God's preordained plan for His church (part three)

 

•                    Gentiles

The second known group of people in the world are the Gentiles, these are all other nations outside the commonwealth of Israel of whom it is said; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11-12).

These people worship false gods, and therefore the children of Israel were warned saying; “When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods: Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).

Hence the reason why not every form of worship is acceptable to God, except the one He instructed the children of Israel to follow. Therefore, Gentiles have been duly instructed saying; “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: " For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope" (Romans 15:8-12).

Therefore, all other form of worship apart from the one the Lord gave to the children of Israel is vain and useless. It is only the form of worship which is in accordance to the oracles of God that are acceptable to Him, for this is what He said to the prophet Isaiah; “Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD: "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.

"When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:10-15).

The days which the Lord who is the same yesterday, today and forever have ordained for people to appear before Him to worship have not been changed or made obsolete for, " as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, " So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Therefore, whether one is a Jew or Gentile, God has ordained specific days for humanity to come before Him to worship, specific days to commemorate specific events which transpired on behalf of humanity and should be commemorated as an expression of love and gratitude to God for what He did on behalf of humanity. We should not allow ourselves to be misled or deceived in worshiping God on days or occasions which He has not ordained (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).

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To be continued, stay tuned

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph