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| Earl Gillespie |
The Contrast between
Judaism and Christianity
This will possibly be one of the
most disconcerting postings to date, because it deals deeply with how many
Christians are taught the scripture. Most, are taught to jump from one
verse to another in an attempt to prove a point. The scripture should not
be about trying to prove a point, nor should its believability be based
upon indoctrinated concepts. Often times students or teachers of the
scripture will have a list of things that are problematic, but rather than
searching for a deeper understanding they resort to a scripture induced
stupor that neither provide them or their listeners with proper and adequate
answers.
The Bible is a sacred story, it
began with, "in the beginning" and it has an ending, Revelation
22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen. What
transpires between those two points is the unfolding of God's plan and his
interaction with his creation. It is not a hodge-podge book of different
ideas and concepts, as with any story our understanding of the story is based
upon our ability to understand what we read. One of the most dismal aspects of the application of the scripture is that two people can read the same scripture and
have different interpretations, while each will claim a divine inspiration.
In todays society many are willing to cast aside two thousand years of
religious ideas and concepts in exchange for a new order. Often these ideas are nothing more than ideas
that are based upon the indoctrinated
ideas of another.
There is much confusion about the
application of the Law. Some religious
orders consign Sunday worshiper to hell.
Some believe that Judaism superseded Christianity and herein is the
crust of the problem. There is much
confusion concerning, "Faith Healing", the concept of , "I know
God is a healer" often become the base of our prayer for deliverance. The
truth is God is a healer and yet people pray and people die. Two preachers stood around my mother's
hospital bed and prayed for God's deliverance, yet the next day she went to be
with God. We will discuss this further
as we proceed, but let's examine the problem from the beginning.
To fully understand the scripture must make a sharp contrast between "JUDAISM" and "CHRISTIANITY" or there will be confusion in our Scriptural Thinking. There is an overlapping between them, and the debatable points is in that "Transition Period" between "Pentecost," A. D. 30, and the "Destruction of Jerusalem," A. D. 70, when the "JEWISH AGE" really ended in the "Dispersion" of the Jews. As we will see later that this is the reason for much of the confusion that exist today, whether knowingly or unknowingly. The church of this age needs understanding, not sound bites.
In Hebrews 9:26, we read, "For
then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now
once in the `END OF THE WORLD' (AGE) hath He appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself." The "Age," in the
"END" of which Jesus came to put away sin, was the "JEWISH
AGE." We should be able to accept that Jesus did not live in this "Christian Age", nor did he preach a message of salvation. He was
crucified, dead, buried and ascended before it began. It began with the coming
of the Holy Spirit on the "Day of Pentecost." Jesus said--
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law,' or the prophets;' I am
not come to destroy, but to FULFIL." Mt 5:17. The "Law" that
Jesus came to fulfil was not the "Moral Law" (the Ten Commandments),
though He kept that in every particular, but the "Ceremonial Law."
The "Ceremonial Law" typified what the Messiah was to do, or fulfil, when He came. He was to be the "Passover Lamb." As such He was offered up at the "Passover Season." In Him the "Sin Offering" was fulfilled. As the Goat of the "Sin Offering" He shed His blood at the Altar of the Cross, and as the "Scape Goat" He carried His own blood away, not into the Wilderness, but into the Holy Place of the Heavenly Tabernacle. Heb 9:11-12. In His conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, on the afternoon of the day He arose, He said-- "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His Glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things CONCERNING HIMSELF." Lu 24:25-27. The same evening in the city of Jerusalem Jesus appeared to the "Eleven" and them that were with them, and said-- "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be FULFILLED, which were written in the law of Moses,' and in the prophets,' and in the 'Psalms,' CONCERNING ME." Lu 24:44. So we see that "Christ is the 'END OF THE LAW' for Righteousness to every one that believeth." Ro 10:4. That is, He fulfilled the Law, and we as Believers are no longer under Law but under GRACE.
But while we are no longer under the "Ceremonial Law," that being fulfilled in Christ, we are under the "Moral Law," the "Ten Commandments," for while they are distinctly Jewish, yet their observance is required of every Christian Believer as laid down by the Apostles in their Epistles, with one exception, and that the observance of the Sabbath, or the Seventh Day of the Week. That is not obligatory upon the Christian. He is supposed to observe the First Day of the Week.
The "Ceremonial Law" typified what the Messiah was to do, or fulfil, when He came. He was to be the "Passover Lamb." As such He was offered up at the "Passover Season." In Him the "Sin Offering" was fulfilled. As the Goat of the "Sin Offering" He shed His blood at the Altar of the Cross, and as the "Scape Goat" He carried His own blood away, not into the Wilderness, but into the Holy Place of the Heavenly Tabernacle. Heb 9:11-12. In His conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, on the afternoon of the day He arose, He said-- "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His Glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things CONCERNING HIMSELF." Lu 24:25-27. The same evening in the city of Jerusalem Jesus appeared to the "Eleven" and them that were with them, and said-- "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be FULFILLED, which were written in the law of Moses,' and in the prophets,' and in the 'Psalms,' CONCERNING ME." Lu 24:44. So we see that "Christ is the 'END OF THE LAW' for Righteousness to every one that believeth." Ro 10:4. That is, He fulfilled the Law, and we as Believers are no longer under Law but under GRACE.
But while we are no longer under the "Ceremonial Law," that being fulfilled in Christ, we are under the "Moral Law," the "Ten Commandments," for while they are distinctly Jewish, yet their observance is required of every Christian Believer as laid down by the Apostles in their Epistles, with one exception, and that the observance of the Sabbath, or the Seventh Day of the Week. That is not obligatory upon the Christian. He is supposed to observe the First Day of the Week.
The Ten Commandments as
reproduced in the New Testament are as follows: (1) One God. 1Ti 2:5; 1Co
8:4-6. (2) Idolatry. 1Co 10:7,14; 1Jo 5:21. (3) Profanity. Col 3:8; Mt 6:9. (4)
Sabbath. They are warned against keeping it. Ga 4:10-11; Col 2:16-17. (5) Honor
Parents. Eph 6:2. (6) Murder. 1Jo 3:14-15. (7) Adultery. Eph 5:3-5; Ga 5:19.
(8) Stealing. Eph 4:28. (9) False Witness. Eph 4:25; 1Co 13:5. (10)
Covetousness. Eph 5:3.
In the "Transition
Period" from Egypt to Canaan of the Children of Israel, the Lord employed
"Signs" (Miracles) to authenticate the Divine Mission of Moses. Ex
4:1-9. The same method was employed in the "Transition Period"
between "Judaism" and "Christianity" to authenticate the
Messiahship of Jesus, and the Divine Mission of the Apostles. The length of the
"Period" in both instances was the same, about 40 years. It was foretold
of the "Messiah" that when He should come-- "Then the eyes of
the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then
shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." Isa
35:5-6. When John the Baptist, shut up in prison, had his doubts as to the
Messiahship of Jesus, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him--
"Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus
seemingly did not directly answer John's question, but after performing a number
of miracles said to John's disciples-- "Go and shew John again those
things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and
the poor have the Gospel preached to them." Mt 11:1-5. Now the above
reference from Isaiah, as the context shows, has reference to the Millennium,
and therefore is a "Kingdom Sign," and as the Jews expected the
Messiah when He came to set up the "Millennial Kingdom," the
"Miracles of Healing" of Jesus were "Kingdom Signs" to
prove His Messiahship.
In what is spoken of as "The Great Commission," we read-- "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these `SIGNS' shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mr 16:15-18. While it is true that verses 9-20 of this chapter are not found in two of the oldest Greek manuscripts, and that their authenticity is questioned by some, nevertheless the signs here promised, with the exception of "drinking deadly things," followed the preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles.
It must not be overlooked that the command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, was given to the "Eleven Apostles" and not the followers of Jesus in general. The difference between Matthew's account (Mt 28:16-20), and Mark's account (Mr 16:14-18) is striking. In Matthew's account no "Signs" are promised and it was to continue until the "end of the world," or this present "Age." While in Mark's account the promise seems limited to the days of the Apostles. Be sure it says-- "And these 'Signs' shall follow them that believe," but that may mean only those who believed the Apostles, for such did "speak with tongues." Ac 10:46; 19:6. As further evidence of the "time limit" of the promise we have the words of Mr 16:20, "And they (the Eleven Apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with SIGNS FOLLOWING." To the "Eleven Apostles" we must add Paul who was chosen of the Lord to take Judas' place. Ac 9:15-19; Ro 1:1; 1Ti 2:7. That these "Signs" were "Apostolic Signs," and were to confirm the claims of the Apostles, was the teaching of Paul. "
Truly the 'SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE' were wrought among you in all patience, in 'SIGNS,' and 'WONDERS,' and 'MIGHTY DEEDS.'" 2Co 12:12. These "Signs" were to convince the Gentiles (Ro 15:16-19), and to confirm the "Great Salvation" promised through the Gospel (Heb 2:3-4), and when their purpose was fulfilled, they ceased. The reason they ceased was because they were no longer needed to confirm the Gospel or authenticate the mission of the preacher of the Word. While it is true that some of these "Signs" have attended the preaching of God's messengers where it was necessary to confirm their Divine authority, the fact that they have not generally attended the preaching of the Word since the days of the Apostles is an implication that they are not to be expected or looked for in these days. We do not need them to confirm the Scriptures. We have nearly nineteen centuries of Church History as evidence to the Divine origin of Christianity. We must not forget that in that "Transition Period" between "Judaism" and "Christianity" the Christian Church was largely Jewish, and it was hard for many to break away from the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion, but gradually they were weaned away until "Signs" were no longer necessary. We must not forget that there was no New Testament for the Apostles to appeal to in the first half of that "Transition Period." Therefore "Signs" and "Wonders" were necessary.
The first New Testament book to be written was 1st Thessalonians, A. D. 52. The first Gospel was that of Mark, written between A. D. 57-63. The Acts was written about A. D. 65. Most of the New Testament was written between A. D. 60-70. All was written, except the writings of the Apostle John, before the Destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. With the death of the Apostles and New Testament Prophets, the Apostolic and Prophetic Office ceased. Since then the Church of Christ has had no new revelation. Signs are not needed in these days because we have the more sure "Word of Prophecy." 2Pe 2:19.
In what is spoken of as "The Great Commission," we read-- "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these `SIGNS' shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mr 16:15-18. While it is true that verses 9-20 of this chapter are not found in two of the oldest Greek manuscripts, and that their authenticity is questioned by some, nevertheless the signs here promised, with the exception of "drinking deadly things," followed the preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles.
It must not be overlooked that the command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, was given to the "Eleven Apostles" and not the followers of Jesus in general. The difference between Matthew's account (Mt 28:16-20), and Mark's account (Mr 16:14-18) is striking. In Matthew's account no "Signs" are promised and it was to continue until the "end of the world," or this present "Age." While in Mark's account the promise seems limited to the days of the Apostles. Be sure it says-- "And these 'Signs' shall follow them that believe," but that may mean only those who believed the Apostles, for such did "speak with tongues." Ac 10:46; 19:6. As further evidence of the "time limit" of the promise we have the words of Mr 16:20, "And they (the Eleven Apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with SIGNS FOLLOWING." To the "Eleven Apostles" we must add Paul who was chosen of the Lord to take Judas' place. Ac 9:15-19; Ro 1:1; 1Ti 2:7. That these "Signs" were "Apostolic Signs," and were to confirm the claims of the Apostles, was the teaching of Paul. "
Truly the 'SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE' were wrought among you in all patience, in 'SIGNS,' and 'WONDERS,' and 'MIGHTY DEEDS.'" 2Co 12:12. These "Signs" were to convince the Gentiles (Ro 15:16-19), and to confirm the "Great Salvation" promised through the Gospel (Heb 2:3-4), and when their purpose was fulfilled, they ceased. The reason they ceased was because they were no longer needed to confirm the Gospel or authenticate the mission of the preacher of the Word. While it is true that some of these "Signs" have attended the preaching of God's messengers where it was necessary to confirm their Divine authority, the fact that they have not generally attended the preaching of the Word since the days of the Apostles is an implication that they are not to be expected or looked for in these days. We do not need them to confirm the Scriptures. We have nearly nineteen centuries of Church History as evidence to the Divine origin of Christianity. We must not forget that in that "Transition Period" between "Judaism" and "Christianity" the Christian Church was largely Jewish, and it was hard for many to break away from the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion, but gradually they were weaned away until "Signs" were no longer necessary. We must not forget that there was no New Testament for the Apostles to appeal to in the first half of that "Transition Period." Therefore "Signs" and "Wonders" were necessary.
The first New Testament book to be written was 1st Thessalonians, A. D. 52. The first Gospel was that of Mark, written between A. D. 57-63. The Acts was written about A. D. 65. Most of the New Testament was written between A. D. 60-70. All was written, except the writings of the Apostle John, before the Destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. With the death of the Apostles and New Testament Prophets, the Apostolic and Prophetic Office ceased. Since then the Church of Christ has had no new revelation. Signs are not needed in these days because we have the more sure "Word of Prophecy." 2Pe 2:19.
As still further evidence that
the "Signs," particularly that of healing, ceased before the close of
that "Transition Period," we have the treatment of Paul of his fellow
workers. In writing to Timothy (1Ti 5:23) he advised him to-- "Drink no
longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often
infirmities." And of Trophimus he wrote-- "But Trophimus have I left
at Miletum sick." 2Ti 4:20. If "Divine Healing" was more than a
"Sign," if it was part of the Gospel, and was conferred on the
Believer because Christ's death on the Cross included physical healing along
with the salvation of the soul, then why did the Apostle Paul advise Timothy as
he did, and leave Trophimus at Miletum sick?
I am a believer in
"Divine Healing," and that the "Prayer of Faith" will heal
the sick. I have had too much evidence in my own family and church congregations to
that effect. But I do not believe that it is a lack of saving faith to be
sick. Some go so far as to say that if a Christian has not faith to be healed,
he has not the faith that saves. God does heal, and in many cases instantly, in
answer to the "PRAYER OF FAITH." Jas 5:14-15. But that
"Faith" must be implanted by God Himself. All "Divine
Healing" is of "God's Sovereign Will." If prayer alone could
heal there would be none of us sick. The fact that the majority of God's saints
has not had their bodily infirmities removed in answer to prayer, implies that
healing of the body is not a part of the atoning work of Christ, else they
would have been healed the moment they took Christ as their Saviour. If the
pulpit would teach the Scriptural method of Divine Healing, professing
Christian people would not resort to the Satanic devised Healing Cults of the
day for healing.
To Be Continued
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