Paul, The Apostle To The Gentiles

By Tammy Lacock

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)." (Ephesians 3:1-4 KJV)

In this week’s podcast, Warren Litzman focuses on the Apostle Paul’s mission, that of sharing his “knowledge in the mystery of Christ” to us, the Gentiles.

The “mystery of Christ” revealed to Paul, and now to us, is Christ literally living in every believer. Paul was raised up by Christ, Himself, to deliver this knowledge to the world. He “suffered the loss” of all he was before his conversion and “counted it but dung” (Philippians 3:8) compared to this knowledge of Christ. He knew he was a “brand-new creation” in Christ, born again into a new life with Him. His gospel tells us how to live now with Christ as our new life.

Paul took this gospel to his fellow Jews, and they rejected it. Therefore, Christ told him to share it with the Gentiles, with whom it was well-received. The Jews rejected Paul’s message because by believing they would be giving up their old identities, their traditions, and laws that ruled their lives. Paul’s message was of God’s grace, that being saved has nothing to do with law and works and everything to do with Christ alive in us and through us. This is how the Church, the one Body of Christ, began. Christ living in us makes us Christ-persons, or Christians, the term first used in Acts 11:26.

Warren explains the history of Israel, that God set aside a group of people through Abraham that would live in a close relationship with Him. God wasn’t dealing with anyone else on earth through the generations up until Christ. His purpose for them was to test their love for Him, that they would love Him more than they loved themselves. He empowered them and performed countless miracles for them; yet, they consistently rebelled and doubted Him. God knew there was no hope for them, so He promised them He would send a Redeemer.

When Jesus came to earth and dwelt among them, He told them the Kingdom of God was at hand and a new kingdom will be established on earth. He cast out devils and performed countless miracles. He was the Redeemer they longed for; yet they still rebelled, doubted, and “received Him not.”

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13 KJV)

Christ’s death and resurrection ushered in a new covenant with God, that anyone who believes will be saved from the bondage of sin and this world. What takes place when we believe is the great mystery revealed to Paul from Christ directly. The sin-nature passed down through Adam by the curse of Satan is replaced by Christ’s nature. By God’s grace, we are made complete by His birthing of Christ’s seed in us. This is what it means to be born again. Christ is our new life; and because of Him, we are now bona-fide children of God. It’s Christ’s righteousness in us that God sees now.

In this new life, Paul explains how to go about living with Christ as our new identity.

He tells us that by the help of the Holy Spirit, our minds constantly need renewing so that we will know this Christ, that is now living in us, joined to us in one spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). With this continual mind-change, we can now make choices that reflect our knowledge and love of Him, our new life.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Roman’s 12:2 KJV)

Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:1 that he is the Apostle to the Gentiles. By God’s grace, we became officially a part of His plan and for the first time God dealt with us and in us. But Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Galatians 3:28, that no matter whether we are Jews or Gentiles, all who believe in Christ are saved and are of one family in Him, bona-fide children of God!

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 KJV)