Windham/Mowery Debate on Who is Subject to the Gospel

 
 
 Proposition: 
All accountable humans (both Jews and Gentiles) are subject 
to the new covenant.

Affirm:  Dub Mowery
Deny:  Brian Windham

The phrase “all humans accountable” has reference to their ability to morally 
understand right from wrong, good and evil. Those not held eternally accountable 
for their thoughts, words, and actions includes infants, small children and the 
mentally ill who are not cable to morally make decisions. 

The term “Jews” has reference to the descendants of Judah, one of the twelve sons 
of Jacob. The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin were referred to as Jews after ten 
of the tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and retained the name of Israel. Jacob 
was the grandson of the Abraham who migrated from Ur of Chaldea. All Jews 
were Israelites, but not all Israelites were Jews. All Israelites were Hebrews, but 
not all Hebrews were Israelites. All who descended from Abraham were Hebrews. 

The term “Gentiles” has reference to anyone who is not a descendant of Jacob. 

The phrase “are subject unto” means morally accountable unto. 

The term “new covenant” and the New Testament is one and the same thing. It 
includes the personal teaching of Christ while upon the earth as well as the books 
of Acts through Revelation. 

For the purpose of this study, it is essential that we consider the various ways in 
which the name “Israel” has been used. The name Israel means “He will be a 
prince with God.” It was given (1) to Jacob himself (Gen. 32:28), (2) to all the 
descendants of Jacob (Ex. 4:22; 5:1-2), (3) to the ten tribes that revolted from 
Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:19-20), and (4) to all believers in Christ (Rom. 9:6). 

Those in the New Testament, who are in covenant relationship with God, are 
called Israel. This is true whether or not those obedient believers are physical 
descendents of Jacob. In fact, the terms “Israel” and “Jew(s)”, in referring to those 
under the new covenant, are often used for all Christians, regardless of whether or 
not they are physical descendants of Jacob. The following scriptures bears this 
truth out: Rom. 2:28-29, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is 
that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one 
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; 
whose praise is not of men, but of God.” And at Rom. 9:6-8, “Not as though the 
word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of 
Israel: Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in 
Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, 
these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for 
the seed.” Under the old covenant, the terms “Israel” and “Jew(s)” had reference 
to the physical descendants of Jacob. His physical descendents were in covenant 
relation with the Lord. In the new covenant, those two terms are used 
symbolically to include all who are in covenant relations with God, regardless of 
their race. 

A person who obeys the gospel of Christ is not physically changed, but spiritually 
changed. The Apostle makes this truth clear when he states, “For by one Spirit are 
we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be 
bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. 12:13). 

All mankind, beginning with Adam and Eve, who have reached the age of 
accountability, have sinned. John the Baptist declared of the Son of God, 
“…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). 
Jesus died for the entire human race! The Greek word “kosmos” translated as 
world in that passage has reference to the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human 
family. The human family began with Adam and Eve, not with Abraham and 
Sarah. If God selected one race to be eternally saved over all other nations then 
He would be a respecter of persons. The Lord provided a vision unto the Apostle 
Peter for the purpose to reveal that those of other races, other than the descendants 
of Jacob, could obtain salvation under the new covenant (Acts 10:9-17). Peter 
came to realize what God was revealing unto him by that vision. After entering 
into the household of an uncircumcised Gentile, he declared, “…Of a truth I 
perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth 
him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). Brian, for 
you to claim that the gospel is for only the physical descendents of Jacob would 
imply that God is a respecter of persons. The immediate above passage plainly 
points out that He is not a respecter of persons. But rather, in every nation those 
who fear (reverence) Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The term 
righteousness has reference to God’s standard of right in contrast to that which is 
sinful (Rom. 10:1-3). 

At Gen. 12:3, the Lord said unto Abram (Abraham), “…in thee shall all families 
of the earth be blessed.” The word “families” in that passage comes from the 
Hebrew word “mishpachah” and basically means a clan of a family, tribe, or 
people. This would indicate that no family, tribe, or people would be excluded 
from having the opportunity to be blessed through Abraham. The Heavenly Father 
further clarified His promise to Abraham by way of an angel with these words: 
“And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 
And said, By myself have I sworn saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this 
thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless 
thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as 
the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his 
enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because 
thou hast obeyed my voice” (Gen. 22:15-18). God repeated this promise to Isaac 
(Gen. 26:1-5), and to Abraham’s grandson Jacob (Gen. 28:10-15). The Apostle 
Paul states, concerning this promise, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the 
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy 
seed, which is Christ.”(Gal. 3:16). Paul then reveals how those of all nations and 
families of the earth can be blessed through Abraham’s seed Jesus Christ. He 
wrote: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of 
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor 
Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are 
all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and 
heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29). We can be thankful that God is not 
a respecter of persons and therefore provides the means of redemption for all who 
are accountable. 

Dub Mowery