Pages

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Is it Scriptural: How Could They Not know?-Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley 


How Could They Not know?

Q.  I just have a quick question.   What did Jesus mean when He said He’d come at a time when we least expect it, when because of the signs all around us we expect Him at any moment, don’t we?

A.  Of the four times The Lord said something like that (Matt. 24:36, Matt. 24:42-44, Matt. 24:50, and Matt. 25:13), I think the clearest one is in Matt. 24:50. “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect Him and at an hour he is not aware of.” These all refer to the second coming, at least 7 years after the church has disappeared in the rapture, so they don’t apply to us.

Therefore we have to use the left behind world’s perspective, not the Church’s. Most of them will be unbelievers, not familiar with prophecy.  They will have been deceived into believing that the anti-Christ is the good guy, and will be convinced that no matter how bad things get, they will prevail and things will be great again. The few believers left alive at the end of the Great Tribulation will be in no position to persuade them otherwise.

That’s why Jesus said when they see the sign of the Son of Man appear in the sky all the nations of the Earth will mourn (Matt. 24:30). They’ll taken by surprise and will finally be forced to admit they were wrong, and it will be too late for them.




 

 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:

Is it Scriptural: Are Messianic Jews Raptured?-Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley 


How Could They Not know?

Q.  I just have a quick question.   What did Jesus mean when He said He’d come at a time when we least expect it, when because of the signs all around us we expect Him at any moment, don’t we?

A.  Of the four times The Lord said something like that (Matt. 24:36, Matt. 24:42-44, Matt. 24:50, and Matt. 25:13), I think the clearest one is in Matt. 24:50. “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect Him and at an hour he is not aware of.” These all refer to the second coming, at least 7 years after the church has disappeared in the rapture, so they don’t apply to us.

Therefore we have to use the left behind world’s perspective, not the Church’s. Most of them will be unbelievers, not familiar with prophecy.  They will have been deceived into believing that the anti-Christ is the good guy, and will be convinced that no matter how bad things get, they will prevail and things will be great again. The few believers left alive at the end of the Great Tribulation will be in no position to persuade them otherwise.

That’s why Jesus said when they see the sign of the Son of Man appear in the sky all the nations of the Earth will mourn (Matt. 24:30). They’ll taken by surprise and will finally be forced to admit they were wrong, and it will be too late for them.




 

 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, October 10, 2011

Is it Scriptural: Are Messianic Jews Raptured?-Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley 

Are Messianic Jews Raptured?

Will Messianic Jews be taken in the rapture along with Gentile believers or are they considered part of a different group?

 

Q. Will Messianic Jews be taken in the rapture along with Gentile believers or are they considered part of a different group?

A. Galatians 3:26-28 says, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

All believers during the church age, regardless of origin or background, belong to the church and inherit its blessings.

But in the last 2000 years, Jews have suffered more persecution at the hands of those claiming to be part of the church than by any other group. This is surely one of the factors contributing to the Messianic movement and the desire by some in the movement to been seen as distinct from the church.

Nevertheless, Messianic Jews are saved by grace alone and will receive a full share in the Church’s inheritance just like their gentile counterparts..

 

 -CHRISTIAN ISSUES NETWORK-   -LAST CALL DEVOTIONAL NETWORK-   -NATZSAL THE JEWISH NETWORK-
     -MICHAEL JAMES STONE ONLINE-


 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:

Is it Scriptural: Messianic Jews And The Law -Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley 

Messianic Jews And The Law

I want to ask you something concerning my Messianic Jewish belief. Are Jews still required to keep the feasts, eat kosher, and observe the Sabbath or were all these things done away with when Jesus died on the cross?

 

Q. I’ve written to you a couple of times before and have found your answers to be wise and biblical. So, I want to ask you something concerning my Messianic Jewish belief. I am aware that you were a part of a Messianic congregation from one of you posts.

My question is this: Are Jews still required to keep the feasts, eat kosher, and observe the Sabbath or were all these things done away with when Jesus died on the cross? My congregation still observes all the feasts and Holy days. Many eat kosher(some more strict then others), and they have services on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Lately, I have been searching for a new congregation because my Messianic one is so far away from me and it’s getting expensive. Not to mention if I try to make Torah studies and prayer meetings. Most of the Christian congregations tell me it’s no longer required to do these things(other then attending services). I just want to do what is right.

As I read it, Jesus and the disciples followed the laws and kept the feasts. Wouldn’t this mean, that everyone who considers themselves a follower of Jesus to do the same? I know in Acts the issue of circumcision was brought up for Gentiles. They basically said to keep some of the laws but not all of them, not the ones that applied to Jews anyway.

So where does a Messianic Jew stand? I sort of feel I’m in between two drawn swords, the Christian community on the one side, and the Torah observant Jews on the other. Any guidance you can offer will be appreciated.

A. This is an issue that has plagued the Messianic movement all along. Many who were formerly observant Jews insist on keeping the Law, while Gentile members often don’t see the need. I think the Messianic movement has an identity crisis of sorts. Though as followers of Jesus they’re part of the Church, there’s a concerted effort on the part of many to try and maintain a separate identity. Often it results in this “stuck in the middle” feeling you describe.

The Bible clearly teaches us two things. First, the Law was a shadow of things to come, not the reality which is found in Jesus (Hebr. 10:1 & Romans 3:19-24). Second, attempting to keep the Law can be a dangerous flirtation with legalism, because while no one can actually do it, we can fool ourselves into thinking we are, and that can lead to the same spiritual arrogance that so offended the Lord (Matt. 23). I know that some Jews believe that even after accepting the Lord as their savior, they’re still under the Law, but in my opinion the writer to the Hebrews believed otherwise and went to great lengths to persuade his readers as well.

In the Messianic Fellowship I led, we celebrated only the Erev Shabbat (Friday night) service. Some of us also attended Sunday services in a Gentile Church. We observed the Feasts and Holy Days to learn about their traditions and the incredible spiritual and prophetic significance of each one. I think this contributed to a growth in our Biblical understanding that would have been impossible to achieve in any other way.

The spiritual and physiological benefits found in keeping the commandments and kosher laws are well documented and beyond dispute, but turning them into a works-centered religion is what got the Jews in trouble in the first place.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col. 2:16-17)

 -CHRISTIAN ISSUES NETWORK-   -LAST CALL DEVOTIONAL NETWORK-   -NATZSAL THE JEWISH NETWORK-
     -MICHAEL JAMES STONE ONLINE-


 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Is it Scriptural: Are Messianic Jews Part Of The Church? -Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley 

Are Messianic Jews Part Of The Church?

Q.  Can you clarify if converted Jews that are now part of the church are supposed to keep the law? I’m not referring to the sacrifices, but to the feasts, kosher eating, observance of the Jewish calendar.  Some family members who are Christian are now part of a Messianic congregation and they acknowledge salvation through Jesus, are now only eating kosher, keeping their feasts, and say we are drafted into Israel and the early church members were Jews that still kept all of that.

 

A.  I know there are Messianic Jews who choose to keep at least part of the Law. It’s like they have one foot in the Old Covenant and one foot in the New.  The question is whether they just want to follow the tradition to learn from it, which is OK, or whether they’re trying to either complete or maintain the work of their salvation, which is not.  Any path to salvation that combines grace and human effort is destined to fail because it ultimately leaves us responsible for our own salvation.  Romans 3:20-22 says no one will be declared righteous by observing the Law, but only by receiving the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  You can’t have it both ways.

Paul wrote that regardless of background, a member of the Church is no longer considered either a Jew or a Gentile (Galatians 3:28). He also said not to let anyone judge us by what we eat or drink, or with regard to religious festivals, new moon celebrations or sabbath days.  He said these were a shadow of things to come but the reality is found in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17).

 

 -CHRISTIAN ISSUES NETWORK-   -LAST CALL DEVOTIONAL NETWORK-   -NATZSAL THE JEWISH NETWORK-
     -MICHAEL JAMES STONE ONLINE-


 

 

 

 

Posted by at 1 comment:

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is it Scriptural: Calvinism And Arminianism -Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley
 


Calvinism And Arminianism

Q.  Would it be safe to say that you espouse Arminianism?

 

A.  No it would not.  Both Calvinists and Arminians are correct in what they affirm.  Calvinists affirm eternal security and Arminians affirm agency (freedom of choice). But both are incorrect in what they deny.  Calvinists deny agency and Arminians deny security. I affirm both agency and security.  I believe we can (must) choose to be saved (Matt. 7:7-8) and that once we do it can never be revoked for any reason (Ephes 1:13-14).

Print Friendly
Share

Tags: 

Related Posts:

 

 -CHRISTIAN ISSUES NETWORK-   -LAST CALL DEVOTIONAL NETWORK-   -NATZSAL THE JEWISH NETWORK-
     -MICHAEL JAMES STONE ONLINE-


 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Is it Scriptural: The Literal Interpretation -Jack Kelley

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The Christian Issues Network

Biblical Q&A;   Scriptural Q&A;   Theology Q&A;   Proverbial;   What Do You Believe?
"IS IT SCRIPTURAL"
"Sometimes some say things are scriptural when they may not be Biblical"

Jack Kelley
 



The Literal Interpretation

Q.  I was discussing something with a family member and they said ‘You just can’t interpret the Bible literally because so many people argue over what the literal interpretation of that verse is.’ He makes a good point. In what way should we go about finding the ‘literal’ interpretation of a verse? And another question, when do we know when to not interpret a passage of Scripture literally?

 

A.  There’s only one true literal interpretation, so among those who argue only one can be correct.  You can tell you have the literal translation because you read it just as it’s written taking the context of the passage into consideration. According to the dictionary the context is the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular passage.  It can be discovered by looking at the verses that precede or follow it that influence its meaning or effect.   Most arguments over the interpretation of Scripture have more to do with context than anything else.

We know we shouldn’t interpret a passage literally when the Bible tells us not to.  For instance parables and other obviously symbolic passages are not meant to be understood literally.  A good rule of thumb is that if the literal interpretation of a passage makes sense, then we shouldn’t try to take it any other way.

Tags: 

Related Posts:

 

 

 

 

 

 -CHRISTIAN ISSUES NETWORK-   -LAST CALL DEVOTIONAL NETWORK-   -NATZSAL THE JEWISH NETWORK-
     -MICHAEL JAMES STONE ONLINE-


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)