Friday, March 20, 2009

My beliefs in 1,000 words or less

I am a Messianic follower of Yeshua HaMashiyach [frequently called Jesus Christ]. I do not believe in "religion", which is nothing more than the traditions of men. I believe in the Scriptures, and in following the Halacha (way to walk) of Yeshua. I follow the whole Bible, and do not elevate one portion as superceding another. For this reason, I do not except the handling of the Bible used by mainstream Christianity. The so-called "New Testament" does not remove any of the forever-commands given in the "Old Testament" which are the eternal and immutable speech of YHWH. The "Old Testament" is not a long introduction to the book of Matthew. I accept as inspired Scripture; Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, and Ketuvim Netzarim. These are also known as the Old Testament/Tanach, and the New Testament/Brit Chadasha. I practice a Torah observant Jewish faith that was modeled by Yeshua and followed by His Talmidim (Disciples). The essential difference between my beliefs and that of other branches of Judaism is "canonic" (i.e. which writings we accept as inspired by YHWH). The essential difference between my beliefs and that of Christianity is the way I interpret the inspired Scripture. None of the Torah was ever canceled by Yeshua, by any of the Disciples, nor by Paul. Rather they all affirm the Torah. Stating otherwise makes the Bible self-contradictory and actually places Yeshua, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, Paul, etc. in the category of false prophets (which they most certainly were not) according to Biblical standards.

TORAH, SACRIFICE, & SALVATION

The Law [Torah] was never done away with (Deut 4:2 4:40, Psalm 111:7-8, Is 40:8, Matt 5:17-19, Rom 3:31). Without Torah there is no basis upon which YHWH judges sin, and hence no need for a Savior (Rom 3:20 7:1,7). I do not believe that Torah is a way to 'earn' Salvation; rather, it is a path of teachings and instruction for good living (Prov 4:2 6:23). Methods of atoning for our violation of Torah have always been present (Lev 16:30 17:11). These forms of atonement were always intended to point to the death of Yeshua for our forgiveness (Gen 22:2, Is 53:4-5, John 1:29). We are saved by faith alone in the redemption of Messiah (Rom 5:1). This true saving faith needs to manifest fruit in our lives in the form of holy living and walking in Torah (Matt 12:23, Luke 3:8, John 15:2-8, James 2:17). Those who truly believe in Messiah will seek to keep His Commandments [Mitzvot] (John 14:15-21, Ezek 11:19-21) and do teshuvah [actively turning away from sins]

 Faith does not abolish any part of the Torah as a whole (Matthew 5:17-21, James 2:10)
 Keeping the Torah is part of true saving-faith (Matthew 19:17; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14)
 You will abide in Yeshua's love, if you keep Torah (John 14:15-23) as He abided in the Father's love by keeping Torah (John 15:10; Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:15)
 Faith in Yeshua does not cancel out what the Torah says, it establishes it (Romans 3:31)
 Torah is itself "liberty" and the standard we are to judge ourselves by (James 1:22-25)
 It is those of the flesh who are not subject to the Torah (Romans 8:5-8)
 If you say you know Him, and ignore His Torah, you are a liar (1 John 2:3-7)
 It does not matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, what matters is keeping YHWH's Torah (1 Cor. 7:19)
 The "law of love" is that we keep his Torah - which is by no means a "burden" (1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Matt. 11:29,30)

THE ASSEMBLY, AND BRIDE OF YESHUA

The "church" is NOT a group of Gentiles. The Greek word translated as "church" is "eklesia" or "assembly". If you read the Septuagint you will see that this same eklesia was gathered at Mt. Sinai with Moses (Exodus 19). The assembly is, and always has been, Yisrael (1Cor 10:2, Eph 4:5). YHWH has a Covenant with Yisrael and Yisrael alone, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-18, 17:1-7, John 8:56, Gal 3:16). Gentiles partake of this Covenant through the shed blood of Yeshua (Matt 26:28), by which the promises of Yah are open to all people that are "grafted in" to Yisrael (Gen 12:1-3, Is 49:6 42:6, Jer 11:17, Rom 11:17-19, Gal 3:8, 29). The 12 tribes of Yisrael, including Judah, are the root and the Gentiles are the branch. The branch is not to boast against the root (Rom 11:19), hence all forms of Replacement Theology are unbiblical. Branch and root are one plant. There is no special status for Jews or Gentiles in Messiah. All are the children of Abba (Cor 8:6 12:13, Gal 3:28, Eph 4:6).

THE HEBRAIC CONCEPT OF BAPTISM

I believe in a Mikvah [water immersion] as an outward expression of the heart-felt confession of faith (Matt 28:19, John 3:5, Acts 1:41 2:38, Titus 3:5). The Mikvah is a typology of death and rebirth (Rom 6:4, Col 2:12). The Mikvah is a Torah command of ritual cleansing (Lev 11:36), and part of the traditional ceremony of "conversion" into B'nai Yisrael.

MOEDIM: YHWH'S APPOINTED TIMES/HOLY-DAYS

The Feasts found in the books of Moses (Lev. 23) are Feasts of YHWH ("moedim" meaning "appointed times"), which should be kept by all followers of Messiah. These are YHWH's holy-days. Yeshua kept the Moedim. Paul kept the Moedim. James kept the Moedim. We should likewise keep the Moedim. These include: Pesach (Passover), Matzah (Unleavened Bread), Yom HaBikkurim (First Fruits), Shavuot (Pentecost), Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Succot (Tabernacles). The Moedim are a prophetic schedule. Yeshua fulfilled the first 4 Feasts in His first-coming, and will fulfill the remaining Feasts at His second-coming. Additionally, Scripture is very clear that the Moedim will be kept in the Millennial Reign of Messiah. The Feasts show prophetic fulfillment of Yeshua being the Messiah. Yeshua's nature and the Majesty of our Creator is revealed in understanding the Moedim Feasts. We should glorify our Savior by keeping them, and teaching others how they point to His identity and Gospel.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

all i can say is wow.... i have yet to hear of someone beside a seventh day adventist having these beliefs....this is amazing. God Bless i have truly been enlightened.

Sepher Shalom said...

Hello Diane. Thank you for your comment.

I am happy that you found this post to contain enlightening material.

I do, however, need to go on record as saying that I believe Ellen G. White to be a false prophet. I mention this in a spirit of love (not as an attempt to denigrate), and out of my desire for consistency, as I frequently interact online with other groups whom a believe to follow false prophets. On the other hand, Adventists have, according to my understanding of Scripture, correctly identified that the Sabbath is the 7th day and was never done away with.

With respect to our differences, please don't let them prevent you from posting in the future (I do not intend to repeatedly remind you of my position on Ellen G. White unless it is directly pertinent to what we are discussing), and I will always seek to treat you honestly and with respect.

Peace and love in the name of our Messiah, Yeshua.

Unknown said...

Quote: “None of the Torah was ever canceled by Yeshua, by any of the Disciples,”

Le-havdil, That is true about the historical Ribi Yehoshua and his followers Netzarim.

Ribi Yehoshua ha-Mashiakh (the Messiah) from Nazareth’s authentic teachings reads:
[Torah, Oral Law & Hebrew Matityahu: Ribi Yehoshua Commanded Non-Selective Observance
The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu (NHM) 5:17-20]
[Glossaries found in the website below.]:

"I didn't come to subtract from the Torâh of Moshëh or the Neviim, nor to add onto the Torah of Moshëh did I come. Because, rather, I came to [bring about the] complete [i.e., non-selective] observance of them in truth.
Should the heavens and ha-Aretz exchange places, still, not even one י or one of the Halâkhâh of the Torah of Moshehshall so much as exchange places; toward the time when it becomes that they are all being performed -- i.e., non- selectively -- in full.
For whoever deletes one [point of] the Halâkhâh of these mitzwot from Torah, or shall teach others such, [by those in] the Realm of the heavens he shall be called 'deleted.' And whoever ratifies and teaches them shall be called ' Ribi' in the Realm of the heavens.

For I tell you that unless your tzәdâqâh is over and above that of the [Hellenist-Roman Pseudo- Tzedoqim] Codifiers of halakhah, and of the Rabbinic- Perushim sect of Judaism, no way will you enter into the Realm of the heavens." (see NHM)

Quote from www.netzarim.co.il ; “History Museum”

The reconstruction is made using a scientific and logic methodology. One of the premises is that the historical Ribi Yehoshua was a Torah-observant Pharisee.

Read more about why a reconstruction is needed in the previous mentioned website.

The historical Ribi Yehoshua and his followers Netzarim observed Torah non-selectively. Le-havdil, the polar-opposite Jesus of the “NT” is not described as non-selectively Torah-observant.

Anders Branderud

Sepher Shalom said...

All other points aside, I have to affirm once again that the "Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu" is nothing more than speculation. We have a manuscript tradition in Greek and Aramaic.

Sepher Shalom said...

Anders,

After looking around the website whose link you posted a little more, I have to say that I find it unacceptable that it includes frequently the name Jesus crossed out with a line. Jesus is the English translation of Iesous, which is the Greek transliteration of Yeshua.

The website in question has also identified Jesus as "antichrist". May Elohim have mercy on you. It grieves me greatly to see you defaming the name of our Messiah simply because it is in a non-Semitic language.

Also, links to relevant information are fine (even if I don't agree with the information), but I am beginning to get the sense that your purpose here is to promote one specific website, and not to have dialogue.

I do not wish to rush to a hasty conclusion, so I simply wish to remind you that you make sure any links provided are used to provide clarification for the content of your comment, that comments are kept on the topic of the post, and that repetitive posting of links to the same website not only begins to look like spamming (even if this is not your intent), but it also displays a one-dimensional approach and lack of depth in your argumentation. When posting links to exterior sources, one should be able to justify their position from a variety of sources.

Thanks