Know Nothings
In light of the recent decision of the Catholic Institution to not evangelize Jews, I am compelled to speak of educated know-nothings.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (KJV)
While this speaks to humanists\evolutionists it can be applied here as well. These lads have advanced degrees, but like many others do not read nor affirm the Bible they claim to believe and teach.
1 Tim 6:3-5
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (KJV)
Again, while we usually apply this passage to the general panoply of theological interpretation, it clearly applies to this issue because either the Great Commission includes all men including Jews or it does not and Baptists need to rethink their evangelization protocol or stand by it. Indeed, it is either sound doctrine to evangelize Jews or it is not. And if it is sound doctrine then we have a decree by educated know nothings as Paul states. In fact, let’s start with Paul.
Rom 1:16 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. (KJV)
Paul spoke of the Gospel going to the Jew first. Why, if the Jews "have an authentic relationship with God" that was not changed with the Cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ? All the Apostles should have bypassed the synagogues and temples and went straight to the various Mars Hills of the Gentiles. Paul and the others would not have suffered so at the hands of the Jewish leaders if they had said as one German rabbi that Christ was the Gentile Messiah and the Jews wait for theirs. Why did Christ bother to teach in the synagogue if He was only for the Gentiles and Judaism was to remain as it has always been?
Forty-one references speak of Jesus and the Apostles being in synagogues. There are over one hundred references to the temple. Why all this Jewish language if the Jews were not the ones that the Gospel was directed to primarily? Yet, the know-nothings tell us the Jews need not be evangelized. I am afraid the bishops need regeneration and less education that they might see the simplicity of the Gospel and its truth.
Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. (KJV)
Matt 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (KJV)
Christ said that he was sent only for the lost sheep of Israel. We Gentiles got in by their refusal of the Gospel and rejection of their Messiah. He was first to be their Savior and then ours. Nothing has changed except the Gentiles more readily accept the Gospel than Jews because it is our age, but they are still to repent and receive their Messiah.
Luke 4:16-21
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (KJV)
This is the prophecy of the Jewish Messiah not a Gentile one and Jesus is saying, "Here I am!" How do the Catholic theologians miss this?
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (KJV)
Why does he need to be accursed for his brethren, the Jews? Because they will not accept the Gospel and be saved, which is their birthright. If they were still in the right relationship with God or on a parallel course with Christianity all would be well and he could rejoice for his brethren and not mourn for them.
I will not quote heavily from the book of Hebrews for I would need to copy it all to show that the Old Covenant was gone "there remaineth no sacrifice for sins." They were to move on to the New Covenant or perish. The whole Book argues for the Jew to accept his Messiah.
I don’t care what the know-nothings say. I would be nothing but disobedient to the Lord and the cruelest Anti-Semite of all if I allowed the Jew to go on his way and end up in Hell because I did not share the good news of His birthright with him that he might find rest and peace in his Messiah.
Acts 4:1-13
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 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.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (KJV)
The Catholic Institution claims that Peter was their first Pope and here he is preaching the Gospel to Jews. Not just common Jews but to the priests, the captain of the temple, Sadducees, the high priest and even to the lad that sent Jesus to Pilate. They were Jews one and all. Rabbis take note that these teachers of Israel blew it big time so maybe you need to rethink your position as did Nicodemus and Saul. Bishops, how do you miss this?
What did the Jews hear? That there is no other name under heaven except Jesus that any man, Jew first and then Gentile may call upon to be saved. No priest, saint or the Virgin Mary included. Just Jesus and Jesus alone saves. Call on the many names of Jehovah and there will be no answer.
Ps 2:10-12
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (KJV)
Jew and Gentile alike need to kiss the Son and place their trust in Him or they will perish in God’s wrath.
John 14:6-7
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (KJV)
This is a Jew speaking to Jews. He is the only way to the Father! Jewish friend will you please receive your Messiah and know the peace that comes from forgiveness of sins and right relationship with Him? Gentile, rejoice that you to may come to the Father by Jesus. Come to Him confessing that you are a sinner and ask Him to forgive your sins because he died to pay them. Ask Him to make you a new person and His child. After that, find a church that believes the Bible and knows nothing but what He says instead of a place where the know-nothings tell Him what they want to believe and what they do not want to believe.
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (KJV)
John 10:30 I and my Father are one. (KJV)
May we become one in Him! Shalom!
