Since the Holocaust, many have claimed that Jews do not need to believe in Jesus to get to heaven. Many do this for compassionate reasons. The Christian world has a long history of anti-semitism. In light of historical Christian problems and attempts at forced conversions, it seems enlightened and compassionate to believe that Jews don't need to believe in Jesus.
I have studied the Holocaust and Christian anti-semitism for a long time now. This article does not attempt to put church history in context and explain the question at hand. I will go to Scripture and to the first-century Jews who laid the foundation of our faith, the apostles. I will also discuss the beliefs the cornerstone of our faith, the object of our faith, the Jew Jesus the Messiah of Israel.
It will be shown that it would be the height of arrogance and sin to not share the gospel with Jewish people. But more importantly, it would be ungrateful, since our faith is a Jewish faith graciously given to Gentiles.
Please read on...
Absolutely not. The plain teaching and the context of Scripture show without any doubt that Jesus is for the Jews, as well as for the Gentiles.
Paul wrote: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for all who believe, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16, NKJV)
Jesus said: 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18, NKJV)
While I have not exhausted the Scriptures concerning the gospel, these two passages should suffice in pointing out the plain meaning of Scripture. Being saved from our sins and the judgement of God is conditioned on our belief, or better-said trust. Furthermore, it should be noted that Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience.
Some have tried to argue that the covenants with Moses or Abraham are sufficient for the Jewish people. These covenants provide a way to heaven for them.
It would be mean to note that God's covenant with Abraham does not promise eternal life. It is an unconditional covenant which promises land and blessing. The blessing that comes through Abraham and Jewish people is chiefly Jesus. But nowhere in this covenant do I see eternal life promised.
Same for the Mosaic covenant. However, I do see in Jeremiah 31 a promise for a new covenant that is not like the Mosaic covenant. This new covenant is for the house of Israel (v. 31). It is unlike the Mosaic covenant in that "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (v. 33) And, "I will forgive their inquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
This new covenant is the new covenant with Jesus, which He mentioned at the Last Supper, which was a Passover Seder. This new covenant for Israel is graciously extended to Gentiles. This was prophesied by the Jewish prophets as well. "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6, NKJV)
The Lord gave the Gentiles salvation through a Jewish man, who was the Jewish Lord in the flesh. He prophesied about Him with Jewish prophets. He used Jewish apostles and disciples to spread the word about His salvation. He graciously allowed Gentiles to partake in His mercy.
In the first century the Jewish believers had to wrestle with the question of whether Gentiles could become believers without first becoming Jews. Far be it from me to not extend the message of God's salvation through faith in Jesus to Jewish people.
Not only would this be insulting God, it is an insult to the Jewish people He has so blessed the Gentile peoples with. May God be ever so merciful to me if I ever insulted Him so.
In the final analysis, salvation by Jewish heritage is at best a compromise of the gospel message. Worst case, it is a different gospel which is no gospel at all. We can be left with the comforting words of Paul that if you "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Hopefully we can echo his words that "my heart's desire for Israel is that they may be saved." (Romans 10:1, NKJV)
