Teaching Team
I'm a Messianic Gentile
By now, most Christians have at least heard of "Messianic Jews," that is, Jewish believers in Yeshua of Nazareth who have retained their Jewish identity and continue to observe the Torah and practice Judaism in loyalty to Yeshua and their biblical heritage.
Less well known and less understood are what we can call "Messianic Gentiles." I identify myself as a Messianic Gentile, and I am not alone. There are a lot of us, and our numbers are growing, but what exactly is a Messianic Gentile?
The Messianic Gentile is a Sabbatarian and Torah-keeper practicing Messianic Judaism, not as a wanna-be Jew, but as a Gentile. The holy Torah of Moses has commandments for both Jews and Gentiles. Judaism is a universal religion. It is naturally centered around the Jewish people (and the Jewish Messiah), but its scriptures and practices extend out to all nations, encompassing all of us in the final consummation of the Messianic Era. A Messianic Gentile lives for the Messianic Era, an idea that our Master called "the kingdom of heaven."
Messianic Gentiles believe that the Torah is not cancelled, and it contains laws and commandments that apply to both Jews and Gentiles. We keep those laws and commandments as we seek the kingdom.
In my new book, The Holy Epistle to the Galatians, I introduce "my readers" to "Paul's readers," the believing, Gentile, God Fearers of the first century, such as the Galatians to whom Paul wrote. The idea of practicing Messianic Judaism as a Gentile is not a new thing. Paul's readers were doing it almost 2000 years ago.
It's a pretty simple and obvious concept, a natural extension of Christian reformation goals: let's go back to the practice of faith in Yeshua that the first Gentile believers observed. In order to do that, we need to practice the same "religion" that the first believers were practicing. I mean no disrespect to the rest of our brothers and sisters in the various denominations of Christianity, but Yeshua, the apostles, and Paul's readers were practicing Judaism--not "Christianity" as we know it today. Neither Paul nor our Master were about trying to start a new religion.
The "new religion" idea comes primarily from a misreading of Paul's epistle to the Galatians. For most of Christian history, Galatians has been misunderstood to imply a cancellation of the Torah and abandonment of Judaism in favor of the new religion: Christianity. Today, as we learn more about first century Judaism, many scholars have abandoned that position, and the tide is turning.
I hope that the new book, The Holy Epistle to the Galatians, will offer "Messianic Gentiles" some solid answers to the vexing questions that continue to paralyze the Messianic movement in regard to Gentiles and Torah. I hope that it will help clear up some of the confusion that continues to obscure the path of the Messianic Gentile.
The following excerpt from the new book describes the concept a little bit:
We encourage all of God's people to join together and bear as much of the LORD's commandments as they are able. The Sabbath, the dietary laws, the festivals, are good, godly, and filled with blessing. Observing them is the natural path of biblical life. Gentile believers can find great blessing keeping even the commandments to which they are not obligated when they do so out of a heart of love for God, respect for his holy day, imitation of his holy Son, and identification with his people Israel.
The Torah is not a yoke of slavery for us, nor does it render Messiah of no advantage to us because we are not keeping the Torah or practicing Messianic Judaism in order to achieve status as sons of Abraham or in order to merit the kingdom of heaven. We rely on Messiah's faithfulness to bring the kingdom and to bring us into it.
Concerns about losing one's salvation by keeping Torah are misplaced. It has nothing to do with "is it a sin?" or not. It is about restoring something that was lost.
Thanks to a generation donation towards the printing cost of this book, we are pleased to offer you a special introductory promotion.
Click here to buy one and get one free, for limited time only.
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Visitor Feedback:
I praise God for this new book. This has actually been a prayer of mine for the last several years...to understand this book of the Bible. I have to admit that I am one who has been really frustrated, because I've known that I don't "get" it. Your books/Torah Club have been like a Divine feast for me these last several years. I've learned so much! I am well into the second chapter of The Holy Epistle to the Galatians and am excited to see who God has chosen for me to give my second copy to!
M. Jibben | June 27, 2011 8:59 AM
I've only recently discovered FFOZ and enjoy your ministry. I've been to Israel twice and love it! I have an honest to goodness question regarding what a "Sabbatarian" is. I've never heard this word before. I'm assuming (maybe falsely) that you are keeping the Sabbath of The Torah as Friday/Saturday rather than Sunday. I have recently been shown through Acts 20:7 that followers of our Messiah were meeting on the first day of the week. I am genuinely interested in your thoughts on this topic and most specifically Acts 20:7. I mean nothing here to be mean spirited, I've just recently been learning about how complicated the topic of Sabbath can be.
FFOZ REPLIES: Shalom and welcome to First Fruits of Zion. Sabbatarians keep the seventh day Sabbath of the Torah rather than Sunday. The reference in Acts 20:7 refers not to Sunday morning worship, but rather to the "first day" which by Jewish reckoning begins Saturday night immediately after the Sabbath. Believers used to gather together at the conclusion of the Sabbath. This was not a substitute for Sabbath observance, but rather an appendage to it, and one that is also practiced in Judaism. The early believers connected their Saturday night gatherings with the resurrection of the Master which occurred on the first day. We do not know when Christians first started assembling formally on Sunday mornings, but the practice is not represented at all in the apostolic era.Grace and Peace to you.
B. Z. | June 27, 2011 1:29 PM
As a fellow Christian or "Messianic Gentile" who believes "Gentile believers can find great blessing keeping even the commandments to which they are not obligated when they do so out of a heart of love for God, respect for his holy day, imitation of his holy Son, and identification with his people Israel." I'm anticipating getting this book soon and taking advantage of the special offer. I've read some preliminary reviews of this work on various blogs and the consensus has been very positive.
Justin | June 27, 2011 5:55 PM
I am so glad that you are clear about your identity. It is a shame that so many wannabe Jewish - they forget that the reason God chose the Jews is because He so loved the WHOLE WORLD.
Daniel Nessim | June 28, 2011 9:04 AM
Very interesting! I knew you would be able to give me some insight into this. So, Acts 20:7 is not testifying to a substitute for Sabbath nor is it an early indication of Sabbath being "moved", but is referring to an additional evening (of learning?) added onto the observance of Sabbath. Very good. It makes sense. Thank you.
B. Z. | June 28, 2011 3:49 PM
Awesome book! Now I know what I am: a Messianic Gentile. Although I've studies church history from the time of James to the present I never quite understood Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. Lancaster's excellent writing and knowledge of first century "church" practices opened my eyes.
As to how the Church came to see Sunday as the Sabbath, there is no better book through which one can understand the reason than Samuele Bacchiocchi's "From Sabbath to Sunday (A Historical Investigation of the Rise of Sunday Observance in Early Christianity, Biblical Perspectives 1)".
Thanks to FFOZ for such a work as this. I pray that there are more like this in the works.
Martin Morisette | July 7, 2011 3:59 PM
Got your book on The Holy Epistle to the Galations. Infact we are having a bible study on Galations and several of us bought your book.
I don't see myself as a Gentile believer. I call myself a Messianic believer. One who believes in Yeshua. Why must there be a seperation, Jew and gentile? This is not G-d's plan. He wants us to be one. There seems to be a division between Christians, and Jews.
Explain to me what is a Jew? I see in Romans 2;29 that a Jew is one inwardly. so why not call all believers who by their faith in Yeshua a Jew? Or just say Messianic Believers who follow the Sabbath and the Torah, and the commandments of G-d.
***FFOZ's Comments*** Thank you for your comment. We too believe in the unity of Jews and Gentiles. Please send us your thoughts after you have finished the book.
Marie Herbert | August 17, 2011 3:14 PM
Hi
I to want to commend FFOZ on the superb book about Galatians?
I do have a question when traditional holidays i.e. Christmas and Easter are
observed what do you think G_d's opinion is these practices which are truly pagan in origin.
I would appreciate your input on this ; I have no wish to condemn but no one seems to want to answer this directly.
thank you for your website
***FFOZ Response:*** Thank you for your comment. I woudl recommend checking out this audio series of ours: https://ffoz.com/what-about-paganism-audio.html
g drake | November 8, 2011 6:35 AM