"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him," Romans 10:12.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus," Galatians 3:28.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision but faith, which worketh by love," Galatians 5:6.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature," Galatians 6: 15.

From the New Testament it is clear that the old distinctions between Jew and Gentile, which were meant for the Old Testament dispensation. are no longer to be observed today. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile - God has the same plan for both groups.

That plan is that all people, whether Jew or Gentile, should be saved and then united in one body, the Lord's Church (local, not universal).

"Therefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

"That at that time ye 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:

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Ephesians 2 11-14

The reference to breaking down the middle wall of partition DOES NOT mean that we are commanded to work to break down denominational divisions (Baptist versus non-Baptist) as some have thought. We are not urged or commanded to break down any walls here.

Rather, the context shows that it is the wall between Jews and Gentiles (Circumcision and Uncircumcision) that has already been broken down as a result of Christ's death for our sins on the Cross. There is no longer any separation or distinction to be maintained between these two groups. The Apostle Paul severely rebuked Peter for trying to maintain that wall of division between Jew and Gentile, Galatians 2:11-14.

All born-again Christians, whether Jew or Gentile, are the true Spiritual Israel, Galatians 3:7, 6:16. This does not mean that the Church has replaced the original Israel of Old Testament times. Rather, the Gentiles have been grafted into Israel in a perfect union, Romans 11:16-24.

This unity of Jews and Gentiles in the institution of the Lords Church was the mystery which God revealed through the Apostles. "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed until his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel," Ephesians 3:5-6.

In Old Testament times, Gentiles had to become Jews in order to unite with the Jews in the true worship of God. In the Church Age it is no longer required that we become Jews, and Paul makes it clear that being, or becoming, a Jew does not confer any advantage: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing," Galatians 5:2. Those who tried to make Jews out of the Gentile converts were harshly condemned, Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:12, Philippians 3:2.

The Lord Jesus Christ, in His earthly ministry, publicly rebuked those who claimed superior status by reason of their Jewish ancestry, John 8:39-44. In Revelation 2:9 He denounced "them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."

The Apostle Peter in Acts 15:9 declared that God had put no difference between Jews and Gentiles. In Philippians 3:3. Paul declares that "We are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh," and in verses 4-9 he goes on to repudiate any advantage he personally once thought that he had before the Lord because of his Jewish background.

So. whenever we hear any talk of any distinctions or racial advantages for the Jews in this Age of Grace, we must stop and remember that "There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek" and that God has "put no difference between us and them," Acts 15:9.

Gods plan for the Jews, present and future, is the same as His plan for the Gentiles. He wants Jews and Gentiles to repent, be saved, and be united in the Lords Church. All speculation about any different role for Jews in the future, such as the so-called "earthly destiny of the Jews and heavenly destiny of the Gentiles." is totally without Scriptural basis.

All of us who are born again, whether Jew or Gentile, have the same land promise and the same destiny. The land promised to all of us is located not somewhere in the Middle East, but in heaven (Hebrews 11:13-16), and the Jerusalem we are to focus on is the new Jerusalem in heaven, not the old one in Palestine, John 4:21, Galatians 4:25-26, Hebrews 12:22.

There is no scriptural justification for putting Jewish people on a pedestal as some kind of superior race. Jewish people today do not want to be put on that pedestal. Nor do they want to be blamed for all the problems of the world, as some would do with their accusations of a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world.

As a Baptist. I do not want to be blamed for the misdeeds of John D Rockefeller and his descendants, all of whom have been Baptists. It is equally absurd to blame any Jews living today for the wrongdoing of some Jewish Bolsheviks or other conspirators whose offenses were committed long ago.

The accusation that Jews living today are Christ-killers" is a racist slur that must be repudiated by all Christians of good will. No Jew should be hated or persecuted for actions which took place almost 20 centuries ago.

Christ made it clear in Matthew 23:23-36, 24:34, that the Jews of that generation, living in the First Century, would be punished by divine judgment, for their sin of rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, and that ALL the punishment would come upon that generation. This prophecy came true in 70 AD when the Romans came and completely destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish state (one of the greatest fulfillments of Biblical prophecy in all recorded history).

For us to try to further punish the Jews when Christ said that ALL the punishment would come upon that generation in the First Century. would be an act of bigotry and a rejection of Gods program for today.

Gods program is that we should love the Jews, seek their conversion (Romans 9: 3), and then be united with them in the fellowship of the Lords Church, where there is no longer any Jew nor Greek.

God has made every nation on earth of one blood, Acts 17.26. Therefore we cannot elevate the Jews as a superior race, nor look down on them as an inferior race. The Jews are people just like you and I. and many of them are our brothers and sisters in Christ. As one of the greatest Jews of all, the Apostle Paul, said, "There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek." 

The contents of this article are the property of Thomas Williamson and Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1997-2001. All Rights Reserved. Email metro@bmaweb.net concerning article content.