Morning worship service at Grace Bible Church, February 2, 2020, Pastor Gregg Bing continues a series of Bible messages called "Dispensational Distinctions." The book of Ephesians was written to a church that was primarily Gentiles (Eph. 3:1). This morning, we want to answer 2 questions about the Gentiles: 1) Who are the Gentiles? and 2) What was their spiritual condition while God was dealing with Israel?
The Hebrew and Greek words that are translated "Gentiles" means the nations. While Israel was the nation that God separated from all others to be a holy nation to carry out His purpose, the term Gentiles was used of all other nations. They are sometimes referred to as "heathen" because of their departure from God to worship idols. This is why God called Abraham to father a new nation, Israel (Gen. 12:1-3); a nation that God would separate and use to bring His Son, our Redeemer, into this world (Rom. 9:4-5).
In Ephesians 2:11-12, Paul reminds the Ephesian believers about their spiritual condition in time past, as Gentiles. They were:
1) Called Uncircumcision - by those who were of the Circumcision. God gave Abraham the sign of circumcision in his flesh as a constant reminder that he and his descendants were cut off from the other nations, to keep them separate from idolatry. Anyone not circumcised was cut off from God's people, and thus from God. The Gentiles became known as the Uncircumcision, a people cut off from God.
2) Without Christ - the promise of a Messiah ("Anointed One", the Christ) to come and bring redemption was made to Israel, not to the Gentiles.
3) Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel - The word "commonwealth" speaks of citizenship, with its rights and privileges. Gentiles were aliens, estranged, shut off from any part with the nation of Israel. The Law God gave to Israel became a wall of separation between Israel and the Gentiles (Eph. 2:14-15). It forbid them from having any part in the Gentiles way of life (Deut. 7:1-6).
4) Strangers from the covenants of promise - The covenants (agreements) between God and men in Scripture, with the exception of the Noahic covenant, were all made with Israel, not the Gentiles (Abraham, Mosaic, Davidic, even the New -- Jer. 31;31-34). These covenants contained promises God gave to Israel: a nation, a land, blessing, a kingdom; promises that would be fulfilled by the cross of Christ. The Gentiles, being cut off from the Israel, had no part in these covenants or their promises.
5) Having no hope - The word "hope" speaks of a confident expectation for the future based on the promises of God. The Gentile nations had no expectation to hold onto, not having any share in the promises God made to Israel.
6) Without God in the world - The Gentiles did not know God, and they did not worship Him as God. They were part of the unsaved world, and they walked according to the course of this world, according to the one who is the ruler of this world, Satan, and according to the wisdom of this world.
What about the promise God gave to Abram that "in you all families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3)? This did apply to the Gentiles, but not till after Christ came and died to provide redemption for all men. Christ's work of redemption was prophesied for the Gentiles as well as Israel (Isa. 49:3-6). But, this salvation would not be opened up to the Gentiles until the salvation of Cornelius (Acts 10-11).
The only way for an uncircumcised Gentile to be saved while Israel was under the law was as a proselyte, one who converted to or adopted the Jews' religion. For males, this meant being circumcised. Thus, Gentile salvation, as prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures, was only possible "with" the people of Israel (Deut. 32:43).
Do we find anything about the Church in the Old Testament Scriptures? Ephesians 3:1-9 answers this question with a resounding, "NO!" The truth concerning the Church (vs. 6) and the present dispensation of grace (vs. 2) was a mystery, kept hidden or secret until God chose to make it known. It was not made known to men of other ages (vs. 5), but was first made known to the Apostle Paul by revelation (vs. 3-4). Some assert that the Church was mentioned in the Old Testament, but it was not understood; that it was "hidden in Scripture." But Paul says this truth was "unsearchable," meaning it cannot be tracked out; it left no footprints (vs. 8). It was "hidden in God;" never before revealed until God gave it to Paul (vs. 9).
The Old Testament Scriptures were written about and to Israel, not the Church, the Body of Christ. While we should read and study all Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17), it is not all written to or about us. This is why it is important to make this critical distinction between Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church (2 Tim. 2:15).
Next Week:
Did anything change after Christ came into the world? How does moving from the Old Testament to the New Testament affect our view of Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church?
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