Thursday, April 19, 2012

Ephesians 3:6


Copyright Ó 2012 J. Neely
Ephesians 3:6

6 That the Gentiles [ethnos] should be [einai] fellowheirs, [sugkleronomos] and [kai] of the same body, [sussomos] and [kai] partakers [summetochos] of his [autos] promise [epaggelia] in [en] Christ [Christos] by [dia] the gospel: [euaggelion] KJV-Interlinear

6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, NASB

In the Old Testament, there are many accounts of gentiles that have advanced in their spiritual lives through the grace of God.  The book of Job, Esther, even Abraham was called Abram before his name was changed to Abraham.  Abraham was called the first Hebrew, which means, one who has crossed over.  But prior to being Hebrew, he was not Hebrew and neither were his parents and their parents and so forth before them.

This information was lost to understanding through the ages, even though the scriptures survived intact, to the time of Christ.

But God had to not only make clear this principle, that of the universal application of grace and Christianity to everyone, but He also had to change the custody of the scriptures from the Jews to the Gentile nations for the remainder of the last dispensation prior to the judgment.

From the time after Solomon, the Jewish nation not only split into two nations, but fell away from the fundamental principles of all doctrine.  Over the course of several centuries, they replaced doctrine with regulations.  And not only regulations but volumes of regulations that placed a heavy burden on the normal function of ones day to day life.  This then became known as the religion of Judaism, which was a departure from the scriptures, even though the scriptures were claimed as its basis.

By the time of Christ’s birth, there had been nearly four centuries of no further revelation from God, to man.  And this was due to the downward trend of failed faith and failed application of doctrine, that ultimately resulted in the rejection of the Messiah, and the Cross.

The world was about to undergo huge changes in history and the world needed doctrine.  That meant that a change was needed in who was going to spread the gospel and doctrine.  And so, God revealed His plan, to those writers and teachers of doctrine, during those very first decades following the Cross.

The scriptures are for all people, not just Jewish people.  Salvation is for all people, not just Jewish people.  The spiritual life was for all people, not just Jewish people.  Eternity was intended for all people, not just Jewish people.  Royalty, priesthood, union with Christ, ambassadorship, eternal inheritance and so forth, is for all people, not just Jewish people.

Your gender, your age, your culture, your race, your color, your birth circumstances, your IQ, your abilities, your titles or certifications or lack of them, all of these things and more which are earthly and worldly things are all irrelevant to the spiritual life.

Anyone who believes in Christ, will be saved.  Anyone who studies the scriptures daily, will advance in their spiritual life.  Spiritual maturity and phenomenal eternal blessings are available to anyone who pursues them in accordance with Gods plan.  No one is excluded from the opportunity of a relationship with God.

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