If your life is not in jeopardy
for what you believe, you’re probably on the wrong side!
If you don’t believe Genesis 1-11,
how can you possibly believe John 3:16?
“Indeed, all who want to live a godly
life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted.” (2Tim 3:12)
It is what you actually believe that determines how you walk out your faith,
“but avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights
about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile.” (Titus 3:9)
Please Note: Absolutely nothing on this website should be taken as anti-Church or anti-Rabbinic. I am not anti-anything or anti-anyone. I am only pro-Torah and pro-Truth (see “Philosophy”), but sometimes the Truth upsets our long-held beliefs. I know it certainly upset mine! For example, see “Why Isn’t My Theology Consistent Throughout the Website?”
Developing a
Systematic Messianic Theology
“The purpose of careful theological formulations is not to put barriers in the way of people who are seeking salvation, but to define clearly the truths upon which genuine [Biblical] faith rests, so that people will not be misled by false doctrines.” [Bowman]
“It must be clearly and unequivocally stated that theology cannot save you. Only faith in Messiah Yeshua can save you. Theology can only give you sound doctrine.” [RLS]
Unless otherwise specified, throughout the Theology section of my website I use the term “Torah” in the wider sense of including the entire body of inspired Scripture: both the Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings. No other so-called “sacred writings” are considered inspired by God or authoritative for the Believe’s walk of faith.
[Explanations of rabbinic citations are HERE]
Principles of Messianic Judaism
Written by Messianic Rabbi Dr. David Hargis (of blessed memory),
on Saturday, 28 March 2006. Last updated by him on Monday,
17 August 2006 22:54[1]
Yeshua is Messiah and L-RD
Messianic Judaism started with Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) as His Jewish followers accepted the evidence that He was the promised Messiah (Anointed One) of Israel, and as the Scriptures foretold, He also was the God of Israel in the flesh, YHVH, the L-RD, who died for sins according to Isaiah 53, then rose again according to the Psalms and the Prophets.
The believers in Yeshua were called Notzrim (Nazarenes), which Christians are called in modern Hebrew today. However, there is that faction today who call themselves Notzrim and say they believe in Yeshua, but they do not accept Him as appearing as God Himself in the flesh. Most of Messianic Judaism does not accept them as true believers because of their denial.
Biblical Messianic Judaism is Valid Contemporary Judaism
Since the first Jewish followers of Yeshua never left the faith of the God of Israel, YHVH, but rather came into a more personal covenant with Him through trust in Messiah Yeshua, their faith was and is the only complete Biblical Judaism and thus a superior Judaism. This is because Messiah Yeshua is the promised deliverer from sin and completed the understanding of the Torah (His ancient Word) that was lacking. However, this does not mean that modern Rabbinical Judaism does not have truth within it.
Yeshua Did Not Begin Another Religion
Since Yeshua is God in the flesh, He is the eternal God of Israel, Who gave all holy things only to Israel and promised them for all time. He did not come to reject Israel or to take back what He promised, but only to fulfill what He promised, without taking away any promise to Israel. He came to make Israel a better Israel, not to start another religion. This “better Israel” was foretold through the Prophet Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) in Jer. 31:31-33, which was the promise of a new covenant that would put the Torah and the Ruach (Spirit) of God into Israel as an indwelling new creation. Since He is God of all, Yeshua also came to allow anyone of the Gentiles who trust in Him as the Messiah of Israel to be grafted into Israel by way of that same new covenant in Him. This better Israel Yeshua called His “Miqra” in Hebrew, which means “Called Out.” It is “Ekklesia” in the Greek.
The Church Needs to Return to Its Roots
Since Messianic Judaism is Jewish, it deems all Jewish people as its siblings. Also, since Christianity professes the Jewish Messiah as their Savior, Messianic Judaism deems all faithful Gentiles as its siblings (and no longer to be pagan Gentiles). This does not mean Messianic Judaism agrees with all the doctrines, traditions, customs or practices of either traditional Judaism or Christianity. We believe it would be the best and is ultimately necessary for all Jewish people to know their Messiah Yeshua, but we do not believe that God has called any Jewish person to become Gentile or Western Christian in custom. Rather, we believe it would be best and is ultimately necessary for Christianity to remove its pagan influences and return to the roots of Judaism, that is, to return to the way of Yeshua as He walked by example and set forth in His entire Word.
Jewish People As a Whole Have Not Rejected Yeshua
By the end of the first century over one million Jews believed Yeshua to be the Messiah of Israel, but many of them, if not most, were martyred or driven underground because of anti-Semitism both within secular and religious society. This eventually precipitated the lie that a Jewish person does not believe in Yeshua as Messiah. Today there is estimated to be more than one million Jewish people who believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. In addition, the rejection of Christianity by some Jewish people is not necessarily a rejection of Yeshua. It is rather the rejection of a Gentile religion, which has little in common with the Jewish Messiah. Because a Jewish person does not want to be a Catholic or a Baptist does not mean they reject Yeshua. Christian denominations have little in common with the life, faith, customs or worship experience of Yeshua. Messianic Judaism affirms the eternal Jewishness of Yeshua (“The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”) and that He did not come to destroy Jewishness. Therefore, those who attempt to destroy Jewishness are not of Him; they are not at all true followers of Him. In fact, to deny the Jewishness of Messiah is to deny the truth of the Scriptures. To oppose the Jewish people, simply because they are Jewish, is to distrust the appointment of God and hate the very Messiah of Israel. In other words, wholesale anti-Semitism or anti-Judaism is demonic.
Restoration of Jewish Faith is Prophetic
God promised to restore Israel, “as at the beginning.” The apostle Kefa (Peter) announced that Yeshua would not return until the “restoration of all things spoken by the prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). This makes everything in the ancient Scriptures concerning the restoration of Israel of contemporary importance, especially as we see it happening. The restoration of the land, the language, the people, and the faith of Israel are all taking place as foretold in the prophets of Israel. The prophecies concerning the world's obedience to the laws of Israel (“the Law shall go forth from Zion”) are beginning to be restored today, as believers in Yeshua rediscover the beauty of the Sabbath and the holy festivals, which the Bible declares will be observed by every nation in the Messianic Kingdom.
Messianic Judaism is Not Monolithic or Human-Centric
Unlike most religious expressions, Messianic Judaism cannot be traced to any other person except Yeshua. There is no contemporary founder or leader. No one speaks for all Messianics. It is not monolithic, and thus this writer must admit that other Messianics may take issue with some of my points, or at least may choose to word them differently. That is just fine with me. I will confess freely that I certainly do not speak for all Messianics. However, even with differences in expression, Messianics generally have no trouble fellowshipping together, and understanding the general direction in which the movement is going. This freedom is refreshing and unique, and one which most Messianics appreciate deeply. While Messianics hold to their faith and walk tenaciously without compromise, they are usually remarkably tolerant and loving to others who especially are sincere and honest in their faith.
____________
1. Mirrored with the permission of MRav Dr. David Hargis, of blessed memory (1949-2006), from the website of the now-defunct Messianic Bureau International (MBI) that was headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. MBI was founded in March 1994 by the late Dr. David Hargis as an information service to Messianic Judaism and was dissolved not long after his death in December 2006. My first Messianic credentials (MMin) were issued by MBI. [BACK]
|
|
|
