From a general point of view, Christians and Jews are regarded as similar but not the same. I often find that most people are unaware that “the Jew” as a single identity does not truly exist. Within Judaism, there are many different denominations. There are even Messianic Jews who have also accepted our Saviour. However, all of these belief systems are entirely man-made and not in harmony with the Bible.
The Holy Scriptures consistently distinguish between two groups: God’s people (faithful followers) and idolaters (all others). Whether we call ourselves Orthodox Jews, Messianic Jews, Catholic Christians, Protestant Christians, or anything else, it does not matter to God or His Son. Our Saviour does not care in which group we feel most at home—so long as we sincerely follow Him.
In the Holy Scriptures, God’s people are, after King Solomon’s reign, divided into two camps: ten tribes in the northern kingdom (House of Israel) and two tribes in the southern kingdom (House of Judah). Over time, only the southern kingdom remained as a recognisable group. Their brothers from the northern kingdom intermingled with other peoples and thus became lost.
Jesus was born in the southern kingdom and first taught them. But when they did not accept Him, He said:
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
(John 10:16, Luther 1545)
When Jesus speaks of sheep not of this fold, He refers to the lost northern kingdom. We also find confirmation of this in Scripture:
“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
(Matthew 24:31, Luther 1545)“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
(Revelation 7:9, Luther 1545)
From a biblical standpoint, there is no fundamental difference between Jew and Christian. Already in the books of the minor prophets it is foretold that both houses will be reunited into one people.
Historically, too, there is no distinction between Jews and Christians. As mentioned, our Saviour was born into the tribe of Judah. His disciples—including more than just the well-known twelve—were Jews as well. Jesus and later the apostles preached in Jewish synagogues. Their lifestyle was what we would today label as “typically Jewish.”
In the early Christian community of the first century A.D., those who chose to follow Jesus effectively chose a denomination within Judaism. Because this group taught certain distinct doctrines, they were referred to as a sect. Today, the word “sect” carries a negative connotation, but originally it simply meant:
“A smaller religious community that split off from a larger religious group because it emphasised different positions than the original community.”
(Duden Online, accessed 18 March 2023, 21:46)
If you watch a documentary or read an entry in a Bible lexicon, you’ll find that there is no debate on this point: the first Christians were Jews. In this sense, there is no essential difference between Jews and Christians. Strictly speaking, there is only one people of God, among whom no distinction is made based on ancestry.
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