Yes—Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection is the saving work that opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles.
Before that saving work, Christ's earthly ministry was almost exclusively to Israel, and Gentiles were outside the covenants and citizenship of Israel. Once Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, He became the object of faith for the whole human race. Believing this gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—is what saves Gentiles today.
John 12:24 — Jesus used the grain of wheat to show that His death would produce much fruit, pointing to the coming salvation of the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:13 — This verse directly states that Gentiles, once far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul defines the gospel of salvation as Christ dying for sins, being buried, and rising again.
In John 12, after certain Greeks asked to see Jesus, He answered with a statement about the Son of man being glorified and then used the picture of a grain of wheat: "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" (John 12:24). The seed must be buried and die before it produces fruit—a direct picture of Christ's death and resurrection. Paul summarizes the gospel that saves: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the message of salvation, for Jew and Gentile alike. Ephesians 2:12-13 describes the Gentile position: "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
Les explains why Jesus did not simply receive the Greeks who asked to see Him. During His earthly ministry, Jesus was almost exclusively sent to the nation of Israel; the Gentile world was outside the covenant promises. Philip knew this and hesitated even to bring the request to Jesus. Jesus' answer about the grain of wheat showed that His coming death, burial, and resurrection had to happen first. Until that saving work was accomplished, He could not be the object of faith for Gentiles. According to Les, once Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead, the gospel could go to the whole human race rather than only Israel. Paul preached this same gospel to Gentiles: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. The Philippian jailer was told simply to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 2, Paul shows that Gentiles who were once far off, outside Israel's rights and covenants, are now made nigh by the blood of Christ. The ground for Gentile salvation is therefore the finished work of the cross, especially Christ's shed blood.
Philip did not know how to handle the request because Jesus had had nothing to do with Gentiles during His three years of ministry—apart from two exceptions. He passed the matter to Andrew, and together they told Jesus that Gentiles were asking for Him. Les teaches that Jesus could not be their object of faith until He had died, been buried, and risen from the dead. His answer about the grain of wheat pointed to exactly that saving work.
From Genesis 12 until Acts 9, while God was dealing with Israel, the Gentile was outside—not a citizen of Israel and not in the covenant promises. Ephesians 2 says Gentiles were "without Christ," "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel," and "strangers from the covenants of promise." There were rare exceptions such as Nineveh, Ruth, and Rahab, but by and large the Gentile world was without hope and without God. But now, in Christ Jesus, those far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
When the Philippian jailer asked "What must I do to be saved?", Paul answered in simple terms: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel Paul delivered was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles declared that Christ died for the sins of all—not just Israel, but also pagan Corinthians and people everywhere. Faith in that gospel is the same requirement for Jews and Gentiles today.
Using Ephesians 2, Les points out that Gentiles, who were once far off and steeped in paganism with no knowledge of the God of Abraham, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. The basis is the crucifixion: the shedding of Christ's blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, and without faith it is impossible to please God. That is how the finished work of the cross reaches Gentiles.
The Greeks' Request and Philip's Hesitation
Les explains that Philip hesitated to bring the Greeks to Jesus because Jesus had not ministered to Gentiles during His earthly ministry; the request had to be taken to Jesus.
The Seed Must Die to Reproduce
Les applies the wheat kernel to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection: unless Jesus died and was buried, His life could not be the basis of salvation for these Gentiles.
Christ Becomes Object of Faith for the Whole Human Race
After His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus becomes the object of faith for the whole human race, not just Israel.
The Same Gospel for Gentiles
Les shows that Paul told the Gentile jailer to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, with the gospel defined as Christ died, was buried, and rose again—the same requirement for Gentiles today.
Gentiles Outside and Why Jesus Could Not Take Them
While God was dealing with Israel, Gentiles were outside the covenants; Jesus could not be their object of faith until His death, burial, and resurrection.
Made Nigh by the Blood
Gentiles who were once far off, outside Israel's covenants, are now made nigh by the blood of Christ, which refers to the crucifixion.
Paul's Preaching to Gentiles
Paul delivered the gospel of Christ's death for our sins and His burial to Gentile cities, showing the cross is for the whole world.
Ephesians 2:13 and the Blood
The blood of Christ is what brings Gentiles near to God; without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.
John 12:24: 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.
Jesus used this seed analogy to point to His own death, burial, and resurrection as the source of much fruit, including the salvation of Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
This describes the former position of Gentiles while God was dealing with Israel.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This shows that the blood of Christ, shed in His death, brings Gentiles near to God.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul defines the gospel by which both Jews and Gentiles are saved.
According to Les, the same as anyone: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel to believe is that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. This is the message Paul preached to the Gentile jailer and to Gentile cities.
During His earthly ministry Jesus was sent almost exclusively to Israel, and the Gentile world was outside the covenants. Les explains that Jesus could not be the object of faith for Gentiles until He had died, been buried, and risen from the dead. Only then could the gospel go to the whole human race.
Paul meant that while God was dealing with Israel from Genesis 12 almost until Paul's time, the Gentiles were outsiders—not citizens of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise. In Christ Jesus, however, those far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Yes. Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. Les sees this as a picture of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, after which He becomes the object of faith for the whole human race, including Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6 & The Old Man Crucified With Christ — Finally Explained