RE>>> I would like to have a better understanding why Martin Luther
said such terrible things against the Jews when he did so
many great things for Christianity.
Are they as bad as he relates them to be? <<<
James - as most people who lived when Luther lived
Martin was a futurist who believed Christ would return
yet a third time somewhere future to his own time.
A "second second coming" if you will.
This understanding meant that the "fulness of the gentiles" had not
yet happened and many worked fervently to that end. (not a bad fruit)
Although false teaching may in fact produce some good fruit I
have yet to see false teaching that did not promote some very bad fruit
at one point or another.
Since the "fulness of the gentiles" was not yet accomplished
that meant that the Jews were yet the "enemies of Christ"
There can be no other conclusion when you have such wrong presuppositions....
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be
ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your
own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Paul cautions Gentile believers not to be proud of themselves
as having done something of value toward faithfulness in Christ
above what the Jewish nation was doing BECAUSE it was God
Himself who was causing that blindness - to an end - for their sake.
At that moment in time God was calling many Gentiles to
faith and yet very very few Jews.
Paul repeats this sovereign call of God in this verse:
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes:
but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Martin Luther believed that God was yet blinding Jews for the
sake of the gentiles even in his own time - an unfortunate
misunderstanding to say the least.
Luther also failed to resist boasting against the "natural branches"
Luther got so carried away with the concept of them being "enemies"
that he went on to assert that they should not even enjoy basic
human rights - a ridiculous concept void fo the love of God
that men are to have even to their "enemies"
Luther maintain that Jews should not be allow to own anything
nor to be allow jobs or to walk on public streets.
The truth is that even today most Jews are enemies of Christ
but so are all the other cults on this earth - they are no friends
to Christ or Christians - just look at the defensive
nonsense about the movie "The Passion"
They use the term "anti-semitic" as a trump card upon anyone
who objects to anything Israel is doing - it is ridiculous.
People are afraid to speak against them as a people.
The truth is that Paul fully expected the fullness of the gentiles
in his lifetime and during his ministry and expect that to
provoke many of his contemporary (then living) Jewish brethren
to be provoked to examine the truth about Christ seeing the mighty
move of the Holy Ghost among the Gentiles - that happened
Paul was not just hoping against hope in his flesh.
Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation
them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed,
that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.
33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out!
Paul expect those who were in unbelief to also enjoy the wonders
of the mercy of God - to the extend that Paul deeply praises
God in his spirit - Paul did not expect Jews yet future to us
to enjoy mercy because of the unbelief of Jews living in his lifetime.
Futurism - such utter foolishness - and the fruit of it for Luther
is to Christians everywhere a shame and ugly scar upon the face
of historical Christianity.
Luthers book "The Jews and their Lies" was a key book used to
justify the Nazi crimes and genocide under the guise of sanction
from God Himself - Hitler believed himself to be a Christian man.
Futurism and the holocaust were philosophically joined at the hip.
Brian
P.S. I ordered the DVD's - I will let you know if they are any good. |
