When does Jesus become the object of faith for the whole human race?
Jesus becomes the object of faith for the whole human race after He experienced the work of the cross—His death, burial, and resurrection. Only once He had died, been buried, and raised from the dead could the Gospel go beyond Israel to all people, making Him the object of faith for everyone.
Les explains that Jesus spoke of His coming death, burial, and resurrection, which was only a few days in the future. For the Gentiles, He was not an object of their faith until He had experienced the work of the cross. Christ in His earthly ministry was almost exclusively to the nation of Israel, with two exceptions, but it was only to Israel. After experiencing the death, burial, and resurrection, the Gospel could go to the whole human race, not just Israel. Les stresses that once He has died, been buried, and raised from the dead, then He becomes the object of faith for the whole human race. This connects to I Corinthians 15, where the resurrection of the dead is likened to a seed sown in corruption and raised in power. Les notes that Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to make much of resurrection because when Christ arose from the dead, He exhibited more power than it took when He created the universe.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
More Questions
When could the Gentiles come into the picture and have faith in Jesus?
Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection would allow the Gentiles to come into the picture and make Him the object of their faith; this could not happen until after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Why was Christ not the object of faith for the Gentiles before the cross?
For the Gentiles, Christ was not an object of their faith until He had experienced the work of the cross.