Tag Archives: Heathen

A Gentile Christian Is an Oxymoron

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For a Christian to claim to be a Gentile is like claiming to be a pagan or a heathen as Paul defines the term in Ephesians chapter two.

Ephesians 2:11, Gentiles. Paul says in a number of places that those who come to Yeshua are no longer Gentiles but are the children or seed (literally “sperm,” which is the meaning of the Greek word) of Abraham (Eph 2:11–19; Rom 4:16; 9:8–11; Gal 3:7,9,14,28–29). The word Gentiles as used in the Scriptures (both in the Hebrew and the Greek languages) simply means “ethnic groups or nations.” There are many places in the Scriptures where Jews and Israelites are referred to as “Gentiles.” There is no class of people called Gentiles in the spiritual body of Yeshua. Scripture uses the following terms for the redeemed of YHVH: the saints, the called out ones (or church), the body of Yeshua (1 Cor 10:16; 12:27; Eph 4:12) the one new man (Eph 2:15), sons of Elohim (Rom 8:14, 19; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2), children of Elohim (Rom 8:16, 21; Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:10), or Abraham’s offspring (Gal 3:29), the bride (Rev 18:23; 21:2, 9; 22:17) for example. 

Any attempt by anyone to keep the Jew—Gentile division alive within the body of Yeshua is in effect keeping up the middle wall of partition that the Apostle Paul gave his ministry life and eventually his physical life to tearing down (see Eph 2:11–19). It is also going against the clear teaching of the Scriptures, which say that within the spiritual body of Yeshua, there is no longer Jew or Gentile/Greek (Rom 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11). 

The Scriptures reveal that there are only two classifications of people: Israelites and non-Israelites or Gentiles. The former has eternal life because of their relationship with the Elohim of Israel through the Messiah of Israel. The latter group, unless they repent of their sin (i.e. lawlessness or Torahlessness, see 1 John 3:4), will burn in the lake of fire because their names weren’t written in the book of life (Rev 20:11–15). 

Whenever Paul uses the term Gentiles, he is either referring to ethnicity, and not using the term as a spiritual designation, or he is using the term Gentile to mean “worldly.” In the latter case, it is a moniker referring to those who are carnal in that they act like gentiles (heathens) who are “without God and without hope” (Eph 2:12). 

Throughout the Epistle to the Ephesians (and elsewhere) Paul, when speaking to the believers in that congregation, uses terms like saints, we, us, sons, the church, his body, one new man, one body, fellow citizens, members of the household of Elohim, the whole building, a holy temple, body of Messiah, a perfect man, the whole body, children of light, her, she, and members of his [Yeshua’s] body. In Ephesians, Paul uses the term Gentiles only five times (Eph 23:11; 3:1, 6, 8; 4:17), and this not as the ultimate spiritual designation for redeemed believers who had come from a non-Jewish background. Rather, Paul uses the term Gentiles as he was either referring to their past spiritual history (Eph 2:11; 4:17), to his mission to evangelize non-Jewish people (Eph 3:1, 8), or in stating that Gentiles should take their place as fellow spiritual heirs along with the Jews within the spiritual body of Yeshua (Eph 3:6).

The term Gentile is not a spiritual designation for a redeemed believer, for they have been called out of the Gentile world and have become a member of a special group the Testimony of Yeshuas labels as “the called out ones” or “church” (Gr. ecclesia). Scripture also calls called out ones or redeemed believers saints meaning “set-apart” (Gr. hagios) from the Gentile world that is without Elohim and without hope. Scripture teaches that those who are redeemed or who are “in Messiah” are no longer Gentiles, for they have been grafted into and become part of the nation of Israel (Rom 11:13–24 and Eph 2:11–19). They have become the one new man about which Paul speaks in Ephesians 2:15.

Now that we know that we are really part of a people group called “Redeemed Israel” what does one do with this information? That is up to you. Pray and ask your Father in heaven to help you to live out your new identity as an Israelite. 

Many people upon finding out that Scripture actually defines them as Israelites (through the blood of Yeshua, Eph 2:11–16) and not Gentiles, begin to sense a need to begin acting more like Israelites in their lifestyle and beliefs. They become interested in the biblical feasts and Sabbaths of Israel and their life takes on a more Hebraic or Jewish flavor as they see themselves more in the light of the Book of Acts believers. This is a path that you will need to begin to explore. As you go down this journey, please keep in mind the words of Yeshua in Matthew 5:17–19; John 15:15 and the words of the apostles in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 John 2:3–6 along with Romans 7:12,14 and 3:31.

We must also keep in mind that there are only twelve gates through which one can enter the New Jerusalem, and these gates are named after the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev 21:12). There is no Gentile gate! The only way that one will be able to enter the New Jerusalem will be through spiritually identifying with the tribes of Israel. So which tribe are you?

Finally, YHVH, the God of the Bible, never made any covenants with non-Israelite nations—only with the nation of Israel. To be in covenantal relationship with YHVH, one has to accept the Jewish Messiah, and be grafted into the Israelite olive tree through the Messiah and become an Israelite—PERIOD! For example, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews clearly states that the New Covenant is made with the two houses of Israel—not the Gentile nations (see Heb 8:8 and Jer 31:31,33). This may come as a shock to some people reading this, but this is the truth of Scripture.

 

Dealing With the Heathens Around Us

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Numbers 33:52,You shall drive out. Obviously, it’s impossible for the saints of the Most High to walk out this command today, since they have neither a country nor the legal authority to deal with the wicked in this manner. However, the righteous aren’t left without options on how to deal in a righteous manner with the unrighteous wicked around them. In the Testimony of Yeshua we are given instructions in this regard (Matt 10:16, 23; 18:15–17; John 16:2; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:9–11; 2 Cor 6:14–17; Tit 3:10; 2 Thess 3:6; 2 Tim 3:5; Rev 18:4).

Numbers 33:55, If you do not drive out. In his instructions to his children, YHVH is serious: he doesn’t want his saints to countenance the ungodly heathens that were around them in any way. One has only to read in the pages of the Scriptures the long and sad history of Israel’s numerous involvements with the societies around them resulting in their fall into apostasy again and again. The reason for this tendency toward spiritual declension is simple. The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 15:33. What does YHVH require his people to do in the face of evil? (See Ps 94:16.) The problem is that when an unsuspecting saint begins to toy with sin and sinners, slowly and imperceptibly the slide down the proverbial spiritual slippery slope begins. This is what happened to Lot when he left Abraham and moved toward Sodom (review Gen 13:10–12 cp. 19:1–26). Next, we see that Lot is married with children, has a home in Sodom and is a leader there. Even though the Scriptures consider Lot to be a righteous man, it was nevertheless difficult for him to leave that wicked city. Though Lot’s wife left Sodom physically, she couldn’t leave it emotionally. (Remember Yeshua’s warning to us in Luke 17:32 as pertaining to the last days. Let us also not forget Yeshua’s warning to the church of Laodicea in (see Rev 3:14–22).

 

If It Looks Like a Duck… It Must Be Xmas!

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Jeremiah 10:1, Do not learn the way of the nations. This passage is familiar to a few people, but unfamiliar to the majority. After YHVH’s admonition to his people to not follow the idolatrous customs of the heathen nations, Jeremiah describes one of their “futile” or “vain” (literally, empty or meaningless) customs—one with which we are all familiar! What follows is a perfect description of a Christmas tree minus the star on top, twinkle lights and a few other garish ornamentations. Some ardent devotes of Christmas aver that Jeremiah’s tree is not a Christmas tree, since this passage was penned long before the birth of Christ. This is true. However, much later (in about the fifth century AD) the church simply added “Christ” to a pagan custom that long pre-existed the birth of the Messiah. Therefore, as the expression goes: If it looks, acts and sounds like a duck, it must be one!

But what is the greater message of this passage in the larger context of the surrounding scripture verses? This is often overlooked. Understanding context is perhaps the greatest key to understanding the truths of the Bible!

Before and after Jeremiah’s description of the modern Christmas tree, are numerous lamentations about YHVH’s people abandoning his Torah-laws for heathen and carnal practices (e.g., 8:9; 9:13–14). They have backslid spiritually (e.g., 8:5–6) by turning to the idolatrous practices of the surrounding pagan nations (e.g., 8:19; 10:8–9, 14–15). Even their shepherds (spiritual leaders such as pastors have become brutish or dull-hearted in this regard and have turned away from YHVH (e.g. 10:21).

In the midst of Jeremiah’s woeful lament over Israel’s spiritual declension are warnings from the Almighty about the judgments that will come upon Israel if it fails to repent and turn from its heathen ways (e.g. 8:13, 15–19; 9:7–12, 15–22, 25–26; 10:10–11; 17–25).

Perhaps YHVH’s greatest accusation against his people comes in the last verse of chapter 9, just before the description of the Christmas tree. YHVH accuses the people of Israel of being “uncircumcised in heart.” This is a biblical expression that means that a person’s heart is hardened or calloused to the truth of YHVH as revealed in his Word. Such a person is more inclined to follow the ways of the world, the flesh and the devil than to love YHVH Elohim by obeying his commandments (see John 14:15) whether it’s convenient, expedient or popular or not (note what Yeshua says in John 12:43).

We’ve all heard the excuses… “I can’t give up Christmas because…. Our family… My mother-in-law… My kids… What will people think if…” You fill in the blanks. More Importantly, what does YHVH Elohim say about this? Well, he tells us quite clearly and unmistakably in Jeremiah 10 and the surrounding chapters!