So what I understand you are saying is that the Jews were damned whatever they did because they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Exactly. However, God is merciful, and Jews to this day as long as they have breath left in them are still given an opportunity to repent and accept Christ. So we ought not harm them, as long as there remains space for repentance.
Therefore they have been wasting their time trying to keep the Jewish religion going.
Not only wasting their time, but bringing down a curse upon themselves in the process. All this burden will be taken away if they simply accept the Christ.
So, in the circumstances, to have taken the Holy Land by tricks and by force was their best alternative.
I do not consider it a worthy alternative. There is no other alternative. Love Christ or be cursed. This applies to all men, not just the Jews. These are not my own personal judgments. I am simply delivering to you the word of God.
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (1 Corinthians 16.22)
The holy Apostle Paul was a Jew, and what did he say?
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:3-8)
St. Paul suffered the loss of all things just for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ his Lord.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) |
