From Jim McGuiggan... THE HEBREW WRITER'S AIM AND SO WHAT?

THE HEBREW WRITER'S AIM AND SO WHAT?

I could easily see Jews [Jews who are Christians and those that aren't reading the book of Hebrews with special interest. If they rejected Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah it's to be expected that their motivation would be to critique it. If they were Jews who have embraced Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah and Lord it would be to learn more about Him and his purpose. Jews, I would confidently suspect, would be especially interested in Moses, Aaron, tabernacle, priests, animal sacrifices, curtains, genealogies, Joshua, the Old Covenant, the heroes of Israel's history and such. How would that he difficult to understand?

What is surprising [at least] is that Gentiles would find it interesting, much less sometimes enthralling.

Here's this book, something like 2,000 years old that from beginning to end speaks of things that have peculiar relevance to people with a Jewish background and we Gentiles eagerly pore over it.

Of course, it must be said, that we mostly look to the book of Hebrews for arguments to prove that we are right to view Jesus as we do. Is this not true? I think it is true.

But when did we the Gentile rank and file ever meet a Jew and reason with him? When did we ever reason with a devout Jew [if ever we did] in favor of Jesus using the book of Hebrews?

I think our abiding interest in the book of Hebrews is more than surprising—I think it is close to astonishing, especially if we forget the writer's aim!

The Hebrew writer's aim is to keep Jewish believers on their feet!

Church attendance was down, disappointment was everywhere, some had walked away and no longer assembled with Jesus-believing fellow-Jews. They were drifting back to the Judaism they knew with its sacrifices, Aaronic priesthood and visible structures, back to what Jerusalem stood for and the Hebrew writer wanted to stop the rot among them and enrich their faith.

How does he go about it?

He doesn't try to prove anything—he proclaims! Well, yes, he so structures his presentation that he's "making a case" for staying with the Lord Jesus but his "arguments" aren't arguments, they're claims on behalf of Jesus. And he makes these claims on Jesus' behalf because he is already committed to Jesus on the basis of the gospeling of eye-witnesses of the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of the Lord Jesus. He doesn't demonstrate from Scripture that the Jesus they had come to believe in was indeed the Messiah. He doesn't pretend that believers carried around a card with all the predictions about the Messiah and when they met Jesus he had all those identity markers. No, like all the other believers, including the apostolic group in the beginning, they read the Scriptures in light of Jesus rather than Jesus in the light of Scriptures.

The book of Hebrews is a "sermon" addressed to people with a Jewish heritage that mattered to them.

It appears to me if we are to use the book of Hebrews well it won't do just to find out what all the verses meant and repeat them and their meaning—we must do more than exegesis. To be faithful to the Hebrew writer's purpose which is to keep believers on their feet and enriched in the gospel of and about Jesus Christ—to keep faith with that book we must use it in our setting and culture to do what he did. It isn't enough to say, "Here's what each verse means and here's how his 'argument' works for Jews." 

To be faithful to that book [and any other in the Bible] we need to pay attention to the gospel sub-text which is everywhere underneath the verses in the text before us. This vast and indispensable sub-text shows itself every now and then with powerful clarity and to be faithful to the book we are to do with it in our time and culture what the Hebrew writer did to his time and culture.

He proclaims that Jesus is a greater High Priest than any of Aaron's line [in part] because he's deathless. He doesn't develop an argument about Jesus' immortality—he preaches it [contrast it with 1 Corinthians 15:3-9].

It's right and proper that we should examine how the Hebrew writer made his case for loyalty to the Lord Jesus but we mustn't think that having worked out marvelously how he made his case to these Jews that our business is to ceaselessly repeat how he did it and leave it there. "See, that's the book of Hebrews!"

The 21st century believing Gentile might well nod in approval at our accuracy and then ask, "So what? What does a Jewish sermon have to do with us?" 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... HOW DOES GOD "DEFINE" FAITHFULNESS?

HOW DOES GOD "DEFINE" FAITHFULNESS?

I purpose to say something later about "faith" as distinct from "faithful". 

In the biblical witness, does "faithful" mean sinless?

Does "faithful" mean "sinlessly keeping God's commandments"?

If it does, then only one individual in the entire human history was "faithful—Jesus Christ!

It's true, in a sense, that only Jesus was faithful to the Holy One.

But we usually say something like, "Jesus is the only one completely faithful to God."

For several reasons this is good and useful speech. Among other things, it reminds us that we are sinners and often fail God while Jesus never ever failed him. He did "always the things that please Him."

Still, if we read in Scriptures that sinners have been "faithful" to God; if we hear them described as people of faith then we must accept that as true. And we do hear sinners described as men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 and many other places. If that's the case—and it is—then we should happily accept it, especially since we are all sinners. If people who sin can't be regarded as people of faith then we're all in trouble—yes?

So, great sinners are said to be men and women of faith! What's more, when they're described that way it isn't a begrudging remark. It isn't as though the scriptures said, "Well, I suppose they were faithful. I suppose we could call them that even though it's true that they were sinners and blundered a lot. Just the same, it makes you wonder."

No, that's not the tone at all!

Hebrews 11 lists and alludes to men and women—sinners, everyone—and sings their praise as people of faith. The Hebrew writer doesn't mutter or whisper or murmur their names; he doesn't sheepishly mention them in a tone of reluctance or half embarrassment—he brags on them! He sets them up as examples for the ages! He even tells us that God was proud of them; that God wasn't ashamed to be called their God [11:16]. He goes on to close out the list by saying of these sinners, "Of whom the world was not worthy!" [11:38].

He's saying that of Abraham who twice sent his wife to a harem to save his own neck? He's saying that of Jacob whose very name meant "cheater" [and he lived up to it]? He's saying that of the drunken Noah, Moses, who was excluded from the land for unbelief, the prostitute Rahab, the murderous and adulterous David, the bandit Jephthah, the uncontrolled Samson, and the rest? These are the faithful people, the people he wants his peers to admire and follow in faith?

They are!

He wasn't ignorant of their great sins and he wasn't calling his drifting bothers and sisters to follow in the sins of these men and women of faith. He was reminding his readers that what made the esteemed ancestors was their faith that God was faithful, that God would indeed fulfill his promises no matter what the present seemed to say [Hebrews 11:8-13, 39]. God had made promises and these men and women gave their word to the God they believed was faithful and they kept it! Others might walk off after other gods but they wouldn't. Life's conditions would change, new kings would come on the scene, new nations would gain power, new challenges would rush at them that left them wondering what God was doing [or not doing]. But for all that, they had come to stay and they stayed!

They were all weak—everyone without exception. Some were weaker than others, some were stronger in some areas and weaker in others. If we had kept a list of the number of wrongs and rights some would have been lower on the ladder of moral excellence than others. They were all different but they were all the same. They were all sinners and yet every one on of them was faithful!

It had nothing to do with quantity of sins committed and good deeds done! The Hebrew writer was no accountant! He didn't deal in numbers but in hearts. He looked back over the history of his ancestors, not looking for non-sinners but for the faith-filled! He didn't search for those who had the lowest numbers of sins committed or the greatest number of virtuous deeds carried out.

He wasn't looking for moral excellence or for who was "better" than others. He was looking for faith! And he found it in amazing people!

God called great sinners "faithful". How are we to explain that?

Well, before you attempt the explanation accept God's judgment on the matter! Don't debate it—believe it!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... Hebrews 9:26-28

Hebrews 9:26-28

The Hebrew writer says that one of the weaknesses of the OT priesthood and sacrificial system was that sin was never dealt with decisively and definitively (9:25 and see 10:1-3). The Levitical priests appeared ceaselessly before the Lord offering countless sacrifices for sin.

The Hebrew writer said Jesus appeared a first time to deal with sin (9:26). I say he said Jesus appeared a first time to deal with sin because he goes on to say that Jesus would appear a second time not to deal with sin (9:28).

The first time Jesus appeared is the only time he appeared to deal with sin. There is no other appearance that deals with sin so he had better have dealt with it the first time or we're all in trouble. But he did deal with it and he did deal with it in his first appearance.

He dealt with it in his first appearance with a once-for-all atonement (9:26).

The Hebrew writer distinguishes that first appearance from a second appearance.

He doesn't make them one appearance—he says they are two.

He says they are different from one another and he spells out the nature of the difference.

He says the first appearance annulled or took away sin in a definitive and once-for-all action.

He says more than that. To make it clear beyond doubt, he explicitly says the second appearance has nothing to do with dealing with sin—that's a done deal. He makes this remark to underscore the truth that Christ dealt with sin once and for all in his first appearance and that his sacrifice is nothing like the Levitical arrangement.

He insists that Jesus will appear again (9:28) but that it will not be to offer sacrifice to take away sin (that was completed in a previous appearance!).

He says that for those who have experienced the taking away of their sins Jesus will appear a second time to bring them salvation. The salvation he will bring will be for those who eagerly look for him and have received his completed work done in a previous appearance. [The implication for those who have refused and want nothing to do with him is stark.]

Any doctrine then that is grounded on the view that it was at this second appearance that sin was dealt with is far wide of the mark. We occasionally hear that this second appearance speaks of the 70 AD judgement on Israel and that it was then, at 70 AD and not before, that the atonement was accomplished and sin was deal with. It's plain to see that that view runs in direct opposition to the text here.

Any doctrine that offers hope for forgiveness to those who impenitently spurn Jesus lives in tension with this text.

What the Hebrew writer says buries numerous interesting speculations.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Lessons From Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                   Lessons From Antioch (11:19-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. A wonderful example in New Testament times was the church in Antioch
   of Syria...
   b. Begun by disciples who had been in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
   c. Where disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" - Ac 11:26

2. The church in Antioch of Syria would later...
   a. Serve as Paul's starting point for his three missionary journeys 
      - Ac 13:1-3
   b. Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to resolve the issue of
      circumcision - Ac 15:1-2

[In our text for this lesson (Ac 11:19-30), we can glean from the church
in Antioch of Syria several things that are worthy of emulation.  Let's
start with...]

I. HOW TO START A CHURCH

   A. CHURCHES CAN BEGIN IN VARIOUS WAYS...
      1. Paul started many churches through his missionary journeys -
         e.g., Ac 14:21
      2. Others start when a person or family moves to an area where 
         there is no church
      3. Sadly, today many churches begin as a result of division

   B. CHURCHES START BEST WHEN CHRISTIANS "SWARM"...
      1. Like bees swarming from one hive to begin another
      2. The church in Antioch began when disciples came from Jerusalem
         - Ac 11:19-20
      3. Today, "church plantings" most often succeed when several
         families begin a new work

[What is often needed to for more churches are not just more preachers,
but more families willing to be the nucleus of a new work, whether
locally or abroad.  From the church at Antioch, we can also learn...]

II. HOW TO BE A STRONG CHURCH

   A. MANY CHURCHES HAVE MEMBERS WHO PROFESS FAITH...
      1. They may love to assemble and express their faith in praise
      2. They may even confess their faith to friends and neighbors
      3. But sometimes their faith is not accompanied with true 
         repentance

   B. ANTIOCH WAS COMPOSED OF PENITENT BELIEVERS...
      1. They "believed and turned to the Lord" - Ac 11:21 
      2. They turned from sin, and turned to the Lord (an indication of 
         true repentance)
      3. More than mere confessors, they were true converts - e.g., 2Co 7:10-11

[A church made up of penitent believers who became such through "godly
sorrow" will be a strong, vibrant church.  From the church at Antioch,
we can learn...]

III. HOW TO BE A GROWING CHURCH

   A. BY PREACHING THE LORD JESUS...
      1. They were "preaching the Lord Jesus" - Ac 11:20
      2. Today, some preach the "church", almost to the exclusion of
         preaching "Christ"!
         a. Consider much of the evangelistic tools we sometimes use:
            1) Which stress "undenominational Christianity"
            2) Or focus on the "NT pattern for the church"
         b. What can be the result of such preaching?
            1) People may be converted to the idea of the church, rather
               than to the Lord Jesus!
            2) Extent of faithfulness may be limited to church related 
               activities (e.g., attendance)
      3. We need to be sure that we preach the Lord Jesus!
         a. In other words, proclaiming that Jesus is Lord - cf. 

            Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; 10:36
         b. The result of preaching Jesus as Lord?
            1) They will be faithful disciples in all things that Jesus
               taught - Mt 28:19-20
            2) People will then be converted to Christ, as well as to
               His church!

   B. WITH THE HAND OF THE LORD...
      1. At Antioch, "the hand of the Lord was with them" - Ac 11:21
      2. Without Divine help, we can never have the right kind of growth
         a. It is God who opens doors of opportunity - Col 4:3
         b. It is God who gives the increase - 1Co 3:5-7
      3. With God's help, we should expect growth
         a. That is the nature of the kingdom - Mt 13:31-33
         b. Where there is little or no growth, something is amiss!

   C. WITH THE AID OF TEACHERS...
      1. Like Barnabas, who encouraged them by word and example - 

         Ac 11:22-24
      2. Like Saul, who together with Barnabas taught a great many
         people - Ac 11:25-26

[Preach Jesus as Lord, pray for God's helping hand, utilize those able
to teach, and a church will grow!  Finally, we learn from the church at
Antioch, when faced with an impending crisis...]

IV. HOW TO BE A GENEROUS CHURCH

   A. ACCORDING TO ABILITY...
      1. The prophet Agabus foretold of a famine to come upon the world
         - Ac 11:27-28
      2. The disciples gave according to their ability - Ac 11:29
      3. Which is all that God asks of any congregation - 1Co 16:2; 

         2Co 8:12-14

   B. WITH DETERMINATION... 
      1. To send relief to the brethren in Judea - Ac 11:29
      2. To send via trusted messengers (Barnabas and Saul) - Ac 11:30;
         cf. 1Co 16:3

CONCLUSION

1. The church at Antioch was where disciples of Christ were first called
   Christians - Ac 11:26; cf. Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16

2. For reasons we have considered, they are certainly worthy of our
   imitation! - cf. Php 3:17

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

 

From Mark Copeland... The Church In Antioch Of Syria (Acts 11:19-30)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

              The Church In Antioch Of Syria (11:19-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. A major church in New Testament times was the church in Antioch of
   Syria...
   b. Begun by disciples who had been in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
   c. Where disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" - Ac 11:26

2. The church in Antioch of Syria would later...
   a. Serve as Paul's starting point for his three missionary journeys 
      - Ac 13:1-3
   b. Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to resolve the issue of
      circumcision - Ac 15:1-2

[In our text for this lesson (Ac 11:19-30), we read the beginning of
the church in Antioch of Syria.  But first, let's review some
background material concerning the city of Antioch itself...]

I. THE CITY OF ANTIOCH

   A. BEGINNING...
      1. Founded in 300 B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the 
         Great's generals
      2. Named after his father Antiochus
      3. Located on the river Orontes, 15 miles upstream from the port 
         city Seleucia (named after Seleucus himself)

   B. FAME...
      1. Became known as "Antioch the Beautiful"
      2. Famous for its fine buildings, and a long, paved boulevard
         flanked by a double colonnade with trees and fountains
      3. Absorbed by the Roman empire in 64 B.C., it became the capital
         of the imperial province of Syria (and later Cilicia)
      4. Josephus called it the third city of the empire, after Rome and
         Alexandria

   C. POPULATION...
      1. Estimated at 300,000, extremely cosmopolitan (multicultural)
      2. A Greek city by foundation, inhabitants included Latins as well
      3. With a large colony of Jews, attracted by Seleucus' offer of
         equal citizenship
      4. There were also people from Persia, India, and even China,
         earning it another name:  "the Queen of the East"

[Much of the above information about the city of Antioch is from Stott,
J. R. W. (1994). The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the
World. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.  Now let's consider the church itself...]

II. THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH

   A. ESTABLISHED BY EVANGELISTS...
      1. Of those scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem, who first 
         spoke only to the Jews - Ac 11:19; cf. Ac 8:1-4
      2. Some of them from Cyprus and Cyrene, began speaking to 
         Hellenists (Greeks) - Ac 11:20
      3. Preaching the Lord Jesus, with the aid of the Lord, a great
         number believed and turned to the Lord - Ac 11:21  

   B. ENCOURAGED BY BARNABAS...
      1. News of this new church reached Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas
         - Ac 11:22
         a. Introduced earlier as also being from Cyprus - Ac 4:36-37
         b. Who helped Saul to be accepted by the church in Jerusalem
            - Ac 9:26-27
      2. Upon his arrival, Barnabas (whose name means "son of 
         encouragement"):
         a. Saw the grace of God and was glad - Ac 11:23
         b. Encouraged them to continue with the Lord with purpose of
            heart - ibid.
      3. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith
         - Ac 11:24; cf. Ac 4:37; 6:5
      4. Result:  "And a great many people were added to the Lord" - 

         Ac 11:24; cf. Ac 2:41,47

   C. EDUCATED WITH SAUL...
      1. Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul - Ac 11:25; cf. Ac 9:30
      2. Together at Antioch, Barnabas and Saul assembled with the church
         for a year and taught a great many people - Ac 11:26
      3. It was at Antioch disciples were first called Christians - 

         Ac 11:26; cf. Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16

   D. EXEMPLIFIED GOOD WORKS...
      1. Some prophets arrived from Jerusalem - Ac 11:27; cf. 1Co 12:28;
         Ep 4:11
      2. One of them, Agabus, by the Spirit foretold of a famine - Ac 11:28;

         cf. Ac 21:10,11
      3. The disciples at Antioch determined to send relief - Ac 11:29
         a. Each according to his ability - cf. 1Co 16:1-2; 2Co 8:2-4,
            12-14
         b. Sent by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the elders  
      4. Thus the church demonstrated one "zealous for good works" - cf.
         Tit 2:14; 3:1,8,14

CONCLUSION

1. So began a great church in a great city...
   a. Established by evangelists
   b. Endorsed by Barnabas
   c. Educated with Saul
   d. Exemplified good works
   -- Perhaps the second most influential church after Jerusalem in the
      first century A.D.

2. We will read more of this church in the book of Acts...
   a. As an important factor in Paul's missionary journeys
   b. Contributing to the successful resolution of a problem involving 
      Gentiles

Indeed, there are good lessons we might glean from "The Church In Antioch
Of Syria", a few of which we shall look at in our next study...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

 

From Mark Copeland... Peter Defends His Actions (Acts 11:1-18)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                 Peter Defends His Actions (11:1-18)

INTRODUCTION

1. The news of Cornelius' conversion quickly spread...
   a. Those in Jerusalem heard of the Gentiles' reception of the Word
      - Ac 11:1
   b. But Peter's actions were soon criticized by some Jewish Christians
      - Ac 11:2-3

2. As noted previously, there are two accounts of Cornelius' 
   conversion...
   a. There is Luke's description, given as it occurred - Ac 10:1-48
   b. There is Peter's description, when he is called to defend his
      actions - Ac 11:1-18

[In this lesson, we will focus our attention to Peter's description of
the events as they occurred...]

I. PETER'S ACCOUNT OF THIS CONVERSION

   A. PETER HAS A VISION...
      1. While praying in Joppa, in a trance, Peter has a vision - Ac 11:4-9
         a. A sheet descends from heaven, containing all sorts of
            creatures
         b. A voice tells him "Rise, Peter; kill and eat"
         c. Peter objects, for he has never eaten anything common or
            unclean
         d. The voice tells him, "What God has cleansed you must not call
            common."
      2. The vision is repeated three times - Ac 11:10

   B. THE SPIRIT INSTRUCTS PETER...
      1. Three men from Caesarea arrive as Peter contemplates the vision
         - Ac 11:11
      2. The Spirit tells Peter to go with them, doubting nothing - Ac 11:12
      3. Six brethren from Joppa went with him (now with Peter in 
         Jerusalem) - Ac 11:12
      4. They entered the man's house - Ac 11:12

   C. CORNELIUS EXPLAINS WHY HE SENT FOR PETER...
      1. He had seen an angel standing in his house - Ac 11:13
      2. Who told him to send to Joppa and ask for Peter - Ac 11:13
      3. "who will tell you words by which you and all your household
         will be saved" - Ac 11:14

   D. THE SPIRIT FALLS ON THE GENTILES...
      1. "As I began to speak...as upon us at the beginning." - Ac 11:15;
         cf. Ac 2:1-4
      2. Reminded Peter of the Lord's promise to the apostles concerning
         being baptized with the Holy Spirit - Ac 11:16; cf. Ac 1:5
      3. Convinced him that if God gave Gentiles the same gift as given
         to the apostles when they believed on the Lord, who was he to 
         withstand God? - Ac 11:17 

   E. THE IMPACT ON THOSE AT JERUSALEM...
      1. They were silenced, then glorified God - Ac 11:18
      2. Saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to
         life." - ibid.

[Peter's account silenced the objectors, and led to the Gentiles
considered acceptable recipients of the gospel of Christ.  His account
also adds a few details of which we should take careful note...]

II. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THIS CONVERSION

   A. THE ORDER IN WHICH EVENTS OCCURRED...
      1. Peter explained the events "in order from the beginning" - 

         Ac 11:4; cf. Lk 1:3
      2. If there is any question as to the sequence of events, Peter's 
         account takes precedence
 
   B. THE MOMENT WHEN CORNELIUS WAS SAVED...
      1. Remember that Cornelius was told to send for Peter, who would 
         tell him...
         a. "what you must do." - Ac 10:6
         b. "words by which you...shall be saved." - Ac 11:14
      2. From this, and from what we see in other conversions...
         a. Cornelius was not saved until he heard the "words" (i.e.,
            after the sermon)
         b. Cornelius was not saved until he obeyed what he was told to
            do
      3. What were the words he and his household were told to do?
         a. They were told to believe, as implied in Ac 10:43
         b. They were told to be baptized, as commanded in Ac 10:48
      4. Thus Cornelius and his household were not saved until they
         believed and were baptized! - cf. Mk 16:16; Ac 8:12,13

   C. THE PURPOSE OF THE SPIRIT FALLING ON THEM...
      1. Some presume that the purpose was to save Cornelius and his
         family
         a. That therefore they were saved before obeying the command to
            be baptized
         b. But the Spirit came upon them as Peter "began to speak",
            before they could hear words by which they could be saved! 
            - Ac 11:14-15
      2. The purpose of the Spirit can be gleaned from the following...
         a. The effect it had on the Jewish brethren who were present,
            and Peter's response - Ac 10:45-47
         b. The reaction of those in Jerusalem when Peter explained what
            happened - Ac 11:17-18
         c. Peter's explanation at the council held later in Jerusalem 
            - Ac 15:7-11
      3. The purpose of the Spirit falling on Gentiles was therefore to 
         show Jewish brethren...
         a. That God was no respecter of persons - Ac 10:34-35
         b. That God was willing to grant Gentiles opportunity to repent
            and have life - Ac 11:18
         c. That Gentiles could be saved in the same way as Jews... - 

            Ac 15:9,11; cf. Ac 2:38; 10:48

CONCLUSION

1. Peter's defense of his actions silenced those who accused him of
   impropriety...
   a. For socializing with Gentiles
   b. For sharing the gospel with them

2. But the issue of Gentiles in the church was not over...
   a. It will come up again later in Acts - cf. Ac 15:1-2
   b. It was a major issue addressed in several epistles (Romans,
      Galatians, etc.) 

But we who are Gentiles today can be thankful that God in His grace has
made it clear:  He is no respecter of persons, and that all can be
saved by the grace extended through His Son Jesus Christ...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012