Gentiles, Jews, and Promises

Gentiles Jews and Promises

Someone recently asked, “What is The Father going to do with us as new covenant believers? Are we being simply grafted into the Jewish faith as some say. Then heirs of their OT promises?”

I'll include a few verses here, but after you read this article, please carefully read Romans chapter 11 in your favorite translation. Pay close attention to who Paul says that he is addressing so that you are sure to see how to understand the chapter. (Parenthesis in scripture quotations are my additions for clarity.)

Not only are none of us Gentiles going to be grafted into the Jewish religion, but only those Jews who put their faith in Jesus as Messiah (Christ) will be saved. At the consummation of all things, there will be one group of people saved—those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the grafting God has done. He has grafted the Gentiles into His grand plan of redemption and salvation.

Ephesians 2:14–20 makes this clear in saying, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (the Jews considered Gentiles unclean dogs) by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, (so Jews and Gentiles are both reconciled by the cross) by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near. (Jews—the Hebrew nation) For through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you (Gentiles) are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people (the Hebrews) and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." (NIV)

Ephesians 4:4–6 goes on to say, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (NIV)

Now let’s go to Romans.

Paul is speaking to Gentiles and in Romans 10:12 he says, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him." (NIV)

Then in Romans 11:17–18 we find the primary passage that causes some to question, It reads, "If some of the branches have been broken off, (unbelieving Jews) and you, though a wild olive shoot, (believing Gentiles) have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, (Jesus Christ) do not consider yourself (Gentiles) to be superior to those other branches. (Jews) If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, (Jesus) but the root (Jesus) supports you. (NIV)

It's all about belief on Jesus. Salvation is by grace through faith for everyone whether Jew or Gentile.

As to the Old Testament promises, there are some that had to do with Law keeping. They were provisions of the old covenant expressed in the Law handed down by Moses. Those no longer apply to anyone. Jesus has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:17 & Mark 9:2-8) and He is the One to whom everything in the Old Testament pointed. 2 Corinthians 1:20 points this out in saying, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. (NIV)

Promises about things that will happen to the righteous, promises like the new heart, new spirit, and God's Spirit being placed in people, promises about a Sabbath rest, these all apply to all of mankind whether Jew or Greek, slave or free. In the Spirit, we are told in, Galatians 3:28–29 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)

There is no dividing wall. There are not two ways to get to heaven or any group missing out on blessings. Everyone who has placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved in exactly the same way—by the grace of God through faith in Jesus the Christ (Messiah). (see Ephesians 2:8-9)