It has everything to do with the mindset of the authors of the NT. They were seeing the world through the eyes of Judaism, not Christianity or, for that matter 21st century Protestant Christians. The Noahides were considered saved through Judaism. There is nothing in the synoptic Gospels to indicate that Christ came to save specifically the Gentiles. To the contrary, taking the Gospel to the Gentiles came as a result of Jewish refusal of the Gospels.
The Jews were wrong about many things at that time.
So were the Christians who expected the second coming within one generation. So were the Apostles who expected Christ to restore the kingdom of Israel after the Resurrection.
Take for example your above in which you admit to cherry-picking your interpretation of the Gospels while throwing out other NT scripture when you can't reconcile them
There is nowhere in the NT that says that Christ came to save the Gentiles. It was a reaction to the Jewish refusal of His ministry. He is quoted as saying that the only reason he was sent was for the lost sheep of Israel, And he specifically forbade the Apostles to minister to the Gentiles. He calls Gentiles "dogs."
What you call "reconciling" is nothing but rationalization. It doesn't matter if the glass is half full or half empty—it's not full! There is nothing to reconcile and no amount of rationalization will make it full.
The Gospels are true AND Paul's writings are true
And there are unicorns on Jupiter. Trust me.
[Re Gal 2:15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles"] He means by birth. He doesn't mean that Gentiles have a sinful nature and Jews do not. That would be ridiculous. Here is the word used: NT:5449 phusis (foo'-sis); from NT:5453; growth (by germination or expansion), i.e. (by implication) natural production (lineal descent); by extension, a genus or sort; figuratively, native disposition, constitution or usage: KJV - ([man-]) kind, nature ([-al]).
The NT Greek lexicon states:
physis: nature
He is stating that the Jews are somehow different form the Gentiles, by nature/essence, when it comes to being sinful. But, since not all Jews are born Jewish, your suggestion that he meant by "birth" is simply wrong as a matter of fact. He is saying that Jewishness somehow separates people by nature (essence), that the Gentiles can never be like the Jews. He makes that very clear.
That is entirely in harmony with the Jewish attitude towards the Noahaides (the "righteous Gentiles") who, although saved because they followed the law, could never be the same as the Jews.
Talk about cherry-picking! :) If Paul taught anything he taught that all men are equally guilty before God, and that all need a Savior, including Jews.
No, not cherry-picking. That verse represents St. Paul's attitude across the board. Sure, the Gentiles are included, (in Judaism also the Noahides), but they are not the same as the Jews, and because by nature/essence they differ, they can never be the same. We tend to believe that all humans are human by nature, that this is everyone's world, and all humans are entitled to the same rights as any other human, regardless of religion, race, origin, etc. If we start justifying our differences "by nature" we are on thin ice!
I know that many people think that God helps those who help themselves, but the truth is that it is the opposite...But we WERE talking about salvational issues with the Jews and Gentiles. "God helps those who help themselves" may be the most common form of stating a works-based salvation theology.
The Bible also says women are "saved" by having babies. Just because one says he or she believes, does not mean they are Christ-like? Faith without works is a dead faith.
“There is nowhere in the NT that says that Christ came to save the Gentiles.”
Simeon’s prophecy in Luke 2:32, “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” which is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isa. 49:6, “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
What is interesting about the Isaiah prophecy is it says that the ministry of the “servant” would be secret and he would be subject to the rulers of his time, but ultimately all rulers would worship him.
“It has everything to do with the mindset of the authors of the NT. They were seeing the world through the eyes of Judaism, not Christianity”
Luke was probably Greek writing to Greeks using the Greek form of historical research and forms.
Yet when Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed he didn't actually kill him, but his faith was credited to him as righteousness.
It has everything to do with the mindset of the authors of the NT. They were seeing the world through the eyes of Judaism, not Christianity or, for that matter 21st century Protestant Christians.
Well, if the authors were just random people who were writing their own stuff, then the Bible is just another book, and all of this is moot. I'm not sure how you can know what their mindsets were if you deny they were being directly led by the Spirit in their writings.
FK: "The Jews were wrong about many things at that time."
So were the Christians who expected the second coming within one generation. So were the Apostles who expected Christ to restore the kingdom of Israel after the Resurrection.
Ah, so if this is true, then I'm sure you would agree with me that it is fully possible that the early Church Fathers were wrong about a great many things. :)
There is nowhere in the NT that says that Christ came to save the Gentiles. It was a reaction to the Jewish refusal of His ministry.
If God is only a reactor, rather than a leader, then God follows man. This is not the God I know.
He is quoted as saying that the only reason he was sent was for the lost sheep of Israel, And he specifically forbade the Apostles to minister to the Gentiles. He calls Gentiles "dogs."
But in that same story He says to the Gentile: "Woman, you have great faith, your request is granted". Now, do you really think that if she had asked Him to forgive her sins right there Jesus would have said "Sorry, no can do you DOG!"? Of course not. This story is a great clue as to what Jesus knew was coming.
FK: [Re Gal 2:15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles"] He means by birth. He doesn't mean that Gentiles have a sinful nature and Jews do not.
He is stating that the Jews are somehow different form the Gentiles, by nature/essence, when it comes to being sinful. But, since not all Jews are born Jewish, your suggestion that he meant by "birth" is simply wrong as a matter of fact. He is saying that Jewishness somehow separates people by nature (essence), that the Gentiles can never be like the Jews. He makes that very clear.
You are making my point for me. Since you admit that some Jews were converts (true), THEN no one can say that Jews have a different essence. Can anyone change his own essence? No. I thought you used to be one who argued strongly that God plays no favorites. What made you change to this opposite view? All men stand equally before God in their sins. While it is true that the message was designed to be carried to the Jews first, there was never any question but that it would also be taken to the Gentiles. God actually knew what He was doing. :)
That is entirely in harmony with the Jewish attitude towards the Noahaides (the "righteous Gentiles") who, although saved because they followed the law, could never be the same as the Jews.
No one ever has or ever will be saved by following the law. That is a works based salvation and no one can do it.
Rom 3:20 : Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Rom 3:28-31 : 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Gal 2:15-16 : 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.