Are the Jews favored by God over other races/religions?

Question

My friend said that God has an eternal covenant with them that holds them above the other "beasts" of the earth (non-Jews). Isnt this clearly spelled out in the old testament. Are Christians following a God that makes them second class citizens?

Answer 1

Not at all. The scripture does not say that, and never has. Early Xtian scholars manipulated it to say that, however, in their personal translations to try to get their followers to hate Jews.

The Jews are G-d's 'chosen people' only because they chose to follow the Torah, becoming 'chosen.' We're not any better or worse than any other people, nor any more special. We have a covenant with G-d because we accepted one--but that does not mean G-d does not love other people just as much as He loves us. The covenant is simply the 613 rules we have to follow. Non-Jews have 7. Jews have 613. That is the covenant.

Peace

Answer 2

God does not love Jews more than other groups of peoples (tribes, nations, ethnicities). For the record there currently is only one race of humans. Humans come in several colors, statures, etc but only one race. It is still theory that there ever has been other "races" of humans in history. What we do know for sure is that there have been and are quite a few races of primates. But I digress. Think on it this way, IF you have 7 brothers, someone in your family would be the first born son, right? Okay, in the tradition/culture of the ancient world, the firstborn son had responsibilities to the ageing parents, sometimes grandparents, younger siblings (birth control hadn't been invented yet) and if the Dad died, to the younger sisters and mother. It was the exception, not the rule that othere than the eldest son inherited more to go with his added responsibilities. That does not mean that the parents loved the first born best/most but he'd been raised to know and do that job. Jews are like that in the scheme of mankind. They were created out of all the nations, to be a people specifically for God. It's not that no one else could know God, or have a relationship with Him. The Jews were like "first born" and added responsibility was put on them. So, when Jesus came, he came to the Jew first. The same Bible that tells of Jesus, have the four gospels and Acts and all the rest tells of Jesus taking the time to meet and reveal himself as Messiah to the Samaritan (considered half-breeds) woman. Jesus exclaims how great is the faith of the Centurion (a Gentile aka non-Jew) and assorted other incidents. Peter is sent specifically to a house of non-Jewish people and then witnesses the Holy Spirit being given to them also (by faith in Jesus) just to make clear they ARE equal. Paul's entire ministry outside of Jerusalem is because God does not favour Jews over others. Do Jews need Jesus? For what? For salvation? Yes, of course. Is Messianic Judaism fake? Some Messianic Jews are. Some aren't. Same as non-Messianic Jews, some are fake and some aren't. Same as a great many Christians are nothing of the kind but there sure have been some real ones and still will be some real ones all the way up to the end.

Answer 3

Context is the key my friend. When there were no believers in the Almighty and the Jewish folks were the only ones who were obeying the Almighty Lord, then they were indeed the only Chosen Ones, when most of the Old Testament books were written.

Slowly the works of Abraham and Moses were offered by the Holy One to the other nations and many of them adapted the higher path of morality.

If all Jews were chosen, then why did the Lord deliver Jerusalem to the Romans and had the temple destroyed? Why did the good Lord not support the Jewish people during the Holocaust? Would you deliver your good child to the hoodlum because he misbehaves? Nebuchanedzzar held the entire nation of Israel prisoner for a while until Cyrus the Great freed them. Pharoah held the Israelites as his slaves for four hundred years until Moses saved them.

In contrast, Moses was chosen over the Phraoh. Joshua chosen over the people who resided in the area on the West of the Jordan river. David was chosen over the Philistines who fought him. The godly were always chosen over the ungodly. When the godly went awry, only then the ungodly were give power over those of the godly who went off on a tangent away from obedience to the Lord.

So, ultimately there is no carte blanch given to anyone. The Godly are always given preference over the ungodly, and the morally superior always win over the morally inferior.

THAT is the only consistent law through the ages. God has never given success to a product based on the label, but by the produce.

If I filled dirty water that looks like Coke in a coke bottle with aCoke label on it, it does not make it a Coke. Similarly if the God's Chosen are not following the laws of the Almighty, then they are not chosen either in my understanding.

If not, the Lord would be a great wrong doer to give Israelites to the Pharoah or Nebuchanedzar etc. If the Jewish people repent and come back to the path of obedience and humility, they have been blessed time and again.

The same is true for anyone who is obedient to the Most High. Noah was not Jewish, but he was one of those who was chosen to save all of mankind!!

I rest my case!!

Answer 4

They have a unique and distictive relationship with God and have been promised Israel and have a covenant. No, I don't think it makes anyone a second-class citizen. Some fundamentalist Christians claim that Muslims, Jews and other non-Christians will burn in hell for not believing in Jesus as the Messiah. They believe there is a place in heaven for all Gentiles if they sign and follow an agreement about the Noahide Laws. Who is being intolerant here? Us Christians (it's in our history) not Jews.

Answer 5

The covenant was established when Abraham was willing to give his only son back to God through sacrifice. Because of that willingness to obey God , God sent His only Son to save the Jews. Even when they rejected Him God said that they would be Gathered In at the end because God NEVER breaks his covenants.

Answer 6

the covenant finish after Jesus death if you read Matthew 23:37-38 you see how Jesus told that they were abandon.

Also the book of Acts 10.34-35 says that Gos is not partial with any nation.

and Ephesians 2:15 says that the covenant is over.

the covenant finished Three years and a half after Jesus´s death according to Daniel 9:24-27.

Answer 7

No.

Romans 2:28 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Colossians 3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

Galatians 3:28 “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 3:29 “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:14 “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Romans 10:12 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Romans 3:9 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;”

There are NO differences in the eyes of GOD between Jews and Gentiles!

GOD bless

Answer 8

Rather than producing the fruitage of true worship, Israel fell into apostasy and produced fruit for itself. Three days before his final meeting with his faithful disciples, Jesus told the hypocritical Jewish leaders: “I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matthew 21:43)
The Natural Jews had a Chance and lost out on it when they finally had the Anointed of God Killed.

Answer 9

Your friend is right. It is not because Jews are any better, but because of sovereignty of God who chose to reveal Himself through that race. Still there is another covenant in operation at present which is open to all races. Are you a part of it?

Answer 10

First to the Jew and then the Gentile

Romans 1:15-17 (King James Version)


15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.