Will the 4 gospels tell a Gentile how to be saved?

[placebofactor]

If I, as a Gentile, knew only the Old Testament and the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, would I, as a Gentile, understand what I must do to be saved?

Please be specific, and if you quote any verses from the Gospels, explain your understanding of them. Do not quote verses from Acts to Revelation.

[onewithhim]

If I, as a Gentile, knew only the Old Testament and the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, would I, as a Gentile, understand what I must do to be saved?

Please be specific, and if you quote any verses from the Gospels, explain your understanding of them. Do not quote verses from Acts to Revelation.

Yes you would understand how to be saved. You would remember that in the OT it says that ALL of the nations will bless themselves by means of the Messiah (Genesis 22:18). Then you would go to John 3:16 and get the understanding that you must believe in Jesus and what he did. You must believe also what he said at Matthew 24:13, that the one who endures to the end will be saved. That involves action on our parts as Jesus indicated at Matthew 5:16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (KJV) That involves doing God's will: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but "he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.." (Matthew 7:21, KJV) How can we know the will of the Father? I would say by studying the Gospels, and of course the Old Testament as well, and applying what we learn in our lives.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #9]

The four gospels spoke repeatedly of the kingdom of God, that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah the Jews had been waiting for, and that Jesus, their King, was ready to bring in the kingdom. But the Jews rejected him, then killed him. But not all the Jews were set aside; that’s when Jesus commissioned Paul to bring the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles.

To be set aside is not to be cast out.
Romans 11:1, "I (Paul) say then, Hath God cast away his (the Jews) people? God forbid. Verse 2, "God hath not cast away his people which He foreknew."

Romans 11:5, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (of Jews) according to the election of grace."

There are clear differences between Paul's Gospel and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and most of John. Paul's focus concerned the finished work of the cross and the gospel of grace. Never did Paul speak of having to keep the law, or any form of legalism being required; nor did he ever teach the gospel of the kingdom.

You weren't supposed to refer to any Scripture from Acts to Revelation.

[placebofactor]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #9]

The four gospels spoke repeatedly of the kingdom of God, that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah the Jews had been waiting for, and that Jesus, their King, was ready to bring in the kingdom. But the Jews rejected him, then killed him. But not all the Jews were set aside; that’s when Jesus commissioned Paul to bring the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles.

To be set aside is not to be cast out.
Romans 11:1, "I (Paul) say then, Hath God cast away his (the Jews) people? God forbid. Verse 2, "God hath not cast away his people which He foreknew."

Romans 11:5, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (of Jews) according to the election of grace."

There are clear differences between Paul's Gospel and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and most of John. Paul's focus concerned the finished work of the cross and the gospel of grace. Never did Paul speak of having to keep the law, or any form of legalism being required; nor did he ever teach the gospel of the kingdom.

You weren't supposed to refer to any Scripture from Acts to Revelation.

Sorry, I get carried away. Sometimes, I forget my own rules. Scratch off Romans 11:1-5.

[1213]

... Jesus was the Jews' Messiah, not the Gentiles' Christ. We Gentiles were invited in when Paul came on the scene seven years after the Lord's resurrection...

That is not true. Jesus send his disciples to preach the word to other nations and so it is not just something that happened when Paul came.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teach-ing them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matt. 28:19-20

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees in John 10:11.

If Pharisees would be his sheep, they would have listened and followed him.

[placebofactor]

... Jesus was the Jews' Messiah, not the Gentiles' Christ. We Gentiles were invited in when Paul came on the scene seven years after the Lord's resurrection...

That is not true. Jesus send his disciples to preach the word to other nations and so it is not just something that happened when Paul came.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teach-ing them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matt. 28:19-20

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees in John 10:11.

If Pharisees would be his sheep, they would have listened and followed him.

Jesus called the Pharisees "blind" in John 9:41 before he made the statement in John 10:11.

Before the crucifixion, Matthew 10:5-6, "These twelve (apostles) Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

After his resurrection, he told the disciples, Matthew 28:19, "Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."

Jesus and the apostles had very limited contact with individuals who were not Jews. No Gentile was taught the gospel. The Centurion was given a miracle; the Samaritan woman at the well was told of her past marriages and about something future concerning worshipping the Messiah, but these few incidents had nothing to do with Gentiles receiving the gospel from the apostles.

The apostles did go into certain areas of the Gentiles, but not throughout the whole region of the Gentiles as Paul had. The apostles went only to the Jewish populations that lived in these unwalled gentile cities. That’s what Peter meant when he wrote,

1 Peter 1:1, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers (exiled Jews) scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, etc.” Gentiles were not strangers in their land, but the Jews were.

Twenty-one years passed from Christ’s ascension until Peter was given the vision of the sheets (Acts 10:9.) After all this time, Peter still did not understand that the Gentiles had been adopted into the Jewish promises. Once he received it, Peter then passed this news on to the other Jewish apostles and disciples.

Galatians was written in 52 A.D., some 22 years after the cross.

Galatians 2:7-8-9, Paul write, “But contrariwise (contrary) when they (the apostles) saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision, (Gentiles) was committed to me (Paul), as the gospel of the circumcision (the Jews) was given unto Peter. For he (Jesus) that (worked) effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision (Jews,) the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.:”

Verse 9, “And when James, Cephas (Peter,) and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me (Paul,) they (the 3) gave to me (Paul) and Barnabas the right hands (they shook hands on it, they agreed to it) that we (Paul and Barnabas) should go unto the heathen (Gentiles,) and they (the apostles) unto the circumcision (the Jews.)” This was 22 years after the cross when this truth was finally understood.

[1213]

...
The apostles did go into certain areas of the Gentiles, but not throughout the whole region of the Gentiles as Paul had. The apostles went only to the Jewish populations that lived in these unwalled gentile cities. That’s what Peter meant when he wrote, ....

So, you claim the disciples of Jesus didn't obey Jesus and didn't go to all nations as Jesus told? Interesting. I believe they went.

[placebofactor]

...
The apostles did go into certain areas of the Gentiles, but not throughout the whole region of the Gentiles as Paul had. The apostles went only to the Jewish populations that lived in these unwalled gentile cities. That’s what Peter meant when he wrote, ....

So, you claim the disciples of Jesus didn't obey Jesus and didn't go to all nations as Jesus told? Interesting. I believe they went.

The first command not to go to the Gentiles was before the cross. Jesus' second command, "Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," was after the cross. Wherever the disciples traveled, they visited the Jewish synagogues in Gentile lands. As I posted before, it was 21 years before Peter understood that the Gentiles were part of the church. If he didn't understand that, how could he teach them?

Just before the cross, Luke 18:31-34, “Then he (Jesus) took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished (meaning fulfilled).”

“For he (Jesus) shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spit on. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they (the 12) understood none of these things: and this saying was HID from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Verse 34, "They (the disciples) understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples preached to 3000 Jews who had come to Jerusalem from every part of the Roman empire. What they heard and saw, they took back with them to their own people, the Jews. So, in a roundabout way, the disciples did get their gospel out to the Jews in Gentile lands through the 3000 Jews in Jerusalem.

But Paul's gospel of faith to the Gentiles was still 7 years in the future.

[onewithhim]

...
The apostles did go into certain areas of the Gentiles, but not throughout the whole region of the Gentiles as Paul had. The apostles went only to the Jewish populations that lived in these unwalled gentile cities. That’s what Peter meant when he wrote, ....

So, you claim the disciples of Jesus didn't obey Jesus and didn't go to all nations as Jesus told? Interesting. I believe they went.

The first command not to go to the Gentiles was before the cross. Jesus' second command, "Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," was after the cross. Wherever the disciples traveled, they visited the Jewish synagogues in Gentile lands. As I posted before, it was 21 years before Peter understood that the Gentiles were part of the church. If he didn't understand that, how could he teach them?

Just before the cross, Luke 18:31-34, “Then he (Jesus) took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished (meaning fulfilled).”

“For he (Jesus) shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spit on. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they (the 12) understood none of these things: and this saying was HID from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Verse 34, "They (the disciples) understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples preached to 3000 Jews who had come to Jerusalem from every part of the Roman empire. What they heard and saw, they took back with them to their own people, the Jews. So, in a roundabout way, the disciples did get their gospel out to the Jews in Gentile lands through the 3000 Jews in Jerusalem.

But Paul's gospel of faith to the Gentiles was still 7 years in the future.

No response to my post, #11?

[placebofactor]

If I, as a Gentile, knew only the Old Testament and the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, would I, as a Gentile, understand what I must do to be saved?

Please be specific, and if you quote any verses from the Gospels, explain your understanding of them. Do not quote verses from Acts to Revelation.

Yes you would understand how to be saved. You would remember that in the OT it says that ALL of the nations will bless themselves by means of the Messiah (Genesis 22:18). Then you would go to John 3:16 and get the understanding that you must believe in Jesus and what he did. You must believe also what he said at Matthew 24:13, that the one who endures to the end will be saved. That involves action on our parts as Jesus indicated at Matthew 5:16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (KJV) That involves doing God's will: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but "he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.." (Matthew 7:21, KJV) How can we know the will of the Father? I would say by studying the Gospels, and of course the Old Testament as well, and applying what we learn in our lives.

Throughout your paragraph, you are mixing apples with oranges. No Jew in the Old Testament understood that one day the Gentiles would share in the blessings given to the Jews through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Peter finally understood it 21 years after the cross. When he realized it, he reported it to the other disciples.

Concerning John 3:16, Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The cross had not happened yet, and when it did, Jesus' words fell on deaf ears, for they, the Jews, believed not in his death, burial, and resurrection; even the apostles were blinded.

Luke 18:34, "And they (the disciples) understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."

In Matthew 24:13, Jesus is speaking of the events of the end time, the time of Great tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble. This time of trouble has nothing to do with Christians, only Jews.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to be a "Light unto the Jews," not like the scribes and Pharisees, verse 20. Jesus was bringing the Jews a new covenant; he was the new covenant, a covenant they had never known.

Matthew 7:23, again, he is speaking and teaching his disciples, who were Jews, how to minister the new covenant to the Jews.

No O.T. prophet nor any of the 12 apostles taught about the body of Christ and Jesus being the head.
The few Jews who received Jesus understood him to be their Messiah and King. What they expected from him was to bring in an earthly kingdom, thus fulfilling all of God’s promises made to Abraham, Moses, David, etc.

Throughout the four gospels, you will not find the gospel as it was taught by Paul to the Gentiles. In conclusion, if you were a Gentile, and all you had were the four gospels, you would not have known how to be saved.

[onewithhim]

If I, as a Gentile, knew only the Old Testament and the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, would I, as a Gentile, understand what I must do to be saved?

Please be specific, and if you quote any verses from the Gospels, explain your understanding of them. Do not quote verses from Acts to Revelation.

Yes you would understand how to be saved. You would remember that in the OT it says that ALL of the nations will bless themselves by means of the Messiah (Genesis 22:18). Then you would go to John 3:16 and get the understanding that you must believe in Jesus and what he did. You must believe also what he said at Matthew 24:13, that the one who endures to the end will be saved. That involves action on our parts as Jesus indicated at Matthew 5:16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (KJV) That involves doing God's will: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but "he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.." (Matthew 7:21, KJV) How can we know the will of the Father? I would say by studying the Gospels, and of course the Old Testament as well, and applying what we learn in our lives.

Throughout your paragraph, you are mixing apples with oranges. No Jew in the Old Testament understood that one day the Gentiles would share in the blessings given to the Jews through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.

Didn't you say would a Gentile, who knew only the O.T. and the four Gospels, understand how to be saved? Not that a Jew might not understand. Your premise was what a Gentile would understand. I think I answered that quite well.