Expert: Brenda Martin - 1/31/2009

Question
I was searching out some church history and stumbled across this website,
in amazement of just how much anti-semitism is in the Church. In the
answer to the question, "What were the Origins of Christian -anti Jewish
sentiment?", you ended by stating "The plain and simple truth is the Jews
lost the privelege of being God's chosen nation, it was taken away from
them and given to those who were willing to obey God,hence the divide."

Romans 11:29 says "for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." Your
answer is calling God a liar and an Indiangiver. Please explain your position!

Be holy!
Steve D

Answer
“The Jews lost the privilege of being God's chosen nation; it was taken away from them and given to those who were willing to obey God.”

To which you replied--“YOURE CALLING GOD A LIAR AND AN INDIAN-GIVER”.

God “cannot lie” here is the basis for my answer--

Matt. 21:42, 43: “Jesus said to them [the chief priests and the older men of the Jews in Jerusalem]: ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, “The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone. From YHWH this has come to be, and it is marvellous in our eyes”? This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be TAKEN FROM YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits.’”

Being God’s dedicated people was conditional--They were told: “Now IF you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples..” (Exodus 19:5) Sadly, the Israelites failed to meet these requirements. After rejecting the Messiah sent by God in the first century C.E., they lost their privileged position.

Matt. 23:37, 38: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,—how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks together under her wings! But you people did not want it. Look! Your house is ABANDONED to you.”

God withdrew his protection and the Roman armies subsequently destroyed Jerusalem with its temple. Just as a man’s family would feel the consequences if he squandered all his possessions, the loss of divine protection was felt not only by those who cried out for Jesus’ death but by their families as well. In this sense Jesus’ blood did come upon them and their children.—Matthew 27:25.

However, nothing in the “New Testament” claims that future generations of Jews would bear special guilt for the death of Jesus. On the contrary, because of his love for their forefather Abraham, God showed the Jews special consideration, offering them the first opportunity to become Christians. (Acts 3:25, 26; 13:46; Romans 1:16; 11:28) When this opportunity was eventually extended to non-Jews, God ceased dealing with any person on the basis of national origin. Peter said: “For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34, 35) The apostle Paul later wrote: “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek.” (Romans 10:12) Jews then had the same status before God as non-Jews, and that is still true today.—Compare Ezekiel 18:20.

Gal. 3:27-29: “All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus. Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.” (So, from God’s standpoint, it is no longer natural descent from Abraham that determines who are Abraham’s seed.)

Jer. 31:31-34: “‘Look! There are days coming,’ is the utterance of YHWH, ‘and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant . . . And they will no more teach each one his companion and each one his brother, saying, “Know YHWH!” for they will all of them know me, from the least one of them even to the greatest one of them,’ is the utterance of YHWH.” (That new covenant was made, not with the nation of natural Israel, but with the loyal followers of Jesus Christ to whom hope of heavenly life was being extended. When instituting the Memorial of his death, Jesus gave them a cup of wine and said: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood.” [1 Cor. 11:25])

In order to receive the complete fulfillment of God’s promise, God’s special nation had to be faithful. It was not. True, there were Israelites of outstanding faith. (Hebrews 11:32–12:1) Nevertheless, on many occasions the nation turned to pagan gods, hoping for material benefits. (Jeremiah 34:8-16; 44:15-18) Individuals misapplied the Law or just ignored it. (Nehemiah 5:1-5; Isaiah 59:2-8; Malachi 1:12-14)

After Solomon’s death, Israel became divided into a northern and a southern kingdom. When the northern kingdom proved utterly rebellious, YHWH announced: “Because the knowledge is what you yourself have rejected, I shall also reject you from serving as a priest to me.” (Hosea 4:6)

The southern kingdom was also severely punished because of its proving false to the covenant. (Jeremiah 5:29-31) When the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, YHWH likewise rejected them. (Acts 3:13-15; Romans 9:31–10:4) Finally, God made a new arrangement to administer the complete fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.—Romans 3:20.

That new arrangement was the new covenant mentioned in Jeremiah. Through this new covenant, God’s promise to Abraham is to have a more glorious and lasting fulfillment.

Romans 11; 29 in my bible reads—“For the gifts and the calling of God are not things he will regret”

The Almighty will never regret having chosen the Israelites for the sake of their devoted forefathers. True, time and again they proved unfaithful and, in the first century C.E., the majority rejected the promised Messiah. Nevertheless, a remnant responded favourably. The fact that their fellow countrymen proved to be enemies of the “good news” did not prejudice God’s view of the believing remnant. Also, this did not change the fact that the forefathers had served YHWH loyally. Hence, the apostle Paul could write: “With reference to God’s choosing they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are not things he will regret.” (Rom. 11:28, 29) Yes, the faithful Jewish remnant was beloved of God despite the unbelief of the majority.

All the best
Brenda