The apostle Paul, as a converted Jew, states: ‘All of us, also lived like them.’ Like those Gentiles that the Jews so despise. The Ten Commandments, have been broken by every Jew, as it is written: ‘Because they (the Israelites) did not remain faithful to my covenant, says the Lord…I turned away from them, declares the Lord.’ After being warned so often by many prophets that they did not believe, yet finally it happened and to this day they bear the curse! The Cross of Christ, put an end to God’s favours and they also need to believe in Christ to be reconciled with God whom they have offended! Having written what Paul wrote to the Jews, what did he write to the Gentiles? Because most churches in His days had converted Jews and Gentiles in their pews. Look at the world today, what difference is there with all humans, all live unawares that the God of the Jews, is also the God of the whole world. Sin is sin in all its ugliness, whether committed by a Jew or a Gentile! Thank the Lord, the state of the Gentiles is not bypassed, whether they had the ten Commandments or not! By faith In the Lord Jesus Christ all are saved.

To make it plain, it is written: ‘Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcised’, (the Jews) remember that at that time you were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, (the spirituel Israel - the disciples of the Lord - for they alone are eternal!) foreigners to the covenant of the promise, (the New Covenant) without hope and without God in the world!’ (Ephesians 2: 11-12) I mentioned previously (Link 68). What the apostle Paul, wrote in the first chapter of his epistle to the Christians in Rome, condemns out right Jews and Gentiles. The Messiah, the Saviour, during centuries was promised to the Israelites, by many of the prophets God sent to them. Thus, it is to them that God send His Son; for Jesus was a Jew, and He was the only Jew that obeyed all the Commandments and precepts, God gave to Moses. Jesus being sinless ‘was the perfect lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.’ (John 1: 29) But as I have already stated it, they refused to believe that He was the Son of God, and killed Him!

When Jesus died on the cross, the Jewish nation, more or less died with Him and its status before God changed completely! The nation of Israel has never been the same since, to this day, in the eyes of the Lord, there is still no difference between a Jew and a Gentile, as it is written: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ The apostle Paul mentions this plainly in the following verses: ‘For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And that He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.’ (2 Corinthians 5: 14-15) ‘Those who live’ as mentioned, are the Christians born again by faith in Christ, they live to glorify Him by every means possible! I refer to the day when Jesus Christ was going to enter triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which was five days prior to His crucifixion. As the crowd of his disciples followed Him from Bethany and approaching the city, it is written: ‘When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives (about a mile from the walls of Jerusalem), the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus. Teacher, rebuke your disciples! I tell you He replied, if they keep quiet the stones will cry out (Luke 19: 37-40) Prophesies centuries old, from the days of King David, were being fulfilled and many more will be fulfilled before Christ ascends into glory, and returns to earth to set up His kingdom!

Surprisingly, in the midst of all joyful and praiseful atmosphere, Jesus knowing what the future held for Jerusalem and the nation! In tears entered the city.  For it is written: ‘As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said: If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build embankments against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you, and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you!  Jesus was prophesying on things prophets of old mentioned in kind. How wrong can men be when they shut themselves in their prejudicial towers! Set in their pride, nothing and no one could penetrate those thick walls of darkness. ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, (or seed) they said, and have never been slaves to anyone.’ (John 8: 33)