Messianic Judaism

Glad you asked.

Messianic Judaism is that faith which was practiced by the first believers in Y’shua (Jesus) the Messiah in the first and second centuries A.D. Messianic Jews know that Y’shua is the Messiah promised by God, mentioned by Moses, and foretold by the prophets. In sending a saving "Anointed One" (for that’s what the word ‘Messiah’ means in Hebrew), God promised that He would make a New Covenant (Brit Chadashah) with His people:

" ‘The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ " - Jeremiah 31:31-33

Messianic Judaism is a celebration of this new covenant which God has made with His people, a covenant made through and fulfilled in Y’shua.

Messianic Jews also acknowledge that Y’shua the Messiah is quite literally God Himself in the flesh:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

" ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jewish religious leaders said to him [Y’shua], ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Y’shua answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ " - John 8:57-58

Therefore Y’shua is not only the Saviour of the world, but the Creator. Hence, He deserves and is worthy of our respect, love, adoration, and worship. One cannot be a true, Biblical Messianic Jew without acknowledging this essential truth.

Biblical Messianic Judaism is not a faith limited to ethnic Jews alone. Very much instead, Messianic Jews are those who choose to celebrate their heritage as Jews, genetic or spiritual, knowing that all who come to the saving faith of Y’shua the Messiah are circumcised in their hearts and therefore grafted into the vine that is Israel (Romans 2:28-29).

Messianic Jews celebrate and trust as divinely inspired both the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadashah (New Testament). As such, we are born-again in accordance with the mitzvah (command) of John 3 while maintaining our Biblical identity as Jews. We celebrate the Biblical feasts (Leviticus 23), keep the Biblical kosher dietary laws (Leviticus 11), and live a Torah-submitted lifestyle.

For Messianic Jews, "Torah-submitted" does not mean "Rabbinic-submitted" as often understand in modern mainstream religious Judaism. Though we respect the history and heritage of our people, we realize that any extra-Biblical works (to include but not limited to the Talmud, Zohar, Kabbalah, and Mishnah) are not divinely inspired and therefore not binding on faith and lifestyle.

Messianic Jews desire to reach all the world with the wonderful news that our sins can be forgiven when we place our trust in Y’shua. However, the emphasis of our outreach is to the Jewish people, knowing that their salvation in Y’shua means "life from the dead" (Romans 11:12-15).

It’s not easy being a Messianic Jew. It’s a calling by God to a specific lifestyle. For those of us who are so called, however, it is a great and fulfilling joy.

If you have any further questions or any comments, please feel free to contact me at (915) 526-3148 or send an email.

God bless you richly in Y’shua the Promised Messiah!

B’ahavat Y’shua (in the love of Y’shua),

T. Yosi Fuller
Messianic Rabbi