If we have to put a label on ourselves, we prefer the label of Netzarim, or Nazarenes, because they were the original followers of Yeshua (whom Christians call Jesus) who live according to Torah and the Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Netzarim). We believe Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah....

Netzarim follow an ancient and future calendar based on Torah (the first five Books of the Bible) which is the authoritative Word of YHWH (Yahweh = Elohim, the Father, our Creator, Lawgiver and Teacher of all Righteousness who sent us Yeshua as the "arm" of YHWH (Isaiah 53:1) to teach His people face-to-face).

Yeshua - the Word of YHWH (John 1:1-14) was a tallit-wearing, Torah observant, Seventh Day Sabbath and Feast-keeping, kosher Jew who came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH; not to bring any "religion" or to abolish His Father's Divine Instructions in Righteousness (Torah), without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living.

Yeshua Mashiyach (whom Christians call Jesus) who was YHWH-Come-in-the-Flesh because of His Divine Nature, made a way for each one to receive the anointing of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy/Set-Apart Spirit) and learn His Word according to the Tanach/"Old Testament" which consists of the Torah/Divine Instructions in Righteousness, the Neviim/prophets; and Ketuvim/writings. Yeshua was a Jew living in a Jewish land among Jewish people. All the apostles were Jewish as were the writers of the Gospels (except for Luke, Colossians 4:11-14). (Some insist Simon was a Caananite, using Matthew 10:4 as proof; but the Aramaic word "qanana" can mean both "Caananite" and "zealot." In Luke 6:15 and Mark 3:18 both words "tanana" and "quanana" are translated as "zealot.")

   Painting by Tamra Cutrer, referencing    Matthew 24: 31: "And he will send his    Messengers with a large trumpet, and they    will gather his chosen ones from the four    winds from one end of heaven to the other."

Many believe that anyone who follows Torah is "under the law" and that the "Old Testament" was only for the Jews and that Torah is only for "the Jews." But, how can this be true, when there were no Jews until after Jacob fathered the Tribe of Yehudah or Judah, where the term "Jew" originated? (See Genesis 29:35; Matthew 1:1-2.) But yet, EVERYONE up until that time (except, of course, the pagans and heathens who were believers in other gods) was Torah observant.

Cain and Abel gave sacrifices, and they weren't Jews; and Noah knew the difference between "clean and unclean" and he wasn't a Jew, either. Neither were the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - but they all obeyed YHWH! That's because they knew that He (via His Torah/Divine Instructions in Righteousness) was showing them how to live holy, set apart lives. He meant Torah for ALL, as we can see in Numbers 15:13-16, wherein He reiterated FOUR TIMES that EVERYONE who chose Him would have to do exactly as His Chosen people - who were Torah observant:

Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'"

Read in context we can see that any Torah-less non-Jew/Hebrew/Israelite is an "alien"/foreigner. God was very specific what non-Jews/Hebrews were to do: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you...."Living among" means not necessarily physically, but rather, it refers to all those who have accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They MUST be Torah observant, just like the Houses of Israel and Judah were with whom God made His New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:32)!

Note that YHWH did not make His New Covenant with the Gentiles; He made it with those who were obedient to His divine Instructions! Same God, same rules for both the "natural" and the grafted-in" children. It could not be any clearer....

So...what has changed?

Click on the Torah scroll and brace yourself....

The Tanach (OT) reveals that His Chosen were called Hebrews, which means "to cross over" - was is what Abraham did in Genesis 12; see also Genesis 14:13). The Tribe of Judah was chosen to teach the world about Torah (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2) and: YHWH caused Yeshua to be born into the Tribe of Yehudah/Judah.

Being Torah observant is not just about "reading the Old Testament" but LIVING it by being obedient to the "forever" commands found within the Torah (first five Books). Yeshua came not to replace YHWH or abolish His Divine rules; He came to fulfill - which did not mean "put an end to" but, rather, to fulfill His purpose by coming to Earth and personally showing people how to obey God through Torah, to show us how to live with each other according to His Father's Torah, and then to die as our Final SIN Sacrifice.

Netzarim try to view the entire Bible through a Hebrew mindset and adhere to YHWH's teachings instead of allowing ourselves to be swayed by man's opinions. We believe that Yeshua was predicted by, and succeeded, Moses; that He was foreshadowed throughout the Tanach ("Old Testament"); and that He did NOT abolish the Law/Torah, as He clearly stated in Matthew 5:17-18.

Why do we believe that Yeshua did NOT "do away with the law" (Torah)? Because YHWH's Divine Instructions had many "forever" commands, and "forever" hasn't ended yet! Man has no right to ignore Torah or Yeshua, and come up with his own theology and own "religious holidays"! While the COVENANT changed as God promised in Jeremiah 31:31, His Torah did not. "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89)."

God's provisions have not changed; the penalty for disobedience has not changed; and God's promises have not changed. Yeshua Himself said He was here ONLY to do His Father's will; not negate His Father's will or abolish His "forever" commands. We simply want to adhere to YHWH's Word:

Jeremiah 6: 16 Here is what Adonai says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask about the ancient paths, ‘Which one is the good way?’ Take it, and you will find rest for your souls...." (CJB)


What do we believe?

Some answers for our Jewish Readers:

Some answers for our Christian Readers:

Miscellaneous:

Worldwide list of Netzarim/Messianic Congregations:

Please note: The above are listings of Messianic congregations around the world. They are not connected with The Refiner's Fire, and we have no control what they teach. It is up to each individual to check out any congregations they attend, and discern for themselves whether or not their teachings line up with Scripture.


New from author Andrew Gabriel Roth!

One Faith One People Ministries, a site that boldly proclaims the original Biblical faith once delivered to the Set-Apart believers! It represents the truth taught by and through the whole body of the Scripture: The faith of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and of course, our Savior, Y'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

Each week Andrew Gabriel Roth and his wife, Jaye, will be posting new Bible study MP3s for you to download and enjoy while commuting, working or working out or for individual and group Bible study. Focusing squarely on one chapter at a time, they keep the teachings short but detailed (approximately 30 minutes each) as they plumb the depths of the Holy Word together and prove all things like the Bereans did in Acts 17.

Andrew also sings! Please check out his latest, Mary, Mary with lyrics!


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