God deals with Israel on two levels—national and personal—and while the nation is presently blinded, individual Jews can still be saved; in this same age He is calling out Gentiles into the Body of Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that Israel's national blindness does not remove a Jewish individual's opportunity for salvation. At the same time, God is now visiting the Gentiles to take out a people for His name, and those believers become members of the Body of Christ. The Old Testament pattern was Jews only with a few Gentiles; the present age of grace is primarily Gentiles with a few Jews, but there is no difference in the way salvation is offered.
Romans 11:25 — Reveals that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in—the very distinction Les teaches.
Acts 15:14 — Shows that God is visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Ephesians 3:6 — Explains the mystery that Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ, which is the basis of the church.
In Acts 15:14, James states that God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. This indicates that God's present work among the Gentiles is a calling out, not a national covenant. Paul further explains in Ephesians 3:6 that the Gentiles are fellowheirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. Romans 11:25 reveals that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Thus Scripture distinguishes a national blindness on Israel and a present calling out of Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that the Bible reveals two levels of God's dealing with Israel—national and personal. Nationally, Israel is presently under a judicial blindness, but that national blindness does not close the door for individual Jews to be saved; a Jew can still become a believer today. He points to Acts 15 as the turning point: Peter defended the salvation of the Gentile Cornelius, who was saved apart from Judaism, without circumcision, and even before Peter moved to repentance and water baptism. The Jews were insisting Gentiles must keep the Law, but Paul refused to add any of that to his gospel. God's present program is not connected to the promises to Israel but is a unique outpouring of grace upon the Gentile masses, by which believers become members of the Body of Christ. At the Jerusalem council it was concluded that God is calling out of the Gentiles a people for His name. This was a mystery hid from ages—that Gentiles would be fellow heirs and of the same body. Meanwhile Israel as a nation has been blind for over 1,900 years. The shift is clear: in the Old Testament it was primarily Jews with a few Gentiles; in this age of grace it is primarily Gentiles with a few Jews. But there is no difference in how salvation is offered—both are saved by faith, individually, not in national groups.
Les teaches that God deals with Israel on two levels: national and personal. When Scripture speaks of blindness, it refers to the nation under the covenants. An individual Jew today can still come to salvation even though the nation is blind. God has not closed the door on the Jew; in this age of grace, salvation is open to them, though most are so blinded they cannot see the Messiah.
According to Les, God had the Gentiles on His mind from the beginning, but He first dealt with one small nation, Israel, so they could go back to the Gentiles. Even that favored nation failed. So now God goes to the Gentiles without the nation of Israel. Paul proclaimed this mystery: Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ. At the Jerusalem council it was concluded that God is calling out of the Gentiles a people for His name.
Les stresses the difference between national and individual dealing. In Acts 2 the nation of Israel was on trial and asked 'what shall we do?' But in Acts 16 an individual Gentile asked 'what must I do?' God does not save people in groups; He saves one at a time. In this age of grace there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—salvation is by faith plus faith alone in the Gospel, and both become members of the Body of Christ. God is primarily calling out Gentiles, but a few Jews are still being saved.
Gentiles Saved Apart from Law
At the Jerusalem council, Peter defended his visit to Cornelius, showing God saved a Gentile without Judaism, the Law, or even repentance and water baptism.
Two Levels: National and Personal
Les distinguishes national and personal dealings with Israel; the nation is blind nationally, but individual Jews can still be saved.
Israel's Blindness and Gentile Salvation
God's present work with Gentiles is a unique outpouring of grace—by faith alone they enter the Body of Christ—while Israel has been spiritually blind for over 1,900 years.
God's Plan to Reach Gentiles Through Israel
God originally chose Israel as a favored nation to reach Gentiles, but that nation failed; now God goes to the Gentiles directly.
The Mystery of Gentile Fellow Heirs
The mystery Paul revealed is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ.
Calling Out a People for His Name
The conclusion was that God is calling out of the Gentiles a people for His name; Gentiles are not yet 'God's people' in the way Israel will be.
Individual vs National Salvation
Les contrasts the nation of Israel asking 'what shall we do?' with an individual Gentile asking 'what must I do?'—salvation is individual, not national.
Now Primarily Gentiles, But Jews Still Invited
In the Old Testament it was Jews only with a few Gentiles; now it is primarily Gentiles with a few Jews, but in this age of grace there is no difference.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
This verse explains the national blindness of Israel mentioned by Les in Clips 1 and 2.
Acts 15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
This is the passage Les refers to in Clip 5 when he says God is calling out a people from the Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Les quotes this mystery truth in Clip 4—Gentiles are fellow heirs in the same body.
Acts 16:30: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Les contrasts the nation of Israel in Acts 2 with this individual Gentile in Clip 6.
Yes. Les teaches that Israel's blindness is national, not personal. An individual Jew can still come to enjoy salvation today, even though the nation as a whole is blind to its Messiah.
Because God saved a Gentile at Cornelius's house without requiring Judaism or the Law—and even before repentance and water baptism. This showed that Gentiles are to be saved apart from the Law.
Yes. Les emphasizes there is no difference; salvation is offered to both through faith plus faith alone in the Gospel, and believers are placed into the Body of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Israel's Blindness & the Fullness of the Gentiles — Romans 11:25