From: tom@tredysvr.Tredydev.Unisys.COM (Tom Albrecht)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Re: Clean And Unclean Un / Maccoby book
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:06:18 GMT
Organization: Unisys, Applied Technology, Malvern, PA

Did I hear my initials mentioned? :-)

In article <1992Sep1.085324.16958@pbs.org> btiffany@pbs.org writes:
>
>I have noticed in western Christianity (or at least much of what I've seen
>in America) this peculiar idea that people will be condemned for rejecting
>Yeshua.  ...

I believe this is an artifact of the significant influence of Arminianism
in American Christianity.  It is based on an unbiblical view of our
condition and Christ's atonement for the sins of His people.

>This seemingly insignificant detail -- admittedly a fine line of distinction --
>has led folks like TA to develop a false doctrine which would have us believe
>that Israel (or the generation of Jews alive at the time Messiah first came
>and laid down His life as a willing sacrifice) was destroyed by God for
>rejecting Messiah.  ...

It is indeed a fine line -- and an unbiblical fine line.  What saith the
Scriptures?

  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone
  which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner:
  this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and
  given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever
  it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
  And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they
  perceived that he spake of them.
  But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude,
  because they took him for a prophet.  (Matt. 21:42-46).

  And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a
  vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and
  built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might
  receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
  And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
  And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones,
  and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
  And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating
  some, and killing some.
  Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto
  them, saying, They will reverence my son.
  But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let
  us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
  And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
  What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and
  destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders
  rejected is become the head of the corner:
  This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew
  that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went
  their way.  (Mark 12:1-12)

The supreme act of disobedience against the law of God was rejection of
Messiah.  It still is.  Disobedience is just one sin, however.  Bruce it
right, people are already condemned for their sin.  We are sinners by
nature, and unless and until the Holy Spirit turns our hearts of stone into
flesh, we will remain in our sin.  Messiah Jesus has come to take away the
sin of His people.

But there is sometimes temporal punishment associated with particular sin,
especially the sin of the people.  Read the blessings and curses of
Deuternomy 28.  For one can read those verses and deny that God methodology
is based on cause and effect.  Israel suffered temporal punishment at the
hands of the Babylonians for their sin of worshipping other gods under the
kings.  I believe Jesus taught parabolically that they would also suffered
temporal punishment as a nation for their corporate sin of rejecting
Messiah.

This is not false doctrine, at least not from the Bible's standpoint. 
Possibly from the MJ's.

-- 
Tom Albrecht