The apostle John, one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, is traditionally thought to be the author of five New Testament books. These include the "Gospel of John", three letters or epistles (1, 2 and 3 John), and the Book of Revelation.
What is the Gospel?
Beginning at John 3:16, John writes: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."
At first, forgiveness of sins was thought to only be for the Jews:
Acts 2: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
It was soon made clear that the Gospel was for the Gentiles, too. The Book of Acts (written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke -- a companion of Paul) which makes that clear:
When Peter had a vision he was to preach the gospel to all Jews, he realized Jesus died for the gentiles, too. Beginning at Acts 30: Cornelius answered [to Peter]: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Why are today's Jews reluctant to believe Jesus was the Messiah who came to provide forgiveness, and will come again in power?
Many Jews don't believe Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets, such as Isaiah. I listen to Jewish Youtubers to find out why. These religious Jews are trying to show the world that Jews and Israel are recipients of God's everlasting covenant--that they are a part of God's plan and should not be persecuted and/or annihilated.
This young Jewish man, Ollie Anisfeld, Director, Founder, of https://www.j-tvchannel.com/about, shares why he doesn't believe Jesus is the Messiah on his Youtube channel, "J-TV: The Global Jewish Channel," in his segment, "Jerusalem Church DENOUNCES Christian Zionism, Mike Huckabee Gives BRILLIANT Response!" A transcript of his broadcast reads: "Deuteronomy 13 verse 1:5, it says, and this is something really I think not discussed enough."
I looked up: Deuteronomy 13: 1-5 to see what he is speaking about: "If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.""
But Christians don't believe that Jesus is another God, but rather Jesus' statements about himself (although he never explicitly stated, "I am God"):
In John 10:30, he said, "I and the Father are one."
In John 8:58, he claimed to be God before the Chief Priests, stating, "Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!"
"Who Is the Angel of the Lord?
The term “angel” means “messenger,” but the Angel of the Lord is different from other angels. He is often identified as God Himself. Unlike regular angels, He does not reject worship. Instead, He speaks with divine authority and displays God’s power. These encounters are known as theophanies, where God appears in human form.
"Instances of Theophanies (God Appearing in Human Form)
Abraham and the Three Visitors (Genesis 18)
One day, Abraham received three visitors. One of them spoke as God, predicting that Sarah would have a son. Abraham addressed Him as the Lord, recognizing His divine nature. This encounter suggests that one of the visitors was Jesus in the Old Testament.
"Jacob Wrestling with God (Genesis 32:24-30)
Jacob wrestled with a man all night, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. After the struggle, Jacob declared, “I saw God face to face” (Genesis 32:30, NIV). This encounter points to Jesus, engaging with Jacob in a personal, life-changing moment."
Although Deuteronomy 13: 1-5 does include, "It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him," Jesus does not say a Jew should not keep is commands, but rather, in Matthew 5: 17, said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus kept the Law and so did Paul (and other Jews)--but Gentiles are not required to keep all of the Old Testament laws, but should try to at least follow the 10 commandments, especially the first two. In Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In the post, "Acts 15:1-35 – Requirements for Gentiles Reconsidered" the author summarized: "Some believers from Judea insist that God requires that baptized Gentiles be circumcised (and probably keep food laws). A council is held in which Peter again testifies to God’s plan of salvation for Gentiles through faith in Christ, without the necessity of receiving circumcision or adhering to all Jewish laws. For the sake of harmony in mixed Jewish-Gentile congregations, however, the council recommends that Gentile believers abstain from some “essential” Jewish taboos, namely: “things polluted by idols…fornication…whatever has been strangled…and from blood” (Acts15:20, 28‒29). Taken from: https://enterthebible.org/passage/acts-151-35-requirements-for-gentiles-reconsidered.
