A Bun In The Oven

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  • Messianic Jews and the Law of Return

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    A Messianic Legal Analysis

    The nation of Israel has the right to define itself as a Jewish nation and the definition given, as of today, is that a Messianic Jew is not considered Jewish for the purposes of the “Law of Return.”

    The Messianic Jewish community claims that it is another stream within Judaism that is resurrecting after 2,000 years of silence. The Messianic Jewish community explains its legitimacy by historical and theological claims. Theologically, Messianic Jews claim that Yeshua is really the promised Messiah according to the Messianic prophecies revealed in the Jewish scriptures, and historically they claim that all the first followers of Yeshua were devout Jews. With the establishment of the Jewish nation, many Jewish people have been convinced that Yeshua is truly the Messiah according to the Jewish scriptures and have consequently begun to believe in Yeshua, while insisting on keeping their Jewish identity.

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  • Waiting for the Temple to Be Rebuilt

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    ‘Reunion’ of Priests Spurs Talk of Third Temple

    Just days before the holiday of Tisha B’Av that commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temples, a group of Jewish priests and Levites hurried across the centuries-worn cobblestones of this holy city to prepare to bless the people of Israel.

    They gathered at the foot of the Holy Temple’s last remaining wall, the priests removing their shoes and extending their hands for the Levites to wash in preparation for the holy service.

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  • Jewish Context

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  • A Portrait of Jewish Americans

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    The 2013 Pew Research Center report is on Jewish Americans offers a fascinating and comprehensive portrait of the status and mind of Jewish America.  Download the full report for further reading.

  • Major Messianic Prophecies

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    Knowing the Messiah

    Often I’ve asked Jewish people this question, “When the Jewish Messiah comes, how you will know? How will you be able to identify the true Jewish Messiah from many over the centuries who have claimed to be Messiah, but weren’t?”

    Most Jewish people today don’t know how they will identify the Messiah of Israel. They typically respond, “Well, when He comes, we will just know it.” Others say, “Our Rabbi will be sure to tell us when the Jewish Messiah is here, but we know He hasn’t come yet.”

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  • The Gospel in the Old Testament

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    Seeing the Gospel in the Old Testament

    In witnessing to someone who is not Jewish you can easily present the Gospel from the New Testament, laying out the claims of Jesus as Messiah, showing how man is sinful and separated from God, and discussing reconciliation and redemption. But you should not do this when talking to Jewish people about Jesus. The New Testament is not acknowledged or recognized as authoritative in their life today. So the Gospel is best presented from the Old Testament.

    Listed below is a chain of Old Testament passages, which, when linked together, help to clearly present the Gospel. You may wish to write these down in your Bible. Write the first verse in this Bible chain in the front of your Bible. When you have turned to the first verse, write down the second Bible verse at the bottom of that page. When you turn to the second Bible reference, write the third Biblical reference at the bottom of that page, etc. Your Bible will contain intact an entire chain of thought, without needing to memorize all the verses.

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  • Common Objections to Jesus

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    Answering 13 Common Objections of Jewish People to Jesus as Messiah

    In my personal experience as a missionary to Jewish people, I want to share with you some common objections I’ve heard throughout the years. I call it “A Baker’s Dozen” or, “Thirteen objections – with holes in them – that can be filled with the Gospel.” These are:

    1. Loss of Jewishness
    2. The Rabbi Doesn’t Teach it
    3. Where is the Evidence?
    4. No Intermediary Required
    5. The Lord Our God is One
    6. The Trinity
    7. No Original Sin
    8. The Virgin Birth
    9. The Deity of Jesus
    10. Not from the Line of David
    11. Heaven and Hell
    12. The Holocaust
    13. Christian Persecution

    When it comes to telling Jewish people about Jesus, we find that many objections raised are not necessarily new objections. A whole history of apologetics is today being reviewed and republished, all speaking against the claims of Jesus’ Messiahship.

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  • Common Objections to Jesus

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    Answering 13 Common Objections of Jewish People to Jesus as Messiah

    In my personal experience as a missionary to Jewish people, I want to share with you some common objections I’ve heard throughout the years. I call it “A Baker’s Dozen” or, “Thirteen objections – with holes in them – that can be filled with the Gospel.” These are:

    1. Loss of Jewishness
    2. The Rabbi Doesn’t Teach it
    3. Where is the Evidence?
    4. No Intermediary Required
    5. The Lord Our God is One
    6. The Trinity
    7. No Original Sin
    8. The Virgin Birth
    9. The Deity of Jesus
    10. Not from the Line of David
    11. Heaven and Hell
    12. The Holocaust
    13. Christian Persecution

    When it comes to telling Jewish people about Jesus, we find that many objections raised are not necessarily new objections. A whole history of apologetics is today being reviewed and republished, all speaking against the claims of Jesus’ Messiahship.

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  • Basic Jewish Beliefs

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    A Summary of Core Jewish Beliefs Today

    It is important to understand the foundation of what Jewish people believe today. There is no single answer. The term dogma, which is much better applied to Christianity, has little place within Judaism. In Judaism, the need for a profession of belief did not arise, and rabbis saw no necessity for drawing up concise formulas stressing Jewish beliefs and faith.

    Theologically speaking, it is understood that Jewish people are born into God’s covenant with the people of Israel in Genesis 12:1-3:

    The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’

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  • Attitudes in Witnessing

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    Positive Attitudes in Preparation for Witnessing

    Perhaps you have a Jewish neighbor, acquaintance or friend. You may have felt, “I really can’t tell my Jewish friend about Jesus, because they’re Jewish! I don’t want to offend my friend by telling him about Jesus.” However, to begin to share your faith with Jewish people (or anyone for that matter!), here are some helpful attitudes:

    1. Develop an attitude of willingness to tell others about Jesus.

      This is key. Today many people by tradition have moved away from willingly, actively talking about their personal faith. It’s easier to talk about the weather, sports, politics or the economy. But when it comes to matters of personal faith, we tend to withdraw or to become uncomfortable. Perhaps we lack self-confidence. Maybe we lack a knowledge of Scripture or feel inferior when dealing with spiritual things. But the Lord has called us to be witnesses and He will equip us to be His witnesses. Our actions and our words are important.

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