Christianity’s Roots

Christianity’s Roots

Romans 11:17-18

Syllabus

This study will look at the Jewish roots of our Christian faith. The study will examine and discuss the working of God with His people, Jewish and Gentile, and His consistent and unchanging message and love to His creation. “..to understand the New Testament it is necessary to study the Old Testament….Every chapter in the New Testament has its references to parallel passages in the Olds Testament.” (Studies in Old Testament History, Rev Jesse L. Hurlbut, D.D.) By the end of the study we should have a better understanding of our relationship with Judaism and our spiritual heritage.

This study is primarily an inductive study (the attempt to use information about a specific situation to draw a conclusion and application).  The foundation of this study is the Bible. The Word of God supersedes all other material, printed or other. The only requirement for this study is to use your Bible and your brain. Use of commentaries, and other studies, etc, are encouraged, the more input the better. I have used a number of commentaries, translations of the Bible, suggestions from the adult Sunday School classes at a number of churches and Bible studies, friends, and my own thoughts and ideas as the Spirit led. I have not referenced the commentaries used within the content. (I have included a bibliography at the end.) This is due to the fact that this study is designed as a mixing of ideas and viewpoints with the common end of better serving the Lord in our daily lives.

I have provided a minimum of 2 or 3 Scriptures as witnesses for each of the below sections. I have tried very hard to keep away from “proof texts” but have looked at each Scripture in context both of what is written and history. God has given us many more than just two or three witnesses to the fact we must accept Jesus as our Savior (John 3:16 and John 8:24). Jesus always referenced at least two or three Scriptures (the Law, Prophets and written word, our Old Testament) for all He said.

I look forward to having fun learning together.

CONTENTS:

Weeks 1 - 3              Why this study.

Weeks 4 - 5              What makes a people God’s Chosen People?

Weeks 6 - 7              God & Scripture

Week 8                                                                      The Messiah

Week 9                                                                      Wrap-Up

Why this study                                                                                                                   3 weeks

1.    Week 01

1.1. Does this subject matter and if so why?                  

1.1.1.   Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

1.1.2.   John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Ø  All of the Scriptures are important and are to be used for our instruction and to bring us to deeper understanding of God’s love for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) By separating the scriptures into Old and New testaments we imply the “old” is not as important as the “new.” As we will see, this is contrary to the words of Jesus.

Ø  To worship God in Spirit and Truth we must know God’s Word and recognize God’s Word has been consistent from the very beginning of creation.

Ø  We need to know our lineage and history as God’s people.

Ø  The New Testament is the outgrowth and development of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures).

2.    Attributes of God

2.1. God is totally Holy           

2.1.1.   Exodus 15:11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

2.1.2.   Lev. 20:26 You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

2.1.3.   Luke 4:34 "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God."

Ø  What does “holy” and “being holy” mean? Why is holiness important?

Ø  Can we be holy? (Lev.11:44-45; Matthew 5:48; 1 Thess. 4:7; Heb. 12:14) If yes, why? If no, why not? Scripture to support please.

2.2. God’s Word always has, always is and always will be the same.          

2.2.1.   Job 23:13-14 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. 

2.2.2.   Malachi 3:6 "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

2.2.3.   Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

2.2.4.   James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Ø  Did God do something different from His word when He sent Jesus?

Ø  Has God’s Word changed at all over time?

2.3. God is loving

2.3.1.   Exodus 15:13 "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

2.3.2.   Psa 117.2 For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

2.3.3.   Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ø  These three scriptures give us important information about God’s love.

v  In Exodus 15:13 we see God loves us enough that He leads us, guides us, shows us the way to Him.

v  In Psalm 117:2 we see God’s love to us is unchanging and lasts forever, longer than time itself. His love for us never dies.

v  In Romans we see that God’s love led Him to have Christ die for us. Christ paid the debt for our sin, a debt we could not pay ourselves.

2.3.4.   God is forgiving

2.3.4.1.      Numbers 14:18 'The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'

2.3.4.2.      Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

2.3.4.3.      Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Ø  God’s love is the reason He is slow to anger and has great love for us. This does not say He does not get angry but is slow to anger and abundantly forgiving.

v  Matthew makes clear that Christ suffered, bled, died and resurrected for the forgiveness of our sins. Christ did not sin so all He suffered was for us, our forgiveness, because he loves us.

v  Now we are told to be like Christ, love each other, forgive each other, bear with each other and continuing to love each other.

2.3.5.   Righteousness

Ø  The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the works of the Christian life, live out our faith (according to the Hebrew words- hesed and tzedekah i.e. living out in actions what is believed in the heart.) (jas)

2.3.5.1.1.          Psalm 11:7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

2.3.5.1.2.          John 17:25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

2.3.5.1.3.          Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Considerations:

v  What are some other attributes of God?

v  What attributes of God do we see in us, His creation?

v  What attributes of God should we see in us, His creation?

v  Why is it important for us to know the attributes of God?

v  Why would God tell us His attributes?

v  At its heart is Anti-Semitism really anti-God?

Additional Scriptures:

Matthew 21:42; John 4:23-4; Lev. 20:26; Psalm 99:5; Luke 4:34; Genesis 6:5-9, Genesis 7:1; Job 23:13; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17Matthew 5:17-20 James 1:22-23 James 2:14-20 Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 12:14;

Why this study  Week 02

2.4. Our Belief

2.4.1.   Our faith and belief is founded on God’s Word                   

2.4.1.1.      Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

2.4.1.2.      John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2.4.1.3.      James 2:23 “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

2.4.1.4.      Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Ø  God’s Word never changes therefore the basis of our faith never changes.

Ø  Faith always comes first before righteousness or works.

Ø  Faith is believing God means what He says and can always be counted on to fulfill His Word. Hebrews 11:1

Ø  Belief and faith are the foundation of righteousness. James 2:23

2.5. Our Roots

2.5.1.   Shows our roots back to Adam and Eve                   

2.5.1.1.      Genesis 1;2 All of both chapters

2.5.1.2.      Matthew 1:1-25 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2.5.1.3.      Luke 3:23-38 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."....” the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

2.5.1.4.      John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ø  We can and should know our ancestry and history.

Ø  The Scriptures, Hebrew and Apostolic, give our Spiritual genealogy and history.

2.6. Our History

2.6.1.   Gives our history, good and bad          

2.6.2.   All of Bible

2.6.3.   Zachariah 1:1-4   In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.  Therefore say thou unto them, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, says the LORD of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, says the LORD.

2.6.4.   Acts 7:1-60 And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,….

2.6.5.   1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

2.7. Despite what many scholars say monotheism did not start with Moses but was the belief of Adam and Eve. Polytheism started after sin entered the world.

2.7.1.   Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

2.7.2.   Genesis 3:8-10 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

2.7.3.   Genesis 10:8-10 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

2.7.4.      Genesis 11:4 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Ø  In Genesis 3 we see Adam and Eve conversing with God. Adam and Eve KNEW there is only one true God.

Ø  In Genesis 10 and 11 we the beginning of people turning away from God.

Ø  Genesis 10:8-10 tells us about Nimrod. He was a leader among the people and evidently a very good hunter. The term “before the Lord” can have multiple interpretations. Given that Nimrod means “let us rebel” (Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary) the interpretation favored is that Nimrod was in rebellion against God.

Ø  This interpretation seems to be borne out by Genesis 11:1-4. Here we see people building a tower “unto” heaven. This does not mean they were trying to physically reach heaven or space. They were not that ignorant of the world and their environment. A better interpretation is that they were building a tower to worship the heavens, the stars, astrology. Astrology is a practice that continues into our present time.

Ø  “lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” is important. God told the sons of Noah to replenish the earth. Here the people decided to rebel against God’s command and stay in one place as well as worship the heavens instead of God. Like Adam and Eve, Noah and his sons KNEW there is only one God. Nimrod chose to rebel against God and institute polytheism, the worship of many gods.

Considerations:

v  If a person says they are a Christian can their belief and/or faith be founded on anything other than God’s Word?

v  Can a person who claims to be a Christian dismiss the Hebrew Scriptures or the fact Jesus was/is Jewish? Should they? Why or why not?

v  In your opinion when did monotheism start?

v  Why would people worship other false (or non-existent) gods?

v  Why would God include both the good and bad of human conduct in His Word?

Additional Scriptures:

Matthew 21:42; John 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 1:1-25; John 1:12-13, 3:1-2; Ephesians 2:19-j22; Genesis 2:16, Genesis 3:8-10, Genesis 11:4 Acts 7:1-60; 1 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Corinthians 11; 2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 7:1-60; All of Bible

3.    Why this study Week 03

3.1. Jesus and the early believers were mostly Jewish and lived in accordance with    
Jewish beliefs and law.  

3.1.1.   Matthew 1:1-17 Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

3.1.2.   Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Luke 1:26-27 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

3.1.3.   Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

3.2. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures), law, prophets and written are also the Word of God.

3.2.1.   Matthew 5:17-20 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished…. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

3.2.2.   Mark 4:4 But Jesus answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

3.2.3.   Acts 1:16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

3.2.4.   Romans 3:1-2 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

3.2.5.   Romans 11:16-31…. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root thee…..

3.2.6.   2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Ø  Christ was very clear that He lived by and supported the Hebrew Scriptures.

Ø  Christ often quoted the Hebrew Scriptures to show the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership and people.

Ø  Christ also quoted the Hebrew Scriptures when He wanted to teach a lesson on belief in God and how to live.

Ø  “The Scriptures the early church had were those of the Hebrew "bible" i.e. {what we call the…  jas} Old Testament.  No others (except commentary) had been written as of yet!  So the experiences of the early church were based on the truths that were revealed from the Hebrew scriptures.  Years after Jesus died, "letters" were written to the churches or to individuals but even those took quite some time to be considered on a par with the sacred scriptures of the Hebrew bible... like decades to hundreds of years. 

Ø  Many ideas expressed in the NT were not new, though the coming of "the Word made flesh" was a new concept.  2 Tim 3:16-17 is talking about OT scripture, including "the Law" or Torah.  Torah was considered guidance... guiding the reader/keeper to a knowledge of God.  His nature was revealed to the nation of Israel, and in turn would be revealed to the entire world.  This can be a difficult concept for the Western (Christian) mind because we are so used to having the New Testament and tend to think it was always available.  We don't consider the difficulties of time, distance, language, culture, etc. in New Testament times.  Many ideas took years to develop and take hold.” J. Terrana

3.3. Compelling reasons for Christians to read and study the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) lies in the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament).

Ø  The Apostolic Scriptures witness to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is the One in whom and through whom all the promises of God find their fulfillment. These promises are only understood from the Hebrew Scriptures. (jas)

3.3.1.1.      Isaiah 53: all

3.3.1.2.      Matthew 5:17-18 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

3.3.1.3.      Mark 12:24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?

3.3.1.4.      John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me

3.3.1.5.      Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Ø  In Romans 15:4 the Scriptures Paul refers to are the Hebrew Scriptures. We must remember the Apostolic Scriptures were not yet written

Ø  All of these scriptures make it plain that words of God in the Hebrew Scriptures are still in effect.

Ø  The law of sacrifice is fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice therefore the need for animal sacrifice is not only no longer needed or practiced but is counter to God’s Word. (jas)

3.4. Jesus’ words were spoken by a Jew, in the land of the Jews primarily to the Jews.

Ø  “The key concepts of Jesus’ teaching, therefore cannot be understood apart from the Jewish heritage.” Christian Fruit Jewish Root, John D. Garr Ph.D.

3.4.1.1.      Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

3.4.1.2.      Matthew 15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

3.4.1.3.      Mark 7:26-29 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Cananite by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."

3.4.1.4.      John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Ø  In Mark and John we read of Jesus telling a Gentile woman and a Samaritan woman that salvation is from the Jews. Jesus is salvation and He is Jewish. Jesus is the one prophesied about in the Hebrew Scriptures. (jas)

Ø  The reason God choose a people was to bring His message to the world. The Hebrews were also chosen to be the people the Messiah would come through. (jas)