Shalom my friends. Last week we touched on the pattern of salvation that is found in the second part of Romans 1:16, “….to the Jew first and also to the Greek/Gentiles.” I wanted to highlight the word “and” because again, Paul is not saying to the Jew only, but to the Jew first. But why? Why to the Jew first? Before answering this question, let’s go back to where God’s original plan of salvation began which included a promise that God gave to Abraham:

Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you (Abram) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

We also see this promise cited by Paul in the book of Galatians:

Galatians 3:8, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 

The statement “in you,” in both passages refers to his Seed that came through the nation of Israel. This is the promise that was made to Abraham that would be fulfilled in Yeshua, the light and the blessing of the world!

God chose Israel as His priest nation and through Israel ultimately birthed the coming of our High Priest Yeshua, Jesus (Romans 9:5). And from the time of Abraham, God’s pattern for redemption included, “to the Jew first.” Why? Here is the answer: To the Jew first is a principle that connects us to the promise that God gave to Abraham and it establishes His pattern of redemption. Here are just a few examples:

Romans 9:4-5, “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption….the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises….the patriarchs..”

Then of course there are the feasts of the Lord, the prophets, the priests and kings, etc. Everything that God established through Israel were used as instruments for redemptive purposes as well as shadows of the ultimate Redeemer Himself.

Let’s discuss a little bit more about this principle and what it means for us in the present time as well as what that means for our last day call as the One New Man.

This principle is the key to worldwide revival. Let’s look at what Paul said about this:

Romans 11:12,15 – “Now if their (Israel) fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!…..For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

Let’s break that down. If their fall became riches for the world, their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more salvific blessing will come to the whole world when the Jews come into the fullness of who they are in Messiah, meaning life from the dead! Their revival results in worldwide revival!!! Now that’s to the Jew First! Glory to God!

We see there is a connection between Jewish salvation and salvation for the world. That’s why we must continue to follow in Yeshua’s and Paul’s footsteps in bringing the gospel to the Jews, it is a priority with God and essential for His last day plan. And He is holding us responsible as the One New Man, to follow this order.

For a long time, we as the church have neglected to bring the gospel to the Jews. With that said, how can the Jews be saved without hearing the gospel? Paul addressed this in the book of Romans.

Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”

Some believe and actually teach that Jews are automatically saved through the old covenant/Mosaic law. This erroneous theology is called dual covenant theology, meaning there are two ways in attaining salvation. The Jews through the Law, and the Gentiles through Jesus.

This theology goes against the Word of God. We know that it is only through the name of Jesus which man can be saved (Acts 4:12). It is also, if I may say, anti-Christ and anti-Semitic because the church has been indoctrinated to the point that it has kept them from bringing the gospel to the Jews. This is because some feel the Jews don’t need Jesus because they have the Law to save them. There are other doctrines that the church has held onto that has kept them back from bringing the gospel to the Jews and that we will touch on soon.

According to Romans chapter two, both Gentiles and Jews are under condemnation until both are made righteous through Yeshua. There is no partiality with God . With this said, if the Jews are under condemnation like everyone else, shouldn’t we be bringing them the gospel as well?

When we ignore the pattern of salvation in the second half of Romans 1:16, we are actually neglecting our role in bringing the Gospel to the very ones from whence the Gospel came through first and when we do this, we can hinder worldwide revival!

God is waiting on our cooperation and we must decide prayerfully what our part is. I know for me and my house, we want to serve the Lord fully and biblically and to be a part of the remnant of the church that follows Him wholeheartedly in these last days. How about you?

In closing, I would like to share a quote from Charles Spurgeon, England’s best-known and loved preacher back in 1855:

“We do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough of it. But certainly, if there is anything promised in the Bible, it is this.” He goes on to say, “The day shall yet come when the Jews, who were the first apostles to the Gentiles. the first missionaries to us who were afar off, shall be gathered in again. Until that shall be, the fullness of the church’s glory can never come. Matchless benefits to the world are bound up with the restoration of Israel; their gathering shall be life from the dead.”

I am so thankful that there have been people within the church that has awaken to the Jewish roots of our faith and there has been more and more Jewish salvations then ever before but there is still a great part of the church that is not awake as of yet. It is so vital that we understand that the church has a huge part in bringing the Jews to their key role for worldwide revival in these last days.

Thank you for your time my friends. Remember, this is a ministry of reconciliation and not condemnation. As I stated in part one of this post, God is healing “the parting of the ways” between Jewish and Gentile believers. As we come together in unity as the One New Man, let’s rise up and do the works that Jesus and even Paul did. Let’s minister the good news to the Jews, so that they too can come back to their own root, let’s minister to the nations so that they too can partake of that root. To the glory of God and our Messiah Yeshua Jesus! Amen!

Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you…. and give you shalom! Much love to you!

Ellen, Brucha