For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. The messianic world starts here for news, views and prayer for Israel and a balanced approach to exploring the Hebrew roots of Christianity, for Jew and Gentile.

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Will deeds of kindness bring the Messiah?

The ultra Orthodox 'Tsivos Hashem' (Army of the Lord) have been touring north London spreading the word of Judaism. On their van they have a text which reads: 'Deeds of goodness and kindness will bring the Moshiach' (Messiah).

This highlights the essence of Rabbinic teaching on the Messiah. If you listen to the teachings of their sages and follow their life style, you will bring in the Messianic days. God will send the Messiah to the generation that is worthy of him. Therefore the condition of Israel determines when the Messiah comes. If Israel is unrighteous this will delay the coming of the Messiah. If Israel is righteous God will send the Messiah.

According to this way of thinking there is a process, which begins with sanctification leading to salvation, causing a person to lead a better life with the help of the Spirit of God. As a result of all this the Messiah comes.

It is interesting that this is the exact opposite of the teaching of the New Testament. As Paul says in Romans 5.6: ''When we still without strength in due time Messiah died for the ungodly … God demonstrates his own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us.' It is up to God to determine the time of the coming of the Messiah and he comes while we are sinners, not because we are righteous.

Ephesians 2 also teaches us that the process of sanctification is the other way round from the Rabbinic one outlined above. First God sends the Messiah who saves us by his sacrificial death and resurrection, then he sends the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him and by the grace of God we are able to do good works and be sanctified.

Tenach passages also show us that the timing of the Messiah's coming depends on the will of God, not Israel's righteousness (e.g. Daniel 9.26) and that it is only God who can deal with the problem of sin through Messiah's atoning death and resurrection (Isaiah 53 and 59).

If it is up to us to bring the Messiah through our good deeds, we are going to be waiting a very long time. In fact we are going to be waiting forever.

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