After Peter opened the doors to the kingdom, God sent an unlikely messenger to reach more Gentiles. Acts emphasizes his dramatic conversion story (Acts 9, 22, 26). His Jewish name was Saul, and he hated Christians. Then he saw the resurrected Christ. Using the Greek name Paul, he became the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13 cf. 1 Timothy 2:7). Acts 13 through 28 reports his missionary travels from Syria to Asia Minor and to Europe. Along the way, Paul and his partners established and organized congregations, descriptively called churches of Christ, churches of God and churches of the saints (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 11:16; 14:33). Together, they compose the one church, the one body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16; 4:4).
The Lord used Paul to write to churches and individual Christians, guiding their conduct in the kingdom. This was important for Gentiles from pagan backgrounds. They knew little of God’s long history with His people and its many valuable lessons. Letters from Paul, Peter and other inspired writers showed how Christians should live and congregations should function. Paul especially assured Gentiles of their complete acceptance into God’s family.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19)
You, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. (Romans 11:17)
In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:26-29)
“YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST.”
Long ago, God promised Abraham many descendants (Genesis 22:17). That came true in a physical sense (Nehemiah 9:23), but its most important fulfillment is spiritual. All who enter Christ are “grafted” spiritually into the ancient family tree of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. All in Christ become the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16 cf. Romans 2:28-29; 9:6). Words that once applied exclusively to physical Israel now apply to all true Christians: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Are you ready to take your place in the history of God’s people?