Expert: Dean Gade - 11/15/2006

Question
I'm a Christian who has spent over 20 years living with people of the Hebrew faith and my question is in simple terms are Christians Messianic Jews? We seem to have identical past (Old Testament) with those of the Hebrew faith and its in the New Testament when Jesus claims to be the Son of God and the Messiah which Messianic Jews acknowledge but the rest of the Hebrew faith don't? Now I realize that there is a lot more in the New Testament but again keeping it simple can you help me.

Answer
Gentiles do not have to become Jews before they becme Christians, Messianic or otherwise.

God chose the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be His people who would be entrusted with the promise of the "annointed one" (Mashiyach in Hebrew, Christos in Greek) until the time when God sent His Son into the world to redeem it.

It took a little time for the Jews to understand that God was speaking of a spiritual kingdom and that He was including the Gentiles.

Rom 1:16-17

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."   
(from New International Version)


Gal 4:4-7
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
(from New International Version)

The promise of the savior was to the Jews but also intended to be THROUGH the Jews to the Gentiles(the nations) also.  But the civil and cermonial laws of the Old Testament were only intended for the Jews and then only until the Messiah arrived.  They are all fulfilled in the Christ.

Rom 10:1-13
10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.   3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."   6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."   12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."   
(from New International Version)

It is NOT simple, but I hope this helps.