The Jewish Foundation of Christianity

Transcription

1 The Jewish Foundation of Christianity Please use Scripture references whenever possible as you answer the following questions. Part 1: From Sacrifice to the Cross 1. Discuss the differences and similarities between a pagan sacrifice that God abhors and the sacrifices God commanded and instituted. 2. Explain Korban or Life for Life. How does this differ in the Old Testament, New Testament, and pagan world? 3. How did the Jews make the transition from Old Testament sacrifice to New Testament faith in Christ as the ultimate and final sacrifice?

2 4. Explain God s attitude toward sin. Part 2: From the Temple to the Church 1. What is the significance of the menorah? 2. Talk about how the symbols within Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East, reflect Christianity s Jewish roots and the Temple. 3. Sketch the temple from above.

3 4. Talk about how our bodies are a living sacrifice. Part 3: From Promised Messiah to Jesus, I 1. Did the followers of Christ intend on starting a new religion? Explain your answer. 2. Using Zechariah 14 and Daniel 12, explain why many Jews and Christians are buried on the Mount of Olives. Part 4: From Promised Messiah to Jesus, II 1. Explain the Messianic line.

4 2. Compare and contrast the Jewish view of the Messiah today with the correct Biblical understanding of the Messiah. 3. Why do you think many Jews refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah, despite the New Testament fulfillment of over 60 Old Testament prophecies?

5 Part 1: From Sacrifice to the Cross The Jewish Foundation of Christianity (Points to Consider) 1. Discuss the differences and similarities between a pagan sacrifice that God abhors and the sacrifices God commanded and instituted. Differences: -God asked for animal sacrifices, not human sacrifices, with the exception of Isaac, which was a test and which God Himself interceded. -Pagans sacrificed children in Topheth to appease angry gods so the gods would give the sacrificers what they wanted and needed; this is selfish motivation (Jeremiah 7). -Animal sacrifices in Scripture were made out of love and obedience, or they were not acceptable in God s eyes. -God s ultimate sacrifice offers salvation as an act of grace and mercy; pagan sacrifices incite God s wrath. -God s ultimate sacrifice rescues us from the true hell as well as the earthly Valley of Hell. Because of His mercy and sacrifice, we do not need to be a part of pagan rituals with their selfishness and murder. Similarities: -Blood is shed. -Both practices are nearly as old as time. -Both are intended to close a gap between God/god and mankind, although only one is successful, while the other drives man farther from God. 2. Explain Korban or Life for Life. How does this differ in the Old Testament, New Testament, and pagan world? The concept of korban means giving a life to save a life. Mankind s sins are placed on the sacrificial animal in the Old Testament and on Christ in the New Testament. The sacrificial animal or Christ dies so that other person or people receive forgiveness and life. In the Old Testament, the animals were killed for the sins of those who brought them to the temple. The animal sacrifice was performed by the person whose sins would be removed. It covered sin, but couldn t completely remove it. In the New Testament, Jesus life was taken to give us eternal life. It was done for us and removed sin once for all (Isaiah 53, Hebrew 10). Historically, pagans gave someone else s life to attempt to improve their own life or standing with the gods. What a huge difference!

6 3. How did the Jews make the transition from Old Testament sacrifice to New Testament faith in Christ as the ultimate and final sacrifice? According to Acts, Jesus explained at the Last Supper that He was the Messiah who would fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament, but the disciples did not understand. Fifty days later at Pentecost, God used a supernatural means to authenticate the words that Peter was speaking about Jesus being the Messiah. This, along with remembering Jesus words at the Lord s Supper, convinced them that Jesus was the Messiah. 4. Explain God s attitude toward sin. Sin is rebellion against God. One little sin infects the whole body. There must be payment by the sacrifice of life. Blood must be shed to pay for sin, because blood has life in it. Leviticus 17:11 Part 2: From the Temple to the Church 1. What is the significance of the menorah? -The Menorah in Jerusalem was placed in Jerusalem by a group that wants to rebuild the temple. -It is the same size as the original menorah that God instructed be fabricated and placed in the Holy Place in the temple. -It contains seven branches seven is a divine number. -Revelation likens the seven Christian churches of the New Testament to the seven lampstands. -Jesus Himself is the light of the world. -Jesus calls believers to be the light of the world, reflecting His light. -Just as the menorah is the last light in the temple before reaching the Holy of Holies, Jesus is a light to guide all of us to a relationship with the heavenly Father. 2. Talk about how the symbols within Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East, reflect Christianity s Jewish roots and the Temple. -Hebrew script is used on the communion table, for the Lord s Prayer, for the Ten Commandments, for the theophany of God in Exodus, and in the Apostle s Creed. -The stained glass has an olive tree with Abrahamic roots and three names of the Triune God. -The Lord s Supper is the replacement for repeated sacrifices within the temple and is a participation in Christ's sacrifice.

7 -Baptism within the church is a link to the washing basin in the temple. -The prayers uttered by the saints as described in Revelation are connected to the temple s incense altar. 3. Sketch the temple from above. 4. Talk about how our bodies are a living sacrifice. -We are washed in the waters of baptism, just as sacrifices had to be clean and without blemish. -Just as the sacrificed animal must die, we must die to sin and die to the desires of our sinful nature. -Just as sacrifices are life for life, we live again as new men, living for Christ by the fruit of the Spirit. (I Peter 2:5) Part 3: From Promised Messiah to Jesus, I 1. Did the followers of Christ intend on starting a new religion? Explain your answer. No, they did not intend on starting a new religion. The Old Testament is a shadow of things to come; the Jews of the day understood that. The New Testament is a fulfillment of those foreshadowings, therefore, a continuation of the Old Testament. It is not a new religion, but a promise fulfilled. 2. Using Zechariah 14 and Daniel 12, explain why many Jews and Christians are buried on the Mount of Olives. Scripture says that the Messiah will return and stand on the Mount of Olives and that all will be raised from the dead to meet Him. Christians who believe in Jesus as their Savior want to be near to Him when He returns. Those who believe that the Messianic prophesies are yet to be fulfilled also want to be there because that is where their Messiah will stand when He comes. Part 4: From Promised Messiah to Jesus, II 1. Explain the Messianic line. Messiah also means anointed or chosen one, which refers to kings, prophets, and priests. God also uses it to refer to his chosen people. From those chosen people is an anointed or Messianic line David s line. From David s line, one is anointed as prophet, priest, and king Jesus Christ.

8 2. Compare and contrast the Jewish view of the Messiah today with the correct Biblical understanding of the Messiah. Different Jewish groups believe different things, but those who still hold to the Old Testament promises believe that the Messiah will come to restore the earthly city of Jerusalem. Many believe that God is waiting to empower a Messiah. He will do so either when the nation of Israel is very good and deserves a Messiah or when they are heading for disaster and need saving. Others have completely lost hope. The Biblical view of the Messiah reveals that He has already come in the form of Jesus Christ, Christ meaning Messiah or Anointed One. While He will restore God s kingdom on earth, He also saves the soul. In Luke 24, Jesus reveals Himself as the foreshadowed Messiah from the Old Testament, showing that the wait is over and the work has already been accomplished. 3. Why do you think many Jews refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah, despite the New Testament fulfillment of over 60 Old Testament prophecies?