Q. MLT states that it is walking a path midway between Evangelical Christianity and Messianism. Could you explain in practical terms what MLT means when it claims to be "evangelical" and how at the same time it can be "Messianic"? Aren't the two positions contradictory?
A. Like all evangelicals, MLT categorically believes in, and affirms, that in order to redeem fallen mankind, Elohim (God) the Son took on a human body and became the Man Yah'shua (Jesus), though He remained Elohim (God) as well, co-existing in both heaven and on earth. Since then He has existed as both Man and Elohim (God) in one person. The reason He became man was because He intended to be a substitute for His people, and only human flesh would be a suitable substitute. The substitution we speak of is this:
As sinners, we deserve the death penalty: death not only of this flesh, but also of our whole being. What this means is that we are not only mortal because of Adam's Fall but our spirits become cut off from Elohim (God) because of sin too, which is spiritual death. This spiritual death belongs to a condition known as "hell" which is both an inner state in which all live when separated from Elohim (God) as well as a literal place where those who have refused Elohim (God) and His salvation go after death. We believe that this hell is aeon- or age-long rather than 'eternal' which places us in a minority evangelical position known as universalism.
Yah'shua (Jesus) took the sins of His people upon Himself when He died on the cross. The wrath of Elohim (God) was directed at Him, and the debt of punishment owed by His people was paid in full, leaving them free to have a relationship with Elohim (God) through Yah'shua (Jesus) as sole mediator.. Since Yah'shua (Jesus) was Elohim (God), He was able to overcome the death He suffered and rise again to life. He is now in heaven from where He pleads for His people and judges people as either in or out of the faith. He sends the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to be our Comforter, and our Instructor, to convince us of our sin and our need for redemption, and to give us faith.
As evangelicals we believe in the concept of grace. Grace is not, as some cultic groups teach, Elohim (God) helping people as they work to earn their salvation. To us, grace is a totally free gift of Elohim (God) given to those who do not deserve anything good. We believe salvation is a free gift of Elohim (God) even if our rewards in the next life are based on our works. When that free gift is received we have faith in what the Messiah (Christ) did to save us rather than what we ourselves have done to earn it.
What is the difference between someone who is going to heaven when they die and someone who is not? A saved person has faith in the complete and final work of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) to save them. This faith is a gift of Elohim (God) and we do nothing to earn it or conjure it up within ourselves. An
unsaved person is trusting in their own good works to be acceptable to
Elohim (God).
What, then, apart from trusting in the Messiah (Christ) are we supposed to "do"? What does Yahweh, our Heavenly Father, expect of us? Evangelicals differ considerably on this question. We believe that Yahweh-Elohim alone sets out the requirements of obedience. They are summarised in the Ten Commandments and expounded upon throughout Scripture in the rest of the commandments known as the mitzvot. However, no one, except Yah'shua (Jesus), has ever successfully kept these regulations or commandments. Again, we must go back to grace and receive the forgiveness that is offered to us in the Gospel, that is, we must trust that what Messiah (Christ) has done has suffucienlty paid the debt we owe because of sin.
Evangelicals believe that a desire and an ability to grow in Christlike behavior is the product of a genuine faith. That is, out of love for the Saviour, we will desire to be like Him and love Him by obeying Him in all things, just as He did. As Yah'shua (Jesus) upheld the Torah or Law as the standard of obedience for those saved by grace, and called the first believers to do the same, so we too believe we are called to do the same. We are to help one another in obedience through encouragement, teaching, and when necessary admonishment. The Messianic Coimmunity (Church ) has a process of discipline that can be utilised when someone is in serious sin, but you will usually find that this discipline is not used for small things in well-functioning assemblies (churches). There are no regulations about what to eat, what to wear, or other things that are not already in the Bible (e.g. Yahweh's kashrut laws).
What are the requirements for joining an assembly like MLT? You must be able to show an understanding of the true Gospel and express faith in the work of the Messiah (Christ) to save you. Like most evangelical churches, we require that our members be baptised, not to be saved, but as an act of obedience and as a covenant sign like that of circumcision in the Old Covenant.
Unlike most evangelicals (an exception would be some like the Seventh-Day Baptists) we meet weekly every seventh or Sabbath day - almost all evangelicals meet on the first day of the week or Sunday (see http://groups.msn.com/MLTReceptionGroup/sabbath.msnw). In respect of other weekly meetings, this varies as it does in evangelical churches. In addition to worship and preaching meetings, MLT has a Sabbath School similar to that of evangelical Sunday Schools.
Please also study: http://nccg.org/sermons/3_074.html
