The Lord revealed the inclusion of Gentiles in his plan of salvation when he called Abram and made promises to bless all nations through him (Gen. 12:1–3). From the beginnings of the Lord’s dealings with Israel, Gentiles came to the God of Israel—as when Rahab and Ruth left their gods to follow him. Even though Israel as a whole rejected their Messiah,2 Jesus told his initial Jewish followers that he would build the church and that they would have a significant role
Page 8