JFJ Forums - Born Again Christian

I just came across this site, i'm hoping for some replies that might help me.

My family is Jewish, they don't really practice the religion, therefore when I was little I didn't have a strong belief for any religion because my parents didn't really follow judiasm. I went to synagogues a few times, but didn't feel a pull. A few years ago during a hard time in my life I started attending a new-age, non denominational Christian church. I'd never even opened a bible let alone liked "churches". I was quite skeptical actually. God came into my heart that day, I gave my life to Christ Jesus, and am now a born again Christian. Because of my Jewish roots/family, I often feel like i'm turning my back on my family, and the older generations of my family who unlike my parents did practice Judiasm. I know in my heart that Jesus is my savior - I feel that being a Christian has helped me with many issues. I am however confused about how to combine my heritage with my new beliefs. Jesus was Jewish, so I should be proud following Jesus and His ways right?

Comments?

I was also raised jewish, as well as my whole extended family, but I came to Christ a couple of years ago. My family does feel like I am turning my back on them, but Jesus teaches us that we must love God first and foremost. This verse really helped me:

Mark 10:29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.

Anna1977 Wrote:

I just came across this site, i'm hoping for some replies that might help me.

My family is Jewish, they don't really practice the religion, therefore when I was little I didn't have a strong belief for any religion because my parents didn't really follow judiasm. I went to synagogues a few times, but didn't feel a pull. A few years ago during a hard time in my life I started attending a new-age, non denominational Christian church. I'd never even opened a bible let alone liked "churches". I was quite skeptical actually. God came into my heart that day, I gave my life to Christ Jesus, and am now a born again Christian. Because of my Jewish roots/family, I often feel like i'm turning my back on my family, and the older generations of my family who unlike my parents did practice Judiasm. I know in my heart that Jesus is my savior - I feel that being a Christian has helped me with many issues. I am however confused about how to combine my heritage with my new beliefs. Jesus was Jewish, so I should be proud following Jesus and His ways right?

Comments?

Yes, you should be proud to follow Jesus.

Mark 8:37-38 (New International Version)
Jesus said, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Luke 9:25-27 (New International Version)
In Luke Jesus said, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

Hebrews 2:10-12 (New International Version)
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

We should be singing His (Jesus) praises now.

Hi,

In my association with some Jews who knew about Jesus(Y'shua as He is known), you only become a Christian if you get baptized. So the way I think of it, you're still a Jew (if by descent, and belief). In the end, all it matters is that you have accepted Jesus as your savior. Jew, Muslim or Christian, Salvation is given only to the believers. A follower of Jesus Christ is different from a believer and I think with all honesty, neither is any better by Jesus' measure (because I know He is the one who will decide).

Here's how I had an experience in relating to Jewish->Jesus dilemna.

Quote:

We (mixed believers) worked outside building on some masonry pavement. It was a hot summers day the air was calm. You can feel the humidity working on you as you toil to do the job assigned, then the foreman called out to take a break. Obviously, we all need to re-hydrate and out came someone with a big jug of water and plastic cups. He poured out the water and although it was cooled, the heat was really strong so it was difficult to appreciate the refreshing and thirst quenching quality of the water.

What I thought... if the water was God himself to quench our thirst, it would be alright to drink and partake in God's blessing isn't it? Each one is given the same thing which is, water, to drink and quench our thirst. But what if, in the course of serving, the water in one of the cups became chilled and icy cold, wouldn't it be more thirst quenching? Wouldn't you instinctively, take the chilled water because it is chilled? I thought that Jesus is the same God being served (except the water is chilled) among us. It's alright to take the other water for it is the same water (as it is alright in being a Jew), but as for me, the cooler drink not only quenches thirst, it also soothes. So it's alright to believe, it's also alright to follow. Jesus for all I know, liberates us from our norm.

Anna1977 Wrote:

I just came across this site, i'm hoping for some replies that might help me.

My family is Jewish, they don't really practice the religion, therefore when I was little I didn't have a strong belief for any religion because my parents didn't really follow judiasm. I went to synagogues a few times, but didn't feel a pull. A few years ago during a hard time in my life I started attending a new-age, non denominational Christian church. I'd never even opened a bible let alone liked "churches". I was quite skeptical actually. God came into my heart that day, I gave my life to Christ Jesus, and am now a born again Christian. Because of my Jewish roots/family, I often feel like i'm turning my back on my family, and the older generations of my family who unlike my parents did practice Judiasm. I know in my heart that Jesus is my savior - I feel that being a Christian has helped me with many issues. I am however confused about how to combine my heritage with my new beliefs. Jesus was Jewish, so I should be proud following Jesus and His ways right?

Comments?

You have not 'turned your back' You have followed through to the next step in Judiasm by following the Messiah! Be very proud to follow Jesus Smile

Did Jesus did not come to discount Judiasm but to fufill it.

You've made an excellent stop in your analyzing and just trusting. I praise the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob with no pretention. Simple is better in poetic forms ...he he sometimes.

MeaCourtney Wrote:

Anna1977 Wrote:

I just came across this site, i'm hoping for some replies that might help me.

My family is Jewish, they don't really practice the religion, therefore when I was little I didn't have a strong belief for any religion because my parents didn't really follow judiasm. I went to synagogues a few times, but didn't feel a pull. A few years ago during a hard time in my life I started attending a new-age, non denominational Christian church. I'd never even opened a bible let alone liked "churches". I was quite skeptical actually. God came into my heart that day, I gave my life to Christ Jesus, and am now a born again Christian. Because of my Jewish roots/family, I often feel like i'm turning my back on my family, and the older generations of my family who unlike my parents did practice Judiasm. I know in my heart that Jesus is my savior - I feel that being a Christian has helped me with many issues. I am however confused about how to combine my heritage with my new beliefs. Jesus was Jewish, so I should be proud following Jesus and His ways right?

Comments?

You have not 'turned your back' You have followed through to the next step in Judiasm by following the Messiah! Be very proud to follow Jesus Smile

Did Jesus did not come to discount Judiasm but to fufill it.

So, it looks Anna believed the old "A Jew becomes a Gentile when she believes in Jesus Christ" argument.

Hi Anna,

You are a Jew by physical descend, but in the eyes of God, a Jew is a different person.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, In The Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:28-29

You see all of us that are in Christ ,are Jews by virtue of the circumcision of our hearts,and in Christ we are heirs to the promises given to Abraham.

Now unto Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, unto seeds, as of many; but as one ONE, and to thy Seed, Which Is Christ.
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of None Effect. Galatians 3:16

arachne.

Anna1977 Wrote:

I just came across this site, i'm hoping for some replies that might help me.

My family is Jewish, they don't really practice the religion, therefore when I was little I didn't have a strong belief for any religion because my parents didn't really follow judiasm. I went to synagogues a few times, but didn't feel a pull. A few years ago during a hard time in my life I started attending a new-age, non denominational Christian church. I'd never even opened a bible let alone liked "churches". I was quite skeptical actually. God came into my heart that day, I gave my life to Christ Jesus, and am now a born again Christian. Because of my Jewish roots/family, I often feel like i'm turning my back on my family, and the older generations of my family who unlike my parents did practice Judiasm.

You are not turning away from your family Anna. You are turning away from Judaism and rightly so because Judaism rejects our Lord Jesus Christ. You have listened to the voice of our Lord and turned to Him instead. In doing so, you have obeyed the voice of God rather than men. Praise God!

Anna1977 Wrote:

I know in my heart that Jesus is my savior - I feel that being a Christian has helped me with many issues. I am however confused about how to combine my heritage with my new beliefs.

I believe that by Jewish heritage you mean the customs and traditions of Judaism. If you want to observe them out of respect for your family, as a born again believer you have the freedom in Christ to do that. (Paul tells us he did that in order to win Jews for Christ) But be careful not to be snared by these practices, for they are simply religious rules of men (the rabbis) that reject our Lord Jesus Christ. Judaism is not the “way of the Lord. “ Read the book of Galatians, especially Chaps 3 and 4 where Paul warns the believers in regards to these practices.

Anna1977 Wrote:

Jesus was Jewish, so I should be proud following Jesus and His ways right?

The fact that Jesus was Jewish in the flesh has nothing to do with following Him.  When we come to Christ, we acknowledge Him as the Son of God--the Anointed One--“without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life,”

Anna, feel proud and blessed to follow Jesus because He gave His life for you (and all men) to cleanse you from sin.  Feel proud and blessed to follow Jesus because He has birthed you of His Spirit and you now have eternal life.

Stand in Christ gently around your family.  Continue to pray daily for them so that the veil will be removed from their hearts and they will accept their Saviour.  For Jesus is their saviour--He has cleansed them from their sin.  This is the good news that you have to proclaim to your family.  And that is not all.  You also have the offer of eternal life to present to them if they believe in the Son of God. You have good news waiting to tell your family when Christ opens their hearts.  Keep praying!