Leviticus 26

“Yet in spite of this, while they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or abhor them, so as to destroy them and break my covenant with them, since I am the Lord their God.  For their sake, I will remember the covenant with their fathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God; I am the Lord.”  Leviticus 26:44-45 (HCSB)

Recently, I was asked this question by some friends in Hawaii who receive our daily devotions: Do the Jews believe in the same God as Christians?

The question stems from a great theological debate that suggests that since “Non-believing” Jews have rejected Jesus (Yeshua), they are not accepting the “wholeness of God.” Thus, the God whom non-believing Jews accept is not the same as the God Christians believe in. By not receiving the Tri-unity of God, they definitely do not understand Him as they should, i.e., as He designates for all people to know Him.

The New Testament, speaking of Jesus, informs us that there is “no other name under Heaven by which men must be saved.” Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father except through me.” Whether Jew or Gentile, accepting Messiah Jesus is the essential component of Salvation. The first chapter of John speaks clearly of Jesus’ deity. In that sense, knowing Who Jesus is brings the essential understanding of Who God is.

But since Jesus is a member of the Trinity (God’s existence as three “Persons”), wasn’t He present when God spoke these (above) words to Moses?

The “Christian” understanding of Israel’s understanding of God takes a back seat to God’s understanding of His plan for the redemption of Israel (and the redemption of the nations, as well). This was the basis for Paul’s message to the Roman Messianic (Christian) congregation.

“I ask, then, have they (Israel) stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring? Now I am speaking to you, Gentiles.  In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my own ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their being rejected is world reconciliation, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”  Romans 11:11-15

God’s covenant with Israel is with those who, by faith, believe. His faithfulness is the foundation for the security of our salvation. Perhaps a more important question than, “Do Jews believe in the same God as the Christians?” is the question: Does the God of all creation keep His covenants, and did He fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Messiah Jesus? Scripture testifies that He did.