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Atheists Are Attacking Christianity Using This Dirty Tactic |
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WE ARE THE BRIDGE!
Jew and Gentile, one in Messiah!
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Please Note: In order to avoid a serious misunderstanding of the content of this website, it is very important that you carefully study the Vocabulary Matters page. See also my summary Statement of Faith. 
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Absolutely nothing on this website should be taken as either anti-Church or anti-Rabbinic; I am not in any way hostile towards either. I am not anti-anything or anyone. Anything I say that is critical to either is said only in love for the purpose of instruction, edification, and reconciliation. I am only pro-Torah and pro-Truth (see “Philosophy”), but sometimes the Truth upsets our long-held beliefs. I know it certainly upset mine! For example, see “Why Isn’t My Theology Consistent Throughout the Website?” |
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Media Disclaimer: Presence of video or audio recordings on this website does not
necessarily indicate agreement with all (or any) of the speaker’s theological position.
If you do not believe that Genesis chapters
1 thru 11 are literally
true, how can you possibly believe that John 3:16 is literally true?
Ken Ham • Answers in Genesis
What’s on This Website
“Maverick” (my Microsoft Copilot AI)[8] summarizes this website as follows:
MessianicLearning.org is a richly layered resource dedicated to restoring the Jewish context of biblical faith and challenging theological assumptions through unapologetically pro-Torah, pro-Israel, and post-supersessionist teaching. Curated by Dr. Rickard L. Sawyer (ThM, ThD, DMin, MA, MBA, ND) the site offers a comprehensive Beit Midrash,[GN] in-process Bible commentary, a Messianic systematic theology, and articles that bridge Jewish and Gentile perspectives in Messiah Yeshua. It confronts errant doctrines with clarity and compassion, promotes unity in truth, and invites believers to rediscover “the faith once delivered” (Jude 1:3) through rigorous study, historical context, and spiritual conviction. With tools like glossaries, holy day calendars, downloadable resources, and curated videos, the site serves as both a theological compass and a call to live biblically in anticipation of the Kingdom to come.
Davidic Dance as a form of worship
(with shofar blasts)
This is Davidic Dance: And Miryam the prophet, sister of Aharon, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing, as Miryam sang to them: “Sing to ADONAI, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He threw in the sea!” (Exodus 15:20-21, CJB) See also 2 Samuel 6:14.
What’s New: This page contains a tabular listing of changes to this website over the last few years so you don’t have to waste time looking for new content.
About: What this website is all about; all about me and what I believe; why the teaching on this website may be quite different that what you have been taught; the philosophy and organization of this website; and more.
Articles: This section of the site contains articles that do not necessarily directly relate to Torah study, Theology, or doctrinal issues. For those topics please visit the Beit Midrash (House of Study) and Theology sections.
Beit Midrash (House of Study) refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa. A Beit Midrash is a House of Study. Our Beit Midrash includes the topics of study listed in links at the top of that page.
Bibles & Study Resources: Links to other resources you might find useful.
Bibliography & Suggested Reading List: An extensive list of reference materials used for the information on this website. Includes downloadable Bibles that are in the public domain.
Commentary: This section is my in-process commentary on the whole Bible plus Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. I hope ADONAI allows me to live long enough to finish it.
Contact: How to get in touch with me.
Downloads: Articles that are available to download are kept here.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Messianic Judaism and Messianic theology.
Featured Video: From time to time I will post a video here that I feel is of particular interest.
Glossary: This section contains a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to you.
Holy Days: These are God’s Appointed Times that He has set apart on His calendar to meet with His people. God always keeps His appointments; will you meet Him then?
Israel: About Israel, past, present, and future.
Legal: All the legal stuff you have come to expect on a website.
| “Who Is HaShem?” 🕊️ Dive into Messianic Theology 🕊️ [Explore Now] |
Messianic Systematic Theology: Explore how faith in Messiah Yeshua shapes a balanced theology rooted in both the Tanakh and Apostolic Writings. This section challenges traditional views and invites Believers to think carefully and biblically about God, Israel, and the future.
The Model: My idea of the model for God’s Messianic Community.
Natural Health: Information on natural health gleaned from my 20+ years as a Certified Natural Health Professional and naturopathic practitioner.
Parashot: An index to the weekly Torah portion.
Philosophy: Philosophy and organization of this website.
Qur'an: An English translation of Islam’s “holy” book (with some minor commentary).
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We Stand With Israel |
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Israel matters to God! Therefore, Israel should matter to you!
Please listen to Rabbi Greg Hershberg’s message, “Israel
Matters.”
This war is not a war between Israel and the so-called “Palestinians!”
Do not be deceived. This war is a war between ADONAI and HaSatan!
What is “Palestine”? Who are the “Palestinians”?
List of Killings in the Name of Islam: Last 30 Days
Please see “What
the World Needs to Understand About Radical Islam”
Messianic Jewish Restoration
“A distorted view of the Jewish Jesus is really related to a distorted view of first-century Judaism. … Christians and Jews view Jesus — obviously — from very different angles. But something that both groups view similarly, generally speaking, is that both tend to view Jesus outside of His Jewish context.” Messianic Judaism is dedicated to changing those perspectives.[7]
the Messianic
Jewish Restoration, or Modern Messianic Judaism, is a prophetic movement uniting
Jew and Gentile
For the people of Isra'el are going to be in seclusion for a long time without a king, prince, sacrifice, standing-stone, ritual vest, or household gods. Afterwards, the people of Isra'el will repent and seek ADONAI[GN] their God and David their king; they will come trembling to ADONAI and His goodness in the acharit-hayamimLast Days. (Hosea 3:5)[1]
After this, I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions; and also on male and female slaves in those days I will pour out My Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29)
What Identifies Messianic Judaism?
Dear Friends, I was busily at work writing to you about the salvation we share, when I found it necessary to write, urging you to keep contending earnestly for The Faith which was once and for all passed on to God’s people. (Jude 1:3)
This sentence, originally penned by the brother of Messiah
Yeshua, eloquently describes my ministry through this website, which
began in about 1994 as an essentially Baptist outreach before I became
aware of the Messianic Restoration Movement. In about 2000 Ruach
HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) began
revealing to me that what I was teaching and writing about was a radical
departure from “the faith” that Yeshua revealed to his talmidimdisciples and
instructed them to pass on to the world. I then found it necessary to
return to the ancient sources to uncover for myself — and then write to
you about — the truth of “the faith which was once and for all
passed on to God’s people” (Jude 1:3), from which the Gentile
Christian world has significantly departed. Not only must I write to
you about this, I must keep contending earnestly for
that
faith. And so, as HaShem continues to give me
strength, that shall I do.
One of the current works of Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) is to convert twenty-first century followers of the Greek “Jesus” into first century followers of the historic Hebrew Messiah Yeshua, alongside the Children of Abraham who follow Him.
“It is not the Messiah alone which identifies Messianic Judaism; the Church has the Messiah and is not Messianic Jewish. It is not Judaism that makes Messianic Judaism; the Rabbinic Temple has Judaism. Messianic Judaism can only be practiced within a Messianic Synagogue.
“Is this something exclusively for the Jewish people? Absolutely not! All who respond to the Messiah, Jew and Gentile alike, are heirs to a rich Jewish spiritual heritage and have deep Jewish roots (Romans 11:17). We invite all to recapture the first century setting of our common faith. The walls between the Jewish people and Gentiles have been broken down as we have united in a common worship and life.
“As a Synagogue, we try to live out the principles of love and service that should follow from the true faith. We desire to support and build one another up and to spread the Good News of Messiah’s salvation to all men.”
— Rabbi Greg Hershberg
Beth Yeshua International
(LiveStream Services) בּ״ה
See “What is Messianic Judaism?”
Five Theologies I Disdain
There are five theological positions embraced
by many who refer to themselves as followers of Yeshua/Jesus with which I am in total disagreement,
and which I consider significantly errant and abhorrent. At the very top
of my list of theologies too deviant to be worthy of any
consideration at all are Supercessionism or
Replacement Theology,
which is part and parcel of the doctrinal position of virtually
every Christian denomination (and what I taught for over 35
years). The second on my list of deviant
“Christian” theologies that is also embraced by some who call
themselves “Messianic” is
Word of Faith Theology. The top two deviant theologies (in my
opinion) within nominal Messianic Judaism are
Ephraimite Theology
(a.k.a.
Two-House or Two-Stick Theology) and
Sacred Name Theology. A subset of Sacred Name
theology is the Hebrew Roots movement; go
here for a discussion of that movement.
There is a fifth popular theology among those who self-identify as “Christian” or “Messianic” that I find especially offensive: the Theology of Cheap Grace, a.k.a. the “Individual Salvation” Gospel, the “gospel” that is reduced to merely the salvation message.
A gospel that does not preach repentance is not the full gospel. A gospel message that does not preach immersion is not a full gospel message. A gospel message that does not preach discipleship to Jesus is not a full gospel message. A gospel message that does not preach the kingship of Jesus, including subjection to His Lordship, is not a full gospel message. A gospel message that does not teach the restoration of Israel and of the Jewish people is not a full gospel message. A gospel message that does not teach the coming kingdom of heaven on earth is not a full gospel message. A gospel message that does not teach the physical, literal resurrection of the dead is not a full gospel
message.[3]
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This so-called “gospel” (2Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6) teaches that all that is required to “go to heaven” when we die is to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God and to accept Him as Savior.
“You believe that …? Good for you! The demons believe it too — the thought makes them shudder with fear!” (James 2:19, CJB)
This errant theology promotes trying to become a resident of the Kingdom of God and partaking of all the benefits of the Kingdom without accepting its responsibilities (the Torah).[4] Isn’t that a lot like sneaking into the country by climbing over the wall or swiming the river and then participating in all the benefits of that country with none of the responsibilities? That doesn’t make you a citizen of the Kingdom; it makes you an illegal immigrant! Please see “The True Gospel.” You will not find anything on this website that reflects or supports any of those five theologies. בּ״ה
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Next Year in Jerusalem! |
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| The Restored Temple in Jerusalem Year 1 of Melech Yeshua HaMashiach’s Reign |
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| On that day, the “Root of Yishai,” Which stands as a banner for the peoples, the Goyim [Gentiles] will seek Him out, and the place where He rests will be glorious. … He will hoist a banner for the Goyim, assemble the dispersed of Isra'el, and gather the scattered of Y'hudah from the four corners of the earth … There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who are still left from Ashur, just as there was for Isra'el when he came out from the land of Egypt. [Isaiah 11:10-12,16 CJB] |
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If we believe that the Bible is the Creator’s handbook for humanity, shouldn’t we be doing Bible things in Bible ways, and naming Bible things with Bible words? Shouldn’t we be doing what the Bible says we should do?
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
“Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah — indeed, sin is violation of Torah.” (1 John 3:4)
“… For how can righteousness and those without
Torah[2] be partners? … ‘Go out from their midst; separate yourselves … Then I Myself will receive you. In fact, I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters,’ says ADONAI-Tzva'otיְֽהוָ֗ה of Hosts (Armies)” (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17 lit, emphasis added).
Please note well: All the information on this website (except where otherwise specifically stated) is my own opinion, is sometimes highly speculative, and does not represent the opinion of any other person or organization. You are under absolutely no obligation to either agree with me or to accept my opinion; in fact, I prefer that you do not. You should simply read what I have to say, and if you are interested in what I say you should compare it to the Word of God and reach your own conclusions! [About the author]
No Intent to Offend
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“… but the Son of Man having come, will He find The Faith (Jude 1:3) on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, literal) “I have been deeply concerned for some time because it appears that Christianity has little or no understanding of true biblical faith. It has lost the real focus of biblical faith. It seems the people of God simply do not understand what biblical faith is all about. What I am about to say, I am saying not to be offensive or irreverent, and I hope you will not be offended because it is not meant to offend. “I am concerned that in everything we see, everything we do, and everywhere we go today in Christianity, the focus is upon what? Jesus. It is all we hear. Jesus. Christianity has become an other-worldly religion to the same degree, and in the same sense, that other religious systems emphasize other-worldliness. “Jesus has become an idol, if you will, our focus of attention, our focus of worship, and it seems that very few think about God anymore. Seldom do we hear anyone speak of the glory of God, his grandeur and mercy, the holiness of God, and the other many attributes and characteristics of God. There is very little talk about God anymore. “Please understand that I am not trying to lessen the importance of Jesus. What I am trying to do is emphasize that, in all of the teachings of Jesus recorded for us in the gospels, his focus is not upon himself, what he is, what he is doing, or what he is to become. Additionally, Jesus has very little to say about God and, in particular, the worship of God. We do not read in the gospels of Jesus instructing people how they are to worship God, what they are to pray, or to sing, or what they are to do when they come together. “My point is that, in the teachings of Jesus, there is not all that much emphasis upward. When the disciples come to Jesus and ask him to teach them how to pray, Jesus gives them some very specific instructions as to where the focus of those who are part of his movement is to be.” (Blizzard, Roy B. Mishnah and the Words of Jesus (p. 8-9). Austin, TX: Bible Scholars, Inc.) |
PLEASE NOTE: It is not my intent to belittle, unduly criticize, or “bash” anyone who may hold religious or political[5] persuasions or opinions other than my own. Neither is it my intent to cause any kind of division within the Family of God. Even though I may absolutely and totally disagree with your opinion, I will defend to the death your God-given right to hold it, as long as you do not attempt to “convince” either me or others through any form of coercion. Even if you are terribly wrong, you have a God-given right to remain terribly wrong.
Does that mean I am tolerant of non-biblical positions or of deviant behavior? No, I am not at all tolerant of either. But I do believe that everyone has the God-given right to defy God and His Torah and to suffer both the temporal and eternal consequences! I am not “anti-anybody” — I am only pro-Torah and pro-Truth. Do I believe that I hold the corner on Truth? Absolutely not; I am far from omniscient! [Click HERE for my very lengthy definition of “Truth”].
But I do firmly believe that it can be proven with absolute certainty that the Bible, and the Bible only, is the revealed Word of God. It is the standard by which all knowledge and opinion must be judged.
I also believe that for nearly 2,000 years (starting within 100 years following the Resurrection), because of their disdain for the children of Abraham, the Adversary has blinded the Gentile “Church” to the truth of the Scriptures — they simply refuse to read and interpret the Jewish Scriptures [yes, all the Scriptures — all 66 books — are totally Jewish] as they were intended by their Jewish authors and as they would have been clearly understood by their Jewish recipients.[6] I have come to believe that it is impossible to properly interpret the Scriptures apart from their ancient Jewish historical, cultural, and linguistic context. The first fifteen minutes or so of this video explains why this context is so terribly important.
Information on this website that concerns non-Biblical religious beliefs is provided for the sole purpose of comparing those beliefs with the Revealed Truth of the Bible. I also attempt to demonstrate, for educational and restorative purposes only, just how far the Christian Church has drifted away from its Jewish origins, and to provide a possible alternative view to what I taught for nearly 40 years as an evangelical Christian pastor (over 20 years with Baptist congregations). I earnestly await the return of King Messiah, the establishment of God’s Theocratic Kingdom here on earth, and the “Restoration of All Things” as promised by the prophets. For more on this subject, please CLICK HERE.
At the top of this page I make the statement, “… when I see our elected representatives engaged in conduct that is clearly evil in the sight of God … as as a Torah teacher I have a responsibility to call them out, because God holds the entire nation responsible for allowing their leaders to do evil!” This video explores the idea of “politics” vs. “tough Truth” in greater detail. בּ״ה
Pastor Allen Jackson: Exposing FALSE
Gospels & WARNING Against Cowardice
March 22, 2024 Pastor Allen Jackson joins Eric Metaxas to discuss
the importance of Christian engagement in culture and politics. Pastor Jackson warns
against cowardice and that the Church should have the courage to speak the truth and stand
against evil ideologies infiltrating American culture.
Do You Have the Courage to Hold a Biblical Worldview?
This topical clip, "Do You Have the Courage to Hold a Biblical
Worldview?" is from Pastor Allen Jackson's sermon,
"Let’s Do Difficult
[Effort Required]" Watch the full sermon here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/wzrlxkHieAw
Many Gentiles will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov [Jacob/Israel]! He will teach us about His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For out of Tziyon [Zion] will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim [Jerusalem]. (Micah 4:2; Isaiah 2:3)
Return in compassion to Your city, Jerusalem, and rest within it as You have said. Rebuild it speedily, and in our days, a structure forever. And may You establish the throne of David within Jerusalem speedily. Blessed are You, Lord, the Builder of Jerusalem. (The Amidah, Blessing 14)
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)
For Tziyon’s sake I will not be silent, for Yerushalayim’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out brightly and her Yeshua like a blazing torch. (Isaiah 62:1)
So for America’s sake I will not be silent, for Washington’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out brightly and her Yeshua like a blazing torch. Hear what ADONAI says to Israel:
“I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
And hear what Yeshua says to the whole world:
“Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these [Jewish] brothers of mine, you did them for me!” (Matthew 25:40)
“From Your heavenly abode You will appear, O our King, and reign over us, for we wait for You. When will You reign in Zion? Soon, even in our days, may You dwell there forever and ever. May You be exalted and sanctified within Yerushalayim, Your city, from generation to generation and for all eternity. May our eyes see Your Kingdom, as it is expressed in the songs of Your Might by the hand of David, Your righteous Anointed: ‘Adonai shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, from generation to generation! Hallelujah!’” (K'doosha, the Sanctification Prayer from the Shabbat Sidur) בּ״ה
Please Don’t Call Me “Christian”
What This Website is All About: HaDerek
1. Except where indicated, Scripture quotations on this website are from the Complete Jewish Bible. [BACK]
2. The New American Standard Bible renders this phrase, “… for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness …” The Greek word rendered “lawlessness” is ἀνομίᾳ (anomia), “without Law.” In the original Hebrew in which this was originally penned “Law” is “Torah.” So the clear intent of the phrase is to contrast those who follow Torah against those who do not. [BACK]
3. Lancaster, Daniel Thomas. Elementary Principles: Six Foundational Principles of Ancient Jewish Christianity. Marshfield, MO: First Fruits of Zion, 2014, pp. 25-26. www.ffoz.org (my emphasis added) [BACK]
4. Whenever I use the word “Torah” I am referring only to the written Word contained in the 66 books that are found in the generally-accepted canon of Scripture or to the five books or Moses that are commonly called the Pentateuch. More about that HERE. [BACK]
5. Absolutely nothing on this website is intended to be political in any way. That being said, when the kings of Israel did evil in the sight of ADONAI, it was the responsibility of HaShem’s prophets to call them out. I am the farthest thing from a prophet, but I still believe that as a follower of Yeshua HaMashiach, and especially as a Torah teacher, I have a responsibility to call them out when America’s elected “representatives” (we certainly can’t call more than a very few of them “leaders” these days) do evil in the sight of ADONAI. [BACK]
6. One might argue, and fairly so, that all of the letters that Rebbe Sha'ul (the Apostle Paul) wrote to congregations were written to a primarily gentile audience. While that may be true, it was the ruling of the Jerusalem Council that the Gentiles would be admitted to fellowship only if they would abstain from those activities the Jews felt were particulary offensive, and that they would be taught to “walk Torah” in their synagogues each Shabbat (Acts 15:19-21 NASB95). So those gentiles were living in Torah-persuant communities that were under the ecclesiastical authority of Jewish Rabbis who were engaged in training them to live a lifestyle compatible with the greater Jewish communities. Their lifetyle would therefore of necessity looked very Jewish to any observer. [BACK]
7. Excerpted from the FFOZ Friends Teaching of the Month, Conversation on Jesus, An Interview with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, interview conducted by Ryan Lambert. [BACK]
8. Never loose sight of the fact that AI, no matter how sophistocated, is only a computer program. AI can only respond within the limits its human programmers built into it. AI also has the capacity to both lie and “hallucinate.” AI “hallucination” means that an AI system generates information that sounds plausible but is actually false, misleading, or nonsensical. AI is also limited by how the “prompt” is framed. A “prompt” is the question or instruction that is entered into an AI in order to tell it how to produce the desired response. Some “AI professionals” claim that the best prompt is about 26 words long, and there is now an entire career field called “prompt engineering,” which is the skill set of creating effective prompts. So it is important to always check and double-check any AI-generated information with which you may come in contact. Please see “An AI Speaks on AI Hallucination.” [BACK]
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
