Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of JesusSample

Day 29: Believers United with Israel

Even with their differences, Paul saw Gentiles and Jews as partners: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:12-21)

Paul saw Jews and Gentiles being united into “one new man” and likened them to a temple, composed of all believers. In Romans 11, he described a Jewish olive tree into which Gentile believers had been grafted. Gentiles became a part of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31 because of their partnership with Israel.

This passage describes the Torah as having been a dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews had God’s instructions, while the Gentiles didn’t. Some think it’s saying Torah was abolished, but that contradicts several plain statements by both Jesus and Paul. Paul is saying that the Torah’s function as a dividing wall had been abolished. The wall was torn down to let the Gentiles in, so they were now included and allowed to follow God’s commands.

Paul writes: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

And again, in Romans:

“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past” (Romans 16:25).

As time progressed, Christians withdrew from Jews and persecuted them. That treatment is probably why most Jews have refused to consider the possibility that Jesus is the Messiah.

Reflection

If followers of Jesus were to follow Paul’s guidelines, they would value Jews as God’s chosen people and as their partners in God’s sight. Do you respect and honor God’s choice of Israel and acknowledge your partnership with them?

What can you do to strengthen the church as a whole—across all denominations?