What do Messianic Jews believe?

[Rising_Suns]

hey guys,
i never post on this particular forum, but decided tonight to check yall out. I checked out the FAQ thread, but it wasn't too helpfull. I'm just curious as to what you all believe and where you came from and all that good stuff. So if you could be so kind as to enlighten me. I am extremely unfamilar with this belief.

To give you a bit of background, I was born and raised Catholic, and then reborn into the faith after much research. My intentions are simply to become as aware of other denominations (hope that is not insulting)as possible. Thank you for taking the time to fill me in here.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

 

[Aethelsige]

There is some variance within the Messianic movement. It is a movement. So I think it safe to say that we believe that Yeshua did not come to start a new religion but to act in accordance with the prophecies in the Tenach. The division of Christianity and Judaism is a trajedy or a historical phenomen that should not have happened. Yeshua did not come in accordance with any of the gentile religions. So to understand what God is doing you must know the Tenach.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Thank you for your sincere reply Aethelsige.

So as I understand it, messianic Jews believe that the books of the old testament, or Tenach as you say, are the infalliable words of God. And you also believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and our savior? If this is so, then why do you not believe that the new testament is God-breathed as well?

 

[Aethelsige]

Pray4Isrel has said it. There are some differences within the Messianic movement regarding theology. But no more than any other group.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Thank you for your reply Pray4Isrel,
I must have been misinformed.
I suppose i'm just trying to get to the heart of what you all believe. I believe this question addresses much of my curiousisty: what is it that separates Messianic Jews from all the Christian denominations. In other words, what makes you the one true church? Why are you a Messianic Jew?

I ask these questions in all sincerity. Thank you.

May the pece of our Lord be with you all.

 

[Aethelsige]

I consider myself Messianic, i am German by blood. Messianic is different in that the Torah/Law is more prominent. We stress the unity of the Tenach and Brit Chadashah much more than nominal Christians. Christiainity makes a distinct demarcation in revelation. Christians in a practical sense, not a theoritical sense, or in practice act as if the what is called the new testament supplanted the old testament. Messianics in practice treat all the revelation as one book. We do not doubt the Jewishness of the Apostles. I think that part of the problem is that in reading the texts Christianity seeks the context of the meaning of the words from out of the pagan culture of Greece of that time. Although the text of the new testament was written in Greek it was not refering to anything of that culture. It was the fulfillment of religion of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The meaning of the greek words used must be sought in the Hebraic culture. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and David were not greeks. Neither were any of the prophets. So contextually the meaning of the chosen greek words must be governed by the context of hebrew meanings. You should not break the continuity of prophetic and spiritual. Since there is one God there is only one religion. Messianics use the word Messiah more than Christ because there is a tendency to use the word Christ as something different than being the Messiah of Isreal. The word Christ today in practice is drifting away from the word Messiah. It seems to be becoming a gentilized word that is abandoning the context of the Tenach. When you say Messiah you think of the Throne of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Today in Christian circles when you say Christ you think of the Savior. Even in the art work of today 'Jesus' is protrayed as a gentile. Jesus is a good English proper noun, it is not Hebrew. hmmm, i gues you could say that as Messianics we are stressing that as a group we are striving to see things in the context in which they happened and not thru gentile eyes. we make the effort to see Yeshua as the son of Miryam and His legal father Yosef. Two nominal Jews who were decendants of David. Not as Mary and Joseph two english speaking gentiles who by chance happened to live in the middle east at the time. I would say that if you look at what is being done in practice, the tendencies, of what people do theologically not what they may say. Example, if you ask the nominal Christian to paint a portrait of Jesus or the Apostles worshiping the result in most cases would never include any of them wearing a Tallit. In practice they would be drawn as being gentiles.

 

[KelsayDL]

Hi Rising Suns,

I am new to the messianic faith. I have been a born-again believer for over 20yrs in a non-denominational setting. The reason I started searching elsewhere is because the Word wasn't lining up with what God has said, the way it was being preached.

Here is a link which contains a good article on where I am in my current beliefs.

http://www.graftedin.org/suggested_reading/index.html

I don't know if the majority of messianics will claim to be of the one true faith in the sense you have asked. Maybe they will.

However for me, I know people who are not messianics who walk far closer to God than I can dream at this point in time. I know they are in his hands. I feel God calling me this direction, he came to me in my darkest hour and has shown me more of who we are as believers in Christ.

My heart is convinced. Now I must begin to act on those convictions.


P.S.
Read the article by Kevin Williams called "Grafted in" when you have some time.

 

[SonWorshipper]

I haven't replied as I am not Jewish ,but rather a Messianic Believer ( Gentile). Please keep that in mind when reading the responses.

Now if you would like to know what Messianic Believers or Messianic Judaism congregation members believe...........Ask away!

 

[simchat_torah]

Shalom rising Suns,

Messianic Judaism is quite wide and varied in it's expression. Are there any particular questions about MJ theology you'd like answered?

As far as:

In other words, what makes you the one true church?

Again, MJ'ism is varried in it's expression, however Messianics (in general) don't believe that HaShem (G-d) started a new religion (church). The original faith (Judaism) was completely expressed through the messiah, Yeshua. Yeshua never taught outside of Judaism, and all of the tenets of faith he declared were totally Jewish to the very bones of their meaning.

I hope this helps,
Yafet.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Hey all,
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, and enlightening me a little in the ways of MJ. I think I now have a better idea of the reasoning behind its origins and so forth. The wording is very foreign to me, so there is more of a learning curve to for me to get over, so I thank you for being patient with me. I can see though, how this faith can be a wonderfull outlet from Judaism into the reality of our loving savior Jesus Christ. I may research further into this faith at some point in the future for curiousity's sake. Thank you all my brothers.

May the peace of our Lord be with you all.

 

[GJG]

Hi all,

To the MJs:

I have not so long ago taken studies regarding the "ONE GOD" teachings.

So far I have been taught that God is "The eternal, invisible, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Spirit".

Is this along the same line of your own beliefs?

 

[GJG]

To MJs,

Do yall believe that the word "YHWH" is related in any way to the three primary tenses of the Hebrew word "to be"? So that YHWH is represented through these three tenses of the verb "to be" thus:

The Supreme Being is the one who is the was, is (being), coming one. In simple language, he represents the "past," the "present" and the "future" without any boundaries of time limiting his existence?

your help would be much appreciated

 

[New Creation]

Hi Rising Suns,

I am new to the messianic faith. I have been a born-again believer for over 20yrs in a non-denominational setting. The reason I started searching elsewhere is because the Word wasn't lining up with what God has said, the way it was being preached.

Here is a link which contains a good article on where I am in my current beliefs.

http://www.graftedin.org/suggested_reading/index.html

I don't know if the majority of messianics will claim to be of the one true faith in the sense you have asked. Maybe they will.

However for me, I know people who are not messianics who walk far closer to God than I can dream at this point in time. I know they are in his hands. I feel God calling me this direction, he came to me in my darkest hour and has shown me more of who we are as believers in Christ.

My heart is convinced. Now I must begin to act on those convictions.


P.S.
Read the article by Kevin Williams called "Grafted in" when you have some time.

Two nights ago, I found the jews for Jesus site strictly by accident.

Last night I read the Grafted In book. The Spirit was with me!!!!
Truth!!!!!!!!!!!
It is so devine!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have not been this excited since my baptism/immersion.
I have to go to work and i"m going to be late becasue I had to type this but I will be back.
I prayed for the truth.
God is great.
I am so in love with Him.

 

[Jase]

Thank you for your reply Pray4Isrel,
I must have been misinformed.
I suppose i'm just trying to get to the heart of what you all believe. I believe this question addresses much of my curiousisty: what is it that separates Messianic Jews from all the Christian denominations. In other words, what makes you the one true church? Why are you a Messianic Jew?

I ask these questions in all sincerity. Thank you.

May the pece of our Lord be with you all.

I think "One true church" is a wrong term to use. The true church is the body of all believers in Jesus. Whether you are a gentile or Jewish, all believers are part of Christ's church. "The" church is not a building.
The main difference i'd say between us ( Messianic Jews) and gentile Christians, is we hold on to our Jewish heritage and roots more than Christians. I guess we have a stronger tie to the Old Testament than gentile Christians. We hold on to the connection between the OT and the NT, and see the OT as our heritage that paved the way for Jesus and salvation to everyone. Some gentile Christians value the OT because it is part of their religious roots, but they don't have that heritage and promise to their people.

We are Messianic Jews because we are still Jews, God's chosen people that are descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but we also believe that God fullfilled His promise to bring us a Savior to the world, through Jesus Christ. Most Christian denominations don't focus much on the OT, or the "building blocks" if you will of Christianity, so Messianic Judaism is more fitting for us. We connect the Old Testament with the New. Basically, Messianic Jews are "Jewish Christians", but Messianic Jew emphasizes our Jewish heritage, with belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

Also, Jesus' Apostles were the first "Messianic Jews". They retained their Jewish heritage, but believed Jesus to be the divine Messiah.

 

[Jase]

Hi all,

To the MJs:

I have not so long ago taken studies regarding the "ONE GOD" teachings.

So far I have been taught that God is "The eternal, invisible, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Spirit".

Is this along the same line of your own beliefs?

Yes, although don't know about invisible. I believe God the Father can be seen, its just that no one has seen him yet. He manifested Himself to us through Jesus.

 

[Jase]

To MJs,

Do yall believe that the word "YHWH" is related in any way to the three primary tenses of the Hebrew word "to be"? So that YHWH is represented through these three tenses of the verb "to be" thus:

The Supreme Being is the one who is the was, is (being), coming one. In simple language, he represents the "past," the "present" and the "future" without any boundaries of time limiting his existence?

your help would be much appreciated

Yes, God is eternal and everlasting. He has existed for all time, and sees all time without being bound within it. Time has no meaning to God. Before time and the universe, God was.

 

[GJG]

Yes, God is eternal and everlasting. He has existed for all time, and sees all time without being bound within it. Time has no meaning to God. Before time and the universe, God was.

Thx 4 that dude

I really appreciate your helpful posts dude.

Do yall also believe that the first and most important of all the commandments is:

Mark 12:29
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: KJV

Mark 12:29
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. NIV

 

[SonWorshipper]

Amein! Shema! But don't forget the rest of it!