Christ promised to bring Gentiles into His fold, but there was opposition by those who believed it was their birthright, and that unclean Gentiles should be excluded.
But that was because they misunderstood the basis upon which poor sinners are brought by Christ into His fold. It is not by law-keeping, or ethnic heritage, but by the election of God and faith in the death of Jesus in our place.
Christ re-arranged His fold, bringing only those sheep which God had given Him out of every nation and tongue and people.
Therefore, the unity of the sheep in Christ's fold is not ethnic or national. It is not by law keeping.
Rather, the unity of the fold is based upon Christ's dying to save all His people. Christ's sheep are all in His fold because He shed His blood to save us.
Paul lamented the Jews' reliance on establishing their own righteousness, when only Christ's righteousness, received by faith, will save us from judgment. He preached that Jews and Gentiles are all the same, all saved by faith in Jesus, and God's promises. Our unity is in the Righteousness and blood shedding of our Good Shepherd.
There is, in fact, "no difference" between us, we who have been bought by Jesus' blood.
In Ephesians 2, Paul again describes how Gentiles, who were far off, and separated from Jews by the law, have been reconciled together with believing Jews in the body of Christ crucified for us all.
Our unity is in the blood, that reconciled us all together, at one time, and in one body, unto our God.
Paul exhorts the elders, that Christ has purchased His church with His blood. We are only in Christ's fold because His blood paid for our crimes, praise God! |
