Can a gentile be redeemed?

[Mark]

To understand the question, we must first acknowledge that "Redemption" is a specific concept in Scripture that denotes a prior relationship. To redeem means to buy back that which one must first have legal right to have. It is different than going to the marketplace and buying apples. It requires there first being a relationship with affords the Redeemer legal right of ownership.

The covenant promises by which Messiah established Himself as the Redeemer are not extended universally. The Covenant People is the House of Judah and Ephraim (Israel). This position is established by His own words in Matthew 15:24, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. "

Does this mean that gentiles cannot be saved? Such a conclusion would make Yeshua's commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 a serious waste of time. Yet, nowhere is it suggested that the gentiles abandon their relationship with the covenant people Israel and walk distinctive from her; rather Paul encourages boldness to the gentile in entering in as part of her "commonwealth" (Ephesians 2).

What is troubling is the notion that the gentile Church has legitimacy in their faith toward a Jewish Messiah without regard or connection to the Jewish people: that there are two bodies, two spirits, two baptisms, two inheritances of the kingdom separate but equal in how they may function and relate to Him.

Does the gentile believer enter into a Jewish faith when begins to walk after the ways of Messiah? Is He redeemed in that he joins himself to the covenant people? Or is his faith an individual response to a theological message completely isolated from the Covenant promises established with the Jewish people?

[lawrenceofisrael]

I guess the best answer is given in (i guess it´s) Romans where it says that gentiles and jews are one in Moshiach and that gentiles are grafed into the tree of Israel and are now spiritual children
of Awraham (may the Lord remember him).
Remember the promise given to him that his children will multiply like the sand on the earth and the stars in the sky and that through him all nations will be blessed. That´s what we see every day when we have german, american, russian, african mexican etc. believers who all come from different backgrounds but live together in peace and unity under the banner of moshiach.

Back to your question. If someone believes in Yeshua he becomes a descendant of Awraham and thus automatically, spiritually hebrew.

Peace.

[droberts]

Yes, a gentile can be redeemed. I believe that there is a major shift in the Christian church. The Spirit of God is moving on behalf of those who are willing to seek out and learn more of the Jewish context to which their faith derive. It is a mistake to separate the Christian belief from its historical roots in Judaism. Pray that more come to realize that it is from the Jews we have redemption, the bible, and the promises.

[Mark]

I think that there is some misunderstanding in the specific nature of the question and a general understanding of the word "redeem". In Hebrew it is a specific legal term- one cannot "buy back" what he does nothave the legal rightto purchase by right of kinship.

I've heard a lot of generic "of course" sort of statements, presumptive and offended; but no one has given any biblical evidence that demonstrates that Messiah has legal right, as near kin to a gentile to buy him back. As a renegade slave, the gentile may flee to Messiah for refuge, as bond-servant the gentile can be placed brought into His household, but can Messiah legally buy back what was not His covenant possession?

[lawrenceofisrael]

Moshiach possese everything. His covenant was also established with the gentiles who´d join in. That´s what the prophets say.

[Mark]

I think that's the point: that "joining in" among Israel is an important factor for the redemption. Probably the spawn of this thinking was the redemption of Ruth, the Moabitess, who wasn't specifically redeeemed but came as part of the household of Ebimelech. It was Ebimelech that was redeemed; but Ruth joined herself to that, even was the catalyst.

[lawrenceofisrael]

Yes i´ve no problem with that point of view. ;-)

[ken]

Mark,

The short answer might be that he is the redeemer for Israel and the deliverer for all.

You ask a very interesting and insightful question; what is being redeemed, bought back? Following are all of the verses that contain the Greek word λύτρωσις and Hebrew גאלה that is translated as redeemed: Lev 25:24; 25:26; 25:29; 25:31; 25:32 25:48; 25:51; 25:52, Num 18:16, Ruth 4:6, 4:7, Ps 130:7, Jer 32:7; 32:8, Ezek 11:15, Luke 1:68; 2:38 and Heb 9:12.

The person who does the redeeming is the redeemer or deliverer Greek λυτρωτής Hebrew גאל who delivers someone from a dangerous situation as being redeemed from indentured slavery; can also be the avenger, found in the following verses: Gen 48:16, Exod 6:6; 15:13, Lev 25:25; 25:26, 25:30; 25:33; 25:48; 25:49; 25:54; 27:13; 27:15; 27:19; 27:20; 27:27; 27:28; 27:31; 27:33; Num 5:8; 35:12; 35:19; 35:21; 35:24; 35:25; 35:27, Deut 19:6; 19:12, Josh 20:3; 20:5; 20:9, Ruth 3:9; 3:12; 3:13; 4:1; 4:3; 4:4; 4:6; 4:8; 4:14, 2 Sam 14:11, 1 Kings 16:11, Ezra 2:62, Neh 7:64; 13:29, Job 3:5; 19:25, Ps 19:14;69:18; 72:14; 74:2; 77:15; 78:35; 103:4; 106:10; 107:2; 119:154, Prov 23:11, Isa 35:9; 41:14; 43:1; 43:14; 44:6; 44:22; 44:23; 44:24; 47:4; 48:17; 48:20; 49:7; 49:26; 51:10; 52:3; 52:9; 54:5; 54:8; 59:3; 59:20; 60:16; 62:12; 63:3; 63:4; 63:9; 63:16, Jer 31:11; 50:34, Lam 5:58; 4:14, Dan 1:8, Hos 13:14, Micah 4:10, Zeph 3:1, Mal 1:7; 1:12 and Acts 7:35.

One who has been redeemed is ἐξαγοράζω as found in Gal 3:13; 4:5.

To pay the price to redeem someone is λυτρόομαι as found in Titus 2:14

More interesting is the Greek ἀγοράζω Hebrew אקנה which is to pay the price: 2 Sam 24:24, 1 Chronicles 21:24, Jer 13:2, 32:9, Matt 13:44; 13:46; 14:15; 21:12; 25:9; 25:10; 27:7, Mark 6:36; 6:37; 11:15; 15:46; 16:1, Luke 9:13; 14:18; 14:19; 17:28; 22:36, John 4:8; 6:5, 13:29, 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23, 7:30, 2 Pet 2:1, Rev 3:18; 5:9; 13:17; 14:3, 14:4; 18:11.

After looking all this up there is one scripture that stands out:

Revelation 5:9
9 and they sang a new song,
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals;
because you were slaughtered;
at the cost of blood you ransomed for God
persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.


There are a couple of things happening here; Israel is being redeemed and the price is being paid for sin against the perfect law.

Psalm 130:7, 8
7O Israel, wait for the LORD;
for with the LORD is steadfast love
and great power to redeem.
8It is He who will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.


Psalm 78:35
35They remembered that God was their rock,
God Most High, their Redeemer.


Hebrews 9:11-27
11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.
And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!

15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will].g Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a will, there must necessarily be produced evidence of its maker’s death, 17 since a will goes into effect only upon death; it never has force while its maker is still alive.

18 This is why the first covenant too was inaugurated with blood. 19 After Moshe had proclaimed every command of the to all the people, he took the blood of the calves with some water and used scarlet wool and hyssop to sprinkle both the scroll itself and all the people; 20 and he said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has ordained for you.”h 21 Likewise, he sprinkled with the blood both the Tent and all the things used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, according to the , almost everything is purified with blood; indeed, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Now this is how the copies of the heavenly things had to be purified, but the heavenly things themselves require better sacrifices than these. 24 For the Messiah has entered a Holiest Place which is not man-made and merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, in order to appear now on our behalf in the very presence of God.

25 Further, he did not enter heaven to offer himself over and over again, like the cohen hagadol who enters the Holiest Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as human beings have to die once, but after this comes judgment, 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,i will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Grace and Peace be with you,
Ken

[ken]

May 27, 2009 4:21:15 GMT -8 Mark said:

I think that's the point: that "joining in" among Israel is an important factor for the redemption. Probably the spawn of this thinking was the redemption of Ruth, the Moabitess, who wasn't specifically redeeemed but came as part of the household of Ebimelech. It was Ebimelech that was redeemed; but Ruth joined herself to that, even was the catalyst.

The book of Ruth is an excellent example of redemption.

[ken]

I apologize for all of the long replies; this question is really interesting and the more I explore it the more interesting it is. Yeshua redeemed our sinful flesh and one day He will cloth us in redeemed bodies:

Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Rom 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but • we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, • groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

1 Cor 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Heb 9:15 • Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that * redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Grace and Peace be with you,
Ken

[Mark]

We do have to be careful using synonyms in Greek the same way that they are used in English. It is unfortunate that in most English translations words like "lootros" and "poy-eh-o" are used interchangeably. In Greek, it is the diference between two words that are similar which should be emphasized, not their similarities; therefore, synonyms are not used for poetic flavoring; but to give a specific, rather than generalized, understanding.

The Greek Septuigent of the Old Testament uses the word lootrow-settai, which is quite specific, that the person is redeemed or purchased back by a specific third party. This is altogether different from the word exadoradzo which means to purchase outright or to buy up. It is very much the difference between shopping in an open market and going to a pawn shop. Only the person with the redemption ticket can buy the specific article from the pawn shop, while anyone one can purchase in the open market.

It is unfortunate that we interpret these words interchangeably, thus soften the meaning of what Messiah has done: specifically to the nation of Israel. This soft interpretation allows the gentiles equal access through their own relationship instead of in relations to the Hebrew nation. This is what Paul was talking about when he described faith as first (primarily) to the Jew but also to the Greek (Romans 1-2).

The Christian Church, as it is described today, dismisses this concept as illiegitimate and usurps the position (because they claim the name of Christ) to be closer (or equally close) in relationship to Adonai Elohim as their Jewish brothers. In fact, it is commonly understood that the gentile believer is closer to God than his Jewish counterpart (regardless if the Jewish person declares a relationship with Messiah or not). This is because the Church teaches that redemption is through Christ as the Savior of the world, not as the Messiah of Israel. When the Scripture teaches that one is not legitimized without the other.

[ken]

Mark,

Well said; I did see the difference in the scriptures, there seems to be multiple redemptions and outright purchases being made. Israel is being redeemed, the land is being redeemed and the earth is being redeemed. Also purchases are being made; such as, in Matthew 13 when the man (Messiah) sells all He has, including His life, then buys the field (the land) for the treasure (Israel) and the man (Messiah) who sells all He has, including His life, to buy the Pearl (unclean gentiles) that come out of the sea (the gentile nations).

I do not speak or read Greek and Hebrew; though, I have a lots of lexicons and dictionaries. I was explaining this same concept to a friend about the difference between petros and petra. Jesus told Peter he is the petros (chip that comes off the foundation stone being quarried) and on this petra (the foundation stone that the chips come off of) He will build His congregation. It is really hard to understand exactly what is being communicated when the translators do not translate what is being said properly.

Thank you for the clairification.

Grace and peace be with you,
Ken

[yeshuafreak]

both jew and gentile are to follow . if they do not, than they cannot inherit the promisses of God that were given to yeshua, who wrote them in his "will." by Yeshua's death however, the will came into affect and anyone who becomes brothers of the mashiach and sons of God can become heirs to these promises, heirs to the will.

Yeshua's sacrifice was the greater sacrifice to redeem the firstborn of God- Yisrael. and gentiles beomce part of Yisrael through being grfted in by faith. (RO11; Ruth).

so yes a gentile can be redeemed, for he is to follow this as well, given a chance to the promises of God which he cannot through his sinfulness. but Yeshua brough t him back into his orignal state.

shalom- john