By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter
December 11, 2015|8:24 am
The Vatican's Commission for Religious
Relations with Jews has released a major new document claiming that Jews
are saved even without believing in Jesus Christ.
"That the Jews are participants in God's salvation is theologically unquestionable, but how that can be possible without confessing Christ explicitly, is and remains an unfathomable divine mystery," the document argues, in part.
The theologians, including Cardinal
Kurt Koch and Fr. Norbert Hofmann of the Vatican Commission, reflect on
that "mystery," but note that Catholic doctrine rejects that there can
be more than one path to God.
"Since God has never revoked his
covenant with his people Israel, there cannot be different paths or
approaches to God's salvation," they add.
"The theory that there
may be two different paths to salvation, the Jewish path without Christ
and the path with the Christ, whom Christians believe is Jesus of
Nazareth, would in fact endanger the foundations of Christian faith."
The
document further talks of a "highly complex theological question" in
how "Christian belief in the universal salvific significance of Jesus
Christ can be combined in a coherent way with the equally clear
statement of faith in the never-revoked covenant of God with Israel."
The
Vatican also says that conversion outreach efforts by Christians toward
Jewish people are a "very delicate and sensitive matter."
It says
that it "neither conducts nor supports any specific institutional
mission work directed toward Jews," but at the same time notes that
Christians are "called to bear witness to their faith in Jesus Christ
also to Jews."
The text concludes by stating that Jews and
Christians come together through "humanitarian aid for justice and peace
in the world" in which they "bear witness to the loving care of God."
"No
longer in confrontational opposition but cooperating side by side, Jews
and Christians should seek to strive for a better world," it states,
adding the words of Pope John Paul II from November 1980, when the
pontiff said that Jews and Christians must commit themselves together
for peace for all people, "with the fullness and depth that God Himself
intended us to have, and with the readiness for sacrifices that this
goal may demand."
Israeli news site Arutz Sheva said
that Catholic-Jewish relations have been improved under Pope Francis,
who once jointly published a book on ethics, morality and faith with his
long-standing friend and Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka.
Francis is also to become the third pope in history to visit Rome's main synagogue on Jan. 17, 2016.
Back
in September, Francis greeted the Jewish community around the world on
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement on the Hebrew calendar.
"I would
like to send my greetings to the Hebrew community, to our Jewish
brothers, for whom today is a sacred day, Yom Kippur," Francis said during
a visit to Washington D.C. "I hope the Lord brings down his blessing of
peace and will keep in life and holiness, according to the Word of the
Lord we have heard today: Be Holy, for I am Holy," he added. CP
Note: Praise God for the Reformation!!! Luis
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