What we believe
To teach is to instruct, train, discipline, educate, enlighten, indoctrinate, and to school.
In the Gospels alone, Yeshua is constantly teaching the people. Many scripture verses use the words, Yeshua and teaching, in the same sentence. Some examples of these verses may be found in
Matthew 4:23, 7:28, 9:35, 11:1, 26:55
Mark 1:21, 2:13, 4:1, 6:34, 10:1
Luke 5:17 6:6, 13:10, 13:22, 20:1, 21:37
John 7:14-16, 18:19-20
At Beth Yeshua, you will find sound and reliable teachings on the Bible from a Messianic Jewish perspective. Each Shabbat Rabbi Greg Hershberg brings deep passion alongside a wealth of biblically sound teaching to help equip believers for the work of service, to the building up of the Body of Messiah (Ephesians 4:12). We explore the Word of God from a Hebraic perspective, explain current events relative to Israel through the lens of Scripture, and inspire and equip believers to share the Gospel with Jewish people effectively.
WHAT WE TEACH
What Is Messianic Judaism?
What is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish people from all walks of life, who believe that Yeshua (Jesus -in Hebrew) is the promised Jewish Messiah and Savior for Israel and the world. Messianic Jews have not stopped being Jewish. On the contrary, we have continued to remain strongly Jewish in our identity, lifestyle, and belief that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah and the fulfillment of true Biblical Judaism.
When Did Messianic Judaism Begin?
Messianic Judaism is actually 2,000 years old. Dating back to the time of the Messiah Yeshua. Historically, Yeshua was Jewish. He was raised in a Jewish home and ministered to Jewish people in a Jewish land (Eretz Yisrael). His disciples were Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The writers of the Brit Hadashah (New Covenant or New Testament) were Jewish, and for a time, the faith was strictly Jewish.
Some historians believe that more than one million Jewish people in the first century A.D. believed that Yeshua was the Messiah, both in Israel and outside of Israel (Acts 2:37-42, 4:4, 21:20).
If Messianic Judaism Was Strictly Jewish at First, How Did Gentiles Come Into The Faith?
It was always God's will for the Gentile nations to also receive His Salvation (Is. 49:6, 42:6). God told Abraham, that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12: 1-3).
At first, the early Messianic Jews did not understand that this was God's will and proclaimed the Good News of the Messiah only to Jewish people.
Ironically, the big controversy in the first century was not if it was Jewish to believe in Yeshua (naturally it was) but whether Gentiles could come in without having to "become Jewish!" When Messianic Jews finally recognized that God's Salvation was also for the Gentiles, they began to share the Messiah with the non-Jews as well as with the Jews. As a result, many Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire began to come into this Messianic faith (Acts 15:1-31).
What Is The Difference Between Messianic Judaism And Gentile Christianity?
Gentile Christianity is the faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as expressed by Gentile followers of Him. Gentile Christianity today numbers over one billion people in the world, with innumerable denominations and doctrines, all centered around Yeshua as Savior.
For most of the first century A.D., this faith in Yeshua was predominantly Jewish. As more and more Gentiles came into the Messianic faith however, some did not understand its Jewish roots and God's eternal covenant with Israel. A "de-Judaizing" process set in, a separation from the Jewish roots of the faith and from the Jewish people.
This separation eventually led to the formation of a second wing of this faith in Yeshua composed of Gentile believers i.e. "Christianity." While we feel we are one in the Spirit with true Gentile believers, Messianic Jews have our own expression of faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Messianic Judaism holds that it is Jewish to believe in Yeshua and is a return to the Jewish roots of the faith.
We observe the Biblical feasts and holidays, while at the same time maintaining that the only way to be saved and truly born again of God's Spirit is through the great atoning work of the Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 11:24-25).
How Was The First Century Messianic Judaism "Transformed" Into Gentile Christianity?
When the early Messianic Jews took the Good News of the Messiah to the Gentiles, a great number were brought into this Messianic faith. By the end of the first century A.D., the number of Gentile believers out-numbered the Jewish Believers by a ratio of two to one! This occurred primarily because there were (and still are) more Gentiles in the world than Jewish people.
Through the years, as the number of Gentile believers increased, they began to dominate this Messianic faith. Some Gentile believers, not understanding the Jewish roots of their faith and God's eternal covenant with Israel, wanted to split off and form a separate religion divorced from their Jewish roots (Rom. 11:1-2). This "de-Judaizing process" continued until Gentile Christianity emerged as the dominant representative faith in the Messiah. In one of the greatest paradoxes in history, it became alien for a Jew to believe in Yeshua as his Messiah!
When Did The Early Messianic Jews Disappear And Why?
Surprisingly, Messianic Judaism continued to flourish well into the seventh century A.D., in spite of the many pressures on the Jews to give up their Messianic faith.
First of all, the Rabbis pressured Messianic Jews to relinquish their faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. In addition, Gentile Christianity wanted Messianic Jews to abandon their Jewishness. Finally, in the seventh century A.D. the rise of Islam caused great pressures for Messianic Jews as well.
Despite all this, the real reason for the disappearance of early Messianic Judaism was simply that Messianic Jews lost their "vision." They no longer saw that it was important to remain Jewish after accepting Yeshua. This was because the majority of believers in Yeshua were now members of Gentile Christianity. Consequently, Messianic Jews assimilated completely into the Gentile Christian Church.
When Did The Modern Movement Of Messianic Judaism Begin?
Even though Messianic Judaism, as a distinct movement, faded from the ancient scene in the seventh century A.D., there have always been Jewish believers in the Messiah Yeshua. However, beginning in the early 1800's, ever increasing numbers of Jewish people began to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah. The modern movement came to fruition after 1967 when tens of thousands of Jewish people suddenly accepted Yeshua.
Why 1967?
Because that is when Jerusalem came back into Jewish hands in fulfillment of a prophecy given by Yeshua in the Brit Hadashah (Luke 21:24). This prophecy indicated that when Jerusalem was restored to the Jewish people God would turn once again to His Jewish people in national salvation. Messianic Judaism is a prophetic movement and a direct result of the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon His Chosen People (Hos. 3:4-5, Joel 2:28-29, Deut. 30:1-3).
What We Believe
The Bible
We believe that the BIBLE, consisting of the Tenach (Holy Scriptures), and the later writings commonly known as the B'rit Hadasha (New Testament), is the only infallible and authoritative word of God.
We recognize the Bible's divine inspiration and accept its teachings as our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 3:1-6; Ps. 119:89, 105; Isa. 48:12-16; Rom. 8:14-17; II Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17)
God
We believe that the Shema, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4), teaches that God is Echad, as so declared: the one and only God, an intensive plurality; eternally existent in plural oneness. [Gen. 1:1 (Elohim: God); Gen. 1:26 "Let us make man in our image"; Gen. 2:24 Adam & Eve were created to be as one flesh (basar echad)],
We believe that He is a personal God who created us (Gen. 1 & 2), and that He exists forever in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Romans 8:14-17 (Father, Spirit, and Messiah - Son) and Matt. 28:18-20 (immersing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
God The Father (Abba)
Calling God as "Our Father", is not a new idea only seen in the B'rit Hadasha. It is a recurring depiction of the close relationship between the Creator and His people, commonly seen in the Tenach. Yeshua and the first century writers did not invent this idea. Rather they built upon the thought of having such a loving Creator, who was willing to call His creation "His Children". Our Heavenly Father has not, and will not change. He has always seen the ones who love Him as Children, and His people have also understood their Creator to be a loving Father from ancient times.
John 6:27b; I Cor 1:3; Gal. 1:1; Rev. 3:5, 21; Deut 32:6; Jer. 3:4, 19; 31:9; Isa 63:16, Isa 64:8; Mal. 1:6; Matt. 6:9, 32; Luke 10:21-22; John 1:14; 4:23; 5:17-26; 6:28-46; Rom. 8:14-15.
God The Son (HaBen)
God does have a Son [Ps. 2; Prov. 30:4-6 (cf. Heb. 1); Luke 12:35-37; John 1:29-34, 49; 3:14-18].
The Son, called Yeshua (Jesus), meaning salvation, came to this world born of a virgin [Isa. 7:14 (cf. Luke 1:30-35)].
The Son is God (Deity), and is worshipped as God, having existed eternally [Ps. 110:1 (cf. Heb. 1:13); Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-19; Rev. 3:21 (Heb. 1 - worshiped by angels); Rev. 4:8, 5:5-14].
This One is the promised Mashiach (Messiah) of Israel [Is. 9:6-7; 11:1; Dan. 9 (esp. verses 20-26); Isa. 53; John 1:17, 40-41, 45, 49; Mark 8:29].
He is the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star (Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16).
He is our Passover, the Lamb of God (I Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5; John 1
God The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)
The Holy Spirit is introduced from the begining in Gen. 1:2b.
In the Tenach, the Spirit of God came upon individuals during the times of our forefathers. Moses, David, (see II Sam. 23:1-3), and the Prophets, all experienced the influence of the Ruach HaKodesh for specific purposes.
In the New Testament, the Messiah Yeshua, promised His disciples that "the Comforter" would come to them after He was gone; described as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 26), who was with them and would be in them.
Yeshua further declared that the Spirit of Truth, would guide us into all truth and would glorify Him - the Messiah - not Himself (John 16:13-15). He empowers us (Acts 1:8). He seals us [Eph.1:13; 4:30 (see Jewish New Testament version)]. If we have not the Spirit, we are not His (Rom. 8:9). He leads us and teaches us (Rom. 8:14-17). His indwelling enables us to live a godly life. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, be immersed, and receive the Holy Spirit".
Man
Created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), but:
Through disobedience, man fell from his first state and became separated from God (Gen. 2:17; 3:22-24). Therefore, according to the Scriptures, all men are born with a sinful nature (Ps. 14:1-3; 49:7; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:9-12, 23; 5:12).
Man's only hope for redemption (salvation) is through the atonement made by the Messiah (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53; Dan. 9:24-26; 1 Cor. 15:22; Heb. 9:11-14, 28; John 1:12, 3:36), resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5), which is the new birth (John 3:3-8). For by grace we are saved through faith, it is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9).
Resurrection and Judgement
We believe in the resurrection of both the redeemed and the lost: the former to everlasting life and the latter to eternal separation from God, a state of everlasting punishment (Job 14:14; 19:25-27; Dan. 12:2-3; John 3:36; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 10-15; 21:7-8).h. 2:8-9).
The Messiah - The Redeemer
The Scriptures promised two "comings" of the Messiah:
First Coming - Promised in Dan. 9:24-26. Its purpose was to make an atonement for sin (Dan. 9:24-26; Isa. 53; Rom. 3:21-31; Heb. 9-10; John 3:16-17).
Second Coming - Promised coming in the air to receive the believers to Himself (I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:51-57).
The Messiah's return to the earth: The Redeemer shall come to Zion (Isa. 59:20-21; Zech. 14:4). Israel's spiritual redemption (Zech. 12:8-13; Rom. 11:25-27; Heb. 9:28; Jer. 31:31-40; the New Covenant). Israel's national restoration is to recover the remnant of His people Israel from the four corners of the earth and restore the Davidic Kingdom (Isa. 11-to re-establish the throne and kingdom of David, which will last forever) [Isa. 9:6-7 (cf. Luke 1:30-33); Jer. 23:3-8].
Israel In Prophecy
We believe in God's end-time plan for the nation of Israel and for the world. A central part of Messianic Judaism is the belief in the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel, as taught in the Scriptures.
The greatest miracle of our day has been the re-establishment or rebirth of the State of Israel according to prophecy (Ezek. 34:11-31; 36-39; Hos. 3; Amos 9:11-15; Zech. 12-14; Isa. 11; 43; 54; 60-62; 66; Rom. 11:1-34) (see also Scriptures under THE MESSIAH-THE REDEEMER).
Messianic Judaism
We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whether through the mother's or the father's blood-line) who place their faith in Israel's Messiah, Yeshua, continue to be Jewish according to the Scriptures (Rom. 2:28-29). Gentiles who place their faith in Yeshua, are "grafted into" the Jewish olive tree of faith (Rom. 11:17-25) becoming spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal. 3:28-29).
We observe and celebrate the Feasts of the Lord according to Leviticus 23, given by God to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the Messiah Yeshua. We believe that true "Biblical Judaism," the faith of first century believers, which we seek to practice, acknowledges the continuity of faith in the one true God, revealed throughout the Scriptures, and ultimately manifested in God's Son, Yeshua the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been "by faith," and that works of law, or righteous acts, have never saved anyone (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 2-6; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 11:6, 39).
We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of believers is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the Promised Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and now we worship the God of Israel together (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:13-14).