JFJ Forums

Thank you so much for this post, quoted below! As a mutt (1/4 Irish, 1/4 French-Canadian, 1/2 Okinawan Japanese) daughter of agnostic/atheist parents who were raised Roman Catholic but on my mother's side Zen Buddhist by heredity (try saying that five times fast) I know exactly what you mean.

I hope I'm not stepping on any toes not having ever been Jewish but I was thinking, from what I know, exactly what you said. On one hand it is confusing as heredity and religion both, but also because ... as a Messianic Jew friend of mine told me once she is still Jewish, but she is a completed Jew. We thought that was so strange, that she should pick one or the other, until she explained herself and I thought maybe we are seeing this wrong.

My journey to being a Christian did not begin so much in the church (I was raised in a very anti-religious environment) but by reading the Bible, at least the first few books of the Old Testament (all the begats and then the construction of the temple details lost me, but I liked Joshua!) and some of the Gospels. And like many people if you approach it honestly I saw the *wisdom* in the Law of Moses even. I wanted to follow that Law, very much. And Jesus's teachings touched me deeply, they broke me actually, knowing that they were right but I was unable to obey. Knowing the Law and what kind of sacrifices could I offer in what way that He would accept? With no temple, no one place to go and a hundred people at the door sure their way was right? (That being the reason for having *a* temple, *a* high priest, as far as I could make out.)

So maybe it's my point of view, but ... at heart this is all extremely simple. The devil really is in the details.

I can see how being raised Jewish it would be a fairly simple transition ... just accept Jesus is the Messiah spoken of in the Law and the Prophets and obey what He says which confirms the Law.. For me, it has been a hard process.

It brings to mind what Paul said about the Gentile believers being like wild olive branches grafted into a cultivated tree. So I think I get what you're saying..

Anyway, much apologies for butting in and then rambling on for a bit but mostly came over here because right now Israel, meaning the Jewish people and the political state, are much in my prayers, and wanted to see what is up with this end as I have heard of you before, Jews for Jesus, I mean.. And you put that so succintly, what I was thinking, but could not quite find the words for, I had to say something!

God bless,
Anne

What can I say?

This makes more sense to me then the arguments some Christians present resenting the idea of Jews for Jesus.  I am a born Christian but even I am seeing more sense in understanding the religious beliefs Jesus taught rather then just jumping into Christianity and feeling like that is it.  I feel closer to Jeaudism then I do Christianity alone.  Ive grown up on the word of Jesus itself.  I cant seem to be happy in most Churches.  I feel like wisdom lacks and everything is just believe in Jesus and faith.  Which I do believe in but there has to be more.  Ive thought about converting to Jeaudism and understanding where Jesus came from and why I seem to understand that faith more.  Ive been thinking about entering a synagogue and sitting down and listening.  I just want to find out why I have resentment towards Christianity in some light.  I think it may have to do with my understanding Jewish teaching before I do christian teachings.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

I am having much difficulty in getting to the latest posts in this topic:
Jews for Jesus=Christians?  I receive an email with notice of new posts. It sends me to the first page of posts, and I fing no way no button to take me past (my own) #9 post. What gives here? My frustration is mounting!!! Thank God for His patience Blessings of God to the faithful, and answers for the needs of all others,  in the MIGHTY Mame of Yeshua !!!!!

Problem solved TY Asher!

Dearest RomanCatholic87,

The truth must be told. God did choose the Jews. Regardless of ones understanding of matters since Christ, this much is now for sure: It is not possible for God to anymore choose anyone who will not choose Him. If you have chosen Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, the King of the Jews, you have chosen aright and well. Have you also chosen His words? :

Matthew 5
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

And the words of Christ's servant Paul, yes?

Romans 11
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Again, Jesus:

John 15
1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

It is more important to a man: that which he himself chooses. God has give us choice: to prove our hearts toward or against Him. Should a man suppose that he can tell God whom He must choose?

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." 27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. (Romans 11)

^ LMAO  there's absolutely nothing special about the Jewish people that makes them better than anyone else, The Bible was written by PEOPLE not God, it's quite convenient that God is so powerful yet wants Jews to kill the Phillistines and Canaanites, and conveniently every loss is "God's punishment". if God really had "chosen people" than he wouldn't allow the Jews to become some of the weakest people in history. The perfect example is  the Holocaust, if God cares so much than why didn't He stop it?? Why did God let 6 million Jews die, but saves them from Egypt by moving water??? You mean that eh couldn't eliminate the Nazis like Sodom and Gomorrah??  Why didn't God stop Hamas or Hizballah??  

Can a Gentile Christian "convert" to be a completed (messianic) Jew?

Would any bona fides of pedigree help your soul love God more? Salvation is the free gift of God's mercy and grace which keeps you from eternal RUIN. I ought, as a gentile, be grateful to God for saving me without regard for my ancestry whicj I can do nothing to change. And I am exccedingly grateful.

Joun 1
  12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Heaven to come should suffice any man, yes? no?

Wasn't the lamb (Jesus) slain from the foundation of the World? All of the prophets spoke of Him. Abraham even spoke of His provision for us.

That was the plan. Not very many people knew it was the plan for Jesus to die for us but it is what God intended all along.

Moses, Abraham, David and the prophets believed in Christ long before Peter was born.

As it turns out, we have the same faith in the same Messiah/Christ as Moses and all of the prophets.

Shalom!