Jews and Jesus

Does it seem that controversy follows me or that I am looking for controversy? Maybe it is that doctrine is of such critical import that the defense of it from wrong ideas is natural. Here are two new ideas that recently came to the fore.

A critical rule in reading and interpreting Scripture is that if plain sense makes sense, do not seek another sense. For example, we can turn to Genesis 1 where is says, "...evening and morning, one day." This is repeated six times. There is some dispute over what "day" really means in some circles. This seems to be an illegitimate dispute. "Evening and morning," are pretty clear and so "no more sense" needs to be sought. It does not mean some indeterminate time.

Is Jesus God? This, again, seems to be a clear reading of the Scripture with over 100 specific instances point to that. A third point, held by fewer people, is that God is finished with the Jews. He has cut them off and is now working with the Church to bring about His will "on earth as it is in heaven." Again clear sense seems to say that He has not abandoned them.

I heard two more instances of these latter two doctrines clearly taught. Our pastor was reading in Revelation about the description of heaven. In chapter 5, John sees a seven-sealed book that no one is worthy of opening. He understands that this is the title deed to the earth and is required to reclaim earth from the usurper who has stolen it from Adam in Genesis 3.

Then the angel encourages him with the news that there is One Who is worthy. It is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Offhandedly the Pastor commented that people who are anti-Semitic will be pretty uncomfortable in heaven with this Descendent of a Jew, Judah, leading the program and every gate through which one may enter has the name of one of his brothers. (Revelation 21)

Just to finish off the argument he turned to Genesis 13:
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever."

Abraham and his seed will be quite prominent in heaven, not only for the naming and Leader, but for the promise of land that lasts forever. Last time I checked, forever is a long time, and has not expired yet. Well, really not a long time, because there is no time there. Forever is a long...long....

We can add Revelation 5 and 21 to the list of passages that refute the replacement concept for the Jews. And while we are talking about the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" let's turn to His pedigree. Another place we find it is in Philippians 2:9-11.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Notice that we are talking about Jesus, but that is not the "Name" that will bring the world to its knees. The "of Jesus" does not tell us the Name, it identifies the one holding it. The Name is in v. 11. Again it is Jesus, but the Name is Lord. I am not making this up. "Every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD."  The Name that is honored is Lord.

This is important because we find that same wording in Isaiah 45:22 ff.
For I am God, and there is no other. 23 "I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance."

What a powerful affirmation of the deity of Jesus. God, in the Old Testament was looking ahead to Revelation 21 (and 19) where every knee would bow. And the object is the Lord. Jesus is Lord. I guess we can say, "Over 101 specific instances affirming Jesus' deity."

God is not done working with the Jews because He is not done bringing Jesus, Lord, to the forefront of history, and of all eternity thereafter. Jesus is Lord. Hallelujah! And He is my Savior.