them as unclean, godless, and vile. These adjectives used to describe dogs naturally relayed into their language and into describing the Gentile nations who were without God and without the law. We see an example of this on the following psalm by David,
Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
In this above verse, dogs is not in reference to the animal but to the Gentiles, the Roman soldiers, and other men, who resemble dogs; harsh, snarling, fierce, ferocious, who surrounded the Lord at his trial, and at his cross.
Here is an example of Jesus using this identifier when referring to a gentile woman seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter,
Matthew 15:25-27 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying,
"Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the
children's bread [Israel's doctrine] and throw it
to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet
even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table."
(Other references Lev.20:24-25, Ps.22:16, Matt.7:6, Rev.22:15)
Another example of the gap between Jews and Gentiles is found when Paul spoke out in defense to a crowd in Jerusalem. Its interesting to note that one very specific word threw them into a frenzy where they ripped their clothes and tried to kill him. What was this one word? Take a guess.
Acts 22:21-23 Then He [the Lord] said to me [Paul], 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' 22 And they [the Jews] listened to him until this word [Gentiles], and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!" 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,...
Did you see that! Just one word, "Gentiles". These Jews were so extremely biased to other nations and it was because they were under the law that they were so segregated from them.
The last example of scripture I want to use again shows the gap between the Jews and other nations. The account is where God shows Peter a vision of a sheet from heaven filled with animals, which Peter could eat from. Through this vision God informs Peter not to observe the gap between the Jews and the Gentiles, and for this one occasion, to go and minister to a Roman centurion and deliver the Kingdom gospel. The interesting thing about this verse is that it is in Acts 10, which occurs in 39AD, 9-years after Jesus had already ascended into heaven. Even at this late period in the New Testament, it illustrates Peter (a Jew) still observing the law and distinguishing between Jews and Gentiles,
Acts 10:27-28 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean [remember 'dogs' :) ].
When Peter returned to Jerusalem after this account, he was not commended by the others of the Jewish assembly for taking the gospel to the Gentiles. There were no pats on the back for his bravery or compassion. No, Peter was actually interrogated and treated harshly for it! It cost Peter having to explain that God sent him there supernaturally,
Acts 11:3 "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
As we can see, nothing had changed regarding the law and the customs of the Jews. Even 9-years after Jesus ascension, Jews were still distinct from Gentiles.
Can I just remind you again that this distinction was not due to the arrogance of the Jews. It was there for a reason. God had promised to make them a holy nation and the separation of the Jews was still a primary purpose under God's law program.
So, think of this; Why is Israel so special and distinct from the other nations in the eyes of God? Well, it all originates from the first covenant promise God made with Abraham,
Deut.7:7-8 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath [covenant] which He swore to your fathers*, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
*(Gen 12:1-4 – I will make you a great nation, ... and I will bless you and make your name great ... And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you...)
So, with all the above said, where were the Gentiles at this time? What did they have? How did they get saved?
The Gentiles were without hope during the Old Testament and Gospels. The Jews had the law, the Temple, and the sacrifice. Gentiles, though under the covenant of Adam (conscience and sacrifice to proclaim faith in future redeemer Gen.3:15,21), lost this faith in God and their sacrifices were skewed (directed to idols and other rituals). To be saved, to come under right standing with God, they'd have to return to that original covenant made in the garden of Eden, or they'd have to proselyte to Jewish faith, adopting the law and the covenants, like Ruth and Rahab and others.
Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ...
What is the contrast then?
Having analyzed this huge gap or difference between the Jews and Gentiles, the contrast we see in Paul's epistles is stark and proves the point that there is a big distinction between the Prophecy period under law versus the Body of Christ period under grace. Paul writes in his epistles the following,
Ephesians 2:13 ... But now in Christ Jesus you [Gentiles] who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 ..., so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
This is Part 3 of the study called God's Word is a Progressive Plan. We will continue with more evidence in Part 4 to illustrate the divisions in the Bible. The reason for doing this is not to prove that there are divisions of time and people groups in the bible. This is plain to see and identify. The reason for this study is to inform you that if you do not recognize these divisions and if you don't study the Word with an understanding of these divisions, you will get the context of scripture wrong, you will mix things up and you will skew scripture and miss its true message or intent. There is GREAT blessing in studying the Word rightly divided.
Grace and peace to you.
See the video of this lesson part here.
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