We must walk very carefully when we speak of the gift of resurrection life ("Life through His Name," John 20:31). We are careful to say that the greatest hope for any person, and the greatest rewards, crowns, prizes are only possible for those who has placed full faith in the death, burial, lack of decay, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (alone) on our behalf.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.
-1 Cor 1:17-23 (KJV)
This passage contains the English translation of a Greek quotation from the prophet Isaiah (written in Hebrew) 29:14b. Isaiah's word from the Lord was directly specifically to Israel expanded.
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
-Isaiah 29:2 3-24 (KJV)
Below you will see an English rendering of verse 14b from the Septuagint (Greek version of the Hebrew scriptures). I believe "hide" is a better rendering than "bring to nothing" as it is rendered in the KJV English in 1 Corinthians. The KJV translators correctly understood this when they translated Isaiah 29, but oddly missed in when translating 1 Corinthians 1. It’s not a horrible error (and possibly defensible in one way or another), but we’re better of understanding the idea as “hid” or “hide.” The Hebrew word is çâthar which really has the idea of hiding. This can be even more clearly seen to the English eye in the Greek rendering krýptō from the Septuagint.
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the understanding of the prudent.
-Isaiah 29:14b (Septuagint)
Another example for us to consider from the 14 times Isaiah uses the Hebrew word çâthar in is Isaiah 8:17, KJV).
"And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him."
But whether God is hiding or bringing to nothing someone's understanding, the question which cannot be lost is "who?" And the answer, as we have alluded to, is clearly Israel ("this people"). As we have seen many times in previous studies, the epistles to the Corinthians were written by Paul in the Acts age and the apostle is there still making references to Jewish believers as being distinct from Gentile believers in that age (a distinction we no longer make in the current age).
We will not spend a lot of this study on this distinction as it is covered elsewhere, but we will divert for a few moments just to set the context for this study. We will point to a couple of verses in First Corinthians to that end. When we fail to rightly divide (or draw the lines) in 1 Corinthians, we will not see the truth God is trying to relate nor will we see God’s plan in view.
While God had created a single body of believers in Corinth (1 Cor 12:13), he continued to make a distinction within that body as we've seen in our look at Acts 15, Acts 21, Romans 9, Romans 11, and elsewhere in the Acts Age epistles. Paul points Jewish believers to their (and his) fathers and the nation; he points Gentile believers to their former practice of idol worship.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea... Look at Israel according to the flesh. Are not those who eat the sacrifices involved with the altar?
-1 Cor 10:1, 18
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
-1 Cor 12:1-2
Paul refers to both Jewish and Gentile believers as "brethren" (adelphós). But outside the faith, he and the other apostles will only refer to Jews as their brethren" (adelphós). Peter refers to unbelieving Jews as "Ye Men (anḗr) of Israel" in Acts 3:12 as his "brethren" in Acts 3:17 (adelphós). Stephen refers to unbelieving Jews as "Brethren" in Acts 7. Paul before the unbelieving chief priests and council in Acts 23 refers to these Jews as "brethren." Even to the very end of the Acts, chapter 28, Paul is calling unbelieving Jews in Rome his "brethren."
In Acts 14, Paul addresses Gentiles as "anḗr" or "sirs" only. When Paul again uses the witness of creation in Acts 17 in Athens, he addresses his Gentile listeners as "Ye men of Athens," again using "anḗr," but not then using adelphós as Peter does in Acts 3.
None of that is conclusive, but it is a pattern that should be noted in light of other clearly stated truths concerning the Lord's ministry to Israel and the calling of the Apostles in the Acts Age.
The Lord in John 4:22 clarifies this thought concerning those outside Israel. He speaks these words to a Samaritan to whom he is offering "living water" (v.10). We recall that the disciples were forbidden to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in Samaria ("These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel'." -Matt 10:5-6).
[The Lord Jesus said] You [Samaritans] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
-John 4:22
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel..." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
-Matthew 15:24,26
When the woman takes her place as merely a dog at the master's table, and stops using his Kingdom title, Son of David, he recognizes her faith.
She said, "Yes, Lord [drops "Son of David"], yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
-Matthew 15:27-28
Familiar territory for those familiar with this writer's ministry. However, in light of the traditions of men, we must revisit it often to set the context of the Lord's earthly ministry and the Lord's Kingdom calling and plan during the Acts Age (cp. Acts 1:6; 3:19-21; 15:15-16; etc.). The Lord uses plain and clear language concerning his calling and the mission of the twelve.
As the Lord worked his plan for the earth through Israel (the descendants of Abraham), he had not forgotten the Gentile. When Paul speaks to Jews in the synagogues, he points to the Law and the prophets as his witness. When Paul speaks to he Gentiles, his witness is Creation. Gentiles never had the Law.
We also are men, of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness.”
-Acts 14:15-17
The only part of the Law a gentile was required to observe were laws for gentiles living among Israel. That is, any application of the Law to a gentile could only be in his relation or proximity to a Jew. In Acts 14 Paul takes his gentile listeners, not to the Law, but to Creation.
If Paul is witnessing via Creation after the cross, God is still witnessing to Gentiles via Creation in the Acts Age and in the Acts Age epistles. God didn't stop witnessing the through his Creation when he chose Abraham. He didn't stop when Paul was in Athens. He has never stopped witnessing through his creation. Nothing in the revelation of the Mystery in Ephesians changes that in the current dispensation.
After Moses, the problem for the Gentile nations is not that they did not have the Law (the Law only made Israel more guilty), it is that they rejected the witness they did have: Creation and Conscience. Since the Garden, Paul teaches that "in Adam all die" (1 Cor 15). There was no Jew or Gentile until the Lord called Abraham (in uncircumcision, Romans 4:6-10) which did not happen until some 2000 years after the fall in the Garden. Prophets like Noah in uncircumcision without the Law of Moses was called. Abraham was called in uncircumcision as was Moses. And until Moses at Sinai, there was no Law and no chosen earthly national priesthood or children of an earthly Kingdom. Adam, Abel, and Noah would have no idea what any of that calling was.
From Adam, God’s revelation, to all people, was found in the witness of creation and in the witness of the conscience. Cain knew he had sinned when he killed Abel, for example. Dr. E.W. Bullinger is often criticized for his great work The Witness in the Stars, but scripture is clear that God clearly has a witness in his creation.
Let’s look at the indictment of the nations given in Romans 1. Remember, the Gentiles, like Israel, were indicted, plural, for turning to idols, but turning to idols from what?
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress (Greek: katecho) the truth through unrighteousness
[The only truth they could suppress is the witness God gave them in his creation]
-Romans 1:18
Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God, but became futile in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
[They could only know him through the witness of creation]
-Romans 1:21
They turned the truth of God into [the] lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
-Romans 1:25
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not proper. [acknowledge him as Creator]
-Romans 1:28
Let us quickly let’s turn to Hebrews 3:1-2
What advantage then does the Jew have? Or what profit is there in circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because the oracles of God were entrusted to them [plural].
Yet God is never without a witness to the Gentile. God has always sought the reconciliation of every person, despite the plan in view and despite the dispensation. God is the God of reconciliation.
God was never without a witness. Abraham was of the Semitic line. The ninth from Shem, through Arphaxad to his father Terah (Gen 11). But God never abandoned the children of Ham or Japheth (which I’m). Do we want to teach that since God chose the line of Shem for a particular calling that he had no calling for the rest? No! We just heard Paul witness to the children of Japheth in Athens that God always had a witness to them through creation.
There is a danger, as I see it, in standard, traditional Christendom to assume that because God chooses and gives a certain revelation to a certain person (in this case Abraham) that he has abandoned the rest of mankind. No! God chose Abraham for a particular calling connected to a particular blessing. That does not imply that God therefore has no other other plan or calling outside of Abraham.
This is evidence that God’s judgment, being righteous, will count you worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering. 6 It is a righteous matter with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you [specific group is referenced], 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 They shall be punished with eternal destruction, isolated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at by all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
Now the verse concerning God taking vengeance is specific to “those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Words have meanings. We must be careful as we’ve noted in previous studies not to fall into the trap that plagues Christendom by which every passage in scripture is crammed into a heaven/hell or saved/lost box and which somehow applies to all people everywhere at all times.
The nations at the beginning knew the truth. This is evident from the fact that they are charged with holding it in unrighteousness, with changing it for the lie, and with not approving to retain God in their knowledge. It is upon such that the vengeance of 2 Thessalonians 1 falls. To interpret the passage to mean that this awful punishment falls upon those who never knew the truth, or who never heard the gospel, is monstrous. The charge is against those who would not receive the love of the truth, and who preferred the lie (see also Revelation).
[Emphasis mine]
As Romans 1 teaches, when the nations did not acknowledge God, he gave them over to a debased mind. But God is the God of the individual. The individual is part of a nation, but God has never left the individual without a witness. God put Israel aside, but not all Israelites, for example.
Think about this for a second. God lists the 70 nations (as he deems them, not as we do) in Genesis 11. God then scatters the 70 nations. He then chooses one man from among those nations through whom he will directly communicate. The nations were judged, but an individual among those nations was blessed.
From that moment (the calling of Abram) in Genesis 12, we see no Gentile in scripture apart from contact with a Hebrew (Israelite, Jew). Even the great nation of Babylon and the powerful city of Nineveh are silent in scripture apart from interaction with a Hebrew.
But that does not mean God had forgotten the nations. God has always been the God of reconciliation. The great city of Nineveh did not cry out to Jonah nor was it presented with the Old Covenant (nor the Law of Moses). It had no part in the Old Covenant which was a covenant specifically for the nation of Israel. And what is the promise of that Covenant? Salvation by works as men and tradition like to render it? NO! It is a promise that Israel would be a holy nation and royal priesthood (Ex 19:5-7). But a priesthood for whom? FOR THE NATIONS!
Yes, the Lord was working through the physical children of Abraham, but he was never without a witness to the Gentiles. A gentile never had to be circumcised to be reconciled to God. As scripture teaches, Abraham, the Gentile, was reconciled in uncircumcision (Rom 4:9-10).
God desires reconciliation. Christ died and rose again to make that reconciliation permanent. Do we realize we have no part in that transaction? God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
Let is go back to Romans 1:20
`For the unseen things of Him are clearly seen, from the creation of the world, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, even His eternal power and divinity, so as to render them inexcusable' (Rom 1:20 Welch's translation)
The “unseen things of Him” have been clearly seen since the foundation of the ages. Clearly seen by Adam’s offspring. Clearly seen by the people of Noah’s day. Clearly seen by all 70 nations. And clearly seen by not only Abraham, but every person of Abraham’s day. Clearly seen by every person under the Law, every person not under the Law, every person, anywhere on the earth when the Lord was here. Clearly seen by all men outside Palestine after Pentecost and after the revelation of the Mystery of the Book of Ephesians.
- Creation was clearly seen by all when Abraham was called
- Creation was clearly seen by all when the Law was given
- Creation was clearly seen by all when the Prophets prophesied
- Creation was clearly seen by all when The Lord walked the earth
- Creation was clearly seen by all when Paul witnessed in the Acts
- Creation is clearly seen by all in this age
Let’s look at a “but now” along these lines, in the context of Gentiles. Let’s take a quick look at Paul in his encounter with Gentiles in Athens. Paul starts by making the case in Acts 17:24 that God made all things as Creator and that he does not live in temples made by men just as he did in Acts 14. In verse 26 he argues that all men of every nation are of “one blood.” This reminds us of the verse in 1 Cor 15, that "in Adam, all die."
In verse 27 Paul states that this Creator God is not far from anyone of any nation ("He is not far from each one of us"). This is after the cross, after the resurrection, and after Pentecost. Paul affirms in verse 29 that we are all indeed his “offspring” and again denounces idolatry.
That brings us to verse 30,
God overlooked [Charles Welch renders this as ‘God condoned’] the times of ignorance, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent.
This “but now” is well into the Book of Acts. The witness of creation and conscience was still the most prevalent witness in all the earth as it has been since the beginning. Paul does not turn to scripture with Gentiles as he does with the Jews in the synagogues. Instead he turns to creation.
Let’s finish by looking at the grafting of Gentiles in Romans 11
For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow, I may make my kinsmen jealous and may save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Is Paul arguing that Gentiles could not be reconciled to God before Christ? Certainly not. Nineveh being the greatest example. So what is this reconciliation of the world? Welch’s outline:
A The estrangement of the Gentiles (Gen. 10,11).
B The favor shown to Israel (Gen. 12; Acts 9).
A The estrangement of Israel (Rom. 11).
B The reconciliation of the Gentiles (Rom. 11; 2 Cor. 5)
Scripture foresees the reconciliation of all of creation. This started with the grafting in the Acts age in order to make Israel jealous (as Israel is at the center of God’s plan for the earth). When Paul revealed the Mystery of the current age in Ephesians we can clearly see the full reconciliation of all nations as equals. In this age, there are only Gentiles (that is, there is no Jew/Gentile distinction for any reason as there was from Abraham until the end of the Book of Acts). The distinction is not necessary when the plan for the earth is not currently the calling of this age.
As we know, even among Bible-believing Evangelicals very few are familiar with the calling of the Mystery of Ephesians 3 even though they hear Ephesians 3 preached regularly. I believe these will bear a greater responsibility than those who have not heard the unique revelations given to Paul.
Similarly, the vengeance we see in 2 Thessalonians will be upon those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. But to reject it, they must first hear it.
God is in the reconciliation business. He also has special plans, and hopes, and blessings, and callings, and rewards, and crowns for those who hear and seek to obey. Yes, there are works that follow every kind of faith. None of these works is salvific, but every work is a witness to one’s reconciliation and level of obedience.
Even the one who has only the witness of creation and conscience has works that flow out of that conviction. There is so much more to be said, but at the end of the day, we must recognize that God desires that all be reconciled to himself. And to that end, he has not left the call of reconciliation in the hands of clay of few limited men, he still maintains his witness in his creation. If we do not recognize this truth, we are left with the ultimate horror that ALL who are not raised on that day are not raised because men failed them. The responsibility then would fall at the feet of the redeemed who would have to bear that responsibility for the ages of the ages.
Think of the Lord’s words in John 5:28-29
... the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (judgment)'
Do we dare try to apply “there is none that doeth good” from Romans 3 to this passage? If we do, we have only the resurrection of those who have done evil. We must be careful to note the passage in Romans 3 is part of an indictment of the Jew who claims the Law. An indictment of Israel, plural, as a nation. The Law is good, but it also condemns. No matter how scrupulous the supposed “law-keeper,” there is always failure. This passage also states that there is “none who seeks God,” yet we have God promising blessings to seekers in the Law, in the Psalms, and in the Prophets.
Different children, all loved, all blessed. Even if not all in the same house.
Charles Welch emphasizes these points and I will close with this quote:
While we maintain all the truth of the utter inability of man to save himself, we do not infer or imply that the gospel as at present proclaimed is the limit of God's dealings. The Scriptures already cited speak otherwise, and having long ago abandoned all `Creeds', we earnestly desire a faith that can accept all Scripture without confusing things that differ. Take another instance, Matthew 25:32-46 [Parable of the Sheep and Goats]. There the nations are dealt with, and the ground of judgment is their attitude to the Lord's brethren. They knew not Christ, and even in their kindness did not consciously do their acts of benevolence unto him. Nevertheless, He who judges more by the heart than the action accepts the kindness His brethren [the Jews] as done unto Himself. Without ever knowing the Lord Jesus, and therefore never having 'believed', these nations pass on into aionion life and the kingdom prepared for them. In Matthew 25 Christ the future judge indicates the lines upon which He will judge. He is clearly not judging the actions merely, but the motives, in other words `the secrets of men'.
[emphasis mine]