Hope 31 Gentiles' Hope 12/16-18/20

16-18 Dec 2020 - Hope Series 31 – by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Gentiles’ Hope [Fresh Manna]

 Romans 15:11-12 KJV: “… Praise the Lord, all ye (you) Gentiles; and laud (praise) Him, all ye (you) people.  … Esaias (Isaiah) said, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he (Jesus Christ, the Messiah) that rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him (Jesus) shall the Gentiles trust.  NKJV: “… Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

 You might question, ‘what’s the big deal about the Gentiles issue?’ I thought, ‘oh boy, after reading one verse, I realized one would have to see a big picture about why God talked about the Gentiles.’ Gentiles is a group of people who are not Jews. I plan to use Amplified Bible which gives clear interpretation from the KJV Bible.    

Before I use Amplified Bible, I would like to give a “bird’s-eye view” of Jews and the Gentiles. I meant “seeing things in general” so it gives reason to this verse, “in Him the Gentiles shall hope.” So why would the ‘Gentiles shall have hope in Him (Jesus)?’ Let me began with Abraham and go on from there.

God choose Abraham which began with the descendants of the “Hebrews” because they were shepherd and they were God’s people, later on the name appeared “The Jews.” It was through Abraham’s descendants that prophesied the coming of Christ, the Messiah. Jesus said, “Salvation comes from the Jews” (John 4:22).  It means Jesus was born of Mary who was a Jew. [Ref: Gen. 14:13; 41:12; Tech ref. count: Hebrews 46; Jews 274]

God made a Covenant with Abraham, a promise of blessings. The Gentiles were not part of “The Covenant” although some Gentiles were integrated (united) with the Jews like Ruth, the Gentile married to Boaz, the Jew. And Rehab, the Gentile from Jericho married to Salmon, the Jew (Matt. 1:5). Also Joseph, the Jew in Egypt was married to a Gentile wife (Gen. 41:45). [If any Gentiles want to become a Jew, they have to go through the ritual, the custom of their laws to be part of God’s people.]

In the general, the Gentiles were not part of “The Covenant” all through Abraham’s descendants until Jesus’ time. When Christ was crucified, and the religious leaders had rejected Christ (Matt. 21:42-43), the kingdom of God was taken from them and given to a nation, the Gentile who would open their hearts to Jesus. Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this Rock, I will build a church.” Jesus meant that He opened the “door to the Gentiles for salvation.” Now for Amplified Bible Romans 15:9-12. Roman 15:13 at the end.

Paul wrote: V.9 “And [also in order] that the Gentiles might glorify God for [His uncovenanted] mercy to them. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.’ V.10 Again it is said, ‘Rejoice (exult), O Gentiles, along with His [own] people (the Jews).’ V.11 And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles (nations), and let all the peoples praise Him!’ V.12 And further Isaiah says, ‘There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope.’ [Verse 12 tells about the future plan that the Messiah will rule a thousand year and the Gentiles’ hope is in Jesus Christ.]

To explain verse 9, “the Gentiles might glorify God for [His uncovenanted] mercy to them.” The “uncovenanted” Gentiles were not given “a Covenant.” Yet Jesus spoke to the religious leaders who had rejected Christ that the kingdom of God was taken from them and given to a nation, the Gentile who would open their hearts to Jesus. This is truly a beautiful plan of God who had in mind that Salvation would be given to Gentiles.

Paul preached to the Gentiles because he knew from Old Testament Scriptures that prophesied about God who would opened the door to the nations of the Gentiles who would invite Jesus Christ into their hearts and give praise to God.

Peter received a vision that God revealed to him that the “unclean animals” which was the “unclean Gentiles” shall be “cleansed.” What God has “cleansed,” do not called the Gentiles “unclean.”  From Acts 10, story went on about Cornelius and Peter. Peter explained that it was their custom that the Jews were not permitted to keep company with Gentiles, but with God there is “no respecter of persons (no favors of persons means the Jews and the Gentiles received God’s grace for all). The Gentiles received the gifts of the Holy Spirit the same way as the Jews. So the Gentiles were “cleaned” because they invited Christ into their hearts.

Now comes to Amplified Romans 15:13, Paul blessed the Gentiles: “May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing—through the experience of your faith—that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound (more than enough) and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

How wonderful it is to discover that the Gentiles have hope in God. His mercy and His grace are so great for us all. May God richly bless you!

Dorothy