Ye WERE Gentiles (Part 2)

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh....But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." — Ephesians 2:11-13

The word “barbarian” comes from the Greek word “barbaroi.” The ancient Greeks, hearing the language of their foreign neighbors on the battlefield, thought they heard this constant chattering bar, bar bar! Thus anyone who was not Greek = barbaroi.

Likewise today if you play a Swedish person a clip of the Swedish Chef, they will say that he actually sounds Norwegian.

(Not relevant but always hilarious...)

Human beings are tribal by nature and will always assume the innate superiority of their nation and culture over others. Because this is a universal phenomenon it must be a part of fallen human nature, and the only remedy for humanity’s fallen nature is the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

So, when the Bible classifies someone as a Greek, a Gentile, or a heathen it is important to understand how Scripture uses these terms and not look to external cues.

Scripture tells us that God “hath made of one blood all nations of men,[1]” and has redeemed His elect “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation[2].” That means exactly what it says. The elect are and will continue to be taken from every nation, society, and culture from every corner of the earth over the course of redemptive history. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith[3].

The Israel of God[4] is not confined to any particular nation-state on earth. It is foolish to say that America is a Christian nation or Israel is the chosen nation of God. The Israel of God has no earthly borders. The God of the whole earth shall He be called.[5]

Paul wrote to the Hebrews (yes I’m going to state my opinion) that if Abraham, Sarah, and the patriarchs had been nationalistic they would not have been able to come out of the world, be separate, and receive the kingdom promised to them by God.

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city[6].”

Christians must maintain a level of separation from the world with its ungodly lusts, practices, and temptations. As I stated earlier, heathen religion is characterized by devil-worship. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.[7]

But the Bible everywhere encourages us to be part of the world to glorify our Savior. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.[8]

A "Gentile," heathen, Greek, or "goyim" is not to looked down upon with the contempt of the Pharisees. An unregenerate person is not unregenerate because they are genetically inferior or less intelligent than a believer. Apart from Christ, we are as hopeless and helpless as anyone else before a Holy God. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature children of wrath, even as others.[9]

No man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.[10]

Therefore, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.[11]

Sola Deo Gloria.

Scriptures: [1] Actis 17:26 [2] Rev 5:9 [3] Rom 3:29-30 [4] Gal 6:16 [5] Is 54:5 [6] Heb 11:16 [7] 1st Cor 10:21 [8] Mat 5:16 [9] Eph 2:3 [10] 1ST Cor 12:3 [11] 2nd Cor 10:17

Where Have all the Good Men Gone?

“Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.”

— Psalm 128:6

“Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me forever.”

— Jeremiah 35:19

Both in America’s churches and society at large, there appears to be a shortage of men. Male workforce participation collapsed in 2020 from 69% down to 66% (if you believe government figures), and has yet to recover. If that seems troubling, just consider that in 1950, the male labor force participation rate was 86%.

Marriage rates have also been on the downswing in the United States, with almost 10 marriages per 1,000 of population in 1990 to only 6 out of 1,000 in 2021:

Anecdotally I hear that the average age of an American pastor is over 55, with many pastors in Reformed circles due to retire in the next decade or so with few qualified candidates ready to fill these pulpits.

Perhaps supply and demand will take care of this issue, considering that the number of weekly church attenders has been declining as well.

If faithful male leadership and family continuation is a blessing from God, as these passages of scripture indicate, then surely a shortage of men indicates the opposite – that God is cursing a nation for disobedience. One chapter later in Jeremiah God says to the apostate king of Judah who had just flouted the warnings of the prophet, Therefore thus saith the LORD of Johoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to reign upon the throne of David[1].”

Jesus said The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest[2].

The feminist social experiment has failed. Without men going into the trades, into STEM fields, into the arts, and into marriages, society will flounder and collapse like a body without a head. The church will face greater and greater temptation to appoint female pastors “because men aren’t stepping up.”

God has promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church[3]. Whatever judgements fall on the nations for forgetting God, there will always be a remnant[4] preserved. We must trust the sufficiency of Scripture to guide us in all areas of life. As the world around us changes, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [5]

I'll conclude with some ever-relevant preaching from Voddie Baucham:

Scriptures: [1] Jer 36:30 [2] Luke 10:2 [3] Mat 16:18 [4] Is 1:9 [5] Heb 13:8

He Will Save Us

“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king;

he will save us.”

— Isaiah 33:22

While I’m no longer a Futurist, I do believe God works in certain patterns that we see in Scripture that will also play out in our own lives. And ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.[1]

An “October Surprise” has come upon us and the media is in an uproar. Yet I myself was not surprised. I am sad for those who have lost their lives or loved ones or who have been taken hostage, but I am not going to allow my emotions to be manipulated by the media.

At the exact moment when so many things that used to trouble me are coming to pass, and things that would have broken me before my conversion are weighing on my shoulders, I find myself able to sing along with David, Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety[2].

The more disturbing life gets, the more me we must put our trust in the Most High God, and find comfort in the scriptures. These are perilous times, but Jesus has already paid the ultimate price for His people. He has not brought generation after generation of believers this far into redemptive history only to fumble the bag now, when our need is so great.

He will save us.

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” — Luke 12:32

Scriptures: [1] Mat 24:6 [2] Ps 4:7-8