Posted on 10/29/2007 9:43:00 AM PDT by NYer
The relationship between the Old Covenant and New Covenant has been a hot topic for 2000 years.
Not long ago, Ann Coulter caused a media row by announcing that Christians are “perfected Jews.” A few years before that, a document called Reflections on Covenant and Mission made headlines by apparently saying that Jews did not need Jesus.
What do we make of it all?
The Reflections document is as good a place to start as any, since so many people still think it is “what the Church teaches.” In fact, it was released without episcopal permission, had no magisterial authority and was immediately pulled from circulation by the bishops.
The subject of the document was the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people, and the most easily misread passage was this:
“God’s grace, which is the grace of Jesus Christ according to our faith, is available to all. Therefore, the Church believes that Judaism, i.e. the faithful response of the Jewish people to God’s irrevocable covenant, is salvific for them, because God is faithful to his promises.”
Contrary to the headlines, this does not mean “Christians are saved by Jesus, Jews don’t need him.” Rather, it means that everybody who is saved — including Jews — will find that they have been saved by Jesus Christ at work in the light they have received in their own particular situation. That’s not new. It’s biblical. Here’s how.
In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, the sheep are described as surprised at finding themselves saved:
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:37-40).
Romans 2:14-16 explains why they are surprised:
“When Gentiles who have not the Law do by nature what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law. They show that what the Law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”
The basic principle here is that those who are cut off from conscious reliance on Christ through no fault of their own can nonetheless be obedient to the light of his Spirit at work in their own particular religious background and so be saved.
In that sense only, “Judaism … is salvific” particularly since Israel is the one religion specifically ordained by God to usher in the Messiah.
But what many people very predictably heard — with the help of the theologically ignorant press — was: “Christians get saved by Jesus and Jews get saved by Judaism and not Jesus.”
Progressive dissenters, drunk on the single truth “God wills to save all,” promptly applauded the way in which the Church had “grown” (by which they meant “denied one of its own fundamental dogmatic truths about the necessity of Jesus Christ to our salvation”).
The reality, however, is that the Reflections document was immediately and rightly pulled from circulation by the bishops. That’s because, despite the wishes of progressive dissenters intoxicated by the single idea of indifferentist egalitarianism, the fact remains that actual magisterial teaching like Dominus Iesus (The Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church) makes it abundantly clear that the Church has not backed off one inch from the words of Our Lord, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
That is not going to change — ever.
We can, as Pope Benedict has done, speak of the fact that Israel “still has a mission to accomplish today.” We can acknowledge of the chosen people who were made to seek the Messiah that “even this standing at the door fulfills a mission, one that is important to the world.” We can agree with the Pope that, “In that way this people still has a special place in God’s plans.”
But we cannot pretend that there is a second salvific covenant that does not ultimately have Jesus at the center.
The trouble is, not a few reactionary dissenters protest Benedict’s teaching about the Jewish people just as progressive dissenters protest “No one comes to the Father but by Jesus.”
In this series, we will look at some of the various false teachings about the relationship between the Old Covenant and New Covenant — and at the Church’s sober sanity.
Mark Shea is senior
content editor for CatholicExchange.com.
Ping
This will be a great study. Catholic Caucus????
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me.” John 14:6.
I AM says it all for all time.
No. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion. That is how we grow in faith and mutual understanding.
Ping to read later. I was just thinking about what the likely Catholic view was on this the other day, and then you post this!
Contrary to the headlines, this does not mean “Christians are saved by Jesus, Jews don’t need him.” Rather, it means that everybody who is saved — including Jews — will find that they have been saved by Jesus Christ at work in the light they have received in their own particular situation. That’s not new. It’s biblical. Here’s how.
Key passage for consideration
And yet he taught, “Our Father...”, a prayer Hebraic in every sense.
Yes it's how we should pray. A puzzle why Jesus was rejected by the Jewish people.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Roy Schoeman, in his book Salvation is from the Jews , delves into this. He points to Romans 11 - "God gave them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day."
In God's design, Israel's unbelief is being used to grant the light of faith to the Gentiles. Meanwhile, Israel remains dear to God (cf Romans 9:13), still the object of special providence, the mystery of which will one day be revealed.
Sort of like God hardened the hearts of the Pharaoh.
Interesting you should say that since every promise given to Israel, it seems, is now claimed by your church...
The mystery of the future relationship between God and Israel has already been revealed, in the scripture...
I don't think he was.
Hyam Maccoby, Revolution In Judaea: Jesus And The Jewish Resistance
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