Let God Be True

As we celebrate our Lord’s birth, the world is awash once again with antisemitism. Historically, “Semitic comes from Shem, one of Noah’s sons, and included all who spoke Semitic languages such as Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, and Amharic.” (Microsoft Copilot) More recently, the term Semitic lost its linguistic sense and now refers to the Jewish race. This transition is unfortunate and has given rise to antisemitism. The Church of Alexandria, Egypt, was partly responsible for this transition with its teaching of Replacement Theology, i.e., the Church replaces Israel in God’s redemptive program. The Reformation only partly moderated this view. Yet it persists in some denominations today.

A consistently literal interpretation of Scripture demonstrates that Replacement Theology is false. Take, for instance, Paul’s statement:

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. . .( Rom 3:1-4)

Later in the same epistle, he wrote:

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 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. (Rom 9:1-5)

In Replacement Theology, the New Covenant replaces the original covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. This makes God a liar when He ratified the Old Covenant. Careful reading of Jeremiah 31:31-34 demonstrates that the New Covenant does not replace the Old Covenant but changes it.

The Hebrew term for “new” is Chadash. It can mean never existing before or new in the sense of refreshed or renewed. (OT:2319 Strong’s) In English, when we speak of a “new moon,” we do not mean that the moon never existed before. The term ” Chadash” is used in the exact phrase seventeen times in the Old Testament.

In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught:

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. (Matt 5:17-19)

As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we recognize God’s faithfulness when He promised that Christ would be born a Jew. Antisemitism is anti-Christ. Praise God for His faithfulness. Merry Christmas.