MJ Basic Beliefs #3: Humanity
1.3 Humanity At first, for those sensitive to the issue of the impossibility of overcoming the fallen nature of our humanity by self-effort, Luzzatto’s language about “earning” perfection is shocking. Yet the reader who presses on finds two things: that…
MJ Basic Beliefs #2: Creation
This series is a set of foundational beliefs, a Jewish theology (a Messianic Jewish theology) heavily based on Rabbi Chaim Luzzatto’s book Derech Hashem (The Way of God) (c. 1735). The purpose of this series is to be a resource…
MJ Basic Beliefs #1: Creator
This series is in response to an email from a friend this week. He asked, “What book(s) would you recommend for training someone serious about living as a disciple of Yeshua?” Although I authored a book on Messianic Jewish discipleship…
The Angel of God in Exodus 23 and 33
Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring into the place I have prepared. Watch yourself before him. Obey his voice. Do not defy him, for he will not forgive your rebellious…
How Torah Undermines the Very Slavery It Permits
Is the written Torah a set of ideal laws or a constitution for a people? Is it a collection of timeless principles or time-bound laws for an actual people? Is it social legislation or a set of ethical ideals? Many…
Bilateralism, Exodus 19, Jew and Gentile
We need good words to describe the Bible’s notion of Jewish people as the priestly people of the world. Bilateral is a good word. But hardly anyone ever uses this word. One place it could be useful is in describing…
Is the Sacrifice of Messiah Literal?
“Messiah, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed,” says Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7. He “gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2). He “once and for all at the end of the ages put…
VIDEO: The Uniqueness of Genesis
Part 2 in the series, “Genesis and Creation Myths.” How does Genesis stand out from the creation myths? It turns out, in spite of the often mentioned similarities to Near Eastern myth, the Genesis creation accounts are unique. They view…
Conversations about Law and Grace #1
This is a series do-over. I first ran this series back in October 2010. I never finished it. Maybe I will this time. Also, I may find it necessary to make some adjustments from what I wrote back then (not…
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Law and Spirit, Shavuot, Ruth
For Messianic Jews, the fact that Ruth is the megillah for Shavuot is a bit of divine providence. Megillah means scroll and refers to the custom of studying certain biblical books on Jewish holidays. Shavuot is better known as Pentecost…