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

Ye WERE Gentiles (Part 1)

“Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were.” — 1st Corinthians 12:2

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” — Ephesians 2:2

What makes someone a Gentile? Is it an ethnicity? Is it a particular gene expression? If it is true what Paul establishes in Romans 2: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly…But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly[1]…”then we can deduce from these passages that Gentiles likewise are not so much defined by skin color, tribe, or nation so much as by the condition of their souls. Paul writes elsewhere in 1st Corinthians: “…the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God[2].”

What characterizes Gentiles, according to scripture, is Satanism. Satanism boils down to worship of the creature more than the Creator.[3]

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they handed themselves and their progeny over to Satan. You worship the true God, or you worship the god of this world. There is nothing in between.

The god of this world does not mind how you portray him or how you worship him. He does not even mind if you deny him altogether and claim he does not exist. He will allow you to chalk up all of your sin and depravity to the results of evolution dispassionately selecting for survival at all costs.

He does not care about any of this because as long as you think this way, you are not worshipping the true God in the spirit and truth[4] that He requires of us.

Scriptures: [1] Rom 2:28-29 [2] 1st Cor 10:20 [3] Rom 1:25 [4] John 4:24

Rejoice Not When Thine Enemy Falleth

It’s disturbing to hear Christians echo the war cries of politicians and to cheer for “bombing cities into parking lots."

We are a nation led by antichrists. Degeneracy has been codified into law and they have coerced a large segment of our population to submit to pharmaceutical mandates.

At the end of the day, I do not blame the antichrists for what’s come to pass.

I blame the disciples of Christ, who have allowed themselves to become useful idiots against themselves.

As a nation we are incapable of repentance because our bellies are full, we sleep peacefully at night, we blame the opposing political party for our troubles, and there’s a new President just around the corner that will make things great again. And when our guy gets in, we’ll again be sympathetic to the vilest degeneracy so that we are not called mean names.

So, I don’t rejoice when other countries, even my enemies, are smashed to smithereens, because we are deserving of this very same judgement. We are not the “good guys” and we ought to pray for God's justice rather than seek blood.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. -Proverbs 24:17-18

Moreover, there is no holy land. There is no holy Jerusalem except for that heavenly one, and the whole earth is the Lord’s footstool. So, when we are told that a section of land belongs to a certain group of people and we must go to war to defend it because the bible says so, we as students of the Word should know that this is not true. And the moment we realize the lie, we must keep our hands clean of any associated bloodshed.

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” Isaiah 66:1

Moreover, when Christ came to the earth, the partition between Jew and Gentile was removed. There is now no difference between those born in the faith (the natural branches) and those strangers that are called to Christ later in life (the wild olive branches), but all believers are one in Christ Jesus.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Ephesians 2:14

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

So, if you find yourself differentiating between Jew and Gentile in 2023, you’ve missed the point of Christ’s coming. “God’s Chosen People” consist of those who proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. This is not to say that God can’t save those who were once at enmity with him or that he can’t use a group of people to accomplish his purposes, but the truth remains:

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:23

What are we to do with this information? Wait on the Lord. Turn neither to the right hand nor the left. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth. When there are people on all sides calling for bloodshed, we as disciples of Jesus Christ should have none of it.

We must pray that mercy would be shown to thousands, that many would come to repentance, and that God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:3-9

Amen.