But one of the elders said, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seven seals." - Revelations 5:5

« Doctrines :: The differences of the Jews & Gentiles under the 2 Covenants

Jews & Gentiles: Their Differences Under the New Covenant

Many people today take for granted that the Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ are considered just the same under the New Covenant. I would like to share what the revelation of the mystery of the New Covenant teaches us with regard to this question.

We understand that the Jews received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, right? Well, what about the Gentiles? When did they receive the Holy Spirit? We know this did not happen until Acts 11:15-18---7-10 years later. Why the difference?

The Holy Spirit did not fall on Jews and Gentiles at the same time. The Jews were first, and then 7-10 years later, He fell upon the Gentiles. I always wondered why the modern Gentile believers celebrated the Jewish feast of Pentecost. I know the Holy Spirit fell on the Jewish believers on that day, but that is when the Jews always celebrated Pentecost--50 days after the Passover.

We also know in Acts 1:3, Jesus taught them things concerning the kingdom for 40 days after His resurrection. It was just a short period of 10 days later that the Holy Spirit fell on the Jewish believers in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. This is not WHY the Holy Spirit fell. It just happened to be the day the Holy Spirit chose to fall. As I said, Pentecost was a Jewish day of celebration--- 50 days after the celebration of the Passover. Even after Jesus taught them in His resurrected body about the things of the Kingdom, the Jewish believers did not understand the mystery to come---- yet.

There was, is, and will always be a difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, even in Christ. The believing Jews actually thought at this time Jesus was restoring the Kingdom to Israel. (Acts 1:6) How wrong they were. They did not understand what Jesus told them when He said, "...for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Acts 1:5)

They could never have imagined God would open up this same salvation to the GENTILES with the sign of the Holy Spirit. Gentiles were not even a part of their thinking---they were foreigners and aliens to the Jews. This is why God had to show Peter the Great Sheet Revelation and then select Paul. Until these historical events took place NOT ONE OF THEM understood salvation was available to whosoever believes. But the question still remains---what were they to do with these Gentile believers? They, (the Jews) knew they were, are, and will always be different from the Gentiles, even after they understood and accepted the Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ and had received the Holy Spirit.

So many people take the verse out of text which says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal.3:28)

This is one advantage that you have when God reveals something to you--usually you already understand the other side. You have taken the time to examine the subject. You have been there. Just like Paul's former manner of life----because of what he was, God could use him to reveal the mystery of the New Covenant.

The whole New Covenant deals with the two groups of people as being different. Example: some take the same verse mentioned above (Gal. 3:28) and use it to say that a man can marry a man, or a woman can marry a woman...

How dangerous it is, then, to take a verse out of context like this?

We are many members but yet one body----GOD HAS PLACED ORDER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. We are legs, arms, eyes, but yet still the same body---each part having different functions---- just as do the Jews and the Gentiles. They are parts of the same body, but are still yet considered different. Please let me continue to explain the difference...

We know that the Jews and Gentiles received the Holy Spirit 7-10 years apart from each other. The Jews had a problem here--- for centuries they were commanded not to associate with us who were Gentiles. What were they to do with us?

Let's go to Acts 15. Here we see in the great Jerusalem Council, they were trying to decide what to do with these Gentile believers. Acts 15:1 "And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, saying “Unless you are circumcised according to the customs of Moses you can not be saved." Also in Acts 15:5-6, we see this: " But certain ones from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed (these were believers in Jesus Christ) stood up saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Laws of Moses." And the apostles and elders came together to look into this matter." What matter?

Were we as Gentiles to circumcise our children according to the custom of Moses and were we to obey the Law of Moses? Do you see it? Two different people in the same covenant!

It was ok for the Jews to circumcise their children, and direct their people to observe the Laws of Moses. BUT, BUT, BUT concerning the Gentiles who have believed , in Acts 15:19-20, James said this, "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled and from blood."

They actually put these decrees in a letter, an "epistle", if you will, (Acts 15:23-29)and delivered it to the cities( Acts 16:4) This epistle, that documents the4 decrees, was delivered to all the Gentile believers for them to follow.

Acts 15:28-29--directly from that "first epistle" says this: "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication (sexual immorality); if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."

This was and is different from what the JEWISH BELIEVERS were to follow. Both are believers in Jesus, but were advised by the Acts church authorities to view the Laws of Moses and circumcision differently.

Now let’s turn our attention to Acts 21: 15-26. This chapter is one of the most important of the New Covenant. Here you see again that there were specific contrasts made between Jewish believers in Christ and Gentiles believers in Christ. You must see that they were BOTH believers in Christ. But they were specifically directed to view the laws and customs of Moses (old covenant) differently.

In Acts 21:20-21, "And when they heard it, they began glorifying God; and they said to him,(Paul) "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law, and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs."

Where do you think these questions came from? Paul never taught the Jews this! He was teaching the Gentiles salvation and the 4 decrees!

You must see the difference between the two groups. Paul never told the Jews to forsake the law or Moses. But remember what was discussed regarding the epistle and the decrees in Acts 21:23-26. The officials directed Paul to purify with and to pay the expenses of, four men who were under a Nazarite vow, so they could complete their vow and then shave their heads as a sign of that completion.

Paul actually took a Nazerite vow also, and from research we know this vow entailed the sacrifice, --- the blood sacrifice--- of a male lamb, a female lamb, a ram, and also a basket of mitzvah, and a container of wine FOR EACH ONE OF THEM. This was extremely expensive and was against what Paul preached to the Gentiles. But this DID NOT affect Paul because he was a Jew. Now concerning GENTILES--- WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

Acts 21:25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, "having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled and from fornication." Yes, there are differences, and these scriptures prove them. Paul, as a Jew, agreed to follow the advice of the Jewish officials and purify and sacrifice according to Jewish customs and law--even though he was teaching the Gentile believers in Christ that they did not have to follow these same laws and customs.

Can you now see the difference between the two groups--- Jews and Gentiles who have believed? I hope this clears up any questions you may have regarding the changes brought about by the New Covenant, and the differences between the Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ.