How is a Messianic Jews Congregation?

How is a Messianic Jewish Congregation?

Chuch of Christ

What is the Ekklesia (Congregation)?

The kehillah (congregation) in Yeshua's time, was an inclusive and engaged Jewish community that inspired people�s lives and deepened Jewish involvement through celebration, worship, education, social action and values.
The Assembly of Yeshua today is a kehillah of all the people who believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised Messiah, the Son of Elohim, and the Savior of their souls through His sacrifice in the Cross and who keep the Commandments of YHWH and the traditions of the Jewish community.The Congregation is also called: the Gathering of the chosen, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Mashiach, the Family of Elohim (God), the People of Elohim, the New Israel and the Communion of Saints.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14)

The Greek manuscripts use the word "ekklesia", which in the Septuagint is the word used to translate "qahal", the Hebrew word translated "assembly" as in the Assembly of Israel. So when Yeshua said to his disciples in Matthew 16:18

"And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my congregation (gahal); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

They knew that He was talking about the " Assembly of Israel" or synagogue that they already knew very well.

Who is the head of the congregation?

The head of the Congregation is Yeshua, the Highest Priest, because of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem and of the Redemption of Yeshua, He is now our Priest in the Holy Temple of Heaven: ( Hebrews 7:21-22; 24-25; 27; 8:1-2 ), and we all are parts of this one big body of believers, each one having a specific purpose in the great scheme of things that Elohim has already put in motion. Christ is the one that sanctifies the body with His blood.

Mashiach (Christ) is the head of the ekklesia: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the congregation is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the ekklesia, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious assembly, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:24-27)

Elohim gave Mashiach this position of authority:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Even in heaven Mashiach has all the authority as the Lamb of Elohim:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our Elohim which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-8)

When was the idea of the church established?

Yeshua set the church in Matthew 26:26-28: He told His disciples and us that His deity and His role as Messiah was the rock upon which the new Church will be built: Elohim came into the world, lived among His people and died to save them.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Mashiach, the Son of the living Elohim And Yeshua answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

When did the church begin to operate?

The Church begun 50 days after the death of Yeshua on the day of Pentecost as we see in Acts 2:47:

The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)

Yeshua had to redeem us from sin before the church begun to function. The Holy Spirit became the Comforter and Guide to all believers (The Church) until Mashiach returns as He stated:.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

Where did the church meet?

The church had some places of reunion: at the beginning the upper room, temple (Salomon�s porch), houses of members and the synagogue; different times of reunion: daily, day of the Lord; regular hours of worship, but all their members in the first years where Jews that accepted that their Messiah came. All of them continuing going to the synagogue on Shabat, especially all the apostles, and they keep doing the Law of Moses. Acts 1:13, 5:12, 2:46, 12:12, 2:46, 20:7, 3:1

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46)

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no men join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) (Acts 5:11-14)

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12)

What is the name of the church and of its members?

Churches were called by the name of the town or city where they were established or they just used �Church of Elohim� to distinguish themselves: Example:

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia(1 Cor 16:1)

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (1 Cor 1:2)

And believers were called: Christians or Messianics (in Hebrew, becouse at the begining most of them where jews), Saints, Brethren or Believers.

And so it was with them that for a whole year they were gathered together in the assembly and taught a large crowd: and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26) And in those days Peter, standing up in the midst of the brethren, said, (the crowd of names [who were] together [was] about a hundred and twenty,) (Acts 5:15)>

and believers were more than ever added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women (Acts 5:14)

Who did add believers to the church?

Naturally the apostles and the evangelists preached the gospel and hundreds came to Yeshua. But was Elohim through the Holy Spirit who added believers to the church:

and the Lord added [to the assembly] daily those that were to be saved. (Acts 2:47)

I have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase. So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

Why is today the Church of Yeshua Ha Mashiach divided in denominations?

Even though the church is holy, Yeshua indicated there would be false believers growing along with the true ones. There are many who come to the church but their hearts are farther from the truth. The Church still is one body of believers, but now fragmented by denominations.
Elohim also prophesied that some would depart from the faith in latter days giving ear to man created ideas, rites, ceremonies, traditions, guidelines and false doctrines. One of them, the worst for the body of belivers was the idea that the Law of Moses was abolished. That idea divide the Messianic Jews (including all the apostles) and the Gentile Church. So new ideas came (invention of men): sunday worship, celebration of "holy" Comunion, priesthood hierarchy, etc.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which Elohim hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of Elohim, ye hold the tradition of men (Mark 7:7-8)

Many major divisions have come from bad interpretations of the scripture or the excesive contact with the secular world: hierarchical positions, divisions between the clergy and the commun folks, following creeds instead of the word, making people believe in the prosperity of every christian over the joy of giving, a building with a name, denominational affiliation, bible school, titles or studies for clergy in order to achieve career or financial status like in any other profession, church membership, between many others.

These divisions begun to show their faces in the times of the apostles, like in the Church of Corinth in Asia Minor. Paul was calling them to be �join together in the same mind�:

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Yeshua Ha Mashiach, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. �. Is Christ divided? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

Where is the true church today?

The true believers in Yeshua are united by His word: one faith, one baptism, (1 Cor 12:13), one Lord of all. We are all part of the body of Mashiach, each functioning inside the church as a royal priesthood, praising and worshing Elohim. We assemble together in the name of Yeshua, exhorting one another, preaching the Gospel, "remembering" Him each Sabbath day of the week, waiting for his coming again, recognizing the authority of Christ in our midst and the guide of the Holy Spirit.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

All that believed were together (Acts 2: 44)

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25)

Also read the following quotes: (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Ephesians 4:6-7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 14:26

Where is the guide of the Holy Spirit? Where is the participation of the body of Mashiach?

Yeshua prayed that His people:

"Might be one; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" (John 17:21)

How much we have lost as the body of Mashiach. In the last years 50 millions of christians have been totally rethinking what "church" is, they have been practicing their faith through a variety of different faith models, even 9% of all adults in America participate in a house church. Lets embraced the true church of Yeshua Ha mashiach as it was showed to us in the first century with its hebrew roots component.

Pastor Yosef Ben Marques © 2013

Daily Torah - Bible Verses

How do we apply scripture to real life as Messianic Jews - Nazarene?

Our sole purpose in life is to love and glorify Elohim, read the Torah everyday and follow all it's commandments through the Hebrew roots of our faith

We comply with what our Lord Yeshua said in Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" and only then you could be "persuaded in your own mind."

Therefore, "Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col 2:16)

In these pages you will find how you and us as Messianic Jews- Nazarene following the whole Torah applying it to real life and live a successful and meaningful existence as observants of Torah, answering all our questions through it and through Yeshua the Messiah.

Why we use Hebrew names here

Messianic Jews - Nazarene love Elohim and use the original names of the Tanakh - Hebrew Bible in their daily prayers and in their congregations. The words "Jesus" and "Jehova" are not the original names that appear in the Tanakh - Hebrew Bible or the Greek New Testament. They are transliterations that all have use for so many centuries that almost become true. The real names are Yeshua and Elohim. Read More

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We, Nazarene - Messianic Jews, are committed Jews who love Elohim, read the Torah everyday, follow all it's commandments: the Law of Moses (without the sacrificial laws), embracing Shabbat. Biblical Festivals and the Commandments of our Savior Yeshua Hamashiach as a guideline for successful living..
We are composed of both Jewish and non-Jewish members who are commited jews See our Statement of Faith

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