This morning as I was coming here, I was listening to a Christian song. It was an old country and Western song that said in the olden days when we used to worship the Lord, we gathered together regardless of denomination or congregation, equally united in worshiping the Lord. While I understand where that singer is coming from in his US background, I was led to think all the way back to the church immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, where they followed and were led by the Holy Spirit and nobody was offended because the Lord said so. Today, however, you find beautiful churches with smoke machines, yet an endless number of denominations exist where each is offended by the other or offended by what God said. If God says something is wrong and you are offended by that, you must check your life to see whether you are for God or against God. If you find yourself getting offended by what God has said, run to Him, renew your mind, and let the Holy Spirit teach you.
I was also thinking about anti-Semitism on the rise among Christians—the so-called Jew hatred. If you know who Hitler was, he was a Christian, and I would not want to be in the same boat he was in. We need to understand what God has said, avoid taking offense, and repent if these things offend us lest we be destroyed, for Jesus said, “Blessed is he that is not offended because of me”.
The word “Jew” comes from the tribe of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The term originates from *Yehudi* or *Yehuda*, meaning a member of the tribe of Judah or a citizen of the ancient kingdom of Judah, which entered English through Old French around 1000 AD. Today, everyone in the modern state of Israel is referred to as Jews, but we must understand what the Bible says about them. A Punjabi, a Malayali, and a Tamilian are all Indians, but not all Indians are Punjabis, Malayalis, or Tamilians. Similarly, you need to understand what a Jew is versus what an Israelite is.
In 1 Kings 12:1-20, following the death of King Solomon, Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom (called Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (called Judah). Though “Jews” technically refers to the Southern Kingdom, the term has come to substitute for all people in the state of Israel. Spiritually, you and I are Israel. Our salvation and hope come from Israel.
When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” what was finished? God gave a certificate of divorce to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for persistent idolatry (Jeremiah 3:6-10), but He did not permanently divorce the Southern Kingdom of Judah due to His unconditional promise to David. Under Deuteronomy 24, a man who divorces his wife cannot take her back once she marries another, and marriage is valid until death. When Jesus died on the cross, He gathered Israel back and opened the invitation for us to be grafted in. Galatians 3:13 states that the blessing of Abraham has come upon us through the cross, removing the curse of separation.
In Ezekiel, God promises to gather His people from among the nations, give them a new heart, and make them a new creation in Christ where there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Galatians 3:29 states that if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. If we sin, 1 John 2:1-2 reminds us that we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ.
We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Hebrews 12:14 warns us not to be defiled by unforgiveness or offense. Two days ago, I accidentally stepped on my cat, which caused a chain reaction of anger, illustrating how people sometimes place more importance on animals than humans. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve; homosexuality and perversion are sins, but if we repent and draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
Understanding context is key. The Bible was written *for* us, but not *to* us. Without context, we manufacture false doctrines. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”. Right godly thinking produces right godly fruit. Romans 12:3 instructs us to think soberly according to the measure of faith God has dealt. Low self-estimation causes “fakery bakery” and lying, leading to a false life. 1 Peter 5:6 instructs us to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand so He may exalt us in due time. Renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2) leads to correct believing, right understanding, faith, hope, love, and right living.
In Psalm 22:6, a prophetic insight into the crucifixion, Jesus says, “But I am a worm and no man”. The Hebrew word used for worm is *Tola*, an insect harvested from oak trees in Israel to produce a permanent deep red dye. Isaiah 1:18 uses this same word: “Though your sins are like scarlet… though they are red like crimson (*tola*), they shall be as wool”. When the *tola* insect dies, its red color turns white after three days. This is not a description of low self-worth or dirt, but a symbol of sacrifice and purification. *Tola* is also used as a respectable proper name in Genesis 46:13 and Judges 10:1. Through Christ (Philippians 4:13), our sins are washed whiter than snow.
As 1 Peter 2:9-10 declares, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own special people. You were once not a people, but now you have obtained mercy. Do not call yourself a worthless worm; your sins have been washed white by Jesus.
**Explainer Breakdown: Key Sermon Concepts**
* **Context & Audience**: The Bible was recorded for our ultimate benefit, but it was addressed to ancient cultures with distinct worldviews. Projecting modern assumptions creates flawed theology.
* **The Divided Kingdom**: The word “Jew” derives from *Yehudi* (member of the tribe of Judah). Following King Solomon’s death, Israel split into the Northern Kingdom (ten tribes) and Southern Kingdom (Judah and Benjamin).
* **Rejecting Replacement Theology**: God divorced the Northern Kingdom due to unrepentant idolatry. Under Deuteronomy 24, a divorced spouse could not be taken back unless death occurred. Jesus’ death fulfilled this legal requirement, allowing dispersed Israel and Gentiles to be gathered and grafted back in.
* **The Crimson Worm (*Tola*)**: In Psalm 22:6, “worm” refers to the *Tola* insect, the source of ancient royal scarlet dye. The insect’s stain turns white three days after death, mirroring Isaiah 1:18 and the resurrection. It signifies high-value sacrifice rather than worthlessness.
* **Rejecting False Humility**: Proverbs 23:7 teaches that a person becomes what they think in their heart. Harboring low self-worth leads to “fakery bakery” and dishonest living.
* **Embracing New Identity**: Believers are called to align their thinking with 1 Peter 2:9-10 as a chosen generation, royal priesthood, and holy nation.
The Orientation Session. Edited. A playlist on YouTube.
**Closing Exhortation & Benediction**
Ezekiel 11 promises that God will give His people a new heart and put a new spirit within them. In Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and we are called to glorify God in body and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As Joshua and Caleb declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.
If you are Christ’s, you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). Keep your eyes set on things above, looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ. If you have been living in pretense, repent and turn to God with truth in your inner being (Psalm 51:6). May the love of God the Father, the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit guide, strengthen, and quicken you in Jesus’ name. Amen.