5165

The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #5165 KCEphesians5

Many who are of true Israel call themselves Gentiles, while many of the "children of disobedience" run around claiming they are God's chosen people, when in fact many are not even descendents of Judah or Israel.

The discussion of "Grace vs. Works" in relation to salvation is one that by its very nature excludes common sense.

What man or woman do you know who can add to his/her stature, or prevent his/her own death (physically much less spiritually)?

You can't think of anyone off the top of your head?

Then doesn't nature and common sense both tell us that without God's grace there can be no salvation?

In other words, though he tries through gnosticism, works, rituals, denominational elitism, etc., man cannot bring about his own salvation apart from God. Period.

Ephes. 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Paul here is addressing the Gentiles who were called uncircumcised by those who were physically circumcised.

We find in Acts chapter 9 that Paul, God's chosen vessel, was the apostle, the one sent forth to carry the message, to the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

So, who are the Gentiles?

The Greek word used most often for "gentile" is "ethnos", meaning the ethnic peoples, or the races, nations.

It is in contrast to Israel, i.e. basically, a gentile is a non-Israelite (I did not say a non-Jew).

Paul will be explaining that as far a salvation is concerned, race makes no difference and we can all partake in the promises of God.

However, He created the races for a reason and He didn't "do away" them.

The misunderstanding of who is a Gentile and who isn't, along with an ignorance of the terms Hebrew, Israel and Jew, are one of the main reasons prophecy is so "botched" by Christian ministers.

Just ask one of them where the United States is mentioned in the Bible and they scramble and they stumble and they fall.

Imagine that, God forgot about the superpower of superpowers of the end time.

Don't believe it for one moment!

An entire volume could be written on this subject, the space of which we are not afforded here.

If you would like reference books and materials, visit www.artisanpublishers.com

Here's a brief synopsis:

Abraham was an Hebrew, which comes from the word "eber" meaning "from across the river".

Abraham's nephew, Lot, was also an Hebrew.

Abraham then begat Isaac, who naturally was Hebrew, also.

However, neither of them, nor Lot, were Jews!

Why?

Judah hadn't been born yet.

So we will have Lot and his descendants growing and multiplying.

They will always be Hebrews, but never of Israel or Judah.

Then Isaac begat Jacob whose name was changed by God to Israel.

Israel (Jacob) had twelve sons who, today, have become nations, as numerous as the sands of the sea and the stars of the sky.
(If you are living in the U.S., you are living in one of them).

All twelve sons were Israelites (born of Jacob, who was Israel).

However, only those of his son Judah were of Judah, i.e. "Jews".

The other eleven tribes were of Israel, but not of Judah!

Remember following Solomon's reign the northern 10 tribes split with Judah and Benjamin and we had the House of Israel warring against the House of Judah.

1 Kings 12:21
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

So here's what we have.

It may sound confusing, but it is really quite simple:

Not all Hebrews are Israelites. (Lot and his family for example)

Not all Israelites are Jews. Most aren't, 11 out of 12 tribes aren't, only those of Judah are (1 tribe of 12).

Only Jews (descendants of Judah) can be called all three, Jews, Israelites or Hebrews.

The other 11 tribes are both Israelites and Hebrews, but not Jews.

People from other nations living in Judea can be called Jews, but not Israelites or Hebrews.

Is this important?

You bet it is!

For many would "wash away" all of Israel into one tribe, Judah.

But please note in Revelation chapter 7 that in the end times, now, twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes are to be, and are being, sealed with God's Word.

Many claim that Paul was a Jew.

He was not a Jew, he was a Benjamite. (a decendant of one of Judah's brothers)

He says so himself.

Romans 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

So where is the House of Israel?

After the Assyrian captivity they migrated north and west, over the Caucasus Mountains (hence they are called Caucasians), into Europe and into the Isles of the West.

They became know as Celts, Cimmerians, Anglos and Saxons (Saxon means saac's sons, Isaac).

Later they came to this great nation.

The Christian nations today, basically, comprise the House of Israel.

There are mounds of documentation for this.

But here is where ignorance has brought us.

*Note: Does it make sense to you that the United States of America, the greatest superpower in the history of the world, would be left out of endtime Biblical prophecy? Of course not! If you would like to learn more about where the 10 "lost" tribes of the House of Israel reside today go to Pamphlet #1064 or Pamphlet #1020 under Table of Contents "Wisdom" on the this American Wisdom Series site.

Let's return now to Ephesians.

Paul is addressing the Gentiles.

[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Until Christ paid the price on the cross and became the sacrifice for all who would repent and receive Him, they had no hope, i.e., they were not part of the covenant God made with Israel.

[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Now all, including Gentiles, can come to the Father through Jesus Christ.

[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

There was a wall that separated the outer court of the temple in Jerusalem, from the inner court.

Gentiles could not enter into the inner court, under penalty of death.

But now Christ is the Temple.

All Christians, both of Israel and Gentile (all those who are circumcised of the heart), make up His many membered body and can "enter in".

[15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

His death on the cross abolished the "law of ordinances" (dogma) which separated the Gentiles from Israelites.

Christ united them both into one temple, His body.

Many use this verse to say that God's law was done away with.

Does this verse say that Christ abolished the ten commandments?

No, it does not.

There is a great difference between laws, statutes and ordinances.

Christ "abolished" the laws of ritualism and blood sacrifices, etc., that were spelled out in laws contained in ordinances and statutes.

Though we fall short of keeping the Ten Commandments, they are in force evermore.

[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Again, both gentile and Israelite are united in the body of Christ.

[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Without Christ and the New Covenant all are "afar off".

[18] For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

We all, through Christ, through the Holy Spirit, have access to the Father.

[19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Gentiles are no more strangers and outsiders, but fellow citizens with the saints, the set aside ones, as well as those of the household of God who not set aside.

[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Apostles and prophets represent both the Old & New Testaments, God's Word, with Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone (the one which the builders rejected).

[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Again, the temple of God is not a building.

Christ is the "Temple".

Remember He said "Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days"?

He was speaking of His body, not the building.

A word of caution.

Until Jesus Christ returns we must keep focused on Him and not be deceived (Jesus warned us in His Sermon on the Mount).

Though we read in the closing chapters of Ezekiel that there will be a temple built in the millennium, AFTER Christ returns, there is one coming BEFORE Christ returns, who will claim to possess God's temple.

That one is Satan, the false messiah!

Paul warns us:

2 Thes. 2:3-4
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Satan will put on quite a show.

He is very, very convincing.

Ephes 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Through the Holy Spirit we all fit together, making up the temple, His church, the body of Christ.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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