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[Adapted from a brochure]

Jesus was not a Christian nor the founder of Christianity. He never met a single Christian his whole life nor did he ever attend a church even one time. He never observed a single Christian holiday nor did he teach the trinity or exemption from the law. In fact there is nothing identifiably and uniquely Christian about the “Christ”. Strangely, Christianity is the only religion in the world whose founder was not also an adherent of the faith attributed to him.

Jesus was an orthodox Jew and a Rabbi, and so it should not be surprising that he never converted anyone to Christianity. In fact Christianity did not even exist in the first century. The earliest manuscripts of the New Testament do not contain any references to “Christians” the “Church” nor “Christianity” - alterations which were proven to have been added centuries later.

Christians are not readily aware of just how estranged they are to the Messiah, his culture, religion or identity. Curiously, most Christians are not even aware of the Messiah´s actual Hebrew name, first or last, which is Yeshua Natzraya. But consider that if one does not accept or follow even one of his commandments, precepts or teachings, can that person truly be considered his disciple? Consider the following biblical teachings and facts of the Messiah which most Christians do not accept or follow.

• The perfect knowledge of God resides among the Jews. (John 4:22)

• Salvation is from the Jews to the world. (John 4:22)

• Keeping all the commandments is required for entering into eternal life. (Matthew 19:16-17)

• Breaking or even teaching against the least of the commandments is wrong. (Matthew 5:19)

• One can and must become as perfect as God in heaven. (Matthew 5:48)

• Those who are born again can not sin willfully. (1 John 3:9)

• Willful sin not forgivable. (Hebrews 10:26-29, Acts 5:9-10)

• Hell is not forever. (Revelation 20:14)

• All temptation can be overcome. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

• Obey those who sit in Moses´ seat. (Matthew 23:2-3)

• We are accountable to Moses, not the Messiah. (John 5:45)

• The Messiah´s teaching was not his own. (John 7:16)

• The true religion is the smallest one. (Matthew 7:13-14)

• No one has ever seen or heard God directly at any time. (John 5:37)

• The Pharisees of the Sanhedrin were called “gods”. (John 10:34-35)

• The Messiah had his own God, the God of the Jews. (John 20:17)

• The Messiah attended the synagogue every Sabbath. (Luke 4:16)

• The Messiah attended the Jewish festivals in Jerusalem. (John 2:13)

• Those who continue to sin will have their name erased from the book of life. (Revelation 3:5)

• Yeshua is a rabbi. (John 3:2)

• We can be just as much one with God as the Messiah. (John 17:22)

“Why do you call me `My master, my master´ and yet do not do the things that I say? ...And whoever hears my words and does not do them is like the man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. And when the river came against it, instantly it collapsed, and the collapse of that house was great.” - Luke 6:46,49

“We’re in a context where we have millions and millions of people who are professing Christians that do not believe what they profess, because they’ve been taught the important thing is to profess it whether you believe it or not, and God would like that. But it doesn’t seize their lives.” -Dallas Willard, University of Southern California

These points are just a sample of the problem of unbelief, but those who do follow all the Rabbi´s teaching and his walk are his true disciples and are known by his namesake as the Natzraya or Nazarenes. Christianity took a different path that did not adhere perfectly to the faith of Messiah and even historically persecuted those who remained faithful. However, anyone who loves God and His Messiah can return to the true faith and be a member of his one body.

But what is a Jew? There are many, many misconceptions. Did you know that Jesus´ Jewishness didn´t come from his race, ancestry or circumcision? What makes a person a Jew is the religion they practice as the apostle Paul taught.

“Now if the uncircumcised keeps the commandments of the law should not the uncircumcised be counted as circumcised? ...For he is not a Jew because of his outward appearance nor because of his visible circumcision, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and whose circumcision is of the heart, spiritually and not literally, whose praise is not from men, but from God.” - Romans 2:26,28-29

We know the true sign of spiritual circumcision is if one keeps the law and commandments of God. And those can be called “My People” and therefore may be called by “My Name”.

“My people who are called by My name.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

“O God Your city and Your people are called by Your Name.” - Daniel 9:19

“Sing unto God, sing praises to His Name, extol Him who rides upon the skies, Whose Name is Yah.” 

- Psalm 68:5

“Yah” is the short form of Yahweh. In the Hebrew scriptures God´s people are called Yahudi, which incorporates the personal Name of God - Yah. Yahudi is Anglicized as “Jew”.

The one who identifies as a Jew is saying; I praise Yah Who is my only God, I will obey His commandments. But a Jew is not a Jew alone, but a member of one unified community over whom Yeshua Natzraya is king, high priest and judge. If you would like to know more about Nazarene Judaism, the original faith of the Messiah, his community of disciples and kingdom contact the author of this brochure and visit our homepage.