3.d. Pssst. We Gentiles Have the Same Tests
We saw the two tests set forth in the beginning: The Test Concerning Paul's Claim and The Test Concerning Paul's Fruit. We see Jesus, James, and the Apostles setting forth the same standard. The tests have been given, and we Gentiles are running out of time. Part of the issue is not understanding the fact that God was always interested in the Gentiles (Nations). He intended to express that interest through a people he called out of the Gentiles--the first born from among the nations, Israel! Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles. To make the point, Gentiles have always 1) been welcomed into Israel and 2) are now sprinting in "through Jesus," but Paul is tripping them at the door. Jesus warned us of Pharisees like Paul (Matthew 21:31; 23:13,15). Many assume that Paul carries a different dispensation than Jesus. That is to say, Jesus is for Jews only, and Paul is for Gentiles only. I grew up believing this. And whether they'll admit it or not, or are even aware, many Christians have some form or another of this doctrine. What division in the flock! Let's test the assumption that what Jesus said wasn't for Gentiles.
Many might try and cite Psalm 147:19-20, which says, “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.” This tells us that God chose Israel to be the first of the Nations. But that's not saying God had no intentions for the other Nations. If we are careful to pay attention, we can see what God thinks of the Nations and what His plans are for them. Here are some places where we discover God's plan for us Gentiles:
Isaiah 2:2-3 – “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains… and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”
Isaiah 11:10 – “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”
Isaiah 42:6-7 – “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness… and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
Isaiah 49:6 – “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob… I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 56:6-7 – “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”
Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Luke 2:30-32 – “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
Watch in awe at how far Jesus can throw that net!
Matthew 21:43 – “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The early assembly understood all of this very well and therefore didn't fail at doing what Jesus said.
Acts 15:13-18 - "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
God Himself is speaking through these various messengers. Concerning the Kingdom of God, we find Twelve Foundations or Gates (James and the Apostles) testifying of the One Gate, the One Foundation, Jesus Christ (Revelation 21:1-14). What gate does Paul stand at? Where would Paul's throne be (Matthew 19:28; Acts 1:15-26)? He says the opposite of Jesus and The Creator. There's no entrance gate to the Kingdom found with Paul's name above it, yet many Gentiles are trying to enter through it. Jesus said that people like Paul are outside of the Kingdom turning people around into some other direction other than IN (Matthew 23:13; Matthew 5:19). Jesus made his disciples fishers not just of Jews but of "men" in general: anthropos--human beings! Mankind! God's will is for all mankind! The notion that we must be deprived of the vine in any way is frightening. The notion that Jesus couldn't, or shouldn't, or wouldn't cast the net to the Gentiles to pull them in so God needed one new prophet after another is outrageous. The notion that we don't have to listen to and do what he says is insane! The dispensationalist and Paulinist in general doesn't believe that Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ for his people and the Gentiles (John 1:17) because they're saying that Paul's "dispensation of Grace" is for Gentiles and that we don't have to listen to Jesus for our doctrine and way of life to be saved and that commands of God are not relevant! This contradicts the many prophecies I've just shown you. It contradicts the entire message of Jesus Christ given to him by The Father, our Creator. And it contradicts what James and the Apostles and the assemblies of Asia ultimately believed. What, is the Arm of the Lord shortened that it can't save!?
The point here is to show that Jesus expected his Apostles to teach us Gentiles his ways. And Jesus' ways are God's ways. God gave us the Sabbath (Exodus 20; Isaiah 56:6,7); this means God also gave us a test long ago in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. If we are Gentiles entering in, then that means even we Gentiles must test our own supposed Prophets and Apostles, which means Paul! The test does also concern the issue of proper diet, which concerns herbs versus meat. And the evidence suggests that meat eating in general is the idolatry because it's in service to the lust of the flesh, roused by the deceptions of the Serpent and one of his messengers, like Balaam and Saul. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies!" Test Paul. Turn from your sin.