What Advantages Has the Christian?

Welcome to this blog post! Glad to have you. We began a few weeks ago to look at the above subject, and will be pushing on from where we last stopped. If you are reading for the first time, no worries! You can read the previous post after this; or get to it first, whichever works. I trust it would edify you to read both posts.

We had concluded the last time, posing the question: What really is the advantage of identifying as we are; has this got any value for eternity?

I had shared that a certain bloke named Paul who was a Jewish convert to Christianity reflected and had asked the same question. He was trying to relay the pluses of his new way and thus asked his readers, some of whom still held unto the legalistic observance of Jewish ways, identifying as the same; what advantage the Jew has, what value there is in being circumcised. He admitted there were a lot of benefits to identifying as a Jew - but In first place and most paramountly, he stated, that Jews were entrusted with the very words of God.

Like I alluded to in my earlier writing, Jews pride themselves in being a peculiar people in the earth, whom God has chosen as his own. They pride as well in the practice of circumcision which had been a token God gave them as a mark of separation unto him amongst the nations of the earth. They identify also as a nation that has greatly experienced God through the ages, and at many times heard God and received his counsel, especially through their leaders.

They had documented these encounters in their various books, a compilation of which is called the Tanakh (Scriptures). Jews believe this compilation - including the Torah (laws, as delivered to them by Moses), the Nevi'im (Prophets - Essentially history books and inspired words of spiritual leaders during the times when Israel was ruled by judges and kings) and the Ketuvim (again history books, and inspired sayings / writings of certain nobles), communicate the very will of God; his instructions, his promises, and answers to the many bothers of human existence.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets (individuals who inspirationally deliver divine messages) at many times and in various ways - Hebrews 1 vs 1; NIV Paraphrased.

Importantly, they search the scriptures to know when the promises God had made to them as a nation would be fulfilled.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. (John 5 vs 39a; NIV)

Jews recognize that God has the gift of eternal life for whoever is pleasing to Him at the end time or culmination; and eternal damnation for those who are not, hence their diligent pursuit of the former.

At that time, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book (a good book later described to contain the names of people who are acceptable by God) - will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12 vs 1-2; NIV)

They had received promise of a coming Messiah who would deliver their nation from captivity, albeit from sin. It was sin that separated them from God who was their covenanted ruler - I explained this in the previous post.

But while he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife; for what has been conceived in her if from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, (which means 'Adonai saves,') because he will save his people from their sins". This will fulfil God's message through his prophets - (Matthew 1 vs 20-22; CJB Paraphrased)

Many of them however presumed that the Messiah would be a political leader to deliver them from Roman rule, so that his spiritual essence was easily lost on them. When he resurrected and appeared to his disciples, even them had to pertinently ask him if he would then wrought the deliverance they expected.

And another time when he appeared to them, they asked him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel from Rome now and restore us as an independent nation?" (Acts 1 vs 6; TLB)

But Christians, the group emerged from amongst Jews differ. They arrive at believing Jesus is the savior and that his coming affords them these advantages, and fulfilled promises - firstly, forgiveness; redemption from their sins, and thereby, the next - acceptance with God, with the sure hope of eternal life. Jews, on the other hand still await or pursue both, not believing that the man Jesus was the savior. I will expound.

In relation to forgiveness of sins, Jews sacrifice bulls and goats, shed their blood as sin atonement, repeating the process every year. Besides, they still require several other sacrifices all year long to be able to approach unto a holy God. The slaughter of these animals does not bring about a genuine change of heart in the people. It surely does not take away the pleasure of sin. They also continually live with the weight and guilt of sin, because they lean on these repeated and endless sacrifices. We argue infact that the blood of these animals never take away sins! It only reminds the people of their sins continually.

God moreover really does not take delight in these sacrifices, but far prefers that they be an obedient people.

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1st Samuel 15 vs 22; NIV)

Sacrifices and grain offerings you don’t want; burnt offerings and sin offerings you don’t demand. Instead, you have given me open ears; (Psalms 40 vs 6; CJB)

Jews continue to undergo circumcision - the mark of separation God gave their patriarch Abraham, and they continue to trust their observance of the rulings God has given them in the Torah, to the end that they might inherit Eternal Life. It is indeed not lost on them that Circumcision alone will not make them accepted with God; unless they also obey his rulings, that is, not sin; having been forgiven of their former sins.

On one occasion an expert in the law (certainly already circumcised) stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”. “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”(Luke 10 vs 25 - 28; NIV Paraphrased)

The value of circumcision really is in obeying the law - separation unto the pursuit of pleasing of God, and doing so. Paul had to separately state and redefine the essence of circumcision, as one of the heart, spiritual and not literal - the praise for which can only can come from God and not man, for only God can truly see it.

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

While Indeed, turning away from sin, that is, having the posture of turning away from the things that displease God, is imperative for Salvation; it fails to bring to completion the salvation process or bring to perfection the objects of salvation - the people. Because Sin instead had the people captive, and there was no remediation for their past sins, there was the need for sacrifice for all of their past sins and liberation from the power of sin. The giving of the scriptures (or the Torah, to be specific) didn't achieve this.

The Messiah's coming was moreover purposed for both reasons!

The Christian belief is that Jesus died as a one time sacrifice for all our past sins, and there is no more remembrance of them. The guilt from them is clear!

Through Jesus, we can approach continually unto God now, without the need for further sacrifices, except continual advocacy on our behalf by the same Jesus whom we now choose to love and Trust.

But this one, after he had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, from then on to wait until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy. (Hebrews 10 vs 12-14; CJB)

I will continue to write from here next time and we will consider further the liberation from the power of sin as a Christian advantage; and how this together with a single sacrifice brings believers finally to the goal of being a people verily separated for God.

Stay Blessed!