Introduction: Hannukah, the Jewish “Feast of Lights” began on December 21, and continued for 8 days. Last Sunday evening I was invited to a Hannukah/Christmas party, met some nice Jewish people, and joined them in singing Hannukah songs. Hannukah commemorates the military victory of the Maccabees about 160 years before Christ, and it is possible that Jesus celebrated Hannukah. It is important for Christians to have an accurate Biblical understanding about the Jews, especially in light of all the “prophecy novels” and “prophecy preachers” who are so popular now.
I. Christians must not be anti-semitic.
A. There are many New Testament verses that could be mis-interpreted that way (John 7:1-5; John 5:16-18 and John 8:42-48, 59 and so on).
B. Jesus and the Apostles never criticize Jews because they are Jews, but because the Jews of the New Testament era opposed Jesus, and were rooted in unbelief. To be God’s chosen people, to be given the written Word of God, to have prophets, and finally to have the Messiah come, and still reject Him: well, that deserves a lot of criticism. “To whom much is given, much is required!”
C. But, always remember: Our ancestors in the Faith were Jewish: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, King David and so on. Jesus was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The early New Testament church was 99% Jewish, until Paul finally reached out to the Gentiles. There is nothing bad about being racially Jewish. The Bible is not anti-semitic, and it is stupid and sinful for Christians today to be anti-semitic.
D. Important Note: It is not anti-semitism to tell a Jew that he needs to receive Jesus as the Messiah. Remember that evangelism needs to be done in a loving manner, whether it be toward Jews or people of other religions. If they are offended it should be by the content of the Gospel itself, and not because we evangelize in an offensive way. It WOULD BE unloving to the Jews to deny them the Gospel and pass them by.
II. There is only one Church, and that Church is Essentially Jewish. Gentile Christians are spiritually one with Jewish believers of all ages.
A. The Church did not begin at Pentecost, but it began with the first believer in Christ, probably Adam; and began to be organized with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God does not have two “peoples,” an Old Testament ethnic people, and a New Testament Church. All believers of all ages are in the one Church of Jesus Christ.
B. Paul tells us that the Church is like an olive tree (Romans 11:16-18). The trunk is Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the great Jewish Christians of the Old Testament.
C. The unbelieving Jews were broken off of the trunk, and the believing Gentiles were grafted onto the trunk. Gentile Christians today are spiritually Jewish, we are “Abraham’s seed and heirs of the Covenant.” (see Galatians 3:28-29 and Romans 4:9-16).
III. God still has plans for believing Jews in the future.
A. God always makes sure there is a Remnant of believing Jews (Romans 11:1-5). Note: God has no plans for an unbelieving Jewish nation. Both Jew and Gentile unbelivers are under the wrath of God. But God does have some plans for Christian Jews.
B. At the end of the age, 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe, will turn to Christ, and become great servants of Jesus (Revelation 7:3-8 and 14:1-5). They are merely the “firstfruits” of Jewish conversions to Jesus.
C. Paul and the prophets foretell a great turning to Jesus by the Jews (Romans 11:11-15, 23-26 and Zech. 12:10-11). This revival has already begun. There are approximately 100,000 “Messianic Jews” now in the USA, and there are about 100 congregations of Messianic Jews in the land of Israel itself. Jews turning to Jesus is a growing movement. There are several strong Jewish missionary organizations.
D. The earth will be ruled by a Jew: Jesus. The Apostles will rule the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). (Possibly symbolic of the entire earth, since the Church is spiritual Israel)
Conclusion: Summarize: 1) Christians must not be anti-semitic. 2) The Church is essentially Jewish. 3) God still has great plans for Jewish Christians.