One Law Theology: Perspective on the One New Man

I have been the director of Messianic Jewish Studies at The King’s University since 2015, and I get the sense from my little corner of the universe that the Church is at a crossroads in understanding its relationship to Jews and Judaism. The aim of this article is to call us to work toward realizing Paul’s Ephesians 2 vision of the One New Man, made up of Jews and Gentiles in Messiah, who affirm each other as Jews and Gentiles.

The Vision of Unity and Diversity

This is a healthy direction and it leads to much partnership, fruitfulness and peace in the kingdom of God. We believe that the Church is a body of Jews and Gentiles in Messiah who are called to live out a God-given relationship of interdependence and mutual blessing (Rom 11:11-25; 15:7-27). At The King’s University, we celebrate this unity in diversity through the following core tenets:

  • Gentile believers do not need to become Jews or take on Jewish lifestyle to walk in the ways of the Lord (Acts 15).
  • Jewish followers of Jesus are called to remain true to their identity as Jews (1 Cor 7:17-24; Acts 21:17-26).

Departures from Paul’s Vision

I also want to show how Hebrew Roots/One Law Theology and Replacement Theology represent departures from Paul’s One New Man vision— in opposite directions. The theological results of these perspectives are categorized as follows:

  • Hebrew Roots/One Law View: Results in the One New Jew.
  • The Replacement Theology View: Results in the One New Gentile.
  • Ephesians 2 Vision: Results in the One New Man (Jews and Gentiles in Messiah who affirm each other).

Complex Issues and Perspectives

These perspective papers are not official statements or positions from Gateway Church, but are our thoughtful perspectives on complex issues related to Israel. The study explores these specific chapters and themes:

  1. Unity and Diversity in God’s Kingdom
  2. Three Approaches to Gentile Believers and the Torah
  3. The Hebrew Roots/One Law View
  4. Hard, Soft and Partial One Law
  5. One Law Arguments and Responses
  6. Hard and Soft Supersessionism
  7. Third Race Theology

The Experience of The King’s University

From its beginnings in 1997, The King’s University has been a trailblazer in its mission “to love, affirm, and stand with the Jewish people and Israel.” Today we have a faculty, staff, and student body made up of Gentile Christians and Jewish believers. Messianic Jews and Messianic Jewish studies are fully integrated into the life of the community even as Jews and Gentiles at TKU affirm each other in their respective identities and callings.

As one who has participated in this learning community since 2015, I can testify that it is the real deal. Given the centuries old parting of the ways between the Church and the synagogue, it is a miracle that we have a Christian university in our day where the faculty, staff, and student body is made up of Messiah-confessing Jews and Gentiles, who identify as Jews and Gentiles, and there is shaloam bayit (peace in the house). History is going in the direction of healing the schism between the Church and the Jewish people, and God forming his One New Man described in Ephesians 2.