The Jewish Faith That Saves
Did people really get saved in the old covenant?
Mark 5:34 YLT and he said to her, `Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go away in peace, and be whole from thy plague.’ (Said an Israelite to an Israelite in the old covenant.)
Saved means delivered. In baseball you can save yourself by sliding into home plate. If you succeed, the referee declares you “safe” at home. You believed you would be saved if only you could touch the base and so you acted on your belief. To avoid the misunderstanding, the King James translation inserts a phrase in place of the word that means saved, because we automatically think someone is spiritually saved by trusting Yeshua.
KJV And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Her faith did indeed save her from her illness. She did indeed put her faith in some promise related to the messiah from the tribe of Judah and her faith healed her flow of blood. She was already healed before Yeshua even found out who reached out to Him. Here’s the whole story as told by Mark:
Mark 25-34 YLT 25 and a certain woman, having an issue of blood twelve years, 26 and many things having suffered under many physicians, and having spent all that she had, and having profited nothing, but rather having come to the worse, 27 having heard about Jesus, having come in the multitude behind, she touched his garment, 28 for she said—`If even his garments I may touch, I shall be saved;’ 29 and immediately was the fountain of her blood dried up, and she knew in the body that she hath been healed of the plague. 30 And immediately Jesus having known in himself that out of him power had gone forth, having turned about in the multitude, said, `Who did touch my garments?’ 31 and his disciples said to him, `Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and thou sayest, `Who did touch me!’ 32 And he was looking round to see her who did this, 33 and the woman, having been afraid, and trembling, knowing what was done on her, came, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth, 34 and he said to her, `Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go away in peace, and be whole from thy plague.’
Faith is the same word that is often translated as belief. This woman obviously believed she would be healed if she just touched His garment and she even acted as if it were true. What gave her that idea?
Malachi 4:2 LITV But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall rise up, and healing will be on His wings. And you shall go out and frisk like calves of the stall.
Malachi means “My Messenger”. The book of Malachi was the last word from the God of the Jews, before the Word of God appeared to them in the flesh. It was evidently written and delivered anonymously.
Yeshua is the Hebrew word that means “God is salvation”. We say, “Jesus saves”, but His name name means “God saves”. He was God in the flesh and many Israelites trusted Him to save them from a lot of flesh things before His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and His sending of the Holy Spirit to them. They had the written promises from God in the old covenant and it was those promises that Jesus came to fulfill. Their promises foretold the time of His arrival and the healing He would do for them.
He restored many Israelites to physical health. He even healed people with lepricy; the iconic curse of the flesh. He was in the old covenant as the tree of life to the sons and daughters of Adam. The tree of life would have given Adam biological health to the age. But none of Jesus’ miracles restored the spiritual life. All were like Adam; dead under law.
In fact Jesus put the only spiritually whole old man to death to redeem His people. He himself set them free. No matter how much He propped His people up with miracles, only He could arrive alive in the old covenant. He spiritually reclaimed those under law by way of the new covenant. The rest of the nations would be adopted into the newly created family by the same Holy Spirit that resurrected eschaton Adam and then resurrected the Jews. Adopting nations into the remade family of God started about ten years after that Pentecost.
Galatians LITV 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having come into being out of a woman, having come under Law, 5 that He might redeem the ones under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
But Jesus even made typical exceptions for a non-Israelite who had faith in Him.
Matthew 15:22-28 KJV 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
To the lost sheep of Israel Jesus said:
John 5:39 YLT `Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;
Life to the age was the spiritual salvation that was most important to them. It wasn’t biological life to the age that became never-ending. Adam was cut off from the typical tree of life lest he live to the age biologically, while still spiritually dead. Jesus became the antitypical tree of life. In the new creation He is the spiritual tree of life. He did heal people biologically while still in the typical old covenant, but he had to bring them into their new covenant to heal them spiritually. All the biological time in the world would not make typical Israel spiritual.
2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Luke 24:25-27 LITV25 And He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe on all things which the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory? 27 And beginning from Moses, and from all the prophets, He explained to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures.
Paul told his Israelite brethren that they were dead to law and belonged to Christ; the new husbandman.
Romans 7:4-6 YLT 4 So that, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of the Christ, for your becoming another’s, who out of the dead was raised up, that we might bear fruit to God; 5 for when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, that are through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the death; 6 and now we have ceased from the law, that being dead in which we were held, so that we may serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
What is essential to spiritual life if it is not the Holy Spirit? The Holy spirit only remained on one Israelite in the old covenant. John’s baptism didn’t save them spiritually. Jesus’ baptism did.
John 1:32-34 YLT 32 And John testified, saying—`I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him; 33 and I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, On whomsoever thou mayest see the Spirit coming down, and remaining on him, this is he who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit; 34 and I have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.’
Matthew 3:11 ECB I indeed baptize you in water to repentance: but he coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not adequate to bear: he baptizes you in the Holy Spirit and fire:
John 7:39 He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Acts 1:5 CLV seeing that John, indeed, baptizes in water, yet you shall be baptized in holy spirit after not many of these days.”
The gift of flesh life wasn’t enough. They had to have the gift of spiritual life. They had to be born a second time. Jesus was the only Jew to earn the Holy Spirit in the old covenant flesh mode. He chose to die in that old covenant so He could be resurrected as the new firstborn, in order to save the lost sheep of Israel. They were stuck in the spiritually dead firstborn of the old creation. At Pentecost the Jews received the Holy spirit in a new family covenant; a new creation. The Holy spirit of Genesis chapter one is the same Holy Spirit of Acts chapter 2.
John 3:5-15 CLV 5 Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I am saying to you, If anyone should not be begotten of water and of spirit, he can not be entering into the kingdom of God.” 6 That which is begotten by the flesh is flesh, and that which is begotten by the spirit is spirit.” 7 You should not be marveling that I said to you, ‘You must be begotten anew.'” 8 The blast is blowing where it wills, and the sound of it you are hearing, but you are not aware whence it is coming and where it is going. Thus is everyone who is begotten by the water and the spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are a teacher of Israel, and these things you do not know? 11 Verily, verily, I am saying to you that of that which we have perceived are we speaking, and to that which we have seen are we testifying, and our testimony you are not getting.” 12 If I told you of the terrestrial and you are not believing, how shall you be believing if I should be telling you of the celestial? 13 And no one has ascended into heaven except He Who descends out of heaven, the Son of Mankind Who is in heaven.” 14 And, according as Moses exalts the serpent in the wilderness, thus must the Son of Mankind be exalted, 15 that everyone believing on Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.
Acts 2:1-4 “YLT 1 And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all with one accord at the same place, 2 and there came suddenly out of the heaven a sound as of a bearing violent breath, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, 3 and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them, 4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, according as the Spirit was giving them to declare.
Acts 2:5 &10: And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews: devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 10, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome: Jews and proselytes,
Spiritual salvation came to the Jews by way of their new covenant promise. Yes they were still in the old covenant too. The two covenants overlapped for that transitional generation. But nobody is getting saved out of the old covenant today. It no longer exists. Only Jesus had enough faith to die in their place while He was in their old covenant. He did it so He could send them the gift of spiritual life.
With the Holy Spirit as a gift from Christ, Adam’s shame was removed from them.
Romans 5:5 YLT and the hope doth not make ashamed, because the love of God hath been poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that hath been given to us.
Adam did not have spiritual life anymore, so he was prevented from living to the age. Life to the age becomes never ending life, just as death to the age becomes never ending death. To the first century Jews, spiritual salvation was getting nearer. Jesus gave up His spiritual life in the old covenant for them.
Romans 13:11 LITV Also this, knowing the time, that it is now the hour for you to be aroused from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
Jude 1:20-21 And ye, beloved, on your most holy faith building yourselves up, in the Holy Spirit praying, 21 yourselves in the love of God keep ye, waiting for the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ—to life age-lasting;
Hebrews was written to the first century Hebrews who were waiting for the old to end and the new to be consummated, which would be signified by the destruction of Jerusalem. Life to that age was spiritual salvation for the old covenant family of God. Jesus created an eternal family of God for His people to live in.
Hebrews 9:8-15 LITV 8 the Holy Spirit signifying by this that the way of the Holies has not yet been made manifest, the first tabernacle still having standing; 9 which was a parable for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, but as regards conscience, not being able to perfect the one serving, 10 but only on foods and drinks, and various washings, and fleshly ordinances, until the time of setting things right has been imposed. 11 But Christ having appeared as a High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 12 nor through the blood of goats and of calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all into the Holy of Holies, having procured everlasting redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats, and ashes of a heifer sprinkling those having been defiled, sanctifies to the purity of the flesh, 14 by how much more the blood of Christ (who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God), will purify your conscience from dead works for the serving of the living God! 15 And because of this He is Mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having occurred for redemption of transgressions under the first covenant, those having been called out might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. (Notice, the death of Christ and the redemption from transgressions occurred under the first covenant).
Romans 2:28-29 LITV 28 For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that outwardly in flesh; 29 but he is a Jew that is one inwardly, and circumcision is of heart, in spirit, not in letter; of whom the praise is not from men, but from God.
Empty tombs in Jerusalem signified more than just biological resurrection from the graves. Empty graves signified an emptying of Hades; the holding place of the spiritually dead ones. When God’s people die today, their old dead body still goes to the grave, but they themselves don’t go to Hades. If Jews still had old covenant standing in Jerusalem, we would still go to Hades when we die. The scepter has departed from the typical tribe of Judah. It has gone to the messiah of Judah. The messiah from the tribe of Judah came and conquered the death of the Jews in Jerusalem. The gates of Hades did not prevail against Him or His people. The Holy Spirit started a new creation from the inside out.
Judas’ rule or Jesus’ rule? Judas sold out to the Jesus rejectors in Jerusalem. Judas did not live to see the empty tomb. That empty tomb proved that Jesus opened the gates of Hades for His people. His followers from the land were not the ones who Judas sold out to.
Genesis 49:10 LITV The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawmaker from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and the obedience of the peoples to him (His people).
Genesis 49:10 LXX 2012 A ruler shall not fail from Judah, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of nations.
Did Peter’s Jewish faith in the Jewish Messiah save him from Hades or is he in Hades today? Jesus came to save the lost sheep of Israel, including Peter. He did not save all Jews, including Judas. All Israel did not include every natural born Israelite. All true Israel is ‘born from above’ Israel.
Matthew 16:17-19 YLT 17 And Jesus answering said to him, `Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens. 18 `And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; 19 and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.’
Romans 9 YLT 1 Truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart— 3 for I was wishing, I myself, to be anathema from the Christ—for my brethren, my kindred, according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service, and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is the Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed to the ages. Amen. 6 And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel; 7 nor because they are seed of Abraham are all children, but—`in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;’ 8 that is, the children of the flesh—these are not children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for seed; 9 for the word of promise is this; `According to this time I will come, and there shall be to Sarah a son.’ 10 And not only so, but also Rebecca, having conceived by one—Isaac our father— 11 (for they being not yet born, neither having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to choice, might remain; not of works, but of Him who is calling,) it was said to her— 12 `The greater shall serve the less;’ 13 according as it hath been written, `Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.’14 What, then, shall we say? unrighteousness is with God? let it not be! 15 for to Moses He saith, `I will do kindness to whom I do kindness, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;’ 16 so, then—not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness: 17 for the Writing saith to Pharaoh—`For this very thing I did raise thee up, that I might shew in thee My power, and that My name might be declared in all the land;’ 18 so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden. 19 Thou wilt say, then, to me, `Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?’ 20 nay, but, O man, who art thou that art answering again to God? shall the thing formed say to Him who did form it, Why me didst thou make thus? 21 hath not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make the one vessel to honour, and the one to dishonour? 22 And if God, willing to shew the wrath and to make known His power, did endure, in much long suffering, vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on vessels of kindness, that He before prepared for glory, whom also He did call—us— 24 not only out of Jews, but also out of nations, 25 as also in Hosea He saith, `I will call what is not My people—My people; and her not beloved—Beloved, 26 and it shall be—in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.’ 27 And Isaiah doth cry concerning Israel, `If the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved; 28 for a matter He is finishing, and is cutting short in righteousness, because a matter cut short will the Lord do upon the land. 29 and according as Isaiah saith before, `Except the Lord of Sabaoth did leave to us a seed, as Sodom we had become, and as Gomorrah we had been made like.’ 29 What, then, shall we say? that nations who are not pursuing righteousness did attain to righteousness, and righteousness that is of faith, 31 and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive; 32 wherefore? because—not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling, 33 according as it hath been written, `Lo, I place in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; and every one who is believing thereon shall not be ashamed.’
2 Thessalonians 2 12-14 YLT 12 that they may be judged—all who did not believe the truth, but were delighted in the injustice. 13 And we—we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, loved by the Lord, that God did choose you from the beginning to salvation, in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 14 to which He did call you through our good news, to the acquiring of the glory of our Adonay Yah Shua Messiah.
Romans 12:1-3 JMNT 1 Consequently, brothers, I am repeatedly calling you folks alongside to exhort, implore and encourage you, through God’s compassions to stand your bodies alongside(or: to set or place your bodies beside) [the] Well-pleasing, Set-apart (Holy; Different-from-the-usual), Living Sacrifice by God(or: in God; for God; to God; with God), [this being] your sacred service which pertains to thought, reason and communication (or: your reasoned and rational service; the logical and Word-based service from you folks). 2 And stop constantly conforming yourselves to (or, as passive: So then, quit being repeatedly molded by, fashioned for or patterned together with) this age [with other MSS: and not to be continuously configured to this age, or not to constantly remodel yourself for this age], but on the contrary, be progressively transformed (transfigured; changed in form and semblance) by the renewing (or: in the renewal; for the making-back-up-new again) of your mind [with other MSS: from The Mind; of the intellect; pertaining to the faculties of perceiving and understanding; of the mindset, disposition, inner orientation and world view] into the [situation and condition for] you folks to be habitually examining in order to be testing and, after scrutiny, distinguishing and approving what [is] God’s will(design; purpose; resolve; intent): the good and well-pleasing, even perfect (finished, complete and destined)! (or: = the thing [that is] virtuous, satisfying and able to succeed in its purpose.) 3 For, through the grace and favor being suddenly given to me, I am saying to (or: for) everyone being among you folks not to be continually over-opinionated or elated (to be constantly hyper-thinking to the point of being haughty, arrogant or having a sense of superiority; to be habitually over-thinking issues; to constantly mind things above; to be overweening) beyond what is necessary(binding; proper), but rather to think (mind; be disposed) into the disposition to be sane and of a sound mind, as God divides and distributes (or: parted) to, in and for each one a measure of faith (a meted amount of firm persuasion; a measured portion of trust; a [specific or allotted] ration of confidence and loyalty).