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Are the teachings of the First Fruits of Zion ministry safe for your church? We speak with David Harris, Ph.D, a Jewish believer in Jesus, and pastor Randy Powell, an expert on FFOZ, on this question. Prof. Solberg gets their reaction to 5 video clips from FFOZ founder, Boaz Michael.

The panel addresses the controversial claim of an “incomplete gospel,” analyzing the theological roots and consequences of such a belief. They highlight the dangers of Torah-centric teachings that risk shifting the focus away from Christ and toward Old Covenant practices. Topics include the role of the Torah in Christianity, the identity of believers in the gospel, and the balance between holiness and legalism. The panel also explores the implications of the Hebrew Roots movement, including the risks of cult-like behavior and theological confusion within churches. With a clear call for discernment, this video challenges viewers to align their faith firmly with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant teachings of Scripture.

Affiliate Note: I first studied biblical Hebrew remotely through the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies. If you're interested in learning Biblical Hebrew (or even Aramaic or Greek), check out their courses using the affiliate link below. It’s a great way to deepen your understanding of God’s Word!
👉 https://go.israelbiblicalstudies.com/R.L.Solberg

David Harris' website:
https://beatgoliath.com/

Pastor Randy Powell's website:
https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/

Article mentioned in this episode:
https://ffoz.org/messiah/articles/there-is-no-distinction

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Chapter
00:00 Introduction to First Fruits of Zion
04:47 Understanding Their Positioning and Theology
08:51 The Influence and Reach of First Fruits of Zion
12:25 The Evolution of Their Theology
18:01 Examining the Incomplete Gospel Claims
26:28 Critique of Church History and Theology
31:53 The Church's Future: A Fractured Landscape
35:08 The Dangers of a Partial Gospel
36:18 Identifying Cult-like Tendencies
40:46 The Role of Torah in Modern Faith
51:14 Understanding Jewish Identity in the Gospel
57:21 Personal Holiness vs. Legalism
01:01:14 Understanding the Incomplete Gospel
01:03:02 The Role of Torah in Christianity
01:06:01 The Dangers of Torah Idolatry
01:09:04 Theological Clarity and Precision
01:11:51 Navigating Church Conflicts
01:15:01 The Impact of Hebrew Roots Movement
01:17:59 Concluding Thoughts on Theology and Community

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In this episode, we test the teaching of a Hebrew Roots rabbi named Steve Berkson who teaches at Messianic Torah Observant Israel near Chattanooga, TN. Rabbi Berkson teaches, "It’s not works versus grace, it's works and grace." And he defines "grace" as merited favor, saying, "It's the opposite of what you were taught. How shocking is that? Another thing the church taught you backwards. It's merited favor. That's why works and grace go together. Because it's your works that merit the favor."

We test his claims against the Bible as he walks us through the idea of grace, works, and faith, and what these things have to do with our salvation.

Watch Rabbi Berkson's Video

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Chapter
04:30 The ISR Scriptures translation of the Bible
07:36 Grace is “merited favor”
15:23 Salvation is available.
19:31 Your works get you into the Kingdom of God
20:37 Jesus did His part
22:56 Christianity teaches no personal responsibility
24:58 We need to do our part.
29:14 You were put here to do the work
35:31 A training ground for your works
38:20 It’s not about salvation (But it is)
45:49 You have to earn it.

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In this episode, we take a serious look at the popular YouTube channel @Truthunedited and its controversial “Testing Christianity” series by Ron Charles. With over 100 million views, his teachings are spreading confusion about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We examine his five-question "test" of Christianity and compare it directly to the Bible. Is his theology biblically sound—or spiritually dangerous? Join us as we confront false teaching, defend the Gospel, and pray for truth to prevail.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16)

Keep me honest! You can watch the full Truthunedited video here if you question whether I presented their positions in a proper context.

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:49 Wheat or Tares? (The Test)
08:53 Question #1: Covenant Partners
17:28 Question #2: The Christian Covenant
25:25 Question #3: What Will the Father Do?
32:05 Question #4: These Last Days
35:29 Question #5: Heaven or Earth?
40:19 Wrap it up, Solberg.

#apologetics
#falseteaching
#torahkeeper
#gospeltruth
#hebrewroots
#hebrewisraelites

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Let's look at 6 specific differences between our modern Western culture and the culture in which the Bible was written. Why? Because knowing these differences gives us a heightened awareness of the culture in which our Bible was written, which helps us better understand what the biblical authors wanted to communicate to us. Then, using those 6 specific differences, we'll examine the Kingdom of God (aka The Kingdom of Heaven) as it's taught in the Bible. I pray you find this teaching helpful and enlightening!

Links mentioned in this episode:
https://walkingthetext.com/
https://www.newlensbiblicalstudies.com/
Where are the prophecies of a messiah rising on the 3rd day? (Video)

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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In this episode, we’re joined by Christian thinker, artist, and apologist FLAME, who spent nearly two decades in the Reformed Baptist tradition before embracing a deeper understanding of grace. Together, we explore how the biblical teaching on law, identity, and grace shapes not just theology, but how we engage culture, alternate belief systems like Hebrew Israelism, and the modern world with the hope of Christ.

Learn more about FLAME at https://extranosacademy.com/.

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Why don’t Christians offer animal sacrifices anymore? What makes Jesus’ sacrifice so unique—and final? What did it accomplish? In this episode, we dive into the first half of Hebrews 10, where the author brings his powerful argument to a climax: Jesus is the true form that the entire old covenant system only foreshadowed. If you've ever wrestled with questions about the law, the temple, or the forgiveness of sins, this study will help connect the dots and deepen your understanding of God's plan of redemption.

Links Mentioned in this Episode
Sin Sacrifice: A Response to Caleb Hegg
Sin Sacrifices & Hebrew Roots: A Rebuttal
Understanding End Times Biblical Prophecies

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and re-cap
03:36 The Law Was Only a Shadow (vv. 1-4)
21:14 A Better Offering: Christ’s Willing Sacrifice (vv.5-7)
34:36 A Body Prepared: The Fulfillment of God's Will (vv. 8–10)
40:35 One Sacrifice to End Them All (vv. 11–18)
49:19 Wrap it up, Professor.

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Why do Christians celebrate Easter instead of Passover—especially when Jesus was crucified during Passover week? In this video, we unpack the powerful connections between Passover, the Last Supper, and the resurrection of Jesus. Discover seven ways the ancient feast of Passover foreshadowed the redemptive work of Christ and how the Last Supper transformed everything.

Grab your Bible and join us for a fresh look at Holy Week through Hebrew eyes.


Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:53 Passover prefigures Christ
07:03 The Biblical Timing of Holy Week
14:57 Attending the Last Supper
29:01 What About the Resurrection?

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Why did Jesus have to die? How does His blood redeem us from our sins? We look at how redemption is made possible through Christ's powerful and perfect blood in this episode of our Hebrews Bible study. Even if you haven’t heard the previous episodes in this series, you’ll get a lot out of this discussion!

Links mentioned in this episode
Sin Sacrifice: A Response to Caleb Hegg

Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity
Our website
Our YouTube Channel
Prof. Solberg's Blog
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Chapters
00:00 Intro and outline
05:11 True Atonement in a True Tabernacle (Heb. 9:11-14)
22:20 The New Covenant Begins (Heb. 9:15-22)
33:52 The Final Sacrifice ( Heb. 9:23-28)