Chapter 6 -

The nations search for the Messiah

 

 

 

 One of the most specific prophetic signs of the Messiah is that He would also impress the Gentiles (non-Jews) and that they would seek Him. This is concluded from several passages of Scripture that refer to the Messiah as being a light for Gentiles and as a covenant for the people. They describe how people will search for Him and base their hope on Him. If the person thought to be the Messiah does not fill this role for other nations, then He cannot be the Messiah.

  Other than Yeshua, no other Jewish person has made a similar impact on other nations. Through the intervening millennia of Jewish history several people claiming to be the Messiah have appeared, but their impact was felt only by limited groups of Jews. Only Yeshua has, through the millennia, made a deep impression on non-Jews, and only by searching for Him have they found salvation. Only Yeshua fits the description of the Messiah as prophesied by Isaiah; only about Him can be said that He established the New Covenant and became a light for the Gentiles.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 11:1,10) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

 

- (Isa 55:3-5) Incline your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4  Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5  Behold, you shall call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew not you shall run to you because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.

 

Fulfillment:

 

 - (Rom 15:8-12) Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers:

9  And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.

10  And again he said, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.

11  And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and laud him, all you people.

12  And again, Esaias said, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

 

- (Eph 3:2,6,7) If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

6  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power.

 

- (Matt 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.

 

- (Matt 28:19-20) Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20  Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 42:6-7) I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

 

- (Isa 49:6,8,9) And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.

8  Thus said the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9  That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 2:29-32) Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word:

30  For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31  Which you have prepared before the face of all people;

32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

 

- (John 8:12) Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

- (Acts 26:22-23) Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

 

We can find references to the nations’ search for the messiah, in old Jewish sources. These sources support the idea that Jews and people of other nations will seek the Messiah. For example, in Midrash of the Psalms chapter 21 is found a reference to how the Gentiles will search for the Messiah-king, the son of David:

 

"This is the Messiah the son of David, whom has been hidden until the end of times. Rabbi Tanhuma said, The Messiah-king arrives only to give the world six commands, such as the feats of tabernacles, a palm twig (to be used) and prayer cases, but whole of Israel will learn the Torah. (…) and why is this; because the Gentiles seek Him.”

 

Rabbi Leevi Ben Gershom wrote that Moses got with the miracles one nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him:

 

"Really, the Messiah is this kind of prophet, such as Midrash says; Behold, my servant shall deal prudently (Isa 52:13). (...) Moses got with the miracles one nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him.” (2)

 

Rabbi Isaac Abravanel’s writings from the turn of the 14^th century also addressed Isa 11:1-10 and also support that one of the distinctive characteristics of the true Messiah is that Gentiles will seek Him:

 

"One right distinctive mark of the Messiah is that the Gentiles seek Him.”

 

In Midrash (Midrash Bereshit Rabbaa par.98.), there is a similar statement referring to how the Gentiles will be looking for the root of Jesse, the Messiah:

 

"Rabbi Hanin said, Israel does not need the Torah of the king Messiah, because in Isaiah 11:10 it has been written; in that day, the Gentiles search for the root of Jesse, not Israel. If this is true, why will the king Messiah-king arrive and what shall he do; he will correct the division of Israel and give them 30 commandments.”

 

THE Seed of Abraham

 

That the Messiah will be a blessing for all nations can be found much earlier than the prophecies of Isaiah. Look at the promise given to Abraham. God told Abraham that through his offspring all nations on Earth would be blessed. God had already planned the salvation of Israel and all the nations of the world. The core message of the whole Bible is founded on this promise given to Abraham and fulfilled in Yeshua. He became a blessing for all nations – the blessing by which everyone is blessed by God and enters into eternal life.

   Let’s study some passages of the Bible about how God meant Yeshua to be a blessing for all people of the world:

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Gen 22:18) And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Gal 3:13-16) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:

14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15  Brothers, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man cancels, or adds thereto.

16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ.

 

- (Eph 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

 

- (Luke 2:11-14) For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12  And this shall be a sign to you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

- (John 3:16-17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18  He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

 

- (John 4:40-42) So when the Samaritans were come to him, they sought him that he would tarry with them: and he stayed there two days.

41  And many more believed because of his own word;

42  And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.

 

- (John 6:32-35) Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33  For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.

34  Then said they to him, Lord, ever more give us this bread.

35  And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.

 

- (John 12:46-47) I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.

47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

 

“I cease to be Jewish”

 

As we noted earlier, prophecies about the Messiah declared that he would serve as a light for all nations, not just for the nation of Israel. A distinctive sign was that non-Jews would seek Him.

   It is strange, however, that many modern Jews wrongly conclude that if a person were to do that, he would immediately cease being a Jew. They think that if person believes in Yeshua, he abandons his right to belong to the Jewish nation. They are mutually exclusive. The next passage illustrates this:

 

There was a long, unpleasant silence, when we tried to digest the significance of what Judy said.

   "But Judy, you are a Jew," I said gently. ”Jews definitely do not believe in Yeshua. How can you be a Jew and believe in Yeshua? It is impossible!”

   "Oh father, you are wrong. You would be surprised if you knew how many Jews nowadays believe in Yeshua.”

   "Nonsense.”

   When Judy was looked around, she saw how disappointed we all looked. She sighed, “Listen father, you must study this further. You don't need to believe what I believe, or me. You are an intelligent man. Read the Bible yourself and find out if it’s true or not. You all do the same. It is either true or a lie. If He is not the Messiah, you’ll know it. And if He is, you will know that as well. Read the Bible and draw your own conclusions.” (4)

 

But what does the Bible teach? The next examples illustrate that the Bible’s message is the opposite of what many people think nowadays. We learn that if a Jew does not believe in Yeshua he is not a part of the true Israel, but stands outside of it. Such a person has a veil on his spiritual eyes and becomes hardened when reading the Scriptures; he has not experienced the real circumcision of the heart by the Spirit. Let’s study this in the light of the next Bible passages:

 

A veil on hearts and blindness. If a man does not believe in Yeshua he has a cover on his spiritual eyes and blindness of the heart. When this person reads the Scriptures but does not understand its references to Yeshua, he looks at everything like he’s standing behind a curtain. Only by turning his heart towards the Lord Yeshua does the veil lift. This spiritual blindness prevents the Jewish nation and others from seeing the Scriptures in the right light. Both Paul and Isaiah referred to this blindness:

 

- (2 Cor 3:14-16) But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.

15  But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their heart.

16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

 

- (Rom 11:25-26) For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob

 

- (Isa 29:10-14) For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has he covered.

11  And the vision of all is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he said, I cannot; for it is sealed:

12  And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he said, I am not learned.

13  Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

14  Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

 

They have not experienced circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit. The second important point is that a Jew’s external circumcision could not – and can not – replace circumcision of the heart in the Spirit, which he must experience (compare Deut 30:6, Deut 10:16, Jer 9:25, Jer 31:33).

   Paul who wrote about this (speaking about his own nation) stated that only those are real Jews who have experienced this kind of internal circumcision. According to Paul, external acts do not compensate for the circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit; this internal renewal is needed, which takes place when we receive Yeshua into our life. This statement by Paul is significant because he himself had all the marks of external piety; certainly better than many people of our times:

 

- (Phil 3:3-8) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8  Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 

- (Rom 2:28-29) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

All are not Israel. The third important point is that merely belonging to the nation of Israel does not guarantee salvation. Paul, who prayed for his nation as Moses did (compare Exo 32:32); Paul, who told people that through Israel comes the adoption as sons, the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, and Yeshua; this same Paul also stated that "they are not all Israel, which are of Israel". He meant that a man’s Jewish birth does not place him within the real “Israel" if he has no relationship with God through Yeshua, the Messiah. Without that relationship – because of his lack of faith – he is like a branch broken from the cultivated olive tree, as Paul wrote:

 

- (Rom 9:1-8) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6  Not as though the word of God has taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall your seed be called.

8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

 

- (Rom 11:1,5) I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

 

- (Rom 11:17,20,23-25) And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear:

23  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24  For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25  For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

THE First followers

 

Many Jews fear that when they turn to Yeshua they will lose their own identity. This is not true. It is precisely their own lack of faith in Yeshua that keeps them out of God’s “real” Israel. Paul, himself a Jew, addressed this. Only when Jews become truly faithful can they enter this "real” Israel. Only then will God’s plan for their lives be truly realized.

   The first followers of Yeshua were Jews, not Gentiles. This is revealed in many Bible passages. The verses below teach us that Jesus sent the disciples first to the Jews. The Gospel was spoken first in Jerusalem then it spread to the rest of the world. When Paul entered new places he always preached first to his own people, then to the Gentiles. 

 

- (Matt 10:5-6) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not:

6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

- (Luke  24:46-47) And said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

- (Rom 1:15-16) So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

- (Acts 3:25-26) You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26  To you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 

- (Acts 13:46-48) Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, see, we turn to the Gentiles.

47  For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.

48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

 

- (Acts 10:45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

- (Acts 11:18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance to life.

 

- (Acts 17:1-4) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

2  And Paul, as his manner was, went in to them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ.

4  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

 

- (Acts 17:10-12) And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

 

- (Acts 19:8-10) And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelled in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

 

- (Acts 26:19-23) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:

20  But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

 

THE Law after salvation

 

In the previous paragraph it was explained that the first followers of Yeshua were Jews, that the Gospel was first proclaimed in Jerusalem and that Paul – even though he was called to be the apostle of the Gentiles – always started his preaching among the Jews, when arriving to a new place.

  The foundation of the Gospel is not built outside Israel; instead, it rests squarely inside Israel. The Gospel is closely associated with Israel.

  And yet, when we consider the attitudes of those first Jewish believers towards the Law, we find no indication that any of them subsequently rejected the Law. Even though we can find a clear statement in the New Testament that the Gentiles or non-Jews were not given circumcision, food regulations or Sabbath (Read Acts15:1, Cor 7:18,19, Gal 2:1-5, Gal 4:9-11, Gal 5:2-7, Col 2:16,17.), the first Jewish believers still tried to obey these regulations and to appreciate them. They did not deny their importance. They continued living as they had lived all their lives: by obeying the laws. Let’s study some verses of the Bible about this issue:

 

- (Luke 2:41-42) Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

 

- (Luke 23:55-56) And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.

56  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

- (Acts 10:14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

 

- (Acts 20:5-6,15-16) These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6  And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we stayed seven days.

15  And we sailed there, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

16  For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hurried, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

 

- (Acts 21:20-25) And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

21  And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

22  What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come.

23  Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them;

24  Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.

25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

 

- (1 Cor 7:18,19) Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

 

- (Rom 3:29-31) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we establish the law.

 

THE Law has already been fulfilled

 

We should always remember Yeshua’s own lessons about the Law. Yeshua told followers that He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. The whole foundation for the New Testament rests on the fact that Yeshua Himself was born under the Law for our sake, and He fulfilled the Law. He did not come to the Earth in vain; His goal in life was to fulfill the Law and bridge the gap between God and man. When Yeshua went to the cross, all of the Law’s requirements were there with Him. He defeated death, and assured that God’s righteous judgement and punishment were set aside. We gain our freedom by placing our trust in Yeshua. This is true for anyone who turns to Him:

 

- (Gal 4:4-5) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 

- (Matt 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

 

- (Col 2:13-14) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 

- (Eph 2:15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace;

 

- (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

 

- (John 5:24) Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.

 

- (Rom 6:14-15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

 

- (Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:

39  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.“

 

Yeshua’s fulfillment of the Law and His bridging of the gap between God and man are addressed in the quote below. No one kept the Law (John 7:19: ... and yet none of you keeps the law.). It indicates how hopeless our efforts to achieve the approval of God are, but how God has already done everything for us by Yeshua. By this work of Yeshua we can have assurance of the approval of God and eternal life – otherwise we could not experience it:

 

"Wait, I’ll give you one example: the average man can jump, for example, two meters. A person who has practiced sports and is fit may jump perhaps five meters. And if he is an Olympic winner, he can jump almost nine meters, but jumping any longer will be quite impossible in our generation. Let’s suppose then that we are all standing at the edge of a canyon with 200 meters to the other side. None of us has the ability to jump over that abyss, right? Now then, let’s study the same in the form of an allegory: That abyss is the abyss of sin and God is on the other side. He looked upon us just as we are – poor little grasshoppers -- and began to pity us. He knew that it was quite impossible for us to get to Him by our own powers; for this reason, He sent for us His own Son, Yeshua, who is a bridge between God and man. Yeshua is the mediator between God and man. We can go with Him safely, because according to His own words He is 'the way and the truth and the life’! I know that there are many who will reject this divine solution as too easy. They’ll rather try to do something by their own power to save themselves, but no effort of man can take him to God, our destiny is to fall into that yawning abyss!” (5)

 

THE Faults of THE church

 

Let us consider why it is so difficult nowadays for many Jews (and millions of others) to believe in Yeshua. One reason might be found in wrongful acts by people claiming to be Christians devoted to serving the Church (the Holy Wars, the Spanish Inquisition, etc.) or done in the name of Jesus. Also all kinds of hypocritical church rituals that have no spiritual content may be a reason why people don’t turn to God.

Many people have been hurt by such things and turned their backs on Yeshua because they associate these matters with Him.

   However, Paul warned us about such things. He prophesied that after his departure savage wolves would rise who would not spare the flock. Paul warned that people would act in the name of Yeshua even though their backs were turned away from His will. This has certainly happened, and will continue to happen.

 

We find many references in the New Testament related to this topic: the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God but will remain outside His Kingdom, and go to damnation. Consider these passages:

 

- (Acts 20:29-32) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32  And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

 

- (1 Cor 6:9) Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived…

 

- (1 John 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth

 

- (1 John 2:4) He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

- (Rev 22:14-15) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.

 

- (Matt 7:15,20-23) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

20  Why by their fruits you shall know them.

21  Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?

23  And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

 

- (Matt 25:41-46) Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42  For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink:

43  I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.

44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?

45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.

46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.