The Jews Need Jesus Too: Dual Covenant Theology Exposed

There are some pastors and church leaders today that believe Jews and Christians are on separate but equal paths to heaven, thanks to what is commonly known as the “dual covenant” theology. Those espousing this false doctrine believe the Jews get automatic entrance to heaven because of their being God’s chosen people.

But it’s a lie straight from the lips of the devil.

Let’s look at a perfect example of what it took to be saved in the Old Testament. Abraham was saved by faith. His faith in God, and not his works, were counted as righteousness by God. (Romans 4:3). How do we know Abraham was saved? Jesus told us so in Matthew 8:11, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” According to Jesus, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all in the kingdom of heaven.

Doesn’t this pose a conflict with John 3:16, which reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life?” Not at all.

How is that possible? Read John 1:1-4: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Follow that with John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” and John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” It’s pretty easy to see that the people from the Old Testament believed in Jesus all along.

That is, until He was manifest in the flesh. Paul set out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jew first, then the Greek (or Gentile). This is described in Acts 13:46: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” The Jews rejected, and continue to reject, Jesus as their Messiah. So Paul set about preaching the gospel to the Gentiles after the Jews summarily rejected the good news.

What makes Acts 13 interesting is that it defines what is required for everlasting life – a belief in Jesus. After the Jews rejected the gospel, the Gentiles then received the message of salvation through faith in Jesus.

So how do we know that the old covenant is no longer valid and that the Jews need Jesus? Hebrews 8:13 tells us that the first covenant is obsolete: “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete but whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” The old covenant is no longer relevant. Hence, automatic salvation for faith in God by the Jews does not guarantee eternal life. It’s faith in Jesus that gives eternal life, to Jews and Gentiles alike and for all who will accept it. With the coming of the Son of Man to earth in human form, and the subsequent rejection by the Jews, there is no longer faith in Jesus by them as they continue to wait on their messiah. And Jesus told us while manifest in the flesh that no one comes to the Father except through Him. For those who reject Jesus, there is no other way to the Father.