The Chosen People | JUNE 2019 3
It is my hope that we are on the same page biblically, and
that this will encourage your financial support of our efforts
this summer. We hope that you will be motivated to share
our ministry with friends from your Bible study, church, or
congregation, as well. Perhaps they can also engage with Your
Mission to the Jewish People in support of this great effort in
New York City this summer.
Romans 1:16
So what does the Bible teach about Jewish evangelism? Clearly,
one of the foundational passages, which we have explained
before, is found in Romans 1:16. The Apostle Paul writes,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God
for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to
the Greek.”
This passage is easily understood, but not as easily applied. I am
sure that Paul did not expect the Roman Christians to evangelize
the Jewish people in their area first, and then once they were
done, to begin working among the Gentiles. It is not a sequential
mandate but rather a priority of heart Paul had in mind. Sharing
the gospel with the Jewish people should be viewed as a priority,
which he links to the second coming of Jesus. In effect, the
apostle is telling us that we can all have a small part in bringing
about the Lord’s return by sharing the gospel with the Jewish
people. When God’s chosen people respond positively to Jesus,
repent, and return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by
accepting the One who was pierced (Zechariah 12:10), then
Jesus will return and establish His Messianic kingdom.
That is quite a plan! It motivates me to share the gospel with
the Jewish people.
What about those of you who do not live in an area like I do,
where you can easily walk out of the door and begin sharing
the gospel with Jewish people? I think the message is clear that
the priority is one of the heart, so that if you cannot share the
gospel with Jewish people where you are, you can do everything
you can to help those who are able to fulfill this mandate.
So when you pray for us and support our ministry, it helps you
fulfill the mandate in Romans 1:16. And further, Paul writes in
Romans 11:11, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did
they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has
come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”
The apostle teaches that Gentiles have a critical role in
reaching Jewish people. Non-Jewish believers in Jesus are
called to reach Jewish people for the Messiah with their faith,
love, and transformed lives—which make Jewish people
jealous—and also when possible through their proclamation.
One of the reasons I am so excited about Shalom New York
is because we will have Gentile believers from all across the
United States and around the world joining us in New York
City from July 27 through August 10 for the outreach! This
will give many believers who are not usually able to share Jesus
with Jewish people a great opportunity to reach God’s chosen
people with the message of Jesus.
Romans 9–11
Another key portion of the book of Romans that reiterates
this message is in chapters 9–11. I have already mentioned the
teaching in Romans 11:25–29, which presents the connection
between the second coming of Jesus and the end-time
repentance of the Jewish people. It also reveals the need for
Gentile believers to make Jewish people jealous with the gospel
(Romans 11:11). But what will motivate us to do this on a
very practical level? Let me share two more passages from
Romans 9 and 10 that further develop the basis for Jewish
evangelism in the Scriptures.
Paul speaks about his broken heart for the Jewish people in
Romans 9:1–3:
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my
conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that
I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated
from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen
according to the flesh….
How could we possibly relate to the above verses when we
have so little in common with Paul—a Messianic Jew himself
who was willing to step into hell so that a Jewish person might
enter heaven? When I think of a burden for the lost, especially
for the Jewish people, this is the passage I have in mind that
motivates me to give my life in service to the Lord for the sake
of my Jewish people. This passage has been the very bedrock of
Chosen People Ministries for the last 125 years.
Additionally, in Romans 10:1, Paul speaks about the desperate
prayer from the depth of his heart: “Brethren, my heart’s desire
and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”
May I ask you to join the global staff and families involved
with Chosen People Ministries by praying for the salvation of
the Jewish people? Pray especially that Jewish people will come
to know Jesus as their Messiah this summer as 125 evangelists
share the good news with Jewish people from every walk
of life. During Shalom New York, we will meet secular and
religious Jewish people, as well as many from the former Soviet
Union, Israeli expats, and students. We will also witness to
many others who need to find the Lord!
Thank you so much for your faithfulness to the Jewish people
and to Chosen People Ministries. We could not do the work
God has called us to do without your partnership.
Blessings to you, and have a great summer! Please remember
to pray for us as we reach out to this incredible number of
Jewish people living in the greater New York area next month.
Your brother in the Messiah,
Mitch