Jews by Nature
Refers to the Hebrew people that deny Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They have traced their ancestry back to Abraham. And believe that the fleshly connection to Abraham will save them. Important: Abraham loved his son Isaac dearly. When God spoke to Abraham and told him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. It foreshadows God sacrificing His beloved Son Jesus Christ for us.
Romans 2:28-29, For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
• outwardly: your flesh, ancestry, doesn’t make you a Jew.
• inwardly: your spirit, your faith, your religion, make a Jew.
• whose praise is not of men, but God: does not praise his flesh by thinking it can save him in some fashion, But God [religion; faith, love, and obedience]
God isn’t the God of the flesh; He is a spirit God with a spiritual kingdom. He requires faith and obedience from us. The Earth is His foot-stool and our testing ground. In the book of John, Jesus plainly said this world is not His kingdom. This is why God’s servants don’t take up men’s weapons and fight to claim this world for their God. God’s promise to Abraham was by faith, not by the flesh. The connection to Abraham must be through faith and not by a person’s flesh. The flesh leads to death, but faith leads to salvation. It was Abraham’s faith God loved.
John 18:36-37, Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from here. 37 Pilate therefore said unto Him, Are thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice.
Romans 4:13-14, For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
How should we treat the Hebrews? With love, tell them the truth about Jesus Christ. Today’s Hebrews didn’t crucify Jesus and lie to their children. They believe the way they do because of the lies of their ancestors. God loves them, but you can’t get into heaven and deny what God did for you. He made Himself a flesh body every bit as vulnerable as ours; He went through the same test as us, even more so. He fasted forty days and allowed Satan to tempt Him. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out devils, and taught His people the Jews. Then He suffered and died on the cross, and after three days was resurrected. The only true Jew is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.
How did Judaism get renamed Christianity?
During the reign of Claudius Caesar, which was somewhere between 10-50 years after the death of Jesus the Christ. The Romans began to call the Jews that believed in Jesus “Christians” Acts 11:26. Not long after that, Rome began to persecute the Jews that believed in Jesus Christ. Somewhere between 300-400 AD, the Romans gave up the persecution of Jesus’ followers. Because no matter what they did, the people still kept turning to Jesus Christ. As a result, Rome decided to adopt the teaching of Jesus. They added in some idolatry and made changes to the gospel of Luke. The changes to the gospel justified its conquering nature. This is why Luke has errors in it. Another way the Roman Catholic Church kept control of the people was to deny them the ability to read God’s word for themselves, control through ignorance.
Acts 11:26, And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 15:5, After the Roman decree that Jews who believe in Jesus should be called Christians. This verse shows that the Pharisees who believed in Jesus still were Pharisees. Judaism’s Messiah had finally come; the scriptures had been fulfilled. This wasn’t the end of God’s religion! It was the fulfillment of it. [The Pharisees thought the new believers in Christ should be circumcised in accordance with the 1st testament.] Even though Rome, in all their arrogance, thought they could govern God’s kingdom and give it a new name.
Acts 15:5-9, But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 26:28, King Agrippa has just finished hearing Paul defend himself against the charges of heresy. King Agrippa tells Paul that he is almost persuaded to be a Christian; this is a direct result of the Roman decree. In the next verse, Paul responds to King Agrippa. Stating that he does not just desire the King, but all that hear his words to be as he is. Except for his bonds/chains. Paul never stopped referring to himself as a Jew. The term Christian never came out of Paul’s mouth.
Acts 26:28-31, Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
1 Peter 4:16, Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Peter 5:12, By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Silvanus was a Roman citizen, named after one of the Roman gods of the woods, he believed in Jesus and scribed[wrote] this letter for Peter. This letter was written after the Roman decree that all Jesus’ followers were to be called Christians, this is the most like reason for him writing “Christian” instead of “Jew”.
Revelations 2:9, Jesus tells John that it is blasphemy for the Hebrews that deny Him to call themselves Jews. Jesus also tells John they are of the synagogue of Satan. This is because the only way to be a Jew is by faith and obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You can’t deny the Head of your church and remain a part of the church. In this case, the Head of the church is Jesus and salvation is through Him only. Everyone that denies Jesus is following after Satan, whether they realize it or not.
Revelations 2:9, I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Warning about the Bible’s “helps”; Some are misleading because the men didn’t know any better. Here are some examples that relate to the aforementioned Acts 11:26.
Isaiah 62:2, Is referring to Revelations 2:17, He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it. [Acts 11:26 is the work of the Romans, not God.]
Isaiah 62:2-3, And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. 3 Thou shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Isaiah 65:15, Is referring to the vineyard parable, “ye shall leave your name” they are no longer Jews who denied Jesus. “call His servants by another name” Gentiles became “His servants” by choosing Jesus and becoming Jews [no longer called Gentiles]. “Jews” are their new name; they became His servants bringing forth His fruit. [Acts 11:26 is the work of the Romans, not God.] [Reference the vineyard page of the site for more insight.]
Isaiah 65:15, And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:
This is God’s doing [so bear your cross and tell everyone the truth]
Judaism: God’s religion on earth and in Heaven
Jesus Christ: Head of Judaism
Faith in Jesus: Jew
Deny Jesus: Not Jew, Hebrew, or member of some other religion;
Gentile: a person that turned away from God or never Knew God. [Jesus believers are not Gentiles]
1 Thessalonians 4:5, Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
