What about the Jews?

            Elijah was one of the most powerful Prophets of the Bible. Nevertheless, he was a man just like us. What was the power of Elijah? The power of God! God made His power available to Elijah and to James: why not us?

Mark Kelly writes in SBC Life:

            The motivation and power for evangelism arises out         of spiritual awakening,’ said Paige [Patterson], who is             completing His second term as SBC president. ‘I keep        going back to Acts 1:8, which says, you will receive       power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And             when we have been stirred by God’s Spirit, we reach          out to the lost and God draws people to Himself.

There is power in the Gospel of Christ to change lives. I have heard it said that only a wicked and perverse people need a sign. Is there any more wicked times than we see today? The Greek and Roman debauchery had nothing on what we see in western civilization today. 1 Corinthians 14:22 says that tongues are a sign for unbelievers. Why then would they have stopped? Do we have no unbelievers today? 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 is used as an argument that there are no more miraculous gifts today.

1 Corinthians 1:22 – 24 says:

            Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for           wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling        block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those        whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ             the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The argument, at least in part, is since the Jews have rejected Christ as a nation, signs are no longer needed. Nevertheless, God still cares for the Jews and it is not His will that any should perish but all have eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). That would include the individual Jew. Would that not predicate the need for signs to continue if only to convince the chosen people of God?

What About the Jews?

            This might be a good time to talk about the Jews as a nation. It has been said by some ministers that I talk with who have been around many Jewish communities that the Jews are some of the most godless people on the earth. Living in America, I find it hard to believe that anyone could be more godless than Americans. Nevertheless, God has still made a promise to the nation of Israel. The promise is that he will watch over them through the ages.

            I believe there has been confusion even among pastors that God’s promise to the Jews is no longer valid. However, this cannot be. Even though recently the Jews have embraced the LGBT community as a viable tourist entity, the promise is still valid. How can I say such a thing?

            God does not embrace the sin of Israel. Yes, it is true that Israel needs Jesus. Furthermore, it cannot be said that Israel simply gets a pass and will inherit eternal life. NO! It is only through faith in Christ one can be saved. However, the promise of God cannot be revoked. Genesis 12:1-3 says that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed and whoever curses it will be cursed. Genesis 17:7 calls God’s promise to Abraham an everlasting covenant. Therefore, it should not be so easily dismissed because of the wickedness of Israel.

            God’s does not base His grace on the wickedness of the people. If He did, He would not have sent Jesus to die for us. No, He bases His promises on his grace. The nation of Israel will only be saved through repentance. Still, the promise of God to protect Israel is still valid. I submit the evidence is in the fact that Israel has withstood overwhelming odds for centuries and prevailed.