Monday, November 11, 2013

The Choice Between Jesus or Israel

THE CHOICE BETWEEN
JESUS OR ISRAEL

Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to address a group of Messianic Jews who not only believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but also evangelizes Jews.

HERE is the story.

Of course Bush’s appearance is causing a great controversy because many supporters of Israel are greatly offended at evangelicals attempting to convert Jewish people. And many evangelicals that follow in the steps of men like John Hagee are committed to withhold any gospel witness to Jews as well. They suggest that salvation can still come to the Jews through the Old Covenant.

This is a very great issue within the body of Christ for it goes to the very heart of the gospel. For if there are ethnic categories of sinners who can find redemption in other ways than that greatly reflects upon Jesus and His offer of redemption. Jesus made it clear that no one can come to the Father but by Him, and that means that even those kept in faith through the Old Covenant were eventually and fully redeemed by the same cross and resurrection that New Testament believers are.

Even if God still recognized the Old Testament as valid for today, which He does not, which Jews still offer animal sacrifices? They do not. So let us not let any affection for the Jewish people cloud our knowledge of the truth. And in reality those who claim to love them most and suggest they can have salvation through an old and ineffective covenant are their worst enemies.

You cannot embrace the New Testament and the Redeemer Jesus as exclusive and at the same time believe that sinners who happen to be ethnic Jews are exempt from the open mandate which states that “no man comes to the Father but by Me”. You cannot embrace the New Testament and teach that some sinners who openly reject Jesus as God’s Son will somehow get a pass simply because they happen to be Jewish. In essence, you cannot ignore the New Testament and make up your own plan of salvation which does not include faith in Jesus Christ. The choice is between believing and following Jesus or believing in Israel and following the Jewish people.

This is no small thing. This is a redemptive issue which cuts to the very core of gospel truth. If a sinner can be saved without faith in Jesus then the New Testament is a lie and cannot be trusted at all. And either the words of Jesus were erroneously transcribed or those who teach that there are other paths to eternal life are heretics of the highest order. The latter is the truth.

I watched a news program that was interviewing a Jewish journalist concerning George Bush’s upcoming appearance and she questioned the wisdom of such an event since her Jewish peers would take great offense. She said that the Jewish community had no problem with men like Hagee since he has promised not to proselyte the Jewish people. They welcomed his militant stance of Israel including his support of any military action Israel deemed necessary to protect themselves.

And therein lies the eternal choice before us. There is only one covenant and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. All other gospels which claim to be one of two are frauds. If your support of the secular nation called Israel is so strong and so deep that you refuse to share the gospel with those Jews than you are a heretic and a false teacher. You cannot serve two masters. If Jesus is Lord than we must follow Him without compromise. There is a fervor today which has believers and unbelievers alike frothing at the mouth over Israel. And this kind of unbiblical support has led to many heresies and compromises.

If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and if no man can come to God but through Him, then all sinners, Jew or Gentile, must believe on Him to have everlasting life. And so many things in the Old Testament were literal then but now are symbolic and shadows of the things revealed in the New Testament. For instance the riches of Abraham are symbolic of our riches in Christ and yet the prosperity movement suggests they are literal wealth promised to the children of Abraham which includes present day believers. And there are all kinds of promised God made to Israel back then which have no relevance today and especially are irrelevant to the church.

There can be no melding of the Two Covenants. God does not see the world as either Jew or Gentile. He sees the world as either goats or sheep. And there is only one redeemer and His name is Yeshua (Joshua, Jesus). And while certain men think they do the Jewish people a favor by supporting Israel they in fact are a major stumbling block. We should love the Jewish people just like we should love all ethnic groups.

In the end we must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And in so doing we must never create some unbiblical categories of sinners and suggest that God shows favor to one lost group over another. The Old Covenant is over and the glory of the covenant of the Spirit must never be diluted by that which has served its purpose but is now passed. All the glory, honor, and praise goes to the Risen Christ and His everlasting gospel!

22 comments:

Kelli said...

The choice between Jesus or Israel? Jesus is salvation. Yes, Jews need to be born again. And there is a remnant of Jews who have not bowed to Baal.
The door of the faith has been opened to the Gentiles for salvation Acts 14:27.(we are gentile born again believers, and not Israel)

Romans Chapters 9-11 is reference to the Jews
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits; that blindness IN PART is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Yes, a Jewish believer can be part of the church today after being born again.

The LORD God has a plan for national Israel and His elect whether we believe this or not. It is all to His Glory and by His design.

Isaiah 45:3,4 God says:
"For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee,though thou hast not know Me."
Talking about Israel in Isaiah 45:3,4 "Israel mine elect."

*Pastor Bill Klein
Isaiah 65:8,9 God is talking through the prophet, "And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob..." That is Jewish. "and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and my elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there." Speaking of the Jews. There is no-one else that is called the "elect", except for the Jews.
If you look in the Jewish literature section from Hebrews through Revelation, especially Peter, both James and Peter talked about the Diaspora, the Jews who have been spread out of their homeland because of persecution. They're are affectionately called God's "elect".
We cannot go into that Jewish section, which many do ...The Book of Revelation 1:6, 5:10 and also 1 Peter 2:5, 9 Both sections talk about that we are a kingdom of priests. Those are the Jews and not the church.

Three distinct groups of people:
1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offense, to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Even after the establishment of the church the term Jew is used distinct from the church.

Galatians 3:26-28 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. (church of God)

Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Acts 21:28
Crying out, Men of Israel, help:This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place:and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
Romans 10:1
Chapter 10
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

continued...

Kelli said...

Ephesians 4:17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
(Gentile believers, not Israel)

Acts 15:3
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Acts 15:23
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Romans 11:13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

1 Corinthians 12:13
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. (born again by His Spirit)

1 Timothy 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 15:10
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

Romans 15:16
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Romans 16:4
Who have for my life laid down their own necks:unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1 Timothy 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kellie, Israel is a secular nation just like every other nation on earth. The Islamic nations around Israel do not allow Born Again Believers to convert their citizens either.

You stated in your reply that there are three distinct groups of people recognized in the New Testament. I would like to ask you though if this is the case then how do you explain where Jesus states in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”? I see no distinction, only believers and unbelievers.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

There is not going to be a Kingdom of God here on this earth through the Jews or anyone else. 1Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

As for the persecution of the Jewish that came about from sin and their rejection of Jesus Christ. They said themselves in Matthew 27:25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." And again John 19:15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!".

Galations 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
:25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Joel

Kelli said...

Joel: Israel is a secular nation just like every other nation on earth. The Islamic nations around Israel do not allow Born Again Believers to convert their citizens either.

kelli: What do you mean allow one to convert? You mean one cannot convert unless a nation allows one to be saved? You mean nations have the control over what God does through an individual? We have the church scattered all over the world.


Joel: You stated in your reply that there are three distinct groups of people recognized in the New Testament. I would like to ask you though if this is the case then how do you explain where Jesus states in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”? I see no distinction, only believers and unbelievers.

kelli: Joel, 1 Corinthians 10:32 shows us we have three distinct groups of people.
We have born again believing Jews and born again believing Gentiles.
We have Gentiles and Jewish people who are not saved.
So yes, we have only believers and non believers.


Joel:John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Joel:There is not going to be a Kingdom of God here on this earth through the Jews or anyone else. 1Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

kelli: so you do not believe in a literal rule of Christ from Jerusalem?

Lorena said...

God is not a respecter of people therefore, we are all in the same boat. You must be born again before Jesus returns or it's too late.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Israel is a nation in this world. They are not any different than anyone else when it comes to salvation.

Anonymous said...


Rick writes:
We should love the Jewish people just like we should love all ethnic groups.

James writes:

Can someone legitimately claim to love the Jewish people if they have no desire in their heart to pray for them?

Cherie c. said...

I guess people forget the verse where God said, to the Jew first, then the Gentile.

They also forget that some of those in the early church were of the nation of Israel.

Yes, we should pray for them, and all those lost, whether Jew, or Greek, or Islamic, or American

your sister in Chris Jesus,
Cherie c.

Shannon said...

Hi Joel, The point is to establish from Scripture that God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham and then Jacob was changed to Israel in Genesis 12:1-7,13:14-17, 15:1-21. Genesis 26 to Isaac. Genesis 28 to Jacob
Because they rejected the Messiah Jesus Christ, the Jews, the people of national Israel, has been blinded in part, Romans 11:25.
When the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, the Jews left alive at the end of the Tribulation period will realize Jesus Christ was/is indeed the long-awaited Messiah
The New Testament Promises God Will Resume His Fulfillment Of Various Covenants With Israel

"Simon [Peter] has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, `After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.'" (Acts 15:14-18)

"and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob'; 'and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Rom. 11:26, 27)
Your use of John 14:6 to show there are two distinct peoples is a different subject matter from the three people groups 1 Cor 10:32 mentions.
I'm confused as to when you believe the church started, Joel.
Hi Lorena,
No one is arguing the fact that all peoples, whether Jew or Gentile, must be born again. The discussion is pertaining to the future of Israel. The LORD God has a plan for national Israel and His elect.
James,
How do you suggest one prays for the Jewish people?
The Lord will save those whom belong to Him, those He foreknew before the foundations of the earth was laid, Eph 1:4, Acts 13:48

Rick Frueh said...

There seems to be some hints as to a gathering of the Jews at the end as they repent and believe on Jesus. However the support of the current nation of Israel is a gross misuse of Scripture and is on some level superstition and a religious talisman.

Shannon said...

Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Acts 2:37-41, 3,000 Jews were added to the church that day.

Did not Jesus say He would build His Church? Matthew 16:18. If the growth of His Church is based on one's prayers, none would be saved.

Cherie c. said...

What you are all speaking about can be found in Isaiah 62, most notably in Isaiah 63, Zachariah 12, most notably 12:9-10

Although Isaiah 45 is speaking about Israel His elect, there is no doubt that Jesus commissioned His disciples to go to the house of Israel and not to the Gentiles. And that continued even though there were some Gentiles that He blessed as well.

"No on can come to the Father but by Me" saith the Lord.

There will be a small remnant who will be saved of Israel, but they will be kingdom dwellers. Two out of every three will perish during the siege on Jerusalem just before the Lord steps down on the Mount of Olives. We must pray for Israel to hear the Word of the Lord, repent and be forgiven. Now is the hour to preach the Gospel to them, and those who have ears to hear will hear. And those who refuse will not hear.

You would pray for Israel just like any other lost soul, there is no difference. That is what James meant, and I think you know that.

Lorena, whether now or future, all peoples must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom.

God told Abraham that he would be a father of nations:

Genesis 17:4
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

But that covenant was not just his fathering of Israel.

Pay attention, keep with me now, I am going to share something really cool that I learned from listening to a sermon by Martin Lloyd Jones.

Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Galatians 3:6
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Do you see a pattern developing here?

We are righteous through Jesus by Faith. Abraham was righteous because he believed God. Belief/Faith same thing.

Abraham then is the father of not just earthly nations through the seed of human flesh, he is also the father of the nation of Israel, circumcision, and the un-circumcision. Two peoples are one in faith.

Those who will be saved from their hiding place in Petra will be the nation of Israel, and we who are the church will be the bride of Christ. Two nations, one faith.

How is that for cool. Praise the Lord for His Holy Spirit for revelation of His Word to His church. Not a new revelation, but eyes opened to His truth. Glory to God!

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for the lost, Jew and Greek.

Almost forgot. The Scriptures regarding the the first Adam and Jesus as the second Adam only solidifies what the difference is of flesh and spirit and the elect. No Calvinism here, just truth another interesting and awesome view of Redemption. Puts to bed the argument of how predestination is incorrectly uses and the difference between flesh and spirit. I will reference the sermon in another post. It is an audio only.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.

Anonymous said...


Shannon,
It is biblical to pray and unbiblical not to pray! Additionally the prayer of a righteous man avails much!

Anonymous said...

Cherie,
Everyone who believes like Abraham is a true believer.

Anonymous said...


Shannon,
The growth of God's Church is based on Him growing it. He does the saving and blesses those He saves with a hunger and thirst to be prayerful.

Shannon said...

Hello Anonymous,
Who said it is "unbiblical" not to pray?
Context of verse 16 is 13-18.
Who did James write his letter to? James is writing to the Hebrews/Jews scattered in the Diaspora.
So if I pray as Elijah did, because I have the "faith" of Christ within, I can pray according to what I will, and it will be done?
No, but if I pray according to the Father's will, His will is always done. My righteousness is of Him.
The prayer of Elijah was being energized by the Spirit of God.
We pray but it is not always in accordance to His will. And yet, we desire that all be saved and we know that will not happen.
Our prayers are always answered and it might not be the results we like but His will is being done.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Shannon said...

Hi Anonymous,

If you please, where is the verse referring to, as you say, Jesus says He "...blesses those He saves with a hunger and thirst to be prayerful."?

Thank you

Kelli said...

WHO has blinded Israel unto the fulness of the Gentiles come in?

Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

2 Corinthians 3:15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2 Corinthians 3:16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Israel is blinded by the veil

Are there not those who love darkness more than the Light?

Did not God use Pharaoh for His purposes? Does not God use the unsaved for His purposes? Did not God chose Judas for His purposes?
Despite of the political endeavors of the world, God is still in control and we are called to trust Him in all things despite what we see outwardly.

We are to walk by faith and not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7

God uses false teachers to see if we really are of Him.
1 Corinthians 11:19

What is sound doctrine? Sound teaching.
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

We need to look at Zechariah 12, 13, 14 it is the Lord who will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling and all the people of the earth will be against it
Zechariah 12:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,
Isaiah 24 is talking about the judgment that comes upon the earth.
Isaiah 24:23
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed,
when the Lord of hosts shall reign
in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem,
and before his ancients gloriously.
And the reign of Yahweh in Jerusalem

Shannon said...

Thinking of how the Lord blinds in part. The Jews were/are blinded temporarily by the Lord as a consequence of the sin of rejecting His Son Jesus Christ as Messiah.
He is still blinding the eyes and hearts of many today, as those who don't want His Truth are deluded into believing lies as truth.

2 Cor 11:1-15. The false church is growing exponentially. Satan and his disciples are masquerading themselves as children of God. But they do not have the faith that is a fruit of His Spirit.
Thank you Kelli for bringing 1 Cor 11:19 out.
He is blessing those of us who are of Him by allowing division. The divisions are for our own good so we will know who are our brothers/sisters.

Lorena said...

I thought I was making a point about people not wanting to share the gospel with the Jewish people (the nation of Israel) because they think they will be saved when Jesus returns. That would be another way of being saved which is another gospel.

Anonymous said...

Good post Rick.

Matt 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stoneth them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE. In 70 AD the temple was destroyed, as Jesus said it would be. After the cross national Israel became spiritual Israel.
1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The Jewish people need the gospel message preached to them too because they have to go through Jesus for salvation, just like everyone else does. If the physical nation of Israel doesn't believe Jesus is their Messiah doesn't that make them anti-Christ?

Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world, that it comes without observation. His kingdom is spiritual and we must be born again into his kingdom. 2000 yrs ago the religious system was looking for their messiah to come and set up an earthly kingdom and it's the same thing today with the religious system. Where does Jesus or his apostles ever teach about Jesus coming back to set up an earthly millennial kingdom on this earth? In speaking about his kingdom He tells us in the parables, such as the parable of the ten virgins that once the bridegroom returns and the door is closed...there are no second chances.
In 2 Peter 3:10 tells us the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. And that there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Who will be able to survive that day in a physical earthly body? No one, only those who belong to Christ, who are changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye...those who put on immortality, put on incorruption

Jann

Cherie c. said...

Anonymous,

You completely missed what I was saying.

Just a side note, Calvinism is a false doctrine. Seems some who visit here are Calvinists. Please see posts regarding same. Also The Berean Call, Dave Hunt on Calvinism. Also a great article by Brenda Nickel.

http://www.carylmatrisciana.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:brendas-testimony-her-14-years-in-calvinism&catid=39&Itemid=58

Rick Frueh said...

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