A couple of Sundays ago, we noted that the apostles in the first century used the Old Testament Scriptures to show that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah. This message was presented to Jewish audiences to give proof that the Messiah had come. Another kind of message was presented to Gentiles audiences. They would not need the same message as the Jews who had the Law of God. Gentiles would need to know that there is one God who created the world and man. He is the God that man should worship. The Gentiles, like the Jews, would need to be reproved and convicted of sin in their lives. But, in addition, the Gentiles would need to know that they were included in God’s plan of redemption.

Much of the New Testament gives the proof that the Gentiles are included in God’s plan of mercy and salvation. They, as well as we, need to hear that proof and be convinced that the Gospel is for us as well as for the Jews.

". . . that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel." (Eph. 3:6.)

There were many things against the idea that Gentiles could be included.

1. The Gentiles did not have the Law of Moses (i.e., did not have a Bible).
2. They were not related to Abraham. God is often described in the Bible as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
3. The Gentiles were uncircumcised and thus described as unclean before God.
4. They lived sinfully. Paul admonished the Gentiles to "walk not as other Gentiles, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over into lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ." (Eph. 4:17-20.)
5. They worshipped idols. "They worshipped the creation more than the Creator." (Rom. 1:25.)

Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." (Rom. 3:1-2.)

1. The Jews had the Law, a Bible.
2. Jesus was a Jewish Messiah; the apostles were all Jews.
3. A special land was given to the Jews.
4. They were related to Abraham and could show their lineage.
5. God prepared Israel for the Messiah and the Gospel, but not other nations.
6. Even today, the Jews claim a special relationship to God above others.

One of the most powerful proofs that the Gentiles were included in God’s plan is found in the Jewish Scriptures. There it was all along for the Jews to read. They basically ignored the writings of the prophets about the Gentiles, but New Testament writers pointed them out and reminded them of what God had planned for them. Here are a few examples.

Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, which means the father of many nations. "As for me, behold my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Gen. 17:4-5.) This signaled that Abraham would be the head of more than just the Jewish nation, but of all nations who walk by faith. The word, Gentiles, means nations. With the change of Abram’s name, the Gentiles were immediately included.

The prophet, Isaiah, wrote the most about the inclusion of the Gentiles.

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people, and to it shall the Gentiles seek. And his rest shall be glorious." (Isa. 11:9-10.) A descendant of David, Jesus, would come from the root. The tree of David’s rule was cut down and a sprout will come from the root that is left. John the Baptist said to the Jews, "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees." (Matt. 3:10.) They were warned for boasting that they had Abraham as their father. But God is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (3:9.)

Later, Isaiah wrote, "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory. And thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name." (Isa. 62:2.) The New Testament records, "And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." (Acts 11:26.) Why were the disciples not called Christians first in Jerusalem on Pentecost? Because if they had been, the Jewish Christians might have thought that they were better than the Gentiles. The Lord waited until there was a church with both Jews and Gentiles in it before he called them by the new name that he himself gave. I reject the idea that the name, Christian, was a name given in derision and mockery. God gave that worthy name in honor of his Son to both Jews and Gentiles who honored and accepted the Messiah.

Paul argued in Ephesians that God made his plans for man’s redemption before the foundation of the world. Nothing about man’s redemption was an after-thought and done in an emergency. God chose us in His Son before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4, 3:11.) Paul, an apostle to the Gentiles, declared that the mystery of the Gospel was "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of the same promise in Christ by the Gospel." (Eph. 3:6.) Paul preached "among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." (Eph. 3:8.)

The truth is that the Gentiles were never left out of God’s plan. The Gentiles who chose to live immorally and worship idols, God gave them up. (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28.) But so also did he give up the Jews who rejected His way. He gave ten tribes up to Assyrian captivity and the remaining two tribes to Babylonian captivity. God’s plan was always "the just shall live by faith." (Hab. 2:4.)

If God did not plan for man’s redemption (from every nation) in Christ, then He planned only for an earthly kingdom belonging to the Jews, with an earthly king. This is what some of the Jews had hoped for and what pre-millenialists believe will happen when Jesus returns. God is no respecter of persons. He planned for man to be saved in his Son before the world began.

There is ample proof that the Gentiles should be included in God’s plan from the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Here is only a partial list.

1. Jesus nailed the Law to the cross, taking it out of the way. (Col. 2:14.) Jesus removed the partition between Jew and Gentile by removing the Law. (Eph. 2:12-16.)
2. Jesus sent the apostles into all the world to proclaim the Good News of redemption. They started in Jerusalem, Judae, Samaria and then went to the uttermost parts of the world. (Acts 1:8.)
3. Jesus became our High Priest, not after the order of Aaron and the Levites, but after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:1-28.) This whole chapter in Hebrews is devoted to explaining why Jesus is after the order of this priest. Melchizedek lived the same time period as Abraham. In fact, Abraham paid tithes to him after defeating some kings in battle. If Jesus were a priest after the order of Levi, then the old covenant system (with its law and priesthood) would have continued. But who was this priest in Salem? He was "a priest of the most high God." (7:1.) He was a priest for God before Levi was even born. He was not therefore a priest for Israel. He was a priest for God for people who lived before the Jewish nation was even born. God worked with and cared about the other nations (Gentiles).
4. Jesus appointed twelve apostles forming the foundation for the new Israel of God. He did not appoint any from among the leadership of Israel. He wanted a new kingdom and a new covenant with his people which would include people of all nations.
5. Jesus taught Nicodemus that he had to born again, born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:1-5.) This confused Nicodemus, a Jewish leader in the Sandhedrin. If a spiritual birth is how one enters the Kingdom of God, then people of all nations can enter.
6. Jesus often complimented the faith of those outside of Israel. He encouraged such faith because justification rested upon it. And the good news of justification by grace through faith was for all.

What happened on the Day of Pentecost, the first one after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, shows that the Gentiles were to be included in God’s plan. Jesus had already commanded the apostles to carry the Gospel into all the world. If only the Jews were included, that would have been unnecessary.

When Peter preached on Pentecost, Peter included people everywhere. He said, "For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:39.)

What happened on that wonderful occasion also proved that Gentiles were included. The Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles to enable them to carry out their work. This fulfilled the words of the prophet Joel. Peter explained that the apostles were not drunken, as they thought, but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and handmaidens I will pour in the those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy." (Acts 2:17-18.) Note those upon whom God would pour out his Spirit—all flesh (Jews and Gentiles), men and women would receive these spiritual gifts.

God had to convince Peter to receive the Gentiles. Peter received a vision from heaven and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Cornelius and his family. "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts 10:45-46.)

Peter, at the Jerusalem conference, arose and said, ". . . that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:8-9.)

The New Testament writers, especially by the hand of Paul, emphasized the basis upon which the Gentiles and Jews are accepted before God. Here are some of the major points that they made. These statements are made with the understanding that all have sinned.

1. No man is justified by the works of the Law. (Gal. 2:16, Gal. 3:11, Gal. 5:4, Rom. 3:20, 3:28.) But man is justified by faith.
2. Therefore, the Law has been removed. (Rom. 7, Col. 2, Eph. 2.)
3. Circumcision avails nothing in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 5:6, Col. 2:11, Rom. 2:21-29.)
4. We can be related to Abraham in another more significant way than genealogy. "If you are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:28.) We can walk in the faith of Abraham. (Rom. 4:12, Acts 3:25-26.) He is then the father of the circumcision and the uncircumcision.