Category: born-again Jew

Paul in the Synagogues #7

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

Now, Paul and Barnabas move to another synagogue, with more Jewish resistance in store: “And it came to pass in Iconium [central Turkey], that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:…” (Acts 14:1-6).

Jewish hostility toward Paul continues: “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica [northern Greece], where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people” (Acts 17:1-5).

There is yet more antagonism for Paul to face in synagogues….

Paul in the Synagogues #6

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

The climax of Paul’s sermon in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia in Acts chapter 13 is: “[38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus Christ, verse 23] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: [39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. [40] Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; [41] Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. [42] And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. [43] Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

“[44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. [45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. [47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth…. [50] But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”

Jewish opposition against Paul in the synagogues intensifies again….

Paul in the Synagogues #5

Monday, March 10, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

Almost immediately after his justification and commissioning outside of Damascus, Saul/Paul entered the city’s synagogues to preach (Acts chapter 9, including today’s Scripture). Twice fleeing for his life from the lost Jews who conspired to kill him, he departs both Damascus and Jerusalem. By chapter 13, he launches his first apostolic journey with Barnabas—not missionary journey, but apostolic journey! “And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister” (Acts 13:5).

Paul’s first recorded sermon is in Acts chapter 13, delivered in a synagogue of central Turkey. Read verses 14-16: “But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience….” He proceeds to briefly review Israel’s history, from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob up until David (verses 17-23).

“Of this man’s [that is, David’s] seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:…. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead:…” (verses 23,26-30).

Keep reading Paul’s sermon here….

Paul in the Synagogues #4

Sunday, March 9, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

By heading the persecution of Israel’s believing remnant (the Little Flock of Luke 12:32, the Messianic Church of Matthew 16:18) in Jerusalem or Damascus or anywhere else, Saul of Tarsus (Acts chapters 7 and 8, and even partly into chapter 9) demonstrated how he regarded Jesus of Nazareth as an imposter or false messiah/christ—certainly not “the Son of God.” Now, in today’s Scripture and beyond, he has since been transformed into the Apostle Paul. He preaches the very truths he formerly detested and resisted so mightily. Having abandoned Satan’s “synagogue ministry,” he is now in God’s “synagogue ministry.” Moreover, he is afforded the chance to see just what his victims endured when he was mercilessly hounding them. Apostate Israel turns on him and seeks to take his life on more than one occasion! The same old unbelief from Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew through John) has spilled over into Christ’s heavenly ministry (Paul’s “Acts” ministry).

Keep reading in Acts chapter 9: “[23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: [24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. [25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. [26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. [28] And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. [29] And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians [Greek-speaking Jews]: but they went about to slay him.”

Paul has many more unsettling synagogue visits ahead….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #16

Monday, January 20, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

God has formed—and will form—the nation Israel’s believing remnant to become His earthly people, who will eventually occupy Earth’s governmental offices in accordance with Colossians 1:16-20. This Little Flock includes all believers in Christ from His earthly ministry and early Acts: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). It also involves all believers in Christ during Daniel’s 70th Week (a time after our dispensation ends). Redeemed, believing Israel reigns only when Christ reigns, and that cannot be brought to pass until His Second Coming of Revelation chapter 19.

Observe Revelation 20:4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:9). “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Until believing Israel is redeemed and regathered into the Promised Land to reign with Christ, conditions on Earth will not improve….

NOTE: Happy 45th Spiritual Birthday to my Mom, who will be reading this, and led me to faith in Christ almost 30 years ago!

Note the Horizon! #5

Saturday, October 12, 2024

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,…” (Romans 1:1 KJV).

Friend, do you see the horizon here? How can it facilitate your understanding and enjoyment of the Bible?

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:31,32). Though Israel spoke against the Son of Man (“We have no king but Caesar!;” John 19:15), Christ’s crucifixion was forgiven them (Luke 23:34) and Israel was given a renewed opportunity of repentance during early Acts.

Yet, Israel opposed the Holy Spirit’s ministry through the Little Flock, climaxing with the Prophet Stephen’s sermon (“ye do always resist the Holy Ghost;” Acts 7:51) and his death by stoning (verses 58-60). This blasphemy of the Holy Ghost could not be forgiven. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (verses 55,56). Christ, once seated, was now standing to return and make His enemies/foes His footstool (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:32-36).

Present at Stephen’s murder is a young man, Saul of Tarsus, who also holds the clothes of Stephen’s killers (Acts 7:58). Saul consents to or approves Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1). Years later, now as the Apostle Paul, he recounts for us: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles” (Acts 22:19-21).

With Israel in obstinate unbelief, God raised up a new Apostle, Saul of Tarsus (the leading self-righteous, Christ-rejecting Jew!)….

An Inescapable Testimony #7

Thursday, October 3, 2024

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

At one time or another, we have all been in the situation where someone did not care to hear us share sound Bible doctrine with them. Upon reflection, we grow discouraged. We feel like we did not adequately convey the proper view—and, perhaps, that is so. Or, we suddenly remember additional information we could have offered them that “would have” (or we assume) “convinced them.” Alas, we fail to realize the following: not only must we be equipped with answers, the members of our audience need to have a heart that wishes to receive those answers!

It has been stated, and rightly so, “It is not an evidence problem, but a heart problem.” This dictum explains how the Lord Jesus Christ could work an abundance of miracles for three years, and, yet, receive such negative feedback (unbelief, persecution, intimidation, execution). It describes how He could preach innumerable wise sermons and respond to His critics most skillfully for three years, and still have so few converts (aptly designated “the little flock;” Luke 12:32). John chapter 1, verses 9-12, says about Jesus Christ: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:….”

Despite a believing remnant, most of His listeners were just too comfortable with their lies—and to admit they had been wrong for so long was simply inconceivable. It was not that He did not do enough. It was not that He did not say enough. It was not that the evidence was faulty or nonexistent. Rather, it was the audience had already elected not to believe!

Let us now look at today’s Scripture in this light….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #10

Saturday, September 21, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

Being a “publican” or tax collector, Matthew/Levi was financially able to host a large banquet at his house in Jesus’ honor (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14,15; Luke 5:27-29). Apparently, a great many people attending this feast were Matthew’s friends and/or acquaintances, for the Bible says “publicans and sinners” were present. These were the very societal outcasts, the souls, Christ had come to save. They were the same spiritually-sick people the Great Physician purposed to deliver from their satanic blindness and ignorance: “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31).

The adjective “righteous” in the above three verses designates those who do not regard themselves as sinners. They are thus the self-righteous, those who saw no need for any personal Saviour. In contradistinction to such smugness, the “sinners” who recognized their pitiful and lost estate were continually attracted to the Lord Jesus Christ in large numbers—which only sparked more moans and grumbles from the Jewish “religious” community. “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:1,2).

It is at this point (Luke chapter 15) that Christ issued three parables—The Parable of the Lost Sheep (verses 3-7), The Parable of the Lost Coin (verses 8-10), and The Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son (verses 11-32). Respectively, these apply to Christ’s earthly ministry, the early Acts period, and Daniel’s 70th Week (yet future). In each case, it is a believing remnant in Israel—never the entire nation. That Little Flock will become the new nation Israel, that which is given the New Covenant and filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit….

Old Cloth, Old Garment—New Wine, New Bottles #9

Friday, September 20, 2024

“No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16,17 KJV).

What is our Lord Jesus Christ teaching here?

John the Baptist expected the Pharisees and Sadducees (works-religionists in Judaism) to offer the lame excuse that they needed no repentance (change in mind) or water baptism because of their Jewish heritage. They would say something like, “Abraham is our father, and this alone automatically gives us a right standing before God. We have no sins to confess!” (We infer this based on John’s own words in Matthew 3:9 and Luke 3:8, plus the Apostle John’s comments in 1 John 1:6,8,10.)

While God the Father designed John the Baptist’s ministry to introduce Israel to His Son, Messiah Jesus, some of John’s disciples (followers) never actually transferred to Jesus like those in John 3:26. They joined the unbelieving Pharisees and Sadducees by opposing Him instead of coming to Him by faith (see Matthew 9:14 and Mark 2:18). In Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-20; apostate Israel plots to kill the King so as to take His kingdom (nation Israel) from Him!

The New Covenant cannot be given to lost Israel, for they will not come by faith to the God-Man who can inaugurate that New Covenant via His shed blood. Likewise, if they are not partakers of the New Covenant, they are prohibited from entering His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [unbelieving Israel], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). This “nation” is believing Israel, the Messianic Church, the “little flock” of Luke 12:31,32: “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Again, like today’s Scripture declares, Old Covenant self-righteousness cannot mix with New Covenant righteousness….

No Wedding Garment! #9

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

If Israel will fellowship with JEHOVAH God under the New Covenant, it must be imputed righteousness instead of self-righteousness (The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Matthew 22:1-14). God is calling all Jews in the prophetic program via the Gospel of the Kingdom, but those chosen for service are they who will believe and thus possess His righteousness not self-righteousness (verse 14). Only believing Israel, justified in the Lord because of His righteousness, will be Christ’s wife because they alone have the wedding garment. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [lost Israel, especially religious leaders], and given to a nation [believing remnant, Little Flock of Luke 12:32] bringing forth the fruits [righteousness] thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

Isaiah 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” The Hebrew word rendered “filthy” means “menstruation,” the monthly bleeding of a woman’s reproductive organs. According to the Holy Bible, man’s “very best” is but a soiled sanitary napkin in God’s sight! (How flattering!) Billions upon billions are still struggling in vain to obtain a right standing in God’s court (justification) by offering their “filthy rags.”

Like Adam and Eve, they wear their “fig leaves” hoping to cover their spiritual nakedness—but God is not fooled (Genesis 3:7-11). Following apostate Israel’s example, they use the Law of Moses to prove their supposed “goodness” and “worthiness of Heaven.” Unfortunately for them, God is not impressed… save (except) in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)! Like self-righteous Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) had to learn in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….” May we learn this too!