As I recently posted, lately I've been having conversations with a local Seventh Day Adventist pastor and a few Adventist contacts online. The main topic of our conversations has been the Jews and how they are viewed in the SDA Church and the Bible.
I've known the basic views of Ms. White, the SDA Prophet, for years however after a few conversations with an Adventist friend I thought the denomination had possibly changed its teachings. There is a lot about this denomination I like and so I was hopeful. My friend, who is a devout Adventist, was surprisingly unaware of his denomination's teachings on this matter. Alas as I learned the teachings have not changed.
The original piece is rather long as it covers several specific points and Adventist errors. Here I will offer a more concise version to demonstrate that the Jews are indeed the eternally Chosen of HaShem, the God of Israel. For the more detailed and Adventist specific study see the original piece HERE on my website or HERE on my Multiply Blog.
Paul clearly says:
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew....
So the answer is NO! God has not cast away His people.
Then what does this mean?:
Romans 9:6 ... For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
And
1 Cor 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
Are there two Israel's?
Paul answers these questions in chapter 11 of Romans.
The Gentile followers of Master Y'shua (Jesus) were "grafted" on to the Tree of Israel. Just as my stepson has become a member of my family due to my love for his mother -- and him -- so too the followers of Y'shua were "adopted" into the family of God due to God's love for Y'shua and all humanity:
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
As Paul explains at Romans 8:15, by our adoption into God's family we Gentiles can also cry Abba (a personal crying out of a child for its father) along with the natural children, the Jews.
At Romans 11:1 and elsewhere Paul makes it clear that this adoption did not replace the firstborn. Along with Israel, we are God's children.
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
This was written at least thirty or forty years AFTER Y'shua's death. The Jews were still then and still are today the Elect of God.
Consider this promise and warning:
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
What has changed since then?
Nothing.
God still blesses them that bless the Jews, and curses them that curses the Jews.
The U.S.A. is a case in point. Around the birth of Israel American became the richest and most honored nation on earth -- and it blessed Israel.
For the past several years the U.S. has been gradually turning against Israel and it is now on the verge of collapse.
Blessed be the God of Israel!
Understand that God accepts all who come to Him in faith, Jew or Gentile (Gal 3:28), however this in no way compromises the position of the firstborn, because HaShem's callings and gifts "are without repentance" (Rom 11:29). My son by blood was not replaced or in any way diminished by the adoption of my step son. This is the biblical relationship between Jews and the followers of Master Y'shua. We all are children of God and all are greatly beloved of the Father.
AND to the natural, firstborn son (Isaac -- Israel -- the Jews) goes the inheritance promised to and through Abraham and his descendants (both Semitic and non-Semitic Jewish descendants of Abraham and Sarah). Through the first born, by virtue of his inheritance and his calling, God will (and always has) bless all mankind (Gen 12:1-3).
No single people have so blessed the human race as the Jews and yet no people have been so despised. This is not a coincidence. We are all embroiled in spiritual warfare. We stand with the People of God or we stand against them. Sadly, the Seventh Day Adventists have chosen to stand against God's people even as they pride themselves on honoring the Jewish Sabbath.
Through Y'shua the Church was temporarily (Rev. 3:14-19) "grafted" on (Rom 11) to this covenant by the same God who chose Israel as His eternal servants (Heb 9:15).
Isaiah 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
"Not cast thee away" is translated from the Hebrew word "ma'ac" which tells us that HaShem will not EVER:
- Reject, refuse
- Despise
- Cause or allow to be rejected
- Abhor
- Become loathsome towards
- Or melt away from
The Jewish people.
It did not happen before Y'shua, it did not happen after Y'shua and it will not happen today or ever.
The Jews are "the Apple of God's eye."
Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
It is not that the Jews (nor the followers of Master Y'shua) chose God.
It is that God chose the Jews and allowed the Noahide Nazarenes *** to be grafted onto the Tree of Israel. This was allowed in part to make the Jews jealous that the God of Israel would use others to fulfill His purposes (Rom 11:11, Matt 3:9). The "root" of the Tree God planted in the earth remains eternally Jewish AND Paul and John warn that many of the Gentile "branches" will be severed in the End of Days. These days.
Isaiah 64:4 says:
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
The same is said of the followers of Master Y'shua. ALL sin, NONE properly seek God, ALL are gone out of the Way etc. (Rom 3:12). Jews and Gentiles.
Understand that God's faithfulness is not dependent upon our purity and obedience but upon His Will.
NO ONE deserves divine grace and mercy. Not Jews and not Gentiles. We ALL deserve judgment BUT God chose the Jews as His special vessels and through them -- despite their lack of belief, obedience, etc -- God promises to bless the world entire as He planned from the very beginning (Gen 12:1-3).
God's Holy Will is NOT dependent on Jews or Nazarenes being worthy -- neither group is! The history of the Church demonstrates far more disobedience to God and His Covenants than Jewish history does. No! God IS going to establish His Kingdom and through the Jews HE is going bless the world entire because this is His Will and His promise (Gen 12:1-3).
While it is always preferable to come into agreement and to enjoy spiritual fellowship, there are times when this simply is not possible due to irreconcilable differences in beliefs. These differences are nowhere more critical than when they are regarding the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Chosen people Israel.
At such times we must say in love, as did Master Y'shua:
...we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews -- John 4:22
Again, for the more detailed and Adventist specific study see the original piece HERE on my website or HERE on my Multiply Blog.
Shalom and Maranatha
~ Ben Ruach ha Kodesh
~ John of AllFaith
Note:
*** Noahide Nazarene:
- Noahides: Non-Jewish descendants of Noah who submit to HaShem as Noah (who was not Jewish) did.
- Nazarenes: Followers of Y'shua of Nazareth.
- Noahide Nazarenes: Gentile followers of Master Y'shua.
If you have questions about this or other topics feel free to write any time or join me on my blogs.
~ Ben Ruach ha Kodesh
~ John of AllFaith
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