In the Old Testament, Gentiles were viewed as outside God's covenant dealings with Israel — aliens, strangers, without hope, and without God in the world.
Paul describes the Gentiles before Christ as called the Uncircumcision by Israel, without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Les Feldick stresses that God was dealing primarily with Israel during that period, so the pagan nations had no part in Israel's covenants. Yet they were not forgotten; God had them in mind and held them responsible.
Ephesians 2:11-12 — Paul directly tells Gentile believers to remember their former condition when God was dealing with Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:21 — Moses prophesied that a foolish nation would provoke Israel to jealousy, which Les says pointed to Israel's hatred of Gentile inclusion.
The clearest biblical statement about the Gentiles' former standing comes from Ephesians 2:11-12. Paul tells Gentile believers to remember that in time past they were called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands. In that condition they 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. Moses had already spoken of a nation that was not a people — a foolish nation that God would use to move Israel to jealousy (Deuteronomy 32:21). The reaction of the Jewish crowd in Acts 22 shows the hostility of that age toward the thought of God reaching out to the Gentiles: when Paul said the Lord had sent him far hence unto the Gentiles, the crowd shouted, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.'
Les Feldick teaches that from the call of Abraham until deep into the Book of Acts, God dealt primarily with the nation of Israel, leaving the Gentile nations on the outside. He repeatedly appeals to Ephesians 2:11-12, where Paul says the Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Les explains that the covenants belonged to Israel — first given to Abraham, repeated to Isaac and Jacob — so a Gentile could not say, 'That is for me.' He also notes that Israel detested even the word 'Gentile,' as seen in Acts 22, and that Moses foretold Israel would hate the nation brought into fellowship with God. Although the Gentiles were without hope in that economy, Les insists God was always fair and just, holding even the pagan Gentiles responsible because they could have known there is a Creator. Now, under the gospel of grace, God is also the God of the Gentiles, and the Jew and Gentile stand on a level playing field.
The Bible says that before Christ, Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). Les Feldick emphasizes that God was dealing with the Jew during that time, including Christ's earthly ministry. The covenants belonged to Israel, so a Gentile could not claim the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Les puts it plainly: a Gentile had no rights from Israel and was an alien.
Les points to the reaction in Acts 22. Paul told the crowd that the Lord said, 'Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.' They listened silently until he said the word 'Gentile,' and then they shouted, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.' Les says this is exactly what Moses foretold — that another nation would come into fellowship with Israel's God and Israel would hate them for it. Israel fought the Gospel among the Gentiles, just as Moses said.
Les anticipates the objection that putting the Gentiles outside Israel's covenants was unfair. He says people get shaken up by Ephesians 2, but we can never accuse God of being unfair — He has always been fair, just, and righteous. Even though the Gentile nations were lost and without hope in that economy, God still held them responsible, because every human being has within his breast the knowledge that there is a Creator God.
Les explains that in the Old Testament, the concept was not that God was the God of the Gentiles in the same way. But when the gospel of grace came, Paul asked, 'Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.' There is now a level playing field: the Jew has no advantage over the Gentile, and the Gentile has no advantage over the Jew. The far-off Gentiles have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Israel's Hatred of the Word 'Gentile'
Les shows how deeply Israel hated the word 'Gentile' — they demanded Paul's death when he said God sent him to the Gentiles — and connects this to Moses' prophecy that Israel would detest the nation called into fellowship with God.
Gentiles as Uncircumcision and Without Christ
Les sets Paul's words in Ephesians 2:11-12 as a description of the Gentiles' condition while God was dealing with the Jew: they were called Uncircumcision, were without Christ, aliens from Israel, strangers to the promises, without hope, and without God.
Gentiles Outside the Covenants, Without Hope
Les repeats that Gentile believers were strangers from the covenants of promise and that their lot was having no hope and being without God in the world.
Gentiles Had No Rights to Israel's Covenants
Les explains that Gentiles were aliens who had no rights from Israel; only Israel had the covenants, so a Gentile could not claim them.
Covenants Belonged to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Les identifies the covenants as first given to Abraham and repeated to Isaac and Jacob, showing that Gentiles were outside those covenant promises.
God's Fairness to the Gentiles
Les answers the complaint that God wasn't fair to Gentiles by insisting God is always fair, just, and righteous.
God's Primary Dealing with Israel; Gentile Responsibility
Les notes God dealt primarily with Israel from Abraham into Acts, and that the Gentile world was lost, but God still held them responsible because they could have known there is a Creator.
Level Playing Field in the Gospel of Grace
Les explains that the Old Testament concept wasn't that God was the God of the Gentiles too, but now the gospel of grace puts Jew and Gentile on a level playing field.
Ephesians 2:11-12: Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 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:
Paul describes the Gentile believers' former position in the Old Testament economy.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Paul contrasts the old condition with the new position in Christ.
Deuteronomy 32:21: They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Moses predicts that Israel would be provoked to jealousy by a people that was not a nation.
Acts 22:21-22: And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
The Jewish crowd reacted violently when Paul said God sent him to the Gentiles.
Romans 3:29: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Paul confirms that God is the God of the Gentiles too, a truth that was obscured in the Old Testament.
Les says that during that time God was dealing primarily with Israel, but all the Gentiles were in God's mind. The Bible describes their lot as being without hope and without God in the world, yet God still held them responsible because they could have known there is a Creator.
In Ephesians 2:11, Paul says the Gentiles were called the Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision. Les explains that Israel called the Gentiles uncircumcised because Israel had the physical sign of covenant relationship, while the Gentiles did not.
In the Old Testament, Gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants without hope and without God. Les says that with the gospel of grace, the Jew and Gentile are on a level playing field, and God is the God of the Gentiles also.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained