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If You Were a Faithful Jew 2,000 Years Ago

If You Were a Faithful Jew 2,000 Years Ago

If you were a faithful Jew in AD 27, what would you have believed? Who would you have trusted? Where would you have placed your loyalty?

Your entire life, you would have been taught by your parents, teachers, and priests that you were a member of God’s specially chosen people, a people who had the inspired writings of the prophets and who were waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

Your entire life, you would have been taught that all the other religions of the world are false.

Your entire life, you would have participated in weekly Sabbath observance, regular sacrifice at the temple, and annual feasts, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Your entire life, you would have trusted the religious leaders—the priests, the Sanhedrin—to interpret the sacred writings, to tell you of your duty to God, to define religious rights and wrongs, and to identify heresy and blasphemy.

And your entire life would have been a burden—a life lived under the fear of sin, the weight of legal religious duties, the fear of failure, the unremitting doubt, the sense of inadequacy, the constant worry that perhaps despite all your tithe paying, all the animal sacrifices, all the hard work of trying to conform to the rules, that you were still not accepted by God.

If you were that Jew, what would you do? Was there another organized religious institution through whom God was working other than Israel? Was there a better Bible (scriptures) with more accurate revelations from God than the Torah?

Would that mean the leadership of the Jewish organization was teaching the truth?

If you were a Jew 2,000 years ago, would it have been wise to trust the priests, Levites, and Sanhedrin to determine what is true? What is God’s will? What is sin? How is one saved from sin?

What did the Jewish religious leaders have wrong? They couched their interpretations of Scripture in the wrong understanding of law. They viewed God’s law as functioning like human law—imposed rules that require imposed punishments. Thus, they misconstrued the ceremonies and symbols to be literal requirements for salvation, rather than theater, metaphor, object lessons to teach reality.

And then Jesus came and taught with authority (see our blog Authority And Satan’s End-Time Deception) the authority of how reality works. All of His parables taught God’s laws as design laws—how things actually function. Jesus broke manmade religious rules to advance the kingdom of heaven. Jesus healed on the Sabbath and socialized with prostitutes, tax collectors, and Samaritans. Why? Because Jesus deals with reality—and the reality is that God created one human species in Eden. Adam infected himself with sin and, therefore, every single human being is born with that terminal sin condition (Psalm 51:5); every human being needs the exact same solution, treatment, remedy to that sin condition; and Jesus came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29) in order to provide the remedy to our sin condition, saving and healing all who partake of what He has provided (Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:4). Sin cannot be resolved by rules and rule-keeping—only by recreation, healing, cleansing of hearts and minds by the recreative power of God!

Jesus said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16,17 NIV84).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30 NIV84).

And the religious leaders, the leaders of God’s chosen people, when they saw Jesus healing, blessing, and forgiving, said of Him,

“Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” (John 8:48 NIV84).

If you were a faithful Jew 2,000 years ago working for the “church,” how would you have responded if confronted by your leadership as these faithful followers were:

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.

“You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them” (John 7:45–49 NIV84)?

So, if you were a faithful Jew 2,000 years ago, would you continue to be faithful by being loyal to your denomination, the orthodoxy as taught by the teachers, priests, Levites, and Sanhedrin? Or, if you followed those leaders of God’s chosen and blessed system, would you have moved from faithfulness to rebelliousness and joined them in crucifying Jesus?

What about today?

If you are a faithful Christian, belonging to a denomination that is called by God to take the gospel of Jesus to the world and advance “right” doctrines, will you be able to stay faithful if you surrender your thinking to your pastors, priests, theology professors, and church officers—or must you think for yourself and know the truth for yourself?

As Paul advised in Romans 14:5, shouldn’t you be fully persuaded in your own mind of what is true? Might it be that in order to stay faithful to Jesus, you will need to be like Peter, Paul, and the other apostles and reject the teachings of your church leadership?

This is not hypothetical; it is historical—a fact of history that has recurred and will recur again. As one of the founders of the Adventist Church notes in her commentary on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages,

The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ’s message and was bent upon His death; therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.

As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience (The Desire of Ages, pg 232, emphasis mine).

I challenge you: Don’t fall into the trap of surrendering your mind to others, but always think for yourself and stay loyal to Jesus above all others!

 

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Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

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Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

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My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

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I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

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I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

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I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

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I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

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I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 27

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA

 

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I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain