In Ps. 2:1-3 we might lawfully read, “Why do the Gentiles rage, and the
people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and
the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His
anointed [that is, against Christ, for Christ means ‘anointed’], saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
How often we see this fulfilled in the cases of individuals, who, with a
triumphant air, exclaim: “Show me a place where the Gentiles are
commanded to keep the ten commandments!” meaning that they are Gentiles,
and thinking thus to cast away from themselves the laws of God. It is no
honorable class in which they place themselves. It is true that the
Gentiles are not commanded to keep the commandments, as Gentiles, for
that would be impossible; as soon as they accept Christ, and the law of
the Spirit of life in Him, they cease to be Gentiles. How solicitous God
is to save people from their Gentile state, is shown by His sending the
apostle Paul (to say nothing of Christ) to bring them to Himself.
[Sidenote: A Prophet to the Gentiles.]
In this connection it is worth while to note that God was as anxious for
the conversion of the Gentiles three thousand years ago as He is to-day.
The Gospel was preached to them before the first advent of Christ, as
well as it was afterwards. Paul was not the first one who preached to
the Gentiles after Christ, although he was sent specially to them. He
was known as the apostle to the Gentiles, yet everywhere he went he
preached to the Jews first, and as long as they would hear him. So it
was before Christ. By many agencies God made Himself known among all
nations, yet Jeremiah was specially chosen as the prophet to the
Gentiles, or heathen. In Jer. 1:5, “Before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations,”
the Hebrew word from which the word “nations” is translated is the very
same that is regularly translated “heathen.” “Why do the heathen rage?”
Ps. 2:1. “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war,” etc.
“Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen.” Joel 3:9-11. The words
“heathen” and “Gentile” in these texts are the same as the word
“nations,” in Jer. 1:5. This can be seen by comparing the old with the
Revised Version. So the Lord said to Jeremiah, “I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee, a prophet unto the Gentiles.” Let no one say that God
ever at any time confined His truth to any one people, whether Jew or
Gentile. “There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.” Rom. 10:12.
[Sidenote: The New Convert Preaching.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account