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In this episode, David Blease sits down with Preston Benjamin, an expert in Messianic Jewish understanding with a Master's in Biblical Theology. Preston breaks down Acts 15, the historical roots of the Evangelical Church, and whether the Church should return to the Acts model. The early church faced a major challenge in integrating Gentile believers who wanted to follow the God of Israel, but were not commanded by God to adopt Jewish identity and practices. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church decided that Gentiles could be adopted into the family of Abraham through faith in Jesus without needing to be circumcised or fully convert to Judaism.
This allowed the church to remain rooted in its Jewish foundations while welcoming Gentiles. The relationship between the church and Israel has often been complex and contentious throughout history, with the church sometimes falling into a theology of replacement or supersessionism.
However, there is a growing understanding that the church and Israel are not separate but instead represent the ongoing people of God, with both Jewish and Gentile believers having a vital role to play.
As the church seeks to reconnect with its biblical roots, it must do so in a way that honors the unique identity and calling of both Jewish and Gentile believers.
