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Do Jews and Christians Worship the Same God? by Todd Wilken
No. Jews and Christians do not worship the God. The Old Testament people of God did indeed worship the same God Christians worship today. The vast majority of them however, turned away from the true God, though a remnant always remained (Luke 2:25). By the time of Jesus' appearing, His own people were practicing Judaism (a religion formed as much by the Talmud as by the Old Testament), not the true faith of the Old Testament. Jesus says to those Jews (John 8:36-47): "You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus says, No one comes to the Father, but through Me (John 14:6). There is no worship of the true God apart from faith in Jesus. Jews and Christians do not worship the same God. The problem with the Jews was NOT that they "merely" rejected Jesus while retaining the worship of the true God (which is impossible). The problem is that they rejected Jesus precisely BECAUSE they reject the true faith of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus says to them, If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me (John 5:46). There is no worship of the true God apart from faith in Jesus. Jews and Christians do not worship the same God. This is not hyperbole, this is cold, hard Biblical fact. With respect to Jesus, modern day Jews are little different than their New Testament counterparts. They reject him. However, as was also the case in the New Testament, when a Jew is brought to faith in Jesus, he is returned to the faith of the Old (and New) Testament and to worship of the true God. Paul writes (2 Corinthians 3:14-16): Their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Paul knows this and writes (Romans 9:3-8): For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. Jews and Christians do no worship the same God. This is precisely why Jesus, Paul and the Church throughout history have continued to proclaim the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to both Jew and Gentile. This is why Jesus, Paul and the Church throughout history have proclaimed Jesus as the only mediator between God and man, the only name given among me by which we must be saved and the One Who said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one some to the Father except through me." The Rev. Todd Wilken is the Host of Issues, Etc. What's New / Resources / Services / Links / Home |