Young People's Group

“Preached Among the Gentiles”

by Mitchell Tan
October 07, 2016

GOD’S PLAN OF PROCLAMATION OF GOOD NEWS TO ALL NATIONS

The gospel of the Lord Jesus was not meant just for Israel. It was meant for the Gentiles too.

1. IT WAS PROPHESIED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

“I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

The Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles. His word will shine forth to all the nations. The Lord Jesus would be God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. The Gentiles will also come to believe in the good news of Christ.

2. IT WAS FULFILLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Preached among the Gentiles”
1 Timothy 3:16d

This prophecy was fulfilled during the times of Paul. He was the one who spearheaded this work of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. The gospel of the Lord Jesus was indeed preached among them.

BRINGING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO THE GENTILES

How did Paul bring about this message of Christ to the Gentiles?

1. REVELATION SLOWLY GIVEN TO PAUL

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.’”
Acts 9:15

It was the Lord who revealed Paul’s mission for his life and ministry through Ananias. He was going to be a chosen instrument of the Lord to bear His name and His gospel to the Gentiles. But he did not start preaching to the Gentiles straight away. He was in Arabia for three years where the Lord revealed the gospel to him and the task that he was to do (Galatians 1:17-18). Slowly but surely, the Lord revealed more and more about his calling to reach the Gentiles.

2. RESPONSE OF PAUL IN CHOOSING TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES

“Behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”
Acts 13:46

When Paul brought the gospel to both the Jews and Gentiles at Antioch in Pisidia, some of the Jews rejected it. And he went on to speak of how they had proven themselves unworthy of eternal life. Paul was now going to focus on bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter was also called to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:15) but he did not follow through with it. It was Paul who responded well by choosing to preach the gospel to the nations.

3. REACHING THE GENTILES AS PAUL’S SPECIAL MINISTRY

“That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister”
Ephesians 3:6-7

Reaching the Gentiles was Paul’s special ministry. It was revealed through the grace of God that the Gentiles were to be the fellow heirs of the body of Christ. Paul was the one to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Young people, let’s also consider what it means to bring the message of Christ to a world that is lost. Let’s share the gospel that others may be partakers of the promise in Christ.

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