Thanks so much for tuning in to the Line of Fire Broadcast.
I hope it's becoming a daily habit for you. I hope you look forward to this time that we have together. On my end, I really pray that each show will impact you. That genuinely we can infuse you with faith and truth and courage. It will be like getting a divine infusion. That strength will come, that courage will come, that the infusion of truth will give you confidence where you can stand strong in the Line of Fire today. Welcome, welcome to the broadcast. And please sign up for our life-giving, equipping, frontline newsletter. We so much want to get into your hands. It's just another way that every month we can infuse you with grace.
And yes, get divine truth into your soul, into your spirit, into your mind. Look, it's a challenging time to live. I know on the one hand, it's a time of ease and plenty compared to much of the rest of the world and compared to world history. I mean, we have lives that are not, for the most part, right on the edge with just, you know, we barely make it in the midst of famine and drought. And I mean, we travel in air-conditioned cars.
We have refrigerators in our home and temperature-controlled homes. We can FaceTime with people all around the world instead of being isolated. We have so much abundance in terms of food and options.
Our grocery stores are stocked. And yet it's a challenging time to live. It really is.
There's so much spiritual opposition, moral opposition, so much confusion, so many distractions. So let us be one of these daily things that just helps you get grounded again. Just back to basics. When I would preach for a church in Tom's River, New Jersey, over the years, I've been with them many, many times from the 80s into the 2000s, and the pastor was a very solid man. I've got a real teacher of the word. He would say when I came, it was kind of like a slap in the face, like, back to the basics. Back to the basics.
That's what happens when I'll hear someone else or read someone else, like, boom, back to the basics. So all this month, we've been really doing our best to explain from the word why Israel's salvation should matter to you, why we should be concerned about the rising tide of anti-Semitism, open up the Jewish roots of the faith, and separate fact from fiction about the Jewish people. These are important themes in scripture.
And we want to look today at the subject of why the gospel is to the Jew first. But to finish what I was saying about getting our Frontline newsletter in your hand, if you're not getting our monthly mailings and then our weekly mailings, all digital, all by email, you know, every week the craziest stuff happens in the world. I'm writing articles about it. And you can have these instead of you having to do the digging and the research, and we've done it, and we've given you good talking points and ways to deal with the controversies. Daily Talk radio show, we're doing one of those every single day, taking calls, dealing with controversies. We'll send you a link every single week, hear the latest videos, latest articles, then once a month, Frontline newsletter.
So thelineoffire.org, that's where you sign up, thelineoffire.org. The gospel to the Jew first, what does it actually mean and why is it the case? That's where we focus today. So I'm going to start reading in Romans chapter 1 verse 8. Can I step back again and give you background to the letter of Romans in case you're not aware of this, or you missed a previous broadcast. So Paul had not been to Rome to preach the gospel. He was looking forward to going to Rome, wanted to impart something to the congregation there.
But before he'd get there, he writes what is ultimately his most important doctrinal letter, where he lays out the essential foundations of the faith to make sure that the Roman believers understood these things clearly. And the history of the congregation in Rome was very, very unique. It started like the other congregations did as Jewish believers gathering together to worship Yeshua, Messiah and Lord. Then Gentiles were added to them, but the Gentiles could have had a sense of being outsiders. You know, picture, for example, your congregation is all Asian Americans who speak Korean or Chinese or Japanese. And now you come in as a Hispanic American or a Caucasian American or a black American. And oh, no, we welcome you.
We have English services, too. We welcome you. Like, yeah, but I don't really fit here.
I'm not really part of this. So now Gentile believers are coming in and they're equal with the Jewish believers in God's sight, even though they don't keep all the holy days or the dietary laws necessarily. So you're working that out. Now the Emperor Claudius puts out an edict that all Jews have to leave Rome. That means also messianic Jews, Jewish believers in Yeshua, they're kicked out of Rome. Now the congregation in Rome grows.
The believers in the city of Rome grow. They're all Gentile. Now the Jews come back and the Jewish believers come back to their congregation. Now they're the outsiders coming in because it's almost all Gentile now.
So these are a lot of the dynamics here. So as Paul lays these things out, from the middle of the first chapter to the third chapter, towards the end of the third chapter, he lays out how all human beings, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jew and Gentile were all under judgment and deserving of wrath. Then chapters 4 and 5, the end of the third chapter, and then chapters 4 and 5, he lays out how we're justified by faith. All of our good works in the world cannot pay for our sin. We become just and righteous in God's sight by faith and now are called to live that out. And then chapters 6, 7, and 8 deal with life in the Spirit and overcoming sin. I mean these are glorious foundations of the faith.
And then chapters 9, 10, and 11, Israel's salvation. This was really important to Paul. He wanted to make sure the believers in Rome understood these issues. He wanted to be sure the believers in Rome were aware, were equipped in this regard.
Because this was foundational. As my colleague Bob Gladstone has said for many, many years, if you don't understand Israel, you don't understand Paul's gospel. Or to quote yet again what the late Bible teacher Derek Prince said, that Israel is like the first button on the shirt.
And if it's not buttoned properly, all the other buttons are off. That's how important this is. And then Romans 12 to 16 is practical application of everything that Paul wrote. So we read from Romans 1-8, First I thank my God through Jesus the Messiah for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For I was my witness whom I served with my spirit in the gospel of the Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.
That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you, but thus far have been prevented in order that I may reap some harvest among you, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians. So barbarians were other foreigners.
Greeks called them barbarians because their speech sounded like they were just saying bar bar. Both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. Then he says this, verse 16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel. You think, why would you say those words, I'm not ashamed of the gospel? If I introduce you to my wife Nancy, I don't say I'm not ashamed of Nancy. She's the greatest joy of my life outside of the Lord. When I introduce you to my kids, or grandkids, I don't say here are my kids, grandkids, here are my daughters, my sons-in-law, grandkids, and I'm not ashamed of them. No, I'm so proud of them.
I think they're amazing. Why would Paul say I'm not ashamed of the gospel? Because the gospel brings reproach. Because the gospel was despised in the ancient world. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1, to the Jews it was a stumbling block, to the Greeks it was foolishness. In the Roman world, the founder of your movement, dying a criminal's death, you couldn't have been worse, you couldn't have come up with a worse idea.
It's the weakest and the worst of all. And for Paul it meant suffering and imprisonment. He said, for I'm not ashamed, but I'm not ashamed of it.
Why? Because it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed for faith as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.
So hang on. It's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. So what actually does that mean, to the Jew first?
Some say it's just historical. In other words, the gospel came to the Jewish people first, and then the Jewish people rejected it, and that went to the Gentiles. So it's to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. But it's possible the Greek could mean that. But that's clearly not what Paul is saying.
Why do I say that? Well, let's read into the second chapter of Romans, okay? Romans chapter 2, and look at what Paul says beginning in verse 6. He, namely God, will render to each one according to his works. To those who by patience and well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first, and also the Greek. But glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first, and also the Greek, for God shows no partiality. He's not talking about historically here.
He's talking about in the future. When future judgment comes, when future blessing comes, it's going to come for the Jew first and also the Greek, meaning the rest of the world. The Jew first and also the Gentile.
Why? Because Israel was chosen with a mission. In Amos 3, 1 God said of Israel, you only have I known out of all the families of the earth, 3, 1, and 2, therefore I'll visit you for your iniquities. In other words, there is greater accountability on the Jewish people. So to the Jew first here does not mean historically, it means in the future. There will be judgment first on the Jew, there will be blessing first on the Jew. That's simply the order. And in this case, going first does not necessarily mean getting the best because it means greater accountability. In the same way, in the same way, the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. I'll explain that more on the other side of the break.
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Call 1-800-771-5584, 1-800-771-5584 or online at TriVita.com. We are back to our topic of, to the Jew first, why is that so important in God's sight? We see in the book of Acts that this was the pattern. The gospel was preached to the Jewish people first and not just one time. In other words, it wasn't just a few times the gospel was preached, the Jewish hearers largely rejected it and the apostles said, okay, we go to the Gentiles.
No, that continued to be the pattern. So that's what Paul does in his ministry. Paul who wrote these words, I would think that the one who wrote these words is the one who can explain what these words meant. And that we can see by his own life what he did. When he would go into a city, the first thing he'd look for to share the good news of the Messiah was who?
Jewish people. This was the good news about their Messiah. This was the good news about the one they had been praying for for generations. This was the one who fulfilled what was written in Moses and the prophets. So he's first going to go to the people to whom the Messiah came. John 1, he came to his own and his own receiving the not.
He came into the world and the world didn't recognize him. But he first went to his own. In Yeshua's earthly life, his main mission was only to his people. When he sent the 12 out, he said go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Matthew 10. Of course he did reach out occasionally and touch Gentiles, but the main mission was Israel first. Now the Messiah has risen from the dead, so what does Paul do? He starts in the synagogue. He said yeah, yeah, but look in Acts 13. He gets rejected in the synagogue.
He's in Pisidian Antioch. He gets rejected there and ultimately the message is not heard by the synagogue here as a whole. So he says fine, your blood's on your own hands, I'll go to the Gentiles. And then he goes and brings the word to the Gentiles in the city. But then when he goes to other cities, like for example when he gets to Thessalonica in Acts 17, he starts in the synagogue again.
Well why? Because it's a message for the Jewish people first. You say yeah, yeah, but through history things have shifted now. And Christianity is the religion that believes in Jesus and Judaism is the religion that rejects Jesus. Of course that's making the separation even deeper because the roots of the Christian faith are Jewish and biblical, right? But let's put that aside for a moment. Let's put that aside.
Let's focus on this. Yes it's true that the religion of Judaism has developed without Jesus, Yeshua. And it's developed its own traditions and holds to traditions from the Old Testament and traditions of the rabbis. And as a religion rejects Yeshua, I understand that. And as a religion, Christianity is based on faith in Jesus.
I get that. But it's still the message about the Jewish Messiah for the Jewish people. And the Jewish people have to welcome the Messiah back. The Jewish people have to welcome the Messiah back.
It still must happen. A Jewish Jerusalem must welcome the Messiah back as indicated at the end of Matthew 23. Where Jesus pronounces seven woes on the religious hypocrites and then mourns over Jerusalem. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under wings.
But you are not willing. Behold, your house is left you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, Baruch haba b'shem Adonai. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. In other words, we welcome you, King Messiah. The very words they spoke, this triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, Baruch haba b'shem Adonai. We welcome you, King Messiah.
Hosanna, Hosanna to the King. Those very words, you must speak them. That's when you'll see me. In other words, I will not be seen by the whole world because Revelation 1.7 tells us that when he comes, every eye will see him. You will not be seen by the whole world until Jerusalem, you welcome me back. That's what the Messiah is saying. I will not be seen by the whole world until you, Jerusalem, welcome me back. That's why Peter preaches in Acts the third chapter and says to his Jewish people in Jerusalem, repent and turn to God that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he may send the Messiah.
Jewish repentance is key in triggering the return of the Messiah. So it's not world missions or Jewish evangelism. It's not either or. It's both and.
It's both and. Now, let me say this again. Yes, I'm a Jewish follower of Yeshua. Yes, I've been involved in aspects of Jewish outreach for over 52 years now. Yes, God's called me to specialize in Jewish apologetics and debating rabbis and writing books on answering Jewish objections to Jesus and providing resources for those in Jewish outreach all around the world. Yes, yes, yes. Major part of our calling. Yes, the third R in our three R's in our ministry is the redemption of Israel.
Yes, yes, yes. But please understand, in my personal life, I've traveled outside of the U.S. probably about 200 times to preach. Maybe 30, 40 to Canada and then Mexico and then over 160 overseas. So 29 times to India and going on 28 times to Italy and numerous nations around the world. I've been to Israel less than 20 times. I've been to India more times than Israel. I've been to Italy more times than Israel. And then when you look at everything in terms of all my international travel overseas, it's better than eight to one in other nations. So my heart beats for the nations.
I love, love going to the nations. And out of our school, we birthed Fire International, our missions organization. So by God's grace, we have workers in probably about 25 nations now.
We've been in as many as 40. And we have some workers in Israel, but the vast majority are all around the world. One of our strongest teams in the world is in the Middle East reaching Muslims.
We shared about some of their adventures in God in the last Frontline newsletter. So my heart beats for the nations. I am not just focused on winning Jewish people.
I love going to the nations. It's a privilege. And my heart beats for the Church of America, for the nation of America, where I live as an American. It's not either or.
It's both and. But I would dare say that many churches don't have a burden for the salvation of Israel. Do not invest in Jewish evangelism.
You may not be in a city that has a lot of Jewish people or country with a lot of Jewish people, but you can be praying for the salvation of Israel. And I would just ask you to do this. Would you just say, God, would you give me your heart for the salvation of the Jewish people?
Whatever that means. It's not for me to dictate. Lord, would you give me your heart and the salvation of Israel? Would you give me your your burden for the salvation of Israel and see what he drops in your heart? It could be by way of deep intercession that a burden grows. It could be just a daily prayer that's introduced or something.
Maybe a pastor that you begin to pray for at your church. It could be that you you you really pray for divine opportunities to share the good news with a Jewish person. Hey, in America, the great, great, great majority of Jews, great majority of Jews that will come to faith will come through the witness of a gentile Christian.
It's just a numbers thing. And that's the reality. I was led to the Lord by gentile Christians. So by all means, share your faith with Jewish people like everybody else. And your average American Jew is not religious. You know the Bible better than your average American Jew. And those are the Jews are going to be around more secular Jews. So don't hesitate to share your faith. And you have opportunity to interact with ultra orthodox Jews. You're not going to argue them or know the Hebrew better. But perhaps your witness, your prayers could make an impact in your life.
Your love can make an impact in their lives. And with the history of anti-Semitism in the church, it's it's a burden for the Jewish people. It's a burden for the church today to demonstrate to the Jewish people what a real Christian is like, what the real gospel is like, who the real Jesus is to set the record straight. And it's tears of love that will remove the stains of blood from church history.
So I encourage you to ask God for his heart. Get involved in one way or another reaching Jewish people, either in praying and sharing the good news or in giving. And if you invest in our ministry, I assure you that a key part of your donation goes to help us reach Jewish people with the good news of the Messiah. In our daily talk radio show, one day a week is Thoroughly Jewish Thursday, where we do our best to educate and equip. And I'm working on a massive Jewish outreach project, the most important in my life and one that will equip the church as well.
This is day and night for years. You're helping hold my hands up as I do that. And we're getting more and more of our materials out in multiple languages around the world and working with a team to establish a very special training school in Jerusalem. So you're helping us reach out as you support us. You're directly involved in helping live out to the Jew first to join our team.
And there are other ministries out there as well. But if you have confidence in what we're doing and want to partner together, let us be your outlet. Let us be your outlet for Jewish evangelism. At the same time, we stand up against the lies of anti-Semitism.
This is Dr. Michael Brown. Thanks so much for tuning in. Just a reminder that we are listener-supported. If we have been a blessing to you, if you're being enriched in the Word and prayer and your own walk with God through this broadcast, then stand with us so that we can reach many, many more and bless many, many more. Together, friends, we're making a difference. So go to thelineoffire.org, thelineoffire.org, and click Donate.
