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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
"So Messiah came and preached the Good News of peace to
all - to you, Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who
were near to Him. It is through Messiah that all of us, Jews and
Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the
Father." Ephesians 2:18
1.
Is
Journey In Faith a church?
A.
Right now
we are a fellowship of Jewish and Gentile People. We do not yet have a
regular place where we meet. However, one day soon we hope to have an
established place to worship.
2.
It sounds
like you want to start a Messianic Congregation. Is that correct?
A.
A Messianic
Congregation is a community of Jews and non-Jews devoted to the
celebration and service of Jesus the Messiah, through a distinctively
Jewish expression. While we do not yet have an organized worshiping
community, we hope to include those things that are distinctively Jewish
as well as provide an environment that incorporates and reflects the
cultural diversity that makes Houston so unique.
3.
Can Jewish
People believe in Jesus?
A.
Let me
answer this question with a question: Why couldn't a Jewish person
believe in Jesus? After all, Jesus who was a Jew says, "I was sent only
to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). And it is also written:
"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" (Romans 1:16). So to directly answer the question: Yes, it's
not only possible for a Jewish person to believe in Jesus the Messiah,
it is a very Jewish thing to do. In fact, most of the early Believers
in Jesus were Jewish!
4.
What does
"Messiah" mean?
A. The word "Christ" is the Greek translation of the
Hebrew word "mashiach" or Messiah. Literally, Messiah means "anointed,"
from the ancient custom that a leader was crowned by pouring olive oil
on his head. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God promised the Jewish people
that one day a Savior or Deliverer would come for them. These promises
are throughout the Bible and a very vivid picture of this suffering
servant who was to come is given in the book Isaiah, chapter 53. We
believe that Jesus fulfills the prophecies that describe the coming
Messiah and so He rightly deserves the title, "Messiah."
5.
Can't
Jewish People or for that matter anyone, just believe in God without
Jesus?
A.
It is a
nice thought to believe that we could call on God and enter into His
presence whenever we want to. But that does not take into account 2
very important realities: God's holiness and our sinfulness. There is a
gap or chasm that exists between human beings and God's perfection. We
would like to bridge this gulf ourselves by doing good works or deeds,
giving to charity, etc. But if we are to be honest with ourselves we
must ask: "How many good things must I do in order to please a holy and
righteous God? How can I ever be sure that I have done enough? Can I
truly count on myself to always do the right thing?"
The Hebrew Scriptures always speak of an intermediary to
act between the people and God. The Levites (priests) were given that
role by God - to offer up sacrifices for the sins of the people. That
is because by our nature, we are sinful: "Every inclination of the
thoughts of [man's] heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5);
"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Surely I
was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalm
51:3,5); "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your
sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah
59:2).
However, God offers the ultimate solution to the problem
of our sin and the gap between Him and us. He sent His Son Jesus, who
is the Messiah, to take our sins upon Himself and in exchange, covers us
with His holiness and righteousness. Through faith in the atoning
sacrifice of Jesus we are now free to live as God's people, to enter
into His presence, to call upon His name, to walk in the grace of God's
forgiveness and to be assured of eternal life with the living God: the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Consider:
¨
"Surely He took up our infirmities and
carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by
Him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was
crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was
upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. For He bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:4-5, 12)
¨
"This righteousness from God comes through
faith in Messiah Jesus to all who believe. There is no difference, for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Messiah Jesus"
(Romans 3:22-23).
¨
"But God demonstrates His own love for us
in this: While we were still sinners, Messiah died for us" (Romans 5:8).
¨
"In Messiah we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
grace" (Ephesians 1:7).
¨
"Once you were alienated from God and were
enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has
reconciled you by Messiah's physical body through death to present you
holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (Colossians
1:21-22).
¨
"Therefore, brothers, since we have
confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Messiah
Jesus…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience" (Hebrews 10:19-20, 22).
Perhaps you have
other questions or comments. I would very much like to hear from you.
Drop me an email or give me a call. As the spiritual leader of
Journey, I will make every effort to sincerely answer your inquiry.
Please contact me:
Jay Klein
journey@journeyinfaith.org
866-330-5561 (toll free)
fax:713-218-8672
9639 Hillcroft -
Box 827
Houston, TX
77096
And,
when you do write or call, please let us know what your needs are and
how we might pray for you.
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