In our monthly webinar, Grant Berry provided some background on the disconnection in “The One New Man” in God’s family and why it needs mending. He presented the image of a foundation crack that could weaken the integrity of a structure, comparing it to a fracture in the foundation of the present-day church.
The fracture represents the disconnection of the church away from Israel and its Hebraic roots and heritage that began to infiltrate the early church and became more widespread through the ages. As the ancestral church emerged and established itself as a world religion, it erroneously severed these ties.
A disconnection was acquired that became ingrained in the church’s theology and spiritual DNA, and the church lost its true identity in and with Israel. It is important to repair this breach, especially now as Israel awakens spiritually to Yeshua/Jesus, and God looks to restore the Jewish people.
Panelists addressed two questions that further explain the disconnection and its effect on Jewish believers in Yeshua after Rome nationalized the church.
1. What is the disconnection in God’s family? We have to remember that Yeshua/Jesus was Jewish, and Messiah was sent by God to the Jewish people first (see Jer. 31:31-34). The early disciples and followers of Yeshua were also Jewish. The movement at that time was considered a sect of Judaism. It was called the “Way,” (see Acts 9:2), and they were called the “Nazarenes” (see Acts 24:5). But as we know, it did not remain strictly Jewish, especially after the apostle Peter received direction from the Lord to embrace the Gentiles (see Acts 10). Then Paul was sent by God as an apostle to the nations (see Rom. 11:13). Through him and other disciples, the gospel spread throughout the world, and Gentiles subsequently became the dominant force in the church. In the first couple of centuries, we find Christianity drifting away from its Hebraic roots and Israel.
In the second and third centuries, a new theology began to creep into the Gentile church, later known as Replacement Theology. This belief maintains that the church has inherited all of Israel’s covenants and promises. The church thus took the place of Israel in the Bible and became the “New Israel,” and the theory claims that God is in effect finished with His first-born children or has relegated them to just another people group.
Anti-Jewish teachings and sentiment gained momentum in the church, especially from the Romans, giving rise to rulings decreed at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 when Rome nationalized the church under Emperor Constantine. Some positive outcomes resulted from the council, including affirmation of the deity of Jesus and the doctrine of the Trinity. However, there was unfortunately a negative influence as well. This council and ones that followed established Christianity as a distinct religion apart from its Jewish heritage. The church severed ties with its Jewish roots and Jewish practice, and Israel. Replacement Theology unyoked the church’s identity in and with Israel that is now interwoven into the fabric of the church. These beliefs have dominated church theology for more than 1700 years despite God’s promises in Scripture to restore Israel.
2. What were the choices for Jewish people who came to faith in Yeshua after the church merged with Rome? After the church was nationalized and wiped away these influences, Jewish believers in Yeshua had little choice on how to practice their faith. They had to adopt Christian customs and abandon Jewish traditions God had established for them or suffer the consequences.
The assimilation of Jewish believers into the Gentile Church was a far cry from the early church. There, they celebrated their Jewish identity, along with believing Gentiles who were grafted into Israel and appreciative of also inheriting nearly all of Israel’s covenants and promises. Jews and Gentiles were united by faith in Yeshua/Jesus and linked to Hebraic traditions. This love and unity established at that time is a pattern for believers today: Coming together as one—united in Yeshua/Jesus—in the family of believers as “The One New Man.” This body of believers had the fullness of the glory of God upon them, and together they changed the world!
God Now Looks to Restore the Former Glory for Our Future Glory
God is shifting us into the time of the fullness of the Gentiles as well as Israel’s salvation. This is the moment to restore family unity. Our reconnection to one another as Jewish and Gentile believers must include love, honor and respect for each other as well as acceptance of our Jewish-believing family to express their heritage and traditions as they are led by the Holy Spirit.
The church can emerge and once again reflect the fullness of the glory of God that it has been missing through:
— Reconstructing God’s design for love and unity in the ekklesia/church.
— Eradicating the replacement theological error along with all influences of antisemitism.
—Rediscovering the church’s connection to Israel and Jewish roots of the faith.
— A strong foundation, reunited body and restored identity ultimately will lead to Israel’s salvation and the salvation of the nations, which will usher in the Lord’s return.
To watch the webinar, please click here. {eoa}
The Romans 911 Project Webinar is a new one-of-a-kind virtual meeting for the ekklesia/church where believers from around the globe can enter into a deeper dialogue on The One New Man (TONM) issues. This webinar provides a platform to delve into the many issues affecting unity between Messianic and Gentile believers.
Romans 911 issues a call to transform and mobilize the ekklesia/church at this most crucial time in history to prepare the bride individually and corporately for the Lord’s return through a reunited body of Jewish and Gentile believers as well as with all races and tongues according to John 17. The emerging movement in the body to reconnect God’s family is a vitally important transaction, having profound end-time consequences. For more information and to join The R911 Project monthly Webinar, please visit reconnectingministries.org/webinar/. {eoa}
Author and speaker Grant Berry is the founder of Reconnecting Ministries and producer of The Romans 911 Project. Grant is a Messianic believer in Yeshua/Jesus and is promoting a new message into the body of Messiah/Christ during these last days, known as “The Reconnection.” The Reconnection is a term used to describe the reuniting and reconciliation of Jewish and Gentile believers and all races and tongues into John 17 love and unity in “The One New Man” now that Israel’s awakening is upon us. The Romans 911 Project has been created to bring The Reconnection message to light, which has primarily been hidden in the mystery of Israel’s restoration according to Romans 11:25-27. For more information and a special offer on The Romans 911 Project, please visit Romans911.org
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