The gospel of Christ brings both bad and good news to us, Gentiles. The bad news is that Jesus made it clear that He came only for His people, the nation of Israel, set apart by God with a perpetual covenant and sealed with circumcision. The good news is that anyone, anywhere in the world, can join Israel and have access to Jesus without restrictions. To join Israel, we only need to follow the same laws that the Father gave to the nation of which Jesus is a part. The Father observes our faith and courage, even in the face of great challenges, and leads us to the Son. This is the plan of salvation that makes sense because it is the true one. Salvation is individual. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. | “These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ’Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” Matthew 10:5–6
God cares for all humanity, but only those who are part of the people He set apart with an eternal covenant receive His special care as a Father. Those outside receive God’s care as Creator, while those inside are cared for as children. Many Gentiles in churches consider themselves God’s people simply because they use the name of God and Jesus in prayers and songs, but this is not biblical. The Gentile who wishes to belong to God’s people must follow the same laws that the Father gave to Israel, the true people of God. The Lord observes the faith and courage of this Gentile, pours His love upon him, unites him with Israel, and leads him to the Son for forgiveness, blessings, and salvation. This plan of salvation makes sense because it is true. | “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:10
The Gentile who prays without obeying God’s Law prays as an outsider, and that is why his prayers are almost never answered. This discouraging scenario can be easily changed if he takes courage, stops following the majority, and begins to live as the apostles and disciples of Jesus lived: in total obedience to the laws that God gave us in the Old Testament. Jesus was clear in saying that His true family are those who obey the Father, and therefore, it is natural that these receive special treatment from the Lord. Salvation is individual. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. Obey while you are alive. | “And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” 1 John 3:22
Whenever Jesus refers to the Scriptures, He is speaking of the Old Testament, not of writings that would emerge after His return to the Father. The true plan of salvation for the Gentiles is also based on the Old Testament and the words of Jesus in the Gospels. If God had sent salvation instructions through someone after Christ, He would have warned us through the prophets and His Son, but there is no prophecy about sending another person after Christ. We must listen only to Jesus, who taught us that the Father sends us to the Son, and the Father sends only those who follow the laws given to Israel, the same laws that Jesus and His apostles followed. Salvation is individual. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. | “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)
To claim that God’s Law is impossible to fulfill is to accuse the Lord of being unjust and deceptive, as if He demanded something He knows no one can give. The reality is that all of the Lord’s laws can be fulfilled, and must be, if we want to be sent to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. The only laws we do not need to obey are those beyond our reach, such as those related to the Temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD. No Gentile will be taken to heaven without seeking to follow the same laws that Jesus and His apostles followed. There is no other way. Do not follow the majority just because they are numerous. Obey while there is life. | “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44
The sacred expression “Thus says the Lord!” appears only in the Old Testament and indicates a direct pronouncement from God. When a prophet used these words, there was silence to hear what God Himself had to say. In the epistles, this expression was never used, as the apostles wrote only letters containing guidance, not decrees from God. They did not receive the same level of revelation as the prophets. This shows that God did not change His laws nor instituted a new plan of salvation through the apostles, as many advocates of the doctrine of ”unmerited favor” believe. Salvation is individual. No Gentile will ascend without seeking to follow the same laws given to Israel, laws that Jesus and His apostles followed. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
Few souls are willing to obey all the laws that God gave us through the prophets in the Old Testament and through Jesus in the Gospels. And few find the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. As soon as Jesus returned to the Father, the devil inspired leaders to create a plan of salvation for the Gentiles that Jesus never taught. Based on this false plan, millions of Gentiles believe they will be saved, even while living in open disobedience. The Gentile who truly wishes to be saved by Christ must follow the same laws that the Father gave to the chosen nation. The Father sees the faith and courage of this Gentile, despite the difficulties, pours His love upon him, unites him with Israel, and leads him to the Son for forgiveness and salvation. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
The mission given to the apostles in the epistles was to instruct the Jews on how Jesus, through signs and wonders, proved to be the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, and to teach the Gentiles about the faith of Israel and its Messiah. Nothing in the words of Christ suggests that the apostles were tasked with creating a new religion for the Gentiles, separate from Israel, with new doctrines, traditions, and the promise of salvation even for those who openly disobey the laws of His Father. The Gentile who wishes to be saved by Jesus must follow the same laws that the Father gave to the nation of which Jesus is a part. The Father sees our faith and courage, despite all opposition, unites us with Israel, and sends us to the Son. This is the plan of salvation that makes sense because it is true. | The Gentile who joins himself to the Lord, to serve Him, being thus His servant… and who holds fast to My covenant, I will also bring to My holy mountain. (Isaiah 56:6-7)
The prodigal son recognized that he did not deserve his Father’s forgiveness, but this was after his repentance and confession of his sins. The doctrine of “unmerited favor,” on the other hand, teaches that salvation happens even while continuing in open disobedience to the laws that God gave us in the Old Testament. It is with this false security that many in churches ignore the Lord’s commandments. Jesus never taught this in the Gospels. What Jesus taught is that it is the Father who sends us to the Son. And the Father only sends those who follow the same laws given to the nation He set apart for Himself with a perpetual covenant. God watches us and, seeing our obedience, even in the face of opposition, He unites us with Israel and delivers us to Jesus. | “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44
The devil needed special permission to attack Job because he was faithful to God’s Law and pleased the Lord in everything. Nothing has changed today. When we love God and seek to follow His laws, given to the prophets of the Old Testament and to Jesus, the devil does not have free access to our lives. On the rare occasions when we suffer his attacks, it is because he has presented his case to God, and the Lord has allowed it, knowing that we will come out victorious and stronger. But this special protection from God does not exist for those who know His laws and ignore them. Do not follow the majority just because they are many. Obey while you are alive. | “The Lord guides with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.” Psalm 25:10
