Topical Bible: The Jews: Trusted to Their Privileges for Salvation

◄ The Jews: Trusted to Their Privileges for Salvation ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Jewish people, as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, hold a unique place in biblical history and theology. They were chosen by God to be His special people, entrusted with His laws, covenants, and promises. This entry explores the concept of the Jews trusting in their privileges for salvation, as depicted in the Scriptures.

Covenantal Relationship with God

The Jews were the recipients of God's covenantal promises, beginning with Abraham. Genesis 12:2-3 records God's promise to Abraham: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." This covenant established the Jews as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes.

The Law and the Prophets

The Jews were entrusted with the Law, given through Moses, which included moral, ceremonial, and civil regulations. Romans 3:1-2 highlights this privilege: "What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." The Law was intended to guide the Israelites in righteousness and to set them apart from other nations.

The Temple and Worship

Central to Jewish identity was the Temple in Jerusalem, the focal point of worship and sacrifice. The Temple represented God's presence among His people and was a place where the Jews could seek atonement for their sins. However, over time, some Jews began to trust in the mere external observance of rituals rather than genuine faith and obedience to God.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned the Jews against relying solely on their heritage and privileges for salvation. Jeremiah 7:4 cautions, "Do not trust in deceptive words, chanting, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’" The prophets called for a return to heartfelt devotion and repentance, emphasizing that true relationship with God required more than ritualistic observance.

The Coming of the Messiah

The Jewish expectation of the Messiah was rooted in the promises of the Old Testament. However, when Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, came, many Jews did not recognize Him as such. John 1:11 states, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." Jesus challenged the prevailing notion that ethnic identity and adherence to the Law were sufficient for salvation, emphasizing instead the necessity of faith in Him.

Paul's Teaching on Jewish Privileges

The Apostle Paul, himself a Jew, addressed the issue of Jewish reliance on their privileges in his epistles. In Romans 9:4-5 , he acknowledges the Jews' significant advantages: "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen." Yet, Paul also makes it clear that salvation is not based on these privileges but on faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The Jews' trust in their privileges for salvation is a recurring theme in the Bible. While they were indeed blessed with unique advantages, the Scriptures consistently teach that true salvation comes through faith and obedience to God, culminating in the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 7:4
Trust you not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Elucidations.
... from them the armour in which they trusted, and divides ... between vain traditions of
the Jews, and their ... these were (1) the authentication of their own Scriptures ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations.htm

His Great Controversy
... live on easier terms with the non-Christian Jews the loss ... he had founded and win
them to their own narrow ... one, and that his authority was not to be trusted. ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter ix his great controversy.htm

The Epistle to the Laodiceans the Proper Designation is to the ...
... goes on to say:) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ... the children of wrath," inasmuch
as the Jews were not ... covenants and to the promise, yea to their very God ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvii the epistle to the.htm

The Essential Unity of the Kingdom.
... in the spiritual life, they are clearly acting as the Jews, who trusted to being ...
under different leaders, and known by the names of their founders, they ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter viii the essential unity.htm

Intercourse of Jesus with the Pagans and the Samaritans.
... the devotees,[1] the exterior strictness, which trusted to formality ... to the prejudices
of the Jews.[9] But ... may have given the instruction of their master the ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xiv intercourse of jesus.htm

"The House of Israel"
... At the same time the Jews were, by their sins ... In their self-righteousness they trusted
to their own works ... the people of God at the time of their deliverance from ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

The First Epistle General of Peter
... by the theory that Silvanus, a trusted friend and ... raised by God's predestination
of the Jews, he says ... does not correspond with the order of their revelation in ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxi the first epistle.htm

The Harbinger
... fraud and uncleanness: and while they trusted in themselves ... Among the Jews, the
professing people of God, a way ... by men, the summit of their boasted excellence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon ii the harbinger.htm

Messiah Derided Upon the Cross
... lip, they shake the head saying, He trusted on the ... by the same spirit, which instigated
the unbelieving Jews. ... in mercy, show them the danger of their path, and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxi messiah derided upon.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican.
... opens all its meaning:""Certain which trusted in themselves ... that follow are the fruits
of their research ... tax-farmers were held by the stricter Jews shines out ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxix the pharisee and the.htm