Question:

I'm confused.  I know that Christianity is pure paganism.  I still believe that Yeshua ben Josef from Nazaret is not only the Messiah, but he is God.  Not the second part of a three-part-God, but God himself.  I am looked down upon because of my belief.  I have been buried by my family, and the other Jews through out the world that I communicate with via internet do not consider me a Jew any more, even though I am more orthodox in my observance of Judaism then most of them are.  The Christians do not accept me either because of the way I feel about their faith.  I believe that God gave his life to forgive me and gave me the ability to obey his law without breaking the smallest of his commandments.  Why is Judaism so unforgiving?

Answer:

Judaism teaches of forgiveness and a wonderful salvation program based on the Bible.  From your letter, however, it is quite clear that the reason you are not forgiven is because you have not sought forgiveness.  You must first lament of this iniquity and turn back to the One God of Israel for His precious life-giving atonement. 

There is no greater iniquity in the Bible than idolatry.  Scripture refers to this act as spiritual adultery.  This is the very first of the
ten commandments. 

Moreover, the Bible warns us that the Almighty does not have human features. 

Over and over again, the Merciful One warns the Jewish people not to follow other gods.  Assyria exiled the ten northern tribes, which comprised the Kingdom of Israel, 2,700 years ago as a result of this sin.  The prophet Hosea warned them that worshiping anything but the God of Israel would lead to their demise -- and it did.  There is, however, wonderful news here.  Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah.

In his uplifting sermon, the prophet promises that repentance alone atones for sin.  This is Judaism.

I find it difficult to understand why you have chosen this belief when John's Jesus says,

I have enclosed some Bible references for you to study. 

If you are not sure Who the God of Israel is, the Bible gives us a hint in this matter.  Scripture warns us that one day you will worship other gods that your fathers did not know (Deuteronomy 28) and this iniquity will bring about national disaster.  So ask yourself this question.  "Did my great grandfather worship Jesus (or Yeshua ben Josef) as God?"  If the answer to that question is "no" then it is time to come home to your God and your people. 

I look forward to welcoming you. 

Yours,

Rabbi Tovia Singer

List of Bible References:

Exodus 20:2-3 -- The first of the Ten Commandments

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, and of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before Me. (see also Deuteronomy 5:7)

Deuteronomy 4:11-12

You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.  Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire.  You heard the sound of words but saw no image; there was only a voice.

Deuteronomy 4:35

You are the ones who have been shown, so that you will know that God is the Supreme Being, and there is none other besides Him!

Deuteronomy 4:39

Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other!

Deuteronomy 6:14

You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you!

Deuteronomy 32:39

See, now, that I, I am He -- and no god is with Me . . . .

I Samuel 2:2

There is none holy as the Lord.  There is none beside Thee; neither is there any Rock like our God.

I Kings 8:27

For will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have built?

I Kings 8:60

So that all the nations of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other!

II Kings 19:19

Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God. (see also Psalm 113:5)

Isaiah 40:18

To whom then will you liken God?  To what likeness will you compare Him?

Isaiah 40:25

"To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be his equal?" says the Holy One.

Isaiah 42:8

I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images!

Isaiah 43:10-11

"You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.  Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me.  I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior."

Isaiah 44:6-8

This is what the Lord says, Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, "I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God!  Who then is like Me?  Let him proclaim it.  Let him declare it and lay it out before Me . . . .  Do not tremble, do not be afraid.  Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?  You are My witnesses.  Is there any God besides Me?  No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."

Isaiah 44:24

Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer, the One who formed you from the womb, "I am the Lord Who makes everything, Who stretched forth the heavens alone, Who spread out the earth by Myself."

Isaiah 45:5-6

I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God . . . .  I will strengthen you . . . in order that they know from the shining of the sun and from the west that there is no one besides Me; I am the Lord and there is no other!

Isaiah 45:21-22

. . . Who announced this from before, who declared it from the distant past?  Is it not I, the Lord, and there is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but Me.  Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other!

Isaiah 46:5

To whom shall you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me that we may be alike?

Isaiah 46:9

Remember the first things of old, that I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me.

Isaiah 48:11

. . . and My honor I will not give to another.

Hosea 13:4

I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of Egypt.  You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me!

Joel 2:27

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and I am the Lord your God, there is no other; and My people shall never be ashamed.

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one Father?  Has not one God created us?  Why should we betray, each one his brother, to profane the covenant of our forefathers?

Psalm 73:25

Whom have I in heaven but You?  The earth has nothing I desire besides You.

Psalm 81:8-9

Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me!  Let there be no strange god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god.

Nehemiah 9:6

You alone are the Lord; You made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens and all their host, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them, and You give life to all, and the heavenly host bow down before You.

I Chronicles 17:20

O Lord, there is none like You, neither is there any God beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears!

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