Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Do Jews need Jesus? Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 06:32:14 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 127 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I read this the other morning: If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.(Gal 5:15) I don't want to do that. I do want to state that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2, John 3:16...) and this DOES include our Jewish brothers and sisters. Jeff said to Bruce: >With all due respect, Bruce, your opinion on how I derive my beliefs regarding >the salvation of the Jews, is only an opinion. It is quite obvious that >we both interpret scripture differently on this topic. I believe that the >Jews are saved by their original convenant with God, and you do not. >Let's just say that we agree to disagree on this matter. No matter how many >scriptural quotes you offer to me to convince me of your beliefs will not >change my beliefs. Similarily, I could quote passages supporting my >position, but you would most likely remain steadfast in your beliefs. >-Jeff Fields Basic Christian doctrine states that we all are sinners, and that it is only through Messiahs blood that we are fully atoned for in G-ds sight. We are saved through Grace and not works. No exceptions!! As far as Christian doctrine goes, Jesus was the only person to fulfill the law. Everyone else has failed. We are not able to live up to the law. But the law reveals to us that we are sinners in need of a saviour. My statement was not intended to state "you" were self-righteous, but that the view,-"they are able to be right before a Holy G-d without His help, through being a good person, and following Gods Laws", is one of being righteous by ones self. The "I can do it on my own through good works" Theology. Or even the "I'm Jewish so I'm saved..." line. Even John the Baptist said "Do not think you can say to yourselves "we have Abraham as our father." I tell you out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham." (Matt 3:9) ******************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ******************* The following is some background on why I believe ALL people, including Jewish men and women, need Messiah Jesus. There is much more but I have little time. This may offend some readers, so you may wish to exit this article. All Scripture reference are from the NIV. ******************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ******************* John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." In Galatians 3:29 we are told if a law could have been given that could impart life, then righteousness would have come by the law. But Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, held prisoner by the law(3:23). The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith(3:24). Hebrews 8:6 says "But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises.7For if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, no place would have been sought for another." Look at the NEW COVENANT and see who it was proclaimed to. Jeremiah 31:31 says "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant," This isn't a new concept. Look in the book of HEBREWS and it explains this much better than I ever could. And the book of HEBREWS was written to the Hebrew Christians of the day. We read in Galatians 2:16, "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ...and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Also in Gal 2:21, "for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" In ACTS 2:14 Peter addresses the crowd by saying "Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem" and in verse 22, "men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus...was a man accredited by God to you by miracles..." and again in verse 36, "Therfore let all Israel be assured of this:God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Finally he said to his Jewish listeners in verse 38 "repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." And in Acts 4:12 Peter says about Jesus "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." So far it sounds like a Jewish message. It is basic knowledge that the "Church" was closed to Gentiles for the first seven years. In Acts 10 the Jewish believers are shown that God has allowed salvation to come the Gentiles (Acts 11:18). And that really caused a stir among the Jewish believers. In Galatians 2:8, Paul explains that his ministry to the Gentiles had the same blessing as did Peter and John, whos ministry was to the Jews. In verse 9 they agree that Paul and Barnabas (Jewish believers) should go to the Gentiles and James, Peter, and John (more Jewish believers) to the Jews. I would hope that since there was a ministry to the Jewish people in the early days, the ministry would remain even today. In Romans 9-12, we read that for now Israel is in unbelief, but a time is coming when Israel will believe, and be saved. Not by obeying the law but through faith in Messiah Jesus. It is clear that since the message of the Gospel has Jewish roots, it would be for the Jewish people.(Isaiah 53) And I would like to repeat that the worst form of anti-semitism is to keep the message of Messiah Jesus from our Jewish friends, family, and others. **** Romans 3:20 - no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the Law; Galatians 2:16 - Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. John 6:28-29 - Then they asked him [Jesus], What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered "The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent." 2 Timothy 3:15 - the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. --->Bruce Benning __________ benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com -------------Religion may inform and reform------------- ----------but only Messiah Jesus can Transform---------- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of G-d for the salvation of everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then for the Gentile." [Romans 1:16]