The Gospel for All

MEMORY VERSE: “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

GALATIANS 3:7-14, 26-29

THE topic of our lesson, “The Gospel for All,” stresses the scriptural fact that the Lord did not intend that the Gospel message should long be restricted to one nation, or even to several nations. We know, indeed, that Jesus instructed his followers to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, not to convert the whole world in the present age, but to reach and enlighten those whom the Lord would call into the church of Christ.—Acts 2:39

It was not easy for the early disciples to acquire this world-wide concept of the ministry. By birth they were all Israelites, and had been schooled in the belief that they alone were God’s special people. Through one of his prophets God had said to them, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) When Jesus first sent out his disciples into the ministry he limited the scope of their efforts to the Jewish nation.—Matt. 10:5,6

True, Jesus later did extend the reach of his commission to embrace the whole world, but his followers were slow to grasp the thought of working among the Gentiles. We call to mind the experience of Peter, to whom the Lord gave a special revelation in order to induce him to go and preach the Gospel to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. Obeying the instructions of the Lord, Peter did go to the home of Cornelius, and he said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34,35) Cornelius accepted the message which Peter preached, and the Holy Spirit came upon him, even as it had upon the Jews at Pentecost.

It is also well to note that the blessings promised in the Gospel are for all, upon the basis of belief and obedience. The Gospel was preached to Abraham, and in that early declaration of his purpose the assurance was given by God that he intended to bless all the families or nations of the earth. (Gen. 12:3) This blessing was to come through the “Seed” of Abraham, but what Abraham did not know at that time was that this “Seed” would be the Redeemer and Messiah of Israel and the world.

But Paul makes this very plain, for after reminding us that the Gospel was preached beforehand to Abraham, he wrote, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Gal. 3:16) The man Christ Jesus was a direct descendant of Abraham, but it was his faith in the Father’s promises, and his complete dedication to do the Father’s will, that qualified him to be the “Seed” of blessing referred to in the promise made to Abraham.

And in our lesson Paul informs us of a larger faith seed: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. … And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”—vss. 26,27,29

To be baptized into Christ means to be baptized into his death. It is the burial of our wills into the will of God as expressed through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:4,5) And, as Paul explains, those who, in this age, enter into this sacred relationship with Christ are counted by the Lord as part of the faith seed of Abraham, that larger “Seed” through which all the families of the earth are to be blessed.

This favored class are themselves blessed by being called to association with Jesus, and in being exalted in the resurrection to the divine nature to live and reign with him. But this does not end the outflow of the blessings promised. This is more particularly a preparation of the channel of blessing, which, during the messianic kingdom, will reach out to all the families of the earth according to the promise. These will be earthly blessings—for the obedient of that time a restoration to perfection of life on the earth.

And just as our memory verse indicates, these blessings will not be limited to any one nation, even as the present privilege of joint-heirship with Christ is not limited; for, as Peter explained, “God is no respecter of persons.”

QUESTIONS

Why was it difficult for the first believers to see that the Gospel was to be preached to all nations?

Who, primarily, is the promised “Seed” of Abraham?

Who will share this high honor with him?

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