Questions Jews Ask

Response 12: Is Judaism a Complete Covenantal Path Without Jesus?

Outreach Judaism's Argument

Outreach Judaism's "Born Again, All Over Again" argument is that Jews do not need Jesus for reconciliation with God. Judaism already has Torah, repentance, prayer, charity, mercy, ethical obedience, covenant identity, and loyalty to the one God. Jewish rejection of Jesus is presented as fidelity to Tanach rather than spiritual blindness.

Christian Response

Christians should affirm that Judaism is not spiritually empty. The God of Israel gave Torah, covenant, promises, worship, prophets, wisdom, and hope to the Jewish people. Paul says these gifts belong to Israel and that God's gifts and calling are irrevocable. Any Christian response that treats Judaism as worthless is unbiblical and morally wrong.

The disagreement is not whether Judaism contains truth, covenant, repentance, prayer, and moral seriousness. It does. The disagreement is whether God has acted decisively in Jesus the Messiah and whether refusing him leaves the covenant story incomplete.

Christianity claims that Jesus is not an optional Gentile addition to Judaism. He is Israel's Messiah, the mediator of the new covenant promised to Israel and Judah, the representative faithful Son, the suffering servant, the risen Lord, and the one through whom Gentiles are brought to Israel's God.

Repentance and the New Covenant

The Hebrew Bible teaches repentance. Christians agree. But Jeremiah 31 promises more than return to the old condition. It promises a new covenant with Torah written on the heart and definitive forgiveness. Ezekiel 36 speaks of cleansing, a new heart, and God's Spirit. Christians believe Jesus inaugurates this promised renewal through his death and resurrection.

Therefore, the Christian argument is not that Jews have no way to repent. It is that the deepest promised renewal has come through Messiah.

Israel's Continuing Place

Romans 9-11 prevents supersessionism. The church does not replace Israel as though God has discarded the Jewish people. Gentile believers are grafted into Israel's olive tree by mercy. The Jewish people remain beloved because of the patriarchs. Christians must hold this together with the conviction that Jesus is necessary for Jew and Gentile alike.

Bottom Line

Christianity should not say Judaism is empty without Jesus. It should say that Judaism's own covenant story, prophetic hope, sacrificial patterns, and new covenant promises reach their goal in him. The issue is not contempt for Judaism but the resurrection and identity of Jesus.

References

  • Outreach Judaism, Born Again, All Over Again: https://outreachjudaism.org/born-again-all-over-again/
  • Sefaria, Jeremiah 31: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.31?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Ezekiel 36:24-28: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.36.24?lang=bi
  • Bible Gateway, Romans 9-11: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+9-11&version=NRSVUE
  • Bible Gateway, Hebrews 8: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+8&version=NRSVUE
  • Bible Gateway, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A3-8&version=NRSVUE