Jewish-or-Christian | Pastor Peter Thomas

Jewish or Christian?

Wednesday, May 31, 2017
From: Pastor Thomas
Denver, Colorado (USA)

Pastor Peter Thomas | JESUS Only | Acts 2:38

"Jewish or Christian?" by Pastor Peter Thomas

Jewish or Christian?

Praise the Lord, Dear Reader. In response to whether we are Jew(ish) or Christians, here is what the Scriptures say on the subject.

We have a Jewish history, that we cannot get away from. Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament there are countless scriptures which bears this out. In the King James Version, year 1611, the term is 'Jew', referring to Ancient Israel. God used the prophet Isaiah to tell us where the New Testament church was going to start. He prophesied some 712 years approximately before Jesus, who is the Christ, was born in the natural. Let's run it from the book of Isaiah and see where God Almighty said his church would start.

Isaiah 2:1-3, King James Version (KJV):

1 - The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 - And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

This bears out in prophecy in Luke chapter 24 from Jesus. Note Jesus' words below. The words in red are indicative of Jesus Christ speaking.

Luke 24:44-49

44 - And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 - Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 - And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 - And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 - And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 - And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Let us continue a little further. Just like the prophet Isaiah said and just like Jesus said, the New Testament church started at Jerusalem. Scriptural prophecy had to be fulfilled. Look from the book of Acts chapter 1 verses 1-8.

Acts 1:1-8

1 - The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 - Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 - To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 - And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 - For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 - When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 - And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

See now the initial fulfillment and continuation of these prophecies. Look below at Acts 2:1-8.

Acts 2:1-8

1 - And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 - And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 - And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 - And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 - Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 - And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 - And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Now, to get into God's church as described above, one must repent, be baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission (removal) of sin, get the Holy Ghost, do works meet for repentance and live a holy, sanctified life. (See Acts 2:38).

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When one says that he or she is a Christian, that means that he or she is a follower (disciple) of Christ. As such, if one says he or she is a follower of Christ, then this individual will do what Christ has said. Many today say that they are Christians, but they are not. Follow the scriptures to see if this bears out. The term 'Christian' started out in Antioch and afterward Apostle Peter used the terminology. (See Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16).

Acts 11:26

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Acts 26:28

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

1 Peter 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is to the Jews and Gentiles alike.

Romans 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.

Also, a Jew (or Jewish) is not one that looks like one on the outside, but also spiritually (inside).

Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 2 verses 28-29 tells us:

Romans 2:28-29

28 - For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 - But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;

Romans 3:29

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

1 Corinthians 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Consider again what Apostle Paul said to the Romans.

Romans 9:6-7

6 - For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 - Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:

Whether Jewish or Gentile, everybody in this dispensation is commanded to obey Acts 2:38, in order to be saved.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Contending for the Faith,

Pastor Peter Thomas

Pastor Peter Thomas | JESUS Only | Acts 2:38