Messianic Judaism 101
Answers
about Messianic Beliefs
These answers are a simple
introduction to Messianic Beliefs, please contact us if you need more
detail.
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Do
you believe in Jesus? |
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What
is Messianic Worship? |
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What
is Messianic Judaism? |
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Do
you consider yourself Christian or Jew? |
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When
did Gentiles come into faith? |
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Are
Scriptures inspired by G-d? |
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How
many Jewish believers in Yeshua are there? |
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Why
use the name Yeshua? |
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What
does Christ Mean? |
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Why
put a dash (-) in the name of G-d? |
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Does
G-d still work today like He did in Bible times? |
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Is
the Law still valid today? |
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Do
you keep the Sabbath? |
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Do
you keep kosher? |
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Do
you believe in the Holy Spirit? |
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What
about the gifts of the Spirit? |
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Do
you celebrate Christmas and Easter? |
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Do
you keep the Feasts Days? |
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What
is Messianic Worship? -
Messianic Worship seeks to restore scripture to it's Jewish context,
Glorify Adonai (G-d) in all we do, and build bridges between Jews,
Messianic Jews, and Christians. Messianic congregations are often
made up predominately of Goy (Gentiles), wishing to worship in the way
taught by Yeshua (Jesus), and show love and support for Jews and Israel.
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What
is Messianic Judaism?
- Messianic Judaism
is a movement of Jewish people who believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the
promised Jewish Messiah and Savior for Israel and the nations.
Messianic Jews have not stopped being Jewish, remaining strongly Jewish in
identity, lifestyle and belief that Yeshua is the Messiah and the
fulfillment of true Biblical Judaism.
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When
did Gentiles come into faith? -
It was always God’s will for the Gentile nations to receive His
Salvation (Is. 49:6, 42:6). G-d
told Abraham that through him all the nations of the earth would be
blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). Early
Messianic Jews did not understand that this was God’s will and
proclaimed the Good News of the Messiah only to Jewish people.
The controversy in the first century was not if it was Jewish
to believe in Yeshua but whether Gentiles could be included without having
to become Jewish. This was addressed
by the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:1-31) which determined Goy
(Gentiles) need not be circumcised, or follow other Jewish Law, but must:
Abstain from eating: blood, things strangled, offered to idols, and must
not fornicate.
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How
many Jewish believers in Yeshua are there?
Estimates vary, approximately one quarter of a million in the US, with
1 million world wide.
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Why
use the name Yeshua? -
Yeshua is Jesus' Hebrew name, and would have been what His talmidim
(disciples) would have called Him.
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What
Does Christ Mean? -
Christ means anointed one, and
is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Mashiach.
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Do
you believe in Jesus? -
Yes, we refer to Him by His Hebrew name, Yeshua, which was the name He was
called while He walked on earth. To us He is the Messiah of Israel and
Savior of the world.
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Do
you consider yourself Christian or Jew?
- Both, We are Jews and non-Jews who follow and love Yeshua, but our faith
is built on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures, not church
traditions or Jewish rabbinical teachings.
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Are
Scriptures inspired of G-d?
- Yes.
The Torah, Tanakh, and Brit Chadasha are all G-d breathed and are
profitable for study application in our daily lives.
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Why
put a dash (-) in the name of G-d? -
As a sign of respect. It is
to show the use of these words are a substitution for the Most Holy
Name of G-d, the One true One, and that we are not speaking of an idol
which uses the name "god."
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Does
G-d still work today
like He did in Bible times?
- Yes. He works
whatever He wills unhindered by time or space. If the Most High did it or
promised it in the Bible, then it will happen and
can happen at any time.
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Do
you believe in being "born again?" -
Yes. Because of the sinful spiritual nature in all people that accompanies
physical birth, a new creation of the human spirit is needed to fully
relate to our holy G-d. The act of new creation of our spirit by G-d in us
is in effect being "born over again." Yeshua our Messiah offers
this to all who trust Him.
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Is
the Law still valid today?
- Yes,
as a standard for righteousness. Yeshua
said that not one yod or tittle would pass away, and that those who love
Him will keep His commandments. The Law is not for salvation, but
for sanctification (being Holy). No one can keep the Law perfectly,
but striving to live as Adonai commands brings us closer to His desire for
our life.
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Do
you keep the Sabbath? -
Yes. We encourage observing the Sabbath. From the time of creation
the Adonai set aside sundown Friday to sundown Saturday as a gift of
physical rest to us. We should accept the holy gift with joy.
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Do
you keep kosher? -
We believe it is a personnel choice, according to what is the plain
Scriptural instruction of what animals may be consumed. We do not believe
that it is required to be restricted to a rabbinical approved kosher diet.
Some members of the congregation do keep Kosher.
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Do
you believe in the Holy Spirit?.-
Yes. The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Hebrew) is G-d continuing daily to perform the
miracles of bestowing holy life upon the hearts of receptive people.
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What
about the gifts of the Spirit?
- Yes.
While some may differ in the manifestation of those gifts, G-d's gifts are
real, and powerful!
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Do
you keep the Feasts Days? -
Yes, we celebrate the holy feasts as a "memorial throughout your
generations forever." These Feasts foreshadow the coming
of Yeshua, both His first and second advent.
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Do
you celebrate Christmas and Easter? Holy
days. Both Christmas and Easter are pagan celebrations and are not the
actual days they propose to celebrate. We celebrate the actual days of the
birth (Succot) and resurrection of Yeshua (First Fruits), which were
already G-d ordained Feasts of Israel.
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