Colossians 4:2-4 ESV
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
This is a six part series on the subject of making the gospel message clear. The first writing covered the subject of “Salvation.” Second was “Obedience of Faith.” Third was “Redemption and Forgiveness.” Fourth was the “Grace of God,” and fifth was “God’s will and purpose.” This last one, number six, is on the subject of Gentile believers now being one with Jewish believers in Christ in one body as fellow heirs of the promises of God to his people Israel. But these writings are devotionals, not doctrinal treatises.
Jew and Gentile One in Christ
“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6 ESV).
Now I know this is a “sticky” topic for a lot of people, but I hope and pray that you will read these Scriptures and that you will prayerfully consider them in light of the fact that we who believe in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile by physical birth, now live under the New Covenant. And so we must look at what the New Covenant teaches regarding who is true biblical and spiritual Israel today in the sight of God.
Ephesians 2:11-16 ESV
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Do you see what this is saying? We who were Gentiles (non-Jews) by physical birth were at one time (before Jesus died for our sins) separated from Christ and alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise. But we didn’t remain alienated from the nation of Israel and we didn’t remain strangers to the covenants of promise related to the nation of Israel. For through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile have been made one people via faith in Jesus Christ. We are now members of the same body and partakers of the same promises.
For when God made his promise to Abraham and to his seed, the seed spoken of was and is Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah of the Jews (Galatians 3:16). So if we belong to Christ, by genuine God-given faith in him, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29). For not all the physical descendants of Abraham are his children, and not all who are descended from Israel are true biblical Israel (Romans 9:4-8).
For it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring (Romans 9:4-8). And who are the children of promise? All who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29). For the Jews who do not believe in Jesus Christ, as unbelievers, are now the same as non-Jews and any other people who don’t believe in Jesus Christ. And those who do not believe in Jesus Christ have no inheritance with those who are the children of God and followers of Christ (Galatians 4:22-31).
For Jesus Christ told the non-believing Jews that they do not know God the Father, but that their father is the devil, and that they do the works of their father (the devil), and that their will is to do their father’s (the devil’s) desires. And so they are not of God (John 8:18-19,38-47). But this is not limited to just unbelieving Jews but to all who prove that they are not true believers in Christ for they have not forsaken their sins to follow Jesus in obedience and to walk in his righteousness (see 1 John 3:4-10).
For, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22
And what about those who did not believe in Jesus Christ who were once Israel? They were cut off from the vine, but they can be grafted back into the vine by faith in Jesus Christ just as we Gentile believers in Christ were grafted into the vine. And if we do not remain in Christ and him in us, and if we go back to living according to the flesh, and not according to the Spirit, we can be cut out of the vine just like they were (see Romans 11:17-25).
[John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 9:4-8; Romans 11:17-25; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-18; Ephesians 3:6; 1 John 2:22]
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg
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