The question of whether someone can be both Jewish and Christian is a topic that many find controversial or confusing. Whether you are unsure of the answer or looking to explain your beliefs to others, it is important to have accurate definitions of both “Jewish” and “Christian” in order to fully understand the issue. Some may have personal stakes in this question, wondering if they can be both Jewish and Christian themselves.
Exploring Jewish identity through the Hebrew Scriptures reveals that being Jewish is not just a matter of religion, but also a promise made by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This promise, outlined in the Torah, establishes a unique identity for the Jewish people that cannot be revoked, regardless of beliefs or actions. Jewish law, known as halakhah, also recognizes that one remains Jewish even if they choose to follow another religion.
In recent years, there has been a shift in the Jewish community’s perspective on Messianic Jewish people, who follow Jesus as the Jewish Messiah while maintaining their Jewish identity. Scholars and thought leaders are beginning to acknowledge that Messianic Jews are indeed Jewish and have a place within the Jewish community. This changing attitude reflects a growing acceptance of diversity within Jewish identity. In 2000, Dan Cohn-Sherbok, a Reform rabbi, published a book on Messianic Judaism advocating for an inclusive definition of Judaism and acceptance of the movement. Simon Rocker, a journalist with The Jewish Chronicle, acknowledges that Jewish identity encompasses both ethnicity and culture, as well as spiritual heritage. He reviews Daniel Boyarin’s book, The Jewish Gospels, which suggests that concepts from the New Testament were already present in first-century Judaism, potentially challenging the Jewish community to view faith in Jesus as a continuation rather than a rejection of Jewish faith.
Regarding the distinction between being Jewish, Christian, and Gentile, it is noted that being Jewish is a matter of birth, while being Christian is based on beliefs about God’s promises and Jesus as their fulfillment. A person who attends church but lacks a genuine belief in Jesus may be considered a nominal Christian. The term “Gentile” refers to non-Jewish individuals, while the first Christians were initially Jewish followers of Jesus before the term “Christian” emerged among Gentiles in Antioch.
The diversity of Christians, including Jewish believers in Jesus, Gentile believers, and the universal message of salvation for all, is emphasized. Jewish followers of Jesus do not consider themselves converts, as they have not abandoned their Jewish identity to embrace Christianity. Jesus’ teaching on being “born again” is highlighted as a shared experience for all who turn to God.
Rebirth and Jewish Identity
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3–6).
Rebirth refers to a new life that comes from a different source—a spiritual source. The rebirth that Jesus describes offers a new promise, but does not revoke God’s original promises to the Jewish people; in fact, the new promise is predicted in the Hebrew Scriptures (Jeremiah 31:33ff.). And yet this new promise, first made to the Jewish people, has been offered to Gentiles as well. Since the promise of peace with God that Jesus gives cannot be received at birth, but only by rebirth, being born Jewish or Gentile has no bearing on whether one receives that promise.
Why Don’t Jewish People Who Believe in Jesus Just Call Themselves Christians?
The answer is simple: we value our Jewishness; it is part of our past, present, and future. We see no reason to ignore or deny such an important part of who we are. And we believe that every living Jewish person is a testimony to God’s promise-keeping power. As mentioned, some Jewish believers in Jesus do not identify with the term “Christian” because some people misunderstand it as synonymous with Gentile. Most of us who use the term are quick to clarify that we are Jewish and Christian.
Maybe a better question would be, Why would anyone prefer that Jewish believers in Jesus renounce or ignore our Jewish identity? Perhaps some are concerned that if we are seen as Jewish people it might remove a barrier that prevents other Jewish people from considering Jesus. But anyone who wants to label us “no longer Jewish” to protect others from considering Jesus might be overextending themselves. There is plenty of disagreement within the Jewish community about how, or even if, one can know God. Plans to protect people from opposing ideas about knowing God often backfire. Everyone has a right and a responsibility to ask God to show them how to have a relationship with Him. Asking God whether Jesus is the way to that relationship is a personal choice that anyone, Jewish or not, has a right to make.
If Jesus really is the Messiah, becoming his follower would strengthen our Jewish identity, not destroy it.
Being Jewish or Gentile is an unchangeable fact of birth. Being a Christian is a matter of belief and choice. If Jesus really is who he claimed to be—the Jewish Messiah—becoming his follower would strengthen our Jewish identity, not destroy it.
So, If You Are Jewish, Is It Okay to Believe in Jesus?
Yes!
It may sound obvious, but it’s always best to believe the truth. In order to do that, we need to question assumptions. That can be uncomfortable, but many people who have done so discovered that their beliefs were built on what others thought or felt, or even on their own preferences. As important as other people are, and as strongly as we may feel about what we prefer to believe, it takes something more to find the prize: the truth about a relationship with God. If you are willing to explore the claims of Jesus out of a real desire to know whether he truly is the Messiah, the same God who you ask to guide your search for truth will also guard the Jewish identity that He has given you. We believe that through faith in Jesus, we become the kind of Jewish people God always intended us to be: forgiven of sin, believing in the Messiah, being a light to the world.
Maybe you have already looked into this matter and find yourself believing that Jesus probably is the Messiah, but you are holding back. You may have your reasons, and those reasons may weigh heavily on you. If you’d like to discuss them, we are ready to listen.
Or maybe what you just read has settled your last doubt, and you are ready to believe, but wondering how to navigate that as a Jewish person. If so, please let us know so we can connect with you.
This content was adapted from an earlier Jews for Jesus article.