Welcome to The Messianic Torah Observer.

Maybe you’ve been here before and have more questions about our ministry or the Messianic, Hebrew Roots, or Nazarene Israelite faith. And if that’s the case, I’m happy you’re here and I’m happy to answer questions you may have about our ministry and about this beloved faith of ours. If this is the case, please contact us from any of the contact platforms that are posthemessianictorahobserver.org.

However, if you have returned to TMTO after visiting other Messianic/Hebrew Roots sites, or maybe after visiting a Messianic-Hebrew Roots congregation or fellowship and you’ve maybe decided to transition to the True Faith once delivered, you’ll want to pay close attention to this post. In this post, I plan to discuss the steps that you will need to properly transition into the Messianic-Hebrew Roots Faith.

Traditional Christianity over the last century devised and implemented what I would describe as a universal prayer that they promise, if prayed, will lead to a would be convert’s salvation. They call this universal prayer the “Sinner’s Prayer.”

Reciting the “Sinner’s Prayer,” they claim, is the means by which a would be convert to the Christian religion accesses God’s Plan of Salvation.

When reciting the Sinner’s Prayer, a would be convert acknowledges or confesses to Jesus and to any person in earshot that they are a sinner. They also ask Jesus for forgiveness for their sins and they also declare that they repent of their sins. They invite Jesus into their heart or life such that they trust Him to be their Lord and Savior. And that’s it. The reciter of the sinner’s prayer is then saved or has received eternal life and can henceforth and forevermore refer to themselves as a Christian, or a believer, or even a sinner saved by grace, etc.

You, like me, and millions of other souls throughout the world over the course of the last century, prayed a version of the sinner’s prayer. So, I am sensitive to the relevance of this life-changing event in a would be believer’s life. That being said, there is nothing wrong with reciting the sinner’s prayer. In fact, if one’s heart is truly accepting of what the sinner’s prayer is ideally supposed to accomplish in their life, it becomes the perfect starting point for them to transition to the Nazarene Israel-Messianic Faith.

Now, evangelicals believes that saying a sincere sinner’s prayer alone suffices for leading one to salvation. But is this indeed the case?

Well, turns out that there are a few issues to consider as it relates to the Sinner’s Prayer.

To begin with, the sinner’s prayer is not biblical. There is no reference or guidance given for the prayer’s use in the apostolic writings (aka the New Testament). When we look at their calls to Messianic Discipleship, neither Yeshua, John the Immerser, or Peter/Kefa instruct their listeners to engage in a form of the sinner’s prayer. They delivered a simple message: repent (aka teshuvah), believe the Gospel, and get baptized (Mat. 3:1-6; Mar. 1:4; 4:17; Mar. 16:16; Luk. 24:47; Act. 2:38).

In fact, history is silent as it relates to the existence and use of the sinner’s prayer until Christian Evangelist D.L. Moody (1837-1899) conceived. Christian Evangelists such as Billy Sunday (1862-1935) and Billy Graham (1918-2018) later refined the prayer and introduced it into wider use during their well-attended crusades and revival meetings. And at the risk of sounding crass, it was used to drive bodies into the Christian Church, with the ultimate goal of leading the new converts to become supporters of their respective ministries. In other words, ministries used the sinner’s prayer to steer people into a relationship with the Church Triumphant, as opposed to steering them towards a true and substantive relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Reciting the Sinner’s Prayer can deeply move anyone with a spiritual inclination. However, religion’s use of the sinner’s prayer as the sanctioned pathway to becoming a born again Christian may give the convert the false impression that God is content with the recitation of this rote prayer for the granting of salvation. Truth be told, scripture clearly shows that the Father has expectations beyond the recitation of a simple prayer from any who would become His child. And the Hebrew Roots, Messianic Faith, is the closest thing to the true faith once delivered to the first century saints. The first century Kahila (aka church) that was headed by Yeshua’s sent ones (aka the apostles), possessed the knowledge of what Yehovah expects of those who would become His elect one.

What, then, are the steps one must take to enter and thrive in the Nazarene Israel-Messianic Faith?

1. Believe in the Person and Ministries of Yisrael’s Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiyach. In order for one to begin a true and substantive, obedient covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe, they must first believe Yeshua. The very first calls made to our first century Jewish cousins by the sent ones were for them to “repent and believe the Gospel” ( 1:15). To Hebraically believe something or someone requires more than a cognitive acceptance that someone or something is real or true. Biblical belief is an intense action word. The disciples of Yeshua Messiah must trust in Him and His ministry. They must believe that He is who He claims to be and will fulfill His promises. They must also follow His instructions without hesitation. This is the essence of true discipleship: obedience that flows from and trusting faith in the Person and Ministry of Yeshua Messiah. The one who would enter into Faith possesses the understanding that they direly need a savior. And so they confess a trusting faith in the Person of Yeshua unto salvation (Rom. 10:9-17).
2. This trusting faith comes through their hearing the Gospel message and positively responding to it by engaging in teshuvah, which means to repent of one’s sins; to turn from one’s former way of life and to an obedience of the one true Faith ( 16:26). The heart of the Gospel message is repentance from one’s sins and turning to obedience of the one true Faith (Rom. 16:26). However, for there to be true teshuvah, the would be disciple of Yeshua must:
   1. Abandon-Leave Behind their old life for the newness of life which is in Yeshua Messiah ( 6:4).
   2. Enter an obedient covenant relationship with Yehovah. Such a relationship comes because of provisions Yah made in His plan of salvation, restoration, and redemption. He established a covenant relationship with Yisrael ( 19). Yah made allowances and provisions in that original covenant for non-Israelite who chose to serve the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov (Exo. 12:49; Num. 15:16, 29). Torah, aka the Law, is the backbone of Yehovah’s covenant relationship with Yisrael. Consequently, Yehovah established just one covenant and one law or Torah for both Yisrael and Gentile alike. Yeshua brings non-Yisraelites into the covenant and grants them the same privileges as true Yisrael. And so the would be disciple or Netzer submits themselves to the rule of Yehovah over their lives and obeys Him and His Son unconditionally (2 The. 1:8). Master Yeshua emphatically stated to His disciples, if you indeed love me, keep My commandments (Joh. 4:15). And Yeshua’s commandments are His Father’s commandments.
   3. And out of an obedience to the Faith, the disciple learns to fear Yehovah. Fearing and obeying Yehovah’s instructions is the whole duty of humanity (Ecc. 12:13). Most self-professing Christians misinterpret what it means to fear Elohim. To fear or “yare” Elohim is to literally be afraid of Him. When one truly fears Yah, they will keep on the straight and narrow, fearful of the consequences if they go astray from that narrow path that leads to life. We develop genuine fear of Yehovah during the lifelong sanctification process.

So, teshuvah has the would be disciple repenting (i.e., regretting and being remorseful over their life of sin) and turning or returning to an obedience of faith in and through Yeshua Messiah. This is the primary focus of orthodox Jews during the Ten Days of Awe and Yom Kippur. During this period, the religious Jew embarks on a journey of teshuvah as they reflect upon how they conducted themselves over the course of the year.

3. Be water immersed. For one to become a true disciple of Yeshua, they must be water immersed. And yes, water immersion has a historic and spiritual tie to the Hebrew miqvah. The idea behind the miqvah was to facilitate in one’s return to ritual purity. Ritual purity was required for one to enter the presence of Yehovah. Well, water immersion takes the concept of being returned to a state of ritual purity through miqvah a few steps further. When the would be disciple is submerged beneath the surface of living water and they re-emerge back to the surface, this act of faith is symbolic of (1) the disciple’s committed abandonment of their old sinful nature for the righteous nature of Yahoshua, (2) their sincere repentance/teshuvah, and (3) their identity being fixed to the Person and Ministry of Yahoshua Messiah. Water immersion is a requirement of salvation. Peter instructed the crowd in Jerusalem who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Yeshua on that great day of Shavuot or Pentecost to “repent (i.e., turn from sin and teshuvah) and be water immersed…in the Name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins” ( 2:38). Water immersion leads to the next action.
4. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to aid the disciple in their transformation into the image of Yeshua Messiah. The indwelling, set apart Spirit or presence of Yah within a disciple of Yeshua serves so many purposes that to attempt to discuss them all would take us off topic and beyond the allotted for this forum. The Holy Spirit is crucial for obeying Yah’s instructions and having a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Master Yeshua Messiah told His disciples that His Father gives the Holy Spirit (aka the Ruach haKodesh) to them who ask ( 11:13). It is impossible to walk blamelessly in the Master’s footsteps without the indwelling presence of Yah’s precious Holy Spirit (Mat. 19:26; Mar. 9:23; 10:27; 14:36). As one beloved Messianic teacher says about the Holy Spirit’s work in a disciple: He, the Holy Spirit, gives the disciple the “I want to obey heart” (G. Stevens Simons of Triumph in Truth Ministries). Obedience to Yah’s instructions in righteousness is a non-negotiable element of the true faith once delivered. Which leads to the fifth step.
5. Become a voracious reader and student of Yah’s Torah (i.e., the whole of Scripture). Most importantly, become a true disciple of Yeshua Messiah. The Apostle Paul described the critical importance of the scriptures to one’s walk in Messiah: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2Ti 3:16-17 KJV)
6. Seek out and engage in convocational and fellowship opportunities as Yah so leads. The writer of the Book of Hebrews penned: 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:22-25 KJV) Yah commands His people to convocate (i.e., convene or take part in a sacred assembly or rehearsal) on each of His set apart days, including the weekly Sabbath ( 12:16; Lev. 23:3-36; Num. 28:18-26; 29:1-12). Finding holy convocation opportunities on Yah’s set apart days can be very challenging, especially for those who are not near a Messianic-Netzari fellowship or congregation. However, there is nothing too hard for Yehovah. There’s always a solution and if one goes to Yah with their concerns, He will take care of that concern according to His will and purpose.
7. Last, commit to the Way with one’s whole being with the goal of enduring to the end, for those that endure to the end shall be saved ( 24:13; Mar. 13:13).

So in quick review, beloved, the would be disciple of Messiah must (1) believe, (2) teshuvah, (3) be water immersed or baptized, (4) ask Yah for His Set Apart Indwelling Spirit, (5) become a disciple of Yeshua Messiah and study the Word vociferously (i.e., develop an appetite for the Word), (6) convocate in holy convocations, and (7) purpose to endure to the end.

Beloved, I pray that if you are truly being led to walk in this glorious Faith of ours, that you consider the steps I’ve enumerated in this post. And if you go forward to pull the trigger on committing the rest of your life to walking in the Netsari Faith, please contact me so that I may rejoice with you. And certainly, if you have questions about anything I’ve discussed in this post, please touch basis with me. Hilary offers an excellent Messianic Discipleship Training Program, and she wants you to be her student.

Beloved, if this is you, don’t hesitate. Commit your life to the service of the Kingdom and to an obedient covenant relationship with the King of the Universe through His Son, Yeshua Messiah. Today is the day of salvation.