Last week's message illustrated a critically important movement of God in Israel where Jewish people are recognizing and accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Testimonies are even being made available on Israel's second largest media outlet and responses have been extremely high. Additionally, an article today on the Israel Today web site was titled "Orthodox Rabbis bring Jesus home for Christmas," which is being referred to as a miracle. Praise The Lord!
What can we as Gentile Christians do or can we be part of this movement? Yes, we can! Romans 11:11 says, "Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious." Of course, this is not the only reason salvation is available to Gentiles, but it is one and it is important.
How has the Christian Church responded to this call for action from our Lord God? Not very well. In fact, Gentile believers in Jesus have done more to provoke the Jews to anger than to envy. All we have to do is study the Spanish Inquisitions, the Crusades, the Pogroms in Europe along with the Holocaust.
What is the primary cause of these actions by the Church? Probably, the primary reason is the teaching of Replacement Theology in the Church for the past two thousand years. This false Theology teaches that the Church has replaced Israel as God's people. The Apostle Paul clearly corrects this false Theology twice in Romans 11 - verse 1, "Did God reject His people? By no means" and verse 11, "Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all."
Possibly, you are thinking this is a heavy message for Christmas Eve, but let us think together for a moment. Christmas is a message of God's love in giving His Son to become our Savior. In similar manner, we can share God's love with the Jewish people and show them the respect and gratitude due them. This would be a worthy goal for all of us in the new year.
Yes, all of this could "provoke them to jealousy" leading to salvations in Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Hallelujah!
Christmas Blessings!
Frank
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