dab1@ahuta.UUCP (dab1) (01/18/85)
Two very good reasons why a Jew cannot believe in Jesus are clearly stated in the New Testament. 1. Galatians 5.2 says, "If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Are you circumcised? Then why bother to follow a Christ that will profit you nothing. Ah, you say Paul is only talking to gentiles so that they should not first join the Jews via the Abrahamic covenant in order to become followers of Jesus. Why not? Because the next verse of the same chapter warns: 2. "Every man that is circumcised, he is a debtor to do the whole law." This means that all Jews are debtors to do the whole Torah. Yet Paul goes on to say that if you are keeping the Torah you are fallen from grace (vs. 4). Jews are circumcised, therefore they must keep the Torah, and if they do they have fallen from grace. Paul even says, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them" (galatians 3.10). But if those who are circumcised wish to do them (the mitzvot - commandments) they are no longer justified in the sight of god (vs. 11). See also Acts 13.39, Romans 7.4. It sounds like an out right contradiction to me --- just like the phrase: Jews for Jesus. David Berk AT&T Information Systems Holmdel, New Jersey "All you do to me is talk talk" T.T.