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This article, comprised mainly of passages of Scripture, is intended to help the bride of Christ in the all-important eternal endeavor of Giving the Gospel to Israel.
Christianity is not a “new religion” per se, but Judaism fulfilled. As believers in Messiah Yeshua, we see Him all throughout the Tanakh as He Himself claimed (John 5:39). This is another truth we can remind our Israeli friends of – that the entirety of the Scriptures is all about the Messiah, the Prophet, like Moses, that God raised up (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).
This Prophet would also be Priest through His atoning work on the cross and King of the universe He created as the eternal Son of God.
Let us examine how we may be able to share the truth to Israel that Yeshua is indeed their prophesied Messiah found within their Holy Scriptures, as well as Creator, Savior, and Redeemer of the entire world.
The Gospel to an Atheist Israeli is no Different than to an Atheist Gentile
One must first believe there is a God.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6
And our job in this regard is convincing the person that there is an omnipotent creator God who created all there is.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.” – Romans 1:20
When it comes to this task, I invite the reader to access my article – “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?” – written especially for those who are lost and seeking. In the first step, I attempt to do just that — convince the lost soul, from creation itself, that there is indeed an omniscient and omnipotent Creator God.
There are also numerous creation science ministries that specialize in the sciences behind the creation. These are PhD scientists, trained in secular universities – most of whom began their studies as atheists – who have investigated the evidences for themselves and found Darwinian evolution extremely lacking, to say the least. The evidence clearly points to a recent creation by an omnipotent God.
Three of my favorite creation science ministries, of the many available, that you can share with your Israeli friends are:
- The Institute for Creation Research | The Institute for Creation Research (icr.org)
- Answers in Genesis
- Home – creation.com
Next, we want to take the Israeli through their own Scriptures that show without a doubt that Messiah Yeshua is the Messiah.
Using the Tanakh to Convince the Israeli
My favorite section of the Tanakh (Old Testament) to share with an Israeli is Isaiah 52 and 53. Here is the section we should share.
“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” – Isaiah 52:13-15
“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” – Isaiah 53:1-12
God the Father Has a Son!
The Israeli that you are witnessing to may have never heard that their own Scriptures declare that God the Father has a Son!
“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” – Psalm 2:11-12
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his Son’s name, if thou canst tell?” – Proverbs 30:4
“The Lord [the Father] said unto my Lord [the Son], Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” – Psalm 110:1
Sharing Tanakh Passages with Brit Chadashah Fulfillments
You can share with your Israeli friends, acquaintances, and strangers the following prophetic passages found in the Tanakh (Old Testament) with their fulfillments in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) concerning the Messiah of Israel.
The Messiah Would Be Born of a Virgin and Would Be ‘God with Us’
“And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve and her descendants], and between thy seed [unbelievers] and her seed [Messiah]; it [literally “He,” the Messiah] shall bruise thy [Satan’s] head, and thou shalt bruise his heel [the Messiah on the cross].” – Genesis 3:15
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [“God with us”].” – Isaiah 7:14
Fulfilled:
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” – Luke 1:26-33
The Messiah – The Son of God – Would Be Born unto Us and Is Eternal God in the Flesh
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
Fulfilled:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ [Messiah] the Lord.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” – Luke 2:8-14
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” – 1 Timothy 3:16
Messiah Would Be Born in Bethlehem, the City of David
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” – Micah 5:2
Fulfilled:
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:4-7
Messiah Would Be Crucified
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” – Psalm 22:14-15
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10
Fulfilled:
“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.” – John 19:14-19
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” – John 19:28-30
Messiah Would Pay for the Sins of Mankind
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:4-5
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” – Isaiah 53:10-11
Fulfilled:
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Messiah Would Rise from the Dead
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” – Psalm 16:10
Fulfilled:
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” – Matthew 28:1-7
“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” – Acts 1:1-3
Daniel’s 70 7’s Prophecy of the Messiah’s First Coming
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.” – Daniel 9:24-26a
This prophecy was fulfilled as recorded for us in history, but the promise to “bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” for Israel awaits further fulfillment after Messiah’s Second Coming.
A Final Thought on Sharing the Scriptures with Our Jewish and Israeli Friends
There are many excellent resources on the internet of many more prophecies found in the Tanakh that Messiah Yeshua fulfilled in His lifetime as recorded for us in the Brit Chadashah. These prophecies can and should be shared with your Jewish/Israeli friend after you have found that the person you are witnessing to has responded positively to the foundational message found within this article.
‘One For Israel’ Videos of Believing Israelis Giving Their Testimonies
OneForIsrael.org is a great website to refer your Jewish and Israeli friends. One For Israel’s ministry is to present Messiah Yeshua to the people of Israel so they, too, can be saved by His glorious gospel just as we have been.
Below are two links to share with your Jewish and Israeli friends, acquaintances, and those you meet through divine intervention with testimonies of others that have proven to be very fruitful for Messiah Yeshua’s Salvation Kingdom.
I Met Messiah – Jewish Testimonies
Israeli Testimonies
Why I Wrote This Article
I have a fervent love for Israel and God’s chosen people, and I wanted to supply the body of Christ with a few suggestions for how we can witness to our Jewish and Israeli friends. After all, they gave us the Scriptures, and Yeshua, our Lord and Savior, is the Jewish Messiah! We owe them to at least be willing to share the everlasting gospel with those who did so much for us (along with all other people, of course).
Please feel free to print off this article and share it with your Jewish and Israeli loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and strangers you meet in your day-to-day activities.
If you live in Israel and/or know people who speak and read Hebrew – and you are reading this article on RaptureReady.com – you can print this article in the Hebrew language by clicking the burnt orange “Translate” button at the lower right-hand corner of this article and clicking on the Israeli Star of David flag.
Additionally, you can copy and paste the contents of this article onto a document or the body of an email – keeping the Scriptures and One For Israel information intact – and then you can edit and lovingly personalize your own message into the content. You can then give them out, in any format you desire, to all you know and those you encounter in your walk with the Lord.
These are just a few suggestions I wanted to offer the body of Christ in the all-important eternal endeavor of Giving the Gospel to Israel! Keep planting seeds, my precious and beloved brothers and sisters in Messiah Yeshua, and allow the Spirit of God to provide the increase.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7-8
May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
➢ Email: mab10666@yahoo.com – I would love to hear from you!
➢ If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ and are seeking answers about God, Jesus Christ, the gospel, and salvation, please email me at mab10666@yahoo.com for information.
➢ I am still taking questions for the Questions from the Body of Christ series. If you or someone you know has a question pertaining to the Word of God – theology, difficult passages, eschatology, etc. – I would really like to hear from you.
➢ A listing of past articles may be found at my Article Listings on Rapture Ready or my Home Page on FaithWriters.
The post Giving the Gospel to Israel :: By Mark A. Becker appeared first on Rapture Ready.
