Have you heard about the heretical "Hebrew Roots" movement? It may sound innocuous or even like a "good thing." But it's a cult. Flee from it! Let's take a look at many of the horrible errors which show that the Hebrew Roots movement is both heretical and blasphemous. Beware the false gospel they regurgitate as well.
Here's a short list, and the article will detail each of these errors:
#1. Hebrew Roots movement denies the name of Jesus!
#2. Hebrew Roots movement throws out huge portions of scripture (and twists other scripture).
#3. Hebrew Roots movement tries to put us back under the law (commandments and ordinances of Israel).
#4. Hebrew Roots movement denies Gentiles can be saved! (*Note: A Gentile is anyone not born a Jew).
#5. Hebrew Roots movement uses non-biblical writings and places this above scripture.
#6. Hebrew Roots movement has made themselves a FALSE "god" and has replaced Jesus as merely the successor of Moses!
#7. Hebrew Roots movement falsely claims that only "Rabbis and Priests" can understand scripture.
#8. Hebrew Roots movement falsely claims that the Jews are not the Jews! They claim OTHER people groups are supposedly Jews.
As I started writing this article, I realized even just touching briefly on all the errors, heresy, and even blasphemy of the Hebrew Roots movement could take hundreds of pages! I will try to be as brief as possible, but it's very important that we understand the Hebrew Roots movement IS a cult, gives a FALSE GOSPEL, perverts and throws out a huge portion of God's word, and even goes so far as to attempt to annul Jesus' perfect finished work on the cross/resurrection.
Before we get into the details of the Hebrew Roots movement, I'd like to ask you if you've ever played the game called "Whack-a-mole"? When one mole gets squashed, another one immediately pops up!
Much like the silly "Whack-a-mole" game today, we are seeing cults, false doctrine, heresy, and blasphemy popping up one right after the other. They are ALL of the devil, and it's nothing new... the devil has been trying his evil best to corrupt God's word from day one. Just like the moles popping up left and right in the game, the devil keeps popping up into society and even in churches with so many errors and falsehoods!
The difference is that the Bible is NOT a game! God's word is something we should take literally, reverently, and with much respect! God is HOLY; His word is HOLY... we are mere humans and we have NO RIGHT to go messing with His word!
There IS a cure for the "whack-a-mole" cults and false doctrines. KNOW THE BIBLE. How can you do that? Do what the Lord told us to do... STUDY like a workman!
2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (KJV).
Some other Bible versions water this verse down... But God's word makes it clear that God expects us to STUDY (not just read), and it requires hard work (like a workman). It also requires "rightly dividing" God's word as well so we can see to whom each part of scripture is speaking and what dispensation (time period) it is referencing. Honestly, this is no EASY task... but He does require it of each of us.
We can go to church every time the doors are open, but if we are not in God's word, studying it out ourselves daily (like a Berean - Acts 17:10-11), then we could be carried away by EVERY WIND OF FALSE DOCTRINE (Eph. 4:14).
Sadly, this is why many believers often don't recognize a cult when one pops onto the scene. If we spent more time in God's word, we'd easily recognize how these cults attempt to twist scripture.
We have seen many of these false teachings trying to be brought in by those who come in to Christian groups NOT to fellowship, NOT to learn, but intentionally to spread the devil's lies and dangerous cult nonsense! The Hebrew Roots movement is just one of many cults which we want to warn you about. But it is indeed a very dangerous cult with a false gospel.
Let's now look at why the Hebrew Roots movement is so wrong and so dangerous:
ERROR #1: Hebrew Roots cult denies the name of Jesus and blasphemes the deity of Christ.
They claim Jesus is not Christ's name. The Hebrew Roots movement calls Jesus by the Hebrew name "Yehoshua" and some say "Yeshua." As for the name "Yehoshua," the horrible part is that it means "Moses' successor." They believe Christ simply takes Moses' place, and do not believe He went to the cross, died for our sins, and rose the third day (the gospel in 1 Cor.15:1-4). It's blasphemy.
As for the name "Yeshua," this IS certainly an acceptable Hebrew name for Christ. Yet several Hebrew names also could be translated the same. The name "Yeshua" is a translation of the name given which means "Jehovah saves." Joshua also has the same meaning, as do a number of Hebrew names.
If you are a Hebrew-speaking person, it's perfectly fine to call Christ "Yeshua." That IS Jesus' name in Hebrew (or at least the closest translation of the Greek name given during that time).
My intent is NOT to deride anyone who uses the name "Yeshua" for Christ. My intent IS to show that when the Hebrew Roots movement uses either the name of "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua," they aren't referring to Christ, but instead they have made up a FALSE CHRIST who never went to the cross (in their twisted false gospel).
This is trending towards (or the inception of) the false religion that will be prevalent during the tribulation (the church won't be here for that), as we see in the following scripture (among others):
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt.24:24).
That scripture is speaking to Israel during the tribulation. But even prior to the tribulation, the birth pains ("beginning of sorrows") are noted in Matthew 24:4-8. While the remainder of that chapter is speaking to, for, and about Israel during the tribulation, verses 4-8 are speaking both to the church AND to Israel, as we are both present on this earth prior to the rapture.
These birth pain indications noted in verses 4-8 are in full swing right now, escalating daily. This is but one of them:
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matt.24:4-5).
This is exactly what the Hebrew Roots cult is attempting to do. Replace our true Risen Savior with their false version of a mere 'Moses do-over,' so to speak. Sadly, they are gaining new converts to their false religion daily. But this is to be expected in these perilous last days.
Jesus is the English translation of the Greek word for Christ. Our true risen Savior! We English-speaking people call Him Jesus. Other languages (of course) translate His name into their own language. This is perfectly acceptable. However, the Hebrew Roots cult demands people call their version of a false Messiah "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua" (in their minds, meaning "Moses' successor, not Christ).
They have no authority to call Christ by another name since there are other names which mean the same thing. They also have no authority to claim only one name for Christ which was NOT given in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in GREEK. The Greek transliteration of the word for Jesus is "Iesou" (if they really wanted to get technical about the name). The English translation of that name is "Jesus." BUT the Hebrew Roots movement has falsely renamed Christ! They claim his name to be "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua," and this is how they arrived at it:
Word Origin from: YHVH and Yasha ("God delivers," one translation added to the other word meaning to form one word). They've taken both names and combined them, so it not only means "Jehovah saves," but INSTEAD (to them) it means "Moses' successor." Did you see that? (To them) Christ is ONLY "Moses' successor." VERY dangerous ground here!
They do NOT believe that Christ is the only begotten Son of God. What does scripture have to say about that?
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22).
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:3).
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7).
Clearly, the Hebrew Roots movement has the spirit of antichrist behind it. The devil himself spurring on a false gospel in these perilous last days. And sadly, many are falling prey to this end-time cult.
According to their erroneous theory, only those of the Hebrew roots movement who call upon the name of "Yehoshua" (or their version of "Yeshua") will be saved. They believe him to be only Moses' successor, and so they negate the cross entirely! Along with their other erroneous beliefs such as keeping commandments, etc. We will discuss that shortly.
So, when you ask them (someone in the Hebrew Roots cult) if ANYONE was saved prior to the Hebrew Roots movement inception, they will either not answer, or say that everyone during the last 2,000 years who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior is doomed! This is just the first of their numerous, heretical, and even blasphemous errors.
PLEASE keep this in mind when someone tries to tell you that you must call Jesus by the name of "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua." Jesus IS the English translation of the Greek word "Iesou." Our risen Christ. And again, "Yeshua" IS indeed a proper translation for Christ in the Hebrew language. But the Hebrew Roots cult does NOT mean Christ when they say either "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua."
What does the Bible say?
Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Acts 15:11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
The bottom line on the renaming and blaspheming of the name of Christ that the Hebrew Roots cult demands is this: While, if a person speaks Hebrew, this is perfectly acceptable to call Christ "Yeshua" if they so desire; however, it is NOT acceptable to demand that other folks must do the same (nor to demand the use of the word "Yehoshua"). We are English-speaking people. The name for Christ in English is "Jesus."
There is plenty of scripture to show that, for the English-speaking person, believing on the name of Jesus alone for salvation is the faith that saves us, and has saved countless English-speaking people throughout the age of grace/church age. Calling on and believing on the name of JESUS saves!
The Hebrew Roots cult would say that anyone who called on the name of Jesus was NOT saved! See how very dangerous this cult is? It's the exact OPPOSITE of the truth!
The Hebrew roots movement mistakenly claims that the New Testament was written in Hebrew. We know this to be false. History proves that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, but that the New Testament was written in Greek. However, the Hebrew Roots movement has an agenda here. They falsely claim that the New Testament was written in Hebrew because they then attempt to sneak in false writings of latter years (after Christ) which are occultic and even mystical. (The Bible warns of these things very severely.) Yet, we know from factual evidence that Greek was the New Testament language and also was the international language spoken and written at the time of Christ.
We can also see why they want to make this false assertion... to cast doubt on the name of Jesus! Once you see their motives, you realize how demonically inspired their cult is. If their erroneous belief were true, then no one has been saved for the last 2,000 years (supposedly) until the Hebrew Roots movement came out.
That is one of the most outrageous and false claims of the Hebrew Roots movement. There are MANY more errors with that cult.
ERROR #2: Throwing out massive amounts of scripture.
Next, they focus on only a few verses (taken out of context) in the New Testament, and then they THROW OUT 99% of the rest of the New Testament. They even falsely claim that Paul's epistles are not true (omitting HUGE portions of vital scripture).
The reason they attempt this horrific tossing out of scripture is so that they can deny MANY parts of scripture that do not fit with their false theory and their false gospel!
Paul wrote 13 epistles of the New Testament (Romans thru Philemon). That is a HUGE amount of scripture the Hebrew Roots movement attempts to throw out or twist! All so they can push their false teachings.
This is much like (but even worse than) the cults of Mormonism and Jehovah's witnesses. Both of those cultish groups ADD to scripture (as does the Hebrew Roots movement). All 3 of those cults have fabricated their "own Bible" (a fake one). But even worse, the Hebrew Roots movement TAKES AWAY from actual scripture. They have not heeded God's words of warning. God gives mankind a VERY SEVERE WARNING not to tamper with His word (Rev. 22:18-19).
ERROR #3: Trying to drag the church back under the law.
The Hebrew Roots movement disregards the truth of Christ's FINISHED WORK on the cross/resurrection. But just as dangerous and false a teaching of the Hebrew Roots movement is that they believe (erroneously) that they have to follow the Old Testament commandments. Let's take a look at what God's word has to say about this:
Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Galatians 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
So, what does the Hebrew Roots cult do with that clear and concise scripture? They simply throw it out! They reject and refuse to hear God's word.
In the Old Testament, God gave commandments which Israel was to obey. He knew it was impossible for mankind to completely follow the commandments because ALL have sinned (Rom. 3:23). We see in God's word that Jesus is the END of the LAW (commandments) (Rom.10:4). If we try to justify ourselves by works and law, we make Christ's finished work on the cross/resurrection to no avail! And to be sure, we cannot 'save ourselves.' Only Christ saves. Not our own works.
This issue alone would take quite a lot of discussion to fully cover; but in brief, the Hebrew Roots movement believes the following:
- They attempt to place us back under the dietary restrictions of the OT law.
- They attempt to place us under the MOSAIC law (law of Moses).
- They attempt to place us under the mandate to observe feasts and traditions.
- They attempt to place us under the customs and traditions of MANKIND as well.
- They attempt to place us under all the LAW, when Christ is the END of the law!
There are many more errors with the Hebrew Roots cult movement as well. What does God's word say about dragging the church back under the law?
Acts chapter 10 gives the account of Peter. Having been raised and steeped in the Mosaic law, he had always eaten only those things the Jewish people considered to be "clean" (as was the Old Testament law). God gave Peter a dream, and showed him 3 times that HE had cleansed what was formerly thought of as "unclean." Since the cross, no longer are we required to eat of the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament law. God answered Peter and said "...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (impure)" (in Acts 10:15).
Paul also had much to say about this as well. He was irate with Peter for his mistake of trying to force Gentiles to keep the Jewish laws. Here is how Paul "called Peter out" about his grievous error:
Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"
Paul was righteously upset that Peter was trying to Judaize the Gentiles rather than teach the truth of the gospel.
Here is more of Paul's answer to Peter in how we are now justified by FAITH and NOT WORKS.
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
In the Old Testament, Israel was required to sacrifice innocent/blemish-free animals to cover their sins because they could not keep the commandments (no one can; we ALL have sinned, Rom 3:23). Christ came and HIS perfect finished work on the cross/resurrection did MUCH MORE than merely COVER our sins... it totally WASHED AWAY OUR SINS. The Hebrew Roots movement is a total mockery of what Christ did on the cross!
The book of Hebrews is a thorough study in the differences between law and grace. It's another discussion which would take pages and pages of information to fully discuss. So, in brief, we need to understand that Jesus paid the "ONCE FOR ALL" sacrifice of His perfect, sinless self, shedding His own innocent blood.
Heb. 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
No longer are we required to sacrifice animals for covering of sin... because Jesus was the PERFECT sacrifice. Not just a million times superior to animal blood, but not even comparable. Jesus alone is the only propitiation acceptable to God.
Heb. 10:4 "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
We see there that animal sacrifice only covered the sins of the people, and it did not TAKE AWAY the sins (as did Christ's finished work on the cross).
Hebrew Roots also attempts to say we must keep the feasts. They go so far as to demand that we keep the Passover. What does God's word have to say about that?
Christ IS our Passover! 1 Corinthians 5:7 "... For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
No longer does ANYONE need the blood of animals to merely COVER sins, as was done in the Old Testament. Jesus IS our passover sacrifice. A ONCE and FOR ALL perfect passover sacrifice. No further sacrifice needed. Again, His precious blood shed for our sins didn't just cover them; it washes our sins completely away!
The Hebrew Roots Movement implies that Jesus' perfect work on the cross/resurrection was un-needed. THAT IS blasphemous!
The Hebrew roots cult tries to drag people back under the law - not just in dietary restrictions, but in keeping of the feasts, keeping the commandments, and so many other ERRORS.
The important thing to note: We are NOT under LAW but under GRACE. We no longer are required to keep any of the dietary laws either.
One of the reasons the Hebrew Roots movement wants to THROW OUT all of Pauls' epistles is because they prove beyond a doubt that Christ is the END of the law! (Rom. 10:4).
We need to recognize that since the cross we are NOT required to keep ANY of the feasts, customs, or the Mosaic or Levitical law. Jesus paid it ALL for us! That is not to say it's in any way wrong to observe the feasts, should we so desire to (see: Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 10:1). But by no means must we!
There is MUCH more scripture dealing with this, but if we stayed on just this one issue, we would never get to the rest of the Hebrew Roots errors.
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