Salvation to the Jew First

Many years ago, I started attending a Messianic Congregation.  For those that may not know what that is, it is a church comprised of Jews and gentiles.  It is Jewish believers in Jesus the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.  One aspect that Messianic congregations devote time is to evangelism of their brethren, fellow Jews.  This is something that should be promoted and encouraged.  Jewish people understand Jewish culture.  Paul understood this.  Paul was a Jew to the Jews, to those under the law, he became as one under the law, to those outside the law, he became as one outside the law. (1 Corinthians 9:20-23)  He did this in order that he could become all things to all people so that through him, people would be saved.  He did this for the sake of the gospel.  Messianic congregations cite Romans 1:16 as the reason they evangelize Jews first.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” 

Again, while I believe that certain groups are better equipped when sharing the Gospel with certain groups, Romans 1:16 has been fulfilled.  Jesus devoted His whole ministry to the Jews for the most part.  He trained the twelve disciples and sent them out to His brethren, the Jewish people.  He spoke as a Jew and thought as a Jew.  Paul first went out to His brethren, the Jews.  He did not turn His attention to the gentiles until later.  In the Old Testament, God dealt exclusively with the Israelites, the Jews.  Salvation is from the Jews.

•  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. John 4:22 (ESV)

 God’s whole focus has been on the Israelites, the Jews.  Salvation went to the Jews first.  Jesus, with a few exceptions, devoted His whole attention to the Jews.  We are in the time of the gentiles. (Romans 11:25).  For most of history, God devoted His attention to the Israelites and only in the past 2000 years has He turned His attention to the gentiles.  When the time of the gentiles is fulfilled, He will again turn His attention back to the Jews where all of Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26).

Should Jewish believers in the Jewish Messiah concentrate their efforts on witnessing to their Jewish brethren?  I answer that with an emphatic YES. They should, however, not do so because of Romans 1:16 for that season has ended and has been fulfilled.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (ESV)

 The Gospel is to go out to all the nations.  It is not exclusive to either Jew or gentile.  It is not to go to the Jew first.  “To the Jew first” has been fulfilled.  It went to the Jew first for all of mankind’s history until approximately 2,000 years ago when Paul took the Gospel to the gentiles. 

The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; Romans 11:25-26 (ESV)

 

The Gospel is now to be preached to all nations, Jew and gentile alike. 

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