Avi Snyder - Jews Dont Need Jesus. . .and other Misconceptions: Reflections of a Jewish Believer

If the gospel is not for the Jewish people, its not for anyone, and if Jesus is not the Messiah of Israel, then Hes not the Savior of the world. And if Jewish people (or any people) can be saved apart from knowing Jesus as Lord, then His death on the cross was in vain. Sadly, in an effort to repent of spiritual pride and to renounce Christian anti-Semitism, many churches today no longer share the gospel with Jewish people, believing that they have their own covenant with God. This book, written by a seasoned Jewish missionary, dispels these misconceptions and calls on Christians everywhere to proclaim the good news about Jesus the Messiah, to the Jew first.

MICHAEL L. BROWN

Author, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus

That Jesus is the Savior of the world who is the Messiah and Son of God is a truth that cannot be rejected. Avi Snyder argues well that bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles is still of paramount importance. The Bible teaches that God chose to work with Israel in the past, that a remnant is still being saved today, and that all Israel will be saved in the future. That salvation is found in no one other than in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

MARK L. BAILEY

President, Dallas Theological Seminary

In our clouded, jumbled world, an increasing number of Christians are viewing Jewish evangelism with a skeptical eye. The sad result is not surprisingfewer followers of Jesus are seeking to tell Jews about Him. Armed with forty years of experience and the mandate of Scripture, Avi Snyder confronts and dismantles each objection. This valuable book brings a needed focus back to the church: the gospel is first to the Jews.

J. PAUL NYQUIST

President, Moody Bible Institute

As the pastor of a Bible-believing church and a Jewish believer in Jesus myself, I wholeheartedly recommend this book! It effectively presents the case to Christians for including Jewish people in their evangelism efforts and can only enhance the local churchs missions mandate.

LON SOLOMON

Senior Pastor, McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA

If I found a treasure, hidden in a field, which would help to meet all of my deepest needs, would I keep it to myself? No way! I would want to share it with everyone, including those who first owned it, and everyone else. That is the way it is with the good news of Jesus. I am a debtor with a debt to repayto God for His great gift, to the people He first chose as His own, and to everyone everywhere who is seeking life in all its fullness.

LEIGHTON FORD

President, Leighton Ford Ministries

Sharing the good news of Messiah Jesus with others is the joy and the duty of every Christ follower. In the Great Commission, Jesus sent His apostles to make disciples of all nations. As they went forth to fulfill this calling, they preached to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles. On the basis of this biblical precedent and of the integrity of the Bible, it is Avi Snyders burning conviction that the gospel should be brought to people of every background, including the Jewish people. Sharing the truth of the Messiahship of Jesus and inviting others to follow Him is therefore not an option, but a necessity, born out of truth and love. In this passionate plea, Avi bares his heart and pleads for a new commitment to evangelism. A must read for all who desire to think biblically about evangelism. As a Christian from Germany, I stand convicted by the arguments of this Messianic Jewish brother.

ROLAND S. WERNER

Author, church planter, Bible translator, and Professor for Theology in a Global Context at the Evangelische Hochschule Tabor, Marburg, Germany

The biblical record is clear and passionate on this needJewish people need to be saved and brought to the knowledge of the truth. Our church has stepped up our efforts and stand with Jewish Christians in Israel to help spread the Jesus message. We give it as much focus as our commitment to reach Arab Muslims. Why would it be any different? This is vital and urgent. Dear Lord, use this book to light a gospel flame for every Jew in the world.

LON ALLISON

Author, professor, and Pastor of Teaching and Outreach, Wheaton Bible Church

Avi Snyder was a successful Broadway actor until Christ apprehended him for His own. When I first met him, Avi was developing a one-man drama based on the life and message of the apostle Paul. I was amazed at how Avi used mostly the text of Pauls epistles to powerfully portray this greatest of missionaries. Ever since, I have watched the same zeal and love for God displayed in Avis life as he founded Jewish mission works in five different countries around the world. Everywhere Avi goes he inspires others to live passionately for Christ. This book is his magnum opus. It captures the passion of the apostle Paul and takes us through the Scriptures with the same mastery and zeal Paul did. Thank you, Avi, for living and writing boldly, biblically, and powerfully for the sake of the salvation of Israel.

DAVID BRICKNER

Executive Director, Jews for Jesus

2017 by
AVI SNYDER

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations in the body text are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations in the foreword are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Emphasis in Scripture quotations has been added.

Edited by Connor Sterchi
Interior and cover design: Erik M. Peterson
Cover Image: Cover painting by Maurice Gottlieb, Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur (1878)
Author Photo: Niek Stam

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1656-8

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To Ruth, and the Martins

EVEN BEFORE I READ THIS BOOK, I felt a deep desire to write a foreword for a work on this topic. Now that I have read it, that desire burns all the more.

Before I knew this book was being written, I had said to the content team at our web-based ministry, desiringGod.org, I want us to do more for the cause of Jewish evangelism. Why was I stirred again with this burden? And all the more now that I have read this book?