I am concerned at the divisiveness and some of the assumptions in this article.
I wonder how much of the hostility some Jews express towards Christians is a response to past persecution and the belief that the Church has replaced them as God’s people. I wonder how much this belief of the Church is based upon us judging the Jews for crucifying Christ. Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” God’s desire is that we all become one in Christ Jesus. Throughout the Crusades the Jews were persecuted, massacred, displaced and forced to convert. Not much seems to have changed in much of the Church’s attitude to Jews.
In Romans, Paul does not negate the root (Israel and the Old Testament) …. “ if you do boast, remember it is not you that support the root but the root that supports you. “ (Romans 11:18)
He also says (11:23-32)
And even those of Israel if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in again…
…. a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of Gentiles has come in…And so all Israel will be saved…. Out of Zion will come the deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob……. ie. Salvation for the Israelites will also come through faith in Jesus.
All have been disobedient. All can receive God’s mercy.
So, yes, salvation is through faith in Christ alone. At this time, until the full number of Gentiles has been saved the Israelites hearts are still hardened but there will come a time when many Israelites will receive Christ and be saved.
When Timothy wrote “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness “ he was speaking of the Old Testament. There was
no New Testament at that time.
I am puzzled at the assertion that Christian Zionism places its hope on the modern state of Israel. I believe that salvation is through faith in Christ and Christ alone, that through His death and resurrection I became a part of His body and that my hope is absolutely in Him and His Kingdom both here and in eternity.
However I also see the scriptures very clearly prophesying that the state of Israel will be reestablished before Christ returns, and see this as very important. Ezekiel 36 and 37 are extremely interesting in this regard. Here, long after the Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten of the tribes) has been exiled and scattered throughout the lands occupied by Assyria, it is prophesied that Israel and Judah (the Jews) will be reunited. There is a fascinating documentary which seems to show that the ten lost tribes are still aware of their heritage and are beginning to return to Israel which, if this is true, is nothing short of a modern day miracle.
Thank you dear George. This message is much needed today.
Scofieldism has rendered the cross of Christ ineffectual to save. Rather now, salvation is dependent upon one's works: of prayer for and support of the modern state of Israel.
Whole Gentile nations are now believed to be subject to judgement rendered according to their treatment of Christ's 'Brethren' (Matthew 25: 31-46) identified by Scofield's dispensationalists as Jews. However, CHRIST identifies HIS brethren as being those NOT after the flesh, of his genetic family, but as those who were His DISCIPLES. (Matthew 12: 46-50)
For Scofield, the heart of the whole of the biblical message is Israel and 'the glorious future for Israel under the reign of Christ'. (Preface to 1917 edition p.x. The New Scofield Reference Bible, Oxford University Press, London, 1967.) In fact, Israel HAS replaced Christ. THIS is replacement theology!
Yet, it is CHRIST that the Law and Prophets point to: The Lamb of God who 'takes away the sin of the world'. ( John 1: 29) It is the promise of the Kingdom of God as Jesus declared: "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and put your trust in the Gospel". (Mark 1:15)
ISRAEL'S purpose was to bear and bring forth The Christ - The Messiah and to point to HIM as Lord and God, to declare HIM to the nations.
It was NOT Christ's purpose to extol Israel!
Israel broke her marriage Covenant with God time and again. God was long suffering, receiving the harlot back to Himself over and over. Finally, when confronted by Jesus with the parable of the 'Wicked Tenant Farmers', the chief priests and elders declared their own doom and just end: "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers ... ". (Matthew 21:33-46)
John the Baptist was to the point! Seeing the Pharisees and Sadducees, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ... and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able to from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-12)
The Apostle Paul was blunt! 'Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does NOT say, "AND TO SEEDS," as referring to many, but rather to one, "AND TO YOUR SEED", THAT IS, Christ.' (Galatians 3:16) 'And if you are Christ's, then YOU are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.' (Galatians 3:29)
Finally, Paul declares this: 'For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the FLESH, and the son of the free woman through the PROMISE. This contains an allegory: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
But at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
But what does the Scripture say?
"CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN".' (Galatians 4:22-31)
I am concerned at the divisiveness and some of the assumptions in this article.
I wonder how much of the hostility some Jews express towards Christians is a response to past persecution and the belief that the Church has replaced them as God’s people. I wonder how much this belief of the Church is based upon us judging the Jews for crucifying Christ. Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” God’s desire is that we all become one in Christ Jesus. Throughout the Crusades the Jews were persecuted, massacred, displaced and forced to convert. Not much seems to have changed in much of the Church’s attitude to Jews.
In Romans, Paul does not negate the root (Israel and the Old Testament) …. “ if you do boast, remember it is not you that support the root but the root that supports you. “ (Romans 11:18)
He also says (11:23-32)
And even those of Israel if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in again…
…. a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of Gentiles has come in…And so all Israel will be saved…. Out of Zion will come the deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob……. ie. Salvation for the Israelites will also come through faith in Jesus.
All have been disobedient. All can receive God’s mercy.
So, yes, salvation is through faith in Christ alone. At this time, until the full number of Gentiles has been saved the Israelites hearts are still hardened but there will come a time when many Israelites will receive Christ and be saved.
When Timothy wrote “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness “ he was speaking of the Old Testament. There was
no New Testament at that time.
I am puzzled at the assertion that Christian Zionism places its hope on the modern state of Israel. I believe that salvation is through faith in Christ and Christ alone, that through His death and resurrection I became a part of His body and that my hope is absolutely in Him and His Kingdom both here and in eternity.
However I also see the scriptures very clearly prophesying that the state of Israel will be reestablished before Christ returns, and see this as very important. Ezekiel 36 and 37 are extremely interesting in this regard. Here, long after the Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten of the tribes) has been exiled and scattered throughout the lands occupied by Assyria, it is prophesied that Israel and Judah (the Jews) will be reunited. There is a fascinating documentary which seems to show that the ten lost tribes are still aware of their heritage and are beginning to return to Israel which, if this is true, is nothing short of a modern day miracle.
https://youtu.be/nIbgOCsEwpE
In case the link doesn’t work the title is Documentary: The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. It’s on YouTube.
Thank you George for all you are doing. May all of us who love Christ seek truth together and be united in Him.
Thank you dear George. This message is much needed today.
Scofieldism has rendered the cross of Christ ineffectual to save. Rather now, salvation is dependent upon one's works: of prayer for and support of the modern state of Israel.
Whole Gentile nations are now believed to be subject to judgement rendered according to their treatment of Christ's 'Brethren' (Matthew 25: 31-46) identified by Scofield's dispensationalists as Jews. However, CHRIST identifies HIS brethren as being those NOT after the flesh, of his genetic family, but as those who were His DISCIPLES. (Matthew 12: 46-50)
For Scofield, the heart of the whole of the biblical message is Israel and 'the glorious future for Israel under the reign of Christ'. (Preface to 1917 edition p.x. The New Scofield Reference Bible, Oxford University Press, London, 1967.) In fact, Israel HAS replaced Christ. THIS is replacement theology!
Yet, it is CHRIST that the Law and Prophets point to: The Lamb of God who 'takes away the sin of the world'. ( John 1: 29) It is the promise of the Kingdom of God as Jesus declared: "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and put your trust in the Gospel". (Mark 1:15)
ISRAEL'S purpose was to bear and bring forth The Christ - The Messiah and to point to HIM as Lord and God, to declare HIM to the nations.
It was NOT Christ's purpose to extol Israel!
Israel broke her marriage Covenant with God time and again. God was long suffering, receiving the harlot back to Himself over and over. Finally, when confronted by Jesus with the parable of the 'Wicked Tenant Farmers', the chief priests and elders declared their own doom and just end: "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers ... ". (Matthew 21:33-46)
John the Baptist was to the point! Seeing the Pharisees and Sadducees, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ... and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able to from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-12)
The Apostle Paul was blunt! 'Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does NOT say, "AND TO SEEDS," as referring to many, but rather to one, "AND TO YOUR SEED", THAT IS, Christ.' (Galatians 3:16) 'And if you are Christ's, then YOU are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.' (Galatians 3:29)
Finally, Paul declares this: 'For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the FLESH, and the son of the free woman through the PROMISE. This contains an allegory: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
But at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
But what does the Scripture say?
"CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN".' (Galatians 4:22-31)