Pjud

Presenting need for a savior to Judaism adherent

(From MJ 2/01) A Christian believes in the original sin of every human.  The Orthodox Jew does not.  A Christian witness can ask about feeling of guilt or the evil that occurs in the world.   The conversation can be directed in this direction to create a handle of why all people need a Savior.  Valleskey points out that “where there is no repentance and trust in a Savior, there is no salvation, but only condemnation” (v 40).  Repentance is key in Judaism and the Christian can then comment on Jesus as the Savior.  There are difficulties that arise in talking to someone who believes that the world is “good.”  Sin has corrupted people so thoroughly that a Savior had to fulfill and overcome the law in order to be the Savior of the World.  A Savior who would be crucified under the law and taking sin upon himself to then rise again, fulfilling the law for all peoples.

Hebrew religion does believe in sin, but they don’t believe that all people are basically sinners. Instead they believe that people have good inclination and bad inclination and they have the free will to choose which one to use. Also, the Hebrew religion doesn’t really believe that there is a devil or Satan. “ For Judaism is so strictly monotheistic that is resisted the temptation to enthrone any being other than God with authority for the whole metaphysical realm, even the realm of evil (120).”  So for the Hebrew religion not the believe in the devil they must think that God is the one who can do evil things, because there is no other explanation for why evil is on this earth, unless they blame Adam and Eve for the sin.

Harley, D. (1994). Chosen people: Judaism. Eerdmans’ Handbook To The World’s Religions, 275-276

Kertzer, M. (1996).  What is a jew, pg 114-120

(from EO, 2001):

  1. Old Testament Jews looked and hoped for a Messiah – both personally and politically
    1. They thought that the Messiah would free them from their oppressors and bring peace.
    2. They looked toward the prophecies in order to recognize when the Messiah would come.
  2. Orthodox Jews today look for “a personal Messiah, a human being, maybe even with super-human qualities, but not divine. They look for that person to come, and bring with him an age of peace where the Messiah will dispense world justice and peace from King David’s throne in Jerusalem” (Cohen 23).
    1. This Messiah will come only after they follow all of the law.
  3. When discussing the Messiah with your Jewish friend, the best place to start is with Scripture.
    1. Who does Scripture say the Messiah will be?
      1. Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:1.
      2. Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10.
  • Messiah would present himself by riding on an ass: Zechariah 9:9.
  1. Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22.
  2. Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:24-27.
  3. Messiah’s life would match a particular description, including suffering, silence at his arrest and trial, death and burial in a rich man’s tomb, and resurrection: Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
    1. http://www.jewsforjesus.org/answers/jesus/proofessay
  4. With these descriptions, one can then look at the New Testament and what it says about Jesus.
    1. Jesus fits each of these descriptions and claims to be the Messiah.
    2. One would have no reason to even consider he was the Messiah if he did not claim to be Him.
  5. Recognizing Jesus as the one prophesied is the first step in sharing the truth of Jesus. One should continue by sharing that Christ is the personal substitute for our sins.
    1. One can return to the Isaiah 53 passage and see it in the light of Christ as our substitute.
      1. Isaiah 53:3-12 “And he bore the sin of many, And made intercessions for the transgressors.” 53:12
    2. As the Holy Spirit begins to work in the heart of your friend, and he or she begins to see the Truth of the Gospel, one can continue by discussing faith.
      1. Faith to a Christian is belief in Christ’s death and resurrection and the eternal life that comes from believing.
        1. Salvation does not come from good works.
          1. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”  Romans 3:27-28
        2. Faith to an Orthodox Jew is different from the Christian view in that it is a faith in their good works.
          1. God will reward and save those who do good works to overcome their bad works.
          2. God will punish those who are wicked.
          3. Life does exist after this life.
        3. When discussing the Christian view of faith and salvation with your Jewish friend, one can look at Old Testament examples of faith as examples for today.
          1. “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6
            1. Abraham’s righteousness did not come from works but from faith.
          2. David talks about forgiveness of sins apart from works, also.
            1. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2
          3. With these examples, one can continue to share the truth of the Gospel in faith with Galatians 2:16 and 20-21.
            1. “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

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