The Riches of the Gentiles

 

The Riches of the Gentiles

 

Romans 11:12

 

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

 

In regard to this verse of holy scripture “the riches of the Gentiles”, and “the riches of the world”, are not with reference to tangible and carnal things. The riches that are spoken of in the subject verse are as high above temporal things as the heavens are higher than the earth.

 

Although the fall of the Jews from their place of privilege was an extreme loss to them, the things they lost were weak and beggarly in comparison of the things the Gentiles gained through their terrible loss. As it is written: “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage” (Galatians 4:9). These to whom the Apostle had addressed this letter had a profession of Christianity, but had turned aside to “vain jangling” (I Timothy 1:6). They were turned aside from Justification by the Grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, and they were turned to a mixture of grace and works, which is a turn unto death eternal. The Jews who had turned from Christianity to Judaism and the works of the law for justification, had turned from a finished salvation and perfect righteousness already established, to their own works for both. And as it is written: “ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). Their turning away from Christ alone for all salvation and eternal blessedness in Him, was to them a turn to everlasting cursedness before All Mighty God. Those who turned back to “the Jews religion” (Galatians 1:13-14), had departed from the living God, as it is written: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).

 

The weak and beggarly elements which were under the law and to which the apostate Hebrews wished to return are “elements of the world” as said the Apostle: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world” (Galatiains 4:3). The elements of the world had to do with a “worldly sanctuary”: it is written “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:1-10).

 

The weakness and beggarliness of the worldly elements used under the administration of the law are demonstrated in the result of their exercises. After all was done under the law that was commanded to be done, the result was that sin still remained: as it is written: “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4). How very weak and beggarly is the blood of bulls and goats in the business of putting away sin? How very weak and beggarly was the priesthood under the law there being no priest of the sons Levi which was not a sinner? How weak and beggarly was the sanctuary made of gold when compared to the presence of the maker of this universe? All these things were only useful as teaching tools, used of the Great God to instruct His creatures of His Holiness, Purity, and what it is to contemplate His worship. God will be worshipped but only as it pleases Him.

 

The people of Israel could never enter the sanctuary because it was only for the priests. And into the second chamber the high priest could not enter, save once per year, and never without blood. First with blood for his own personal sin and then with blood for the sins of the people. All things under the law were dedicated by blood, as it is written; “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you” (Hebrews 9:18-20). All these things were so many pictures and shadows of the good things to be brought in by the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth when He would confirm the everlasting covenant by His blood shedding and death. As it is written: “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 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. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect” (Galatians 3:15-17 See also Hebrews 13:20). And this in order to accomplish the reformation that had to come from worship under the shadows of the Old Testament to worship in the gospel light of the New Testament. Now that Messiah has been cutoff (Daniel 9:26) in confirmation of the New Testament and has finished the work of redemption all the shadows, pictures, and types, of the Old Testament are put away.

 

 “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:1-5). At the time which was appointed, (in eternity past in the everlasting covenant of grace) God the Father sent forth His Son into this world to be the Savior of those who have interest in the everlasting covenant. And at the time which was appointed in eternity past, God the Holy Ghost visited Mary and caused conception in her womb of that “holy thing” which is the True Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man, as the Apostle said concerning the person of Jesus Christ: “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:2) again the Apostle said “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building” (Hebrews 9:11) and “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, (tabernacle: writer) and in three days I will raise it up” (John 219). That human tabernacle, the body of Jesus Christ was made of the substance a woman made under the law. In the old creation God took of the substance of man and made a woman. In the new creation God took the substance of woman and made the body of the God-Man for the suffering of death; as the Surety of the people of God of all ages, of all kindreds, of all tongues, of all peoples, and of all nations.

 

“Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar” (I Corinthians 10:18). Most of the natural seed of Abraham were blind as concerning “end of the law” which is Christ; as it is written “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4). They who were Israel after the flesh ate the sacrifices; but knew not what the sacrifices meant. Israel after the flesh did not see Christ in the ceremonies of the law and therefore as concerning Israel after the flesh it is written: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:4-8). These persons who are Israel after the flesh; but not “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) who never had interest in the everlasting covenant: “have not believed God” because believing is a covenant gift of God for Abraham and His spiritual seed. As it is written: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:6-9).

 

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

The riches of the Gentiles are the spiritual riches of the everlasting covenant of grace which are promised to Abraham and His spiritual seed of all kindreds, tongues, nations and peoples. These spiritual riches were given the Gentiles upon the fall of the major part of the Jewish nation. “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” (Romans 11:1-4). There has always been and there will always be a remnant according to the election grace out of Israel as is evidenced by the Apostle Paul and the other Jewish believers of all the ages since the days of the Apostles.

 

“How much more their fulness?” Their fulness, in the apprehension of the writer, is the full number of those included in the election of grace at any given time and it seems reasonable that this number might vary. The spiritual blessings of God on Israel, in all the book of God are the blessings of God on the Israel of God. That Israel of God is composed of children of the everlasting covenant who are identified by faith in Jesus Christ. The number of the Israel of God who are from the Jewish People has been determined by God from everlasting, and is known to God, whether it be many or few. But the Apostle seems to imply that since the fall of the Jews has precipitated the call of the Gentiles, and the blessedness of the Gentiles, what would be the blessedness to the Gentiles if a very large number of the Jewish people were given faith to own Jesus Christ as their Messiah? “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead” (Romans 11:15).

 

AJ Ison

 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true gospel of Jesus Christ preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.