The Ethnic Principle

Most people will say whoa, I thought the Bible was not about races. Well it’s not.
When we study God’s Word we need to obey certain rules. Now these are not my rules but actually God made these rules for us.
There are basically three groups of people written about in the Bible.

1.) The Jew
2.) The Gentile(basically anyone that was not a Jew)
3.) The Christian Church

God breaks down these groups Himself

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

A.) What then is the Ethnic Principle? Let the Bible tell us.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rightly dividing the Word of truth to the Jew

Rightly dividing the Word of truth to the Gentile

Rightly dividing the Word of truth to the Church

B.) The number three(3) speaks of completeness:

1.) Three in the Godhead

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The Father
The Son
The Holy Ghost

2.) The three(3) places of God’s creation:

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Heaven
Earth
Hell

3.) The three(3) groups of people

Jew
Gentile
Church

B.) Some explanation:

1.) The Old Testament is mainly about the Jews.
2.) The Judgments were on the Gentiles.
3.) The New Testament is mainly about the Church.

C.) The Origin of the three(3)

1.) The Jew:

Gen 11:31  And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

2.) The Gentiles:

Gen 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

3.) The Church:

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

D.) Let’s look at some facts concerning the Jew.

Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

1.) The adoption: at first only the Israelites (Notice it is not Israelies)
2.) The “Shekinah”: Hebrew for
3.) The Covenants
4.) The Laws
5.) The service of God; Priesthood
6.) The promises: The prophecy of Jesus the Messiah
7.) The fathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
8.) The Oracles

Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

E.) Let’s look at some facts concerning the Church.

1.) The Church is the Body of Christ
2.) The Jew were a Nation but never referred to as the Body of Christ
3.) The Church began at Pentecost and will exists until the Rapture of the Church
4.) The Church is now God’s chosen people

5.) What are some contrasts:Israel

a.) Promised citizenship in Canaan
b.) Their worship was confined to the Temple
c.) They were commanded to multiply
d.) They have an Earthly inheritance
e.) Their blessing came when certain conditions were met
f.) God promised them they would rule the World one day

The Church:

a.) Promised citizenship in Heaven
b.) The Church can worship anywhere
c.) All food is clean, ok to eat
d.) The Church is commanded to win souls to the Lord
e.) The Church has a Heavenly inheritance
f.) Once truly saved the blessings are unconditional

g.) The Church WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST JESUS, Forever and ever, and ever, and ever and ever.

The Gentiles:(and Jew)

It is God’s plan that all would come to Him. Everyone must make their own choice.

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.