PART FOUR

AN EXPOSITION OF THE ESCHATOLOGY OF ROMANS

THE ISRAEL OF GOD

Section 3 - A SUMMARY OF GOD'S JUSTIFICATION AND GOD'S CONDEMNATION 

“THEREFORE, you are without excuse, O man, whosoever you are that judges: For wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; For you that judge do practice the same things.  And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them who practice such things.  And consider this, O man, who judges them who practice such things, and you are doing the same things yourself, that you shall escape the judgment of God?” (Rom.2:1 - 3)

 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 

But after your hard and impenitent heart treasures up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his works.”

“To them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:

But unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that works evil, of the Jews first, and also of the Greeks.”

aaron-We must keep in mind that the Apostle Paul is speaking in a general way about the peoples of God, and that the failures in their actions do have serious consequences: Wrath, indignation, tribulation, and anguish upon those who would choose to walk the path of the prodigal and continue to practice evil.  This would mean that they will be required to remain here on earth throughout the Great Tribulation period, unless they repent of those evil works. Ref.Rev.2:20-23

“But glory and honor and peace to every man that works what is good, to the Jews first, and also to the Greeks. 

For God is no respecter of persons.  For as many as have sinned without the law shall perish without the law: And as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law.  (For not the hearers of the law are justified before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom.2:4 - 13)

aaron- God, through these important Scriptures, is showing us the details of His expanded jurisdiction:

1. The gospel reveals God's righteousness.  It is only God's goodness and mercy that leads us to repentance.

          2. All peoples are now answerable to God and are subject to His jurisdiction.  The practice of unrighteousness leads to the righteous judgment of God.

3. God gives eternal life to those who, by patience in well doing, seek for glory and incorruption.  Which might well be referring in the immediate sense to only those who are within God’s invisible Covenant of Promise. Ref.Gal.4:

4. But to those who are factious and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that works evil: To the Jews first, and also to the Greeks.  Then this might well be referring to all of the visible corporate who occupy a station within God’s Circumcision of The Flesh Covenant /or the visible Covenant of Bondage. Ref.Gal:4, Gen.17  This is one of the most important sections in the book of Romans, with respect to understanding how God is dealing with His creation during this dispensation.

We must understand:

5. That God is no respecter of persons.  In justification and in condemnation, all peoples are now on an equal footing.

6. When we read—“For as many as have sinned without the law shall perish without the law”, we should immediately understand that this is not referring to any of the visible or invisible institutional peoples of God, but to the eternally lost of this world.  That is, only the visible and the invisible Covenant peoples of God are entitled to lay claim to the law.

7. That it is not the hearers, but the doers of the law that are now selectively justified before God and will escape that terrible day.

Because God has manifested the universal character of His reconciliation through His expanded salvation program that is now evident within the Christian Church, it is essential that all peoples understand God's expanded jurisdiction as well.  Absolutely understanding that God is the Sovereign Judge.  It is because God has presently removed all distinction in His justification and condemnation that we now have universal individual accountability.  Each and every person in the world has now become answerable to the invisible Creator God.

2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with God.

"He has hitherto generally arraigned all mortals as guilty; but now He begins to bring home His accusation to the Jews and to the Gentiles separately: and at the same time He teaches us, that it is no objection that there is a difference between them, but that they are both without any distinction exposed to eternal death."

Calvin's Commentary - Romans - p.93

aaron-One would be hard pressed to Scripturally support the vagueness of the above statement by John Calvin, because the Word of God plainly tells us that there is ABSOLUTELY NO DISTINCTION between Jew or Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  And there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who call upon Him.

$$"That there is a twofold acceptation of men before God;

the first, when He chooses and calls us from nothing, through gratuitous ** goodness, as there is nothing in our nature which can be approved by Him;

the second, when after having regenerated us, He confers on us His gifts, and shows favor to the image of His Son which He recognizes in us."

Calvin's Commentary - Romans - p.94

aaron-1st-John Calvin is unwittingly, but correctly, describing God’s universal calling of His visible institutional corporate peoples into His Abrahamic Covenant of Grace.  This is where the individual receives their justifying faith from God Himself.  This would surly be seen as the first work of God’s Holy Spirit, on the basis that “the sacraments confer grace in the first instance.” <*>

2nd-John Calvin is also unwittingly, but correctly, describing God’s regenerative process for selectively choosing His high priestly line into His invisible Covenant of Promise /or His hidden Israel of God.  This would surly be seen as a second work of God’s Holy Spirit.

-GENERAL EXPLANATION AND WARNING-cont.

AARON-There is a definite need within today’s Church for God to explain the various details concerning this evident transition within His reconciliation.

*-THE GENTILES AND THE LAW

“For when the Gentiles that have not the law, do by nature the things [contained] in the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves: In that they show the works of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts, one with another, accusing or else excusing them), in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.” (Rom.2:14-16)

aaron- It is absolutely essential that we understand God’s manifested communication  during this present dispensation:

1. That God, through His Holy Spirit, writes His law within our hearts and subconsciously speaks to us through our spirits.

2. That God then, through our conscience, directly guides us to do those things pleasing to Him.

This means that a person who has not had access to the word of God [the law and the prophets], can be instilled with knowledgeable insight into the spirit of the law and the prophets.  God enables them, through their conscience, to know what is right from what is wrong.  They, as well as all peoples, can receive direct guidance from the Spirit of God.

3. The accusing and excusing thoughts within our minds represent the ongoing battle between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit.

4. All of these things are also subject to God's judgment.

"CALVIN seems to consider that the latter part of the verse is only an expansion or an exposition of the preceding clause respecting `conscience:' but it seems to contain a distinct idea.  The testimony of conscience is one thing, which is instantaneous, without reflection: and the thoughts or the reasonings which alternately or mutually accuse or excuse, seem to refer to a process carried on by the mind, by which the innate voice of conscience is confirmed.  This is the view taken by STUART and BARNES, and to which HODGE is inclined."...

"But to regard the two clauses as referring to conscience and the inward workings of the mind, appears more consistent with the context."  (aaron-YES!)

Calvin's Commentary - Romans - pp.98, 99 footnote 1

THE JEWS AND THE LAW

“BUT if you bear the name of a Jew, and rest upon the law, and glory in God, and know His will, and approve of the things that are excellent: Being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you are yourself, a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes: Having in the law the form of knowledge and of truth: You therefore that teaches another, do you not teach yourself?  You that preach, a man should not steal, do you steal?  You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?  You that hate idols, do you rob temples?  You that glory in the law, through your transgression of the law, do you not dishonor God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the (nations) because of you, as it is written.” (Rom.2:17-24)

aaron- We must understand that these same principles also apply to today’s Christian Church:

1.     God hates the hypocrisy that can creep into our lives.

2.     We too, when we transgress the law, dishonor God and bring blasphemy upon His name.

THE CIRCUMCISION AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION AND THE LAW

“FOR Circumcision is indeed profitable, if you are a doer of the law.  But if you are a transgressor of the law, your Circumcision is become Uncircumcision.  If therefore, the Uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his Uncircumcision be counted for Circumcision?  And shall not the Uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who, with the letter and Circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?”  (Rom.2:25-27)

aaron- We can, within these brief passages, observe the apparent neutralization process for physical Circumcision.  This is the neutralization that was absolutely essential for the leveling process in God's universal reconciliation.  This is the necessary process that allows for the successful dissemination of the Gospel.  The visible Jew, the visible Circumcision, and visible Israel's positional relationship with God must be substantially neutralized within this dispensation of grace for the successful progress of the Gospel!  Then this neutralization process that allowed for the dissemination of the Gospel also opened the way for the manifestation and explanation of God’s complex identification criterion.  It must also be understood that this "manifested identification criterion", although it is new to our present understanding, is not a new thing all together.  It has already been established very early on in these writings, that the present mode of salvation (“by GRACE through FAITH”) had its most visible origin in God's Covenant relationship with father Abraham.  Remember, Abraham was also saved by the same GRACE, through FAITH as we are. Ref.Gen.17:1-27

HOW GOD NOW IDENTIFIES THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE JEWS AND THE CIRCUMCISION

“FOR he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; Neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit not in the letter; Whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom.2:28, 29)

aaron- Thus-far we have seen the non-distinct character of God's expanded salvation program: The absolute removal of all distinction of peoples, resulting in the absolute total equality in God’s justification and in God’s condemnation.

We again see that these same principles are confirmed by the complete unification in God's expanded reconciliation: Those same principles that we have previously explained from Ephesians chapters two and three.  So now to better understand these complex issues, we must again review these crucial chapters from Ephesians: We must look once again at the prophetic universal character of God’s divine plan for all peoples.

Eph.2:1-3 describes how we Gentiles lived in the world in sin, under the dominion of the prince of the power of the air. (In short, we were all "lost"!)

Eph.2:4-10 shows God's exceeding riches of grace and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus, through His gift of faith unto salvation. (Tit.3:4)

Vv.11 and 12 “calls to remembrance, how we Gentiles, who are called Uncircumcision, by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands.  How at that time, we (Gentiles) were—(1) separated from Christ, (2) alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, (3) strangers from the Covenants of Promise, (4) having no hope, and (5) without God in the world.”

aaron-Remember, special attention must be given to the thrust of this Scripture, as it is showing us the universal character of God’s reconciliation.  And by reminding us of what we did not previously possess, it actually points to the things that we presently have in common with a previously established entity—God’s first peoples Israel /or the Circumcision:

1. We now have a relationship with Jesus.

2. We are now citizens in the commonwealth of Israel.  

3. We are now partakers of the Covenants of Grace and Promise.  

4. We now have hope.    And/  

5. We now have God as our heavenly Father.

“But now in Christ Jesus, we (Gentiles) that once were far off, are made near in the blood of Christ” (v.13). 

aaron-Jesus’ one sacrifice upon the cross gives us our full access and our covenantal relationship. 

“For He (Jesus) is our peace, who made both (Jews and non-Jews) one, and broke down the middle wall of separation: Having abolished in His flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandment contained in ordinances.  That He (Jesus) might create in Himself of the two (Circumcision and Uncircumcision), one new man, so making peace.” (vv.13-15)

          aaron-Then here in these last verses, God has conclusively established a consummative unity in the body of Christ that is principally understood in the invisible body: 

6. He made both Jews and Gentiles one. 

7. He abolished the ordinances that established the separation. (Ref. Heb.7:18 and 19) 

8. Christ, the Creator, manifested this complete unity in His body—the invisible Church.  From these two, the elect Jews and the elect Gentiles—those who were chosen from the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, has He made them to be ONE NEW MAN.

Now this is one of the more confusing parts of this study.  That is, trying to distinguish between the visible and the invisible without the appearance of one being totally abandoned or “cut off”.  These next passages put that idea of abandonment completely to rest:

“And might reconcile them both (Jews and Gentiles) in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.  And He came and preached peace unto us (Gentiles) that were far off, and peace to them (Jews) that were near. For through Him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.” (vv. 16 through 18)

aaron-Additional evidence is given for the complete indistinguishable unity in the body of Christ:

9. Jews and Gentiles are reconciled in one body unto God. 

10. Conformation that the established separation between Jews and Gentiles has been eternally removed within the invisible body. 

11. The same peace was being preached to both the Jews and the Gentiles.  

12. Access to God is freely given to Jews and Gentiles alike—Access is in one Spirit through Jesus’ one sacrifice upon the cross.

“So then, we (Gentiles) are no longer strangers and sojourners, but we (Gentiles) are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.  Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Chief Corner Stone.  In whom each several building, fitly framed together, grows into a Holy Temple in the Lord.  In whom we (Gentiles) also are built together (with the Jews) for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” (vv.19 through 22)

aaron-More proofs are given for the complete unity of the Jews and the Gentiles:

13. We have become fellow-citizens with the saints.  

14. We are now of the household of God.  

15. We are part of the Holy Temple in the Lord.  

16. The Jews and the Gentiles are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

The apostle Paul goes on in Eph.3:1-5 to describes his ministry to the Gentiles: “that by revelation, these mysteries were made known to him, which in other generations was not made known, but now it has been revealed by the Holy Spirit. V.6; to witness: That the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

aaron-

17. This uniting of the Jews and Gentiles was a mystery that was hidden in other generations.  (It is their principal part in the invisible body of Christ—the Covenant of Promise.) 

18. The mystery revealed in chapter two was given to Paul by revelation from the Holy Spirit.

19. The revelation of chapter three is like an exclamation mark on chapter two.

The Gentiles are:

(a)   Fellow-heirs! 

(b) Fellow-members of the body!   And/  

(c) Fellow-partakers of the promise!

All in Christ Jesus our Lord.

aaron-Though the majority of these teachings from Ephesians chapters two and three are directed toward the manifestation and explanation of God’s invisible dispositions as well as the universal character of God’s reconciliation, the fulfillment of Abraham’s Covenants with God demands that these same truths must encompass God’s parallel visible dispositions as well.

aaron-Now this portion of Romans has dealt with the specific details of how God identifies His visible peoples in distinction to His invisible peoples within His expanded reconciliation.  The most important aspect, and probably the most confusing part of this teaching, is the fact that God continues to identify His peoples in both the visible and the invisible realms of His determinations as being Jews, as the Circumcision, and as Israel.

Even though the identification of the peoples of God has essentially remained the same over time, there is one critical difference that must now be noted.  This is the difference that manifests precisely where this added identification is now being made.  That is, that this manifested identification is being made on the inside and not just on the outside.  We must also understand that this added identification that was to manifest the invisible peoples /or priests of God to our understanding, is supernaturally accomplished by the regenerative act of God Himself.

Understanding that when we are considering only God’s invisible dispositions:

1. Physical circumcision can instantly become Uncircumcision.  

2. Uncircumcision can be instantly counted as Circumcision.  

3. The physical Jew is no longer counted as a Jew when we are considering only God’s invisible dispositions.  

4. For God’s holy priesthood, the only qualifying Jew is one who is a Jew inwardly.  

5. And the only qualifying Circumcision for this royal band, is the Circumcision of the heart.

We, who might be members of the invisible Church and the hidden Israel of God, must know the absolute of who and what we are:

“For we are the Circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." [Phil.3:3  Ref. Lev.26:41; Deut.30:6; Jer.4:4; and 9:26])

"The meaning is, that a real Jew is not to be ascertained, either by natural descent, or by profession, or by an external symbol; that the Circumcision which constitutes a Jew, does not consist in an OUTWARD $$ SIGN ONLY, but that BOTH are inward.  And what he (adduces) with regard to true Circumcision, is taken from various passages of Scripture, and even from its general teaching; for the people are everywhere commanded to Circumcise their hearts, and it is what the Lord promises to do."    Calvin's Commentary - Romans - p.111

aaron-Then as a consequence of these New Testament revelations concerning God’s invisible dispositions, the whole Church has for many centuries, mistakenly devalued God’s visible dispositions!

John Calvin writes on Phil.3:3                                               

          "For we are the Circumcision, which worship God in Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

$$ "That is, we are the true seed of Abraham, and heirs of the testament which was confirmed by the SIGN of circumcision.  For the true Circumcision is of the Spirit and not of the letter, inward, and situated in the heart, not visible according to the flesh. (Rom.2:29)"

aaron-This statement here by John Calvin demonstrates the faulted attitude towards God’s visible dispositions that is generally held by today’s Christian Church.  The biggest problem comes from the fact that there is a hint of truth in Calvin’s statement: That truth that becomes obvious when considering God’s invisible dispositions and those who would be counted as a part of the hidden elect priesthood.

"We are truly circumcised, who worship God in Spirit and in truth. (Jn.4:23)"  

Calvin's Commentary - Philippians - pp. 88, 89

aaron- Now to recapitulate just a bit: According to the Scripture, we must understand that there are no real differences between the physical Jews and the non-Jews as they approach God and His invisible kingdom.  So, as we progress on through our study in Romans chapter three, we will again see that all peoples have been placed on an equal footing: That all are lost and desperately in need of God’s grace. 

“For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

But then at the very same time, by our close observation of God’s first peoples Israel, we must come to understand the absolute coexistence of God’s visible dispositions along side God’s invisible dispositions.

THE JEWS AND GOD

“WHAT advantage then has the Jew?  Or, what is the profit of Circumcision?  Much in every way: First of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of God.”

          aaron-There is an implied eternal benefit conveyed here in this passage, just for their being a member of God’s covenant family.  Then following their example, we must also see that these same eternal benefits would similarly apply the visible Christian Church.  I would suggest that these are institutional promises for all of God’s corporate peoples.

“For what if some were without faith?  Shall their lack of faith make the faithfulness of God ineffective?  God forbid, no! Yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; As it is written: That You might be justified in Your Words, and might prevail when You come into judgment.”

aaron-We should understand that God’s free and unmerited grace was not generally known or well understood in the community of God’s covenant peoples.  This is the same revelation that is being more fully manifested and explained in and through the New Testament Christian Church.

“But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say?  Is God unrighteous who visits with wrath?  (I speak after the manner of men.)  God forbid, (no)!  How then shall God judge the world? But if the truth of God through my lie abounds unto glory, why am I still judged as a sinner?  And why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as SOME affirm that we say), let us do evil, that good may come?  WHOSE condemnation is just.” (Rom.3:1-8) 

aaron- The apostle Paul, for the sake of clarification, is using a question and answer format.  This format is used in order to show the specific detailed changes that are manifested so as to facilitate God's expanded reconciliation: That this universal character of His reconciliation equally includes all peoples, tribes, tongues and Nations.

This is the dramatic change in God's expanded reconciliation that was first manifested in the complex change in the way in which God's invisible peoples are secretly selected and identified out from His visible peoples.  The apostle Paul has put these questions forward in order to dispel some evident confusion concerning God’s first peoples Israel:

Question-1} What advantage then has the Jew?  And

Question-2} What is the profit of circumcision?                

Paul tells us in Answer-1 and Answer-2}, much in every way: They were the original recipients of the oracles of God.  The advantage that Paul is pointing to is the two thousand year relationship that physical Israel had previously had with God.  This is a tremendous advantage when compared to the Gentiles natural ignorance of God.

These questions had arisen because of the false assumptions that some had made concerning the identity of God peoples.  What they perceived to be the apparent annulment of the benefits associated with being a physical Jew and a part of the physical circumcision was not the correct assumption.  We must come to understand that the visible Jew and the invisible Jew, the visible circumcision and the invisible circumcision, and the visible Israel and invisible Israel are always coexistent entities within God’s whole reconciliation.

THE JEWS AND US - WITH RESPECT TO THE LAW AND GRACE

Question-3}“WHAT then?  Are we better than they?  Answer-3}No, in no way.  For we before laid to the charge of both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.  As it is written: There is none righteous, no not one; There is none that understands; There is none that seeks after God; They have all turned aside, they have together become unprofitable.  There is none that does good, no, not so much as one; Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: The way of peace they have not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Rom.3:9-18

aaron-These passages, by reflecting on the universal depravity of the creature, proves the absolute equality of all peoples within God’s universal reconciliation.

“Now we know that what things soever the law says, it speaks to them that are under the law; That every mouth may be silenced, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.  Because, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” Rom.3:19-20

aaron-Even though these passages are once again showing the commonality of peoples within God’s reconciliation, it is important for us to recognize our necessary connection to the Law.  We must be “under the Law” to be counted as an inclusive part of God’s peoples.

“But now apart from the law a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom.3:21-23

aaron-The obedience of Christ’s Holy Sacrifice in going to the cross, has opened a way for all peoples, Jews and non-Jews alike, to come to God by His righteous grace alone.  Being “apart from the Law” does not mean the Law has been nullified, it simply means, “a righteousness of God has been manifested” that completely trumps the Law.  Yet “the Law and the Prophets” likewise confirm this manifestation of the gracious conveyance of the “righteousness of God”. <**>  You might want to read these last two paragraph again!

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood: To show His righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done before, in the forbearance of God.  For the showing, I say, of His righteousness at this present time, that He might Himself be Just, and the Justifier of him that has faith in Jesus.” Rom.3:24-26

aaron-We now see the full breadth of Christ’s Atoning Sacrifice upon the Cross: That through this one sacrifice, God is able to overlook all the sins of His peoples—past, present, and future.

“Where then is the glorying?  It is excluded.

By what manner of law?  Of works?  No!  By the law of faith.

We conclude therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Or, is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also?  Yes, the Gentiles also. Since it is one God, and He shall justify the Circumcision by faith, and the Uncircumcision through faith.

DO WE THEN MAKE THE LAW OF NO EFFECT THROUGH FAITH?  GOD FORBID! NO, WE ESTABLISH THE LAW.” (Rom.3:27-31)

aaron- As a review, look back once again at Question & Answer 3} “What then, are we better than they? No! In no way.”  This question and answer reflects the total depravity of man as he tries to elevate himself into the first place with God, and clearly shows his complete helplessness in that depraved state.  The blanket statement is made: All are under sin!  This all includes the Jews, the Greeks, and the barbarians (Everyone).  Because the law brings all the world under the judgment of God: For through the law, comes the knowledge of sin.  Also, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight.

Question & Answer 3 was also necessary because of the dramatic manifestations concerning the special way in which the invisible Jews and the invisible Circumcision are now selected and identified out from the visible corporate.  One might have gotten the false impression, or one might even have come to the wrong conclusion, that the visible Jews and the visible Circumcision have been collectively exempted (cut off) from God's reconciliation all together.  Which, according to these passages, is plainly not the case at all. (Ref.Rom.11:1, 2, 11)

The apostle Paul then makes an abrupt shift from condemnation to justification, and states:

1. That this expanded salvation program, which God is outlining here in the book of Romans, was predicted very early on in the Old Testament.

2. That now apart from the law, God's gracious righteousness is being manifested.  This manifested righteousness is received through the faith of Jesus Christ’s complete atonement for the sins of God’s peoples and is freely given to all them that believe.  For there is no evident distinction in justification and condemnation, for all have sinned and fall short of God's glory.  All of God’s collective peoples are justified freely by God's grace through the redemptive blood of Jesus—reaching back even to the Garden of Eden.  God is Just and the Justifier of everyone who has the justifying faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To further clarify this matter, God has directly stated that He is the God of both the Jews and the Gentiles, and of both the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision.

God, through the apostle Paul, has been very meticulous in His detailed explanation of this transition in His salvation program.  From His universal salvation announcement in Romans chapter one, God has:

1. Systematically removed all of the barriers that had previously kept the nations outside of His Abrahamic Covenant of Grace, and

2. Established His rules of relationship.  For the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant through His universal reconciliation, all peoples have become equal in God’s justification and in God’s condemnation.  Time after time in these first three chapters of Romans, God has explicitly stated that there is no distinction in His expanded reconciliation!  It now graciously includes the Jews, the Greeks, the Gentiles, the barbarians; all peoples equally.

“though on the subject of justification there was no difference whatever; for since men became partakers of this grace by faith only, and since faith in all is the same, it is absurd to make a distinction in what is so much alike.  I am hence led to think that there is something ironical in the words, as though he said, - `If any wishes to have a difference made between the Gentiles and the Jews, let him take this, - that the one obtains righteousness by faith, and the other through faith.'” 

Calvin's Commentary - Romans - p.150

aaron-All believers are given an initial measure of faith. (Their believing /or justifying faith) Rom.12:3

SPECIAL NOTE:

"But it may be, that some will prefer this distinction—that the Jews were justified by faith, because they were born the heirs of grace, as the right of adoption was transmitted to them from the fathers, and that the Gentiles were justified through faith, because the covenant to them was adventitious.”  [adventitious defined - 1. added from outside; not inherent; accidental.])

Calvin's Commentary - Romans - p.151