Why did God open the windows of grace to the Gentiles?
God opened the windows of grace to the Gentiles because Israel rejected the opportunity to receive the King, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption. Through Israel’s fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, and God did this to provoke Israel to jealousy, since jealousy and envy are the same.
Les teaches that God deals with the Jew on two levels, nationally and individually. In Romans 11, Paul writes to the Gentile church at Rome, asking whether Israel stumbled so as to fall permanently. The answer is God forbid. Israel had every opportunity to have the king, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption, but they rejected it. Through that fall, salvation came to the Gentiles. God opened the windows of grace to the Gentiles because Israel rejected it and fell from the place of preeminence as the covenant-favored nation. This salvation came to the Gentiles to provoke the Jew to jealousy. Les notes jealousy and envy are the same, and it was working. He then moves back to Acts chapter 13.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
More Questions
What was God's purpose for bringing salvation to the Gentiles?
God caused salvation to come to the Gentiles in order to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy/envy.
Why did God bring salvation to the Gentiles according to Romans 11?
God brought salvation to the Gentiles in order to provoke the Jews to jealousy/envy.