Messianic Teaching

What is Messianic Teaching?

• Faith: Faith is directed a person, Jesus Christ. Faith is essentially an act of trust, reliance or dependence on God. Rather than being passive, this leads to an active life of obedience to the one being trusted. Faith causes questions and seeks answers from God and transforms, it sees the mystery of God and His grace and seeks to know and become obedient to God. Faith is not static but causes one to learn more of God and grow, faith causes change as it seeks a greater understanding of God.


• Repentance: Repentance is a change of thought and action to correct a wrong and gain forgiveness from the one wronged. In religious contexts it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against Him, and resolving to live according to His law. It always includes an admission of guilt, and also includes at least one of: a solemn promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible.


• Grace: It is the sovereign favor of God for humankind irrespective of actions, earned worth, or proven goodness. Grace also can be defined as God's empowering presence in one’s life enabling them to do and be what they were created to do and be. More broadly, grace refers to God's gifts to humankind, including life, creation, and salvation.


• Sin and atonement: Messianics define sin as transgression of the Torah of God. Some adherents continue practices intended to atone for their sins - usually involving prayer and rituals relating to repentance—that is, acknowledgment of wrongdoing and seeking forgiveness for their sins. Other Messianics disagree with these practices, believing that all sin is already atoned for because of Jesus's death and resurrection.


• Faith and works: Most adherents to Messianic Judaism believe in a showing of their faith through righteous works, defined by the Torah. Few Messianics believe that faith and works are mutually exclusive or polarized; most believe that faith in God and righteous works are entirely complementary to each other, and that the one (faith) naturally leads to the other (works).

People of God

Purpose of Messianic Teachings:

Although words used to identify aspects of Messianic Judaism are frequently disputed and sometimes may seem contradictory, the term itself generally describes a belief that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and that obedience of the Scriptures is the proper expression of faith.

The Messianic Banquet Feast

What is The Messianic Banquet?

The Messianic Banquet is a holy feast that will occur at the end of age, according to the Lord Jesus. The concept of this Messianic Feast is found throughout the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, especially in Matt 22:1-14; 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 14:16-24; 22:16, 18, 29-30.

What will happen during this feast?

In Jesus’ own words, this eschatological meal, the Messianic Banquet, is the fulfillment of the meal He is instituting during the Lord’s Supper. During the Messianic Banquet, people from all over the world will congregate and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. In Matt 8:11 Jesus says: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

What is the significance of this feasting and fasting (during a Messianic Feast)?

Feasting and fasting, as similar in the Christian religion, is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from food or drink, and fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom throughout history. The act of feasting is an anticipation of the last day or doomsday, when man shall have his last supper. In Christianity, the celebration (of the feast) is mainly centered on the life of the Messiah, His Resurrection and His Last Day.

The religious nature of Fasting and Feasting:

Fasting is responding to God's love toward us. It is as if we are saying to God, "Because You are righteous and holy, and loved me enough to send Jesus to die for my sins, I want to get to know You more intimately.” When we deliberately set aside time for fasting, we are showing we want to seek God.

The acceptable fast is discussed in the biblical Book of Isaiah, chapter 58:3-7, and is discussed metaphorically. In essence, it means afflict the soul through abstaining from fulfilling the needs or wants of the flesh. The blessings gained from this are claimed to be substantial. Messianic Jews who practice this acceptable fast often attest to the spiritual principles surrounding fasting and seek to become a testament to those principles.

There are various purposes of fasting. One purpose in fasting is the achievement of atonement for sins and omissions in Divine service. Fasting is not considered the primary means of acquiring atonement; rather, sincere regret for and rectification of wrongdoing is key. Another purpose in fasting is commemorative gratitude. Since food and drink are corporeal needs, abstinence from them serves to provide a unique opportunity for focus on the spiritual. By refraining from such basic physical indulgence, one can more greatly appreciate the dependence of humanity on God, leading to appreciation of God's beneficence in sustaining His creations.

This Messianic Feast anticipates the forthcoming of Messianic Age which guarantees full freedom of our spirit.

The dual aspect of Messianic Feast:

The sacramental performance of the Messianic Feast has a dual aspect. The feast requires fasting after the completion of feasting. Had the feasting been held alone (without fasting), the presence of Jesus Christ could not have been established. But Christianity cannot ignore the presence of Jesus Christ and neither his words. So, fasting is held along with Messianic Feasting/ Banqueting, keeping in mind the words of holy Jesus; “If they want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me”.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TheMessianicCenter.com is an online community that features education, worship, resources and more for the Messianic Jewish community.