Scholars Say, "Don't Convert Jews"

Kenneth E. Ratcliff, Minister, Church of Christ at Schertz

schertz@swbell.net

An article in the September 7, 2002 edition of the San Antonio Express-News stated that, "21 members of the Christian Scholars Group on Christian-Jewish Relations challenged the traditional Christian views of Jesus as savior for all humankind." The rationale was that the Jews were already in a right relationship with God.

They therefore renounced efforts at converting Jews. The article also referenced, "…an Aug. 12 statement in which Jews and Catholic bishops said that attempts to convert Jews are ‘no longer theologically acceptable.'"

If this is true, then Jesus died to make salvation possible only for the non-Jews. It doesn't require much reading, starting with Moses, to realize that during most of their history God was displeased with the Jews. It required more than being a Jew to make them pleasing and acceptable to God.

There are also a good number of the commandments of the Law given to Moses that the Jews today surely do not obey. Do they offer the required animal sacrifices, make the required trips to Jerusalem, stone rebellious children to death, etc.? When and how do they obtain forgiveness of their sins and the hope of eternal life with God? In addition, the prophets spoke of God establishing an everlasting kingdom, a Messiah, a new covenant, and of blessings, which pertained to all people.

The angel that appeared to Joseph told him that Mary would, "…bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was born to a Jewish mother and had the lineage of a Jew. Surely the words "his people" included the Jews.

Jesus, following His resurrection, told His apostles, "…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned"

(Mark 16:15-16). In Luke's account, repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Why say all nations and to start at Jerusalem if it didn't apply to Jews?

The preaching did start in Jerusalem on Pentecost where Jews had gathered from many nations (Acts 2). Peter convinced them that they had crucified the Messiah. They asked what they must do. Do you suppose his response was for them not to worry because they were right with God because they were Jews? No! Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Some 3,000 were baptized that day.

In Acts 4:12 Peter told the leaders of the Jews concerning Jesus Christ, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Is it possible Peter, who was a Jew, didn't know that he was talking to Jews and that the Jews didn't need Christ? The answer is obvious.

The apostle Paul, also a Jew, made this statement, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

In the third chapter of Galatians, he also explained the purpose of the Law given to Moses. It was pointed out that the Law did not annul the promise given by God to Abraham. The promise to Abraham included making of him a great nation and also that in him all families of the earth would be blessed.

The question was therefore raised as to the purpose of the Law of Moses. Paul explains, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:24-29). The true Jew is one who is a Jew spiritually and not one who is a Jew by virtue of a physical birth (Romans 2:28-29).

The Jews have many reasons to be proud of their physical heritage. Through them we have God's Word. Salvation is possible only through Jesus, a Jew. However, salvation for both Jews and Gentiles is through obedience to Jesus Christ. His sacrifice was also necessary for those who lived throughout the ages before Him (Hebrews 9:15). They had no means to remove their sins. If such had been possible there would have been no need for the death of Jesus.

Do Jews need to be converted to Jesus Christ? The answer is, YES! There is not one way of salvation for the Jews and another for all others. Everyone, whatever their nationality, will find salvation only in Jesus Christ.

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