“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek.” Romans
1:16. According to this verse, the Gospel of
Christ is the power of God unto salvation for everyone
who will believe in that Gospel. Who is to receive
that salvation first? The Jews. The Apostle Paul
states it clearly that salvation is to the Jews first
then to the Greeks (Gentiles). Make no mistake; the
Jews are to be evangelized. Anyone who says different
has embedded in them a form of anti-Semitism. There is
a very popular Pastor who has a huge following here in
the States and probably around the world, and yet
promotes the false teaching that the Nation of Israel
(the Jews) has no need for the Gospel of Christ to be
preached to them. I’m amazed at how many Christians
swallow this lie hook, line, and sinker. John Hagee is
a dynamic speaker, excellent orator, talented to say
the least, yet his message pertaining to the
evangelizing of the Jews is, according to the word of
God, flawed.
“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the
land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests
bear rule by their means; and my people love to have
it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
Jeremiah 5:30-31. The word in the Hebrew for wonderful is
“shammah”
which actually means waste, horror, astonishment,
desolation, desolate, to be appalled. The translators,
when using the word wonderful, meant it as “a wonder”
as in viewing something detestable. Any teaching
contrary to God’s word is detestable to God.
Hagee has written many books and sold millions of
copies, thus it would seem he knows what he’s talking
about. But something we must consider is that it isn’t
how many books one writes or sells, it’s where a
Christian writer stands in regards to the precepts of
God. Does he always consider the whole counsel of God
in his teachings? In a more recently published book
authored by John Hagee, “In Defense of Israel”, we
read the following assertions.
1.
If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel,
why didn't he authorize Jesus to use supernatural
signs to prove he was God's Messiah, just as Moses had
done? (p. 137)
2.
Jesus refused to produce a sign ... because it was not
the Father's will, nor his, to be Messiah. (p 138)
3.
If Jesus wanted to be Messiah, why did he repeatedly
tell his disciples and followers to "tell no one"
about his supernatural accomplishments? (p. 139)
4.
The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was
Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews.
(p. 140)
5.
They wanted him to be their Messiah, but he flatly
refused. (p. 141)
6.
He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be
the Savior of the world (p. 143)
7.
Jesus rejected to the last detail the role of Messiah
in word or deed. (p. 145)
Hagee should be considered heretical by anyone who
knows their Bible. Because a book becomes a best
seller is no indication of its merit. The references
above extracted from Hagee’s book were no mere slip of
the pen. Books have the uncanny ability to lead
multitudes astray. Here in America we will buy
anything that becomes popular no matter how
nonsensical it may be. Just look at all the senseless
writings that pack bookstore shelves. In Christian
circles we have the Message bible, the Shack, the
Purpose Driven Life, and tons of others with the sole
purpose of leading Christians away from the truth.
Even New Agers have made great inroads into the
Christian genre. All of these are an astonishment to
our God.
Let’s take a look at what Messiah Jesus says about
getting into Heaven
“…I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.”
John 14:6. And then there’s this little tidbit penned by the
Apostle John
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life.”
1 John 5:12.
Is there redemption for anyone on this planet through
any other means? Our Creator says no.
The Apostle Paul gives us the following addendum.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him
be accursed.”
Galatians 1:8.
Paul declares in the strongest of terms that the
Gospel he preached was the one and only way of
salvation for everyone, and he cursed anyone preaching
another gospel. To preach anything contrary to the
Gospel of Christ was to nullify the death of Christ.
“I do not
frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come
by the law (or any other means),
then Christ is dead in vain.”
Galatians 2:21.
God’s word makes it clear that there is no other way
to Heaven but through Messiah Jesus. That goes for the
entire nation of Israel. They will not come to
redemption unless they first come to Christ. In
Galatians 1:8 Paul uses the word “accursed” as he
describes the future of anyone preaching another
Gospel.
This word in the Greek means a person or thing
doomed to destruction. That person would be in direct
opposition to God.
There is no difference between the cult doctrines that
have invaded the world and that deny the need for
salvation through Messiah Jesus, and the false
teaching that promotes a contrived exclusionary clause
that provides a way of salvation through election
alone. This kind of teaching cannot be biblically
substantiated. Jews are God’s chosen people, but
when it comes to salvation there is no other name
under Heaven by which one might be saved. Everlasting
life is through Jesus Christ – alone.
What does the Apostle Paul say about the Jewish people
concerning salvation?
“But their
minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the
same vail untaken away in the reading of the old
testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail
is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn
to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the
Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians
3:14-18. No Jesus, no salvation. Know Jesus –
salvation is secure. Jew or Gentile, the rejection of
Messiah Jesus as Saviour means that when it comes to
salvation by any other means, there is none.
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and
his own received him not. But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God.”
John 1:10-13. All of the Apostles were Jews. Why would they promote
Christ as Saviour and the only way to the Father if
Jews could get to the Father through simply being Jew?
From the beginning of His ministry, Messiah Jesus was
rejected by the Nation of Israel. Because of their
rejection He proclaimed a curse on them.
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I
say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy
Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever
speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy
Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this
world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew
12:30-32. Here in these verses Jesus announces
a specific curse on all who had blaspheme the Holy
Spirit. We must remember that it is the Nation of
Israel that is His focus. The leadership of that
Nation had just sealed their fate by proclaiming their
Messiah to be Satan. For refusing to recognize their
Messiah, the leadership representing the Nation of
Israel brought condemnation on themselves as well as
the Nation as a whole. If they were pious and in no
need of a Saviour why would their own Messiah condemn
them for their unbelief? Individually they could come
to a saving faith in Messiah Jesus, but no longer
cooperatively as a Nation. Once that generation had
passed away the curse was lifted. Although the curse
was only on that generation, today there is not much
difference in the minds of the orthodox Jews; most
still reject their Messiah Jesus. Their end will be no
different than the Gentile’s who reject Messiah Jesus
as their Lord and Saviour.
“And so all Israel shall be saved:”
Romans 11:26a. Some grossly misinterpret this verse to mean that
all Jews are automatically saved. What Paul is saying
is a future nation of Israel will be restored to their
land. The words “shall be” are seen as a future
activity. The prophets of the Old Testament make it
plain that a future Nation of Israel will be restored
to their land, first as a secular nation and then as a
nation that has been convicted by the Holy Spirit to
plead for their Messiah Jesus to return. They will
finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah, but before
that occurs two thirds of all Jews will have perished.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second. For
finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to
lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they
continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not,
saith the Lord.”
Hebrews 8:6-9.
The writer here explains that the first covenant with
Israel would be replaced with a new covenant which, as
we now know, was the Gospel of Christ “for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth.”
Romans 1:16.
“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the
first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is
ready to vanish away.”
Hebrews 8:13. The writer here states it clearly, the old
covenant has been nullified by the new; only the new
salvation covenant remains.
“…Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Acts 16:31.
Speaking to the leadership of the Nation of Israel,
the Apostle Peter spoke with conviction and boldness
even though it meant his life would be in danger
“Be it known
unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him
doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the
stone which was set at nought of you builders, which
is become the head of the corner. Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.”
Acts 4:10-12. The people of Israel were never
excluded from accepting the truth of the Gospel as
some promote today.
There is just as much urgency to spread the Gospel to
the Jews today as there is to the unbelieving Gentile
world. There is no such disclaimer in Messiah Jesus’
command to avoid evangelizing the Jews. I believe the
whole idea of avoiding the evangelism of the Jews
while still supporting them both financially and
militarily is satanic. We should be a tuned to helping
Israel in every way, but most importantly by taking
the Gospel message to them. But for those who promote
the evangelizing of Jews as foolishness, whether they
know it or not they are doing Satan’s bidding.
Anti-Semitism is alive and well within the walls of
many meeting houses of those who claim fellowship with
Christ. Be careful where you stand…and where you sit.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
All original scripture is “theopneustos” God
breathed
Please continue to
pray for my health. Your prayers and gifts are greatly
appreciated. If God is leading you to send a gift of
support, send it to Ron Graham – 96 County Road 5480
Salem, MO. 65560. Thank you my dear brethren, God
bless
My past commentaries
are archived at the following link
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
If you’d like to be on my email list to receive the
commentaries just drop me a line and let me know.
