Right Divider;n2733542]
Only the blind cannot see the difference between what Paul wrote and what the rest wrote.
The Gnostics talked this way. They believed they had revelation knowledge which the ordinary believer COULD not see? Having heard the same kind of thing from many modern cultists, I find this kind of ad hominem argument unconvincing.
I simply follow what the scripture says.
Yes, that is what everyone says
Jeremiah quotes GOD Himself as saying that the new covenant is between Himself and Israel. The author of Hebrews confirms this by quoting Jeremiah.
I know this comes from Jeremiah 31 but what does the rest of it say?
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my LAW WITHIN THEM, and I will WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS. And I will be their God, and they shall be MY PEOPLE.
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all KNOW ME, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, and I will remember their sin no more.”
(Jeremiah 31:31-38)
So what would be the benefits of the New Covenant? According to Jeremiah they consisted of:
a. FORGIVENESS of sin
b. Becoming GOD'S PEOPLE
c. KNOWING God
d. Transformation: HAVING the law written on our hearts (by the Spirit)
All of these benefits were received by the Gentiles who believed. In fact, a great deal of what the NT is about is that Gentiles were meant to receive the Gospel too.
They were also to be joined with the Jews in the new covenant by Christ's BODY and BLOOD. Like the Seder, the Communion Supper is a re-enactment of Christ's death and the redemption of those who believe in Him.
19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, which is poured out for you.
(
Luke 22:20)
That Gentiles believers were partakers of the new covenant along with the Jews was shown in their joint participation in the Eucharist. Sharing the wine and bread at a common table indicated that they shared a common life-source and were united together as one Body:
16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a
sharing in the
BLOOD of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a
sharing in the BODY of Christ?
17 Since there is one bread, we who are MANY are
ONE BODY; for we all PARTAKE OF ONE BREAD.
(1 Corinthians 10:12)
The word MANY refers to us as individuals. In Corinth individual believers consisted of BOTH JEWS and GENTILES. However, there was no PARTITION dividing the Body of Christ because IN CHRIST (i.e., soteriologically) God makes no distinction between racial groups.
Paul who ministered to Jews, as well as Gentiles in Corinth, said he was a minister of the New Covenant.
Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as
coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
6 who also made us adequate
as SERVANTS of a NEW COVENANT, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:5-16)
Gentile believers were ALWAYS allowed to join with Israel. That does not make them Israel.
Whether or not a Gentile become a Jew is irrelevant to his salvation. If a Gentile believer had to become a Jew the early Church would have insisted that they be circumcised
Paul says that there are NEITHER Jew NOR Greek in the body of Christ.
NEITHER is NOT the same as AND.
Their racial identity was not erased. At the same time, both were part of the same Body.
