One of the great themes running throughout Scripture is God’s plan not merely to save one nation, but ultimately to gather all nations into one covenant family<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story begins with Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God called Abraham and made extraordinary promises to him, including the promise that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d<\/strong> Israel was chosen for a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through Israel would come the Messiah, and through the Messiah the blessing promised to Abraham would eventually reach the entire world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New Testament reveals how this happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It happens through Jesus Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Bible, a Gentile is simply someone who is not ethnically Jewish<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Jewish people descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, while the other nations were generally referred to as the Gentiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For centuries there was a visible distinction between Israel and the nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel possessed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n St Paul describes these extraordinary privileges in Romans 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But those privileges were never meant to terminate in Israel alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were preparing the world for Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long before Moses received the Law at Mount Sinai, God had already promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have made you the father of many nations.\u201d<\/strong> Paul explains something remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abraham’s true family would ultimately not be defined merely by physical descent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abraham believed God before he was circumcised<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul therefore argues that Abraham can be the spiritual father both of believing Jews and believing Gentiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe is the father of all who believe without being circumcised.\u201d<\/strong> This means God’s plan for the Gentiles did not suddenly appear in the New Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was already present in the promise made to Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul takes the argument even further in Galatians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring\u2026 who is Christ.\u201d<\/strong> The promises given to Abraham reach their fulfilment in Jesus Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ is the promised descendant of Abraham through whom the nations are blessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore the crucial question becomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does someone become part of Abraham’s family?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul gives the answer only a few verses later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Galatians 3:26-29 is one of the clearest passages in the entire New Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n He then immediately connects this with baptism:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n And then comes the extraordinary conclusion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is neither Jew nor Greek\u2026 for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Finally:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Galatians 3:26-29<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is enormously important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Gentile does not need to become ethnically Jewish in order to inherit the promise of Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He becomes united to Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And because Christ is the promised Seed of Abraham, everyone united to Christ becomes an heir of the promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The logic is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abraham \u2192 Christ \u2192 those united to Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore Paul can tell Gentile Christians:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are Abraham’s offspring.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When Paul says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is neither Jew nor Greek.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he is not claiming that ethnic differences suddenly disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Jewish Christian remains ethnically Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Greek Christian remains Greek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A man remains a man and a woman remains a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul’s point is that these distinctions do not determine someone’s standing before God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The doorway into God’s covenant family is now the same for everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jew and Gentile alike must come through Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus Himself predicted that people from the Gentile nations would enter the Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After encountering the extraordinary faith of a Roman centurion, Jesus said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.\u201d<\/strong> Think about what Jesus is saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who were not physical descendants of Abraham would nevertheless sit at the covenant banquet with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gentiles were coming into the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Kingdom would spread beyond the geographical boundaries of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After His Resurrection, Jesus makes this worldwide mission explicit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He commands the Apostles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them\u2026\u201d<\/strong> The Greek word translated nations<\/strong> is ethn\u0113<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the same basic word frequently associated with the Gentiles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The covenant mission has now exploded outward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No longer is God’s worship centred upon one earthly nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Apostles are sent throughout the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every nation is invited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acts 10 gives us one of the decisive moments in the early Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cornelius was a Roman centurion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was a Gentile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God sends St Peter to his household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Peter preaches Christ, the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter is astonished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He declares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?\u201d<\/strong> Cornelius and his household are baptized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was revolutionary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gentiles were entering the Church without first becoming Jews<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The issue soon became so important that the Apostles gathered to settle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some Christians were claiming that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acts 15 records the dispute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St Peter reminds the assembly that God had already given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He then declares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.\u201d<\/strong> Notice the direction of Peter’s statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He does not say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gentiles will become Jews and then be saved.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Jew and Gentile are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Apostles therefore reject the demand that Gentile converts must first become Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St Paul gives one of the most beautiful descriptions of this mystery in Ephesians 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking directly to Gentile Christians, he reminds them that they were once:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cstrangers to the covenants of promise.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n They were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cwithout hope and without God in the world.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n But then everything changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\u201d<\/strong> Christ has brought Jew and Gentile together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul says Christ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201chas made us both one.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The hostility separating Jew and Gentile has been broken down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Christ creates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cone new man\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n from the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Ephesians 2:14-15<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not two competing peoples of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One covenant people gathered around one Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul concludes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.\u201d<\/strong> That is the position of the Gentile Christian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once outside the covenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n a citizen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n an heir<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n a member of God’s household<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n a child of Abraham through Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul makes another striking statement in Romans 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA person is not a Jew who is one merely outwardly\u2026 but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit.\u201d<\/strong> Paul is drawing upon something already taught in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God had repeatedly demanded not merely physical circumcision but circumcision of the heart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See:<\/p>\n\n\n\n External membership alone was never enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God desired an interior conversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the New Covenant this reaches its fulfilment through the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul also contrasts earthly Jerusalem with what he calls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cthe Jerusalem above.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Galatians 4:26<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hebrews makes the same point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christians are told:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.\u201d<\/strong> Notice the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Christian has come to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mount Zion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jerusalem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n the city of the living God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But this Jerusalem is heavenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Revelation later describes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cthe holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.\u201d<\/strong> The New Covenant therefore points beyond an earthly city toward the final heavenly Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there is an extremely important warning that must accompany everything above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul does not<\/strong> permit Gentile Christians to become arrogant toward the Jewish people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 11 uses the image of an olive tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some natural branches were broken off because of unbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gentile believers were then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cgrafted in.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Romans 11:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Paul immediately warns the Gentiles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not be arrogant toward the branches.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n And:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not become proud, but fear.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Romans 11:18,20<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the Gentile Christian does not support the root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The root supports him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Christianity does not begin by despising Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christianity exists because God’s promises to Israel reached their fulfilment in Israel’s Messiah:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus is Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mary is Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Apostles are Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first Christians are Jewish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Scriptures of the Old Covenant were entrusted to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gentiles have been brought into a story God began long before them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 11 also prevents Christians from claiming that God simply hates or has permanently abandoned the Jewish people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul writes concerning Israel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n And then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Romans 11:28-29<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul even looks toward a mysterious future work of God concerning Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore Christianity must reject two opposite errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first error is to claim that ethnic ancestry alone guarantees salvation apart from Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second error is to despise the Jewish people as though God’s work through Israel means nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul rejects both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New Testament message is not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jews are replaced by Gentiles.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is something far greater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God forms one people in Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Believing Jews do not stop belonging to God’s people when Gentiles enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather, believing Gentiles are brought into the covenant family that reaches its fulfilment in the Jewish Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul describes this beautifully:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is one body and one Spirit\u2026 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.\u201d<\/strong> The Church is catholic precisely because she is universal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The word catholic<\/em> means according to the whole \u2014 universal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every nation is invited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n African.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every tribe and tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God told Abraham:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Thousands of years later, St John sees the fulfilment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.\u201d<\/strong> Standing before the throne of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is where the biblical story was always going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God began with one man:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abraham.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From Abraham came Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Israel came:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And through Jesus Christ the doors of the covenant were opened to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n the entire world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gentiles who once stood far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are no longer strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are no longer outsiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through baptism and faith in Christ they have become members of God’s household, heirs of the promise and children of Abraham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not because of their blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not because of their nationality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But because they belong to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n How the Nations Became Children of Abraham Through Christ One of the great themes running throughout Scripture is God’s plan not merely to save one nation, but ultimately to gather all nations into one covenant family. The story begins with Abraham. God called Abraham and made extraordinary promises to him, including the promise that: \u201cIn…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,11],"tags":[48,49,46,47],"class_list":["post-235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-articles","category-scripture","tag-abraham","tag-gentiles","tag-jesus-christ","tag-jews"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/the-gentiles-and-the-new-Covenant.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235\/revisions\/237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defendingthetruefaith.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\u2014 Genesis 12:3<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Does \u201cGentile\u201d Mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nAbraham Was Promised a Worldwide Family<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Romans 4:17
See Genesis 17:5<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Romans 4:11<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChrist Is the Promised Seed of Abraham<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Galatians 3:16<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBaptized Into Christ<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\u201cNeither Jew Nor Greek\u201d<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nJesus Had Already Foretold This<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Matthew 8:11<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Great Commission<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Matthew 28:19<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCornelius: The Door Opens to the Gentiles<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Acts 10:47<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Council of Jerusalem<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Acts 15:11<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Dividing Wall Is Broken Down<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2014 Ephesians 2:13<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nNo Longer Strangers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Ephesians 2:19<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Is a True Jew?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Romans 2:28-29<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Heavenly Jerusalem<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\u2014 Hebrews 12:22<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Revelation 21:2<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Gentiles Are Grafted In<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\nGod Has Not Forgotten the Jewish People<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\nOne People Under One Messiah<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u2014 Ephesians 4:4-6<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Promise Fulfilled<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\u2014 Revelation 7:9<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nJesus Christ.<\/strong><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"