Now that I believe in Yeshua, what am I?
You are a Messianic Jew, a
follower of the Messiah of Israel. You can rejoice in the fact that you
are not only physically a Jew, but a Jew spiritually as well.
What has happened to me?
You have been born again (1 Peter 1:23-25) and you now
have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Your sins have been atoned for once and
for all (Hebrews 10:10-12) under the conditions of the New Covenant
(Hebrews 8:10-13). You have been redeemed (Colossians 1:14) by the Blood
of Yeshua, the Lamb of God (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Am I still a Jew?
YES! This will never change.
You were born a Jew and nothing can change that. But now you're not only
physically a Jew, but spiritually a Jew because you've accepted the Jewish
Messiah.
Is there a difference between Jewish and Gentile
believers?
There is no spiritual
difference between Jewish and Gentile believers (Ephesians 3:6). There is
also no spiritual difference between men and women, black and white, etc.
(Galatians 3:26-29). We are all members of one Body and we are told
inGalatians 3:29 that all who believe in Messiah Yeshua are of the
spiritual seed of Abraham. We are all heirs of the same promise.
Physically and culturally, there is a difference between
men, women, Jews and Gentiles. Spiritually, however, there is no
difference.
Am I being a traitor to my people and to my Jewish faith?
Absolutely not. You are
being loyal to your people and to your faith. You are being loyal to the
God of Israel and His Word. You are following true Judaism, which centers
around the Messiah. (See Mark 9:2-13, John 1:17 and Acts 13:16-41)
Can I still go to the regular Synagogue? Would I be denying my faith by
doing so?
No, you would not be denying your faith. However, you must
ask yourself these questions: "Why do I want to go to a non-Messianic
synagogue? Will it help me grow in the Lord? Will it bring me closer to
God and to the Truth? Will I learn more about Messiah? Does God want me to
go?" When you have answered all of these questions, act according to your
conscience.
Should I celebrate the holidays?
There is no reason not to celebrate the holidays. Yeshua
Himself celebrated them. Under the New Covenant, we are free. Celebrating
the holidays does not grant salvation, but it does not deter it either.
This is an individual choice. The Jewish holidays are beautiful
expressions of God's plan for the earth. For example, Passover is a type
of the sacrifice that Yeshua made for us. Yom Kippur has been fulfilled by
the atonement of Yeshua. The question was never whether or not the Jewish
people should celebrate the Holy Days - it was assumed they would. The
question was did Gentile believers have to celebrate them, and the answer
is no! They are free to celebrate or not to celebrate as their faith
directs. Actually, the holidays are not just the "Jewish Holidays", they
are The Feasts of the Lord. All believers are entitled to partake of
them.
What about the kosher laws?
As we have said before,
Yeshua has truly liberated us. Romans 14 makes it clear that whether or
not you keep kosher is up to the individual's conscience, tastes and
convictions. You are not bound by Kashrut or Halachah. (Kashrut is the
Jewish system of dietary laws while Halachah is the whole system of Jewish
law, including the dietary laws.) An important point to consider is that
much of the system of dietary laws does not stem from the Torah. It comes
from the Talmud and other Jewish writings. However, remember that the
Biblical kosher laws were given by God for a reason - they are a good and
healthy way to eat.
Do I pray to Yeshua (Jesus) or to God?
Yeshua is God. So it is the
same to pray to God or to Yeshua. The plurality and "oneness" of God
(sometimes referred to as the Trinity) is a concept that is difficult to
understand. However, no matter which 'person' you are praying to, whether
the Father, the Son or the Ruach Hakodesh (the Holy Spirit), you are
praying to God.
How can I be sure that I am really born again - Atoned for?
If you have fulfilled the
Scriptural requirements, you are saved. Those requirements are the
following: repentance from sin, believing in Yeshua the Messiah and
confessing Him as your Lord. (Acts 3:19, Romans 10:9,10) Also, God's
Spirit will bear witness with your spirit that you are His child.
Can I continue to live the same way?
No! If you have truly repented and are born again, you
will be different. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when you accept Yeshua,
you become a new person. The old man is passed away and all things have
become new! But you need to co-operate with God in this.
Where do I get the strength to live a holy life?
Through the power of the
Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and through the Word of God (Acts 1:8,
2:1-39; Galatians 3:3, 5:22-25; Luke 24:48-49; Ephesians 5:18), and
through Bible
Study and Prayer, and
fellowship with other believers.
Here are some Scriptures from the Tenach (Old Testament)
that you can use when witnessing to the Jewish people:
TOPIC
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
The Trinity Genesis 1:26;
Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7;
Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 48:16-17; Isaiah 9:5-6
The Son of God
Proverbs 30:4; Psalm 2:7-8; Isaiah 9:5-6
The Son of Jacob
Numbers 24:17-19
The Son of Judah
Genesis 49:10
The Son of David
Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5
Prophet like Moses
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Virgin Birth
Isaiah 7:14
Born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2
Messiah of Israel
Isaiah 42:1-7
Redeemer of Israel
Isaiah 49:7-8; Isaiah 53
Rejected by Israel
Isaiah 53
New Covenant
Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 53:3-4; Jeremiah 31:31-34
Twofold Mission Isaiah 61:1-11
Called Lord Jeremiah 23:5-6
Crucifixion Psalm 22; Psalm
69:21; Zechariah 12:10
Ascension Psalm 68:18;
Psalm 16:10
The Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2;
Isaiah 42:1; Joel 2:28