Christianity's Jewish roots.

Christianity's Jewish roots

"Listen to Me, O pursuers of righteousness, O seekers of Hashem: Look to the rock (Yeshua) from which you were hewn, and at the hollow of the pit from which you were dug; look to Abraham your forefather and to Sarah who bore you, for when he was yet one alone did I summon him and bless him and make him many" - Isaiah 51:1-2 Stone Edition Tanakh

Jesus' Jewish genealogy is found in the first chapter of Matthew and the third chapter of Luke. Included in the list of His ancestors is Judah, one of the great-grandsons of Abraham. From Judah, nine of his brothers, and two of his nephews became the twelve tribes of Israel. (G-d changed the name of Jacob, Judah's father, to Israel; hence, the tribes are descended from Israel.) The division of the nation of Israel after the death of King Solomon resulted in the northern kingdom of Israel, supposedly ten tribes of the children of Jacob, and the southern kingdom of Judah, comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. (The southern kingdom also included Simeon -- see Joshua 19.) Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. The term Jew first appears in the Bible when the kingdom of Judah was being carried off captive to Babylon (2 Kings 25:25).

Jewish Christians, aka Hebrew Christians, Christian Jews or Judaizers, were the early Christians who continued to maintain Jewish religious practices, until approximately the fifth century. The first century Christians were totally faithful religious Jews. They differed from other contemporary Jews only in their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah. However as Denominational Christianity grew throughout the Gentile world, Christians were purposely cut off from their Jewish roots. Jewish Christianity, which had initially survived and even strengthened despite persecution by Jerusalem Temple officials, fell into decline during the Jewish-Roman wars (66-135) and the "church's" growing anti-Semitism perhaps best personified by Marcion (c.150). With more than a little help from the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, Jewish traditions were basically destroyed and the "church" was left to be dominated by pagan festivals and denominational doctrines which collectively became the official religion of the Roman Empire. The denominational church of Rome then took control of the various holy sites in the Holy Land such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Cenacle and appointed all of the subsequent Gentile Bishops of Jerusalem. The first church, which was in Jerusalem, was 100% Jewish. Yeshua said repeatedly that He was "sent to the lost sheep of Israel." Gentiles were not even permitted to join the followers of Jesus until Peter received a vision and argued before the "apostles and brethren" (Acts 15:7) in Jerusalem to admit them. How, then, can a GENTILE be saved, if it were not for the One who was sent to the ISRAELITES?

Following Jesus' Crucifixion, Matthew along with Mary, and other close Jewish followers of Jesus, withdrew to the "Upper Chamber" (traditionally the Cenacle) , in Jerusalem. At about this time James the Just succeeded his brother Jesus of Nazareth as leader of this Jewish sect. They remained in and about Jerusalem and proclaimed that Jesus, the son of Mary was the promised Jewish Messiah. These early Jewish Christians were called Nazarenes - both the New Testament and the early Talmud confirm this. According to Eusebius these Early Jewish Christians used only the Old Testament (and the Gospel according to the Hebrews which Jerome said had been written by Matthew). On Pentecost, the Twelve Apostles, the Elders, family members of Jesus, and other early followers, were joined by 3,000 converts. Traditionally the Roman Centurion Cornelius is considered the first Gentile convert, as recorded in Acts 10, and he (as a proselyte) continued to participate in the Jewish synagogue. The major division prior to that time was between Hellenistic and non-Hellenistic Jews or Koine Greek and Aramaic speakers. The conversion and acceptance of the Gentile Cornelius can be described in terms of the Judaic teaching which describes strangers becoming part of the community of believers. Acts does not use the term "Jewish Christians", rather those led by James the Just, Simon Peter, and John the Apostle, the "Pillars of the Church", all who were called followers of "The Way". The terms circumcised and uncircumcised, which occur frequently in the New Testament, are generally interpreted to mean Jews and Greeks respectively.

This Jewish Christian sect initially was in danger of being wiped out as they were being persecuted unto the death by the Jewish High Priest and the Sanhedrin. Peter and John were imprisoned by a "Jewish leadership" ("the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees") who were "much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead". The Sadducees (they were sad you see) in particular rejected the Pharisaic (they saw far you see) doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Stephen was tried by a Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court) for blasphemy against Moses and G-d and was stoned to death, under the watch of Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, before his conversion. Another blow to this persecuted Jewish sect was the death of their 2nd leader (their 1st leader Jesus having been crucified c.30). According to Josephus, "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James" met his death after the death of the procurator Porcius Festus, yet before Lucceius Albinus took office — which has thus been dated to 62 A.D.. The High Priest Ananus ben Ananus took advantage of this lack of imperial oversight to assemble a Sanhedrin ('a council of judges'), who condemned James "on the charge of breaking the law," then had him executed by stoning. Josephus reports that Ananus' act was widely viewed as little more than judicial murder, and offended a number of "those who were considered the most fair-minded people in the City".

Three events greatly affected the early Jewish Christian Community. The first was the Conversion of Paul (and the possible conversion of his teacher Gamaliel), the second was the Council of Jerusalem, and the third was the Destruction of the Second Temple, which according to Josephus is seen as one of the most significant event of the Jewish–Roman wars. According to the Church History of Eusebius, the line of the first 15 Jewish (of the circumcision) Christian bishops of Jerusalem ended after the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136) when Hadrian renamed the city "Aelia Capitolina" and barred all Jews except for the day of Tisha B'Av. After that, all of the Jerusalem bishops were all Gentiles. The Cenacle as it exists today is a Gothic reconstruction, but it may be the location of the original Jewish Christian church. Jewish Christians continued to worship in synagogues for centuries. According to Acts 15, the Council of Jerusalem c.50, customarily believed to have been led by James the Just, determined that religious male circumcision (assumed by some to signify conversion to Judaism) should not be required of Gentile followers of Jesus, only four basic prohibitions: avoidance of "pollution of idols, fornication, things strangled, and blood" (Acts 15:20, also Genesis 11:1-8 (idolatry), 9:20 (sexual depravity), 9:5 (cruelty to animals), 9:3-4 (abstention from blood)). The basis for these prohibitions is not detailed in Acts 15:21, which states only: "For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day", stressing that they are Mosaic Commandments which Gentiles must pay attention to. Many, beginning with Augustine of Hippo consider the consensus emphasized the four stipulations based on the No hide Laws stated in Genesis, and applicable to all people (Noah's descendants after the Flood).

The 3,000 baptized on the day of Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot) were all Jews from as far away as Libya and Rome. There were many Jewish believers in Corinth where Paul stayed about A.D. 45-55 for eighteen months, teaching in their synagogue (Acts 18). It has been estimated that "by A.D. 50 ... there were over 50,000 Jewish believers in the city of Jerusalem alone." (Roy Blizzard, Jr., PhD.) Since the 6th century B.C.E. and their return from captivity in Babylon where synagogue worship was developed, The first believers in Jesus, were followers of what they called "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22;4; 24:14,22; 2 peter 2:2), and they all continued worshipping in the synagogue right along with non-believers for many years. They were still Jews and they continued to be Jews. They also continued to observe the feasts and festivals which G-d had commanded them to do through Moses e.g., Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Sabbath and others. Yeshua faithfully observed the Sabbath, as did Paul. In fact, in Acts 20:7, when the believers in Troas gathered together on the first day of the week to break bread (have a meal together), this was a very Jewish custom! Since the Jewish day begins at sunset, this "first day of the week" was Saturday evening. And it was (and still is) the Jewish custom for the men of the synagogue to gather for a service at the end of the Sabbath.

The entire Bible describes the Jewish history, the Feasts of the Lord and the our walk with G-d. Jewish Authors wrote both the Old and New Testaments. These texts were protected by subsequent Jewish people and were painstakingly copied down through the ages in order to preserve their accuracy. Both Judaism and Christianity come from the belief in the very same G-d. Abraham was the first Jew and both the Jewish people and the true Church of Jesus Christ are his seed. "Also, if you belong to the Messiah, you are seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29 (JNT). Looking at Gal 3:8, Abraham was the first Christian (believer of the same gospel), being preached to by G-d Himself. In the early years of the Christian faith, Christianity was regarded as just another sect of Judaism (Acts 28:22) we were then known as the sect of the Nazarenes. The early disciples and the 12 Apostles were all Jewish. Apostle Paul even took a Nazarite vow (Num. 6) to prove to his critics that he was a Torah-observant Jew (Acts 21:17-26). In AD 42, the disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The term "Christian" gradually was adopted to differentiate believing Jews from unbelieving Jews and over time, it became a separate identity altogether. "…don't boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root (Israel's forefathers), the root is supporting you (Church)." Rom. 11:18 (JNT) Judaism does not need Christianity to explain its existence, but Christianity needs Judaism both to explain both its existence and what it believes. Hence, Christianity has historically known as the Judeo-Christian faith. "You people don't know what you are worshipping; we worship what we do know, because salvation comes from the Jews." John 4:22 (JNT). These were Jesus' very own words, that salvation belongs to the Jews. The gospel that we hold dear, first belongs to the Jews for the gospel was first preached to Abraham, the first Jew. All of the blessings we have in Jesus Christ are first to be found in Abraham to whom G-d promised those blessings. And the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant have been entrusted to his descendants, the Jews. Without the Jews, we would have no patriarchs, no prophets, no apostles, no Bible and no Savior! Deprived of all these, how much hope or G-d would we have? None! " For only….in thee (Abraham) shall all families of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12:3 (KJV) "… in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Gen 28:14 (KJV) "Then what advantage has the Jew? What is the value of being circumcised? Much in every way! In the first place, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of G-d." Rom. 3:1-2 (JNT)

And it was finally through Jesus (Yeshua), who was born a Jew that the promises given to Abraham have been extended to the rest of the world that we may also become partakers of those same promises. "at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Israel. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying G-d's promise. You were in this world without hope and without G-d. But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah's blood." Eph. 2:12-13 (JNT) "that in union with the Messiah and through the Good News the Gentiles were to be joint heirs, a joint body and joint sharers with the Jews in what G-d has promised." Eph. 3:6 (JNT) Jesus was born and raised as a Torah-observant Jew - Jesus followed Jewish religious practices. Jesus was considered a rabbi and taught the people like a rabbi. He Himself clearly affirmed the Torah when He said: "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah (Law) or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened." Matt. 5:17-18. (JNT). Jesus did not abolish Judaism but He reformed Judaism (Heb 9:10), which reform many Jews could not and still can not accept as of G-d, thus opening the way for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles who gladly received the gospel.

The Way of Salvation

In Romans Chapter 11 we read: "I say then, Hath G-d cast away his people? G-d forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. G-d hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to G-d against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of G-d unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, G-d hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? G-d forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if G-d spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of G-d: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for G-d is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of G-d are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed G-d, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For G-d hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of G-d! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The promises and way of salvation are Jewish. In Genesis 22:18 we read: "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (John 10:27). In Galatians 3:29 we read: "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

In Ephesians Chapter 2 we read: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But G-d, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of G-d: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which G-d hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 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 G-d in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of 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 G-d 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. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of G-d; 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 G-d through the Spirit.

In Ephesians 3:4-6 we read: "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" "Because of the ministry of Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross of Calvary, Gentiles as well as Jews can now maintain the righteous principles of the law without being encumbered with all the cultural baggage of Talmudic Judaism."

Today, The belief in Yeshua (Jesus) is embraced all over the world, but in every different location and/or building - men teach their own beLIEfs which are a mixture of truth, man-made doctrines and pagan rituals. Denominational Christianity and all its various religious interpretations of the Word of G-d are based on the theology of a Church whose initial roots sprang from Rome, not Jerusalem - that "church" became very anti-Semitic. That is how men - influenced by the deceiver - created Babylon (confusion). So that today - even if most of the denominational churches are still " together" in believing in the Messiah -.they are terribly divided when it comes to their celebration of pagan festivals and other innumerable religious, divisive doctrines. The only way for all of us to truly have the right interpretation of G-d's Word - is to hear directly from G-d who is not the author of confusion! Any other voices, doctrines, or "interpretations" will definitely cause more confusion so we will continue to "miss the mark" of the real truth and G-d's unity., This is especially true if all (or even part of) the various "interpretations" are based in paganism and man-made denominational doctrines. We are wild olive branches that have been grafted into the olive tree, hence we need to know the nature of that tree - if we are to continue to abide attached to this olive tree and to partake of that same nourishing living waters and nourishment that comes from its roots.

"Who is a Jew" is an interesting question, which is a matter of controversy both within and between the three main branches of Judaism and within the secular state of Israel. From the point of view of (orthodox) Jewish religious law, Jews who convert to Christianity remain Jews, albeit apostate ones. But, in settled case law in Israel, efforts by some individuals born to Jewish parents to assert their identity as Jews, while also practicing and proclaiming classic Christian belief, have been routinely rebuffed. As the Supreme Court of Israel wrote in the celebrated case of Brother Daniel Rufeisen, a courageous Catholic priest who had converted from his Jewish heritage, but sought to continue to be identified as a Jew for purposes of Israeli citizenship, "a Jew who has converted to Christianity is not known as Jewish. Despite Brother Daniel's many qualities and the sincere love he holds for Jews, which he has proved, he cannot define himself as Jewish."

As a result of all the various interpretations, and divisive doctrines, G-d's family is now divided into 2 main "kingdoms", Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed Judaism and all the various types of Denominational Christianity. While all of these groups have in fact preserved at least some truths of G-d's Word - the real problem is they all have listened to men and have subsequently erred. My prayer is that the day is coming when believers from all these diverse factions will be united into one kingdom (Ezek. 37:15-27). Denominational Christianity needs to repent for rejecting the Torah and the Feasts of our Lord and return to embrace our roots, while Judaism needs to repent for rejecting the Messiah, Yeshua and turn their hearts to Him. And we all need to repent and to hear directly from G-d! If the people of G-d are ever to be one we all need to understand 1 John 2:27 that clearly states: "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." . Both Judaism and Christianity have erred in worshipping the one true G-d of Israel. BOTH are guilty because they have listened to men and have refused to hear G-d! When we all hear G-d there will no longer be any confusion!

The Apostle Paul cautioned the Gentile believers that they ought not to exalt themselves but to fear, for what had happened to the Jews may also happen to them - for rejecting the Truth (Jesus). The truth is that Judaism was perfected in Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is very wrong to think that Jesus came to do away with Judaism. The Jews missed the mark - Jesus Christ, not because they were under the Law, but rather because they did not have it in their heart, for Jesus told them that if they had truly obeyed the Law of Moses they would have known Him. The majority of the Jews missed Jesus at His first coming. Will the majority of the Christians miss Him at the second coming? Very possible. Unless.......... they hear Him (John 10:27)!

In Deuteronomy 18:15-22 we read: "The LORD thy G-d will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my G-d, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

In Isaiah 2:2-4 we read: "and it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (not Rome). And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Dear One, Please ask G-d to speak to you and to teach you His ways dear one! Shalom!