If your life is
not in jeopardy for what you believe, you’re probably on the wrong side!
“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)
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Please Note: Absolutely nothing on this website should be taken as anti-Church. I am not anti-anything or 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]
[Explanations of rabbinic citations are HERE]
Basics of Messianic Judaism
Yeshua is Messiah and LORD
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, Yehovah in the flesh, יְהוָֹה YHVH, the LORD, who died for the sins of humanity according to Isaiah 53, then rose again according to the Psalms and the Prophets.
The first-century followers of Yeshua were called Notzrim (Nazarenes), which Christians are called in modern Hebrew today. However, the Notzrim were not called “Christians” until the fourth century; their sect of Judaism was called HaDerek, The Way. There is a 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 of His deity.
Biblical Messianic Judaism is Valid Contemporary Judaism
Since the first Jewish followers of Yeshua never left the faith of Yehovah, the God of Israel, 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 made eternal covenants with them. 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) [Jeremiah 31:31], which was the promise of a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Y'hudah (Judah) 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” (מִקְרָא) in Hebrew, which means “called out,” “convocation,” or “assembly.” It is “Ekklesia” (ἐκκλησίᾳ) in 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 “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. By some estimates[1] there are between a half million and a million Messianic Jews today. These are Jewish people who believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. In addition, the rejection of Christianity by most 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 Torah of Israel (For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of Yehovah from Yerushalayim. ~ Isaiah 2:3) 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 I 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. There are a number of reasons
this estimate is so vague. Typically, when a Jewish person expresses faith in Yeshua
as Messiah they are ostracized by their Jewish friends and family. Some families
go so far as to hold a funeral for that person who has “died to the Jewish faith.”
For those living in Israel, professing faith in Yeshua will usually cause them to
lose their jobs. Thus, there are many Jewish believers in Yeshua who hide their
faith for family, social, and financial reasons.
A 2107 Barna poll found that 21
percent of Jewish millennials believe Jesus was “God in human form who lived among
people in the 1st century,” and 34 percent said belief in Jesus as the Messiah was
compatible with being Jewish. (The Times of Israel,
“Jews
for Jesus poll: 1/5 of Jewish millennials believe Christ was God” accessed 09
March 2023.)
“There are more than 350,000 Messianic Jewish people who ‘worship
in their own congregations worldwide, with approximately 20,000 of those residing in
Israel.’ Most Messianic Jewish synagogues and congregations hold weekly services on
Shabbat, observe Jewish holidays, and conduct Torah services. In addition to reading
from the Tanakh, they also believe the New Testament writings to be equal in authority.
At some congregations, traditional liturgy may be mixed with contemporary worship music.
Others stick to one or the other. As with the larger Jewish community, degrees of
observance vary greatly among Messianic Jews, but it can be said that each respective
community promotes faith in Yeshua as Messiah and the Son of God as being compatible
with Jewish life.”
(Jews for Jesus, “What are Messianic Jews?” accessed 09 March 2023.)
“Going back to 1967 and earlier, there have always been Jewish
people who believed that Yeshua was the promised Messiah, however their numbers
were extremely small, around the world, and even less in Israel. In the 48 years
since 1967, the number of Messianic Jews in Israel has steadily increased. There
are more than 180 Messianic Jewish communities in Israel, with around
15,000 – 20,000 members in total. Around the world, there are more than 600
Messianic Jewish communities of various sizes. One of the largest is in Kiev,
with more than 1000 members. In nearly every one of these Messianic groups,
there are a mixed (faith) marriage families, so not all of the people are Jewish.
Some references quote that there are between half a million and 1 million
Messianic Jews in the world today. … There are around 180 Messianic congregations
in Israel which include Hebrew, English and Russian speaking congregations. …
Seven schools, from pre-school to college, in Netanya, Jerusalem and Tiberias offer
a curriculum that includes Messianic bible teachings.” (Emphasis added)
(anglo-list.com/messianic-community/ accessed 09 March 2023)
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