How to Be a Messianic Jew

Last Updated: February 25, 2023 References

Messianic refers to "Fulfilled Messianic Prophecy" and involves "Yah'shua" which means: "God is our salvation". The name “Yah’shua” is Hebrew for “Jesus”, in English. Messianic Jew here means, choosing as a Jewish person, to believe that the prophecies regarding "The Messiah" are fulfilled in the person of Yah'shua/Jesus in Roman times; to accept that this specific Yah'shua/Jesus is "The Messiah" and has accepted Yah'shua/Jesus as one's personal Savior.

Messianic Jews believe Yah'shua/Jesus is the rightful heir to "The Throne of David". If you're interested in being a Messianic Jew, you can search God's Word for yourself and read about God's promises to Israel.

Steps

1
Be born again as told by Jesus, John 3:
- 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no human can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Verily, truly, I say to you, Except a human be born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus saith to him, "How can a human be born when they are old? Can they enter a second time into their mother's womb, and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Verily, truly, I say to you, Except a human be born of water and [of] the Spirit, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
2
Examine the prayer of the psalmist David. This prayer is an example of the rebirth of the core being, one's spirit, by God's grace, answered in Yah'shua/Jesus, 'The Messiah'. Psalms 51:10-18:
- "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me [with your] free Spirit. 13 [Then] will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners will be converted to you. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, you [who are the] God of my salvation: [and] my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, [I ask you to] open my lips; and my mouth will show forth [i.e. sing/shout] your praise. 16 Because you [do not] desire sacrifice; else I would give [it]: you [do not] delight in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you, the walls of Jerusalem."
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3
Believe that God is salvation. Salvation refers to God's ability to deliver us from the eternal penalties of our sins. The eternal penalty of sin is utter separation from all that is 'good'. So the psalmist asks: 11 Do not cast me away from your presence; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. ^{[1]
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Research source} In believing that God is salvation, you ask and receive free eternal life in his presence by his grace. Pray:
4
[Sample Prayer]
- "Lord Jesus, beginning today, I ask you to become the Lord of my life. I believe that you died for my sins/transgression of the Levitical Law and rose again from the dead. Lord, I confess that I am a sinner and I repent/turn from my sins/transgressions. Thank You for forgiving me and cleansing me by the blood of Jesus the perfect lamb that paid for my sins. Come into my life and guide me to live for you from now on -- creating in me a new life. In Jesus Name Amen. Ba Shem Yah'shua Amain".
5
Understand what you say/ask: as you receive/accept certain things in the prayer, in The Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, רוח הקודש (meaning Divine Spirit or Divine Inspiration, literally "Holy Spirit", also transliterated Ruah Ha-qodesh)^{[2]
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Research source}.
6
Understand that you are agreeing with and accepting the teachings of the Bible (Word of God), and are saved by the redeeming authority of The Messiah, The perfect lamb, as God/Elohim is your salvation.
7
Accept and receive 100% salvation by the grace from God. Grace is unmerited favor. Believe that you are saved through the power of God and through faith, not of yourself. Faith Itself is a gift from God. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might!
- Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: faith is the gift of God:
- The Lord sets your path, then you may walk in the path he lays out -- if so, He orders and directs your pathway as you follow. And, he lives in you.
- Be careful not to assume that you can receive salvation by confessing minute by minute, nor by performing -- or earning blessings -- but confess your weaknesses and trust by faith in God's grace only, for salvation. Which is clean heart, and a renewed spirit within you wherein you discover a love for God, not just knowledge about the real gift he is offering. Read it again. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Salvation is for each individual Israelite as well as the Chosen Nation.
8
Avoid doubting God's grace. This is (self-righteousness).
- You can not gain salvation by doing your best (refusing grace) or any such attempt at being spiritually ethical/self-worth/righteousness.
- You can only be born again by becoming a new creation in Christ, as He lives in you. "It is no longer you -- but Christ who lives in you/and you in Him." This follows redemption which is the payment of your sins with the precious life's blood of Jesus/Yah'shua, the perfect lamb.
9
Trust only in Christ's/The Lamb of God's redemption/pesach for salvation: who paid-off your eternal debt-burden of "sin and death". No, not by selling all and giving it all away, or other sacrifices which are great, good works or wondrous activities, but they are not for salvation. But salvation is by his grace.
- But, yes, do the "good work that God foreordained for you to do" from the beginning as best you can.
  - Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- I Peter 1:18 For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, [such as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; 1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
10
Accept that God's grace is sufficient for all salvation and for your new life.
11
Trust God and walk away from the old life of glorying in the flesh, glorying in what you think you do so well on your own. Yet, one is naturally responsible for/to your spouse, family, work, their livelihoods, etc.
12
Be victorious through Christ/Messiah.
13
Believe that by His shedding His blood for you, Jesus/Yah'shua paid for your transgression of the law. Realize, that even at ones best, that you are still an undeserving sinner, and can never deserve that unfathomable grace and love gift of The Pesach/Passover/Perfect Lamb.
- Realizing that you are unworthy, will cause His Spirit to stay with you always, as your helper and guide. As a child of God you are adopted into His family, a miraculous child of God...
- You can suffer the consequences of: being wrong, in the wrong place/time, in illness, injury or self endangerment... even physical death. But you can be assured of love and forgiveness as God's child/prodigal child. A recipient of eternal grace, to come back to full standing, although with consequences and rewards! Because God is not mocked-whatever you sow is what you will reap. If you plant good things you will get good things.
14
Seek fellowship with like believers. One may like to attend and/or start a church of Messianic Jews and some persons of other backgrounds who wish to have a church with a distinctively Jewish sound, look and "context". There are examples of Messianic Worshipers from YouTube, such as an Israeli news program.
15
Realize that both Jews and Gentiles become one new man in Jesus/Yah'shua by faith:
- Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; so as to make in Himself of twain (two), one new man, [so] making peace;
16
Realize that the love of Yah'shua/Jesus lives in the Believer's heart. Here are some examples of that love where Believer's fulfilled the scripture in Isaiah 49:22: "This is what the Lord, God, says, "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring your sons in [their] arms, and your daughters shall be carried on [their] shoulders."
- Read about Christians that helped Jewish people during the Holocaust.
17
Read the account of Jesus sacrificial death found in "The New Testament" which contains "The New Covenant".:
- Matthew 27:45--51 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. At about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is to say, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Some of them that stood there, when they heard [that], said, 'This [man] calleth for Elias.' Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled [it] with vinegar, and put [it] on a reed/pole, and gave him to drink. The rest said, 'Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.' Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Now look! The veil of the temple was rent/torn in twain/half from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent/tore;

Community Q&A

Question

What is the difference between a Christian and Messianic Jew?

Flutasmoradas

Community Answer

Christians are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, and read the Bible. Messianic Jews are Jews who believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jews didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah, they though that he was just a prophet. Messianic Jews follow the traditions of Passover, the Seder, etc. but they believe that the Messiah is Jesus.
Question

Can I eat pig?

Community Answer

No, you can't, you still can't eat non-kosher foods. This is because Messanics still follow the rules of normal Jews, but they have a version of Jesus not unlike that in the Christian religion.