From: REXLEX@linac.fnal.gov
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Witnessing to Jews
Date: 20 Dec 92 22:21:27 GMT
Organization: tomorrow


      God is the source of a satisfying worthwhile life: "Thou wilt show me the
path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11).  This kind of life is the result of a
close relationship with God.  "In thy presence ... at thy right hand" speaks of
a personal relationship which can be as intimate as the one between Abraham and
God: "Abraham my friend." (Isaiah 41:8).
     Deep down, just about everyone wants a life and relationship like this. 
As a Jewish scientist put it: "The Jewish nature and soul need to know God. 
This is its purpose on earth.  Our souls are looking for God and we are trying
to know God."
     Why, then, aren't most people experiencing this life and relationship?

     Man  has  separated  himself  from  God.  God's character is the standard
by which man is to live: "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy"
(Leviticus 19:2).  Anytime man deviates from God's holiness, he violates God's
standard, and this is called sin.  Obviously, then, all of us have sinned. 
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and  sinneth  not" 
(Ecciesiastes  7:20;  see  also Psalm 53: 3,4).
     Since God is holy and just, He will not establish a personal relationship
with anyone until his or her sin is dealt with because He cannot allow sin in
His presence.  "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look
on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13).
      Because sin is a violation of His standard and character, God must judge
man's sin and reject it.  Thus sin causes spiritual death and results in
separation from God: "But everyone shall die for his own iniquity [sin]"
(Jeremiah 31:29; see also Ezekiel 18:20).
     As long as sin separates us from God, we can't enjoy the life and
relationship God wants us to have: "Your iniquities have separated between you
and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear"
(Isaiah 59:2).
     But can't we solve the problem by living properly, by prayer, repentance
and good deeds-? No, we cannot remove the sin barrier by our own efforts: "And
enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living
be justified" (Psalm 143:2, see also
Ezekiel 33:13).
     Human effort is not adequate because, in God's sight, We are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as a filthy garment
(Isaiah 64: 5).
Human effort is not adequate because man cannot do enough to solve the problem.
 No one can in any wise redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
"For the redemption of their soul is precious" (Psalm 49: 8,9).
     But, then, how can this problem of spiritual death and separation from God
be solved? God must take the initiative; He must provide the solution.  "But
God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave" (Psalm 49:16).

The sin barrier can be removed by believing God's Word (faith) and by having
the blood of the atonement. Abraham was an example of how the sin barrier can
be removed.  "And he believed in the Lord; and he [God] counted it to him for
righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).  We must follow the same pattern. "Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in
thee.  Trust ye in the Lord for ever "(Isaiah 26:3,4; see also Habakkuk 2:4).
     But Moses said that one more thing is essential the blood of the
atonement.  "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to
you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood
that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11; see also Leviticus 4:
34).
     But why would God want man to go through the awful procedure of killing an
animal? When the offerer saw the sacrifice suffering and bleeding for the sins
which he had committed, he was impressed with the awfulness  of  sin  and  the 
penalty of death  the sinner deserved.
     The  sacrifice  showed   him   God's   holiness (because of His  hatred 
of  all  evil),  justice (because   He   does   not   leave   sin  
unpunished),  and  mercy  (because of His readiness to pardon the truly
repentant and believing by providing substitute for him).  The animal sacrifice
thus provided the blood of atonement  and  was  an  act   of faith acceptable
to God.   But  without  a  priesthood   and   without   a temple,  there  can  
be   no   sacrifices.   How can we have the blood of atonement today?
     God  has   provided the blood  of atonement for today.  "All we like she
have gone astray; we have turned every one his own way; and the Lord hath
caused the iniquity of  us  all  to fall on him ... For he was cut off out of
the land of the living;  through  the  transgressions  of  my people was he
stricken...  And he took off the sin of many" (Isaiah 53:6,8,12).
     In the prologue to Isaiah 53 (Isaiah 52: 13-15), the author identifies the
"he" of these passages.  He is described as God's Servant who will be exalted. 
In other parts of his work, Isaiah equates this Servant of God with Messiah
(e.g., Isaiah 42:1).
     God's provision of the blood of atonement through the Messiah follows the
same principles God set up in the sacrifice system:

*Sin offering-atonement for a man by means of a sacrifice
*Pesach-atonement for a family by means of a sacrifice
*Yom Kippur-atonement for a nation by means of a sacrifice
*Messiah-atonement  for  all  by  means   of   a   sacrifice

     As we have seen, under the sacrifice system personal faith was necessary
along with the blood of atonement.  So also faith is necessary with the
sacrifice of Messiah.  He should be the object of our faith today.
     But how can we know who Messiah is? God made sure we could recognize
Messiah by certain specific identifying marks.  These are described by the
prophets of Israel:

*His ancestry was from the family of David (Jeremiah 23: 5,6).
*The city of His birth was Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).
*He had a supernatural nature (Isaiah 9: 5,6).
*The manner of His execution was crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-17).
*He rose from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10,11).
*The time of His coming was before the destruction of Herod's Temple in 70 C.E.
(Daniel 9:26).

     Do you have any idea if anyone has fulfilled these prophecies or has even
come close? History tells us that Yeshua ("Jesus" in Greek translation) of
Nazareth fulfilled these and many other prophecies.  There are at least 48
specific prophecies concerning Messiah which Yeshua fulfilled.  The probability
that one person could fulfill all 48 prophecies is one out of 10 with 157 zeros
after it!  
     During Yeshua's lifetime, many people called Him Messiah ('Christ" is the
Greek translation) and believed in Him (Matthew 16:16; John 1: 45-51; Acts
6:7).  
     Many people since that time, both Jews and Gentiles, have had their sins
forgiven and have gained a personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob through Messiah Yeshua.  Through Him one becomes a completed person;
e.g., a Jewish person becomes a completed Jew.
  Since the blood of the atonement has been provided through Messiah Yeshua,
there is only one thing left for you to do. 
You must by faith receive Messiah Yeshua  into  your life in order to have a
personal relationship with God and a satisfying worthwhile life.   "To all who
received  him [the Messiah], to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of  God (John   1:12). Receiving Messiah Yeshua
involves a  moral  decision  to  turn  to  God's way and from your own,  to 
trust  Messiah  Yeshua  to  forgive your sins and bring you into a right
relationship with God.
     When  you receive Messiah Yeshua by faith (trusting what  He has done for
you),  He comes into your life and gives you the power to live a satisfying,
worthwhile life.  Yeshua says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he
with me" (Revelation 3: 20).
    Some people think that receiving Messiah Yeshua by faith means they're no
longer Jewish.  That's not true.  As Yeshua put it, "Do not think that I have
come to abolish the Law or Prophets ... but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17).
     The apostle Paul felt the same way.  He said when he was in jail, "It is
because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain" (Acts 28: 20).
     Are you  still  lost  in  your  sin?  Don't let anything hold you back
from God-why not invite Messiah Yeshua to give you a right relationship with
God right now?
Remember,
1.  God is the source of a worthwhile life.
2.  Your sin has separated you from God.
3.  God's provision through Messiah Yeshua is the solution to the sin barrier.
4.  The only thing God asks you to do is trust in Messiah Yeshua to forgive
your sins and give you a right relationship with God.
     You can receive Messiah Yeshua by faith right now through prayer: "Messiah
Yeshua, I admit that I have sinned.  I believe that You have provided the blood
of atonement for me.  I receive you as my Messiah.  Thank You for forgiving my
sins and coming into mylife as You promised."
  If you've prayed that prayer or want more information, write: Chosen People
Ministries, 1300 Cross Beam Dr., Charlotte, NC 28217-2834; or call
(704)357-9000.

ON THE LINE
I am still somewhat amazed that ten years ago a 16year old boy felt led to
spend over 200 hours witnessing his faith to me over the phone.  Each life that
I am able to touch for G-d today somehow traces back to him.  It was G-d who
put a young man "on the (phone) line" who was willing to put his own faith "on
the line" for me.

Irvng Salzman was raised in Canada.  He is currently on the staff of Chosen
People Ministries, in New York City.


[this was taken from "The Chosen People" magazine, Oct.'92  This organization
has excellent literature for witnessing to the Jewish people.  I have been told
by an insider, however, that the leadership of this organization has become
charismatic.  If you wish a more conservative Jewish organzation, contact me
and I'll give you the info.  If you're church would like to have a dynamic
Messianic Jew as a leader of a prophecy conference, or just as a speaker,
please contact 
Berry Berger
PO 715
Glenn Wood, Il  60425-0715
1-708-755-2374
--Rex]