Reaching the lost is a very important part of our congregation. We state in our congregation bio that we believe G-d saved many Russian Jewish people to be a prophetic voice to both the House of Israel and the world. Who would believe the Lord would arrange events just so, that when the iron curtain came down, there would be thousand of Russian Jews willing to invite the Messiah, Yeshua into their hearts.

 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their ^[a]fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

               Romans 11:11

Stumbled, another synonym is tripped; “fall“=The second word for “fall” is a different word meaning “a false step, transgression, sin” (namely unbelief). This same word is found in Rom. 5:20 “offense“. The nation of Israel sinned and fell and rejected Yeshua, the Messiah but it was not a fatal fall. The nation has not been ruined without any hope of recovery. A better day is coming! The nation shall rise again! When Yeshua (Christ) came the first time the nation “received Him not” (John 1:10-12). When Yeshua (Christ) shall come the second time the nation will bless their Messiah just prior to His return (Matt. 23:39). Today the nation is blinded, and G-d has given them “a spirit of slumber (stupor)” (Rom. 11:8). In the future the nation will be made to see (Zech. 12:10) and G-d will pour upon His people “the spirit of grace and supplications.” The present rejection will be followed by a future reception.

Israel’s present rejection and fall is an opportunity to bless Israel by the Gentiles because “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.” During this present church age, the great majority of those who are members of the body of Yeshua (Christ) are Gentiles. G-d is visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His Name (Acts 15:14).

Most of the founding members of our congregation Beth Yeshua and the Messianic Jewish movement came to know Yeshua, as the promised Messiah because of the witness of the Gentiles, thus confirming G-d’s word in Rom 11:11, which stated that one of the “Divine Purpose” of the Gentile Believers in Yeshua is to provoke Israel to holy jealousy, (the envy of the gentile’s relationship with the G-d of Israel) so that the Jewish nation can repent and reconcile with Yeshua, the Messiah and King of the Jews.

Because of this, we believe it is our role to continue to help the church reach Jewish people with the Good News of their Messiah. We believe there is a two-prong approach.

The mandate to reach the Lost

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…Mat 28:19.

This is illustrated in John 1:11-12 (the Nation of Israel did not receive Yeshua, (Christ) as their Messiah, so G-d offers His salvation to ANYONE who will receive Him!). G-d has a purpose in Israel’s fall: to bring salvation to the Gentiles. G-d has a purpose in bringing salvation to the Gentiles: to provoke Israel to jealousy, to make Israel envious (see Romans 10:19 and also Romans 11:14). When the Jews rejected their Messiah, G-d had the good of the Gentiles in mind and salvation was brought to them (Rom. 11:11). G-d, in dealing with the Gentiles during this present age, has the good of the Jews in mind, in seeking through the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy.

Three times Paul speaks about G-d’s purpose in using the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy (see Romans 10:19; 11:11 and 11:14, and compare Deut.32:21). When a person is jealous or envious he is saying, “You have something that I want. You have something very good which I don’t have!” Let us now consider some of those things which the saved Gentiles now have which ought to make the Jewish people envious. These are blessings that the Jewish people should possess but they forfeited these things because of unbelief, and these are blessings which the church (made up mostly of Gentiles) now possesses and enjoys in Christ. This is the primary purpose that spurs our OUTREACH here at BYMC.

The mandate to reach Jewish people first

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek…”.Rom 1:16.

We believe that by reaching the Jewish people first, the church will be equipped to reach all people. If one can feel good about telling Jewish people about the Lord, then telling everyone else will be easier.

If you feel you need further training, Beth Yeshua is equipped to come to your Church and share how to do this.