Dear friend,
Yours truly, Martin & Kayla, have crafted this message with anticipation of connecting with fellow believers in Jesus like yourself. We share an appreciation for the Hebrew roots of our faith and a desire to explore the deeper connection between Christianity and the founding fathers of our faith in the 'Old Testament,' also known as the Tanach (comprising the books of law, the prophets, and collected writings).
The greatest day for any believer is the moment we find our savior Jesus and become grafted into his family as sons and daughters, as coheirs of his kingdom. Jesus stated in his word, Matthew 5:17-20:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
When Yeshua stated he has come to fulfill the word, that means to us that the law or the instruction of the Old Testament was a gift from God in development from the time of Adam through the prophet John the Baptist. These Laws would be sealed and now fully ready for delivery to the world after the death and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. For greater clarity, if we said we owned a 'fulfillment center', what would that mean? It is a place for something to be developed, packaged, and ready for delivery. That is exactly what Jesus meant when he said I have come to fulfill the law. Meaning before his time on Earth, the law was a gift from God being processed, developed from the time of Adam through John the Baptist. This new product is now sealed and delivered to the world for use. Which means, as he said, the law is not abolished but now ready for instruction and utilization. Therefore, it's crucial to understand that every 'New Testament' writer aimed not to abolish the law but to guide us in its practice.
With that being said, it is very important that Gentiles understand that it is us who are being grafted into the family of the Old Testament, from Adam through John the Baptist. We are meant to practice and worship God as He instructed the Kingdom of Israel. In your journey to reestablish the heritage of your forefathers, you will begin to explore the following practices:
- Abstaining from certain foods.
- Obedience to the Ten Commandments.
- Weekly Shabbat practiced from Friday evening through Saturday evening.
- The annual holidays appointed by God Himself, known as biblical feasts, include Passover, Shavuot (also known as Pentecost), and all the Fall festivals such as the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
These four observances, coupled with the acceptance of Jesus as our eternal Lord and Savior, constitute what we perceive as the non-negotiables of faith. There are also a total of nearly 1,700 other commands that we are instructed to follow from Genesis to Revelation. Certainly, we believe the reason the Lord our God made so many commands is to emphasize that our righteousness will never be good enough to enter into the Kingdom of God without the blood sacrifice of Jesus. According to the word of God,
'All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.' --Isaiah 64:6
While we are commanded to follow all the laws of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, it is impossible to do so entirely. This could be due to our lack of awareness of certain laws, our inability to adhere to them fully, or because we perceive some laws as irrelevant or unachievable in today's context. In any case, no one has or ever will fully comply with the letter of the law; we all fall short. Thus, we rely on the grace of Jesus to bridge the gap. We can say that as you navigate your journey to find your walk with God through a Hebraic perspective, you will find the greatest controversies related to the following topics:
- Sexuality and marriage
- Defining the weekly Sabbath (Shabbat)
- The practice of Easter, Halloween, and Christmas
- Dietary rules
- 'Law' vs 'Grace'
- The sacrifice of circumcision
- Outward expression of devotion to God including hair, makeup, and apparel styles
As each one declares our path of faith, we can guarantee you one thing: each person will have their own unique relationship with God, and no one is fit to judge anyone else's walk with God as better or lesser than their own.
The significance of the Jewish people
In ancient biblical times, the nation of Israel consisted of twelve family tribes, divided into northern and southern territories. The Northern region encompassed all the tribes of Israel except for two. Notably, the tribe of Judah, led by King David, functions as the patriarch of our familial heritage and the leader of the household, alongside Rueben, comprising the Southern part of the nation of Israel. The historical narrative reveals that while the tribe of Rueben remained united with Judah, tensions and disputes within the northern tribes precipitated a significant split. This division, fueled by deep-rooted disagreements, resulted in the separation of the ten tribes from the leadership of David's lineage. As a consequence, the once-united nation faced bitter strife, leading to the distinct separation of the other ten tribes from the tribe of Judah. Meanwhile, the Southern region, dominated by King David's tribe Judah, represents the lineage of King David and, consequently, the royal lineage culminating in King Jesus.
Approximately 124 years prior to the exile of the Southern Kingdom of Israel to Babylon, the other ten tribes of Northern Israel were dispersed globally. Consequently, any individual claiming descent from the Northern Kingdom is recognized as a citizen and part of the family of Israel, fulfilling the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. As Genesis 15:5 states:
'He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."'
Those identifying as Jews trace their heritage to the Southern Kingdom, thus carrying the responsibility of setting a pattern of worship for the world to follow. The Jewish people play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the body of Christ on Earth. They are called to lead by example in all domains, including religion, politics, business, education, and beyond, guiding nations towards the light of the Lord.
The significance of the Jewish people resonates deeply in biblical accounts, particularly when Jesus, Himself a Jew, selected twelve Jewish men as His disciples to inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth. Their pivotal role is further accentuated by the inscription of their names on the twelve foundations of the eternal new Holy City of Jerusalem to come, as depicted in the book of Revelation. This underscores the perpetual responsibility of the Jewish people to guide the nations of the world towards the divine light of God.
As practicing Jewish individuals of faith recognize Jesus as their Messiah and impart teachings to others, they illuminate the path to God for all nations. It's crucial for nations to learn from the Jewish people's heritage and walk with God, rather than imposing different traditions onto them.
As Jewish believers set the example and embrace King Jesus, the Church moves closer to reflecting the vibrant community depicted in Acts 2. In this community, conversions flourish, and spiritual growth thrives amidst the backdrop of miracles, signs, and wonders. Notably, it's essential to recognize that each biblical leader and writer of the New Testament was deeply rooted in Jewish faith and tradition, ultimately embracing Jesus as the Messiah.
Exploring our journey back to the origins of our faith aims to honor the entirety of God's word and follow His instructions. It's essential to clarify that we are not attempting to adopt 'Jewish' customs or become Jewish. Instead, we are embracing the rich heritage of our Hebraic ancestry and teachings embedded within Scripture.
Resources to consider for next steps
I. Four Cups: God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment, Author: Pastor Chris Hodges
Kayla's existing interest in exploring Hebrew Roots was further ignited by Pastor Chris Hodges' profound insights in "Four Cups." This book delves into the timeless promises of God, enriching our understanding of faith and fulfillment.
II. The Mystery of the Shemitah, Author: Jonathan Cahn
Inspired by Dr. Martin Williams' teachings on the impact of the Shemitah cycle, we encountered Jonathan Cahn's profound insights into biblical prophecy. His books, "The Harbinger" and "The Mystery of The Shemitah," offer compelling revelations about God's patterns and promises.
III. Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts: Discovering Their Significance to You as a Christian, Author: Dr. Richard Booker
Randall Burcham's encouragement led us to explore the significance of biblical feasts in our Christian walk. Dr. Richard Booker's insightful work deepened our understanding of how these feasts enrich our spiritual journey and relationship with Jesus.
IV. Be One Ministries a Hebrew Institute and Teaching Ministry led by Rabbi Jeff and Sherri Friedlander
Our journey reached new depths through the teachings of Rabbi Jeff and Sherri Friedlander. Be One Ministries, encompassing the Hebrew Institute and their teaching ministry, has been most instrumental in shaping our understanding of Hebrew heritage and its relevance to our faith today.
V. Our Highest Recommendations for next Steps
In moving forward on your exploration of the Hebraic path, we highly recommend starting with Rabbi Jeff Friedlander's insightful YouTube series, "S.O.P. According to G-d." These insightful teachings offer profound perspectives on living out our faith in alignment with God's divine principles.
May these resources be a guiding light as you embark on your own journey of discovery and faith.
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