7
The expression `BEFORE the foundation of the world' occurs but three times, twice with reference to Christ
Himself, and once with reference to the Church of the One Body:
`Thou lovedst Me BEFORE the foundation of the world' (John 17:24).
`Christ, as a Lamb ... foreordained BEFORE the foundation of the world' (1 Pet. 1:19,20).
`According as He hath chosen us in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world' (Eph. 1:4).
Here is, therefore, the second item which is unique. This time period is further explained in 2 Timothy 1:9:
`Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE the world began'.
Seeing that this booklet is intended for those who are mere beginners, we have eliminated, as far as is possible,
references to the original, and alterations of the Authorized Versions. We would simply remark that the words
`before the foundation of the world' would be more accurately rendered `before the overthrow of the world',
referring to Genesis 1:1,2; and `before the world began' is more literally rendered `before age times'. While these
differences are important, we do not intend pressing them here, our point being equally maintained by the existing
versions. The blessings concerning the Church of the One Body are related to a unique time period - Before the
foundation of the world, and Before the world began.
All spiritual.
To conclude this first set of distinguishing features, it but remains to observe that these blessings have a peculiar
character; they are `all spiritual'.
CHAPTER 3
NO MIDDLE WALL
The Jew first.
From the days of Abraham until the writing of the epistle to the Romans `The Jew first' is a noticeable
characteristic of God's dealings with men.
During the earthly ministry of Christ He limited His ministry and that of His apostles to `the lost sheep of the
house of Israel'. The Gentiles at that period were `dogs' (see Matt. 7 and 15).
No Gentiles at Pentecost.
Peter, on the day of Pentecost, addressed his words to `Ye men of Judaea', `Ye men of Israel', `All the house of
Israel' (Acts 2:14,22,36). The God in Whose name he spoke to the people was `The God of Abraham, and of Isaac,
and of Jacob, the God of our fathers' (3:13). The Christ Peter preached was One Who had been raised from the dead
`to sit on David's throne' (2:30), and Who had been sent to Israel `first' (3:26) and Who had been `exalted a Prince
and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto Israel' (5:31).
Peter still a Jew in Acts 10.
It is manifestly impossible to believe by the testimony of the chief speaker himself that a single Gentile had been
admitted to the Church inaugurated at Pentecost. When constrained by a vision from heaven to yield to the request
of Cornelius, he meets the man with the words:
`Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another
nation' (Acts 10:28).
Peter, therefore, knew nothing of a Church where Jew and Gentile were all one in Christ. Further, by his own
confession he would have classed Cornelius with dogs and swine up to the time of the vision at Joppa.