Yeshua ha Zerah

All the understanding of Elohiym, the God of gods, comes through the writings of the prophets (Old Testament or Tanach) in the light of the Mashiach’s death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection the third day. Yeshua of Nazareth is the Mashiach of God. Yeshua of Nazareth is the Zerah of God.

Before the prophecies declared the One to come as the Mashiach, He was declared from the beginning as the ZERAH. Zerah is the Hebrew word primarily translated “seed” in the KJV.  Three Hebrew letters make up the word: Zayin-resh-ayin: עזר. Zerah is used 229 times in the OT and is translated “seed” 221 times. The first two letters, zayin-resh, make up a the base of the words between Strong’s number 2213-2239. As you examine these words the majority meaning you will see for the word ”zar” is spread, sprinkle or scatter. In its most basic sense it means ”to scatter”. If you scatter water, you sprinkle water or it flows. If water overflows a bank, its sense as a flood is to scatter the things in its path. Seed is scattered as it is sown.  The name Zerubbabel (#2216 & 2217)  means the scattered one in Babylon. In 586 BC the Babylonians scattered Yudah to the four winds in judgment of which some ended up in Babylon. These would be the scattered ones of Yudah in Babylon. Thus one would be named Zerubbabel. 2220, zerowa, is translated arm, which is the appendage that a person uses to scatter seed or sprinkle water. 2237, zarar, translated “sneeze”, as it is viewed as sprinking water with a sneeze.  To sow is the base of seed. Zerah in its most literal meaning is the “scattered one(s) or the scattered thing(s).  From a human, earthy or fleshly perspective people are scattered abroad. From God’s perspective we are placed with great care and love exactly where and when He desires for His good pleasure.

And so, the Seed, the Scattered One, among the scattered ones, is prophesied to be as they. “In thy Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. All the families and tribes of the earth shall be blessed. This gospel of the Seed was first preached in the hearing of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15.  They heard it again in Gen 4:25. It was remembered for Noah in Gen 7:3 & 9:9. To Avraham the Seed was declared abundantly, and it was said by Paul that the gospel was preached to Avraham. (Gal 3:8) For he wrote, “And the scripture (Old Testament), foreseeing that God would justify the nations through faith, preached before the gospel unto Avraham, saying, IN THEE SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED (Gen 12:3).” And in another place it is written, “IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.” (Gen 22:18) The interpretation is sure and true, “Now to Avraham and his seed were the promises made. God said not, ‘And to seeds’, as of many, but as to one, ‘And to thy Seed’, which is the Mashiach.” (Gal 3:16) The Mashiach is the Zerah, and the Mashiach and the Zerah is Yeshua of Nazareth. He alone is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament. The writings of the prophets are concerning Yeshua ha Mashaich and ha Zarah and Him alone. There is no other gospel! If any person preached another gospel which is no gospel at all, let the judgment of God fall upon him.

Any one who rejects or ignores these words does not reject my words but the words of Yeshua and His apostolos, says the Spirit to the assembly.

Messianic Christian?

Beloved, literally “Christian” means “of Christos” or “one of Christos”: a follower of the Christos. Christos is the Greek word for “anointed one”, or in the Hebrew “mashiach”. As “seed” or “zerah” prophesied the coming promised one at the beginning, as the prophets continued to fortell Yeshua, they spoke of “mashiach”, the anointed one. The “seed” and “the mashiach” prophesy of one and the same person, Yeshua, the Son of God.

Now in Acts when we find the word Christian first used, it was in Antioch, where the followers of the one true gospel were first called “Χριστιανος”, Christianos, or “of the Christos”. The unbelievers called the chosen ones by grace, Christianos. Believers did not call themselves Christians. Believers did not give themselves a name. God allowed unbelievers to name them. And so why are we compelled to name ourselves? Is it not enough, that we are followers of Mashiach who is Yeshua of Nazareth. It is not enough that we are the chosen ones of God called by His grace and His will. But Christian, I will let the unbeliever call me that, if he wish.

If we call ourselves(I speak concerning Gentiles, the nations, those not of Yisrael) messianic Christians, first we are calling ourselves this, and not God. Second, we are stuttering. Why would we say we are “the Christ’s follower of Christ”?

Now in the Christos, the Mashiach, there is neither Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female: we are all one in the Christos. If I am a Jew in Christ with the Gentiles then we are all “of Mashiach”. If there are messianic Jews, then there must be messianic Gentiles, and they must be one and the same. Is a female chosen by God in Christ somehow not a female. Does she cease from bearing children? having breasts? Does a slave on the moment of conversion by God, cease to be a slave in the flesh? (I speak as a fool for your foolishness!) If a Gentile Christian cannot call himself a messianic Christian, or else he is stuttering. Then a Jew cannot be a messianic Christian. We are one in Christ, and there is not division in the Spirit. There is one Spirit, one faith, one Father of us all, and by the way, one dipping in the name of Yeshua (baptism). Now as of the Gentiles, I am “of Meshiach”. I am a follower of Mashiach. Then, so too, let the Jew be “of Mashiach, a follower of Mashiach. If a Gentile cannot be a messianic Gentile, and be one with the Jew, then let the no one be messianic anything. We are followers of Mashiach. And, oh high minded Gentiles, His name is not J-E-S-U-S who you call him. It is Yeshua as the very least. And He is Christos who is Mashiach. We will not cease from using the language of the scriptures, for God has not forsaken His people. We will not forget that the prophets were of Hebrews, of Yisrael, if Yudah. For through their unbelief, faith came to the Gentiles. And in the fulness of times, when the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled (now, this is a generation of judgment), it is now through the unbelief of the Gentiles, faith will come to Israel, and as it is written, “all Yisrael shall be saved.” For during the time of the Gentiles there was a partial hardening of Yisrael according to the purpose of God, but now “the time is at hand”. The day of salvation of Yisrael. Yisrael does not await another judgment, but she awaits the spirit of grace and supplication. She awaits the moment when God grants her grace. And there will no longer be a partial hardening. And the promise made to Avraham will be fulfilled, “in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”, without partiality. And the purpose of God will be complete. And I see a new heaven and new earth without the sea: without judgment forever and ever, eternal righteousness reigning.

Now I will mention the chosen ones of God who are of Yudah, of Yisrael. I will mention them again to the nations who might be high minded. Israel is a distinct nation, as are all the lands of the Gentiles. They are included in the gospel preached to Avraham, “in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” In the Christos the distinction of people is not done away with in the flesh. I have traditions passed to me from my ancestors, just as you. As long as these traditions are not contrary to Mashiach, then they may continue. I may enjoy the traditions of the Jews, and they may enjoy my traditions, as long as they are not contrary to Christ. Now with my Jewish brethren, they and we must be aware, that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God, the Law, the Torah. There is a Law of condemnation of the Jew, as there is a law of condemnation for the Gentile. For if a Law could have been given to produce righteousness one would have surely been given, and the Mashiach, Yeshua of Nazareth, would not needed to have died on a cross. The Gentile can make Laws contrary to Mashiach, as sure as the Jews.

And I will also mention the assembly of the living God, the bride of the Christ, made up of Jews and Gentiles, a peculiar people, a holy nation, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, living and abiding in the presence of God forever. I will mention the saved and the nations of the saved. God has forsaken none. For in Adam ALL died, and in the Mashiach ALL are made alive, each man in His own order: in God’s own order of things: the saved and the nations of the saved. 

So if there be any boasting, Gentile or Jew, let the boasting be in the Mashiach, the Christos, Yeshua of Nazareth, raised from the dead! For He alone is worthy of all praise!

Messianic Jews (con’t)

I will present some thoughts of Jewish and Gentile who call themselves believers in our day and hour, and judge their words by the one true gospel.

The Gentile Christian says: “It is not possible to say one is a Christian (follower of Christ) and not love the Jewish people.” On face value the statement seems to have it merits, but I do not accept it in spirit. God loves all men, and in the Spirit of God and His grace the believer loves all men equally, if indeed he walks in the grace of God. Speaking in Spirit and in truth I would say: “It is not possible in the grace of God to say I am a follower of Christ and not love all men of all nations, Jews and Gentiles alike without partiality. “How can a man say he loves God whom he cannot see, and hate his fellow man who he does see.” When believers single out a single people for their love they show partiality. For God has a people, the assembly of the living God, out of all nations chosen without partiality, that love all men of all nations equally despite what they see with their eyes in this generation and in every generation. I as a believer cannot say (and continue to walk in the truth), that my generation loves all men less or more than any other generation or I make God out to be a liar. “The gates of sheol (death) shall not prevail against God’s assembly. God loves all men of every nation equally throughout all generations without partiality through the assembly, gathered from all nations. They, the assembly of God, give thanks for all men, and pray for all men. If there would be a lack of love among believers toward any man, than at the time we are aware of it, it should be identified as such. It should be relevant to the believers of the particular generation.

As Paul says in Titus, “For there are many unruly and empty talkers and deceivers of the mind (of Jews and Gentiles alike), especially they of the circumcision (at this particular time the greatest spiritual danger was among the Jews, for the judgment of God was upon them), whose mouth you must stop, who subvert all houses, teaching things not right, for the sake of ill gain. One of themselves, a prophet of himself (versus a prophet of God, chosen by God), said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables (the imaginations of men’s minds versus the understanding of the one true gospel), and commandments of men, that turn men from the truth.” Paul speaks of specific thoughts, by a particular man who calls all Cretians liars. This prophet’s words are contrary to the gospel of God. For God has promised in Christ to bless all nations through Christ, and to say that “all are liars”, is to say that God has not chosen any Cretians by His will and grace. This is a great error contrary to Christ Yeshua and His gospel!

The Messianic Jew says, we keep the law not to save us, but because we are saved. As the debate rages it goes as this, Yeshua did not come to destroy the Law, and Gentiles do not understand the Law, so we Messianic Jews are needed to teach the Gentile believers about keeping the long lost law. Yes, Yeshua, did not come to destroy the Law, He came to fulfill the Law. As prophecy it is fulfilled in the Christ Yeshua’s death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection the third day, as it is with all the rest of the Tanach. It, the Tanach, is completely fulfilled in Yeshua: every type and shadow, every verse and passage. Believers fulfill the righteousness of the Law through the will and grace of God. “He who knew no sin became sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” So a newborn babe who would know little of the Law, as he began and continued to walk in the grace of God (grace upon grace) would fulfill the righteousness of the Law. For Law is fulfilled as it is written, “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul and all thy mind”, and “love thy neighbor as thyself” loveth God. All the Law is fulfilled in these two passage. Are not the prophecies fulfilled and have their meaning while looking upon these verses in the grace of God, seeing Yeshua and his death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection the third day? By looking unto Yeshua and His death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection the third day as it is prophesied in all the scriptures (no exceptions) we begin to understand the love of God in Christ Yeshua.

Now when God chooses by His will to give grace to a Jew, does the Jew cease to be a Jew. Does a man out of any nation under the sun, cease to be called by the nation he comes from? No, of course not! For there must be the chosen ones out of every nation to fulfill the gospel preached to Abraham, “in thy seed all the nations shall be blessed.” So, let it be known, you chosen ones of God, whatever nation you are from, rejoice in God who fulfills His purpose in our midst. So, of course a Jew remains a Jew, just as one of Israel remains of Israel. And yet there is not partiality ammong Jews and Gentiles, bond and free, male and female in Christ. The blessing in Christ are one and the same for all God calls. And He called Jews and Gentiles, bond and free, male and female.

Now we have concluded that a Jew remains a Jew. Then what?. Well, as all of us, Jews or Gentiles, when we are chosen of God, we are brought to an assembly. This is the work of God. Paul apart from the assembly after his conversion was a blind man with no eat and drink for three days, on the verge of dying. But God sent a saint to him, and brought him to an assembly of the living God, and there was life.

During the time of the Gentiles, after the judgment of Yerushalem in 70AD to now, the assembly as a whole is primarily made up of Gentiles, and less Jews. This is the very purpose of God. For there was a partial hardening of Israel until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled: more Gentiles and less Jews. The first generation (before the judgment of Yerushalem in 70AD) assembly of God was more of Israel and less Gentiles. And the last generation of the assembly of God will be more of Israel and less Gentiles, only a remnant of the nations, but “all Israel will be saved”. “All Israel must be saved” to complete the purpose of God in Christ. For through the centuries there were only a few saved in each generation, in these last days, God will save all Israel. And there shall be no partiality toward Jew or Gentile. God is not partial in His love toward all men. And God will save equally without partiality from all the tribes of Israel, less Dan (understand the scriptures). So since 70AD there have been more Gentiles chosen of God than Jews, to provoke the Jews to jealousy by the purpose of God. There is no fleshly reason that there have been less Jews converted these past 1900 years. It is the very purpose of God.

When God chooses a Jew and he enters into an assembly with a majority of Gentiles, is it required of him that he cast off his customs? Is it required of Gentiles to cast off their customs at conversion? No. Then it is not required of the Jew. Now there will be customs changed for both Jew and Gentile when God makes choice and gives grace. For instance it may have been the Gentiles’ custom to worship idols at an idolatrous temple. By the grace of God the chosen one of God will attach himself to that form of teaching, the gospel, and cease to make his customary trip to the temple of idols. His custom is eliminated, but this does not come from men forcing him. It is by the will and grace of God. The Jew will cease going to the synogogue, for the Meshiach they have accepted by grace is rejected in this building made with men’s hands. The one birthed of the Spirit will not be welcomed. Some customs will be omitted and some customs not. To the Jew who was secular, and now chosen of God, be content with your lack of customs. To the Jew with customs be content with your customs. Seek not to change your state or the state of others. Customs, whether of Jewish or Gentile origin, unless there be some unrighteousness contained in them, are acceptable in the eyes of God. Now can a Gentile believer come to the house of a Jewish believer to enjoy a sedr dinner, a Jewish custom. Most certainly, if his conscience permits. Will I reject the hospitality that comes by the grace of God of my Jewish brother chosen of God? Most certainly I will not. I will rejoice in my brother allowing me in his house, and accepting a brother in Christ. If there be some reason his conscience does not permit, he should speak of these things among the brethren, that there might be right judgment. I myself , possibly being a Jew, but raised among the Gentiles (I have not proved my Jewish ancestry), have enjoyed sedr dinner in Yerushalem among unbelieving Jews. How much more so among believers, Jews and Gentiles alike, partaking in the customs of their nation.

I have not written these words in any way to deny the errors that have occurred by Gentiles believers these past 1900 years toward the Jew, whether believer or unbeliever. I can assure you Jewish believers to have made the same errors, as they do at this present time. For Gentile believers to force Jewish believers to cast off their customs is contrary to Christ, as it would be for any Gentile custom to be cast off without cause. But the past is the past and God has chosen us and given us grace in the time we live in. I cannot talk to the past in hope of changing the past, but only in the present for the future.

The Messianic Jew says: The Gentile believers need us Messianic Jews to teach you of the old ways. Beloved, I possibly being Jew, but not knowing it for sure, have only been taught of God. I have sat under no rabbi or messianic believer. I and the gospel I preach has been rejected by Jews and Gentiles alike who call themselves Christians. God has been my teacher, and He did not neglect in teaching me and giving me understanding according to His eternal purpose in the Christ, Yeshua, concerning Israel. Quite the contrary. So whether Jew or Gentile we do not need man to teach us, only God. There is the gift of a teacher, but nevertheless God is the teacher. He is a wise master teacher.

Christian believers say: Christians owe a debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. Beloved, Jewish and Gentile believers’ reasonable service is the fruit of lips to God for Christ Yeshua. It is God who purposes all things. There is nothing any of can do to help God. What, we should thank the Jewish brethren for the unbelief God purposed? Perhaps the Jewish brethren should thank the Gentile brethren for their unbelief. They, as well as us, if we knew the purpose of God, would not let it be fulfilled. “For had they known the Lord of Glory, they would not have crucified Him.” And in this final days should we thank one another for the unbelief of the falling away? Thank God only for Yeshua. Amen.

Christian believer says: Why don’t Jews accept Jesus? The answer simply is God purposes all men’s unbelief, so he can have mercy and grace upon some. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Christian believer says: Paul experienced continual conflict with Jewish Christians. Beloved, there was a time where Paul had no man standing with him among Jews or Gentiles. All things are purpose by God. Paul simply preached the gospel and the eternal purpose of God in Christ was being fulfilled. Since the time of Paul, the time of the Gentiles, the greatest conflict against the things of the spirit have been among the Gentiles. Thus the Gentiles purposed by God have been made equal in the balance to unbelieving, stiffnecked, obstinate Israel. For those of the nations are the same to fulfill the purpose of God. How contrary are all men to the gospel of God.

The Jewish believer of our day says: The first Gentile believers became members of a Jewish sect. The one who made this statement understands not the purpose of God in the Christ Yeshua. Though Jews composed the majority of first generation believers at a particular point in time, Gentiles began to be chosen by God and would become the majority. Read Romans 11, and the understanding of the partial hardening of Israel. During the time of the Gentiles there is a partial hardening upon Israel according to the purpose of God. And when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled all Israel shall be saved. In the last generation, Israel shall make up the majority and only a remnant of the Gentiles will remain. The church is not a Jewish sect, just as much as it is not a Gentile sect. The assembly of the living God is made up of men and women from all nations, Jews and Gentiles. This understanding is sure and true and it is Paul’s. For it is written in Galatians 3:26ff: “For you are all children by the faith that is in Christ Yeshua. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ: Christ put you all on as one garment. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond or free, there is neither male or female: for you are all one in the Christ, Yeshua. And if you belong to Christ (as His one garment), then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to promise.” For the gospel preached to Abraham was not “in thy seed one nation shall be blessed”, or “in the seed some of the nations shall be blessed”, or “in thy seed most of the nations shall be blessed”, but the promise made to Abraham was “in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”, and the seed is one and the seed is Christ. And the interpretation is sure and true.

The Gentile believer of our day says, that the Jews must be evangelized in particular. Beloved, God has not forgotten His people called by His name, Yisrael. Though men forget them and despise them God will never forget Yisrael. Do you think there has ever been a generation that God has forsaken His people entirely, though there be few that God chose to put into Christ. This is the eternal purpose of God in Christ Yeshua. God will save His people and He will do it without the assistance of men, quite the contrary, had they known the purpose of God and how God will save Yisrael, they would not permit the judgment that is to fall upon the earth.

Messianic Jew or Jewish Christian?

Beloved, where to start? In the Tanach. It is written, “in thy seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” The seed is one, and the seed is Christ, and the interpretation is sure and true. (Galatians) All nations were blessed in the Christ, Yeshua, without partiality, when the purpose of God was fulfilled in the Christ’s death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection the third day, and all nations shall be blessed in Christ when the purpose of God in Christ is fulfilled. All nations include Israel and all other nations: they are called the Gentiles together these all other nations. It is equal blessing for all.

Abraham was called out of the Gentiles to fulfill the purpose of God in Christ. Before Abraham there were only nations: Gentiles. Abraham was the first Hebrew, of Eber, denoting the seed of promise. For Noah had three sons, and there was a seed of promise, Seth, and the descendancy went through Eber to Abraham. Abraham begat Issac, the seed of promise: for Ishmael was not the seed of promise. Isaac begat Jacob; he was the seed of promise and not the elder, Esau. And Jacob name was changed to Israel, and he begat 12 sons, and they became a great people in Egypt. And God called Israel out of Egypt with a great salvation to fulfill the purpose of God in Christ, and brought them into the promise land and made them a nation, Israel. And Israel was divided into two kingdoms,  eleven tribes, and the tribe of Yudah. And the eleven became the kingdom of Israel, and one tribe the kingdom of Judah. And the land of the eleven tribes were judged by God through the Assyrians in 722 BC, and dispersed into all the earth, and never a decree was given to return to the land. And Yudah and Yerushalem were judged by God with a great judgment through the Babylonians in 586BC, and 70 years later the decree was given by Cyrus, a king and an intercessor and a suffering servant from among the Gentiles, for those of Yudah to return to the land, all to fulfill the purpose of God in Christ. And Yudah remained in the land until the appointed time, when the Christ was manifested. And the Christ Yeshua died for our sins according to all the Tanach, He was buried and He rose again the third day according to all the Tanach. Salvation was of the Yudah, for He, Yeshua, in the flesh was born of a woman under the law. God from heaven came from heaven and took on the form of a man and a servant. “Know no man after the flesh, though Christ was known in the flesh, henceforth know we Him no more.” He is no longer a man born of a woman, under the law. He is the Son of God, raised from the dead, seated at the right hand throne of God with all power and authority. And after the death, burial and resurrection of the Christ “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh”, to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. As “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, those of Yudah first and then the Greek, Gentiles.” And first to those of Yudah, for salvation is of Yudah, for Yeshua was their substitute for judgment that was to come: “the not one stone left upon another” judgment of Yerushalem in 70AD. And the salvation is offered to both those of Yudah and the Gentiles. For there is a judgment of the land of the Gentiles. The spirit is given to both those of Yudah and all the nations equally without partiality by God according to His will and grace. Those of Judah and those of all nations, the chosen ones, are given the spirit and are one in Christ without partiality.

And so what is a Jew or those of Yudah, a Messianic Jew or a Jewish Christian? If a Jew is called a messianic Jew than so is the Gentile: a messianic Gentile, there is no difference. If a Gentile is a follower of Christ, Christian, so is the the Jew. There is no difference.

The next post I will give my understanding on some of the errors “of Yudah” and Gentile believers both have fallen into.

The History of Messianic Judaism

The quotations below are common on Messianic websites. This particular history was obtained from “Messianic Jews”, written by John Fieldsend.

Quote: What are Messianic Jews? Remember the first church was entirely Jewish and did not have a special label. They were Jews who believed Yeshua from Nazareth was the Messiah and updated their worship in the light of messiah having come. I assume that what the author is talking about is the assembly at Yerushalem. Now if he takes a snap shot at a particular time near to Pentacost this could be stretched as true, perhaps, but Gentiles were shortly and afterwards ingrafted into Christ by God. One of the apostles was said to be “Simon the Canaanite”(Mat 10:4). The writer assumes that the one speaking in Act 2:7 are all Jews born in all the listed lands. Could there be Gentile proselytes among them? I do not know, but evidently the author has some unknown source to confirm that they were all Jews. Acts assumes nothing that I can see. By Act chapter 6:1: “there arose a murmuring of the Graecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” Does the writer have an unknown source that all these Grecian widows were all Jewish. I do not know. In Acts 8:26ff Philip preaches Christ Yeshua from the scriptures, and God grants an Ethiopian, grace to accept Yeshua. Acts 10 Peter preaches to Cornelius and his household and before they can be water baptized, God gives the Holy Spirit to Gentiles. Acts 11 is about Gentiles being converted. Making a statement like the first church was entirely Jewish does not portray the picture accurately. Yes, the apostles were probably mostly Jewish, but I do not know about that “Simon the Canaanite”. Maybe God just threw him in there to trip us up in the flesh? Don’t worry my Jewish brethren, in the ministry of justification Israel will not be rejected. In the ministry of condemnation there are all manner of errors concerning Israel and all other doctrines-it is according to the flesh.

Jewish worship and customs were bound to be updated by Yeshua, who fulfilled the prophesies of Law. And it would be changed even for those who did not believe with “the not one stone left upon another of the temple” judgment of Yerushalem in 70AD. This was not Gentiles who did this, it was God. The customs had to change. No more temple, no more animal sacrifice, so many of the requirements of Law being unable to be fulfilled. But to blame the Gentile believers for this, is just not true. But the writer goes on in this same light.

QUOTE: As the church became more Gentile, there were difficulties which turned away more Jews. The destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion led to the development of rabbinic Judaism, which moved away from the scriptural faith based around temple worship and atonement, and opened up the division between believers in Yeshua and non believers. Rabbinic Judaism was developed by the Pharisees, those with whom Yeshua had his strongest confrontations. As God added Gentiles to the assembly, and also some Jews, unless there is the false understanding that men can make decisions to follow Christ, and then perhaps men added themselves to the assembly. I speak as a fool! Show me how grace works this way in the conversion of Paul! Why more Gentiles and not as many Jews? This is the understanding Paul was giving in Romans 11:25: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel shall be saved.” (When the fulness of the Gentiles come in.)

QUOTE: Through church history there have been a small number of Jews who believed in Yeshua, but regrettably, it appears they mostly had to become Gentile Christians and sever their connections with their Jewish heritage. As previously explained the small number of Jews who believed in Yeshua were because of the purpose of God. To those Gentiles who forced Jewish believers to abandon customs and traditions, that were not being performed as works of righteousness under the law, but customs they were brought up with: these Gentiles were lacking understanding. Men make mistakes, but God makes no mistakes. So in the Spirit how can we say there is anything in the earth regrettable. God regrets nothing! To the Jew and the Gentile let the boast in God in Christ be “I was taken out of this nation or that and put in Christ by the will and grace of God”-Jews and Gentiles put into Christ. May a Gentile in the grace of God, not forbid a Jew from being a Jew, and may a Jew in the grace of God not forbid a Gentile from being a Gentile. For God choosing men out of all nations fulfills the gospel preached to Abraham, “in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” May you remember, beloved that there are Jews and Gentiles whose conversion by God separated them from family and customs and traditions. There are those, Jews and Gentiles, who have lost family members, friends, neighbors, spouses and children for the sake of Christ. And this is not regrettable, for it is the very purpose of God. God makes them worthy whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Israel, the Jews remains a distinct people in all generations, enough to establish a nation called Israel over 1900 years later and populate it with its largest percentage with the descendants of Israel, so that the purpose of God can and will be fulfilled: “all Israel shall be saved.”

QUOTE: In the mid-nineteenth century…Joseph Rabbinovitch, a Jewish lawyer and teacher discovered Yeshua as Messiah. He went to the Holy Land convinced that salvation for the Jews would only come through a return. On his arrival he began reading a New Testament which he had been assured would give a reliable description of historic locations. As he read, he became convinced that Jesus was/is Messiah. He went home convinced of the need to share his newly found faith in its thoroughly Jewish context. All of this accomplished between Rabinovitch and the Holy Spirit, and not by preaching from a Christian. The truth was available to a man who was open to receive it. This movement was the first to use the term “Messianic Jew”. Beloved, perhaps the writer did not use the best choice of words, but none of us discover Yeshua: God discovers us. God chooses us and give us grace according to His will. It is God who has gathered Israel together to save them, but at this present time they are in unbelief. As Rabbinovitch read the New Testament, I hope he saw the Old Testment. Because the one true gospel is the Christ Yeshua died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried and He rose again the third day according to all the scriptures (the Tanach, the Old Testament). And yes, God is able to give grace to a man sovereignly, but I would remind you that Paul was near death, until a member of the assembly was sent him by God. Was this man near death, without the acknowledgement of the assembly of God, made up of Jews and Gentiles. Am I suppose to be impressed that “all this was accomplished not by the preaching of a Christian”? Does this imply in particular a “Gentile preaching Christian”? No, I am not impressed, by a statement that contradicts the understanding of Paul: “How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written.” I am not impressed at all, and will sound a warning. It is the testimony of two that confirms the fact, and here there is the testimony of one, and the fact is not confirmed. I would not make my boast as I follow any man, other than Christ Yeshua. Tell me about Yeshua whom you follow and not another man. The one true gospel that I preach is trustworthy unto the saving of the soul.

Customs and the Law

When God chooses a Jew and gives him grace to accept the gospel message does he cease to become of Jew and from that point on must he be a Gentile? God forbid! The gospel preached to Abraham was: “in Thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” As the word of God is fulfilled in our generation as it is in every generation believers should hear about the conversion of people from every nation. One would say, “I am one of Italy who God granted grace”. Another would say, “I am one of China and God granted grace”. And one of Israel will say, “I am of Israel and God granted grace”. I myself not knowing my full geneology can say for certain, “I am one from Germany and God granted grace”. To those who have been in Christ Yeshua and one is brought by God to the assembly and says “I am of Israel” we should rejoice and have wisdom. His customs will have differences just as a man from any other nation. Just as it would be with any country, all the chosen of God out of the country will come with the customs and traditions of the country, whether they be dietary, or holidays, or dress, or greeting. What makes Israel unique is many of its customs come from the scriptures. And it is this that must be addressed so Jew and Gentile will understand what they know, know what they do not know, and have God as their teacher.

As an example a Jew might very well celebrate Yom Kippur or the sabbath differently than the nations (the Gentiles). We who are strong in the Lord and value not one day above another know that we can assemble any day, and as often as we desire, not according to Law, just not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Believers of a different nation would not expect to tell a believer of another nation that the practice of their dietary laws is wrong. Germans, don’t eat saurkraut! It is the same with those of the nation of Israel. Gentile believers should rejoice in the salvation of the one chosen from Israel as well as any other country. Let us have the same thoughts towards the chosen of God from every nations. For God is not partial toward any. Let us be of the same spirit.

I for one when I was physically in Israel was invited to a Shabbath dinner, and I was very honored to be apart of their tradition. I did as they did. And if a believer from Israel comes to my home perhaps he would be of the same spirit and do as I do. Or perhaps his understanding is not the same, and I by the grace of God would make an exception or go out of my way to satisfy his tradition. If it became a religious act contradicting the gospel, then I would decline. Of course he would have to profess to be a follower of Christ, not an unbeliever.

After grace comes to one of Israel, God will teach them concerning the Law as the one true gospel is preached. He will teach them if a Law could have been given to produce righteousness one would have surely been given and Christ Yeshua would not have died. God will teach the one of Israel this lesson as well as the Gentiles chosen of God. Are the Gentiles somehow exempt from the error of following after law to produce a righteousness of their own? No, under the greater light of the gospel their history is filled with abuses. There is much, a chosen one of Israel can be taught of God, just as there is much a chosen one of the Gentiles can be taught. The first generation church influenced by those who wrongfully handled the Law, had a problem of Gentiles being forced to be circumcised to follow on in Yeshua. This not only could not be done, it must be opposed strongly.The Gentiles also have almost from the beginning made a Law out of baptism having no understanding and setting up it as requirement for the faith of Yeshua. Is not it clearly seen by grace in Acts that the Spirit was given before water baptism. How can one say you must be water baptized to be saved. Do you not know that the Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance? And if we have at that time of grace, the down payment of our inheritance we are no longer bastard sons. Gentiles do not boast, as well as those of Israel do not boast. Let all boast in Christ Yeshua.

I can write many more things on this subject, but time does not permit. Paul followed custom to not be offensive to his kinsman in the flesh, even to the point of having a Gentile believer circumcised. (Acts) But he did this to win men to Christ, and not for any other reason. Paul knew the custom of the Jews, and an uncircumcised Gentile would be an offense among them who understood not (the unbeliever). Paul and his companions ceremonial washed before entering the temple and the reason was the same, to satisfy custom, and not offend men unnecessarily (the unbeliever concerning Christ). Paul made no law to carry on his actions. There is enough offense in the preaching of the cross without adding more than is necessary. Though Paul had a Gentile believer, Timothy, circumcised, he adamantly rejected those who added this legal requirement of circumcision to the the faith of Christ. It is Yeshua plus nothing. There is no work that can be done to obtain Christ: salvation is the complete and independant work of God!

In Acts 15 James mentions that “ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.” Meat offered to idols could certainly be offensive to Jewish believers and unbelievers, and perhaps even some Gentile believers. Blood and things strangled were primarily out of the customs of the Jews. And fornication is added for whether Jew or Gentile to abstain; for this sin cannot be committed alone and it is a good thing for all to abstain. This is the sin where there is always the testimony of two. Abstain from evil and its appearance. Fornication is contrary to Christ and the faithfulness of God toward men in Christ Yeshua. May the love of Christ Yeshua restrain us, and may the gospel be preached, the power of God, to continually magnify His love in our heart, and restrain us, men of like passion, and the more, to fulfill the righteousness of God in Him: for we are chosen in Him.

One other point, if you have not any particular custom, realize if you make one there could be a pitfall. If you were unaware of the customs of a Jew being a Jew and you bring back these customs, rightly understand these customs and know why you are doing this. Perhaps it would be to win some to Christ Yeshua.

And lastly, beloved one chosen from Israel, do not think that God needs you to convey and teach Gentiles rightly concerning Israel. I myself had no knowledge of being a Jew, no custom or tradition to follow as an example,  and yet He has wonderfully taught me of things by His grace. God is a wise master teacher in Christ.

Torah-observant Believers

To say one is a messianic believer is redundant. One who is given the faith of Yeshua is believer. He believes by grace. For he is being saved by grace through faith: it is the gift of God. A follower of Christ is one who by grace accepts the gospel, that the Christ, the Messhiach, Yeshua died for our sins according to the scriptures (the Old Testament), He was buried and He rose again the third day according to the scriptures (the Old Testament). I will not be redundant. Whether a believer is of Yudah (Jew) or of the nations (Gentile), they are all one in Christ. I will call them both Jew and the Gentile: believers.

Then let us speak of Torah-observant believers. They are primarily Jewish but there are some who are Gentiles. They observe the Torah because they say the first generation church, the apostles, and Yeshua all did. They understand not the purpose of God. In the first generation to be a Jew (as it is today) was religion and culture. To those whom God had chosen they became followers of Christ in spirit, but in the flesh were Jews. As those of the Gentiles continued to be called Gentiles, those Jews continued to be called Jews. In Christ we do not lose our identity of our national origin. Paul in Romans 11 Paul says “I say then , Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” Paul does not say I was an Israelite. I was of the tribe of Benjamin. He says I am an Israelite. There is not partiality God with God concerning whom He puts in Christ: whom He gives grace to, either Jew nor Gentile, bond or free, male or female. There is not partiality with God, and all who are put in Christ are one, none less than another, for grace is grace. We say I am a Gentile given grace by God: I am an Israelite given grace by God. I do not say I once was a Gentile. I once was an Israelite.

So God without partiality put men from all nations, Israel and Gentiles, into Christ, and they are all one in Christ. And so we are the chosen of God, some of Israel and some all the nations, together we are the assembly of the living God. We become kings and priest to our God taken from all the nations. The gospel preached to Abraham the prophet then can be fulfilled, “in thy seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”: Israel and the entire list of all nations.

Now we find believers observing the Torah. Let us see if there could be believers who could after grace become Torah-observant. If one of Israel is chosen by God, given grace and put into Christ, what is his state? If he is not Torah-observant, let him remain non-Torah observant. If he is Torah-observant, let him remain in the state that he is in as much as conscience dictates. Let God be His teacher and may he see all the Torah fulfilled in Christ Yeshua. I tell you the importance of his actions will decrease with the increase in understanding of the action of the work of Yeshua. May he have time to be taught of the Lord.

There is a time among believers from Israel that their customs are so tied to the Torah, that their conscience is made weak. It is to those believers that Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16) and Paul and those with him purified themselves before entering the temple. (Acts 21) These acts were not performed to fulfill a righteousness of the letter of the Law, but they were fulfilled in respect of a weak conscience. The working of God in the respect of conscience takes time. There is a time among the Gentiles when their consciences too are so tied to their innumerable laws of Christian prinicples that they are of weak conscience.

But on the other hand let not those of a weak conscience judge and condemn their brother who has liberty in Christ. Tell the strong one your weakness, and he in the grace of God will abstain from all that offends you, even in this life. So as to not seem with partiality the Gentiles have and had their issues of a weak conscience, such as eating only vegetables.

And so, there are some believers who become Torah-observant contrary to their state when grace came to them, and there are some who have remained in the state, grace came to them and have not grown in understanding, and there are some perhaps that have enjoyed the fulness of grace, and have a clean conscience before God and man.

I must add one more point. O Gentile believers, how high-minded are you, contrary to all the words of admonishment of Paul in Romans. You boast greatly against the natural olive branch-REPENT! And O believers of Israel, you boast against the wild olive branches as if God needs you to teach men about their God. As if you had some understanding that only you can impart to believers. You are high-minded. REPENT! I who was born among the Gentiles with no sure heredity, though maybe I am of Israel, have been taught of the Lord great things by His grace. Rejecting no man of any nations, condemning none, and I have not been taught your fleshly wisdom. And you, O Gentile, full of every error, God is able to take one borne in your errors and give wisdom. The God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Christ is wise, and wonderful and full of love, having mercy to the thousands of generations. The end of the Lord is the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercies. His mercy endureth forever, as it is written.

Messianic Jewish Congregations and Ministries

They are as any other denomination. It divides and is contrary to Christ. By the way I would not boast highminded Gentiles, for you have far more divisions. As far as the keeping of Torah, I would sum it up this way: KEEP THE TORAH LAWFULLY. Or in other words remember the Torah, for it is all prophecy concerning the Christ, Yeshua. For Yeshua said, “the law and the prophets prophesied until John”. Revelation declares: “the Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Yeshua”, and the testimony of Yeshua is the Christ died for our sins according to all the writings of the prophets, He was buried and He rose again the third day according to all the scriptures. Keep the prophecies of the Torah in memory by the grace of God, but do not use them unlawfully, as obtaining a righteousness according to the flesh. Beware of men in this reguard, and for that matter in all matters. Beware of men! They desire to make a fair show in the flesh. And once again, O highminded Gentile, do not boast for your laws of righteousness are more numerable than the Pharisees. You call them Christian principles to live by. O wild olive branch boast not against the natural olive branches, and you, natural olive branches boast not against the wild olive branches-for you are all one in Christ, Yeshua. For there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male or female, bond or free in the Christ- we are all one in Christ.

As far as the naming of congregations God has brought forth, let it be simply known by the place it is located. For in the place I abide, and those with me, we are known as the Assembly at Mount Clemens, for we are of different cities. If all may live in one city it could be the assembly of “the city”. Remember brethren, men do not choose to make a church, God brings forth an assembly by a messenger he calls and chooses through the one true gospel. (Luke 24, 1 Cor 15:1-6)