1. Do Jewish people need to believe in Jesus as the Messiah? 

Can’t they become righteous by keeping the Law of Moses?  No, they cannot become righteous by keeping the Law of Moses.  They need to believe in Jesus as Messiah the same way as all other people do throughout the world.  There is not a separate way of salvation for the Jewish people and another way of salvation for the Gentile people.  Actually, there are some, who call themselves “Evangelicals,” of wide influence, who teach this incorrectly.  However, there are several verses in Scripture that verify that Jewish people are in need of forgiveness of sin and have the need for personal salvation like the rest of the world.

Rom. 10:1 – “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Israel) is for their salvation.”  Why would Paul pray for their salvation if they didn’t need it?  It wouldn’t make sense to pray for that which is not necessary.

Rom. 3:9 – “What then?  Are we better than they?  Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are all under sin.” To be the Chosen People, (which we will discuss the meaning of in the future) does not mean that the Jewish people have escaped the need for forgiveness of sin.

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”  If the Jewish person does not come to the Messiah Jesus for the salvation of his soul, there simply is no other way for them to be saved.  See John 14:6.

Those who teach that Jewish people do not need to come to God through Jesus the Messiah teach that they can be made right with God by keeping the Law of Moses.  However, the Bible is clear that this is not possible.

Gal. 2:16 – nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal. 2:21 – “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Gal. 3:11 –  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”

Rom. 3:20 – because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Rom. 10:1-4 – Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Israel) is for their salvation.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.