Jesus is a Light to the Gentiles
After reading the scripture that speaks on this topic, two questions
come to mind and heart ... What does A Light to the Gentiles mean and
who is this light to the Gentiles? Let us seek the truth together,
shall we?
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by
Jesus Christ ...
The Law was given to the Jewish people from God thru Moses in the Old Covenant. But, in the New Covenant, which is revealed in the New
Testament.
Grace is what our Lord provides for those who believe in Him.
Hebrews 8:6-8
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by
how much also he is the mediator of a better Covenant, which was
established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah:
The Truth is that man was unable to adhere to the Laws within
the Old Covenant and all fell short. Our loving Father chose to
create a New Covenant and to do so sanctified the New Covenant
with the Blood of Jesus.
This New Covenant allows both Jewish and Gentiles to take part in the promise of this New Covenant. We read the word “Gentile” in the Bible.
What is a Gentile?
A Gentile is a term used by Jewish people to refer to anyone who was
from any other country who was not Jewish. The Jewish people
believed that only the Jewish people were God's people. The
Jewish people had customs where they could not even enter the home of
a Gentile person.
The Gentiles Bible Covenant
Now, when the New Testament began, it became clear that God had
allowed the Gentiles into Christianity:
Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and
partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel ...
This was not a new thing but rather prophesied of many times in the
Old Testament:
Galatians 3:8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
This did not go over well at first with the Jewish Christians.
Peter even had to be told three times that God had accepted
the Gentiles into the Christian flock.
A Light to the Gentiles Bible trivia time ... Why did the Jewish
Christians feel this way? The Jewish people (Even those who became
Christians) had become so accustomed to the Old Covenant customs that
they had a hard time accepting this New Covenant. So much so
that Peter and Paul were at odds over the issue at one time.
Galatians 2:11-14
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to
the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat
with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according
to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If
thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do
the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
What does Paul mean when he said ... If thou, being a Jew, livest
after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest
thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
The Bible Gentiles Redacted Laws
This means that the Jewish people were not able to handle the Old
Covenant laws and customs and Paul is asking how they felt it
righteous to demand of the new Gentile Christians to abide by that
which they could not bear.
This statement was later confirmed by the
Holy Spirit when the Jewish Christians wrote the Gentiles and
told them that they were NOT under the laws and customs in the Old
Covenant written by Moses for the Jewish people:
Acts 15:28-29
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from
blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if
ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Here is A Light to the Gentiles Bible point of interest ... This is
something not many seem to consider when they are out there quoting
Old Covenant laws to potential Christians. The Jewish
Christians admitted that they nor those before em were able to hold
to the customs and laws of the Old Covenant and they as Christian
leaders and the Holy Spirit laid down more gentle
Gentile laws.
Whoooooooa, I am a bit confuzzled here. I mean ... Jesus made it
CLEAR !!!
Matthew 5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in
the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the
same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
How does one bring accord to these two statements which were both
inspired by the Holy Spirit which appear to be completely
contrary one to the other?
One simple Bible Gentiles Meaning answer could be that Jesus was
talking to the Jewish people when He made His statement who
were under the Law of Moses ... not the Gentiles, who were
not. Please allow me to share a little A Light to the Gentiles Bible
tidbit of truth with you. Jesus made it clear that He was sent to the
Lost sheep of Israel and not the Gentiles at that time. He even had His Apostles avoid these Gentiles.
Matthew 10:5-6
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them,
saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city
of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Now ... Check this A Light to the Gentiles Bible passage out:
Isaiah 49:5-6
5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to
be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not
gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God
shall be my strength.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be
my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the
preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a Light to the
Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the
earth.
Who is this Light to the Gentiles? It is obviously Jesus. So,
why would Jesus not preach to the Gentiles while He was here
and yet be considered a Light to the Gentiles?
The Gentiles Bible Dispute
It is because the Old Covenant was not yet completed. The New
Covenant (which would include the Gentiles) could not begin until the
Testator of it ... Died:
Hebrews 9:15-17
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity
be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead:
otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
So, we discover the Bible Gentiles timing of the change ... The New
Testament and the Time of the Gentiles began after the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus.
Time of the Gentiles Sign
There is a time period mentioned in the Bible known as the
“Time of the Gentiles” ...
Luke 21:24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness
in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles
be come in.
The Gentiles Bible Time Period
It is the period of time which begins after Jesus' Resurrection but
before the promised 1000 years of peace on Earth known as the
Millennium. Just before the Millennium, there will be a 7 year time
period known as the End Times. So, from the Time of Jesus'
Resurrection to these End Times is the period of time known as the
Time of the Gentiles which is a time where Gentiles (individuals from
any nation other than Israel) have been given the opportunity to
accept Jesus as their Savior. How do we know that the Time of the
Gentiles didn't begin until the death of Jesus?
Matthew 10:5-7
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them,
saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city
of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is
at hand.
As you can see in that Gentiles Bible passage, the Lord has
allotted a specified period of time for the Gentiles to accept Jesus
as their Savior which began at His Resurrection and the start of the
New Covenant and continues until the End Times.
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons.
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth
came by Jesus Christ.
Of course, if you read
Romans, Chapter 11 ... You'll find that one of God's chosen
people of Israel can be saved during the Time of the
Gentiles as well.
The Gentiles Bible Promise
Preachers like Paul, were chosen by God to bring the message of
Truth to these Gentiles. Paul made it clear that he was called
to reach and preach to the Gentiles:
2 Timothy 1:11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of
the Gentiles.
Paul also said these words.
Acts 13:46-47
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was
necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:
but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set
thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Here is a Light to the Gentiles Bible trivia question for you ... So, Paul and Barnabas are the Light to the Gentiles? I thought it was Jesus. So, is it Paul and Barnabas or Jesus that are the Light to the Gentiles?
Here is where most people get con-fused. You will really need
your Spiritual thinking caps on to grasp what the Holy Spirit is
about to share. We must remember that Jesus is and always
was the
Word of God:
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
Grace and Truth.
In the Old Testament Jesus (being the Word of God) makes it so clear
... Even saying, Come close and listen! It's never been a secret!
I've existed all along!
Isaiah 48:16
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in
secret from the beginning; from the time that it was,
there am I: and now the Lord God, and His Spirit,
hath sent ME.
Jesus is the Word of God. Listen to what He is saying ...
Isaiah 52:6
Therefore My people shall know My name: therefore
they shall know in that day that I Am He that doth
speak: Behold it is I.
The Gentiles Bible Blessing
Do you hear what Jesus is saying? It is He who is talking to us.
He, being the Word of God spoke thru Isaiah, Paul and
many others in the Bible (and still does today) ... So, the way we
make sense of Paul, Barnabas and Jesus all being the Light to the
Gentiles is really kinda simple. It is Jesus (The Word of God)
within all of those which He dwells within which will be a
Light to the Gentiles. Since the Holy Spirit lives within each of
us ... That means you too can be a Light to the Gentiles. He, within you is their guiding Light to Him.
Keep that Light burning as many may come to depend upon His Light within you.
Be a Light to the Gentiles !!!
