May 2009

In his discussion about the futility of trying to gain merit with God through law-keeping, the Apostle Paul (Rabbi Shaul) wrote that it is through Messiah Yeshua that the “blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles” (Galatians 3:14).
 
Later in this same chapter of Galatians [v.28] Paul says that there is “neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua). And if you are Christ’s (Messiah’s), then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”

It seems obvious that Paul is not negating ethnic or gender realities - and in the context of his time, he also acknowledges the fact that slavery was a functioning institution. His point was simply that these categories are not significant in terms of one’s standing before God. All are lost in sin, and all need salvation which is available through Messiah Jesus alone.

When Paul wrote to the believers in ancient Ephesus he said that it was always God’s plan to bring both Jew and Gentile together as one. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two…” (Ephesians 2:13-15).

Jew and Gentile alike stand equal before God, and all alike must come to God in the same way - through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the long-promised Messiah of Israel and the Savior of all who believe in him.

We’d love to discuss this further. Leave and comment and begin the conversation.

As I stepped out of my car one morning, upon arriving at work, I heard a voice calling to me. I turned to see a young Jewish man (a Lubavitcher as I learned later) approaching me.

“What kind of a place is this? It looks like a synagogue, but any knowledgeable Jew would know that a synagogue would not have the words “New Covenant” in their name, unless they attended a synagogue like _______ (he named a large reform synagogue). But then, those are probably the Jews you are targeting.”

“Oh, targeting Jews,” I responded. “Well, if you know anything at all about evangelical Christians, you will know that we ‘target’ the whole world. We are interested in talking about Jesus with anyone who is open to speaking with us.” I then went on to explain that many evangelical ministries focus on specific people groups, and that the ministry I represented was committed to sharing the gospel with anyone, giving a particular focus to the Jewish community.

We often face objections from both Jews and non-Jews about our desire to explain the gospel to Jewish people. But we are convinced that Christians have a responsibility to share their faith with everyone, including the Jewish community.

The New Testament Scriptures are clear, all people should hear the gospel. It was Jesus himself who commissioned his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” [Matthew 28:19 NIV*] The Apostle Paul (the former Rabbi Shaul before coming to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Savior) wrote:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (gentile).” [Romans 1:16 NIV]

There was no question in Paul’s mind but that the gospel message - salvation, the forgiveness of sins - is a message that must be shared with all, beginning with the Jewish community. How tragic it would be if we failed to share the message of Messiah Jesus with those who have been “entrusted with the very words of God” [Romans 3:2 NIV].

While we ”target” Jews no more than any other people group - we speak with far more Gentiles than Jews - we make no apology for seeking to “Encourage Conversation about Jesus” with the Jewish people we meet.

Without reservation we believe Jesus is our only hope of salvation. It was the Apostle Peter (a Jewish believer in Jesus) who declared to the Jewish religious leaders of his day:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:12 NIV].

As long as God gives us the ability, we will share this wonderful news of salvation in Yeshua (Jesus) with everyone who is willing to listen, including Jewish people.

We’d love to talk about this with you.

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NIV = The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.