Yes and No! I say “Yes,” because the conversion of a Jew does NOT change his race or ethnic background; he/she is still a “Jew” in the sense that they were born into a Jewish family (with Jewish ancestry and culture). I say “No,” because when they become a believer in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they are no longer looked upon as a Jew in God’s eyes. Scripture says this of the believer in Jesus Christ: “There is NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28…NJKV). This means that once a person believes in Christ he is now looked upon as being in a brand new position before God; he is now “in Christ Jesus” where, as one has said, “human distinctions lose their significance….none is spiritually superior over another.” Before an orthodox Jew trusts in Christ they look at themselves as better than a Gentile based on their being a chosen nation by God. Deuteronomy 7:6 states, “For you are a  holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” Many Jews would thank God they weren’t born a Gentile.  But once they are saved and see themselves as being “in Christ” they should see they are on an equal plane (spiritually) with Gentiles. They are indeed ONE IN CHRIST!

Let me ask the next question. Once a Jew is saved, should he continue to practice his “Jewish religion” (i.e. Judaism)? That is, should he continue to keep the Mosaic Law by worshipping on the Sabbath day, observing the “Feasts of Jehovah” outlined in Leviticus 23, and obeying all of the other countless laws that governed the Jewish life? Many converted Jews would answer that with an emphatic YES, and thus they continue on in their Jewish culture much as they did before, including meeting with fellow Jews for worship and ministry in either a synagogue or some other place they designate as a place of worship. Two well-known groups that continue to be ardent followers of Judaism are 1) Messianic Jews; and the 2) Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. You can visit their websites to see exactly what they believe at www.jewishvoice.org and www.mjaa.org. Let me be clear, they both profess Jesus Christ as their Messiah and the “Savior of the all nations,” but they remain separate from “Gentiles” because this would violate the Law of Moses which they are still (to a large extent) following.

I believe they are wrong in refusing to meet with fellow-believers who are Gentiles for as we have seen, they are both ONE IN CHRIST when it comes to their “spiritual state before God.” I would encourage you to read Ephesians chapter 2 where Paul addresses this subject head on. Space prevents us from reading the whole chapter, but I will quote verses 11-18: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But NOW IN CHRIST JESUS you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who HAS MADE BOTH ONE, and has BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF SEPARATION, having ABOLISHED IN HIS FLESH THE ENMITY, THAT IS, THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES, so as to create IN HIMSELF ONE NEW MAN FROM TWO, thus making peace, and that He might RECONCILE BOTH TO GOD IN ONE BODY through the cross, thereby PUTTING TO DEATH THE ENMITY. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through Him WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.”

I quoted that long passage and capitalized the KEY WORDS to emphasize the UNITY that has been formed between Jews and Gentiles. This passage shows clearly that through Christ’s death on the cross Jews and Gentiles have been “made one.” They have been created into “one new man” and reconciled to God in “one body.” These expressions all join to teach us that those who comprise the CHURCH (the BODY OF CHRIST), should NOT BE SEPARATED any longer. God never intended there to be a “Gentile church” and a “Jewish church”: His desire is for all Jewish and Gentiles believers to meet together for worship and ministry, for “we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” We are all “Christians” (see Acts 11:26; 26:28; and 1st Peter 4;16), which means “followers of Christ,” and should be willing to identify ourselves as such in order to exalt Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and the One who has MADE US ONE IN HIMSELF.  (372.1)  (DO)