Jewish Roots by Dan Juster

Author:Dan Juster [Juster, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780768442038
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

CHAPTER SIX

THE FAITH AND LIFE OF MESSIANIC JEWS

MESSIANIC JEWS LIVE IN THE period between the “already” and the “not yet.” Already, they know that the Kingdom of God has come spiritually in Messiah Yeshua. As communities, they seek to demonstrate this reality of the present Kingdom by lives of love, power, reconciliation, and healing. The Kingdom has not yet come in its fullness to all the earth. Only when Messiah Yeshua returns will the Kingdom be a reality in fullness over all the earth.1 Hence Messianic Jews live in expectation of that Day of the Lord, when “His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven” (see Matt. 6:10). The life of Messianic Jews, however, is a life with definite concepts of authority, the way of salvation, the work of God’s Spirit, the Messiahship of Yeshua, what it means to be Jewish, and how all this is manifest in one’s lifestyle and practice.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

Messianic Jews accept the full authority and truth of the Bible. Whatever Scripture teaches is to be believed and obeyed. It is crucial, however, that there is an accurate understanding of the meaning of the authority of the Bible. The Bible is certainly true, but how do we ascertain its truth? What do we mean when we say the Bible is inspired?

Basically, the inspiration of the Bible means that God superintended the biblical writers in such a way that what they wrote conveyed what God desired to convey. That which was taught was all truth and not error. God did not usurp the personalities of the writers by placing them in “trance-like” states. Rather, He used their unique styles and personalities to convey His truth. Paul can ask Timothy in a very human way to bring his cloak, and we gain a glimpse into the intimate life of the Apostle. This was God’s desire. However, Paul also can write that his teaching is the commandment of God (see 1 Cor. 14:37). Scripture therefore says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16 KJV). The Greek sense of inspiration is “God-breathed.” And in Second Peter 1:20-21, we read, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (KJV).

It is crucial to understand that the highest authority and court of appeal for all teaching in Messianic Judaism is the Bible. However, what a person understands the Bible to teach varies from reader to reader. Each perceives within his own limitations of knowledge and ability as illuminated by the Spirit and influenced by the community in which he lives his life. What we seek to understand is the intended teaching of the Biblical author.

The only objective means of sorting varying interpretations is to understand Scripture in context.2 By context, we mean several things. First, the verse is to be understood in the context of the whole book and then of the whole Bible.

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