Kesher Journal Issue 22

Issue 22 - Spring/Summer 2008 Double Issue

This edition of Kesher is a themed issue dedicated to soteriology in the context of Messianic Judaism. The theme of soteriology is timely, since there are two Messianic events that deal with this issue. The first is the Borough Park Symposium (October, 2007) and the second is a Theological Forum on Soteriology hosted by the UMJC Theology Committee (March, 2008). For those who have not been able to attend these events, this issue of Kesher includes a selection of the papers.

Articles and Book Reviews...

New Articles...

Andrew SparksDear Friend, Greetings in the name of our Messiah. I am writing to announce to you some new developments with Kesher: a Journal of Messianic Judaism. First of all, our new website has been launched, and it offers the additional benefits of an online journal. With an online subscription, you will receive: Access to archives of the last 8 issues (in the future over 10 years of Kesher will be accessible)...Read More >>

David Rudolph When I was asked to speak on the subject of guidelines for healthy theological discussion, the story of Michael Wyschogrod's meeting with Karl Barth came to mind.* As a little background, Michael Wyschogrod is an Orthodox Jewish theologian who lives in New York City. Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian and one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the 20th century. Michael Wyschogrod writes of his meeting with Barth: On a sunny morning in August 1966 I visited...Read More >>

Daniel C. JusterThe Issues At Hand - Defining Perspectives on Afterlife and Salvation It has been very important to me to teach on the meaning of salvation from what I call a "Gospel of the Kingdom" perspective. Salvation is a concept that is far richer than going to heaven when we die, as important as that may be. Rather, salvation encompasses the whole of life, individual and corporate. It is not only about life after death, but also about the full meaning of our life in the...Read More >>

Stuart Dauermann I was about ten years old the first time somebody called me a Christ-killer. I had just come out of Morris Schaeffer's candy store, on the corner of Winthrop Street and Nostrand Avenue, in Flatbush, Brooklyn. A bunch of kids whom I had never met before jumped me, pummeling me to the ground, while making a profound theological query: "Why'd you kill God?" I had no answer for them. At that moment I didn't know what they were talking about. Only later, while tending to bruises and scrapes and...Read More >>

Derek Leman Does the New Testament limit inclusion in the life to come to those who profess faith in the person and work of Yeshua? Those who would answer yes to this question might be termed restrictivists. Those who would answer no might be termed inclusivists.[1] The way I see the New Testament doctrine of salvation is simple. There is something separating us from God, something Yeshua did made it possible to reverse the separation, and something we do makes Yeshua's sacrifice effective for us. I think we must believe...Read More >>

Mark S. Kinzer In What Does It Mean To Be Saved?, Regent College professor John Stackhouse points to a misunderstanding of salvation that he sees as endemic in the evangelical world: In his gracious but penetrating response to the essays in this volume, Oxford professor John Webster wonders whether it is particularly North American evangelicals who need to be reminded that the Bible presents salvation as offering more than getting souls to heaven. My experience of teaching soteriology for several years at Regent College - an international graduate school of...Read More >>

Scott Nassau Recent discussions within Messianic Judaism have addressed various aspects of soteriology. Unfortunately, the relationship between Shavuot and the Messianic view of salvation is often missing from the dialogue. Yet, in Luke-Acts, the events on Shavuot are the culmination of Messiah's redemptive work. Therefore, this paper will explore the significance in the arrival of the Spirit on Shavuot and its impact upon the development of a Messianic soteriology.* The Anticipation of Shavuot in Luke-Acts Luke's portrayal of Yeshua's life continually anticipates the Father's promise of the Spirit and culminates with...Read More >>

David Sedaca When we try to discuss the topic of soteriology and the people of Israel, we are faced with a problem. Soteriology is a Christian concept, discussed in Christian theology and is part of Christian dogma. The word "soteriology" is commonly defined as the study of the doctrine of salvation. It discusses how Messiah's death provides salvation to those who believe in him And is therefore directly linked with the study of other doctrines derived from the belief that Jesus is the Messiah who died for the sinner....Read More >>

Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum The purpose of this article is to answer the question, "Exactly what must one do to be saved?" According to the Scriptures, what is it that a person must do to be saved? The key point as emphasized by the Brit Chadashah is that faith is the one and only condition for salvation. In more than 200 cases where a condition is given for salvation, faith or belief is stated to be the only condition. One example is John 1:12: but as many...Read More >>

Avram Aumick, Ralph Finley, Elliot Klayman and Howard Silverman* Sin separates humanity from God and the world to come. The mystery of salvation lies solely with God who has revealed only one way to enjoy right-relationship with God now and in the world to come. That way is personal, conscious faith (in this lifetime) in Messiah Yeshua as Lord and Redeemer. God is a righteous judge and will judge no one unjustly. Theological and Biblical Support The Scriptures teach that every person, whether Jew or Gentile, stands in need of the atonement for sin provided by God's grace...Read More >>

Articles and Book Reviews

Book Review

Jennifer Rosner (reviewer)2008-03-02 19:18