Just as Messianic Jews probably misunderstand some of the things you
believe, I think you misunderstand some of the things I believe.
We do not in any way believe in three gods. My God is one,
and his name is the LORD (or, Yahweh, known to Orthodox Jews as
HaShem).
He revealed himself to us through his Son, the Messiah, who is the very
image and reflection of God. And he touches us and speaks to us by
his Spirit. These are deep, spiritual truths.
Later theologians labeled this relationship the Trinity -- God as a triune One.
But the word ‘Trinity’ is not found anywhere in the New Testament
and it may confuse the issues for you.”
Followers of Jesus also believe in one God, not three.
Most Jews recite the Shema, the Jewish confession of faith,
“Hear O Israel, the LORD our God the Lord is one.”
However, the translation of the New Jewish Version, recognized as the
most accurate English translation produced by Jewish scholars, states:
“Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone.”
The point of the Shema is to demand absolute faith in the LORD alone,
with no gods before Him. The Hebrew word “echad,” translated “alone”
here, means “one” in the sense of “that one alone.”
In the twelfth century, Moses Maimonides, writing to counter Christian
and Muslim beliefs, compiled his thirteen articles of faith, recited by
observant Jews daily. One of the articles states that Jews must believe
that god is yachid— “absolute unity.” But this is unscriptural, since the
Hebrew Bible gives clear indications of God’s composite unity.
Genesis 19:24 states that “the LORD rained down burning sulfur on
Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.”
In other words, the LORD, who had been on the earth talking to Abraham
(read Gen. 18:1-33 very carefully), rained down fire and brimstone from
the LORD out of the heavens.
The Spirit of God came upon many people in the Scriptures.
For instance, Isaiah 61:1 states, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD
is on me….”
And, finally, who is God’s Son in Proberbs 30:4?
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the
wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his
cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name,
and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
Isaiah 42:1 speaks of God’s servant (that is, the Messiah) upon whom
God places His Spirit so that “he will bring justice to the nations.”
Here in one passage is a reference to the LORD (the Father),
the Messiah (the Son), and the Spirit.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
===================
Information from Dr. Michael L. Brown
http://www.ilifetv.com/thinkitthru/
As a Jewish believer in Jesus, Dr. Brown is active in Jewish evangelism
and has debated rabbis on radio, TV, and college campuses.
He is also a published Old Testament and Semitic scholar,
holding a Ph.D in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
from New York University. In 1997, he was appointed Visiting
Professor of Jewish Apologetics at Fuller Theological Seminary
School of World Mission and has been affiliated with Regent University
Divinity School as an Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Jewish
Studies.
