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DEFINITIONS
What
is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish people
who believe that Yeshua (Jesus' original name
in Hebrew) is the Messiah of Israel and the Savior
of the world. Yeshua is the most Jewish of Jews.
Yeshua was a descendant of both Abraham and King
David, was raised in a Jewish home and went to
synagogue. He perfectly kept the entire Torah
(see Galatians 4:4). He taught that He came to
fulfill, not set aside, the Torah (see Matthew
5:17-19). He was a rabbi who performed unparalleled
miracles, bringing great blessing to the nation
of Israel. All His early disciples also lived
very Jewish lives. The Messianic movement was
entirely Jewish at its inception, and continued
to exist as an authentic Jewish movement for 700
years after Yeshua’s death and resurrection.
Messianic
Jews have not stopped being Jewish. On the contrary,
we remain strongly Jewish in our identity and
lifestyle! The Tenach (the Old Testament Scriptures)
provides the foundation of our Jewish faith, and
the New Covenant Scriptures (which were also written
by Jews) the completion of our Jewish faith. In
fact, the Hebrew Scriptures themselves affirm
that they are not complete, but that God was going
to make a New Covenant with the Jewish people
(Jeremiah 31:31-34). We believe that the Sinai
covenant, upon which much of traditional (Rabbinic)
Judaism is based, is a broken covenant. There
is no Temple and there are no sacrifices by which
we can be brought near to God and experience genuine
atonement. Non-Messianic Judaism is based on this
broken covenant, which cannot save us. In contrast,
we believe that God already established this New
Covenant by means of Yeshua's death and resurrection.
He died and rose again to atone for our sins,
so that we can enter into this New Covenant relationship
with God. We believe that Yeshua ascended to the
right hand of God the Father, and is coming back
to Earth to reign from Jerusalem over Israel and
all the nations of the world. At that time the
fullness of the New Covenant will be realized.
What
is the difference between Messianic Judaism and
non-Messianic Judaism?
Non-Messianic or Rabbinic Judaism is a religion
centered around the teachings and writings of
the non-Messianic rabbis. Its formation began
during the Babylonian Captivity (around 550 BC)
and solidified nearly 2,000 years ago when the
Second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Prior to
that, “Judaism,” or the faith of the
Jewish people, was centered around the Temple
and the sacrificial system, and brought genuine
atonement. After the destruction of the Temple,
the non-Messianic rabbis decided to radically
restructure Judaism, substituting synagogues,
rabbis, prayers, study and commandments for the
Temple, priests and sacrifices. They also added
many of their own laws, rules and traditions.
Sadly, they left us with a man-made religion that
is powerless to save us. Today their writings
and commentaries (the Talmud, etc.) form the foundation
of traditional (non-Messianic) Judaism. Rabbinic
Judaism consists of several branches: Orthodox
(traditional), Chassidic (Orthodox with influences
from eastern mysticism, including belief in reincarnation
- a non-Biblical concept), Conservative,
Reform (liberal), Reconstructionist
(emphasizing Jewish culture over theology) and
Secular Humanistic (denying the existence
of God). Despite their claims, very few within
these “Judaisms” are actually awaiting
the Messiah, and those who are, are the exceptions.
Messianic Judaism differs from Rabbinic Judaism
in that we rely completely on the Scriptures.
Our faith is the Judaism of the Bible (Biblical
Judaism) and is centered on Messiah and the salvation
He brings. We are brought near to God because
of the atoning work of Yeshua, Israel's Chief
Rabbi, who has fulfilled us as Jewish Believers
and fulfilled Judaism itself.
Is
there a difference between Messianic Judaism and
Christianity?
In one sense, Messianic Judaism and Christianity
are the same thing. There is only one faith. Messianic
Jews and Christians share the same core beliefs.
Let’s define Christianity as faith in the
God of Israel and the Messiah whom He sent to
save Jews and Gentiles. It is made up of peoples
from different cultures who have organized themselves
into different denominations. Christianity is
made up of Jewish Believers and Gentile Believers.
Messianic Judaism is the same faith but it is
expressed within the Jewish heritage. Both Messianic
Jews and Gentile Christians are part of Messianic
Judaism.
THE ORIGINS OF
MESSIANIC JUDAISM
When
did Messianic Judaism begin?
Messianic Judaism is actually 2,000 years old,
dating to the time of Yeshua Himself. Yeshua was
(and is) Jewish. He was raised in a Jewish home
and ministered to Jewish people in the Land of
Israel. His disciples were Jewish. The apostles
were Jewish. The writers of the Brit Chadashah
(New Covenant or Testament) were Jewish (with
the possible exception of Luke, and a good case
can be made that he too was Jewish), and for a
time, the faith was strictly Jewish. By the middle
of the first century AD, tens of thousands of
Jewish people believed that Yeshua was the Messiah
(see Acts 2:37-42, 4:4, 21:20).
If
Messianic Judaism was strictly Jewish at first,
how did Gentiles come into the faith?
It was always God's will for the Gentile nations
to share in His salvation (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6).
God told Abraham that through him all the nations
of the Earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
The Lord set apart the Jewish people to bring
the knowledge of God, the Word of God, and the
Savior to the rest of the world. At first the
early Messianic Jews did not understand that this
was God's will and they proclaimed the Good News
only to other Jewish people. Ironically, the big
controversy in the first century was not whether
Jews could believe in Yeshua (naturally they could),
but whether Gentiles could come into the faith
without having to “become Jewish”!
When Messianic Jews finally understood that salvation
was also intended for the Gentiles, they began
to share the Good News with non-Jews as well as
with Jews. As a result, many Gentiles began to
come into the faith.
How
did a Jewish movement come to be regarded as so
un-Jewish?
When the early Messianic Jews took the Good News
of the Jewish Messiah to the Gentiles, a great
number were brought into the faith. By the end
of the first century AD, Gentile Believers outnumbered
the Jewish Believers. This occurred primarily
because there have always been far more Gentiles
in the world than Jewish people. However, as more
and more Gentiles came into the Messianic faith,
some had little understanding or regard for its
Jewish roots and God's eternal covenant with Israel.
A “de-Judaizing” process (a separation
from the Jewish roots of the faith and from the
Jewish people) set in. As the number of Gentile
Believers increased, they began to dominate the
faith until the Gentile expression of Christianity
emerged as the dominant expression of the faith.
Then, in what can only be regarded as one of the
greatest paradoxes of history, Christianity made
it seem alien for a Jewish person to believe in
the King of the Jews!
When
did the early Messianic Jews disappear and why?
In spite of the many pressures put upon Jewish
Believers to give up their faith, it seems that
Messianic Judaism continued into the seventh century
AD. First, non-Messianic rabbis pressured Messianic
Jews to relinquish their faith in Yeshua as the
Messiah. In addition, the dominant Gentile expression
of Christianity pressured Messianic Jews to abandon
their Jewishness. Finally, in the seventh century
AD, the rise of Islam caused distress for Messianic
Jews. Despite all this, the real reason for the
disappearance of early Messianic Judaism was that
Messianic Jews lost their “vision”
- no longer regarding it as important to remain
Jewish after accepting Yeshua. Consequently, they
assimilated into the Gentile expression of Christianity.
MODERN
MESSIANIC JUDAISM
When
did the modern Messianic Jewish movement begin?
Though Messianic Judaism as a distinct movement
faded in the seventh century, there have always
been individual Jewish Believers in Yeshua. Beginning
in the early 1800s increasing numbers of Jewish
people began believing in Yeshua. The modern Messianic
Jewish movement came to fruition in the 1960s
and 1970s. We believe that this could be part
of the salvation of the Jewish people predicted
to occur in the Last Days (see Hosea 3:4-5, Joel
2:28-29, Deuteronomy 30:1-5, Romans 11:25-27).
How
many Messianic Jews are there?
While there are no concrete figures, it has been
estimated by those involved in the movement (and
even by those outside the movement) that there
are approximately 40,000 to 50,000 Jewish Believers
in the Messiah in the United States. Even though
there are approximately 400 Messianic synagogues
in the U.S., the majority of Messianic Jews do
not attend Messianic congregations. Instead they
tend to join evangelical churches. The Messianic
congregational movement is still relatively small,
but it is growing. In 1948, when Israel was reestablished
as an independent nation, there were fewer than
100 Messianic Jews living in Israel! Today, there
are approximately 6,000 Messianic Jews in Israel
in 100 congregations! The Messianic Jewish movement
is also growing in other countries. If you are
interested in getting involved in a Messianic
synagogue, discernment is required, since not
all are theologically sound.
MESSIANIC
TERMINOLOGY
Why
do we use the name “Yeshua” more often
than “Jesus”?
Yeshua never heard the name “Jesus”
in His lifetime! Yeshua is His given Hebrew name!
It means “salvation” or “the
Lord is salvation” (see Matthew 1:21). He
was always called “Yeshua,” a common
Hebrew name at that time. When Latin-speaking
missionaries, who called the Messiah “Yesu,”
brought the Good News to the British people, “Yesu”
became “Jesus” in English.
What
does “Christ” mean?
Some people mistakenly believe that “Christ”
is Yeshua's last name! Rather, “Christ”
is His title in much the same way as we might
refer to a “President” or “King.”
This title is taken from the Hebrew word “Mashiach”
or “Anointed One,” which was translated
into the Greek “Christos” and later
anglicized to “Christ.” The actual
English translation of Mashiach is “Messiah”
and means an anointed, God-appointed leader. Examples
of this title in the Tenach are found in Daniel
9:25 and Psalm 2:2. In the New Covenant, Yeshua
claimed the title of Messiah (see Mark 14:61-62
and John 4:25-26).
Why
do Messianic Jews prefer not to call themselves
“Christians”?
The term “Christian” originally meant
“follower of the Christ” or “follower
of the Messiah.” By itself “Christian”
is a good term. Theologically, Messianic Jews
are Christians and many of us identify as Christians
and call ourselves Christians. But sadly, over
time the term “Christian” came to
be used over-broadly and inaccurately. Many people
today have a false dichotomy in their minds, that
on the one hand there are Jews and Judaism, and
on the other hand there are Gentiles and Christianity,
and supposedly one must choose between the two.
Accordingly, when a Jew accepts Yeshua he is thought
to have “switched over” from the Jew-Judaism
side to the Gentile-Christianity side, and is
therefore no longer regarded as a Jew, but as
a Gentile-Christian. For all intents and purposes
the term “Christian” has become synonymous
with “non-Jew” or “Gentile.”
We believe the opposite to be true. Nothing could
be more Jewish than to follow Israel's Messiah!
Consequently we also choose to call ourselves
“Messianic Jews,” which identifies
us as Jewish people who follow Messiah Yeshua.
Why
do Messianic Jews say they are “completed
Jews”?
We believe that Yeshua is the fulfillment, or
completion of Biblical Judaism. As Jews, we have
been made “complete” in what the God
of Israel intended for us; that is, we have come
to trust in Yeshua as our atonement for sin and
have been brought into a personal relationship
with God Himself. Yeshua never intended to start
a new religion; He came to fulfill the Law and
the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). We have not “converted”
to another faith, but are part of the fulfillment
of the Jewish faith!
If
I’m Jewish and believe in Yeshua, will I
stop being Jewish?
No, you won't! Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, and
believing in Him is the most Jewish thing that
you could do! How could a Jewish person who acknowledges
the Jewish Messiah become a non-Jew? Contrary
to certain claims, the Jewish identity of many
Messianic Jews has been strengthened by their
faith in the King of the Jews. Many of us can
claim that Jesus made us kosher! Faith in Yeshua
is Jewish, no matter what men (even a majority
of men) may say, because truth is determined by
God - not by a majority vote! In fact, in every
generation it has always been the remnant minority
of Jewish people who had true faith in God. The
majority almost always went astray (as examples,
see Numbers 14:1-10, Exodus 32:25-26, Romans 11:2-10).
If you are Jewish, it is because God made you
a Jew and no one can ever change that.
MESSIANIC
JEWISH LIFESTYLE
What
is the importance of Messianic congregations?
Just as Messianic Judaism is not new, neither
are Messianic synagogues new. Biblical and historical
records demonstrate that there were Messianic
synagogues throughout the Roman Empire and beyond
as early as 50 AD (James 1:1, 2:2; Hebrews 10:27).
Messianic congregations help foster community
life. They enable Messianic Jews to assemble and
worship the God of Israel within the Jewish heritage.
Assimilation is a problem for Messianic Jews (as
well as for other Jews), and Messianic congregations
help combat the forces of assimilation. The issue
of assimilation is something that is addressed
in the New Testament. Rabbi Paul commands Messianic
Jews to not become uncircumcised (1 Corinthians
7:18), which means not to seek assimilation into
Gentile culture, but rather to continue their
Jewish way of life. Historically, Messianic Jewish
families that make no effort to live a Jewish
lifestyle or to be involved in Jewish evangelism
almost always assimilate within a couple of generations.
Messianic congregations can help us maintain our
Jewish identity and pass it on to the ensuing
generations.
What
about Messianic Jewish ministries?
Jewish ministries are also part of the Messianic
Jewish movement. The Lord has used organizations
like Jews for Jesus to bring the truth about Messiah
to many Jewish people, to start Messianic synagogues,
and to help Gentile Christians learn about the
Jewish roots of the faith. Good Messianic congregations
and ministries need to work together.
Do
Messianic Jews believe they should keep the Law
of Moses?
The covenant upon which much of the Torah is based
is the broken Sinai covenant. There is no Temple,
and therefore no sacrifices by which we may draw
near to God and obtain eternal life. Therefore,
it is impossible to keep all the laws of the Mosaic
Covenant today. In addition, most Jews live outside
of Israel, and many of the laws only apply to
life within Israel. Nevertheless, the laws that
are part of the covenant mediated by Moses are
still valuable and relevant. The Torah continues
to inform and guide the life of the Jewish people.
It teaches us the right things to do and gives
us a good way to live. It helps us live an authentic
Jewish lifestyle. It helps us remain part of the
Holy People. The early Messianic Jews had a favorable
view of the Torah, and many were zealous to live
in accordance with it (see Acts 21:20-26). History
documents that Messianic Jews continued to live
a distinctly Jewish, Torah-based lifestyle for
centuries after the arrival of Messiah Yeshua.
There is no incompatibility with being “zealous
for the Torah” and being a Messianic Jew.
Therefore:
I am pro-Torah, while recognizing that the Covenant
made at Sinai is a broken covenant. I am pro-Torah,
valuing the great wisdom that is found in the
Torah. I am pro-Torah, recognizing that all Believers
are in some sense to fulfill the Law (Romans 8:4),
but that not all of us are obligated to fulfill
the same requirements of the Law (for example,
Gentiles need not be circumcised). I am pro-Torah,
recognizing that nobody (Jewish or otherwise)
can be saved by the works of the Law. I am pro-Torah,
recognizing that Messiah’s teaching helps
return us to the Torah's original intent regarding
issues such as a man being married to only one
woman. I am pro-Torah, understanding that one
of the main purposes of the Torah is to point
us to Messiah. I am pro-Torah, accepting the fact
that Messianic Jews who choose not to keep every
aspect of the Law, particularly the ceremonial
laws, do not lose their salvation. My personal
experience is that I have become more observant
over time, but it was a process that took years.
I encourage Messianic Jews to identify with and
embrace their Jewish heritage, which in large
part is based on the Torah; and I encourage Messianic
Jews and Christians to be gracious to each other
regarding others' level of Torah observance.
Do
Messianic Jews celebrate the Jewish holidays and,
if so, why?
Most Messianic Jews celebrate the Biblical holidays
such as Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh HaShanah
(the traditional Jewish New Year, but actually
the Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (the Day of
Atonement), Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles),
Chanukkah (the Feast of Dedication) and Purim.
We celebrate the holidays because it is written
in the Torah for Israel to observe these festivals
forever (Leviticus 23:21, 31, 41; Exodus 12:14).
Yeshua observed these festivals, as did the early
Messianic Jews and apostles such as Rabbi Paul
(Acts 20:16, 27:9; 1 Corinthians 16:8). We also
believe that when Messiah Yeshua returns to Earth,
some of these holidays will be reestablished worldwide
(Zechariah 14:11-21). As Messianic Jews celebrate
the holidays, we do so with the understanding
that Yeshua is the fulfillment of each of them.
For example, He is our Passover Lamb, who died
on Passover. He is the Firstfruits of the resurrection,
who came back to life on the holiday of Firstfruits.
He is our Atonement on Yom Kippur, etc.
What
is the relationship of Gentile Christians to the
laws of the Torah?
Messiah’s Holy Community of Jews and Gentiles
(the Church), while having much in common with
Israel, is not identical to Israel. The New Covenant
is not the same as the Old Covenant. Jews who
enter the New Covenant remain Jews, and Gentiles
who enter the New Covenant remain Gentiles. Gentile
Believers are not the same as the Gentile foreigners
who lived in the nation of Israel under the Old
Covenant. Gentile Christians have an elevated
status compared to the aliens who lived in the
nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. They
are fully co-heirs of the Kingdom with the Jewish
saints. Being grafted into Israel doesn't mean
that Gentile Believers become Israel or are required
to live the same way as the Jewish people. Jews
and Gentiles are one because of our one God and
Father of all: “one Lord, one faith and
one Baptism.” We share equally in the Spirit
of God, who lives in all of us, and have the same
hope of living forever in the New Jerusalem. Being
one doesn’t negate the differences in roles
and calling and lifestyle between Jews and Gentiles.
Keep in
mind that most of the laws of the Torah were directed
specifically to the Jewish people and not to the
other nations. The laws formed Israel’s
constitution. The laws were meant to keep Israel
distinct from the other nations. So what relationship
does the Gentile Christian have to the 613 laws
of the Torah? The book of Acts records that Messiah's
Emissaries (the Apostles) and the Elders of Messiah's
Holy Community met to decide this very issue.
In the Messianic Jewish community we commonly
refer to this meeting, recorded in Acts 15, as
“the First Jerusalem Council.” According
to the binding, Holy Spirit-inspired decision
issued by the Emissaries and Elders, apart from
saving faith in Messiah Yeshua, only four essential
practices are necessary for Gentile Christians:
abstaining from food dirtied by idolatry, from
sexual immorality, from eating blood and from
the meat of animals that have been strangled (see
Acts 15, especially verses 19-20, 28-29). In addition
to these Four Essentials, obedience to the Moral
Law (for example, not stealing, not murdering,
not committing adultery and not bearing false
witness) is required. The Creator has written
these moral laws on everyone's heart (see Romans
2:14-15).
Apart
from these Four Essential Practices and the Moral
Law, everything else - including the Sabbath,
holidays and dietary laws - is to be regarded
as non-essential, and comes under the area of
Christian freedom and liberty. If someone wants
to observe a Biblical holiday or custom, there
is freedom, but no obligation, to do so. Gentile
Christians have the freedom to celebrate the Sabbath
and the Jewish holidays, or not observe them.
If someone says, “Messiah is my Passover
and I don't need to celebrate a Passover Seder”
- that’s fine. If someone says, “Messiah
is my Sabbath, and I'm resting in Him, and therefore
I don't need to rest on the Sabbath” - that's
OK. If someone wants to observe the first day
of the week as a day of rest and worship, he has
every right to do so. If someone says, “I
want to observe the Sabbath and celebrate the
Passover to help me better remember and appreciate
Messiah, my Passover Lamb” - that's fine,
too.
This does not make the Torah useless or irrelevant
for Christians. The Torah is full of great wisdom.
In the Torah are found the principles for salvation,
atonement and God-ordained ways of worship. The
initial prophecies and God-ordained qualifications
for the Messiah are found here. True and accurate
historical accounts - the history of the Creation,
the Fall and the Flood; the origins and dispersing
of the nations and their languages; the foundation
and calling of Israel; the covenants made with
Noah, Abraham and Moses - are all contained in
this great Book. Basic laws of morality and justice,
and principles for godly living - principles that
can be applied to the life of every nation and
every Christian - are found in the Torah. Every
Christian should be well-versed in the Torah.
Can
Gentiles be members of a Messianic synagogue?
Most Messianic congregations do have non-Jewish
members. To be a member of a Messianic synagogue,
a Gentile Believer should have a burden and love
for the Jewish people, an understanding of what
God is doing with the Jewish people, and have
a “Ruth-like” calling to the Chosen
People. That does not mean Gentile Believers need
to live exactly like Jewish people.
Are
Messianic Jews Zionists?
Most Messianic Jews support Israel. We support
Israel not only because we believe Jewish people
need a national homeland, but also because we
believe the reestablishment of Israel is a direct
fulfillment of ancient Biblical prophecies (Ezekiel
36:24, 37:1-14). We know Israel is not a perfect
nation, but believe that God's hand is behind
Israel. We think that all Believers should support
Israel because God promised Abraham: “I
will bless them that bless you, and curse them
that curse you” (Genesis 12:3).
How
do you know that Yeshua is the Messiah?
The prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures assure
us that Yeshua is the Messiah. God wanted us to
be able to recognize the Messiah when He came:
-
The Messiah had to be born
in the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:1-2). See
Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 2:1-20.
-
The Messiah would be more
than a man. He was to be God in human form
(Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalm 110:1,
Proverbs 30:4). See John 1:1, 20:28; Hebrews
1:8.
-
The Messiah had to come
before Jerusalem was destroyed the second
time, which took place in 70 AD (Daniel 9:24-27).
See Luke 1:5, 2:1-7.
-
The Messiah had to be a
direct descendant of King David, a member
of the royal family of Israel (Jeremiah 23:5-6,
Isaiah 9:6-7). See Matthew 1.
-
The Messiah was to be tried
and unfairly condemned, even though He was
perfectly innocent (Isaiah 53:8). See Matthew
27:1-2, Luke 23:1-25.
-
The Messiah would die to
make atonement for the sin of Israel and the
world (Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 10-12; Daniel 9:24-27;
Zechariah 9:9, 12:10; Psalm 16:10, 22). See
John 1:29, 11:49-52; 1 Corinthians 15:53.
-
The Messiah was to be a
light to the nations, so that God's salvation
could reach to the ends of the Earth (Isaiah
49:6). Yeshua is the most popular, the most
studied and the most influential figure in
the history of mankind. He is the most famous
Jew who ever lived: more famous than Abraham,
more famous than Moses, more famous than King
David or any of the prophets, more famous
than Freud or Einstein! If people throughout
the world know about Israel, or pray to the
God of Israel, or read the Holy Scriptures
of Israel, it is because of Yeshua. No Jewish
person should be indifferent to the fact that
this Jewish man has had such a tremendous
part in the history of mankind. The love He
has inspired, the comfort He has given, the
good He has engendered, the hope and joy He
has kindled are unequaled in human history.
He truly has become the light of the world!
-
The Messiah would rise
from the dead (Isaiah 53:8-12; Psalm 16:10,
118:21-24; Zechariah 12:10). The New Testament
records that, after His death and resurrection,
Yeshua appeared to a wide variety of Jewish
people, in varying numbers, and under varying
circumstances. He appeared to Miriam (John
20:11-18); to some other women (Matthew 28:8-10);
to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34); to two on the
road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35); to 10 of the
apostles (Luke 24:36-43); to all 11 apostles
eight days later (John 20:24-29); then to
seven by the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee
- see John 21:1-23). Yeshua appeared to 500
people at once, most of whom were alive and
could verify the event when the New Testament
was written (1 Cor. 15:6)! Yeshua appeared
to His brother James, who became the leader
of the Jerusalem Congregation (1 Corinthians
15:7), and to Rabbi Paul of Tarsus, who became
better known as the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-16).
Since the first century there have been millions
of people, both Jews and Gentiles (including
some of the greatest thinkers, philosophers
and scientists), who have claimed to have
encountered the resurrected Yeshua. What transformed
all of these people? Only one explanation
makes sense - He is alive today!
Yeshua's
resurrection makes Him absolutely unique in the
history of the world, and puts him on a level
far higher than any of the prophets of Israel
or any other religion or any philosopher. Buddha
is still in his tomb. Mohammed is still in his
grave. Confucius is still dead. Marx, Lenin and
Freud are still in their graves. Only Yeshua has
been raised from death! Since God would never
allow a liar, a deceiver, or a false Messiah to
be resurrected, Yeshua's resurrection validates
His person, His ministry and His message. His
resurrection is God's seal of approval on everything
that Yeshua did and taught, and God's declaration
to the world that Yeshua is Messiah and Savior
of mankind. Therefore, we ought to pay attention
to every word He uttered, since He spoke the truth
without any error.
History
tells us that only one man - Yeshua of Nazareth
- fulfilled these prophecies and many others.
No other man in history even comes close. The
probability that one person could fulfill all
these prophecies by chance is infinitesimally
small. There is only one rational conclusion:
Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel whom the prophets
told us to expect.
WE
WELCOME YOUR INVOLVEMENT!
We are
encouraged by the growth of Messianic Judaism
and by the growth of Congregation Shema Yisrael.
We invite you to join us through your prayers,
support, encouragement and participation. We appreciate
all of you who stand with us. May the God of Israel,
and the wonderful Messiah whom He sent to save
us, bless and reward you for your faithfulness!
From the bottom of our hearts - thank you!
If you
are not a Messianic Jew or Gentile, please contact
us, and we will try to help you have the fantastic
kind of relationship with the God of Israel that
He wants you to have! |