A One New Man Congregation

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself One New Man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  Ephesians 2:14-18

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1. According to Ephesians 2:14-18, the Body of Messiah is comprised of both Jew and Gentile in Messiah.

2. According to Galatians 3:28, unity between Jew and Gentile preserves individual identity in the same way that unity between man and woman preserves individual identity. We are one in Yeshua Messiah.

3. Salvation, the good news of individual regeneration, eternal life and the forgiveness of sin, is also the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth through his appointed Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth. One New Man congregations are looking towards and endeavoring to support the establishment of Messiah Yeshua’s throne in Jerusalem. Psalm 2:6 Therefore, all members of God’s Kingdom are connected to Israel and the Jewish people by virtue of Yeshua’s headship of the Jewish people and his authority as King of Israel.

4. Yeshua’s supreme and highest rule for community life is that His disciples are to have love one for another. With respect to One New Man congregations, this entails mutual submission and honour between Jewish and Gentile members. Paul’s rule for communities comprised of members with different conscience is, “Let not the one who has liberty despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who has liberty.” Romans 14:3 Jewish and Gentile congregants respect the liberty or lack thereof of individual members without passing judgment or holding others in contempt. As Paul commanded, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.” Romans 14:19

5. The writer of Hebrews instructed believers to, “Strive to live in peace with everyone.” Hebrews 12:14 Paul added, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4  The practical application of these two principles of community life is that both Jews and Gentiles would take care not to flaunt their distinctives or demand their unique rights and reciprocally, each group would take care to accommodate and honour  their counterpart.

6. Paul established a rule for all churches. He said, “let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.” 1 Corinthians 7:17,18  Therefore all members would accept that Jews are not to seek to become Gentiles and Gentiles are not to seek to become Jews.

7. In recognition of the connection to Israel, our Jewish brethren and the Jewish roots of our faith, One New Man congregations celebrate Shabbat and the Biblical Feasts of the Lord at their appointed times, along with Chanukah, the Festival of Lights and Purim, the Feast of Esther. As per Paul’s instructions in Romans 14:5 Gentile observance of days is a matter of personal conscience. One New Man congregations are careful not to make observance of days a mandatory requirement.

8. Romans 14 provides rules of conduct regarding table fellowship. Congregational members who have liberty to eat without restriction should refrain from eating in a public setting foods that other members of the congregation do not possess liberty to eat. Therefore within One New Man communal meals, members should avoid non-kosher food items.

9. The Apostle Paul took up collections from churches in the nations for the Church in Jerusalem including the One New Man church in Corinth. He explained that this was an obligation to the Messianic community in Israel Romans 15:25-27 Therefore, following the pattern set by the Apostle Paul, One New Man congregations set aside a portion of their finances for Israel related ministries and the Messianic community and humanitarian, relief initiatives  in Israel, as led by the Ruach.

10. Israel’s restoration includes the return of the Jewish people to the land of their inheritance, eretz Israel. In Isaiah 49:22, God beckons to the Gentiles to assist in practical ways with ‘aliyah,’ the return of the Jewish people to their homeland. One New Man congregations, as led by the Holy Spirit, actively assist in the blessing of  helping the Jewish people make aliyah.

11. Worship and order of service is a significant part of community life in Yeshua. One New Man congregations are not necessarily Messianic synagogues and therefore do not necessarily emulate the traditional synagogue order of service. However, One New Man  congregations acknowledge their connection to Israel and the Jewish people. Therefore, individual congregations conduct their services in a manner that seems good to them and the Holy Spirit enriching their corporate worship with godly elements taken from both the Jewish and Gentile Christian tradition.