2.1 Identity
- 2.1.1 Am Yisrael - Israel
- The people of Israel are members of the covenant HaShem made with Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya'akov. Covenant membership is extended to converts to Judaism from the nations, as well as to the descendants of covenant members. Israel is a nation of nations and their descendants, or more specifically a people group called out from other people groups to be a people separated unto HaShem for his purposes. HaShem's promise of covenantal blessings and curses as described in the Torah are unique to Am Yisrael (People of Israel), and to no other nation or people group. The bible describes an Israelite as one descended from Ya'akov ben Yitzhak ben Avraham, or one who has been converted or adopted into that group by either human or spiritual means (Ex 1:1-7, Ex 12:38, Ex 12:48).
- 2.1.2 Yehudim - Jews
- Following the consensus of Jewish tradition, we recognize as a Jew anyone who is born of a Jewish mother or father, or who is a convert to Judaism.
- 2.1.3 Goyim - Gentiles
- Following the consensus of Jewish tradition, Gentiles are those who are not born of a Jewish mother or father and are not converts to Judaism. By biblical definition a Gentile, meaning "nation," first shows up in the outline of the table of nations in Genesis 10:1-32. By biblical contrast, a Gentile is not an Israelite, which by application means that a Gentile is someone who is not a member of the covenant God made with Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya'akov, and thus by implication is not an Israelite. Instead, a Gentile is a member of one or more of the group of nations mentioned in Gen 10:32. It is the opinion of this site, that the term "Gentile" be used to denote the more specific sense of one who is not an Israelite, which simply is one who is not a member of the covenant God made with Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya'akov, as we believe this is the most consistent definition given in scripture, and forms the identifying basis of halakha.
- 2.1.4 HaBrit - The Covenant
- The covenant includes all the blessings and promises HaShem made with Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya'akov concerning their "descendants forever." (Gen 13:14-17, Gen 15:5, Gen 22:17-18, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:13-15) Covenant membership is extended to all who have saving faith in the Messiah Yeshua (Gen 15:4, Gen 15:6, Gen 22:18), and to all those who are born or adopted into Am Yisrael by means of human parents (Ex 1:7), or conversion (Ex 12:19, Ex 12:43-45).
- 2.1.5 Torah
- The Torah is the foundational and complete description of the obligations of covenant members (Deut 32:46-47). Covenant members are obligated to obey the Torah (teaching and instruction of HaShem) out of love for HaShem (Deut 6:5) and his ways (Deut 7:12, Deut 10:12-13), and out of love for others (Lev 19:18). The Messiah stands as the living role model in how to observe these obligations fully (Deut 18:15-19) as he is the Living Torah made flesh (Gen 1:1, Gen 1:27, Gen 15:1, Gen 17:13, Ex 33:11, Num 15:31, Deut 5:5, Deut 8:3).
- 2.1.6 Avera - Sin
- Transgression of the Torah is sin (Gen 4:7). The consequence of sin is death. (Gen 2:17) To those who accept Messiah Yeshua as the author and finisher of their deliverance from death which is the consequence of sin which is the transgression of the Torah, the promise of eternal life in the World to Come is given, as well as promises of blessings in this life (Deut 18:15). Those who reject Messiah Yeshua will not inherit eternal life in the World to Come, and can only expect eternal death and damnation in hell after the Judgement, and can expect both blessings and curses in this life dependent upon their obedience to the Torah and the Messiah's standard of living it out. (Deut 18:19, Deut 30:19)
- 2.1.7 Moshiach - Messiah
- It is the obligation of covenant members who believe Messiah Yeshua is the Word of HaShem in the flesh, to make known the fullness of the knowledge of Messiah to all nations so as to bring them into the covenant, and so share with them the hope eternal life in the World to Come (Gen 1:28, Gen 9:1, Gen 28:3, Gen 35:11, Gen 41:52, Gen 48:4, Lev 26:9, Deut 4:5-9, Micah 4:2, Matt 28:19-20).
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