Did You Ever Consider...?
Have you ever considered why Christ sent His Apostles out to Israel only?
Matt. 10:5 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.
Have you ever wondered why you do not receive all your requests when you pray earnestly and sincerely?
Matt. 21: 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Have you ever wondered why Christ ignored the Syro-Phoenican woman who had a great need, and even inferred that she was a dog?
Matt. 15: 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him,saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs.
Have you ever wondered what happened to God's promises to Israel to become a great nation?
Exodus 19: 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Jeremiah 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Have you ever wondreed why Christ came (only) unto His own, and gave Himself a ransom (only) for many?
John 1: 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Matt. 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Have you ever doubted the truth of the Scriptures, if you are saved, why you are unable to perform the miracles that identified believers?
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Did you know if you consider the details and context of Scripture you will have the answer to all these questions? First, notice that each of the above Scriptures is directed to the disciples of the nation of Israel. The Gentiles were not included in the earthly ministry of Christ. These passages are proof - if you believe the inspired Word of God, (and even if you don't).
That being true, what about us Gentiles? After the leaders of Israel had rejected their Messiah and King, God set that nation aside and began to unfold an unprophesied, secret program directed to all people, Jew and Gentile alike. Israel no longer has preeminence in God's dealings. Now, in this new program, we Gentiles are included directly in this "good news" (Gospel) of the Grace of God, the revelation of which was given by the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven to the apostle Paul.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
To know God's new program today for the Church, the Body of Christ, we must go to Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. Only in his epistles, Romans through Philemon, can we find the doctrine for today.