Episode #410
The Jewish Roots of Our Faith
* Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation focuses on the importance of understanding the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and what it means for Gentile believers to be grafted into the Jewish root. The Family discusses how much of the Christian Church lost its Hebrew foundation early on, especially as Gentile leadership and Greek influence became dominant. The conversation also addresses the need to break down walls between Jews and Gentiles. Rather than accusing one another, both must recognize their need for God, His salvation, and His Kingdom. The Family emphasizes that Christians should approach the Jewish people with humility, love, and a deeper revelation of being connected to them through Christ. At the heart of the discussion is the truth that God is bringing Jews and Gentiles into oneness. The Kingdom of God is not built around religious concepts, traditions, or accusations, but around the Father’s purpose, His salvation, and the revelation of Christ. Show Notes The Family begins by talking about how foundational it is for Christians to understand that the Jewish people are their elder brothers. Being grafted in is not just a doctrine or phrase; it is a revelation that changes how believers see their walk with God. They discuss how the early Christian Church became separated from its Hebrew roots. As Gentile leadership became more dominant, the Scriptures began to be interpreted through Greek philosophy and culture. This caused the Church to lose much of the foundation Christ was teaching. The conversation then moves into the issue of anti-Semitism and misunderstanding. The Family points out that many Christians may not recognize how deeply some wrong thinking has been built into Christian history and tradition. They also discuss salvation from a Jewish perspective. The Jewish people often view salvation in terms of deliverance from enemies, oppression, and the physical realm, while many Western Gentile Christians tend to view salvation mainly as an individual spiritual experience. The Family talks about the Messiah and how the Jewish people continue to look for His coming. They recognize that many Jews did accept Christ, while others did not understand His role as the suffering Messiah. Instead of accusing the Jewish people, the Family emphasizes that Christians have also missed much and must walk humbly. The discussion closes with the recognition that both Jews and Christians are looking for the Kingdom of God. The enemy works to create division, but God is bringing a deeper awareness, preparation, and revelation of His Kingdom. Key Quotes “ There’s something so foundational that Christians need to get.” “ It’s not good enough to say that the Jews are our elder brothers and we’re grafted into them.” “ I really need to know my roots. I need to know my older brothers.” “ We lost the very foundations of what Christ was trying to teach us.” “ We’re coming into a time where the Lord is leading to bring about speaking the truth in love.” “ We are all one.” “ We were grafted in through Christ.” “ We really need to love one another, drop these walls.” “ We’re grafted in as a small part of something that is already a huge tree.” “ Thy kingdom come. Not my concept of the Kingdom, but Your Kingdom come.” Scriptural References Grafted Into the Jewish Root Romans 11 (17–24) Paul describes Gentile believers as wild branches grafted into the cultivated olive tree. This directly supports the conversation about Christians being grafted into the Jewish root and needing humility toward Israel. Abraham’s Covenant Genesis 12 (1–3) God promises Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. This connects to the discussion about the covenant with Abraham and the relationship between Jews, Gentiles, and God’s purpose. Genesis 17 (7) God speaks of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. This supports the discussion about the Jewish people already having a covenant relationship with God. Jews and Gentiles Becoming One Ephesians 2 (14–16) Paul teaches that Christ broke down the dividing wall and made Jews and Gentiles one. This fits the transcript’s emphasis on dropping walls, ending accusation, and coming into oneness. Galatians 3 (28–29) Paul says there is neither Jew nor Greek in Christ, and those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed. This supports the theme of unity through Christ without removing the importance of the Jewish root. The Messiah and Salvation Isaiah 53 (3–6) Isaiah speaks prophetically of the suffering Messiah. This connects to the discussion about the Jewish people not recognizing the suffering Messiah and how Christ had to suffer. Luke 24 (25–27) Jesus explains from Moses and the prophets the things concerning Himself. This supports the point that the prophets pointed to Christ. John 4 (22) Jesus says salvation is from the Jews. This strongly connects to the discussion of the Hebrew foundation of Christianity and the Jewish roots of salvation. The Kingdom of God Matthew 6 (9–10) Jesus teaches the disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come.” This directly connects to Ken’s statement that it is not our concept of the Kingdom, but God’s Kingdom that must come forth. Matthew 25 (1–13) The parable of the wise and foolish virgins connects to the closing point about awareness, preparedness, and having oil in the lamp. Takeaway The Christian faith cannot be fully understood apart from its Jewish root. Gentile believers were grafted into something God had already established through Abraham and the Jewish people. Rather than walking in arrogance, accusation, or separation, believers are called to humility, love, and a deeper revelation of God’s Kingdom....
