Am I a Messianic Jew?

I was born to an Isreali mother, but was adopted at birth to a nominally christian family and was not circumsised. I later converted to Christianity.
Am I a Messianic Jew? If so, what does this mean, and should it affect my practises in any way? (I reaslise that various passages, such as Acts 15:1-2 and Phil 3:2 make it clear that I should not get circumsised).

Thanks Talmid and Missy, those are both really helpful. I shall check out that website for starters and will be thinking lots more about this.
Yes, my mother was Jewish.

Because they are useful shorthand ways of conveying beliefs, status, etc. Of course you should not box people in with labels or over-generalise, but I think most people have sufficient sense to just see them as useful bits of information. That is why I asked the first part of this question, so I would not use labels incorrectly.
But you should not read too much into them, or be dogmatic and start believeing in things just because you fall into certain catorgaries, so thanks for your post, it is important to keep this in mind.

Sure, that is anoying, but I think the problem is people being small minded and taking simplistic views of people.  I will always try to avoid doing that, and I definately would never try to put God in a box, that is not what we are doing.
So to avoid that, what is your story?  Similar to mine?  Orthodox Jewish believer, converted to belief in Jesus as Messiah?  I would be interested to know.

And what about you Missy?  I must say that from your posts I had you pictured as an Orthodox Jewish convert to Messianic.  Shows what you get by assuming things

And by the way Talmid, what does your name mean? I only picked up mine from Exodus 17:15 because my NLT gives the Hebrew translations of names, I do not know any Hebrew myself.

Very cool! 

Ezra,

Quote&nbsp;"You say you were converted to Christianity, but were you converted to <B>Christ</B>? There’s a world of difference. Do you know that you’ve been born-again, washed in His blood, robed in His righteousness, placed into His body by the Holy Spirit, and have the gift of eternal life? (see Titus 3:4-7). "

Good point!&nbsp; Yes, I am converted to Christ.

Quote "If you are saved, you are a child of God and your human heritage, whether Jewish or Gentile, means nothing to God:

<B>For by one [Holy] Spirit, are we all baptized [immersed supernaturally] into one Body [the Body of all believers since Pentecost], WHETHER WE BE JEWS OR GENTILES, whether we be bond or free; and have been made to drink into one Spirit… Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular</B> (1 Cor. 12:12,27; see also Gal. 3:26-29).

Because of this great fact, you are forbidden by God to be circumcised, since you have received a spiritual circumcision through the new birth (Jn.1:12-13; 3:1-7). You are commanded to turn away from Moses completely, and rest in Christ:

<B>* Behold I Paul say unto you [by the authority of Christ], THAT IF YE BE CIRCUMCISED, CHRIST SHALL PROFIT YOU NOTHING. For I testify AGAIN to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the WHOLE LAW. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace.</B>* (Gal. 5:2-4). This *justification* is seeking to please God by returning to Moses. "

Again, thanks for pointing this out.&nbsp; I was aware of all&nbsp;these points, but from my posts&nbsp;on this tread&nbsp;this was not clear.&nbsp; It is important to get these straight.&nbsp; I would never try to suggest that 'Jewishness' made me better, nor would I try to justify myself by works.

I started this thread first to find check my terminology, it is important to get this right so as not to confuse or accidentally give false messages.&nbsp; Also, I noticed that Rom 3, whilst making it clear that justification by law-keeping is impossible, does suggest some differences, which might require different actions.&nbsp; Just because we are not bound by the law and cannot justify ourselves by keeping it does not necessarily mean that we should not try to keep it because it is the right thing to do.&nbsp; The OT does contain phrases like "this is a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come".&nbsp; And Jesus said "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come to fulfil them." Matt 5:17.&nbsp; I just wanted to investigate if there were things that I aught to be doing, because it is the right thing to do, due to my ancestry.&nbsp; Or, if Messianics thought that Christians in general aught to try to stick to the law more closely (a question I specifically asked in the FAQ thread).

Please feel free to PM me the deleated bit if you feel it appropriate, I am pratically impossible to offend

Thanks for your concern and helpful thoughts,

with love in Christ,

Yahweh Nissi.



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