Ai – The One New Man Movement Ephesians 2: 14-15

The One New Man Movement
Ephesians 2: 14-15

For Messiah Himself is our shalom – He has made us both one and has broken down the middle wall of hostility that separated us. By setting aside in His flesh and the legalized interpretation of the Torah with its statutes and ordinances, His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.

Messianic congregations must be appealing to unsaved Jews.

This is my position on the One New Man movement. I believe that the dividing wall of hostility which had marked radical alienation and enmity between Jews and Gentiles was divinely obliterated by Yeshua’s accomplishment on the cross. Gentile believers are now grafted onto Isra’el’s Olive Tree (see the commentary on Romans, to see link click Cz – The Illustration of Isra’el’s Future), enjoy membership in God’s New Covenant with Isra’el and spiritually function as full and equal team members in the household of ADONAI (see the commentary on Jeremiah Eo – The Days are Coming, declares the LORD, When I Will Make a New Covenant with the People of Isra’el: The Church’s Relationship to the B’rit Chadashah).

I believe that the Jewish New Covenant body of Messiah is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Yeshua Ha’Mashiach as the promised Redeemer and are now at liberty to worship God together. Here are additional scriptures that support my position.

This mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News (Ephesians 3:6).  

For in one Ruach we were all immersed into one body – whether Jew or Greek, slave or free – and all were made to drink of one Ruach (First Corinthians 12:13).  

And do not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another – and all the more so as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).

However, there are problems within the movement. A Jewish rabbi named Curt Landry started a ministry dedicated to the biblical one new man concept. But, he, and others in this movement, has encouraged Jewish and Gentile believers alike to be Torah observant, creating a negative ripple effect throughout the entire movement. The original vision of the Messianic Jewish Movement (MJM) was designed for Jewish believers with accommodations for Gentile believers. In time, however, many more Gentiles flocked to Messianic congregations than Jews. As a result, it is common today for there to be more Gentile believers in Messianic congregations than Jewish believers. Nothing is inherently wrong with that, but the resulting problem is that it’s increasingly difficult to reach unsaved Jews.

Unfortunately, many Gentile Messianic believers could care less about winning unsaved Jews, whether it be secular or religious, to their Messiah. They have their fantasy Messianic personas and support groups that seem to have attracted the likes of people who are Seventh Day Adventist’s or affiliate with the Hebrew Roots movement (see the commentary on Galatians Ak – The Hebrew Roots Movement: A Different Gospel). Shockingly, there are congregations totally composed of Messianic Gentiles with the full support of MJM organizations.⁴⁶ And the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship even recognizes Gentile rabbis.

Therefore, I believe that the One New Man movement is basically good as long as it keeps its focus on reaching unsaved Jews for Messiah, approaching the Scriptures from a Jewish perspective, and doesn’t insist that Gentiles be Torah observant (see the commentary on Galatians Ag – Who Were the Judaizers?). Messianic congregations must be appealing to unsaved Jews, and not be merely a bunch of Gentiles wearing yamaka’s and prayer shawl’s. Men need to be men; women need to be women; Jews need to be Jews; and Gentiles need to be Gentiles. In other words, stay in your lane and be the person God created you to be.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your love and wisdom that had Messiah Yeshua break down the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. It was not Torah observance but Messiah’s blood, sacrificed as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), that is the access point to bring us near to God. But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah . . . for through Him we both have access to the Father by the same Ruach (Ephesians 2:13,18). Messiah fulfilled all the Torah by his righteous life for Messiah is the end-goal of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting (Romans 10:4). Thank You Father that Messiah Yeshua was willing to suffer great pain and shame to reach the goal of perfectly fulling the Torah’s requirements. Messiah was slain as the Lamb of God (Revelation 5:6-8) then rose/conquering death – so You could offer His righteousness to all who would love and follow You as their Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9-10). Thank You for our redemption being thru Messiah’s blood (Eph 1:7). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy name and His resurrection. Amen