I have often quoted this scripture, but not from the perspective of the synagogue of satan and those that claim to be Jews and are not -- but do lie. It is this particular passage that is on my mind today. Note that these very same words are used in Revelation 2:9. Therein, Jesus is still speaking to the churches, stating -- "I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of satan."
When we read the latter part of these scriptures separately, as an instruction in and of itself, what do we understand? For me, the inherent message changes. The "them" referred to here are presenting a blasphemy against the Lord Jesus, when say they are Jews and are not, but are instead the synagogue of satan. Strong language? Perhaps, but it is telling of a modern day religious culture that is pushing the good news gospel of His grace and mercy aside to a return to old covenant law.
This scripture and many others that speak of the Lord's kindness -- "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast" -- are being superseded by a Mosaic Law and commandments that was never given to the Gentiles. We were the uncircumcision as referred to in the scriptures.
"Seeing it is ONE GOD which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith, do we make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" -- the law of faith. (Romans 3:30-31)
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say] at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)
Thus, where is boasting then?
"Thou art inexcusable O man, whosoever thou art that judges, for wherein thou judges another, thou condemns thyself, for thou that judges does the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to the truth against them which commit such things, and think thou this, "O man, that judges them which do such things, and do the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or, despises thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance, and long suffering; not knowing the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:1-5)
In this, we are not seeing ONE GOD which shall justify both the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith, but we are elevating our human selves --as a valid authority to be judge and jury. However, in so doing, we are forgetting who justified us freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. It is through Jesus that righteousness might be imputed unto those who are not circumcised -- "For the promise, that He should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith ... for if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect." (Romans 4:13-14)
It is here that we must recognize that our salvation is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all) ... who against hope believed in hope that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken -- "So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:16-18)
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
"And hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us, for when we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:8)
In other words, God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being now justified by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
"But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on HIM whom He hath sent." (John 6:29)
Jesus also said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. Moses gave you NOT that bread from heaven but My Father gives you the true Bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is He which comes down from heaven and gives life unto the world." (John 6:22-23)
This is why Jesus repeatedly said, "I am THAT Bread of Life" in John 6:35, 48, 51, 58.
The One and Only Bread of Life. Not another as some profess but the One and Only Same God who created us in the beginning loving us enough to willingly become our Saviour (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; Matthew 1:21-23; Titus 3:4-7) One Lord, One Faith One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5-6)
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not ..." (John 1:10-11)
So, instead of making the Word of God of none effect through tradition"which ye have delivered and many such like things ye do," we need to do as Jesus said herein. That is, "Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand!" (Luke 7:13-14)
Hearken unto Jesus for He alone shall save you from your sin. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come into Him and will sup with Him and he with Me. To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:20-21)
But as for those who preach a message that replaces Jesus as the One and Only Bread of Life with a law that was never ever given to the Gentiles -- except as a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" -- they which say they are Jews and are not, but lie --Jesus said, He will make them of the synagogue of satan. (Revelation 3:8-9; Revelation 2:9)
But to us, who understand that we are sinners saved by only by His grace and mercy and love, Jesus is inviting us to the wedding feast. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Stand in the offering plate.
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