From: Bill.Carlson@p0.f18.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Bill Carlson)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: My Heritage
Date: 6 Sep 92 00:50:03 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/18.0 - Midrash, Denver CO


 Ri> From: rich.bellacera@amail.amdahl.com
 Ri> Date: 4 Sep 92 03:14:20 GMT
 Ri> Message-ID: <m0mQU7Z-0000hKC@juts.ccc.amdahl.com>
 Ri> Newsgroups: alt.messianic
       -=> Quoting Rich.bellacera@amail.amdahl.com to All <=-
 Ri> A couple of folx have written to me expressing an inference that
 Ri> my belief in "grace" to be a lisence to sin.  This is far from
 Ri> what believe.
                             -BC> response <BC-
    Since I don't recall seeing those messages, I hope that I'm not
    one of the 'couple' that you refer to :-)  As that was not my
    intention in my post to you.
 Ri> I believe that the Grace of Jesus has freed me from the bondage of
 Ri> fulfilling every jot and tittle of the law (which can at it's very
 Ri> best give me death since I cannot fulfill the Law).  However the
 Ri> grace of Jesus has freed me to "live and walk in the spirit of the
 Ri> law."
                             -BC> response <BC-
    Messiah completed/(in Greek - filled-full) the Torah, we cannot.
    As Messianic Believers, we hold too... cleanse FIRST the inside of
    the cup, -(then the outside :-) - and: {paraphrased}: the weighter
    matters other Torah, mercy, righteousness, justice, - and then NOT
    to leave the OTHERS undone.  So again... it is not the Torah that
    is the problem, it is man's application of it - if he tries to
    walk in a perscriptive self works righteousness - that is as filthy
    rags.  But, (as you say), we are to walk in the Ruach/Spirit of the
    Torah, for Messiah empowers us to lead a G-dly life not contrary
    to the Torah, {which would be Torah/Law-less-ness [strongs 458]},
    but in agreement with the Torah.  As Yochanan/John says in his
    epistle: Sin is 'violation of the Torah / -{Torah/Law-less-ness}'.
    Of course, there is much more that could be said on this, and
    reading this area, I'm sure you see it sooner or later. But anyway,
    I said these things, not to in any way condemn, but only for
    clarification of perspective and terms.
 Ri> One person told me that in order to become faithful to the Jewish
 Ri> religion I would have to be circumsized again, properly.
                             -BC> response <BC-
    Nope.  Though you didn't have exactly a Brit-Millah according to
    Torah, (since it was a medical circumcision), you still are
    circumcised and a Jew.  This "re-circumcision" business, applies
    only to proselytes/converts to Judaism, from the Gentiles, who are
    already circumcised, and would include shedding a single drop of
    blood.  That is not necessary for a natural born circumcised Jew
    anyway, so you don't have to worry about it.
 Ri> For the MJs here, how would I recognise another MJ if, as has been
 Ri> stated, they are in every denomination?
                             -BC> response <BC-
    Well, in the strictest sense of the term, Messianic Jews are not
    'in every denomination', but tend to usually go to Messianic Shules
    /Congregations.
 Ri> Do MJs perform any extra retuals within the Christian faith or do
 Ri> they basically abide as any other Christian?
                             -BC> response <BC-
    Yes they do, and as you read on in this message area, I'm sure
    you'll find out more specifics.  As a starting point, I'd direct
    you to read carefully the second half of ACTS Chapter 21.  -That
    is a good starting point to understand a Messianic Jewish
    perspective.  {I prefer the way it reads in the KJV, btw}.

... 012 B'rasheet haya HaDavar... 210          
--  
Bill Carlson - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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