Posted on 12/11/2015 6:14:39 AM PST by marshmallow
The chief rabbis of Finland and Serbia have joined 23 other rabbis in Europe, Israel, and the United States in issuing an Orthodox rabbinic statement on Christianity.
"As did Maimonides and Yehudah Halevi, we acknowledge that Christianity is neither an accident nor an error, but the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations," the rabbis said in their statement. "In separating Judaism and Christianity, G-d willed a separation between partners with significant theological differences, not a separation between enemies."
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
No we don’t. We operate under under two completely different covenants. The Jews are still live under the old covenant and believe that they are subject to the Mosaic Law. Christians live under the New Covenant, the old having been nailed to the cross with Jesus, dying there with Him.
Jews and Christians are different branches on the same tree and better work together for survival.
While we should strive to improve the world, as the opportunity is afforded us by our Lord, it is not in our power to "perfect" the World. Nor is this the primary mission or center of Christianity, which is the establishment of a personal relationship with Christ to receive eternal life, through His sacrifice, and to share this good news with other men, so that they may also receive eternal life.
Anyway, even if it were in our power to "perfect" the world, it could only be done by force and a violation of the rights that God gives every man. How is this "perfecting" anything, let alone the "world"?
Romans 11:17-24 - The branches of the Jews have been broken off because of unbelief. I hope that they are grafted back onto the root, but that will only happen with belief.
Ephesians 2:11-22 ESV
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision†by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in cone Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,4 but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." Heb 8:13
Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jew, that "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Jesus told this Jew, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
bump
"As did Maimonides and Yehudah Halevi, we acknowledge that Christianity is neither an accident nor an error, but the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations," the rabbis said in their statement. "In separating Judaism and Christianity, G-d willed a separation between partners with significant theological differences, not a separation between enemies."
I'm sorry. This is simply wrong, regardless of who said it. Christianity is idolatry for Jews and either idolatry or a philosophical error in need of correction for non-Jews. And I'm pretty sure RaMBa"M never said what he is being quoted here as saying.
The one true religion for non-Jews always has been and always will be the Seven Laws G-d originally gave Adam, then Noah, and finalized at Mt. Sinai. Chrstians and members of all other false religions must repent of their errors and accept the Noachide Laws on the authority of the Revelation of HaShem to Moses and Israel at Sinai.
Nothing (including the sin in the Garden, false religions, mass murders, etc.) is an "accident." Everything takes place within G-d's all-embracing Providence. But that does not mean that G-d set up false religions for non-Jews!!!
This is all the work of the Vatican. Where are all the Jews who scream bloody murder whenever a Fundamentalist Protestant says that Judaism and chrstianity are "the same religion?" Why is the same claim from Catholicism so "wonderful???"
There's a link at the end of the article on the "Catholic Culture" website which takes you directly to the the website of the "Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Co-Operation"
Check it out for yourself.
Check it out for yourself.
I checked it out (despite getting a McAfee warning). It doesn't look like a kosher organization or site to me.
But such syncretistic organizations have long existed. My problem isn't with them. It's with Orthodox rabbis implying chrstianity is (lehavdil!) "the true religion for non-Jews."
I certainly am for greater Jewish and chrstian cooperation on common moral issues and for understanding each other better. But the idea that chrstianity was created by G-d as the "true religion" for non-Jews is certainly not kosher, though there are liberal Orthodox rabbis who say that. I'm not even sure if that's what these rabbis are actually saying or if it's the interpretation of the writer of the article you posted.
As I said, I used to be a Fundamentalist Protestant who thought Judaism and chrstianity were basically the same, but I know now that this simply isn't true regardless of who wants it to be.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1188356/jewish/Melachim-uMilchamot-Chapter-11.htm
...Can there be a greater stumbling block than Christianity? All the prophets spoke of Mashiach as the redeemer of Israel and their savior who would gather their dispersed and strengthen their observance of the mitzvot. In contrast, Christianity caused the Jews to be slain by the sword, their remnants to be scattered and humbled, the Torah to be altered, and the majority of the world to err and serve a god other than the Lord.
Nevertheless, the intent of the Creator of the world is not within the power of man to comprehend, for His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts, our thoughts. Ultimately, all the deeds of Jesus of Nazareth and that Ishmaelite who arose after him will only serve to prepare the way for Mashiach’s coming and the improvement of the entire world, motivating the nations to serve God together as Tzephaniah 3:9 states: ‘I will transform the peoples to a purer language that they all will call upon the name of God and serve Him with one purpose.’
How will this come about? The entire world has already become filled with the mention of Mashiach, Torah, and mitzvot. These matters have been spread to the furthermost islands to many stubborn-hearted nations. They discuss these matters and the mitzvot of the Torah, saying: ‘These mitzvot were true, but were already negated in the present age and are not applicable for all time.’
Others say: ‘Implied in the mitzvot are hidden concepts that can not be understood simply. The Mashiach has already come and revealed those hidden truths.’
When the true Messianic king will arise and prove successful, his position becoming exalted and uplifted, they will all return and realize that their ancestors endowed them with a false heritage and their prophets and ancestors caused them to err...
That is quite correct.
"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb. 10:9-10 AV; my emphasis).
Once = εφαπαξ = ephapax = a strengthened form of απαξ = one time once for all time (and I believe for all peoples) = never again ever to be another blood sacrifice for sin; the first covenant of blood sacrifices utterly removed forever.
In v. 9, αναιρει = anairehee = He utterly abolishes, removes far beyond recall forever (except by remembrance, till He comes), the first will/testament/covenant. See John 1:29:
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Yea, regarding Hebrews 10:9-10--like the shot heard 'round the world heard April 19 of 1775, bringing a revolutionary freedom and new order to the New World--on the shores of the stream at Bethabara John Baptist's heraldic proclamation of the Lamb, Who continually abolishes and cleanses the world, the Kosmos, of its Sin brought on it by Adam.
"Behold the Sacrificial, Harmless, Innocent Lamb of The God, Who henceforth is utterly removing and abolishing the Created World's Master, the Sin of Adam."
Now, today, Orthodox Judaism has no legitimacy whatsoever. It is but a faint recollection of a long-gone temporary measure bequeathed to the first Adam, until the permanent remedy was finalized, a remedy put into motion by the first coming and execution of the Second Adam--once for all ages and peoples--at Golgotha, on Calvary's hill.
Judaism is a dead religion for dead people, not a living one for a race given the gift of Absolute Eternal Life by its Savior, The Lord, Redeemer, and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus made several references to The Law, and when he taught “Our Father” at The Sermon on The Mount, he took it from a Hebrew formula modeled on the Amidah.
Would you say also that The Ten Commandments are no longer valid?
Not me.
Jesus reiterated all but one so nine are still valid.
And thus The Law.
Jesus used the law to convict Israel of sin; a tutor to lead them to the Messiah, Gal 3:24.
As to the Ten Commandments, Hebrews 8:13 says, "In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."
Then, in Hebrews 9, we see a reference to the "Tablets of the covenant." The Ten Commandments were frequently referred to as the "Tablets of the covenant." They were the tablets of the covenant that passed away.
Does that mean we are now without commandments? No. We are not under the letter of the law, but Jesus' new commandment leads us to the same result - loving God, and loving one another.
"And THIS is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." 1 John 3:23
Matthew 22:34-40
If The Law and the Prophets do not hold, the whole structure falls.
You are correct, which is why it's been replaced with 1 John 3:23. When He gave us the new covenant in his blood, the old covenant passed away. Jesus then gave us a New Commandment, and the old passed away, The old is swallowed up in the spirit of the new commandment.
You love opening up cans of worms, eh? LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.