Lumbley Library on John Hagee- Part Three

Let’s continue with Hagee’s interview.

“Something that is cast away disappears forever. Israel is alive. Israel is thriving. Israel is growing. Israel and the Jewish people have not been cast away by God! Paul makes the statement that “God has not cast away Israel” twice. Romans is a post-Calvary document in which St. Paul states, in 11:5, “even so at this present time there is a remnant [a surviving group of Jewish people] according to the election of grace.” That means very simply that there are Jewish people right now who have favor with God by the election of grace.”

I hope you are seeing the deception here because it is classic false teaching. What Hagee is saying is true. It is in the Bible, but it is not the complete truth. It is only partially true because it is taken out of context. This is the exact type of teaching that leads people to embrace false doctrine. Most people will read this or listen to Hagee say this and they will think to themselves ‘yes, that’s in the bible’. They will remember reading those words somewhere and because of that they will accept it as true doctrine, but they are being led astray.

So, again Hagee is correct in stating that there is at this present time a remnant according to the election of grace.

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom 11:2-5

So far so good right? There was at that time, and still is today a remnant of physical Jews who were in covenant with God according to grace. Paul was one of those Jews. So was Peter, and John, and Andrew, and all the other apostles. In fact all of the original disciples were physical Jews and were also elect according to grace. And how were those Jewish believers able to enter into a covenant of grace? Were they born into that covenant or did they enter into it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 9:31-33

Clearly, the stumbling stone and rock of offense to which Paul refers is Christ. But here is where Hagee walks off the cliff.

“That means very simply that there are Jewish people right now who have favor with God by the election of grace.”

His definition of the favorable grace of God is far different that what Paul is describing. If you don’t believe me just look at what he says next.

“What is going to happen when Jesus comes back? Every Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the messiah. The Jewish people do not believe that. In that regard we have to agree to disagree. I say to my rabbi friends: “You don’t believe it; I do believe it. When we’re standing in Jerusalem, and the messiah is coming down the street, one of us is going to have a very major theological adjustment to make. But until that time, let’s walk together in support of Israel and in defense of the Jewish people, because Israel needs our help.”

This is a truly astounding statement from someone claiming to be an evangelical. To say that I believe in Jesus and you don’t so we’ll just agree to disagree is an absolute abrogation of Jesus command to go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature. Hagee is proposing that the election of grace spoken of by Paul is separate from the covenant of grace established by the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This, my friends is blatant heresy. Let’s go back to chapter 10 of Romans to see exactly what grace Paul was talking about.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Rom 10:1-2

This is still true today for many Jews. They have a zeal for God but it is a zeal without knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Rom 10:3-4

Does this say that Christ is the end of the law for some who believe? Does he say that Christ is the end of the law for every one who believes except a remnant of Jews to whom God has imputed righteousness outside of a belief in Him?

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 10:9-11

Whosoever would seem to include Jews and gentiles wouldn’t it? Now here’s the clincher.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:12

How difficult is that to understand? There is no difference between Jew and Greek (gentile). No difference means no difference doesn’t it? There is no difference in the requirements for Jew or gentile. Both are required to come by way of calling upon the name of the Lord.

Now then Mr. Hagee, take a real close look at the next verse!

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:14

How shall they enter into that covenant of grace if they don’t believe? And how shall they believe, Mr. Hagee, if you don’t tell them?

As stated earlier, the words quoted from Hagee came from a recent interview with the Jerusalem Post but it is a fact that Hagee has taught this heretical interpretation of Romans for years. In a ministry magazine available on his own website Hagee includes an interview with two B.B.C. reporters in 2002 in which he uses almost identical words to justify his support of Israel.

BBC REPORTER 1: And conversion before the coming of the Messiah is not on your agenda?

PASTOR HAGEE: If a Jewish person asks me about what it requires to be a Christian, I’m delighted to tell them. But I do not target Jewish people for salvation.

BBC REPORTER 1: Couldn’t be clearer. Excellent.

BBC REPORTER 2: Very, very, very interesting.
(from page 19 of JHMagazine Special Edition Summer 2002)
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Steve’s conclusion arrives in Part Four in two days.