Articles by Ron Graham
The Salvation of Israel - Ron Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com
“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:30-31. The word in the Hebrew for wonderful is “shammah” which actually means waste, horror, astonishment, desolation, desolate, to be appalled. The translators, when using the word wonderful, meant it as “a wonder” as in viewing something detestable. Any teaching contrary to God’s word is detestable to God.
Hagee has written many books and sold millions of copies, thus it would seem he knows what he’s talking about. But something we must consider is that it isn’t how many books one writes or sells, it’s where a Christian writer stands in regards to the precepts of God. Does he always consider the whole counsel of God in his teachings? In a more recently published book authored by John Hagee, “In Defense of Israel”, we read the following assertions.
1. If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel, why didn't he authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove he was God's Messiah, just as Moses had done? (p. 137)
2. Jesus refused to produce a sign ... because it was not the Father's will, nor his, to be Messiah. (p 138)
3. If Jesus wanted to be Messiah, why did he repeatedly tell his disciples and followers to "tell no one" about his supernatural accomplishments? (p. 139)
4. The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews. (p. 140)
5. They wanted him to be their Messiah, but he flatly refused. (p. 141)
6. He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be the Savior of the world (p. 143)
7. Jesus rejected to the last detail the role of Messiah in word or deed. (p. 145)
Hagee should be considered heretical by anyone who knows their Bible. Because a book becomes a best seller is no indication of its merit. The references above extracted from Hagee’s book were no mere slip of the pen. Books have the uncanny ability to lead multitudes astray. Here in America we will buy anything that becomes popular no matter how nonsensical it may be. Just look at all the senseless writings that pack bookstore shelves. In Christian circles we have the Message bible, the Shack, the Purpose Driven Life, and tons of others with the sole purpose of leading Christians away from the truth. Even New Agers have made great inroads into the Christian genre. All of these are an astonishment to our God.
Let’s take a look at what Messiah Jesus says about getting into Heaven “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. And then there’s this little tidbit penned by the Apostle John “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12. Is there redemption for anyone on this planet through any other means? Our Creator says no.
The Apostle Paul gives us the following addendum. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8. Paul declares in the strongest of terms that the Gospel he preached was the one and only way of salvation for everyone, and he cursed anyone preaching another gospel. To preach anything contrary to the Gospel of Christ was to nullify the death of Christ. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law (or any other means), then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21.
God’s word makes it clear that there is no other way to Heaven but through Messiah Jesus. That goes for the entire nation of Israel. They will not come to redemption unless they first come to Christ. In Galatians 1:8 Paul uses the word “accursed” as he describes the future of anyone preaching another Gospel. This word in the Greek means a person or thing doomed to destruction. That person would be in direct opposition to God.
There is no difference between the cult doctrines that have invaded the world and that deny the need for salvation through Messiah Jesus, and the false teaching that promotes a contrived exclusionary clause that provides a way of salvation through election alone. This kind of teaching cannot be biblically substantiated. Jews are God’s chosen people, but when it comes to salvation there is no other name under Heaven by which one might be saved. Everlasting life is through Jesus Christ – alone.
What does the Apostle Paul say about the Jewish people concerning salvation? “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:14-18. No Jesus, no salvation. Know Jesus – salvation is secure. Jew or Gentile, the rejection of Messiah Jesus as Saviour means that when it comes to salvation by any other means, there is none.
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:10-13. All of the Apostles were Jews. Why would they promote Christ as Saviour and the only way to the Father if Jews could get to the Father through simply being Jew? From the beginning of His ministry, Messiah Jesus was rejected by the Nation of Israel. Because of their rejection He proclaimed a curse on them.
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:30-32. Here in these verses Jesus announces a specific curse on all who had blaspheme the Holy Spirit. We must remember that it is the Nation of Israel that is His focus. The leadership of that Nation had just sealed their fate by proclaiming their Messiah to be Satan. For refusing to recognize their Messiah, the leadership representing the Nation of Israel brought condemnation on themselves as well as the Nation as a whole. If they were pious and in no need of a Saviour why would their own Messiah condemn them for their unbelief? Individually they could come to a saving faith in Messiah Jesus, but no longer cooperatively as a Nation. Once that generation had passed away the curse was lifted. Although the curse was only on that generation, today there is not much difference in the minds of the orthodox Jews; most still reject their Messiah Jesus. Their end will be no different than the Gentile’s who reject Messiah Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
“And so all Israel shall be saved:” Romans 11:26a. Some grossly misinterpret this verse to mean that all Jews are automatically saved. What Paul is saying is a future nation of Israel will be restored to their land. The words “shall be” are seen as a future activity. The prophets of the Old Testament make it plain that a future Nation of Israel will be restored to their land, first as a secular nation and then as a nation that has been convicted by the Holy Spirit to plead for their Messiah Jesus to return. They will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah, but before that occurs two thirds of all Jews will have perished.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” Hebrews 8:6-9. The writer here explains that the first covenant with Israel would be replaced with a new covenant which, as we now know, was the Gospel of Christ “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16.
“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13. The writer here states it clearly, the old covenant has been nullified by the new; only the new salvation covenant remains. “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” Acts 16:31.
Speaking to the leadership of the Nation of Israel, the Apostle Peter spoke with conviction and boldness even though it meant his life would be in danger “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. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12. The people of Israel were never excluded from accepting the truth of the Gospel as some promote today.
There is just as much urgency to spread the Gospel to the Jews today as there is to the unbelieving Gentile world. There is no such disclaimer in Messiah Jesus’ command to avoid evangelizing the Jews. I believe the whole idea of avoiding the evangelism of the Jews while still supporting them both financially and militarily is satanic. We should be a tuned to helping Israel in every way, but most importantly by taking the Gospel message to them. But for those who promote the evangelizing of Jews as foolishness, whether they know it or not they are doing Satan’s bidding. Anti-Semitism is alive and well within the walls of many meeting houses of those who claim fellowship with Christ. Be careful where you stand…and where you sit.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed
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Ron Graham
twotug@embarqmail.comAll scripture is from the KJV and God breathed
Ministry address – 96 County Road 5480 Salem, MO 65560
My past commentaries are archived at the following link
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html
If you’d like to be on my email list to receive the commentaries just drop me a line and let me know
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