Yahveh, the Holy One of Israel, sent His Son as the Messiah to the Jews first, to bring forth salvation for the praise, honor, and glory of His holy name. Through this initial remnant of redeemed Jews, salvation mercifully spread to multitudes of Gentiles (non Jewish people) worldwide. The great Apostle Paul (originally named Saul) proclaimed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel [Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven], for it is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). Almighty God’s divine order of salvation “to the Jew first” requires and releases the fullest measure of truth built on the foundation of the pure biblical holy “Hebrew root” (Romans 11:17). Understanding Yahshua (Jesus) in His true identity, as the Jewish Messiah, brings the fullest “light of revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). This bright light is essential to keep us on the “narrow path” following Yahshua (Jesus) who is “the way, truth, and life” (Matthew 7:13-14, John 14:6).
“It was through the God of Israel’s divine design, by the power of His Holy Spirit, that the message of “the kingdom of heaven” was spread to the foreign nations through His redeemed “chosen people the Jews””
Through the sacrificial cleansing blood of our Savior, and the power of His indwelling “Holy Spirit of truth”, a “new creation” of individual “born again” Jewish and Gentile faithful believers would become united as “one new man” (John 16:13, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Ephesians 2:14-16). This supernatural spiritual “new creation”, is also called “the body of Messiah”. Yahshua (Jesus) is “the head” and ruler over His spiritual body (Colossians 1:18). Each redeemed member is eternally vital for the will of our holy God and Savior to be accomplished “here on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). To reemphasize, it was through the God of Israel’s divine design, by the power of His Holy Spirit, that the message of “the kingdom of heaven” was spread to the foreign nations through His redeemed “chosen people the Jews” (Isaiah 41:8). The Messiah instructed His Jewish disciples saying, "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations [Gentiles] …” (Matthew 24:14). This was fulfilling the prophecy in Zachariah, “Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord Yahveh. “And many nations [Gentiles] will join themselves to Yahveh the Lord in that day and will become My people” (Zechariah 2:10-11).
“When Yahshua (Jesus) sacrificed His holy blood on the tree of Calvary, He broke down the wall of separation between His chosen people the Jews and the Gentiles who had been worshippers of foreign gods”
Apostle Paul declares to his Gentile brethren in the faith, ‘"For so the Master Yahshua has commanded us, ’I HAVE PLACED YOU [the redeemed Jews] AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH’" (Acts 13:47). For this I [Paul] was appointed a preacher and an apostle … as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” He continued stating, “Yahshua (Jesus) stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear …” (1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 4:17). The God of Israel had proclaimed in the Old Testament of a future time when the Gentiles, through faith in the Jewish Messiah, would be included in His plan of eternal salvation (see Isaiah 49:6). This prophetic mystery was fulfilled when Yahshua (Jesus) sacrificed His holy blood on the “tree of Calvary”, “breaking down the wall of separation” between His “chosen people” the Jews and the Gentiles who had been worshippers of foreign gods (Luke 23:33, Ephesians 2:14, Deuteronomy 7:6-8). The Most High God was proclaiming His mercy and grace to make a way for the Gentiles, “who were far away” from His covenant promises and eternal blessings (Ephesians 2:13). Apostle Paul, in his ministry to the Gentiles, urged them to remember* that previously they were excluded as spiritual outcasts. But now, through faith in the cleansing blood of Messiah, they were welcomed and included in the household of the righteous redeemed Jewish remnant.
“The highest and purest praise should continually resound from the lips of all humble and grateful redeemed Gentiles as they remember their origins as foreigners excluded, but now through His mercy and grace, included in the household of God!””
Paul’s exhortation and admonition to the Gentiles is as important at the end of the age as it was at the beginning. These Scriptural words are vital mandates to take to heart, “Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, … remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah [Christ], excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yahshua [Christ Jesus] you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Messiah … So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens together with the [Jewish] saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the [Jewish] apostles and [Jewish] prophets, Messiah Yahshua Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you [the redeemed Gentiles] also are being built together [with redeemed Israel] into a dwelling of Yahveh God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:11-13,20-22). The highest and purest praise should continually resound from the lips of all humble and grateful redeemed Gentiles as they remember their origins as foreigners excluded, but now through His mercy and grace, included in the household of God!
Apostle Paul was aware of the weakness of human nature to be overcome with pride and self righteousness. With this concern and stewardship for the Gentiles coming to faith, Paul continues to stress this issue with similar words to impress upon their hearts and minds what Yahshua’s death accomplished for the Gentiles to be one with Israel. He emphasized this mystery, "which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, to be specific that the Gentiles are fellow heirs [together with] Israel and fellow members of the body and fellow partakers [with redeemed Israel] of the promise in Messiah Yahshua (Jesus) through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:5-6).
“Remember the Heavenly Father’s infinite lovingkindness “to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles”, to send His Son, “to destroy the works of Satan” over our lives”
Let us remember the Scripture says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Both Jew and Gentile have all been born into an inherited sin nature, captive to Satan, whom Yahshua (Jesus) called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Because of sin we were destined to be eternally separated from our holy Creator and God, with the consequences of sin leading us to Hell. Remember the Heavenly Father’s infinite lovingkindness “to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles”, to send His Son, “to destroy the works of Satan” over our lives (Romans 1:16, 1 John 3:8). Yahshua (Jesus), the Son of Yahveh God, the Jewish Messiah, was sent to earth to be born and to die in order to save our souls through the outpouring of His sacrificial blood, cleansing our repentant hearts from all confessed sin and unrighteousness. After the Savior’s resurrection, He sent His indwelling “Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth” that we would be a holy people serving and worshipping our Heavenly Father “in spirit and in truth” (John 16:13, 4:24).
“Satan’s venom of poisonous lies of replacement theologies and anti Semitic (anti Jewish) attitudes and doctrines have been successfully injected into the bloodstream of predominantly Gentile Christianity. “Replacement theology” teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plans, prophecies, and blessings””
It is a sad actuality that there is only a small redeemed righteous remnant who live in the Spirit according to uncompromised truth, following their beloved Savior on “the narrow path” (Matthew 7:13-14). They live to seek the will and Word of God and to be obedient to it at any cost. At the end of the age, it is a grievous and shocking reality that increasing multitudes of so called “believers” have fallen prey to rampant deception and have strayed far away from the narrow path, no longer following the true Jewish Messiah. Satan’s venom of poisonous lies of replacement theologies and anti Semitic (anti Jewish) attitudes and doctrines have been successfully injected into the bloodstream of predominantly Gentile Christianity. "Replacement theology" teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plans, prophecies, and blessings. Most professing “believers” are ignorant of much of the Old and New Testament and are equally unaware of Satan’s deceptive agenda throughout the centuries to the end of time. His diabolical strategies have resulted in a hybrid form of Christianity. This mutation has developed into what Apostle Paul warned would occur, “an empty form of religion that denies the power of the Holy Spirit”, who was divinely given to lead us to the knowledge and obedience of Biblical truth (see 2 Timothy 3:5). Our God and Creator, the author of the Scripture, gave warning against any distortion, replacing, or deleting of His Word. He said very adamantly, “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it.” “Or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar” (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6). Yahveh says, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge” of the Word and will of God (Hosea 4:6). Let us remember Messiah’s words, “Satan is the father of lies”, he “comes to deceive the whole world” and “even the elect if possible” (John 8:44, Revelation 12:9, Matthew 24:24).
Remember, the redeemed Gentile remnant together with the redeemed Jewish remnant, is the revealed mystery - the “one new man” (Ephesians 2:14-16). In the true spiritual redeemed body of Yahshua (Jesus), the Gentiles apart from Israel, do not have a leg to stand on. Consequently, many professing believers are falling down and away from the uncompromised truth of the Jewish Messiah and the holy foundational Hebraic root of the true faith. This has contributed to the prophesied “end time apostasy” that we are grievously witnessing, in and through much of global Christianity (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Thankfully, there is still a little time left to “work out our salvation” by “finding out what pleases our God” and Messiah according to His immutable Word (Philippians 2:12, Ephesians 5:10). We are not only at the end of the age but we are also nearing the “end of the age of the Gentiles” and the “set time to favor Zion [the Jews and Israel] is at hand (Luke 21:4, Psalm 102:13).
The revealed mystery, of Jew and Gentile becoming “one new man”, through the blood of the Lamb, should bring great joy to all humble Gentile believers who remember the mercy of the God of Israel to include them in His divine design, that both Jews and Gentiles together are recipients of His incomparable gift of salvation leading to eternal life. May our hearts be stirred to overflowing gratitude with the apostle’s fervent words, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people [Israel].” And again, “Praise Yahveh all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him” (Romans 15:10-11).
It is a noteworthy fact that 240 times in Scripture, our Heavenly Father, the God of Israel says, “REMEMBER!” In His infinite love and mercy, He reminds us, “don’t forget what I have said, what I have done, and what I will do.”
