Isaiah 45:15-25 declares that the God of Israel is the one true God, the only source of salvation. Anything else that humans might worship is something created by God. One day everyone will submit to God.
Christians and Jews agree on these things when they read Isaiah 45.. But there also are differences in the way they understand this passage.
For Christians the one God is triune. The passage emphasizes salvation, and Yeshua, the Hebrew name of Jesus, means salvation. Christians have always affirmed that one day all will submit to God by submitting to Jesus (Phil 2:9-11).
Jews disagree, and in response to persecution by Christians have sometimes identified the "wooden idols" and "god that cannot save" in verse 20 with the cross and Jesus.
In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on February 21, 2026, Kyle Kettering discussed the relationship between these two religions that have a tremendous amount in common along with important differences. He posted a quote from Daniel Boyarin: "Judaism in all its forms and Christianity in all its forms were part of one complex religious family, twins in a womb, contending with each other for identity and precedence, but sharing to a large extent the same spiritual food, as well."
Christians from the nations owe much to the Jewish people, as the apostle Paul reminded his congregations (Eph 2:1-13; Rom 1:17-24). Paul also foresaw a reconciliation between these brother religions in the future (Rom 11:25-36). In the meantime, Christians can promote reconciliation by loving the Jewish people.
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