A Day to Mourn

Tisha B'Av is the ninth day of the month of Av on the Jewish calendar which, this year, coincides with August 4, 2014 in the modern calendar (see table below for more details). It is a day set aside to remember and mourn the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people.

The biggest loss mourned by the Jewish people during this time of fasting and mourning is that of the temple. According to tradition, both the first and second temple were destroyed on the 9th day of Av.

Rabbis say that the temple not only played a large role Jewish life, but was central to their relationship with God. This is quite apparent as we read through the Old Testament , the Gospels and the Book of Acts. The rabbis also acknowledge that the temple was God's dwelling place among human beings and was the key to their relationship with Him. With the loss of the temple, they lost that special, close contact with God.

Losing fellowship with God, and not knowing how to restore it, is indeed a devastating loss and a reason to mourn. If you remember, the temple sacrifices were the only way the Jewish people could make atonement and be forgiven of sin.

The Jewish people have many reasons to mourn but the loss of the temple and loss of their communion with God is the greatest.

As I was thinking about Tisha B'Av today, I also had reason to mourn. Why? According to Hebrews 1, God spoke long ago through Moses and the prophets. Who did He speak to? The Jewish people. Who did God tell of His coming Deliverer? The Jewish people. I am saddened when I think about the fact that the vast majority of Jews have not recognized Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and the world.

Like the apostle Paul, "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved (Romans 10:1). Paul was saddened by the fact that the Jews had "a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof"(2 Timothy 3:5).

Paul went on in Romans 10 to describe the religion of many Jews he knew. It was not meant as an insult (although most practicing Judaism today would see it that way), but rather said out of a heart of love for his fellow Jews.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (v 2-4).

I pray that Jewish people will know that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of Israel and the world and know that before it was destroyed, Jesus tore the curtain in the temple, giving us access directly to the throne of grace, made possible by His atoning sacrifice "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). I pray also that they will know that God has made His dwelling place, not just among human beings but within them through His Son and His Spirit. I pray that Jewish people everywhere will see the truth and proclaim,

Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach! 

(Blessed be the Name of the Lord Jesus The Messiah!)

When a Jewish person comes to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as their personal Messiah and Lord, they may still mourn the losses of their people over the centuries, but will have a reason to rejoice that God, by His Son, Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach (the Lord Jesus Christ) has made His dwelling place with them and they have become the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within them. 

That revelation of the wondrous grace of God is the only way to turn a day to mourn into a day to rejoice.

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The table I created below just gives a general overview of how the Jewish calendar months coincide with the January - December calendar. The Jewish calendar is much more complex with rules for leap years, cycles of years, etc. 

Interestingly, the current year on the Jewish calendar is 5774 which, according to tradition, dates back to creation. 

JEWISH CALENDAR MONTH	MODERN “CIVIL” CALENDAR
Nissan	March-April
Iyar	April-May
Sivan	May-June
Tammuz	June-July
Av	July-August
Elul	August-September
Tishri	September-October
Cheshvan	October-November
Kislev	November-December
Tevet	December-January
Shevat	January-February
Adar	February-March

About FR's Faith Roots Section

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... (Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)

God's revelation of His character and His love for us began long before Calvary. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ was the consummation of what He began in the Garden of Eden and continued through His covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants. Through Moses and the prophets, He showed us more of who He is and how He expects us to live. Some people dismiss God's works and ways prior to the Advent of the Messiah, saying, "Well, that's Old Testament." My reply? "That's my God!"

How do we fully understand the depths of sin without knowing God is more holy than the holiest holiness? (Isaiah 6:3 CJB) How do we understand a loving Creator sending His Son to redeem His creation, if we don't know that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1 KJV)? How do we really know He keeps his promises without the testimony of those who knew Him as the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations? (Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV)

God's revelation of Himself to human beings continues to unfold. He isn't done with us yet - hallelujah! Looking back to see the faithfulness, holiness, love, mercy, wrath and justice of God as revealed in His dealings with humans from the beginning is vital to beginning to understand who He is and how so very much He desires to have relationship with us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God never said, "The gospels and epistles are all you need to live an obedient and fulfilled Christian life." The gospels and epistles are laid upon the foundation God set many years before and are, in many ways, the fulfillment of that which came before. The apostle Paul said, I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27 KJV). God moved upon men of old to write the truths He chose, in His wisdom and great love, to declare unto us, from the in the beginning of Genesis 1 to the Amen at the end of Revelation (22:21). 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living  (2 Timothy 3:16 CJB).

* * *

Before reading any of the Faith Roots articles, please take note of the following:

1. I am not a Hebrew Roots Christian
2. I am not a Messianic Jew
3. I am a born-again, Somewhat Fundamentalist Christian
4. I stand with Israel
   
   For more details on the above statements, click here

* * *

Christianity: Completed Judaism? - Conclusion

Christianity: Completed Judaism? - Conclusion

We began the exploration of this question in part one by examining the testimony of the first believers and how they continued to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the same place Jews had gathered before the LORD for hundreds of years, temple in Jerusalem.


In part two, we looked at the testimony of some prominent Jewish men who had come under the blessings of the New Covenant in Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ) and saw how they view the New Testament and Christianity. 

Part three was an examination of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. We saw the authority of Jesus, the fact that the Gospel was, is and will be given first to the Jew then to the Gentile and the awesome truth that Jesus' substitutionary death made a way for us to draw near to God. 

You may recall that in part two, Benjamin Disraeli's words were cited twice. Let's look his comments regarding Judaism and Christianity one more time.


Mr Disraeli presented 2 very different ideas. First, he says, Christianity is completed Judaism, or it is nothing. Then he goes on to say, Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism, as Judaism is incomplete without Christianity.


Using both statements as a guide, let's try to reach a conclusion as to whether or not Christianity is, indeed, completed Judaism.


First we'll look at a brief overview of Judaism, then the idea of Completion.




A. Judaism

It is unfortunate that, although I made it clear this discussion was not yet complete, the title of this writing has caused some to accuse me of Judaizing. For the sake of clarity, and also because it ties in with the conclusions that will be drawn herein, let me tell you what I believe in relation to this subject...

I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

I believe in the God who introduced Himself and His commandments to Moses with thunderings, lightnings, and the noise of a trumpet (Exodus 20:8).

I believe in the LORD God of Israel who told of a New Covenant in which He promised, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jeremiah 31:33), which was fulfilled by the atoning sacrifice made by Jesus Christ and by the sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell each believer. 

I believe in the God who spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets and Who has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Hebrew1:1). 

I believe in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ Who when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:4). 

I believe Jesus is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14). 

I believe in the God who says the law was only a shadow of good things to come and Who taketh away the first, that he may establish the second (Hebrews 10:1,9). 

I believe in the God who has granted unto all – Jew and Gentile alike - boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil (Hebrews 10:10:19-20).

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary provides an interesting definition of Judaism...

1. a religion developed among the ancient Hebrews and characterized by belief in one transcendent God who has revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions 

2. conformity to Jewish rites, ceremonies, and practices 

3. the cultural, social, and religious beliefs and practices of the Jews 

4. the whole body of Jews:the Jewish people

Merriam-Webster states that Judaism is defined by faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions.


It is those rabbinic traditions that have turned the very real faith of Abraham, Moses and the prophets into something far from what God intended. The apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul the Pharisee, was very well acquainted with and practiced rabbinical traditions. He knew the Scriptures well and did his utmost to abide by God's commands and also followed the traditions of the Pharisees. Listen to Paul's conclusion on the matter. Paul desired to be..

...found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:9-10)

The rabbinic traditions practiced in modern Judaism have strayed even further from the original intent of the Law-Giver than in Paul's day. Rabbinic commentaries, such as the Talmud and Midrash, are elevated and esteemed on a level with the Scriptures and, in some cases, the thoughts of the rabbis have replaced the clear teaching of God's Word.






B. Completion


As we have seen, Judaism is no longer an accurate representation of faith in the One, True God and for that reason, I must humbly disagree with Mr Benjamin Disraeli's conclusion that Christianity is completed Judaism, or it is nothing.


However, I do believe the true faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is completed by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone for salvation.


The honorable Mr Disraeli said, Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism. In my opinion, Christianity would become confused by the incorporation of Judaism as it is practiced in all its forms today.


I would however assert that Christianity is incomprehensible without the witness of all who went before us on this path of true faith in the Most High God, such as Moses and all the prophets.


Without the witness of the patriarchs and God's revelation of who He is in His dealings with Israel and the nations, we would never fully comprehend the depths of His grace, the fullness of His love, or the magnitude of His holiness.


The idea of a completed Jew, however, is entirely different.


The label, Judaism, describing faith in the One, True God of Abraham, is a fairly recent phenomenon. According to Online Etymology Dictionary, this word came into existence some time during the 14^th century.


It is interesting to note that God never put such a label on those who worshiped Him. He called them My people, daughters of Zion, children of Israel, Abraham's seed, and so on, but such faith in God was not actually labeled until after the advent of the Messiah.


I am aware that some of my brothers and sisters in the Lord tend to avoid and/or dislike the term Christian. Think about the words meanings for a moment.


---The Messiah is the Anointed One. Christ also means Anointed One.


---A Messianic is a follower of the Messiah. A Christian is a follower of Christ.


The only difference is the fact that Messiah is an English derivative of the Hebrew word Mashiach and Christ is an Anglicized form of The Greek word Christos.


The words are one in meaning and purpose, just as God has made Jew and Gentile one in meaning and purpose in Christ. Messianic believers and Christians are made one in Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:14-17)

The disciples, the very first believers in the Messiah, considered their faith to be complete in their Savior, as we saw in the first part of this discussion.


It may surprise you to learn that not all Jews follow Judaism. My paternal grandparents were raised as orthodox Jews but later claimed to to be atheistic. My father, a Jew, is a retired Baptist pastor and church-planter.


A Jew who has taken themselves out from under the covenants God made with their forefathers (whether by the practice of rabbinic-imposed ritual or by secularism), who then returns to the LORD God of Israel and places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, may well consider themselves to be a completed Jew, since the faith of their ancestors is completed and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we saw in part 3 of this discussion (the testimony of the first believers), this is how they viewed their faith in Messiah, as a completion and fulfillment of the faith of their fathers. Many of them heard Jesus Himself affirm this idea of completion and fulfillment of faith when He gave what we know today as the Sermon on the Mount. 

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. (Matthew 5:17)

Some final thoughts

I have mentioned before elsewhere that although my ancestry is Jewish, I grew up with very little exposure to the Jewish lifestyle or the traditions of Judaism.

My faith rests in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who sent His own Son to pay the penalty for my sin and raised Him up to life and caused me to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

I am simply a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who happens to have a Jewish heritage and an interest in the foundations of my faith in The LORD GOD JEHOVAH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my God.

The apostle Paul once said, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:10).

 If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, God's grace has not been bestowed upon you in vain. Jew or Gentile, and no matter what you've done, it makes no difference in the body of Christ. In Christ, you are forgiven and loved. God has a purpose and plan for your life. No other believer is better than you are for any reason and certainly not because of ethnicity or heritage. 

Remember, he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14).

Christianity: Completed Judaism? Part Three - Testimony of Jesus Christ

Jesus was not just another popular Jewish teacher or prophet. He was and is God. He is the Source of the written revelation of His works, His character, His power, and His love.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Jesus, the Living Word of God, must have preeminence in all things, including matters of faith and how we live out that faith. For this reason, His testimony is of greater importance and greater veracity than all others we have discussed previously.

Many Jews recognized the power in Jesus' words and the authority by which He spoke them.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)

One day, a Roman centurion came to Jesus, asking Him to heal a sick servant and, as He recognized Jesus' power and authority, Jesus recognized His faith.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:10-11)

First, Jesus recognizes a present faith, then speaks of future faith. The present faith Jesus spoke of was that of a man who was not a Jew. He was a Roman, a man from the west. Think for a moment about Jesus' words here. According to Jesus, this Gentile, a man outside the covenants of God, had greater faith than all the Jews living in Israel at that time.

The future faith Jesus spoke of is a reminder to us today (who have the blessing of access to the full volume of Scripture) of the vision of John in Revelation 7. (The full title of that book, by the way, is 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ'. See Revelation 1:1.)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

This gathering of people from the east and the west; believers who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in heaven; from every people and language group of the earth, was not really a new concept to those listening when Jesus spoke that day the centurion came. They were familiar with the writings of Isaiah, who recorded a very special promise of God.

It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)

Perhaps this won't come as a new revelation to you, but I noticed something pretty amazing while comparing the events of Matthew 8 with those of Revelation 7 in light of God's promise in Isaiah 49. (Keep reading if you would like to know what it is.)

Follow the train of thought here with me, if you will, please...

Israel was chosen by God to be a light to the Gentiles. The Gospel was presented first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.(Romans 1:16)

The peoples from every corner of the earth in Revelation 7 don't praise the Lamb around the throne until after another momentous event takes place. The 4 angels stand at each of the 4 corners of the earth, holding back the winds of destruction.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:2-4)

In Isaiah 49, God promised to restore the preserved of Israel, which, in the context of the future of Israel as recorded in that chapter, I believe may very well be a reference to the sealing of the 144,000 Jews in the tribulation period (Revelation 7:1-8).

12,000 from each of the 12 tribes are chosen, then, and only then, does a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Here comes the amazing thing to me:

After being chosen and sealed, those 144,00 Jews then go out to evangelize the whole earth. 

During the tribulation period, once again the Gospel message is given first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Israel is the vehicle by which God has, and does and will transport His message of love, forgiveness and salvation to the nations.

The wheels on this train of thought are still turning...

God used Israel to make Himself and the coming Messiah known to the world. His covenants, His mercy, His holiness, His glory, His wrath and His love were all revealed in His dealings with Israel and through His mouth-pieces, the prophets.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Through the mouths of the prophets, He told Israel of the coming Redeemer who was for the salvation of not just Israel but the whole world. And, now, Messiah has come; God manifested in flesh.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

That verse, John 3:16, sums up the New Covenant God has freely offered to all who will partake. The blood of Christ was shed, not just for those who were already partakers of God's promises, but also for those on the outside.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:12-13)

That passage says that those who were not descendants of Abraham, alienated form the covenants of God, have now been brought close by the blood of Christ. As a result, those who have repented and placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation can say:

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. (Ephesians 2:14)

What was that middle wall of partition?

When Jesus breathed His final breath on the cross, immediately the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51 CEV).

That middle wall of partition, the curtain in the temple, was designed to prevent anything or anyone unclean entering the Holy of Holies, where God's glory came down in the temple. This meant that no Gentile could ever enter and draw close to God. It also meant that the average Jew could not enter or meet with God in a personal way.

Only the high priest could go to the other side of the curtain and then only on certain days and only after certain cleansing rituals and putting on the proper garments. All of that may or may not have protected him from the holiness of God, because God sees the heart. (There is a story of tying a rope to the high priest’s ankle so he could be dragged out if he fell dead in the presence of the glory of God.)

The tearing of the curtain from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus' death illustrated a great and wondrous truth. We no longer need to go through a priest to meet with God. Jesus' sacrifice atoned for all of our sins and granted us direct access to the Father through the Son!

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:14-17)

What is the “enmity” referenced in that passage? The rendering in the Amplified Bible may help us gain some insight.

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances (Ephesians 2:14-15 AMP)

The enmity here is two-fold - enmity between Jew and Gentile, between those under the covenants of God and those outside of the covenants of God and also enmity between all people and God. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18).


Notice that Romans 1:18 makes no differentiation between Jew and Gentile. God's wrath is revealed against ALL that is an affront to His holy character, no matter the source. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

The Law, the ordinances given by God to reveal His holiness and show us how to live, also revealed the sinfulness in the heart of mankind and our utter helplessness to please God or save ourselves.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:23-24)

The Law showed us our desperate need of a Savior, One Who would fulfill all the Law demanded on our behalf. When His blood poured out on Calvary, Jesus accomplished this and, oh, so much more. (Read Ephesians 1&2 for the so much more.) That curtain, the dividing wall between us and God has been destroyed forever.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil... (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Jew or Gentile makes no difference; all those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Messiah, Savior and Lord are fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

ALL believers are built on the same foundation; the foundation laid by God in His revelations, first to the prophets, then to the apostles and then in these last days He has spoken unto us by his Son (Hebrews 1:2), Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20), In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22)

Lets take a fresh look at those last few verses of Ephesians 2.

He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. (Ephesians 2:21-22 MSG)

Notice, it doesn't matter how we got here. Whether we are descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or “strangers and foreigners,” we are all equal partakers of the New Covenant, and equal parts of the building, each fitting in because Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, made us fit and holds us all together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

No matter where we came from, no matter our ancestry, no matter what we've done, through the blood of Christ, we have this amazing revelation of the grace of God, that He would choose to dwell in us!


Next, The Conclusion 

Christianity: Completed Judaism? - Introduction

Occasionally, I read "traditional" Jewish writings to help gain some insight when studying the roots of my faith. 

Recently, I happened upon an article that saddened me and challenged me at the same time. 

A rabbi was rather upset at the term "completed Jew" which some Messianic Jews use in reference to having found faith in Jesus the Messiah. 

The rabbi went on to say that Christianity is not in any way a form of Judaism, much less a completed Judaism.

His statements saddened me, because it was very clear that, like most Jews today, this man has rejected the Messiah of Israel and the world.

I was challenged to do some deeper research into the idea of Christianity as "Completed Judaism," hence the title of this article. 

To explore the question raised in the above title, let's consider the testimony of the testimony of the first believers, the testimony of prominent Jewish believers (in more modern times), and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 


Next, Part One - Testimony of the First Believers

Christianity: Completed Judaism? - Part One

Part One - Testimony of the First Believers  

Peter was a Jewish man known for his ups and downs while he walked with Jesus (a lot like us, huh?). He was also the first to say, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)


<The following is based on selections from Acts 2 & 3>


As recorded in Acts chapter 2, Peter delivered an impromptu, Spirit-led sermon, the very first presentation of the Gospel through a human being.


His audience? The Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of Shavuot (Pentecost), the Feast of Firstfruits.


Peter explained that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that day was a fulfillment of a prophetic word given by God through Joel. He declared that Jesus was delivered up to be crucified according to the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,” and that God had raised Him up from the dead.


Peter also testified to David's prophetic knowledge of the Messiah who would take David's place on the throne in Jerusalem.

He went on to affirm the event that had just taken place. 

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Take special note of Peter's declaration in verse 36...

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Let's consider the wording of that verse for a moment. The arrival of the Romans forced the people to learn Greek, and the New Testament was written in Greek to make it accessible to more people throughout the world, but Hebrew and Aramaic were the primary spoken languages in Israel at this time.


The Complete Jewish Bible renders that verse a little differently, recognizing the Jewish speaker and audience here.

“Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!”

When the other Jews heard these words, they looked to Peter and the other apostles for an answer. “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Peter, an observant Jew, declared his faith in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and the world. Also in Acts chapter 2, we see how the first believers (Peter & the other apostles included) continued in this new faith in the Messiah.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple.” -Acts 2:42 & 46

These new believers didn't go out and plant “First Church of Jerusalem.” They continued worshiping daily. Where? In the temple, the same place they had worshiped God before recognizing Jesus as their Messiah.


These early believers did not leave their Jewish faith, nor did they see faith in Messiah as some new religion, and neither do most Jewish believers in Messiah today.

“The Tenach (the Old Testament Scriptures) provides the foundation of our Jewish faith, and the New Covenant Scriptures (which were also written by Jews) the completion of our Jewish faith. In fact, the Hebrew Scriptures themselves affirm that they are not complete, but that God was going to make a New Covenant with the Jewish people (Jeremiah 31:31-34).” -David Chernoff

Peter and all the other Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem knew well the covenants God made with Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as those He made with the nation of Israel.


A New Covenant established by the God of their fathers did not mean a new religion. It meant continuation, fulfillment and completion of promises made before!


In Acts 3, after healing a lame man in the Name of Jesus, Peter addressed the crowds who were “were filled with wonder and amazement.” He first spoke of the death and resurrection of the Messiah. And then, Peter lays the down the basis for the conclusion above regarding the New Covenant. Pay close attention to his references to the prophets...

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

All the above is merely a brief overview of the testimony of the first believers. I invite you to read the Book of Acts and Paul's writings if you wish to have a more in depth presentation of the testimony and faith of the first believers. 

Next, Part Two - Testimony of Prominent Jewish Believers.

Christianity: Completed Judaism? - Part Two

Part Two - Testimony of Prominent Jewish Believers

The following are just a few selected quotes from prominent Jewish men who came to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. 


“Christianity is completed Judaism, or it is nothing. Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism, as Judaism is incomplete without Christianity."

- Benjamin Disraeli, England's first and only Jewish Prime Minister, 1868.

"From every line in the New Testament, from every word, the Jewish spirit streamed forth light, life, power, endurance, faith, hope, love, charity, limitless and indestructible faith in God." 

- Isaac Lichtenstein, Chief Rabbi of Hungary, 1909.

“Christianity is the completion of the synagogue, for the synagogue was a promise, and Christianity is the fulfillment of that promise." 

- Israel Zolli, Chief Rabbi of Rome, 1909.

“The Reverend Mr. Spyker read to me from the New Testament book of Romans where Paul says that Y'shua (Jesus) is a stumbling block to Jewish people, but that those who would believe in Y'shua would never be ashamed. Suddenly it all became very clear to me: Y'shua had fulfilled the messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures, such as where the Messiah would be born and how he was to die.... I knew that Jesus was the Messiah and is the Messiah. And I surrendered my heart and my soul to Him that day." 

- Dr. David Block, Mathematics & Astronomy professor, South Africa, 2014.

As you may gather from their definitions of their faith, the men quoted above did not see Christianity (or, belief in the Messiah) as a replacement of the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In fact, they viewed it as a continuation of God's faithfulness to keep His promises. 

Again, carefully consider Benjamin Disraeli's words...

“Christianity is completed Judaism, or it is nothing. Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism, as Judaism is incomplete without Christianity." 

Next, Part Three -  The  Testimony of Jesus Christ 

Shavuot (Pentecost)

“And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.” (Exodus 34:22)




Shavuot, the Festival (or, feast) of Weeks, was a time God told Israel to set aside to give back to Him the first fruits of the wheat harvest. God's instructions for this feast are given in Leviticus 23:16-18, Numbers 28:26 and Deuteronomy 16:10.


Shavuot 2014 began the evening of June 3 and ends the evening of June 5.

The Greek word “Pentecost”, meaning 50, is used in the New Testament to refer to this day, noting the fact that the celebration takes place 50 days after Passover.


In Jewish tradition, Shavuot also coincides with “Zman Matan Torateynu” or “Season of the giving of the Law.” Rabbis later calculated, using biblical references, the time of the giving of the Law by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and discovered that it was during this time, the time of Shavuot.


Think about this... on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts chapter 2, the entire nation of Israel was gathered to remember God's covenant with His people. The Holy Spirit was given on the same day God gave the Law to Moses!


The parallels between the giving of the Torah and the giving of the Spirit are remarkable.

WHEN THE LAW WAS GIVEN: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:18).


WHEN THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3)



Shavuot marks the day Israel gave God the first fruits of the harvest. 

And, when God gave us His Spirit? Think about this...


“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:22-23


Thank You, LORD God of Israel, my God, for giving us Your Word and for giving us Your Spirit so that we may know Your ways and be empowered to live for You. 

The Promised Gift

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15 CJB


Long ago in a garden, a gift was promised to the world. Throughout the ages, this promised gift was gradually unwrapped and revealed for the world to behold. The first glimpse was given as blood was shed in the garden to provide a temporary covering for sin.

As blood poured from the brazen altar in the tabernacle, the world was given a daily reminder of the awesome promise of the gift. While the walls of Jericho crumbled, the scarlet cord in Rahab’s window secured redemption for her family and provided a visual reminder of what was to come.

Through the mouths of the prophets, the Giver of the gift continued to proclaim His promise from generation to generation.


Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.’ - Isaiah 62:11 NKJV


Some Bible translators capitalized the word ‘salvation’ in that verse and others rendered it ‘Savior,’ realizing its significance. Salvation is a gender neutral concept in both Hebrew and English, yet here it is referred to as male.

Why? The Hebrew word translated salvation in this verse is ‘yeshua,’ which means, ‘the LORD saves.’ ‘Yeshua’ is also a Hebrew name, the name we know in English as ‘Jesus.’ 

With that in mind, let’s take a fresh look at this passage. It should read, ‘Surely your YESHUA is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.’ 

This prophetic word, delivered through Isaiah, announced the promised gift to come in the person of Yeshua (Jesus).


Preserving the Hebrew names, the Complete Jewish Bible tells of the angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told to him not to be afraid to receive the promised gift and also said, ‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means `ADONAI saves,'] because he will save his people from their sins.’ - Matthew 1:21 CJB


YESHUA…What name could be more fitting for this promised gift? He, whose very name means ‘the LORD saves,’ would save His people from their sins!


Eight days after his birth, Joseph and Mary took the baby to the temple, where they met a devout man by the name of Simeon. Take a look at Simeon's reaction to holding Jesus in his arms.

"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." - Luke 2:27-32 NKJV


As a speaker of Hebrew, Simeon would have actually said, “My eyes have seen your YESHUA.” Simeon received the promised gift, as did Peter, who declared “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” - Matthew 16:16 NKJV


The Gift promised in a garden so long ago would later give His life on a hill above a garden. As Yeshua’s blood poured out on the earth, the gift became fully unwrapped and revealed for the world to behold, providing an eternal covering for sin for all who receive Him as the promised Gift of Salvation.


But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 1:12, John 3:16 NKJV



Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!- 2 Corinthians 9:15 CJB

Celebrating God's Word

Sweeter than honey. More desirable than gold.


This is how David describes the Word of God in Psalm 19.


But, wait...

Most of the 66 books of the Bible available to us today had not yet been written.


So, what was sweeter to David than honey and more valuable than gold?


The Torah.


“Torah” is a Hebrew word meaning instruction or teaching and refers to the writings of Moses in the first 5 books of the Bible.


In synagogues across the globe, the practice is to read through the Torah over the course of a year. In October, right at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, another celebration takes place.


Simchat Torah. Rejoicing with the Torah.


The Torah scroll is brought out of its special place (Torah ark) and given to members to hold and march through the synagogue. Everyone kisses the Torah scroll and dances around it as it continues down and around the aisles.


In Jerusalem and other cities in Israel, this parade of the Torah scroll sometimes takes place in the street. It is a time of great celebration, marking the end of the Torah reading cycle and beginning it anew.


Perhaps Christians (myself included) have something to learn from the great reverence and joy seen in the Simchat Torah festivities. Do we treasure God's Word in the same way?


We have even greater reason to celebrate. In His grace, God has given us His Word, including and beyond the teachings of the Torah. And, He didn't stop there. He has given us His Son, the Living Word, and has written His laws upon our hearts.


Do we rejoice, celebrate and treasure Torah and the rest of God's Word?

In the video below, Hasidic Jews in Jerusalem certainly seem to. The sound quality is poor but let's watch and think about how precious the Word of God is to us...