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Question
In Ephesians 3:6, Paul wrote to the Gentiles stating that they to are fellow heirs and partakers of God's promise. Specifically, what are they heirs to and what is the promise? why was the Jewish community so against this teaching?
Ken,
In Acts 10, we see where Peter was led to Cornelius and shown that the offer of salvation was not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles.
In Exodus 19, God chooses the Jews as His Holy people (also see Deut. 7). Circumcision was given to the Jews (Gen 17) as a sign of this selection by God all the way back to Abram (Abraham).
Therefore, prior to Christ the Jews were the chosen people of God and there was limited opportunity for non-Jews to have access to salvation and the law of God. It wasn't completely restricted, as we see with Ruth, but it was limited.
Once Christ died for all (2 Cor 5) salvation became available to Jews and non-Jews.
Hope this helps.
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LEBoyd
Expertise
I am available to answer questions on most subjects dealing with the Old and New Testaments. I have more than 30 years of detailed study in both Testaments. Additionally, I have studied the many facets of evolution, including a detailed study of Darwin's Origin of the Species. I am a fundamentalist, in that I believe that all Scripture is inspired, or God-breathed, (II Tim. 3:16). I believe that there are no contradictions in the Bible, and that the Bible is complete in telling us our purpose on earth, how to gain salvation and how we should live to obtain salvation. I believe in sin, Satan, heaven, hell, choice-immersion, grace as the free-gift of God and that one can fall from grace. I am a 'layman' in that I taught myself Hebrew (in the English alphabet) and Greek (in the Greek alphabet).
Experience
I have taught many adult classes on the Scriptures on many different subjects over the last 25 years. I have also debated many people (several at once) over subjects such as evolution, original sin, the Diety of Jesus, whether Jesus was perfect by choice, and so-called Biblical contradictions.
Education/Credentials
I am a layman, so I come as a self-trained "expert". I can provide copies of sermanets, classes and emails where I have debated Scripture with others.
I do have a BBA and an MBA from a Top-10 MBA School. I also have several NASD/SEC licenses.
Awards and Honors
In Bibilical areas, I have scored the highest score, or in the top 10, with other adults in an all day annual test on specific Bible books. Some of these books were Luke, Revelation, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronmy, Joshua, Judges, II Kings, and others. Currently, I am teaching an indepth study on the book of Judges.
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