What is Messianic Judasim?
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish people from all walks of life,
who believe that Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) is the promised Jewish Messiah
and Savior for Israel and the world. Messianic Jews have not stopped being
Jewish. On the contrary, we have continued to remain strongly Jewish in
our identity, lifestyle, and belief that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah and the
fulfillment of true Biblical Judaism.
What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Rabbinic
Judaism?
Rabbinic Judaism is a Judaism centered around the teachings and writings of
Rabbis. Its formation began over 1,900 years ago when the second temple was
destroyed in 70 A.D. Before then, “Judaism,” or the faith of the Jewish people, was
centered around the Temple and the sacrificial system according to the Torah (the
Law or the five books of Moses). After the destruction of the Temple the Rabbis
reorganized Judaism, adding many new laws, rules, and traditions. Today, their
writings and commentaries (the Talmud, etc.) form the foundation of Rabbinic
Judaism.
Rabbinic Judaism consists of several branches: Orthodox (very traditional), Chassidic
(Ultra-Orthodox), Reform (liberal), Conservative, and Reconstructionist. Some within
Rabbinic Judaism are still looking for the Messiah but they are the exceptions.
Messianic Judaism differs in that we rely totally on the Scriptures. Our faith is the
Judaism of the Bible (Biblical Judaism) and is centered around the Messiah and the
worldwide salvation He brings. We in Messianic Judaism believe that Yeshua is the
promised Messiah and that we don’t have to go through the Sages or the Rabbis to
know God. We have access to God because of the great atoning work of the Messiah
Yeshua, who has fulfilled us as Jewish believers and therefore has fulfilled our
Judaism (Mt.5:17).
What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Gentile
Christianity?
Gentile Christianity is the faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as expressed by Gentile followers of
Him. Gentile Christianity today numbers over one billion people in the world, with
innumerable denominations and doctrines, all centered around Yeshua as Savior.
For most of the first century A.D., this faith in Yeshua was predominantly Jewish. As
more and more Gentiles came into the Messianic faith however, some did not
understand its Jewish roots and God’s eternal covenant with Israel. A “de-Judaizing”
process set in, a separation from the Jewish roots of the faith and from the Jewish
people. This separation eventually led to the formation of a second wing of this faith
in Yeshua composed of Gentile believers i.e. “Christianity.”
While we feel we are one in the Spirit with true Gentile believers, Messianic Jews have
our own expression of faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Messianic Judaism holds that it is
Jewish to believe in Yeshua and is a return to the Jewish roots of the faith. We observe
the Biblical feasts and holidays, while at the same time maintaining that the only way
to be saved and truly born again of God’s Spirit is through the great atoning work of
the Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 11:24-25).
When did Messianic Judaism begin?
Messianic Judaism is actually 2,000 years old. Dating back to the time of the Messiah
Yeshua. Historically, Yeshua was Jewish. He was raised in a Jewish home and
ministered to Jewish people in a Jewish land (Eretz Yisrael). His disciples were
Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The writers of the Brit Hadashah (New Covenant or
New Testament) were Jewish, and for a time, the faith was strictly Jewish. Some
historians believe that more than one million Jewish people in the first century A.D.
believed that Yeshua was the Messiah, both in Israel and outside of Israel (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 also receive His Salvation (Is. 49:6,
42:6). God told Abraham, that through him all the nations of the earth would be
blessed (Gen. 12: 1-3). At first, the early Messianic Jews did not understand that this
was God’s will and proclaimed the Good News of the Messiah only to Jewish people.
Ironically, the big controversy in the first century was not if it was Jewish to believe in
Yeshua (naturally it was) but whether Gentiles could come in without having to
“become Jewish!” When Messianic Jews finally recognized that God’s Salvation was
also for the Gentiles, they began to share the Messiah with the non-Jews as well as
with the Jews. As a result, many Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire began to
come into this Messianic faith (Acts 15:1-31).
How was the first century Messianic Judaism “transformed” into
Gentile Christianity?
When the early Messianic Jews took the Good News of the Messiah to the Gentiles, a
great number were brought into this Messianic faith. By the end of the first century A.
D., the number of Gentile believers out-numbered the Jewish Believers by a ratio of
two to one! This occurred primarily because there were (and still are) more Gentiles
in the world than Jewish people.
Through the years, as the number of Gentile believers increased, they began to
dominate this Messianic faith. Some Gentile believers, not understanding the Jewish
roots of their faith and God’s eternal covenant with Israel, wanted to split off and form
a separate religion divorced from their Jewish roots (Rom. 11:1-2). This “de-Judaizing
process” continued until Gentile Christianity emerged as the dominant representative
faith in the Messiah. In one of the greatest paradoxes in history, it became alien for a
Jew to believe in Yeshua as his Messiah!
When did the early Messianic Jews disappear and why?
Surprisingly, Messianic Judaism continued to flourish well into the seventh century
A.D., in spite of the many pressures on the Jews to give up their Messianic faith.
First of all, the Rabbis pressured Messianic Jews to relinquish their faith in Yeshua as
the Messiah. In addition, Gentile Christianity wanted Messianic Jews to abandon
their Jewishness. Finally, in the seventh century A.D. the rise of Islam caused great
pressures for Messianic Jews as well.
Despite all this, the real reason for the disappearance of early Messianic Judaism was
simply that Messianic Jews lost their “vision.” They no longer saw that it was
important to remain Jewish after accepting Yeshua. This was because the majority of
believers in Yeshua were now members of Gentile Christianity. Consequently,
Messianic Jews assimilated completely into the Gentile Christian Church.
When did the modern movement of Messianic Judaism begin?
Even though Messianic Judaism, as a distinct movement, faded from the ancient
scene in the seventh century A.D., there have always been Jewish believers in the
Messiah Yeshua. However, beginning in the early 1800’s, ever increasing numbers of
Jewish people began to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. The modern movement
came to fruition after 1967 when tens of thousands of Jewish people suddenly
accepted Yeshua.
Why 1967?
Because that is when Jerusalem came back into Jewish hands in fulfillment of a
prophecy given by Yeshua in the Brit Hadashah (Luke 21:24). This prophecy indicated
that when Jerusalem was restored to the Jewish people God would turn once again to
His Jewish people in national salvation. Messianic Judaism is a prophetic movement
and a direct result of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon His Chosen People (Hos.
3:4-5, Joel 2:28-29, Deut. 30:1-3).
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish people from all walks of life,
who believe that Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) is the promised Jewish Messiah
and Savior for Israel and the world. Messianic Jews have not stopped being
Jewish. On the contrary, we have continued to remain strongly Jewish in
our identity, lifestyle, and belief that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah and the
fulfillment of true Biblical Judaism.
What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Rabbinic
Judaism?
Rabbinic Judaism is a Judaism centered around the teachings and writings of
Rabbis. Its formation began over 1,900 years ago when the second temple was
destroyed in 70 A.D. Before then, “Judaism,” or the faith of the Jewish people, was
centered around the Temple and the sacrificial system according to the Torah (the
Law or the five books of Moses). After the destruction of the Temple the Rabbis
reorganized Judaism, adding many new laws, rules, and traditions. Today, their
writings and commentaries (the Talmud, etc.) form the foundation of Rabbinic
Judaism.
Rabbinic Judaism consists of several branches: Orthodox (very traditional), Chassidic
(Ultra-Orthodox), Reform (liberal), Conservative, and Reconstructionist. Some within
Rabbinic Judaism are still looking for the Messiah but they are the exceptions.
Messianic Judaism differs in that we rely totally on the Scriptures. Our faith is the
Judaism of the Bible (Biblical Judaism) and is centered around the Messiah and the
worldwide salvation He brings. We in Messianic Judaism believe that Yeshua is the
promised Messiah and that we don’t have to go through the Sages or the Rabbis to
know God. We have access to God because of the great atoning work of the Messiah
Yeshua, who has fulfilled us as Jewish believers and therefore has fulfilled our
Judaism (Mt.5:17).
What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Gentile
Christianity?
Gentile Christianity is the faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as expressed by Gentile followers of
Him. Gentile Christianity today numbers over one billion people in the world, with
innumerable denominations and doctrines, all centered around Yeshua as Savior.
For most of the first century A.D., this faith in Yeshua was predominantly Jewish. As
more and more Gentiles came into the Messianic faith however, some did not
understand its Jewish roots and God’s eternal covenant with Israel. A “de-Judaizing”
process set in, a separation from the Jewish roots of the faith and from the Jewish
people. This separation eventually led to the formation of a second wing of this faith
in Yeshua composed of Gentile believers i.e. “Christianity.”
While we feel we are one in the Spirit with true Gentile believers, Messianic Jews have
our own expression of faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Messianic Judaism holds that it is
Jewish to believe in Yeshua and is a return to the Jewish roots of the faith. We observe
the Biblical feasts and holidays, while at the same time maintaining that the only way
to be saved and truly born again of God’s Spirit is through the great atoning work of
the Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 11:24-25).
When did Messianic Judaism begin?
Messianic Judaism is actually 2,000 years old. Dating back to the time of the Messiah
Yeshua. Historically, Yeshua was Jewish. He was raised in a Jewish home and
ministered to Jewish people in a Jewish land (Eretz Yisrael). His disciples were
Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The writers of the Brit Hadashah (New Covenant or
New Testament) were Jewish, and for a time, the faith was strictly Jewish. Some
historians believe that more than one million Jewish people in the first century A.D.
believed that Yeshua was the Messiah, both in Israel and outside of Israel (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 also receive His Salvation (Is. 49:6,
42:6). God told Abraham, that through him all the nations of the earth would be
blessed (Gen. 12: 1-3). At first, the early Messianic Jews did not understand that this
was God’s will and proclaimed the Good News of the Messiah only to Jewish people.
Ironically, the big controversy in the first century was not if it was Jewish to believe in
Yeshua (naturally it was) but whether Gentiles could come in without having to
“become Jewish!” When Messianic Jews finally recognized that God’s Salvation was
also for the Gentiles, they began to share the Messiah with the non-Jews as well as
with the Jews. As a result, many Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire began to
come into this Messianic faith (Acts 15:1-31).
How was the first century Messianic Judaism “transformed” into
Gentile Christianity?
When the early Messianic Jews took the Good News of the Messiah to the Gentiles, a
great number were brought into this Messianic faith. By the end of the first century A.
D., the number of Gentile believers out-numbered the Jewish Believers by a ratio of
two to one! This occurred primarily because there were (and still are) more Gentiles
in the world than Jewish people.
Through the years, as the number of Gentile believers increased, they began to
dominate this Messianic faith. Some Gentile believers, not understanding the Jewish
roots of their faith and God’s eternal covenant with Israel, wanted to split off and form
a separate religion divorced from their Jewish roots (Rom. 11:1-2). This “de-Judaizing
process” continued until Gentile Christianity emerged as the dominant representative
faith in the Messiah. In one of the greatest paradoxes in history, it became alien for a
Jew to believe in Yeshua as his Messiah!
When did the early Messianic Jews disappear and why?
Surprisingly, Messianic Judaism continued to flourish well into the seventh century
A.D., in spite of the many pressures on the Jews to give up their Messianic faith.
First of all, the Rabbis pressured Messianic Jews to relinquish their faith in Yeshua as
the Messiah. In addition, Gentile Christianity wanted Messianic Jews to abandon
their Jewishness. Finally, in the seventh century A.D. the rise of Islam caused great
pressures for Messianic Jews as well.
Despite all this, the real reason for the disappearance of early Messianic Judaism was
simply that Messianic Jews lost their “vision.” They no longer saw that it was
important to remain Jewish after accepting Yeshua. This was because the majority of
believers in Yeshua were now members of Gentile Christianity. Consequently,
Messianic Jews assimilated completely into the Gentile Christian Church.
When did the modern movement of Messianic Judaism begin?
Even though Messianic Judaism, as a distinct movement, faded from the ancient
scene in the seventh century A.D., there have always been Jewish believers in the
Messiah Yeshua. However, beginning in the early 1800’s, ever increasing numbers of
Jewish people began to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. The modern movement
came to fruition after 1967 when tens of thousands of Jewish people suddenly
accepted Yeshua.
Why 1967?
Because that is when Jerusalem came back into Jewish hands in fulfillment of a
prophecy given by Yeshua in the Brit Hadashah (Luke 21:24). This prophecy indicated
that when Jerusalem was restored to the Jewish people God would turn once again to
His Jewish people in national salvation. Messianic Judaism is a prophetic movement
and a direct result of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon His Chosen People (Hos.
3:4-5, Joel 2:28-29, Deut. 30:1-3).
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
You asked. We answered.
