Reforming Jewish Ministry

Reforming Jewish Ministry, Part 1, by Rev. Fred Klett

It is indeed a wonderful thing to behold the growth and advancement of the Good News of Messiah among the Jewish people. In the last 25 years or so, we have seen the establishment of many Messianic congregations which proclaim Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah of Israel. A renewed vision to worship and live out the New Covenant faith in a Jewish way is something we can all rejoice in. We have also seen a renewed interest in bold outreach to the Jewish community and a renewed sense of the Jewishness of the gospel in many churches. Many speak of a zeal to return to the true Biblical faith as practiced by the early believers. There are some parallels between this movement and the early days of the Reformation when society had a desire to return to "the fountains," the original documents Christendom had been founded upon. But also in that climate aberrant groups arose, sects whose doctrines and practices were less than Biblical. Today in Jewish ministry we must learn from the Reformers or we will see error arise and revival tarry.

As the Reformation began, a number of important principles were established as guidelines. As the Reformation advanced, additional principles were added as the need for further reform was evident. After twenty five years exposure to and involvement in Jewish ministry, I am aware of some of the problems we face as well as some of the achievements. It is my thesis in this brief article that we in Jewish ministry must once again consider the relevance of the principles of the Reformation if we are to see the renewal of New Covenant faith among the Jewish people that we all hope for. The princliples of the Reformation are not crusty old pieces of history. They continue in relevance for us today. What are these principles? Let me briefly list and define five beginning principles, called the five "solas" and then articulate how these principles are relevant, indeed essential, to the ongoing enterprise of restoring the Biblical faith to the Jewish people.

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone

Everything that I command you you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to it or take from it. (Deut.12:32) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

By the time of the Reformation, Christianity had become dominated by many non-Biblical Roman Catholic church traditions. This had happened to the extent that the essential message of the New Covenant had become obscured beyond recognition. The cry of the Reformers was: "Scripture Alone!" Only the sacred text of the Bible could be trusted as the rule for faith and practice. Man's traditions, while at times of value, had to be radically submitted to the truth of the Word of God. Whatever was contrary was to be discarded. All doctrine had to be either explicit in Scripture or a necessary consequence of reasoning from the Scriptures. They were not rejecting or devaluing, however, all previous thinking. Indeed the Reformers recognized there were those who went before them to whom God had given much wisdom. They had a sense of humility as they approached the Scriptures to ascertain what was the true Biblical teaching. But, one thing was certain, no matter who held to a given interpretation or doctrine, it had to be proven by the text itself. How does one go about interpretation? Scripture is self-sufficient. Scripture interprets itself. By comparing Scripture to Scripture, by going from what is most clear and basic and then progressing to more difficult passages, one can arrive at theological truth.

We greatly need a renewed understanding of this principle today in Jewish ministry. First, most obviously, no matter what the great sages of Christianity and Judaism have said, a teaching must be derived solely from Scripture. We cannot ultimately depend on the traditions of Catholicism, the teachings of the Mishnah and Talmud, or even the beliefs of the Reformers themselves to come to truth. We can consider what has been said and done before by wise men, but we must base what we believe and what we do on the Bible alone. We have seen the Messianic Movement tossed about by every wind of doctrine circulating today. We have seen men claiming to be God's prophets, even after their prophecies fail. There have been leaders vested with authority beyond Scripture. Some Messianic groups give credence to Rabbinic tradition. In Jewish ministry today, there is a serious need to return to the Scriptures alone as the sole authority for faith and practice. God's people are suffering for lack of sound teaching of the word of God.

Sola Christo - By Messiah's Work Alone are We Saved

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Messiah Jesus, (1 Tim. 2:5) For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:13-20)

Today we hear in some circles the speculation that Jewish people can be saved through the Abrahamic Covenant and without explicit faith in Yeshua, Jesus, as Lord and Savior. This generally is not found in Jewish ministry circles, but there have been some offshoots that have begun to stress Torah more than Messiah. Certainly we have seen statements such as "National Israel is at the center of what God is doing on earth." Wrong! Messiah is at the center of what God is doing on Earth! When we place anything at the center other than Messiah himself, we begin to go astray in our thinking. One evangelistic tract I've seen proclaims Messianic Judaism. It should have proclaimed Messiah, not an "ism"! At one conference I was asked about my theology. I said: "Messiah is at the center of everything God has done. All the promises of God have their yes in him. Old Covenant believers were saved by looking forward to what Yeshua would do. We are saved only by what he did. All there is to inherit can only be inherited in and through him. Apart from him we have nothing and inherit nothing." My friend was astonished and clearly his spirit resonated to these ideas. He said: "What do you call this wonderful Messiah centered theology?" It is called Sola Christo! We must stress once again that it is only through the work of Yeshua that anyone can be saved. Apart from him the wrath of God abides on all fallen men. In him we are counted righteous because of his perfect obedience of the Torah and his complete payment of sin for all who believe. Abraham's natural children have no hope at all apart from Messiah. Through him alone all the promises of God are realized and apart from him we have nothing. This must always be our message.

Sola Fide - Faith Alone

Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6) The righteous man shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4).

One of the the most basic doctrines of the Reformation was a rediscovery that we are saved only through faith - not through tradition, not through good deeds, not through rituals, only through faith. The Reformers, however were by no means antinomians. They saw a continuing relevance to the Moral Law, summarized in the Ten commandments, as a guide for our lives. Often today among believers there is a tension. Some seem to make salvation too cheap. Just pray a prayer and you are saved. Others, seeing the abuse of cheap grace, teach one can lose one's salvation. The Reformers did not hold to the doctrine of "Eternal Security," but neither did they believe one could loose one's salvation! How is this possible? They saw the Scriptures taught that when God saves us he also sanctifies us. Salvation is a "package deal." The same sovereign God who grants us faith also grants us repentance and has predestined us to good works in conformity Messiah, the Second Adam. Romans 8:29-30 states: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified." God no more gives faith without repentance than one can give a child one side of a coin. Only through faith do we receive salvation, however faith is not alone. True believers persevere in the faith. But the only merit in the whole process is the merit of the Messiah. His sacrifice for sin legally secured the salvation of all who trust in him. Justification has its ground solely in the righteous life and atoning death of Messiah. Nothing can be added to our justification before God. So the Reformers were clear about salvation through faith alone, but they also recognized that, if one is truly saved, one lives for the Lord, imperfectly, true, but there is a new direction in one's life towards conformity to the image of the Messiah. They recognized the value of the Moral Law as a standard and guide in life, but also were unabashedly clear in preaching that the Law cannot save. This is the way we must proclaim the Good News to the Jewish community. We must avoid cheap grace and we also must also radically avoid any principle of merit on our part. How we need to recover the crystal clear preaching of salvation through faith alone in the work of Messiah alone!

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Messiah Jesus our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

In the Torah is it repeatedly stressed that anyone who does any work on Yom Kippur would be cut off from his people. Why? Because the Day of Atonement, when atonement was made for Israel, was the Sabbath of Sabbaths. It was a picture of the redemption that would be provided by God through the atoning Sacrifice of Messiah. Sabbath rest is a picture of Grace alone. We can add no good works of our own to what Messiah did, as far as our standing before God and as far as salvation is concerned. We are saved by grace alone through faith. We have no merit apart from the merit of Messiah. We have no righteousness apart from the righteousness of Messiah counted in our behalf. This also means that the faith itself is a gift from God. How liberating this truth is! We ultimately depend upon God for our salvation, and for the salvation of the Jewish people! It is all up to him. It is all in his hands. It is not something we can take any credit for. No one can save himself or anyone else, for that matter. Only God can save, and that by grace alone. If we truly understand this truth there is no basis for human pride. Left to ourselves we are totally depraved, that is, evil has tainted every part of our nature. We are spiritually dead and unable and unwilling to believe. God in his mercy unconditionally elects those who will be saved. Messiah's sacrifice secures the salvation of his people and God will complete the work he begins in his people. A renewed sense the truth of the doctrine of Grace Alone gives us confidence, hope, boldness, freedom and humility in sharing the message of Messiah. A renewed understanding of Grace Alone is essential for revival.

Soli Deo Gloria - Glory be to God Alone

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

God is the supreme king to whom all glory goes and for whom all life is lived. This is the essence of the Ceremonial Law. The Mosaic sacred signs and symbols had this as their deeper spiritual meaning. Circumcision symbolized a heart purified and devoted to God's glory. The dietary laws, the tzitsit (fringes) on garments, the mezuzzah on doorpost all were to remind the Israelite to glorify God in all areas of life. All of life is to be lived for God's glory. There is no division between the sacred and the secular. Everything belongs to God and is to be sanctified. Israel was also reminded in the Mosaic ceremonies that they were redeemed by God's power alone. The Passover was accomplished by God, not man. All glory goes to him in all things. How often we attempt to build our own kingdoms to our own glory! How easily we seek to bring glory to ourselves through what we do. The only truly pure motivation for bringing the good news to the Jewish people must be God's glory. It is out of a desire to see God glorified that we pray and work toward a restoration of the Jewish people to faith. And we know only God is able to restore Abraham's natural descendants to the family of faith. No method, no evangelistic program, no gimmick, no sort of pressure, emotional or otherwise, is able to bring people to true faith. God is the one who will graft in again the natural branches back into the olive tree of the Israel of faith. All glory goes to God in this as well.

Conclusion

In the five "Solas" we have a beginning. These doctrines of grace must be our foundation, but a New Reformation in Jewish ministry must go further still. In future articles we will explore how other important Reformation principles, such as the Regulative Principle of Worship, the Covenant of Grace, the Continuity of the Covenants, the Interpretation of Scripture by Scripture, and the Unity of the Word of God, are extremely important in Jewish ministry. There is much to do indeed, but God is able! Let us pray he brings the needed reformation that we may see the renewal and revival among the Jewish people that we hope for.

It is our hope and vision that CHAIM can serve some small role in helping to advance revival and renewal in Jewish ministry through bringing this perspective. There can be no revival without reformation and return to the Word of God. May the Holy One of Israel grant us hearts and minds that seek his truth.

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