Jews and Gentiles together in God's household:
The following scripture talks about how Gentiles
who are "in Christ Jesus" are now made to be
one group with the commonwealth of Israel:
Therefore
remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the
so-called
"Circumcision,"
which is performed in the flesh by human hands--
12remember that you were at that time
separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of
promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. 13But now
in Christ
Jesus you who formerly were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ. 14
For He Himself is our peace, who
made both
groups into one, and broke down the barrier
of the dividing wall, 15by abolishing in
His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of
commandments contained in ordinances, that in
Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus
establishing peace, 16and might
reconcile
them both in one body to God through the cross,
by it having put to death the enmity. 17And
He came and preached peace to you who were far away,
and peace to those who were near; 18for
through Him
we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of
God's household, 20having been
built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner
stone 21in whom the whole building, being
fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the
Lord; 22in whom you also are being built
together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:11-22 (NAS) The following scripture
also talks about how the Gentiles were like wild
olive branches being grafted into a cultivated olive
tree (and the sons of Israel are the branches of the
cultivated olive tree). Note: The names
in parentheses below have been added for ease of
reading.
But
I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then
as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my
ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to
jealousy my fellow countrymen (the sons of Israel)
and save some of them. 15For if their
(the sons of Israel's) rejection be the
reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead? 16And
if the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is
also; and if the root be holy, the branches are too.
17But if some of the branches (the sons
of Israel) were broken off, and you (Gentiles),
being a wild olive,
were grafted
in among them and became partaker with them of the
rich root of the olive tree, 18 do
not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are
arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports
the root, but the root supports you. 19You
will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I
might be grafted in." 20Quite right, they
(certain sons of Israel) were broken off for their
unbelief, but you (Gentiles) stand by your faith. Do
not be conceited, but fear; 21for if God
did not spare the natural branches (the sons of
Israel), neither will He spare you (Gentiles).
22Behold then the kindness and severity of
God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's
kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise
you also will be cut off. 23And they
also, if
they (the sons of Israel) do not continue in their
unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to
graft them in again. 24For if you
(Gentiles) were cut off from what is by nature a
wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature
into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall
these who are the natural branches (the sons of
Israel) be grafted into their own olive tree?
25For I do not want you, brethren, to be
uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your
own estimation, that a partial hardening has
happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles
has come in; 26and thus all Israel will
be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will
come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from
Jacob." 27"And this is My covenant with
them, when I take away their sins." 28From
the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for
your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice
they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;
29for the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable. 30For just as you once were
disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy
because of their disobedience, so these also
now have been disobedient, in order that because of
the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown
mercy. 32For God has shut up all in
disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who
became His counselor? Romans 11:13-34 (NAS)
Salvation is available to Jew (the sons of Israel)
and non-Jew:
For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to
the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
(NAS) For
there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord
is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all
who call upon Him; Romans 10:12 (NAS)
...and have put on the new self who is being renewed
to a true knowledge according to the image of the
One who created him 11a renewal in which
there is no
distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and
freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:10-11 (NAS)
Through being
clothed with Christ, we are all Abraham's offspring:
For
you are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus. 27For
all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. 28There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free man, there is neither male nor female; for you
are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And
if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's
offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:26-29 (NAS)
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