Martin Luther
New Member
Terminology is important, what do most people presume when they read jew and gentile? Most people think Israelite and non-Israelite but the truth is it means law-follower and heathen. The term jew can best be explained like this. Since the time of Moses, men were redeemed not by their strict adherence to the law but through the circumcision of their heart, by faith in the Christ (Hebrews 10:26)(I Peter 4:6). Good men would by obedience follow the law but it was the condition of their heart that saved them. No O.T. saint ever received the forgiveness of a single sin through animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:6-12) God makes it very clear in the O.T. that any man of any race can be saved through obedience (Isaiah 56:6-7).
Corrupt men looked at the law more legalistically. They thought as long as they obeyed the letter of the law what was in their heart didn't not really matter. It was only a matter of time before these wicked men began to change the law through their positions of power. They claimed they had the ability to see hidden truths that the regular follower could not see. As Israel's spirituality began to decline they soon went into bondage and God allowed them to be conquered, this is where we begin to see the term jew used. (Esther 8:17)
The key here is that the term is a reference to the religion of those following the law for salvation. Where things get sticky is that there were undoubtedly those who followed the pure law and those who followed the corrupted Pharisee version. As an Israelite Christ never called Himself a jew but he was one in the sense that he practiced the original pure law. Those following the law (A people not of one race but many seeking salvation through the law) had to make a choice, assume Christ was the promised Messiah or look for another. When we read that Christ came unto His own, it is a reference to those who claimed to be looking for Messiah, those attempting to follow the law. Remember that the northern kingdom known as “Israel’ never returned to the land called Israel. They were not there to see Christ, nor did they have the ability to reject Him. Christ came first to those looking for Him, the jews not the Israelites. (Men like the Edomite King Herod)
God has always been building a spiritual nation of men and women circumcised in the heart (I Peter 2:9). The N.T. is comprised of books written to two groups of people, the jews, those following the law for salvation (not necessarily Israelites); those who had to be shown that Christ fulfilled the law and that salvation was of faith and not in the works of the law, specifically a condition of one’s heart. And the gentiles (another term for heathen), those who never practiced the law for salvation; these may have included physical Israelites.
Paul explained thoroughly that salvation was a matter of faith and that God would give salvation to all men through Christ if they became obedient to Christ. Those who chose to reject Christ continued to practice the law. The Christ rejecting law followers stayed in Jerusalem right up to the end in 70 A.D. They fought for a physical kingdom and died never trusting in the Messiah. The religion of the jews became Christ rejection. For a Christian to ignorantly call the jews Gods chosen people, would be like saying that the descendants of the Christ rejecting law followers are Gods chosen people. It is ignorant from a religious perspective and ignorant from a physical perspective. At the very very best, there may be some who still call themselves jews who may possess some blood from either Benjamin, Judah or Levi. The northern ten tribes turned to pagan gods and never returned to Israel. Israel/Church will not be a spiritual nation until Christ returns. Upon His return he will marry the bride, the church, Israel, perfected through His blood and made partakers of the adoption through Abraham (Galatians 3:7)
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect.
Corrupt men looked at the law more legalistically. They thought as long as they obeyed the letter of the law what was in their heart didn't not really matter. It was only a matter of time before these wicked men began to change the law through their positions of power. They claimed they had the ability to see hidden truths that the regular follower could not see. As Israel's spirituality began to decline they soon went into bondage and God allowed them to be conquered, this is where we begin to see the term jew used. (Esther 8:17)
The key here is that the term is a reference to the religion of those following the law for salvation. Where things get sticky is that there were undoubtedly those who followed the pure law and those who followed the corrupted Pharisee version. As an Israelite Christ never called Himself a jew but he was one in the sense that he practiced the original pure law. Those following the law (A people not of one race but many seeking salvation through the law) had to make a choice, assume Christ was the promised Messiah or look for another. When we read that Christ came unto His own, it is a reference to those who claimed to be looking for Messiah, those attempting to follow the law. Remember that the northern kingdom known as “Israel’ never returned to the land called Israel. They were not there to see Christ, nor did they have the ability to reject Him. Christ came first to those looking for Him, the jews not the Israelites. (Men like the Edomite King Herod)
God has always been building a spiritual nation of men and women circumcised in the heart (I Peter 2:9). The N.T. is comprised of books written to two groups of people, the jews, those following the law for salvation (not necessarily Israelites); those who had to be shown that Christ fulfilled the law and that salvation was of faith and not in the works of the law, specifically a condition of one’s heart. And the gentiles (another term for heathen), those who never practiced the law for salvation; these may have included physical Israelites.
Paul explained thoroughly that salvation was a matter of faith and that God would give salvation to all men through Christ if they became obedient to Christ. Those who chose to reject Christ continued to practice the law. The Christ rejecting law followers stayed in Jerusalem right up to the end in 70 A.D. They fought for a physical kingdom and died never trusting in the Messiah. The religion of the jews became Christ rejection. For a Christian to ignorantly call the jews Gods chosen people, would be like saying that the descendants of the Christ rejecting law followers are Gods chosen people. It is ignorant from a religious perspective and ignorant from a physical perspective. At the very very best, there may be some who still call themselves jews who may possess some blood from either Benjamin, Judah or Levi. The northern ten tribes turned to pagan gods and never returned to Israel. Israel/Church will not be a spiritual nation until Christ returns. Upon His return he will marry the bride, the church, Israel, perfected through His blood and made partakers of the adoption through Abraham (Galatians 3:7)
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect.
