Every Jewish Person Wants to Know!

Every Jewish person wants to know, “Why am I here?”, “Where am I going?”, “Will I find the answer to life in my Jewish religious experience?” This is the major dilemma that a person faces throughout his or her life, both Jew and non-Jew alike.

There is good news for you, my friend! God has revealed His purpose and plan for your life in the Tanach (Jewish Scriptures). You are probably very busy like most of us. You were either given this piece of literature by a friend, or picked it up while pursuing some other venture. But if you will take a few moments out of your busy day to read this brochure, it will provide you with the answer to that nagging question, “Will I ever find the peace I am looking for in my life?”

People think of themselves as being good, but

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Ps. 53:2-3)

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. (Eccles. 7:20) David, longing for God’s kingdom as he reports about the evil of the human race, and Solomon in his preachings show that, from God’s perspective, all men have sinned before Him. Of himself, man is unjust and corrupt. According to God all humans are sinners.

Most people think that their religious activities bring them closer to God,

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isa. 59:2)

In the Torah, Moses warned the people of Israel that their rebellion against God would result in severe chastening and dispersion. Here the prophet Isaiah is telling the people that their dilemma of captivity is a form of that chastening. Sin is offensive to God and results in such a separation between God and man that God does not even hear the sinner.

People think that their good deeds and mitzvahs are pleasing to God,

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isa. 64:6)

For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. (Jer. 2:22)

Some believe that, though there is a separation between God and man as a result of man’s sin, somehow man can bridge this gap by doing good works. It is thought that these mitzvahs will gain favor with God. The prophets make it clear, however, that righteous deeds are not enough and that sin is a stain that man cannot remove himself.

God requires something more than tradition for atonement.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Lev. 17:11)

In Leviticus 16, details were given regarding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. There the blood sacrifice was described as an everlasting command. In the very next chapter, we see that God clearly states that a blood atonement is required for the soul. The rabbis teach that prayer, charity, and repentance have taken the place of the blood sacrifice. Unfortunately, that is not what God said, and His everlasting requirement for atonement of sin is blood. Life depends upon it.

Some say the Messiah did not come,

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. (Isa. 53:5)

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. (Isa. 53:12)

Here in the passage of Scripture that describes Messiah as the suffering servant of God, the Bible clearly describes how the Messiah would be wounded and bear the sins of others. He would be put to death in order to make atonement for sinners. The sinner can only be healed of his sin by the sacrifice of the Messiah who provides the ultimate blood atonement.

All must recognize the need to

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. (Ps. 2:12)

In this passage the psalmist gives us a glimpse of the wrath of the Messiah, the Son of God. In the context of submitting to kings as unto the Lord, the reader is exhorted to submit to, or pay homage to, the Son so that His wrath would not result in the blotting out of spiritual life. Those who flee to, and seek protection from, the Son are blessed. To trust this way requires a personal act of acceptance.

Each and every one of us will die someday,

and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Dan. 12:2)

The prophet Daniel, in describing the times of the end and the culmination of world history, calls attention to the fact that some in the afterlife will experience spiritual quickening and that others will experience eternal abhorrent contempt. The difference between the two is the relationship that a person has with Messiah.

People are searching for the peace that comes only from a personal relationship with God because

thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isa. 26:3)

The prophet Isaiah, writing with the righteous remnant of the nation in mind, encourages the Jewish people that true, complete, genuine peace (shalom) comes only from truly trusting in the Lord and His means of salvation.

Well, there you have it, friend; simple, isn’t it? Sin is really the dilemma we all face. It keeps us separated from the God of Israel; Messiah has provided the kippur (atonement) to set us free from sin and guarantees us eternal life in the future. This results in a life full of peace, joy, and purpose right now.

We praise God for the peace that He has given through Abraham’s Seed, Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah), to those who believe. A wonderful new life awaits the person who seeks God, repents of his or her sin, and receives Yeshua as Messiah and Savior.

You probably have many other questions regarding what you have just read. We’d love to talk with you further, so please give us a call. We’ll supply the nosh!

Shalom Ministries Inc.
2429 Coyle St.
Brooklyn, NY 11235

Above is a reproduction of the text that appears in a tract we use in our ministry titled “Every Jewish Person Wants to Know!” Please feel free to print and use it or contact us, and we will gladly send you as many copies as you need at no charge.