Eph.2:19-20 “…ye (we) are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints (Jews), and of the household of God (all believers); And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

 

The reason we are embracing our Hebraic roots (the first Sunday of every month) is because they are our spiritual heritage.   This is where we came from – we may not Jewish by birth, but we are children of God by the Spirit of adoption. 

• God’s called out, special, peculiar, covenant people is not just a nationality, but the “whosoever” will by faith believe in Jesus and keep God’s commands  (Rev.14:   ;12:  ;Gal.3:31).

 

The church and the synagogue were synonymous for 325 years after Christ’s resurrection (they worshipped, grew and served together).

•  Jesus never intended for His followers to be separated from Israel, from God’s people, or from the Torah – as Christians, we were and are to be grafted in.

 

Let me remind you:

• Jesus was Jewish, a practicing, preaching, observant Jew.

• His disciples and followers were also practicing Jews.

• For generations - followers of Jesus had continued to attend synagogue, maintaining their observance of the Jewish faith and lifestyle.

 

You may wonder about the Tallit, shofar, menorah and many other expressions of our Hebraic roots.

• Remember God gave these to our forefathers to be shadows and types – as reminders of His presence and His working in our lives.

• We will look at them in more detail, in the future.

 

Jesus and His disciples were not converted Jews, but rather practicing Jew – keepers of the Torah (the commands of God), who excepted Jesus Christ as their long awaited Messiah.

•  As Christians, we were never meant to be separated from or foreigners to our Jewish roots. 

• On the contrary, we are to be grafted in, connected to the roots.  We are fellow branches of the same tree.

 

Jn.8:32  “You will know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

•  It’s always truth, but it frees us when we know (understand) it.

 

Eph.2:11-22  READ

• “ We were once Gentiles,” but not anymore (a gentile is one who is not worshipping the true God – pagans).

When we become believers, we are restored as children of the covenant promises of God through the shed blood of Jesus.

 

We Have Been Adopted into a New Family:

• Rom.11:17-20 (READ)  You and I as non-Jewish believers have been grafted in to the tree – the branches are Israel.

• We belong to a living, spiritual “family tree” that is supported by a common root – Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

• Remember, you do not support the root, the root supports you.

 

We are Legal Heirs of Abrahams Covenant:

• “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham”  Gal.3:7.

• We are children of the covenant and children, by faith, of Abraham the father of faith and the first Hebrew.

 

The Gentiles have become part of the Family of God…Now what???

•  Eph.2:4-5&8-9  …”For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

• Acts 15:  The Jerusalem Council told them (saved gentiles) some things that they should immediately stop doing, then in verse 21- they are instructed to grow in the Christian faith, to learn that there is much of the Word that doesn’t save us but, as we become obedient, they bring great blessings in our lives.

• Our obedience to God’s way is not to earn favor or salvation but for our own good…example: tithing…eating right…forgiving…

 

Rom.3:31  “Do we then make void the law through faith:  Certainly not!  On the contrary, we establish it.”

•  Living Bible says, “Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need to obey God’s laws?  Just the opposite!  In fact, only when we trust Jesus can we truly obey him.”

 

The Message of the “Good News” is Repent (turn) from a destructive lifestyle and choose life.

•  God’s ways are “high above ours,”  so He came down and gave us the Path of Blessing (Torah), the Prophets support it, Jesus and His Disciples practiced, proclaimed and call all men to Repent!!!

• Turn to the Lord (choose this day) and be Blessed!

• Jesus said, if you want to go to heaven, “you must be born again!”