UNDERSTANDING GRACE AND FAITH.
When God called Abraham, in theology this is called election. It so happened that the family of Abraham through Isaac became known as “the people” (Ha’am). They were later known as the children of Israel, the chosen ones. The only inclusive ones. All the other tribes were known as (גּוים , Gōyim) the infidels, gentiles, from Arabic Kāfirكافر).
For us to understand the Grace well, we must understand the two Hebrew words that interpret people, “העם Ha’am and גּוים , Gōyim”.
The word (עם , ‛ām ) is the term commonly used for the people of God. When the scriptures uses the word “Ha’am” (the people) it always means the children of Israel, the chosen ones, the inclusive ones, the holy Nation.
גּוים , Gōyim is much more frequently “heathen,” and often still, “nation,” which latter is the usual rendering in the Revised Version (British and American), but it is commonly used for non-Israelitish people, and thus corresponds to the meaning of Gentiles.” They were regarded as unclean, with whom it was unlawful to have any friendly intercourse. They were the enemies of God and His people, to whom the knowledge of God was denied unless they became proselytes, and even then they could not, as in ancient times, be admitted to full fellowship. Jews were forbidden to counsel them, and if they asked about Divine things they were to be cursed. All children born of mixed marriages were bastards. Something of this is reflected in the New Testament (John 18:28; Acts 10:27-28; Acts 11:3 ). The Acts 10:27-28, “While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” This separation affected even the Jews believers who never understood the Grace. This was clearly seen when Peter went to preach to the gentiles under the guidance and supernatural connection of the Holy Spirit. When Peter came back, instead of the Jews believers celebrating with Peter for the salvation of the gentiles. They were so furious and angry with him as to why Peter who is a Jew went and mixed with the gentiles and worst of all, he eat together with them. Listen to this record in Acts, The Acts 11:1-3, “The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
If you see how the worship in the old temple was, the kāfirs or gentiles were locked out_ they were only allowed to end in the gentile court. You could not be allowed to enter the inner courtyard. There was an area where the gentiles could end because they were not the People. This was clearly seen in the design of the temple. There was an area known as The Court of the Gentiles.
The Court of the Gentiles was the outermost courtyard and the only area of the temple where non-Jews were allowed. As its name implies, the Court of the Gentiles was accessible to Gentiles, foreigners, and those who were considered impure. There, worshippers could mill about, exchange money, and even buy animals for sacrifices. It was from the Court of the Gentiles that Jesus, on two occasions (John 2:11–12; Matthew 21:17–23), drove out the money changers, declaring, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13).
Non-Jews (Gōyim) were allowed to enter the Court of the Gentiles, but they were forbidden to go any farther than the outer court. The inner temple courtyards were enclosed by a balustrade, and at the entrances to it notices were posted in both Greek and Latin, warning foreigners and uncircumcised persons that crossing into one of the other courtyards was punishable by death. “Warning Inscriptions,”. Two complete tablets written in Greek have been found that read: Μηθένα ἀλλογενῆ εἰσπορεύεσθαι ἐντὸς τοῦ περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν τρυφάκτου καὶ περιβόλου (Mēthena allogenē eisporeuesthai entos tou peri to hieron tryphaktou kai peribolou). Ὅς δἄν ληφθῇ (Hos dan lēphthē), ἑαυτῶι αἴτιος ἔσται διὰ τὸ ἐξακολουθεῖν θάνατον (heautōi aitios estai dia to exakolouthein thanaton, “No alien may enter within the balustrade around the sanctuary and the enclosure. Whoever is caught, on himself shall he put blame for the death which will ensue” This was how serious the separation was between “the people” and the “heathens or gentiles_ the kaphirs in Arabic)
Thanks be to God, the door opened called the “grace” that gave all people access to the restricted areas, not just to the temple made with human hands but the heavenly temple.
Oh yes, one of the beautiful writings in the Bible for the Gentiles that you must read word by word and line by line and put into remembrance is Ephesians 2:11-22
[11]Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands-
[12]remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
[13]But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
[14]For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
[15]by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
[16]and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
[17]And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
[18]for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
[19]So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
[20]having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
[21]in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
[22]in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
We were separated from the Commonwealth of Israel.
The Grace is the door that God opened for the Goyim to enter into the hall that “the people” enclosed into. The grace opened for us the door of Mercy for the salvation which we did not deserve because we were separated from God, excluded from the common wealth of Israel, and aliens.
When we enter through the door of grace, we become also “the people.” In out text in Ephesians 2:19 clearly shows this, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,”
Listen to this Glorious text in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ItIt teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Glory to God”.
The door for us all has been open. The doors is called the grace. HalleluYah! No more exclusiveness! All people can be saved now by Faith in Jesus. This door welcomes every style of sinner that you ever list into salvation. The door is open. Every sinner can access it now. Please go tell all sinners, that the door is opened for them all.
And the door (grace) is our tutor. The door “the grace” teaches us to say, No to ungodliness. No to worldly passions. The door teaches us to live self-controlled lives. The door teaches us to live godly lives in this present age. The door does not graft us into devils as some ignorantly teach. It is not the door that has been opened for us to begin living lawless lives.
And we enter through this grace door by faith. That is what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What are you waiting for, to enter the door? Enter through the door now! Believe in Jesus now. If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, do it now.
Just join with me in this prayer “Lord, I know I’m a sinner, but I thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day thereby opening the door of salvation for me, so that my sins can be forgiven and I can be with You forever. Thank You for loving me and opening the door of salvation for me. I’m ready to follow You and give my life to You. Please help me along the way and allow me to know You better each day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”