Evangelical Scholars Issue Statement on Jewish Evangelism

gal2:20 »

Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:11 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

Cyberlizard, it is not the letter of the law but the spirit of the law that is written on the heart of a believer, the law of liberty. Jesus fufilled the law. Now we don't have a set of rules to follow, but His perfect moral law indwells us and works on us from within, transforming us into His image. The law of Moses was only a foretaste of things to come. The Jews need this freedom from bondage as much as the Gentiles.

Evangelical Scholars Issue Statement on Jewish Evangelism

gal2:20 »

Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:00 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

It is you, “feetxxxl,” who fail to understand the meaning of Romans 10 and 11. Scripture cannot be interpreted in isolation. It must be consistent with the whole counsel of God. The Old Testament refers over and over again to a “remnant” of Israel that will come to God in the last days. In fact, just going back a chapter in Romans we see this (Rom. 9:27). A remnant is a portion, not the whole. Therefore, not all Jews will be saved.

So what does it mean that "all Israel will be saved?" It doesn’t mean every Jew who has ever lived, including those who have died in unbelief. Only those who have repented and turned to God can be saved. Those who die in unrepentance suffer the fate of every sinner (Eze. 18:20-22). Why were the natural branches broken off? Because of their unbelief (Rom. 11:20). If they turn back to God in belief, He will graft them back in (Rom. 11:23). What does it take for them to turn back to God? Belief in Jesus, their Messiah (Rom. 10:9-10) (Acts 4:12).

Perhaps you need to go back and read Rom. 10 again. It is Paul’s desire that his people might be saved, but they have failed to recognize the One sent to do what the law couldn’t do (Rom. 10:1-4). Paul has never said we aren’t to evangelize the Jews. On the contrary, he knows that bringing the gospel to the Jews as well as the Gentiles is vital (Rom 10:12-15). They have to hear the gospel in order to respond to it. Paul was even willing to trade places with them and suffer damnation that they might be saved (Rom. 9:3), which would be meaningless if they all would be saved anyhow.

Ethnic Israel has been partially blinded to the truth (Rom. 11:25), until the fullness of the Gentiles. There will be a final outpouring of God’s Spirit on Israel in the end times. Multitudes will come to salvation during Daniel’s 70th week. Even those of Israel who have managed to survive to the very end in unbelief and witness Jesus’ return will finally understand and mourn (Zech. 12:10), as they recognize Jesus for who He is. So all Israel will be saved of those who remain until that time – as long as they have not taken the mark, in which case it’s too late (Rev. 14:9-11). Read the passage that Paul is referring to in Rom. 11:26-27. It’s Isaiah 59:20-21. He is referring to those who turn from their transgressions. These are the “all Israel” who will be saved. But not everyone will make it to that time, which is why we evangelize now.