Messianic Judaism: Shadow vs. Substance, Resources, Challenge

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/messianic-judaism-12-shadows-resources-conclusion/">website</a>.</p><p><i>Review:</i></p><p><strong>Galatians</strong>:</p><ul><li>Deals with a set of teachings remarkably similar to modern Messianic Judaism.</li><li>As in Romans, the phrase “the Law” refers to Torah, not works-righteousness. The issue isn’t whether we can scratch and work our way to Yahweh, but whether the regulations of Torah are essential.</li><li>The Law, for the ancient Israelites, was a sort of pedagogue or nursemaid or tutor. Maturity is found in Christ, not in circumcision, phylacteries, tassels, and Sabbaths.</li><li>The <i>true </i>Jerusalem is above—not in the Middle East! And true Jews, the Israel of God, are all who by faith were baptized into Christ—regardless of their religious or ethnic background.</li></ul><p><strong>Romans</strong>:</p><ul><li>Paul is taking preventative action, lest the chaos of Galatia infect the capital Christians.</li><li>Abraham was justified by faith <i>before</i> and <i>without</i> the Torah</li><li>No one group today enjoys special status before God. True Israel is not an ethnic group, since, as Paul puts it, “not all descended from Israel are Israel…” Only those who put their trust in Christ will be saved.</li><li>We fulfill the law by <i>loving</i> our neighbor—not by <i>eating</i> kosher!</li></ul><p><i>New material</i></p><p><strong>Genesis 49:10</strong>: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”</p><ul><li>Jesus as <i>anointed priest</i>—ministry in heaven, no need for sacrifices and priests down here on earth.</li><li>Jesus as <i>anointed prophet</i>—the ultimate prophet—he’s where we need to look (Heb 1:1).</li><li>Jesus as <i>anointed king</i>—“scepter”—just as he warned that the kingdom would be taken away from the Jews (Matt 21:43).</li><li>Adam Clarke (1762-1832), writing a century an