What are "Gentiles? " Acts 10 - Part 6

Some of the difficulty in describing and understanding Jew/Gentile distinction in the Bible relates to

1. true and false believers,

2. definitions,

3. interpretations,

4. covenants, and

5. mistaken teachers.

Regarding number 1 above, so far in the book of Acts we've seen Jews who were true believers and Jews who were false believers. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, and lawyers were Jews. In fact, they were the religious leaders of the day and were looked up to by most of the Jewish people. When Jesus began His ministry among the people, they were astonished at His teaching, and His authority. The leaders, however, did not appreciate Him at all. Much of what Jesus was teaching was directed against them, and they knew it. Many of them were continually trying to trip Him and turn the people against Him. They were successful, for a time. Were these Jews true believers? Were they truly the people of God?

It is much the same today; there are both true believers and impostors in Christ's Church. They all call themselves Christians, and it's often hard to discern the true from the false. There are false teachers who lead people astray. All of these are not aware of being astray or leading others astray. They firmly believe that what they believe and do is honoring to God and that God approves of them. I feel this way myself and about myself. Of course, I believe God only approves of me as I am in my Lord Jesus Christ and following Him with all my heart in faithfulness. But this is what impostors believe about themselves also. What is the difference? Is there a difference? Can you formulate a way to tell the difference in your own mind and heart?

How do we tell them apart? By what true standard do we discern? Jesus tells us it will be by their fruits we know them. What fruits? Perhaps the fruit of the Spirit. As we've pointed out before, it is not difficult to tell who the bad guys and good guys are throughout the book of Acts. Why is it so hard to tell them apart in our neighborhoods, churches, and communities? This is truly one source of our difficulties in describing and understanding the Jew/Gentile distinction in the Bible.

(#2) In Acts 10, Cornelius, a Roman centurion fears God with all his household. From the description we have of him in the Bible, he is a true believer. In the Bible he is called a "Gentile." But what is a "Gentile?" Here we find some interesting things. I've read that the word "gentile" is not found in the original languages of the Bible. It has been translated as "gentile" from Hebrew (goyim) and Greek (ethnos) words that mean "nation" or "clan." This is similar to this entry from Wikipedia.

"Gentile derives from Latin gens (from which, together with forms of the cognate Greek word genos, also derive gene, general, genus and genesis). The original meaning of "clan" or "family" was extended in post-Augustan Latin to acquire the wider meaning of belonging to a distinct nation or ethnicity. Later still the word came to mean "foreign", i.e. non-Roman. After the Christianization of the empire it could also be used of pagan or barbarian cultures."

From this definition we could conclude that most Jews are Gentiles, or non-Romans. Also from the second part, we could say that non-Christians are Gentiles. This illustrates the importance of definitions, how words are translated, and what they mean. From a wrong or misunderstood definition can come greatly mistaken ideas, which can have terribly grave consequences.

I believe one good example of this today is amongst Christians (this is what they call themselves) who believe "Jews" and/or "Israel" are God's people even though they don't believe in Jesus as the Christ of God. I once believed this also, and was taught it by what I thought were learned Christian teachers. But the Bible has only words of condemnation for any who do not believe in Jesus as the Christ of God. The Bible calls Christians the true "Jews" and the Christian church is the New Jerusalem, which is not earthly, but has come down out of heaven. See Romans 2:28,29 below for example;

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the flesh; whose praise is not from men but from God."

Also Romans 9:6b;

"For they are not all Israel who are of Israel."

Also Revelation 3:9;

"Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."

The Jew/Gentile distinction is scripture cannot be based upon physical circumcision for true circumcision is that of the heart. Stephen, speaking by the Holy Spirit, calls the physically circumcised Jewish leaders uncircumcised in heart and ears. Which circumcision counts do you think?

The Christian community today has many divisions or denominations. Some of these denominations have considered themselves the only true people of God and been extremely exclusive. They have considered other denominations outside of Christ, as unbelievers, and as destined for hell. People from these other denominations may be true Christians, but they have been persecuted, ostracized, and even martyred by those who considered themselves the "true believers." How would we discover who the true believers really are? Perhaps by their fruits?

Jesus says, "By their fruits you shall know them." Throughout the book of Acts it is not difficult for us to discern those who are the false people of God, or are using God's name in vain. They are angry, violent, murderous, dishonest, conniving, jealous, proud, etc. etc.

#'s 3-5 considered in subsequent posts.

DR