Now No Racial
Distinctions With God ?
by J. Llewellyn Thomas
The National Message
"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." (Gal. 3:28).
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." (Gal. 5:6)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Gal. 6:15)
A common argument brought forward against our identity with Israel is, that in
Christ Jesus "there is neither Jew nor Greek"; that God now takes no cognizance
of race, that all racial distinctions are done away. Hence, if it could be
proved that the Celto-Saxons were the descendants of the Los Ten Tribes, which,
of course, they emphatically deny, it would avail us nothing, because all the
racial blessings and privileges of Israel have been abolished by the statements
in the above verses. Just fancy, all the great heritage of being the Covenant
race is said to be of no value! And yet these very objectors hold strong views
about the Jews, and their future: and they will speak of the present age as
"the Times of the Gentiles," implying marked distinctions, which seems a little
contradictory.
An honored Christian worker used the words of the first text as a complete
refutation when the subject of our identity with Israel was presented to him.
The words that there was "neither Jew nor Greek" in Christ Jesus absolutely
settled the question for him.
How much misunderstanding seems
to exist as to the meaning of the words "in Christ Jesus".
The true meaning is surely that in the matter of Salvation
there is no difference between Jew or Greek, or anybody else; that all have
sinned and are under condemnation; and that deliverance is only in the Son of
God. Being a "new creature" does not depend upon any question of race, social
position or sex, but only on being in Christ Jesus.
Note that the verse
does not deny that there were Jews and Greeks, nay, the
distinction is fully admitted. the only point here emphasized by the Apostle
is that all true believers, though so different in all other respects, are
spiritually one in our Lord. St. Paul was dealing here purely with spiritual
matters. Our objector, however, applied the words to cover everything as if
God considered only the spiritual phase of human existence, and altogether
ignored the realities of man's temporal life.
Yet in the everlasting Covenant,
in the "Promises made unto the Fathers," God
condescended to bestow Temporal and National blessings. Some Christians seem
to regard them as "carnal": are they more spiritually minded than their God?
These Promises by God were made by Covenant to assure those with whom He
covenanted that they were binding and certain; God even bound Himself by Oath
to assure us of the certainty of His Promises. Few Christians seem to know
what these Promises are, or to care about them. And yet it was these Promises
that their Savior came to "perform". This was a great part of Christ's work.
He came to vindicate God's absolute truthfulness by "confirming" the Promises
made unto the Fathers. They were not performed until He came: they were all
for the Latter Days or the Christian Dispensation, the times in which we live.
To return to the text under review: This verse does not end at the words "there
is neither Jew nor Greek." All our objectors seem to stop there, and read no
further; but the verse goes on, it proceeds to add that "there is neither bond
nor free"; yet this was the state of society in that period. In our times it
is the equivalent of employer and employee. In this regard a great change came
over the objector's attitude; he was not so ready to accept this part of the
verse quite so literally. He agreed that in matters of salvation there was no
difference, but in the affairs of this life he did not so apply it. He
happened to be an employer of labour, and did recognize all the difference
between employer and employee. Then why not be consistent about racial
differences in real life even as God most certainly does differentiate? In His
Holy Word He gives full instructions to masters and servants as to how each
must behave towards the other, precise orders are given to each. Why so, if
there is no difference between them? Exactly in the same way God does maintain
the great differences of race. God allotted special functions and duties to
the Israel race, and a service that He did not confer on other nations. It is
to be noted that the verse goes still further to state that in Christ Jesus
"there is neither male nor female." This is true in the spiritual sphere, but
does a Christian refuse in social life to recognize the difference? The
Christian man always marries a woman, yet "there is no difference." While God
sees no distinction between male and female in the matter of salvation, in
regard to this life on earth He prescribes the separate duties of each showing
that there is essential difference. Similarly, god emphatically shows His
views on racial distinctions.
God still takes cognizance of races and nations; He still has His ancient
people Israel, Judah and Israel; Judah and the Celto-Saxon race, the latter
being descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. God has not cast off His
people Israel. He still expects them to do the work He prescribed for them,
and to fulfill His gracious purpose of being a blessing, in things spiritual
and temporal, to all the families and all the nations in the world.
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Permission to reprint given by the editors of:
The magazine: "Thy Kingdom Come"
The official monthly publication of:
The Association of the Covenant People
7730 Edmonds Street, Burnaby, B.C. V3N 1B8 Canada
Phone: (604) 524-1170
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