Series: “Jesus Christ Is the Only Way to God: An Examination of Christianity and Other World Religions and Cults.”
Sermon: “Judaism -- the Roots of Christianity”
Date: July 10, 2022
Praise the Lord Saints and to God from whom all blessings flow. Well, we have reached the last week of our series “Jesus Christ Is the Only Way to God: An Examination of Christianity and Other World Religions and Cults!” Week before last, we covered Islam and the Nation of Islam and found them to be incompatible with Christianity.
Information for this sermon series was gathered from Biblical scholars such as, Dr. Norman L. Deisler in his study on “Christianity Cults & Religions,” Books and DVD; and Josh McDowell in his book: “The Best of Josh McDowell: A Ready Defense” and other materials related to Christianity, other religions and cults.
Before we go into Judaism, I want to go over what we have covered over the last seven weeks in synopsis. We will first cover our beliefs as Christians and then each religion or cults’ beliefs based on Writings, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Salvation and Death. We have omitted Founder because Jesus Christ is the founder of Christianity and not the founder of the other religions or cults. Additionally, under Writings, we will indicate if the Holy Bible is listed, for example: how it is interpreted, corrupted or uncorrupted.
Writings:
Christianity: Written in Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament), and Greek (New Testament).
Jehovah’s Witnesses: New World Translation (Their translation of the Holy Bible rejects every central belief of Christianity. They have altered the Bible in 300 places to fit their beliefs and to say what they want it to say. Their publications take precedence over the Scriptures.
Mormonism: Joseph Smith wrote his version of the King James Bible called Inspired Version or Joseph Smith Translation. His version wasn’t a real translation at all since he wasn’t fluent in any biblical language nor did he have any ancient manuscripts in his possession. He “corrected” anything he felt was necessary (adding a prophecy of his own birth to Gen. 50:33).
Hinduism, Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, and Scientology: The Holy Bible is not included.
Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, and New Age: Has the Bible listed but it is not reliable as it denies many tenets of the Holy Bible.
Islam: Claims usage of the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels, but claims it has been corrupted by Jews and Christians.
Nation of Islam: Quotes the Bible often, but claims it has been corrupted by Jews and Christians. Additionally, claims that Christianity is a white man’s religion and enslaves blacks.
God:
Christianity: The one God is Triune (one God in three Persons, not three gods); Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is a spiritual being without a physical body. He is personal and involved with people. He created the universe out of nothing. He is eternal, changeless, holy, loving, and perfect.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: One person, God called Jehovah.
Mormonism: The Mormon doctrine contradicts the Holy Bible. They believe that God was a man that progressed to godhood. He has a physical body. Believe that men someday may become God.
Hinduism: God is “The Absolute,” a universal spirit. Brahman, the eternal Trimutri, or three in one God: Brahma, the Creator; Visnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer. Everyone is part of God (Brahman).
Transcendental Meditation: Each part of creation makes up “God” (Brahman). Supreme Being is not personal. All creation is divine, “all is one.”
Buddhism: The Buddha did not believe in the existence of God. Others speak of the Buddha as a universal enlightened consciousness or as a god.
Christian Science: God is an impersonal Principle of life, truth, love, intelligence, and spirit. God is all that truly exists; matter is an illusion.
Unity School of Christianity: God is an invisible impersonal power. “God” is interchangeable with “Principle,” “Law,” “Being,” “Mind,” “Spirit.” God is in everything, as the soul is in the body. The spirit is reality; matter is not.
Scientology: Rejects biblical descriptions of God. Everyone is an immortal spirit (thetan) with unlimited powers over its own universe, but not all are aware of this.
New Age: Everyone and everything is God. God is not a person but an impersonal force or principle.
Islam: Allah is one and absolutely unique.
Nation of Islam: Officially, there is one God, Allah. God is a black man, millions of Allahs have lived and died since creation, collectively the black race is God, and Master Fard is the Supreme Allah and Savior.
Jesus
Christianity: Jesus is God, the second Person of the Trinity and He has always existed and was never created. He is fully God and fully man (the two natures are joined, not mixed). As the second Person of the Trinity, he is coequal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He was begotten through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus is the only way to the Father, salvation, and eternal life. He died on a cross, as full sacrifice and payment for our sins; rose from the dead on the third day, spiritually and physically immortal. For 40 days, he was seen by more than 500 eye-witnesses. Jesus will come again visibly and physically at the end of the world to establish God’s kingdom and judge the world.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus is not God. He was Michael the archangel before he lived on earth. Jehovah made the universe through him. A perfect life was lived through him. He was resurrected as a spirit, after dying on a stake (not a cross), and his body was destroyed. He returned invisibly in 1914 in spirit, therefore, Jesus is not coming again. He and the angels will destroy all non-Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Mormonism: Jesus is a separate god from the Father (Elohim). He is the “elder brother” of all men and spirit beings and was created as a spirit child by the Father and Mother in Heaven. His body was created through sexual union between Elohim and Mary. Jesus was married. His death on the cross provides everyone with resurrection but not full atonement for all sin
Hinduism: Jesus Christ is a teacher, a guru, or an avatar (an incarnation of Vishnu). He is a son of God as are others. His death does not atone for sins nor did he rise from the dead.
Transcendental Meditation: Jesus is not uniquely God. Jesus had a divine essence like all people. He discovered it. Christ didn’t suffer and couldn’t suffer for people’s sins.
Buddhism: The historic Buddhist worldview, does not include Jesus Christ. Buddhists in the West see Jesus as an enlightened teacher, while Buddhists in Asia believe Jesus is not God but an avatar or a Bodhisattva.
Christian Science: Jesus was a man who displayed the Christ idea. (Christ means perfection, not a person.) Jesus was not God because God can never become flesh or man. He could not suffer nor did He suffer for sins. He did not die on the cross nor was He resurrected physically and He will not literally come back.
Unity School of Christianity: Jesus was a man with Christ Consciousness. “Christ” is a state of perfection in every person. Jesus was in search of his own salvation having lived many times before. Jesus did not die as a sacrifice for anyone’s sins; did not rise physically, and will never return to earth in physical form.
Scientology: Jesus is rarely mentioned in Scientology. Jesus was not the creator, nor was he an “operating thetan” (in control of supernatural powers, cleared from mental defects). Jesus did not die for sins.
New Age: Jesus is not the one true God. He is a spiritual model and guru and is an “ascended master” but not a savior. He was a New Ager who tapped into divine power like anyone can. He “rose” into a higher spiritual realm but did not rise physically.
Islam: Jesus (Isa in Arabic) was not God or the Son of God. Adam’s creation is likened to Jesus’ virgin birth. He was one of Allah’s respected prophets, lived a sinless life, and worker of miracles. He was neither crucified nor resurrected. He will return not Mohammad to play a special role before the future judgment day, perhaps turning Christians to Islam.
Nation of Islam: For the record, Jesus was a sinless prophet of Allah. However, off the record, Jesus was born from adultery between Mary and Joseph, who was already married to another woman. A police officer stabbed Jesus in the heart instead of being crucified. His body is still interred in Jerusalem. Prophecies relating to Jesus’ return are really referring to Master Fard, Elijah Muhammad or Louis Farrakhan.
Holy Spirit
Christianity: The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is not an energy force but a person. He comforts, convicts, grieves, reproves, guides, teaches, and fills Christians. He is not the Father, nor is he the Son, Jesus Christ.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: “holy spirit” is not God but an impersonal, invisible, active force from Jehovah.
Mormonism: The “holy spirit” is different from the “Holy Ghost.” The “holy spirit” is not God, but is an influence or electricity like emanation from God (or “light of Christ”).
Hinduism, Transcendental Meditation, and Scientology: The Holy Spirit is not part of these religions.
Buddhism: The Holy Spirit is not part of this religion. Buddhists believe in spirits, invite spirit possession and practice deity yoga.
Christian Science: Holy spirit is defined as the teaching of Christian Science. Impersonal power.
Unity School of Christianity: The Holy Spirit is “the executive power of both Father and Son,” the law of God in action. A “definite” thought in the mind of man.
New Age: Sometimes a psychic force. Man is divine, such as contacting unearthly beings and can experience psychic phenomena.
Islam: “Holy spirit” can refer to the angel Gabriel, Allah, or to a spirit used by Allah to give life to man and inspire the prophets.
Nation of Islam: The Holy Spirit is not significant to their belief but is thought to be the power of God or as the angel Gabriel who spoke to the prophet Muhammad.
Salvation
Christianity: Salvation is by God’s grace, not by an individual’s good works. Salvation must be received by faith and people must believe in their hearts that Jesus died for their sins and physically rose again, which is the assurance of forgiveness and resurrection of the body.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Be baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Must earn everlasting life on earth by “door-to-door work.” Salvation in heaven is limited to 144,000 “anointed ones.” This number is already reached.
Mormonism: Resurrected by grace, but saved (exalted to godhood) by works, including Mormon baptism, tithing, ordination, faithfulness to church leaders, marriage, and secret temple rituals. No eternal life without Mormon membership.
Hinduism: Salvation can take many lifetimes. It is release from the cycle of reincarnation that is achieved through yoga and meditation. Final salvation is absorption or union with Brahman.
Transcendental Meditation: Salvation consists of doing good in excess of evil to evolve to the highest state (final union of the self with Brahman) through reincarnation.
Buddhism: The goal of life is nirvana, to eliminate all desires or cravings. The Eightfold Path is a system to free Buddhists from desiring anything and eventually achieve nonexistence.
Christian Science: Humanity is already saved eternally. Sin, evil, sickness, and death are not real.
Unity School of Christianity: By comprehending that each person is as much a Son of God as Jesus is. There is no evil, no devil, no sin, no poverty, and no old age. A person is reincarnated until he learns these truths and becomes “perfect.”
Scientology: No sin or need to repent. Freedom from reincarnation is salvation. One works on his “engrams” (negative experience units) to a state of clear and then progresses up the “bridge to total freedom” achieving “Operating Thetan” with eventual control over matter, energy, space, and time.
New Age: Need to offset bad karma with good karma. Can tap into supernatural power through meditation, self-awareness, and “spirit guides.”
Islam: The balance between good and bad deeds determines one’s destiny in paradise or hell.
Nation of Islam: Salvation is through submission to Allah and good works. Fard is the savior, salvation comes from knowledge of self and realizing that the white race are devils who displaced the black race.
Last category, but not least, Death:
Christianity: After death, Believers go to be with Jesus and await the final judgment. Both saved and lost people will be resurrected; those who are saved will live with Jesus in heaven and those who are lost will suffer the torment of eternal separation from God (hell). Jesus’ bodily resurrection guarantees believers that they too, will be resurrected and receive new immortal bodies.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: The 144,000 live as spirits in heaven. The rest of the righteous “the great crowd.” Live on earth, and must obey God perfectly for 1,000 years or be annihilated.
Mormonism: Nearly everyone goes to one of three separate heavenly “kingdoms,” with some achieving godhood. Apostates and murderers go to “outer darkness.”
Hinduism: Reincarnation into a better status if a person has behaved well. If one has been bad, he can be reborn and pay for past sins (bad karma) by suffering.
Transcendental Meditation: Reincarnation based on karma (reaping the consequences of one’s actions) until loss of self into union with Brahman. No heaven or hell.
Buddhism: Reincarnation. People do not have their own individual souls or spirits, but one’s desires and feelings may be reincarnated into another person.
Christian Science: Death is not real. Heaven and hell are states of mind. The way to reach heaven is by attaining harmony (oneness with God).
Unity School of Christianity: Death is a result of wrong thinking. One moves to a different body (reincarnation) until enlightenment. No literal heaven or hell.
Scientology: Hell is a myth, and heaven is a “false dream.”
New Age: Human reincarnations occur until a person reaches oneness with God. No eternal life as a resurrected person. No literal heaven or hell.
Islam: Belief in bodily resurrection. One may pray for and seek favor for the dead before judgment day. Paradise includes a garden with maidens designed by Allah to provide sexual pleasure to righteous men.
Nation of Islam: There is no consciousness or any spiritual existence after death. Heaven and hell are symbols. Statements about the resurrection refer to awakening “mentally dead” people by bringing them true teachings.
This concludes the review of everything that we have covered thus far and now we are ready to begin this week’s comparison.
Of all the world religions we have covered, historic Judaism of the Old Testament is the religion that Christianity traces its roots. Christianity doesn’t remove Judaism; it is its fruit. There is a saying that: “The Old Testament conceals while the New Testament reveals.” For example, things that are hidden in the Old Testament are made very clear in the New Testament. Prophecies that were made hundreds or thousands of years prior in the Old Testament; have come to pass or are still in the process of being fulfilled in the New Testament. The Old Testament covered a person’s sins with the blood of animals while the New Testament abolished a person’s, past, present, and future sins with the blood of Jesus!! As the song says: “What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, Nothing but the blood of Jesus...”
Throughout Judaism’s long history, it has undergone many changes. Sometimes, it has been very close to serving and obeying the true God in spirit and in deed. Then, at other times, Judaism has ranged far from the will of God and His promises to them. During its faithful or unfaithful time, God remained faithful to Israel.
Let’s examine Judaism using the same criteria used on the other religions and cults.
JUDAISM
Founder:
Abraham of the Bible, about 2000 BC, and Moses in the Middle East. There are three branches of Judaism—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform—each having their own beliefs.
Orthodox:
Observes most of the traditional dietary and ceremonial laws of Judaism. It follows the inspiration of the Old Testament, though greater authority is given to the Torah (Law), the first five books of the Bible, than to the rest.
Conservative Judaism:
Strikes a happy medium between Orthodox and Reform. It was founded in the 19th century, the movement gained momentum in Germany and the United States. In 1918, after the Balfour Declaration (which announced Palestine as a home-state for the Jews), they denounced this need and stated that “the mission of the Jew is to witness to God all over the world. They maintained that the Jewish people should be at home in all lands.”
Reform Judaism:
Is the liberal wing of Judaism. The spiritual and religious side of Jewish life are neglected because they focus on the culture and race-oriented side. They assumed that the culture and race-oriented heritage of the Jews produced and molded the religious life, instead of the correct, which is the spiritual and religious side molded the religious life.
Writings:
The Tanakh (Old Testament), and especially the Torah (first five books of the Bible). The sacred Scriptures of Judaism consists of three groups known as the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Writings of sages such as Maimonides. Maimonides was a Spanish Jew who lived in the 12th century and wrote a creed containing basic Jewish beliefs. Some criticized him for it, however, the Traditionalists are following it today.
Here are the thirteen basic beliefs:
- I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the Creator and Guide of everything that has been created; and He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.
- I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is One, and that there is no unity in any manner like unto His, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and will be.
- O believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, and that He is free from all the properties of matter, and that He has not any form whatever.
- I believe with perfect faith that the Creator blessed be His Name, is the first and the last.
- I believe with perfect faith that to the Creator, blessed be His Name, and to Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being besides Him.
- I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
- I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him, was true, and that he was the chief of the prophets, both of those who preceded and of those who followed him.
- I believe with perfect faith that the whole Torah, now in our possession, is the same that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him.
- I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be any other Law from the Creator, blessed be His Name.
- I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, knows every deed of children and men, and all their thoughts, as it is said. It is He that fashioned the hearts of them all, that gives heed to all their works.
- I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them.
- I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; and, though He tarry, I will wait daily for his coming.
- I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His Name, and exalted be His Fame forever and ever. For Thy salvation I hope, O Lord.
God:
The Orthodox Jewish concept of God is based on the Old Testament. “God was not a physical being: He was intangible and invisible. He was the Creator and Ruler, the Judge of the World. He and He alone was truly God; the deities worshipped by peoples other than Israel were not God. To worship anything other than Him was very disrespectful to Him.” To other Jews, God is impersonal, unknowable, and defined in a number of ways. No belief in the Trinity.
Jesus:
Jesus is viewed as either a martyred Jewish rabbi (teacher) or an extremist false messiah. Many Jews do not consider Jesus at all. Except for the Messianic Jews and Hebrew Christians, Jesus is not believed to be the Messiah, Son of God, or that he rose from the dead. The Orthodox Jews believe the Messiah will restore the Jewish kingdom and eventually rule the earth.
Holy Spirit:
Some believe that the Holy Spirit is God’s activity on earth. Others, say that it is God’s power of love.
Salvation:
Judaism has not developed a system of salvation teaching as found in Christianity, even though, it admits the existence of sin; its abhorrence by God and the necessity for atonement. Some Jews believe that prayer, repentance, sacrifices, good deeds, obeying the Law and a little of God’s grace are necessary for salvation. Others believe that salvation is the improvement of society. Judaism holds no concept of original sin. Its emphasis is not on original sin but original virtue and righteousness.
Death:
They believe in a physical resurrection. The obedient will live forever with God, and the unrighteous will suffer. Some Jews do not believe in a conscious life after death.
Other Beliefs:
Jewish Holy Days:
The sacred round is the name given to the cycle of Jewish holy days. These holy days were a reminder of outstanding historical events where God illustrated His covenant with them and for them to show their commitment to Him.
THE SABBATH:
A day of rest, memorializing God’s finished work of creation and later freeing Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. A day of joy, thanksgiving and blessing God for all that He has done.
PASSOVER:
Passover (Pessah), the festival of spring is celebrated one month after Purim [a celebration of deliverance from the evil plot of Haman to commit genocide of the Jewish people during Esther’s time.] It’s a time of celebration as this marks the beginning of harvest. Additionally, there is a deeper meaning revealed in scripture, it represents the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
SHABUOT:
Shabuot or the Feast of Weeks comes seven weeks after Passover. This Feast commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. The farmer during ancient times would bring his first fruits into the Temple on Shabuot and offer them to God. On this day, the Ten Commandments were read and a recitation of the book of Ruth. There is a hidden message here referring to Jesus being the first fruits offering from God.
ROSH HASHANAH:
The meaning of Rosh Hashanah is “head of the year.” Celebrated on the first two days of the month of Tishri (September-October), it is the Jewish New Year. A solemn day when one reflects on the deeds of the past year and the hopes of the coming one.
YOM KIPPUR:
The day of atonement is the holiest day of the year. It is celebrated 10 days after Rosh Hashanah where one tries to reconcile with God by confession of sins. Forgiving and forgetting is the order of the day and problems with enemies must be reconciled before one can be right with God. Fasting is the order of the day because one’s mind is devoted to God on the holiest of days.
SUKKOTH:
Sukkoth is the feast of tabernacles or booths. Started in ancient times, this festival celebrates the gathering of the harvest, and is one of three yearly trips made to the Temple in Jerusalem. It is called tabernacles or booths because people lived in them throughout its duration (Exodus 34:18-26). In modern times, people take their meals in tabernacles rather than living in them for the duration of the feast.
I have been in Israel during the feast of tabernacles or booths and Jews have gathered in Jerusalem from countries all over the world. It is something to see all the nationalities, and colors of Jewish people.
HANUKKAH:
Hanukkah is the only major feast that does not have its source in the Bible. This feast is based upon a story that is recorded in the Apocrypha about the Maccabees. In 167 B.C., Antiochus IV Epiphanes made the worship of Greek gods as the state religion. Judas Maccabee led a small group of Jews in revolt.
Additionally, Antiochus desecrated the Temple by slaughtering a pig in the Holy of Holies. He was overthrown and freedom of religion returned to the land. Hanukkah is a celebration in remembrance of the heroic acts of the Maccabees.
The Menorah, an eight branched candlestick, is an important part of Hanukkah because it commemorates a miracle that took place when the Temple was cleansed from the idolatrous acts of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Legend states that there was only enough holy oil to light the candle for one night. The Jews believe that as a sign that God was pleased with them cleansing the Temple and rededicating it; He miraculously kept the candle burning for eight days and eight nights.
Hanukkah is celebrated close to the Christian Christmas Holiday, they have borrowed some of their ideas, such as giving of gifts (traditionally one gift per child every day for eight nights) and family gatherings. Hanukkah is a very important holiday especially to non-practicing and reform (liberal) Jews.
DOCTRINE:
JUDAISM AND THE MESSIAH:
Judaism has long gone back and forth in its concept of Messiahship while Christianity has at the core of biblical revelation, the promise of a personal, spiritual savior. The meaning of the Messiah has undergone changes over time in Jewish history. Initially, they believed that God would send His messenger to deliver Israel from her enemies and restore freedom and peace. Today, the majority of the Jews have given up on the idea of a personal Messiah. A messianic age has been substituted in its place, where truth and justice are its characteristics.
ORIGINAL SIN:
Judaism has no concept of original sin. Judaism’s emphasis is not on original sin but original virtue and righteousness. In Judaism, there isn’t a sense of man being totally depraved or unworthy as in Christianity, even though it does admit that man does commit acts of sin. Whereas, Christianity teaches that all human beings are born into the world with a sinful nature because of the sin of Adam. (Rom. 5:12-21 Amp.).
In conclusion: Even though there are marked differences in many areas of belief and practice between Judaism and Christianity, there is a thread a common heritage that both religions share. Pinchas Lapide, a Jewish writer puts it very succinctly, he says: “We Jews and Christians are joined in brotherhood at the deepest level, so deep in fact that we have overlooked it and missed the forest of brotherhood for the trees of theology. We have an intellectual and spiritual kinship which goes deeper than dogmatics, hermeneutics, and exegesis.” We are brothers in a manifold “elective affinity:”
- in the belief in one God our Father,
- in the hope of His salvation,
- in ignorance of His ways,
- in humility before His omnipotence,
- in the knowledge that we belong to Him, and He to us,
- in love and reverence for God,
- in doubt about our wavering fidelity,
- in the paradox that we are dust and yet the image of God,
- in the consciousness that God wants us as partners in the sanctification of the world,
- in the condemnation of arrogant religious chauvinism,
- in the conviction that love of God is crippled without love of neighbor,
- in the knowledge that all speech about God must remain in a stammering on our way to Him.”
The Old Testament is a gift that was preserved by the Jews for all mankind that points us, Jews and Gentiles, to Jesus Christ. All, regardless of race, must come to God through Jesus Christ.
Chapter 3 of the book of Galatians details God’s view of Jews and Gentiles today. God’s blessing on the Jews were a means of showing His grace to the Jews. This grace was expressed in the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ, on the cross for the sins of all, not just Jews but Gentiles as well. The gospel was preached before-hand to the father of the Jews, Abraham, and was given to the Gentiles in Jesus Christ. (Gal. 3:8; 3:14 Amp.)
In closing, through these sermons I have tried to show you that there is no religion, cult, or other way to true peace with God except through Galatians 3:26-29 which says: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Jesus Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
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