Church

Evangelical leaders: Jews need Jesus Christ

Dozens of prominent evangelical leaders have endorsed a statement declaring a fact that many Christians already hold to be true – that Jewish people need the Gospel and Jesus Christ to receive eternal life.

The statement, sponsored by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), expressed friendship and love for the Jewish people, but unapologetically declared that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.

“We want to make it clear that, as evangelical Christians, we do not wish to offend our Jewish friends by the above statements; but we are compelled by our faith and commitment to the Scriptures to stand by these principles,” read the evangelical statement on “The Gospel and the Jewish People”.

An ad with the statement appeared in the New York Times on March 28 and will appear in other major secular newspapers and several Christian magazines throughout April and May.

“It is out of our profound respect for Jewish people that we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, and encourage others to do the same, for we believe that salvation is only found in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World,” the statement continued.

Some of the key declarations made by the statement include:

• A pledge of commitment to be loving friends and to stand against injustices against the Jewish people. At the same time, affirming the belief that the most loving and Scriptural expression of friendship towards Jewish people, and anyone called a friend, is to candidly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ

• Affirming the belief that only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Saviour of the World (Acts 4:12)

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 21:37 (BST)

Dear Sirs: Of course Jesus Himself, speaking to Jewish listeners, said of Himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV) Speaking to THE teacher of Israel, Jesus also said, "You must be born again". (John 3:7b, ESV) Let us accept Jesus' words as truth, and make our decisions based upon that sanctifying truth. (John 17:17) Sincerely in Christ, Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin, Rocky Face, GA, USA

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 20:32 (BST)

If there is a need to evangelise the Jews (which there is), then why not Muslims also? They surely need Christ just as much as the Jews and other Gentiles, for there is one God and Saviour of all humankind - the God of Abrham, Isaac and Jacob who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael Kemp, Swindon, England

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 17:07 (BST)

Dear Christians, Please stop trying to convert us. We neither need nor want you. We don't want your "salvation." We Jews just want to be left alone to our own beliefs. If you don't like it, go try to convert some other religion, like Muslims or Buddhists. If we DO go to eternal hell be remaining Jewish, that's our business. At least WE don't have a bloody history behind us as you do.

Doesn\'t Matter, Midwest

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 12:26 (BST)

I agree entireley.... Jews need Jesus. the problem many Jews have is not Jesus but Paul. Torah teaches that anyone who teaches Jews not to observe commands is a false prophet sent to test them. So we either need to re-look at Paul and his teachings, and conclude that he is either a false prophet or that his teachings do not teach what many think he says... i.e. circumcicion no longer required, torah observance no longer required, non-sin-offering sacrifices no longer required. I must say I do not read Paul in the standard light. The Torah is the bedrock of the Jewish and Christian faith and it is the foundation of what Jesus taught. The book of revelation in clear, those persecuted at the end by the devil, are those who are not only believers (i.e. keep the testimony of Jesus) but also they are Torah observant (keep the commandments of God). Then there's the ETERNAL sabbath....... need I go on.

cyberlizard, chesterfield, UK

Added: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 11:47 (BST)

Jews are jews since 1312 BC and will be converted ! Any attempt to do that will draw a curse from heaven upon those who initiated the process.

Safra, ISRAEL

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