Brian Blais is the Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
He may be contacted at: pastorblais@outlook.com
It is my understanding that one of the consistent attempts to pushback against the warning from the Franklin Christian Ministerium that the teachings of the Torah Clubs (First Fruits of Zion) are dangerous and unorthodox has been that we're the only ones who have any issue with this organization. That has never been true, as I've been contacted by pastors in multiple states who have read my research who wanted to thank me for it and/or ask my advice about how to counter this group in their congregation.
That being said, up until this point the various pastors of the two other ministerium's in Venango County have chosen to address this matter without making a public stance, and while I (and the Franklin Ministerium) have chosen a different path, all of us who are called to shepherd must make our own choices about the best way to protect our flocks. Now, however, Pastor Brian Blais of Cornerstone Bible Church has utilized my research, added some of his own, and written his own warning about the Torah Clubs (First Fruits of Zion), the text of which is below. As this is a lengthy post, the following link is to Pastor Brian's webpage which will contain the most up-to-date version of this document that is available: Are Torah Observant Groups/the Hebrew Roots Movement a Concern? By Pastor Brian Blais
Let me publicly thank Pastor Brian for using the time and discernment that went into crafting this document, I have shared it here with his permission as he wrote me, "You are free to print, copy, send along to anyone you think it may be helpful to, etc, if you think it may be of service."
Are Torah Observant Groups/the
Hebrew Roots Movement a Concern?
By Brian Blais
Yes,
here is why, specifically with quotes from materials from the FFOZ
organization, leaders, and/or local Torah groups operating now in this local
area.
1. Torah Observant groups question,
doubt, or explicitly teach a false view of the Trinity. Here are several direct
quotes from FFOZ/TC.
· “In the same way, there
are several other non-negotiable beliefs in modern evangelical Christianity
(and, of course, every other branch of Christianity) – beliefs that are not
clearly articulated in Scripture. The easiest example to deal with is
the Trinity. Nowhere in the Scripture is the doctrine of the Trinity
clearly articulated, and yet one would be hard-pressed to find a modern
“statement of faith” that does not include it. In fact, in every
Christian institution I have been involved with, whether academic or
congregational, one would be excommunicated as a heretic for not believing in
the Trinity. How did it come to be that so much importance is attached to
a doctrine that is not articulated in any one place in Scripture?” - Fronczak, Jacob, Rethinking the Five
Solae: Why Messianic Judaism is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of
Protestantism, First Fruits of Zion, 2021.
·
“…one must build this complex and mystical doctrine from
various scattered references throughout the Bible…How did the Trinity doctrine
attain the level of importance and complexity it currently has? Surely
if it were always a central doctrine, it would have been explicitly referred to
in the Apostolic Writings.” (Note: FFOZ refers to the New Testament as the Apostolic
Writings)- Fronczak, Jacob, Rethinking the Five Solae: Why Messianic
Judaism is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism, First
Fruits of Zion, 2021.
·
“’Theory of the ‘Trinity’…Tom Bradford (p.
127 also 132-139) “…I think we do a great disservice to
ourselves when we attempt to artificially limit the possible manifestations
of G-d to three, so that it makes a nice and tidy Roman Catholic
doctrine.” – Mohnkern, Keith and Heather,
screenshots of PowerPoint slides created for local study,
https://bfit-venango.org/powerpoints-media/
·
“Bradford likens the Trinity to one Person with three
different ATTRIBUTES/ROLES rather than three separates pieces that we
label as persons”. – Mohnkern, Keith and Heather, screenshots of PowerPoint
slides created for local study, https://bfit-venango.org/powerpoints-media/
These
statements are concerning because they cast doubt on, misconstrue, or are
misleading about the doctrine of the Trinity.
Contrary to these statements above by FFOZ, the doctrine of
the Trinity is clearly taught and articulated in the Bible. It is
mysterious and something to wonder at, but I believe that it is taught clearly
in Scripture, and is specifically referred to in the New Testament.
We see the Trinity at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:16-17: “And
Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
At the baptism of our Lord, we see God the Son incarnate,
standing in the waters of the Jordan River. We have God the Holy Spirit
descending upon Him like a dove. And we have the voice of God the Father
speaking from heaven, and proclaiming that Jesus is His Son. We see each Person
of the Trinity appearing simultaneously together in one moment of time. (In
fact, commentator John Gill says that the early church had a saying: “Go to
Jordan and there learn the doctrine of the Trinity”. (John Gill, A Body of
Doctrinal Divinity).
In Matthew 28:19, the Lord said: “Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
In this verse,
Christ commanded that believers baptize in the one, singular “name” (not
plural “names”) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. The one name of the one God, yet three distinct Persons identified
here, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The
benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14 also shows us the Trinity blessing us as
Christians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen”
The Trinity is referred to in Ephesians 2:18: “For
through Him (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
In 1 Peter 1:2, Peter refers to the Trinity and each Person
of the Trinity’s work in the believer’s life: “Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto
you, and peace, be multiplied.”
The
Apostle John said in 1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record
in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one.”
I disagree with the statements quoted above from FFOZ that
“nowhere in Scripture is the doctrine of the Trinity clearly articulated”,
or that the doctrine of the Trinity is “not articulated in any one place in
Scripture”, or that the doctrine of the Trinity is not “explicitly
referred to” in the New Testament (what they called “the apostolic
writings”).
I think
that the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly taught and articulated in the Bible.
Also, the
quote above that says “we do a great disservice to ourselves when we
attempt to artificially limit the possible manifestations of G-d to three”
is strange and concerning. Are there other “manifestations of God” other
than God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? Is it Biblically
true that God is not a Trinity, that there could be a fourth Person of the
Godhead, or a fifth, or that there could be nine “manifestations” of
God, or eleven, etc.? The implied message of the statement is why “limit”
the Godhead to just the three Persons of the Trinity, when there may be more.
This is surely
a strange and dangerous way of speaking about and teaching others about the
Trinity. I don’t see these ideas in Scripture, rather Scripture consistently
speaks of one God in three, and only three, divine Persons- the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I
want to point out that the doctrine of the Trinity is not a minor or fringe
issue. The doctrine of God is very important. These statements and ways of
speaking about the doctrine of the Trinity are concerning.
Our
worship as Christians is trinitarian-we acknowledge, worship, and give honor,
praise, and thanks to each Person of the Trinity for their role in saving and
blessing us. There is one God, eternally existing in three, and only three,
divine Persons. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and these
three are one.
2.
Torah
Observant Groups make strange statements about the Lord Jesus that tend towards
diminishing the deity of the Son of God.
In a lecture on Christology (the doctrine of God the Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ), Daniel Lancaster, the Director of Education for FFOZ
and the author of many of the Torah Club commentaries and materials, said:
· “We already learned that
God is the first cause that he created the whole universe and that he did it
through his paintbrush, which is his word when he said, "Let there
be." And so he created a
version of himself. Like when
you create a version of yourself online, what do you call that? Yeah, an avatar, right? That's
it. He created an avatar. Oh, that's the word. OK, he
created an avatar of himself to enter the world. And and we called that
the word, and this avatar is the is God as we know him in the world.” Daniel
Lancaster, transcript of lecture entitled “The Only Begotten Son”, minute 6:14.
The audio lecture can be found at: https://www.bethimmanuel.org/audio/only-begotten-son
Later in the same lecture he said:
· “I mean, how can God be
tempted? It says, "God is not tempted." Right in the Torah. So how could, how could
he have been tempted? You know, if he was aware, if he was God on
an aware level?” Daniel Lancaster, transcript of a lecture he gave on “The
Only Begotten Son”, minute 17:04.
The
audio lecture can be found at: https://www.bethimmanuel.org/audio/only-begotten-son
Lancaster went on to say:
· “And and another thing, it
wouldn't be any great accomplishment for him to be righteous. I mean, of
course, HaShem isn't going to commit a sin. Of course, Hashem doesn't get
points for being righteous. He is righteous. There's no, you see what I'm
saying? But Yeshua on the other hand, earned God's merit and favor by doing so,
by passing temptations and trials” Daniel Lancaster, transcript of a lecture he gave on “The
Only Begotten Son”, minute 17:18.
The
audio lecture can be found at: https://www.bethimmanuel.org/audio/only-begotten-son
A quote from a local Torah Club said:
·
“Yeshua taught his disciples to pray…not to Jesus; rather
we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus.” – Mohnkern, Keith and Heather, screenshots of PowerPoint
slides created for local study, https://bfit-venango.org/powerpoints-media/
Daniel Lancaster went on to say:
·
“Why
didn’t the Apostles just come right out and say, “Yeshua is God”? Why beat
around the bush? They refer to him as the “Son of God”, the “glory of God,” the
“representation” and “image of God,”, the “exact imprint” of God, and so forth?
Why do they always seem to take one step back from just saying, “Yeshua
is God”? Well for one thing, that’s not a Jewish way of
speaking about God. They did not want to imply that God was two
different beings, nor did they want to give people the idea that they were
teaching polytheism. Besides, that wasn’t what they meant.” https://www.bethimmanuel.org/sites/default/files/4_the_only_begotten_son_0.pdf
The
Apostles and the Scriptures do not always step back from coming right out and
saying that Jesus is God. Scripture consistently refers to Jesus as God:
“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.”, John 1:1
He,
the Word, was with God, and He was God. Here we have Someone who is called “the
Word” who was both with God, and yet who Himself was God. God with God.
“And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”, John
1:14
“And
Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.”, Joh
20:28
“Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”, Matthew
1:23
“For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”, Isaiah
9:6
“Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God:”, Philippians 2:6
“But
unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O
God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of
thy kingdom.”, Hebrews 1:8
“And
without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest
in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”, 1 Timothy
3:16
The
apostles saw the Lord Jesus change water into wine, forgive people of their sins,
cleanse lepers, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, feed thousands
with a few loaves of bread and few fish, walk on water, command the wind and
the sea, etc. They saw Him crucified, and three days later risen from the dead.
The Apostles knew that Jesus was God. They were not hesitant at all in
proclaiming that Jesus was God.
I would have you just please note again that Daniel
Lancaster, who made the statements above, is the Director of Education
for First Fruits of Zion and the author of the Torah Club commentaries as well
as other books and study programs. For someone who is a leader, teacher, and
author of the materials of what purports to be an international ministry to
speak of the Son of God and teach that He is an “avatar”, or to say in a
lecture on who Christ the Lord is, that God “created” a “version
of Himself” is terribly careless, irresponsible, misleading, and dangerous
language, at best, and at worst, is false teaching and heresy. Can we purchase
workbooks, curriculum, and materials whose author is a man who says things like
this?
In
the quote above, Daniel Lancaster says three times that God “created”
a “version” or “avatar” of Himself. But God did not “create”
the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. The Son of God, the second
Person of the Godhead, is fully divine and has eternally existed, along with
the Father and with the Holy Spirit.
It is also unwise and misleading to speak of Jesus as a
“version” of God, or as an “avatar”. Jesus is not a “version” of God, Jesus
is God.
He is not an “avatar” or persona that someone
creates on the internet. The terminology and concept of an avatar comes from
Hinduism. It was adopted in our modern times to refer to a representation of a
person on the internet or in a video game, but all of us know that a version or
avatar or representation of ourselves in a video game or on the internet is not
really a person and is not really us. When my twelve-year-old son creates a
character based on himself in a Nintendo video game, we all know that that
video game character is not really my son, or a real person at all. I think
this way of speaking about Christ being “created”, or a “version” of God or
“avatar” of God, or asking how He could be tempted if He was “God on an aware
level”, is unwise and unhelpful, and is actually harmful, or if truly believed,
is heretical.
Later, Lancaster does say that that spiritually the Son of
God existed with God from eternity, but again, these statements are dangerous,
alarming, concerning, and irresponsible and misleading statements that mislead
people, or may lead people astray, and tend towards an unbiblical, untrue view
of the Son of God.
Also,
regarding another quote listed above, believers are not forbidden from
praying to Jesus. In fact, in Acts 7:59, Stephen, who is about to die from
being stoned by the Jews he was trying to tell the gospel to, prays to the Lord
Jesus:
“And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.”, Acts 7:59
Again,
as with the Trinity, the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a minor or
fringe issue in Christianity. These things are at the core of our faith. But
FFOZ repeatedly (not just once or twice) makes disturbing, concerning, and
misleading statements about major truths and doctrines of the Christian faith.
In
addition to these statements, there are testimonies from people in Hebrew Roots
Movement/ Torah Observant groups, including in participation in FFOZ and their materials,
that confirm that Hebrew Roots Groups or Torah Observant movements have led even
to denying that the Lord Jesus is God.
Here
is the testimony of a woman who was involved in a Torah Observant group, who
eventually left due to major concerns:
“At
first, the H.R. [Hebrew Roots] seemed amazing. As the years went on, we noticed
big problems such as the idolization of Torah and the
lessening of Jesus to a small side dish. We witnessed many people
deny Jesus as their Messiah and convert to Judaism. They had
basically studied themselves out of the belief in Jesus. It was
heartbreaking, scary, and sobering. After seven years, and much prayer, God led
us step by step right out the Hebrew Roots Movement, and we have never looked
back.” Shared in Transcript of Public Debate: Should Christians Keep the
Law? https://storage2.snappages.site/ZSCQF7/assets/files/Debate-2018.pdf
Another
woman who became involved in Torah Observant groups and with FFOZ said:
“Wandering
into the territory of mystical Judaism and obeying the teachings of the Talmud
stood out as being clearly blasphemous to me. What was worse was to hear
messages and read articles about how many Christians were beginning to
abandon Jesus altogether for Orthodox Judaism, and how we needed
to work to prevent this trend from spreading further into the TO Christian
community. Somehow people who began studying the Torah and Hebrew idioms and
culture out of a sincere love for Jesus, wound up growing farther and farther
away from him. One day they were pursuing the “Jewishness of Jesus”,
and the next they decided that Jewishness in and of itself was their savior,
and that Jesus was merely a deceiver. Unexpected, but the reality none
the less.” https://womenofchristianity.com/testimony-coming-out-of-hebrew-roots-movement/
Again,
these types of statements, made repeatedly, are alarming, misleading, and
dangerous statements about major truths and doctrines of the Christian faith,
and these testimonies show that they really can mislead people. That’s why I
think we should avoid them, and choose other material to study instead, that is
solid.
Jewish
Mysticism:
As
a side-note: another strange statement we find in this same document from
Daniel Lancaster says: “In order to become you, your spirit first divests
itself of its heavenly identity and any memories it had. That’s why you
don’t remember being a spirit before you were born.” https://www.bethimmanuel.org/sites/default/files/4_the_only_begotten_son_0.pdf
In
one of the Torah Club Student Workbooks, there is more of this type of strange
talk about pre-existent souls in heaven before we were born:
“While at home in heaven, basking in
the presence of God before you were born, you lacked nothing. You
enjoyed all the good things of your Father’s household, but did not possess
anything of your own. It was not until you went out from God’s presence to
be born and suffer in this world of exile that you could grow, develop, and
become something more than you were before.” - Torah Club, The Beginning of
Wisdom, Student Workbook, Lesson 7
A
little later in this same lesson, it says:
“Before
you entered the world of concealment, you made a similar deal with God.
Knowing that you were certain to face many dangers and vicissitudes in this
world, you asked Him to go with you on the journey, provide for you, and return
you to His presence safely.” - Torah Club, The Beginning of Wisdom, Student
Workbook, Lesson 7
The
Workbook goes on to say:
“Before
you were born into this world, God probably warned you, “In that
world, you will not see me. You will not remember me or your home here in
glory. You will forget this entire conversation even took place.”
Therefore we need to seek God and cling to Him in faith.” - Torah Club, The
Beginning of Wisdom, Student Workbook, Lesson 7.
This
is a very strange way of speaking that has no basis in Scripture. You didn’t
exist before you were born. This is very strange, odd, and unbiblical language,
it shows that this organization is off-track. It is better to choose something
else to study than to get mixed up in this type of curriculum and materials.
3. FFOZ materials teach that the
principle of Sola Scripture, Scripture alone, is wrong.
FFOZ
author and contributor Jacob Fronczak has written a book published and sold by
FFOZ, and promoted on FFOZ’s podcast, against sola Scripture, the principle of
Scripture alone, in his book, Rethinking the Five Solae: Why Messianic
Judaism is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism.
(I would pause here just to have us note the title of Jacob
Fronczak’s book “Rethinking the Five Solae: Why Messianic Judaism is
Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism”.
The five solas from church history are: Scripture alone,
God’s grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone, and all glory to God alone.
Fronczak teaches that these doctrines and principles as classically understood
are not compatible with his view of Messianic Judaism. (Please note that there
is debate about if FFOZ actually does belong within the category of Messianic
Judaism or not. There are those within Messianic Judaism who would disavow
FFOZ. One pastor who I spoke with who works with Jews for Jesus, stated that
the views represented by these quotes are not what Jews for Jesus teach, and
that they would absolutely denounce these views as unbiblical and cultish. Jews
for Jesus would not consider these views to be good.)
In the books’ description it says, “The Five Solae
themselves are at the root of Protestant anti-Semitism.”
Speaking of the principle of Scripture alone (Sola
Scriptura) Fronczak says in an FFOZ podcast interview about his book, that:
· “what I realized…was
that sola Scripture is not in the Bible. There’s not a Bible verse for
it. So, if the Bible is your sole authority for faith and practice, sola
scriptura…so everything you believe needs to come directly from the Bible, well
the next thing you have to do is you have to get rid of Sola Scripture because
it’s not in the Bible, so it rules itself out.” https://ffoz.org/messiah/podcast/is-messianic-judaism-compatible-with-protestant-christianity Minute 24:20
He goes on to say:
·
“they have fundamentally different starting points or
methodologies for building theology and I think that sola Scripture is this way
by design, sola Scriptura eliminates any extra biblical tradition as a
source for doctrine and practice, Judaism mandates extra biblical tradition….
https://ffoz.org/messiah/podcast/is-messianic-judaism-compatible-with-protestant-christianity
Fronczak also says:
·
you’re going to end up somewhere in Protestantism…you’re
not going to end up in any kind of Judaism if you insist on holding on to sola
Scriptura because its going to rule out all of that tradition and that
tradition is the source for a lot of what makes Judaism Jewish” https://ffoz.org/messiah/podcast/is-messianic-judaism-compatible-with-protestant-christianity
Scripture says in 2
Timothy 3:16-17 that: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.”
If we have
Scripture, we have writings that are inspired by God, and are profitable, and
having the Scripture, the man of God is perfect and complete, thoroughly
furnished and equipped for all good works. Scripture is inspired by God,
profitable, and sufficient.
However, the idea of
sola Scriptura is not that it is the only authority or source we can learn from
at all. Scripture itself tells us that Christ has given teachers as gifts to
the Church to help build it up (Ephesians 4:11). Many people throughout history
and in modern times have studied the Scriptures and we can read what they have
said and benefit from their studies, and learn a great deal from them, and we
should be humble and open to learning from what others have gleaned from the
Scriptures. Sola Scriptura is the principle that the Bible alone is the one
and only final authority which we ultimately look to for what
we believe, and by which we measure everything else.
But Fronczak
of FFOZ tells us that it is not Scripture alone, but that we should look to the
traditions and councils of men as well, particularly the extra-biblical
traditions of ancient Judaism. (Although the Lord Jesus Christ often rebuked
and corrected ancient traditions the Jews had passed down). Fronczak wants us
to end up in some kind of Judaism, and not Protestantism (which he says is
incompatible with Messianic Judaism and tends towards being anti-semitic) and
he’s telling us that if we hold on to sola Scriptura, we won’t get there (to
Judaism, where he thinks we should be.)
We are told not to
look to Scripture alone, but to set traditions and teachings and the councils
of men next to the Word of God. But which traditions? Which teachings? Which
councils and declarations? How do we know which one is right? When popes, creeds, church councils,
teachings, and authorities tell us to believe something, how are we to
ultimately measure and judge what is true?
Who is right? The ancient rabbis and Jewish authorities (and which of them,
-they do not all agree or say the same thing on everything!?) Various early Church traditions and
teachings? Different traditions and councils of men say different things, how
do we know which is truly from God? What is the final, ultimate, sole authority
for all matters of faith and practice, that we know is divinely-inspired and
breathed out by God?
Sola Scripture is the
principle that our one and only final, infallible, divinely-inspired authority from
God, is the Scriptures, and not the councils, traditions, or teachings of men.
We have many
references from believers throughout Church History, that show that Christians
have held to this:
There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain
from the Holy Scriptures, and from no other source. For just as
a man, if he wishes to be skilled in the wisdom of this world, will find
himself unable to get at it in any other way than by mastering the dogmas of
philosophers, so all of us who wish to practise piety will be unable to learn
its practice from any other quarter than the oracles of God. Whatever things,
then, the Holy Scriptures declare, at these let us look; and whatsoever things
they teach, these let us learn; and as the Father wills our belief to be, let
us believe; and as He wills the Son to be glorified, let us glorify Him; and as
He wills the Holy Spirit to be bestowed, let us receive Him. Not
according to our own will, nor according to our own mind, nor yet as using
violently those things which are given by God, but even as He has chosen to
teach them by the Holy Scriptures, so let us discern them.”, Hippolytus (170-235
A.D.) Against the Heresy of One Noetus.
“They gather their views from other sources than the
Scriptures. We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation,
than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at
one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed
down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith…
Proofs of the things which are contained in the Scriptures cannot be
shown except from the Scriptures themselves.” Irenaeus (175 A.D. ), “Against
Heresies”
“For how can we adopt those things which we do not
find in the holy Scriptures?” - Ambrose 330-397 A.D. On the Duties
of the Clergy, 1:23:102
“The Arians, then, say that Christ is unlike the Father;
we deny it. Nay, indeed, we shrink in dread from the word. Nevertheless I
would not that your sacred Majesty should trust to argument and our
disputation. Let us enquire of the Scriptures, of apostles, of
prophets, of Christ. In a word, let us enquire of the Father.”Ambrose,
Exposition of the Christian Faith.
“But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent
pursuits will not desist from the search after truth until they get the
demonstration from the Scriptures themselves.” – Clement of
Alexandria (150-215 A.D. ) The Stromata, 7:16
“The innumerable books that have been written latterly
we may sometimes find the same truth as in Scripture, but there is not
the same authority. Scripture has a sacredness peculiar to itself.”
– Augustine (354-430 A.D.), Reply to Faustus the Manichaean, 11:5
“For concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the
Faith, not even a casual statement must be delivered without the Holy
Scriptures; nor must we be drawn aside by mere plausibility and
artifices of speech. Even to me, who tell thee these things, give
not absolute credence, unless thou receive the proof of the things which I
announce from the Divine Scriptures. For this salvation which we
believe depends not on ingenious reasoning, but on demonstration of the Holy
Scriptures.” Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386 .A.D.), Catechetical
Lectures, 4:17
4.
Torah Observant Groups teachings tend towards or imply
elevating or focusing on the Torah, the first five books of Moses, above other
Scripture.
In one of their Student Workbooks, FFOZ made this strange
statement regarding Scripture:
· “Moses heard the voice of
God speaking clearly, not in riddles, dreams, visions, or dark oracles. All
the other prophets heard only an obscure echo. Moses heard the voice of God
directly;” - Torah Club student workbook, Jesus, My Rabbi: The Shadow of
Death, Lesson 36, volume 2, Show Us The Father, John 14:7-31, published by
First Fruits of Zion, 2022
This is not true at all. The prophets and others did not
hear “only obscure echo”. David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and
others all knew God was speaking to them, and they all recorded His message.
In 2 Samuel 23: 2, David, says:
“The Spirit of
the LORD spake by me, and His word was in my tongue”.
David knew that the Holy Spirit had spoken by him, and that
it was His word that David was speaking.
The phrase “Thus saith the LORD” is uttered many times
by many different authors throughout the Scriptures.
Throughout the
Scriptures, we also read things like what Jeremiah said:
“Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,”
Jeremiah 2:1
The Apostle Paul said:
“If any man think
himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 14:37
I would also add here that we should interpret the
Scriptures in a Christ-centered, gospel-centric way, because this is the way
Jesus Himself taught us to interpret the Scriptures, and it is the way in which
we actually see the Apostles in Acts and in their Epistles throughout the New
Testament interpreting and applying Scripture.
The grand theme of the Scriptures is the Lord Jesus Christ
and the gospel of how He would come to bring salvation to man, particularly
through His sufferings, resurrection, and the glories that would follow:
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ.”, John 1:17
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not
come to Me, that ye might have life.”, John 5:39-40
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father:
there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye
believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye
believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?”, John 5:45-47
“Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered
these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
Himself.”, Luke 24:25-27
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn
within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the
scriptures?”, Luke 24:32
“And He said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,
which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and
thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”, Luke 24:44-47
“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and
searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported
unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”, 1
Peter 1:10-12
The coming, suffering, death, resurrection and glories of
Christ for our salvation and the grace of God in the gospel is the theme of
Scripture, therefore the gospel should be the interpretive framework or grid, a
Christ-centered, gospel-centered interpretation, through which we interpret
Scripture, including the Torah.
5. FFOZ and Torah Observant Groups
like them teach that the gospel you’ve heard in Church is not the complete
gospel, and that the Church has not had the complete gospel for thousands of
years.
I
find the following quotes and claims particularly alarming and dangerous. FFOZ
tells us that the gospel Christians have heard, that the Church has
proclaimed from the beginning, is “incomplete”, “partial”, and
that they at FFOZ have “discovered a totally different gospel”.
Here
are their quotes:
·
“I hope tonight to communicate clearly that the
message that all of us have heard, the gospel message that all of us have
heard, is not the message of the gospel of the kingdom. It’s a
gospel in fact devoid of the kingdom, a gospel that has in fact obscured the
kingdom.” - Lancaster,
Daniel, Malchut Conference 2022, transcribed lecture, session #1, Missionaries.
· “We’ve seen
something that most Christians haven’t. Most followers of Yeshua have
accepted him as their Savior, maybe as their Lord, but they have yet to see him
as a humble rabbi from Nazareth, a teacher of Judaism who upheld the Torah
and the Jewish way of life. Missing these critical aspects of Yeshua’s life
and ministry doesn’t just mean missing out on Shabbat or Passover. It means we
are missing the very cornerstone of his message, the gospel of the kingdom.
In fact the biggest difference, the biggest tension between
post-supersessionist Christianity and Christianity, mainstream Christianity,
isn’t what holidays we keep or the kind of food we eat. It’s not the biggest
difference. It’s our understanding of what Yeshua ultimately came to
teach and accomplish. The church’s gospel, the church’s interpretation of
Yeshua‘s core message, has been incomplete for nearly 2000 years.” - Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference
2022, transcribed lecture, session #5, Then the End Will Come.
·
“Every house needs a firm foundation. The church has
built its entire mission on an incomplete foundation on a partial
gospel” Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022, transcribed
lecture, session #5, Then the End Will Come.
·
“When I started to learn the New Testament from a Jewish
perspective and to study the teachings of the Jewish Yeshua, I discovered
a totally different gospel message” Lancaster, Daniel, Malchut Conference
2022, transcribed lecture, session #1, Missionaries.
·
“Bringing Yeshua’s message to Gentiles is the
whole purpose of the Torah Club. If you’re a Torah Club leader or student
you’re part of this prophetic movement to proclaim the gospel of the
kingdom to all nations. Even if it’s not happening at pulpits
and churches or in theological textbooks or in alter calls,
it’s happening in your living room. Gentile Christians are finally
discovering Yeshua’s message” Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022, transcribed
lecture, session #5, Then the End Will Come.
·
“… The Jewish gospel as I just described it is far
more nuanced and at the same time far more robust, far more sweeping than
rescuing a few fortunate souls from the fires of perdition. But, if you’re
like me, and I’m assuming a lot of you are, coming from an evangelical
background like me and accustomed to a simple formula message that divides
the world into black-and-white, saved and lost, who is in and who is out…” Lancaster, Daniel, Malchut Conference 2022, transcribed lecture,
session #1, Missionaries.
Amazingly, the founder and leader of FFOZ, Boaz Michael, said:
·
“Study the Gospels, what did Yeshua actually say to the
crowds in Jerusalem? What did he actually teach his disciples on the
Mount of Beatitudes? He didn’t say, “I’m going to die for your sins.”
He said, “The time if fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and
believe in the Gospel of the Kingdom.” Repent for the kingdom of God is
at hand. It’s a message to Israel and it’s a message that doesn’t
make sense without Torah, without Judaism, without Jewish people, and without
Jewish, like, identity. It’s a promise of restored monarchy, restored
Sanhedrin, restored nation of Israel”
Michael,
Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022, transcribed lecture, session #5, Then the End
Will Come.
Our
blessed Saviour absolutely and repeatedly did teach about His sufferings,
death, and resurrection!
““Saying,
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the
chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and
shall deliver Him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock Him, and shall scourge
Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall
rise again.”, Mark 10:33-34
See
also Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:2; Mark
8:31, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:22, Luke 9:31, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, Luke
24:6-7, Luke 24:26-27, Luke 24:46.
The
Lord taught us not only that He would die and rise again, but why He would
suffer, die, and rise, the meaning of it.
He
said that He came “to give His life a ransom for many.”, Matthew 20:28.
He
taught that He gave His body to be broken for us and His blood to be given for
us for the forgiveness of sins. We have these teachings of the Lord
memorialized in the Lord’ Supper, when Christ said:
“And
as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave
it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the
cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For
this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission
of sins.”
In
John 6:51-56, the Lord said:
“I
am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread,
he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among
themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son
of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”
We
can read what the Lord said in John 8:23-24: “And He said unto them, Ye are
from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I
said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe
not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.”
In
John 10 the Saviour said: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth His life for the sheep… As the Father knoweth me, even so know
I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I
have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear
my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my
Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No
man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received
of my Father.”, John 10:11, 15-18
Jesus
absolutely taught that He had come down from Heaven to suffer and die, to give
His life to ransom mankind, to rise from the dead, and to bring forgiveness of
sins and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The Scriptures tell us clearly what the gospel is:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4: “Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye
are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:”,
The Bible teaches us that the death, burial, and
resurrection of Christ for our sins is the gospel.
This is what the Church is founded on, and it is not a “partial
foundation”. Paul said: “For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”, 1 Corinthians 3:11
A chapter earlier, Paul said: “For I determined not to
know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”, 1 Corinthians 2:2
The rock that Jesus said that He would build His Church
upon was the confession of who He is as the Son of God, and in the context, the
Lord immediately declares that He will suffer, die, and rise again (Matthew
16:18-21).
In
the book of Acts, we can read what the Apostles and the early Church proclaimed
to the lost Jews and Gentiles from the earliest times of the Church, right
after Christ ascended to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to the Church. What
did they preach? Does it match the gospel that the Church has preached for
2,000 years, or is the Church’s gospel “incomplete”, “partial”,
and is there a “completely different” gospel that we need to discover
today?
Acts
2:22-38: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a
man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did
by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him,
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. 25 For
David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He
is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did
my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in
hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made
known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of
the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with
us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that
God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to
the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on ihs throne; 31 He
seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His
soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. 32
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the
heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right
hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that
same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when
they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to
the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts
3:12-19: “ And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men
of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though
by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The
God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath
glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the
presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But ye
denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto
you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from
the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And His name through
faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the
faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of
you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as
did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed
by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so
fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord; ”
Acts
4:8-12:” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers
of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined
of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God
raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you
whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you
builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is
there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts
5:29-33: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought
to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised
up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God
exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we
are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath
given to them that obey Him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut
to the heart, and took counsel to slay them”
Acts
8:5: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached
Christ unto them.”
We
are told that Philip then went to an Ethiopian Eunuch who was reading from
prophet Isaiah,
“And
Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man
should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch
answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of
himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at
the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on
their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot
to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him.”, Acts 8:30-38
We
read of Paul: “And straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him were
amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name
in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound
unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded
the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”, Acts
9:20-22
We
read what Peter proclaimed to Cornelius and the Gentiles:
Acts
10:34-45: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:)
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began
from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. And we are
witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the
third day, and shewed Him openly; Not to all the people, but unto
witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after
He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and
to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and
dead. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever
believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake
these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And
they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost.”
Paul
preached:
“Of
this man's seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a
Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before His coming the
baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his
course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not He. But, behold, there
cometh one after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and
brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth
God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at
Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of
the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in
condemning Him. And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet
desired they Pilate that He should be slain. And when they had fulfilled
all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid him in
a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead: And He was
seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who
are His witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings,
how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the
same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as
it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee. And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead,
now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give you the
sure mercies of David. Wherefore He saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own
generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers,
and saw corruption: But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be
it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that
believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by
the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is
spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I
work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a
man declare it unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the
Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious
proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to
continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the
whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the
multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which
were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas
waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have
been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord
commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou
shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as
were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published
throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable
women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and
Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”, Acts 13:23-50
Paul
proclaimed the gospel to a Gentile Philippian Jailer:
“And
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And
they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes;
and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them
into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with
all his house.”, Acts 16:30-34
Paul
preached to Gentile Philosophers:
“Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others
said, We will hear thee again of this matter.”, Acts 17:31-32
Before
King Agrippa Paul gave his testimony and told us what he was proclaiming:
“And
I said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,
to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast
seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee
from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To
open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. Whereupon, O
king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first
unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of
Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in
the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I
continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none
other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That
Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the
dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”,
Acts 26:15-23
The
sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of
our sins, eternal life, and salvation, the call of the gospel to repent and
believe in Him is the gospel we see consistently preached over and over again
throughout the book of Acts and the rest of the Scriptures.
This
gospel described in Scripture, that Christ, the apostles, and the early Church
preached, Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and risen again, repentance
and faith in Him for the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation in
His kingdom, and the love and grace of
God, has been proclaimed from the earliest days of the Church and this
matches the gospel I have heard in many churches and settings these 2000 years
later.
But
FFOZ says that the Church has had an incomplete gospel for 2,000 years. That
it’s not being preached from pulpits and churches. That a “totally different
gospel”, the complete gospel has been discovered and that people today,
through FFOZ and the Torah Clubs, are finally discovering it.
Statements
like this are not new. Cults and false religious movements have made these
types of statements in the past. I personally know someone who was involved in
and influenced by the Worldwide Church of God, an organization that Herbert W.
Armstrong founded that was a cult and a false religious movement. In his day, Armstrong proclaimed that the
gospel that the churches taught was not the complete gospel.
Here
is what Armstong said in the 1950’s:
“The
Gospel of Jesus Christ was not proclaimed to the world for 1,900 years. It was
suppressed back in the year about 53 AD until in our time in the year of 1953…
You know it is
hard to believe, but it has been perverted through all these years. Millions and millions have heard a
gospel. We talk about hearing the gospel. There are millions who hear it
or think they do, every Sunday. But what gospel is it? What gospel is
it? And what gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?... I have just shown you that
gospel has not been preached for over 1900 years, until the year
of 1953 AD. My friends I began proclaiming that gospel and God
opened my mind to see it.”
Here
is a statement from one of his booklets dating from the 1980’s:
“Ask
any professing Christian whether he believes the Gospel, and he will
immediately respond with a resounding "Yes!" But press that same
person to explain just what that Gospel is and, if he is able to reply at all,
he will almost surely give an answer that is false!... This is decidedly not what is being
taught by most churches today. As strange as it seems, today's churches have
lost, changed, twisted and perverted the true Gospel…This Gospel — the true
Gospel of the Kingdom of God — has not been preached by this world's
churches, and hence they have not understood the truth about that Kingdom.”
Statements
like what FFOZ have said are not new. Armstrong taught that the church does not
have or preach the true or complete gospel, which he said was the gospel of the
kingdom.
O brothers and sisters in Christ! If any organization tells
you that the gospel found in 1 Cor. 15 and that you see throughout the
Scriptures, of Christ crucified for sinners and risen again, is not the true or
complete gospel, or that the gospel you have and that the church has been
proclaiming for 2,000 years “has been incomplete for nearly 2,000
years”, that the church has built “it’s entire
mission” on “an incomplete foundation” and “a
partial gospel, or that, as one of the leaders of FFOZ says, he has
“discovered a totally different gospel”,
run!
Paul
warned us against false teachings and other gospels, especially ones that tell
us to leave Christ, grace, and the cross, to go back to observing Old Testament
Laws:
“I
marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace
of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so
say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.”, Galatians 1:6-9
“desiring
to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof
they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers,
for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is
contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to my trust.”, 1 Timothy 1:6-11
“For
there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of
the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of
themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars,
evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”, Titus 1:10-14
“Beware
of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we
are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”, Philippians 3:2-3
Related
to this, and also very important, these types of statements tend towards
distrust or disparagement of the Church. Making statements about how the Church
has built it’s entire mission on a partial foundation and an incomplete gospel
is alarming and dangerous. This obviously casts tremendous doubt on the Church,
and makes it seem very dubious, in what it preaches and teaches.
In
fact, the founder of FFOZ, Boaz Michael, said:
“At
the end of the day we are a disruptive movement. We’re disruptors. And a
disruptive movement is an ideological idea that’s connected to community to
prevent something from continuing or operating in a normal way. We’re
introducing an idea that is intended to challenge and to transform the status
quo. We’re not satisfied with, and we’ve not been inspired by the
direction that the institutional church has gone for the most part over the
past 2000 years” -Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022,
transcribed lecture, session #8, What is Your IQ?.
The
implicit (and not so implicit) message of these statements quoted above is: “The
Church does not have the complete gospel.
The Church has not had the complete gospel for 2,000 years. You won’t
hear the truth in your Church, but we at FFOZ have it, and we’ll show you the
real gospel, the complete gospel, a different gospel than what you’ve heard
before. The Churches don’t have this, you’re not going to hear this in Church.
We have it and we’ll show you the truth.”
When
FFOZ and other groups make these types of statements about the Church, what do
you think we can expect to see?
So
often we find that right along with this disparagement and doubt of the Church,
there is an actual trend toward people leaving the Church, perhaps joining in
home-based Torah Observant groups instead, but not being part of a local
church.
It
is a red flag when Christians are not involved in any local church for regular
worship, observation of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the
preaching and teaching of God’s Word, the biblical oversight and accountability
of Pastors, Elders, Overseers, and fellowship in a congregation for
encouragement, blessing, and accountability in a congregation with other
brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as the use of service and gifts. Church
discipline is another blessing of the local church that can be greatly used to
help us, lest we go astray.
If
people are not in a church, or leave the church, that is a concern. Statements
like this certainly lend themselves to doubting the local church and leaving
it.
This
is doubly true for people who would teach and lead others, but who are not a
part of a local church themselves, where they themselves can receive care and teaching,
and can be under the oversight, accountability, refreshment, and other
blessings of the local Church. People can say they pray for and want to support
the local church, but if they themselves are not in one, what kind of example is
that, and what good does that do?
It
is a question to me-why would someone who is a believer not be part of a
local church? Is there absolutely no local church that someone could be part
of? If that’s true, what would the reason for that be?
I am
concerned when I see FFOZ making statements about how the church has not had
the complete gospel for 2,000 years, and other disparaging statements about the
church-and when I see that leaders and others involved in Torah Clubs are not
themselves a part of any local church. Can you support an organization or a
group that teaches that the gospel that you have heard, the gospel the Church
has, is not complete, or is partial, or that they have discovered “a
completely different gospel”?
6.
Torah Observant Groups teach that as a matter of love for
Jesus and true obedience to God, believers ought to keep the Torah, the Old
Testament laws that God gave to the nation of Israel found in the first five
books of the Bible.
· “The Master binds the
commandments, judgments, ordinances, and statutes of the Torah upon His
disciples with the cords of love. He taught them to observe even the least of
the Torah’s commandments. All of Yeshua’s teachings were explanations and
interpretations of His Father’s commandments. The Apostle John understood the
equation, and he explained that every disciple of Yeshua is obligated by
love for God to walk in obedience to Torah” -Torah Club, “Jesus, My
Rabbi: The Shadow of Death”, Lesson 36, volume 2, Show Us The Father, John
14:7-31, page 11, published by First Fruits of Zion, 2022
· “If they truly love
Him, they must keep His commandments, including what He said about the
unchanging Torah” Torah Club, “Jesus, My Rabbi: The Shadow of Death”, Lesson
36, volume 2, Show Us The Father, John 14:7-31, page 3, published by First
Fruits of Zion, 2022
· “Only those
who subject themselves to the authority of the Master’s teaching and His
Torah enter into the union of His love and the love of God” Torah Club, “Jesus, My
Rabbi: The Shadow of Death”, Lesson 36, volume 2, Show Us The Father, John
14:7-31, page 14, published by First Fruits of Zion, 2022
·
“We both espouse full non-Jewish participation in
Israel. We both believe the Sabbath, the Festivals,
the dietary laws and the whole of Torah applies
equally to all God’s people, Jew and non-Jew” Michael, Boaz, “Encounters
with an Ephraimite: Identity through a Lost Heritage”, page 16, http://www.wholebible.com/PdfLibrary/Ephraimite-Encounter.pdf
·
“From the outset of our ministry, FFOZ has maintained
equal covenant participation for Jews and non-Jews. That is to say, we believe
that the Torah is for everybody who follows the Jewish Messiah”, . Michael, Boaz,
“Encounters with an Ephraimite: Identity through a Lost Heritage”, http://www.wholebible.com/PdfLibrary/Ephraimite-Encounter.pdf
·
“we believe that a non-Jew’s position in Israel and participation
in Torah are the natural results of his identity in Messiah. As
believers in Messiah, non-Jews have a right and responsibility to take
hold of the commandments of God” Michael, Boaz, “Encounters with an Ephraimite: Identity through a
Lost Heritage”, http://www.wholebible.com/PdfLibrary/Ephraimite-Encounter.pdf
·
“The Torah is God’s eternal standard of righteousness and must
return to its place of prominence and authority in the community of faith”
·
Is Messiah to be understood as the ending of the Torah
then? No. He is the end, but not the ending. He is the goal of the
Torah, but not the termination of it”. Michael, Boaz, Hayesod: The
Foundation, 2010.
· Messiah did not abolish
the Torah…In Messiah, Gentile believers have the prerogative to take hold of
the covenant and take on the commandments. Michael, Boaz, Hayesod:
The Foundation, 2010.
·
If Jesus was (and is) Jewish, his teaching must be located
on the map of greater Judaism. His prophetic rebuke to his generation should be
seen in continuity with that of the earlier prophets. His core message, his
“gospel,” should not be seen as a call for Jews to abandon Judaism, but
rather, it must be recognized as a call to covenant fidelity, a rallying
cry to the Torah and its teachings. Michael, Boaz, “The Most Tragic Mistake: The Tragedy of Forgetting
that Jesus Is Jewish”, https://ffoz.org/discover/messiah-magazine/the-most-tragic-mistake.html
·
“We are primarily interested in those passages which
Christianity has traditionally used to teach that Jesus was against Judaism and
the observance of the Torah. On closer examination, each of these
passages proves just the opposite. Instead, we learn that in order to be
“sinless,” Jesus had to be Torah observant.”- Michael, Boaz, “The Most Tragic
Mistake: The Tragedy of Forgetting that Jesus Is Jewish”, https://ffoz.org/discover/messiah-magazine/the-most-tragic-mistake.html
·
“Yeshua came to properly interpret the Torah – not to
cancel it or replace it. Yeshua is the Living Torah. Yeshua did not teach against Torah, Sabbath, or kosher
laws. Yeshua’s law of love does
not replace the Torah.”- Michael, Boaz, “The Most Tragic Mistake: The Tragedy of
Forgetting that Jesus Is Jewish”, https://ffoz.org/discover/messiah-magazine/the-most-tragic-mistake.html
· “The biblical
Sabbath and holidays have not been abolished or replaced. The
biblical Sabbath and holidays are relevant to believers today.” Michael, Boaz, “The Most
Tragic Mistake: The Tragedy of Forgetting that Jesus Is Jewish”, https://ffoz.org/discover/messiah-magazine/the-most-tragic-mistake.html
·
“To say that Gentile believers are not
expected to keep God’s appointed times is the same as saying that Gentile
believers are not supposed to have any holy days or days of worship” Michael, Boaz, The Most
Tragic Mistake: The Tragedy of Forgetting that Jesus Is Jewish”, https://ffoz.org/discover/messiah-magazine/the-most-tragic-mistake.html
The Scriptures say that many aspects of the Law, such
as circumcision, the Sabbath, the food and drink laws, the Jewish festivals of Israel,
the tabernacle and Temple, the animal sacrifices and offerings of bulls and
goats, the Levitical priesthood, etc, could not really do anything, but were
shadows, types, and promises of Christ, and of how He would come and be the
true Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, and that now that
Christ has come and fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, a change has taken
place.
They are referred to as “a shadow of good
things to come, and not the very image of the things”, Hebrews 10:1. They
were shadows of good things to come, shadows, but not the real thing, shadows
meant to point us to good things to come! And now Christ has come!
Hebrews 9:8-10: “The Holy Ghost this signifying,
that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the
first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the
time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could
not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”
Again, notice that the things spoken of in Hebrews
9:8-10 pertaining to the Old Testament Laws regarded “only” meat and
drinks, washings, and what Paul calls “carnal ordinances”, that is these
were external, physical, rituals and rites, that served as figures, signs, and
that they were “imposed” on them “until the time of reformation”.
And so, we are no longer under the shadows of these
ceremonial or civic laws of Israel, but we have the reality, the substance that
those things pointed to, Christ Himself!
The Scriptures say that there have been changes to
things of the Law since Christ has come, because the Law was never meant to be
the actual accomplishment of things Christ would do for us, but they pointed to
Him. Now that He has come, He has fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, and the
things they were pointing to, and we enjoy the fullness of what Christ has done
and given to us.
So yes, there have been changes since Christ has
come. Scripture speaks of it like this:
“ He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second”, Hebrews 10:9
(He takes away the Laws of animal sacrifices and
offerings, which could not really take away sin, and establishes Christ as the
sacrifice for our sins, that those Old Testament sacrifices were pointing to
all along).
“For He testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the
commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For
the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the
which we draw nigh unto God.”, Hebrews 7:17-19
“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was
there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not
be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there
is made of necessity a change also of the law.”, Hebrews 7:11-12
Note that Paul says above in Hebrews 7:12, that
since the priesthood has changed from the Levitical priests to Christ the true
High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, there is a change in the law.
Again, Paul says in Hebrews 9:8-10 that these
ceremonies of the Law were “carnal ordinances”, external, physical,
rituals and rites, that served as figures, signs, and that they were “imposed…until
the time of reformation”.
We can remember the discussion our Lord had with a
Samaritan woman in John 4:20-24: She said: “Our fathers worshipped in this
mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to
worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye
shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the
Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to
worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth.”
Paul says to believers:
Colossians 2:16-17: “Let no man therefore
judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”.
So these things were external, physical rites,
serving as figures, types, and symbols pointing to the true, spiritual
realities of Christ and of all that Christ would do and bring to us.
We who are believers in Christ have Him now, and
the spiritual realities that those external, physical rites pointed to. Therefore,
now, because of Christ, those things have faded away, since Christ has fulfilled
these things, and brought in what those things were pointing to all along, and now
that He has come, we cleave and cling to Christ and His fullness, and all we
have in Him.
For example, animal sacrifices and offerings of
bulls and goats were commanded by God in the Old Testament Law or Torah, but
they couldn’t really take away sins, and they weren’t really the ultimate will and
desire of God, rather, they were symbols pointing to Christ, the true Lamb of
God, who takes away the sins of the world, and Christ came into the world to do
the true will of God. Now that Christ has come, we no longer offer or need
those animal sacrifices. The One those things were pointing to has come and has
truly put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. There are no more offerings for
sin now, because Jesus’ blood cleanses us, He is the sacrifice and offering for
our sins!
Hebrews 10:1-10: “For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never
with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have
ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had
no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance
again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of
bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He
cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I
come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy
will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt
offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure
therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do
thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the
second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Hebrews 9:8-14: “The Holy Ghost this
signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a
figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and
divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of
reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good
things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls
and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to
the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Similarly, circumcision was commanded in the
Torah, but Paul says that circumcision and uncircumcision don’t really avail
for anything, but that circumcision is of the heart. Scripture says that believers
in Christ are circumcised, with the circumcision made
without hands, that is, that through Christ’s flesh, that old body of
sin has been cut off.
Paul said that circumcision is really spiritual:
“ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men,
but of God.”, Romans 2:29
Paul
said that as believers, we are circumcised, spiritually, with the true
circumcision, that which is made without hands:
Colossians
2:11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ:”
Php_3:3
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Paul
wrote that circumcision or uncircumcision physically are nothing, in fact, in
Christ, there is no circumcision or uncircumcision, it’s Christ and faith and
being a new creature Christ in that matters.
1
Corinthians 7:17-19: “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord
hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any
man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any
called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision
is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments
of God.”
Galatians
5:6: “For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but
faith which worketh by love.”
Galatians
5:11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer
persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.”
Gal_6:15
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
Ephesians
2:11 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands;”
Colossians
3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in
all.”
Another example would be the Levitical priests
appointed under the Old Testament Law. They served according to the commands of
God in the Torah, but they couldn’t really make atonement for sin. Their
serving was a type and symbol of the true High Priest who would come and make
a true, real, and complete offering of atonement
for sin. And now we have Christ, who is our great High Priest, not of the tribe
of Levi as the Law commands, but of the order of Melchizedek, and He is our
ultimate High Priest, who made atonement for us. We cling to Him now, and the
Old Testament Levitical priesthood is no longer necessary, they have been taken
away and the gospel has been established, there has been a change of the Law,
those were only carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation, which
has come.
Hebrews 7:11-12: “If therefore perfection were
by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what
further need was there that another priest should rise after the
order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change
also of the law.”.
Scripture says that the Law had it’s purpose, to
point us to Christ, up until Christ came, but that now that Christ has come, we
are not under those things:
Galatians 3:19: “Wherefore then serveth the
law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to
whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of
a mediator.”
Galatians 3:23-28: “But before faith
came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards
be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians
4:1-5: “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth
nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and
governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when
we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Romans
7:4: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also
are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should
be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we
should bring forth fruit unto God.”.
And now the Christian rule is:
Colossians 2:16-17: “Let no man therefore
judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days: Which are a shadow of things to
come; but the body is of Christ.”.
Now, Christ the reality has come, and in Christ,
no one is to judge us regarding food or drink, holy days, Jewish festivals, or
sabbath days, because those thing were a shadow, but now the truth, the
substance, has come. Christ has come!
Paul said that the Apostle
Peter did not live like a Jew, he did not follow the distinctive laws
of the Torah, but he lived like a Gentile!
Galatians 2:11-16: “But when
Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be
blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles:
but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which
were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 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? We who are Jews by nature, and not
sinners of the Gentiles, 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
Galatians 4:9-11: “But now, after that ye have known God, or
rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye
observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you,
lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
We
see that Paul was concerned and raised the alarm when he saw believers going
back to observe days, months, times, and years, food and drink, holydays, the
new moon, and sabbath days, circumcision, etc.
The
Scriptures tell us that these things of the Law pointed to Christ, and that
Christ is the fulfilment of those Laws, and that now that Christ has come,
those things have passed away, and we cling to Christ, the reality now, and all
the spiritual realities Christ has brought to us.
Christ is our Temple:
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews,
Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in
three days? But He spake of the temple of His body.”, John 2:19-21
We are told of the New Jerusalem when
the Lord returns: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are the temple of it.,” Revelation 21:22
And believers are the temple of the
Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and the Church as a whole is the temple of God (1
Cor. 3:16-17, 2 Cor. 6:16, Ephesians 2:21, 1 Peter 2:4-5)
Christ is our High Priest who makes atonement
for us:
Genesis
14:18: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he
was the priest of the most high God”.
Psalm 110:4 “The LORD hath sworn, and will not
repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 2:17 “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
Hebrews 3:1: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus;”
Hebrews 4:14- 15: “Seeing then that we have a great
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 6:20: “Whither the forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Hebrews 7:26: “For such an high priest became us, who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens;”
Hebrews 8:1: “Now of the things which we have
spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right
hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”
Hebrews 8:4-6: “For every high priest is ordained to
offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have
somewhat also to offer. For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing
that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto
the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when
he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all
things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath He
obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a
better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
Hebrews 9:11 “But Christ being come an high priest
of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building;”
Hebrews 10:21-22 “And having an high priest over the
house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water.”
Christ has made believers priests as well, to worship the
Lord, and to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanks to Him.
1 Peter 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9-10: “But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy.”
Revelation 1:6: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his
Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 5:10: “And hast made us unto our God
kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath
part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years”.
Christ is the
offering and sacrifice for our sins.
John 1:29: “The next day John seeth
Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world.”
Hebrews 9:11-14: “But Christ being
come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into
the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to
God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”,
Hebrews 9:24-26: “For Christ is not
entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of
the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Nor yet that he should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must He often have
suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the
world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Hebrews 10:11-12 : “And every
priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
1 John 2:2: “And He is the propitiation
for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Romans 3:25: “Whom God hath set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God;”
1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not
that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.”
He is the sacrifice and offering that
is the sweet smelling savour to God for us: (Leviticus 1:9, 13,17)
Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love,
as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
And also, in Christ, believers offer spiritual
sacrifices to God of praise and worship and good things He delights in:
Hebrews 13:15-16: “By Him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget
not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Malachi 1:11: “For from the rising
of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among
the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a
pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of
hosts.”
Romans 12:1: “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Philippians 4:18 “But I have all,
and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were
sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable,
wellpleasing to God.”
In Christ, we have been circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, as
was stated above.
Christ is our Sabbath rest. Every day is the Sabbath for us, for we have Christ,
and with Christ we rest from our works and we trust in Him and His work, and we
also think of the ultimate heavenly rest we have through Him and His work for
us.
Hebrews 4:1-3: “Let us therefore
fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you
should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well
as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into
rest, as He said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into
my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
Christ is our Passover:
1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Purge out
therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For
even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
We keep the true Passover festival of
Christ when we keep it spiritually, by clinging to Christ and all that He is
for us and by remembering Him, and we keep it not with the leaven of wickedness,
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Notice Christ is our Passover, leaven
is malice and wickedness, and in Christ we have the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth. Note how the physical, external laws of the Old Testament
regarding this are taken and interpreted and applied to us spiritually in
Christ. The Old Testament laws were pointing to something spiritual, and Paul
says, this is what the Church has now! Not the physical, literal Passover laws,
but the spiritual application of these things that they were meant to point to.
Christ is our Passover!
In Christ is our altar, and we eat of His
sacrifice:
Hebrews 13:9-10: “Be not carried
about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that
the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not
profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof
they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.”
Paul warns us not to be carried away
with strange doctrines, but to be established by grace, and not meats, or
foods, which have not been profitable to people who have been so occupied with
the food laws, clean and unclean, etc. In Christ, we have an altar to eat of
that even those who serve the tabernacle and observe all those Jewish rituals
have no right to eat of! We stay with Christ and the gospel, and not the
outward rituals of the Law, which have been fulfilled in Christ.
Christ is the veil,
the way into the presence of God:
“Jesus, when He had cried again
with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the
temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did
quake, and the rocks rent;”, Matthew 27:50-51
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living
way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His
flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold
fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that
promised;)”, Hebrews 10:19-23
All
foods are clean to us in Christ. He is what cleanses us . He and the Holy
Spirit are what makes Christians distinct, not that we have circumcision
physically or eat certain foods.
Colossians
2:16-17: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of
things to come; but the body is of Christ.”.
Hebrews
9:10: “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”
Mark
7:18-20: “There is nothing from
without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which
come out of him, those are they that defile the man…And He saith
unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that
whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into
the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man,
that defileth the man.”,
“Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding
to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God
hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know
the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it
be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and
prayer.”, 1 Timothy 4:1-5
“For
one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which
eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that
judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea,
he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”, Romans 14:2-4
Romans
14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness,
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
1 Corinthians
8:8 “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat,
are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”
Colossians
2:20-23: “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish
with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which
things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and
neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
Christ
is our temple, Christ is our Priest, Christ is the offering and sacrifice for
us, our circumcision is in Christ, Christ is our Passover, Christ is our
sabbath rest, in Christ all foods are clean to us.
We see
the things of the Old Testament Law interpreted and applied to Christ and to us
spiritually in Christ. (A Christ-centered, gospel-centered interpretation as I
said earlier in the paper).
The
danger, and why Paul sounded the alarm when he saw people going back to the
physical rites, is that in going back to the external, physical rites, we will
forget Christ and the gospel, the things those things pointed to and meant
along. The danger is we will rely on our works in doing those things, and not
on Christ, who those things pointed to. The fallen human heart is always ready
to go back to works and the Law and trying to keep external rites and rituals,
or work it’s own righteousness, rather than resting and trusting in the
righteousness that comes from God to us through Christ by faith alone, and by
God’s grace alone. And so we have to watch out.
We are
not obligated to follow the Old Testament ceremonial and civic laws anymore,
these things are applied to us spiritually in Christ.
There are so many beautiful, rich, and wonderful things we
can learn from the Law. It points to Christ, and it's so precious to us and we
know He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets and brought in the reality of these
things, the ultimate, spiritual realities, and so we're no longer obligated to
the shadows or the external rites that were the shadows, and figures, types, signs
and symbols for what Him and what He would do. We have the fulfillment now.
For many years, Christians have believed and
taught that there are distinctions in the Torah, or Law of God, that is, that
the Torah has moral laws, ceremonial laws, and civic laws.
We see in the book of
Genesis, that there are things that are sins and are wrong for everybody,
things God is against-Cain murdering his brother Abel, Judah committing
adultery, etc. The moral law of God includes universal things that are wrong
for everyone, that all mankind knows is wrong, because God has written it on
our hearts. (See Romans 2:25)
The ceremonial aspects of
the law are laws of worship given to ancient Israel, laws of the tabernacle, of
the temple, of the Levites and priests, of various animal or agricultural
sacrifices and offerings, of festivals and feasts when the people were to appear
before God to worship Him with sacrifice and offerings. These things are indeed
beautiful when we interpret them correctly and see that they point forward to
the Lord Jesus Christ and picture Him and the gospel (as the New Testament
itself applies these things to us, as we have seen).
The civic laws point to
various civil laws for ancient Israel as a nation to observe, often criminal
punishments or civil penalties, and laws related to the government and statutes
of that nation then. Some of these laws helped to distinguish Israel from the rest
of the nations.
Of course, the moral
things of the Law are important for Christians. But in Christ, it’s not the
external, physical, rites or rituals or the ceremonial or civic commandments to
national Israel that are important now, but faith in Christ, and that faith in
Christ works by love, and Scripture says that love fulfills the Law.
The moral law of course, which is the
law God wrote on all men’s hearts, of that is universally right and wrong,
which in Christ and through the Spirit, God works in us as fruit, is spoken to
us all throughout the Scripture. We do
not say that this is no longer important. The New Testament certainly teaches
believers about loving God and loving our neighbors, not committing idolatry,
having faith in Christ, being holy and godly, acting with love, kindness, and
mercy, these things of the Law are spoken of everywhere. In fact, these things
are spoken of as the fulfillment of the Law.
Romans 13:8-10: “Owe no man any
thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled
the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt
not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Galatians 5:14: “For all the
law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.”
We see what is spoken of by the Lord
Jesus and the Apostles. The things that are part of God’s universal moral law,
for Jews and Gentiles, mostly, love for God and others, holiness, and love. (Of course, this love comes after faith in
Christ and the gospel, faith worketh by love, Galatians 5:6).
But I never find Jesus chiding the
people or rebuking them about the ceremonial or civic laws of national Israel.
Do we ever see Jesus telling the
people “now make sure you keep this festival” or “you've been eating outside of
the dietary laws and I'm going to rebuke you for that”?
I never see the Apostle Paul or Peter
or James, writing to the believers in Christ be they Jews or Gentiles, and saying “Now make
sure you remember to follow all the festivals” or “make sure you remember all
the laws of leprosy” or “make sure you women remember and keep the purification
laws, you've been slipping in that” or “make sure you remember not to eat
unclean things”, or “everyone make sure your children are circumcised”.
No. They speak about love and morality
because of the gospel and God’s love for us in Christ, and the Spirit producing
His fruit within us, but other aspects
of the Law, the ceremonial and civic aspects of the Law, are not spoken of to believers or are applied spiritually
to us, pointing to Christ and salvation and the Church, rather than believers
being told “now make sure you keep the Old Testament laws of Israel”.
Back in the early days of the church, the temple
was still standing, and Israel was still in its land, they could still have followed these laws to
an extent. Can we think that the Apostle Paul led the Gentiles from all the Gentile
areas where he would go and proclaim the gospel and people would be saved and
believe and be baptized and have the Holy Spirit and be gathered together as a
church, do we ever see Paul or any of the apostles telling them to make sure
they observe the ceremonial or civic Laws of Israel?
Do we see in the Book of Acts, or the
Epistles, or anywhere, Paul leading all the Gentile converts out from Ephesus,
or Galatia, or Rome, to Jerusalem three times a year for all of the Jewish
festivals that were described in the Law? A steady stream of Gentile, or for
that matter, Jewish converts being led by the Apostle Paul to the temple three
times every year to fulfill those things?
Can we see anywhere in the New
Testament where the ceremonial or civic laws of Israel are commanded of or
imposed on believers, Jew or Gentile?
No, even in the early church, when the
temple was standing and Israel was still in the land, we don't see them
emphasizing that at all to believers, rather their letters are full of Christ
and the Holy Spirit and the grace of God and of how that works out in our lives
in holiness and in faith and in love. It
is these things that are emphasized, rather than ceremonial or civic aspects of
the law. We don’t these things emphasized in Scripture.
Does God’s Law Change? (Or
Can/Does God Change His Laws?)
One of the things that we see
and learn when we read the Torah, the first five books of Moses, is that God’s laws
are changeable, that is, the Lord can and does change His laws or commands to
people.
We see this in the very
areas relevant to our discussion, food laws, circumcision, and in external
ceremonial worship rites and practices.
Food Laws Can Change:
In the beginning, with Adam
and Eve, we read: “And God said, Behold, I have
given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and
every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it
shall be for meat.”, Genesis 1:29.
We also read: “And the
LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to
keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the
garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die.”, Genesis 2:15-17
However, several chapters
later Genesis 9:3-4, after the flood, we read that God told Noah and his
family:
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be
meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh
with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”,
God told Adam and Eve in
Genesis 1 and 2 that He had given them plants, herbs, and trees, to eat of, and
that they (and all mankind) could eat of any tree except the fruit of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil. But later, after the flood, in Genesis 9, God
tells Noah that now mankind can eat any animal except without the blood in it.
Notice the recurrence of
the phrases and terminology:
“to you it shall
be for meat” in Genesis 1:29, “shall be meat for you”,
Genesis 9:3.
And:
“Behold, I have
given you every herb … and every tree…”, Genesis 1:29
“even as the green herb
have I given you all things.”, Genesis 9:3
Notice also that God makes
the specific point of referring back to what He had said to Adam and Eve to
confirm this to Noah, “even as the green herb have I given you all
things”. He seems to assure and
confirm to Noah that in the past, He had given the plants to eat, but that now
He is giving them animals to eat as well, and they may eat animals now that
will be for food for them.
We might say, “just as I
gave Adam and Eve, and all humanity, plants to eat then, in that same say, so
now “every moving thing that liveth” shall be food for you, and “I
have given you all things”.
We see that there is the
stipulation that animals are not to be eaten with the blood still in it. Man
can eat all these animals that live and move, but it must be prepared in such a
way that the blood is not still in it. It should be prepared or cooked in some
way so that the blood is not eaten.
So, one of the things we
learn from the Torah, right in the very beginning, right in the book of Genesis,
is that God changes His laws, including a specific instance of His changing
food laws! First God gives humanity plants, herbs, and fruit to eat, then after
the flood, He gives mankind animals to eat, every moving thing that lives, and “all
things”, with the stipulation that man not eat the blood.
(By the way, what if one
of Noah’s sons had said, “Wait a moment. From the very beginning, God gave us
plants and herbs to eat, now you’re saying that God says we can eat animals? I
don’t know about that. God’s Word at the beginning, and all we’ve ever known,
is that God has given us plants to eat.” What would Noah say to his son? I’ll
leave you to make right applications to the whole discussion at hand concerning
believers having to observe the Torah).
Then many years later, as
God forms a people, the nation of Israel, to be a distinct people, living in a
distinct land that He promised to give them, under Him in a very unique way, after
they come out of Egypt, and received His laws in the wilderness, we then have
Leviticus 11 where God gives dietary laws to and for the nation of Israel as
His people. Here and in other places, God gives various laws of clean and
unclean to His people, this is believed to distinguish them and mark them as
distinct from the nations, and as separate to the Lord, visualizing concepts of
holiness and unholiness, cleanness and uncleanness, as His people. The
distinguishing markers of God’s people now are faith in Christ, and presence of
the Holy Spirit in His people, love, and the fruit of the Spirit, not external
things like what foods were eaten. (Acts 15:9)
So, we see in the Torah,
as well as in the rest of the Scriptures, that the law changes. God’s laws are
changeable, by that I mean that God is absolutely sovereign and has all power
and authority to change His own laws. In His sovereignty, infinite wisdom and
goodness, God can absolutely give to one people, at one time, one law or
command, and then at another time give that same people another law.
God can give mankind
plants to eat at first, and then in His great goodness and wisdom, give them
all animals to eat. Also, later, God can give a set of laws to His people
Israel as a nation, and then later the Lord God can step out of Heaven, come to
earth incarnate, and declare all foods clean and allowable to eat (Mark 7:19,
Acts 10:9-28, 1 Timothy 4:1-5). And when He does, the word of God then is “What
God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”, Acts 10:15.
We learn from the Torah
that God’s laws are changeable. God can and does, according to His own
sovereignty, infinite wisdom, and goodness, give or restrict things, make a
law, and then change that law to something else. It is not capricious; God
always has His purposes. Particularly in the ceremonial laws, we see that these
things were signs, types, and figures, shadows pointing forward to Christ. The
Lord used these things to teach us about Christ.
The Law of Circumcision
Can Change
God first commanded
circumcision for Abraham and his household in Genesis 17. But up until that
point, there is no mention of it. It is not commanded, and no mention is made
of anyone being punished for not being circumcised. Until Genesis 17, Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch,
Noah, and all their descendants, even those who called upon the name of the
Lord, are not commanded to be circumcised, at least in no place is it spoken
of. But then beginning with Abraham in Genesis 17, God commands it for
Abraham’s family and household. Of course, as we have seen, in the New
Testament, circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but faith in
God, and Christ is what matters.
Practices, Laws, and Commands
About External, Physical Rites of Worship Can Change:
It seems that in the early
days, such as in the times of Adam or Able and then in the patriarchs, that
people would set up altars in various places, and would make sacrifices and
offerings to God, perhaps heads of families and fathers, as we read of in the
book of Job, would make sacrifices and bring offerings and prayer to the Lord (Cain
and Abel-Genesis 4:3-4, Noah -Genesis 8:20, Abraham-Genesis 12:7-8, 13:18,
22:9, Isaac -Genesis 26:24-25, Jacob- Genesis 33:20,35:3, 7, Job-Job 1:4)
Then, later on, in a period when, again, we see that God forms
a nation to be a people for Himself, the people of Israel, and brings them out
of Egypt, gives them His laws, and brings them to Himself, He tells them to
create a tabernacle, and so there are all these laws in a significant part of
Exodus, chapters 25-40, about the
Tabernacle. And there are very specific laws and details that God commands them
regarding the Tabernacle, and its materials, and structure, and the furniture
for the Tabernacle, and now there is going to be a priesthood established
through Aaron and the tribe of Levi, etc and the people obey and do these
things.
And the tabernacle is not
in one place, but it’s movable, so there are commands about how to build it so
it can be moved, and how to move it.
And God said, through
Moses in the book of Deuteronomy that the people were not to make offerings and
sacrifices in every or any place now,
but they must bring their sacrifices and offerings to the tabernacle:
Deuteronomy 12:5-6: “But
unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to
put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou
shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your
sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows,
and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your
flocks:”
Deuteronomy 12:13-14: “Take
heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that
thou seest: But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes,
there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I
command thee.” (See also Leviticus 17:2-5).
These are changes. Before
there was no tabernacle, people were permitted to make altars and make
offerings to the Lord in various places, and then later, God commands the
people of Israel to build a tabernacle, and when they are in the land, the
people are no longer to build altars and make offerings every where, but are to
bring their offerings to the tabernacle, where God’s presence was uniquely
manifested, and now priests were to be involved in the people’s sacrifices and
offerings (Deuteronomy 12:4-18). God would teach them now about sacrifices,
offerings, atonement, and priests, things pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ who
was to come.
Then later in their
history, we see that God gives them the plans for the temple and it's not going
to be the tabernacle anymore, a place that is moving around, but worship in
offerings and sacrifices will be at the temple, in one location, and the people
will go to the temple with their offerings and sacrifices now.
And as was discussed, in
New Testament times, Christ comes, and Christ says that He is the temple and later
on believers, and the Church as a whole, are called the temple, a spiritual temple,
that God indwells.
The Lord Jesus in John 4
tells us that an hour is coming and now is when people won't worship the Father
either in Samaria or in Jerusalem, that is only on a certain mountain or place,
but that God will be worshiped in spirit
and truth, and so we see the gospel spread to the Gentiles, and people
worshipping God in every land and place, and lifting up spiritual offerings to
Him.
In the Torah we see that
God does give laws according to His holy and wise and good will, but that He has total power and sovereignty to
change His laws or to give other laws, or to give laws to a certain people, but
not others, or to give laws for a certain time and purpose, but then give other
laws later, or to take away or change laws and allow things previously
forbidden, etc. We see examples of this
specifically with food laws and ceremonial aspects of the law related to
worship, physical rites, rituals, and external things associated with it.
We would note that while
food laws, or laws about external worship rituals changed, the universal moral
law of God never changed. From the
beginning of the book of Genesis, and all through Scripture we see that
idolatry is wrong, murder is sin and is wrong, adultery is wrong, etc. We see these moral universals before there was
a formal law of Moses, and we see this after and throughout the New Testament.
While some laws of God changed, these things do not. We are always told to love
God and to love our fellow man, not commit idolatry, not commit murder, steal,
commit adultery, etc. The New Testament, or any other place in Scripture, does
not change these laws. God never says, now you may murder, or commit adultery,
or commit idolatry. We know we have all broken these laws and are saved by the
grace of God, through Christ, by faith alone, and as believers, through Christ
and the Holy Spirit, we can obey these universal, moral laws that are the will
of God.
FFOZ repeatedly reminds us
that Christ did not come to abolish the Law, Matthew 5:17. That’s true, but He
did come to fulfill it. How do we think of this?
By way of an analogy to
serve as an illustration, think of this. From the Torah, God gave many laws
about the tabernacle. We have chapter after chapter at the end of Exodus of
very detailed laws, and it was very important that the people observe them. But
then later, the temple is given and built. God gives laws and a pattern for the temple,
and it was constructed, and so there were laws of the temple now. When that
happened, when the temple was built and was in operation, what happened to the
tabernacle? How did the people of Israel, or how should we, we regard it or how
did they relate to it? Was it abolished? Well, it was not despised by God or
held in contempt by God or the Israelites, but those laws having to do with the
tabernacle were no longer in effect because the temple was now standing. They
had served their purpose and now there was the temple that the people were
directed to go to. To be sure, there were many similarities between the
tabernacle and the temple, and so there were principles from the tabernacle
that carried over to the temple and its laws of worship, but the tabernacle had
served its purposes, and when the temple came about, other laws were in place
now. (I would point out that Hebrews 8:1-5 tells us about spiritual lessons
from the tabernacle we can learn).
We might say just as an
analogy or illustration that the Old Testament ceremonies and civil laws were
laws for the people of Israel, and are not to be despised, there's much we can
learn from them, but now that Christ has come, those things have been fulfilled,
and we focus on Christ now, just as the tabernacle
(which God had given many commands and laws about in the Torah) was no longer
in operation when the temple was built.
Or for another example, take
the laws that God gave to the people of Israel in the book of Exodus about
manna. These laws weren’t in effect always, throughout all time, and they were not for every nation. These were specific laws given to the nation
of Israel for a certain period of time, for Israel (no other nations were
promised that they would wake up and find manna to gather and collect to eat
that day). This was for a unique time, for
the nation of Israel, under Moses, in the wilderness, under God's direct
rulership where His presence was manifested in the pillar of cloud and in the pillar
of fire. They were told to rest on the
Sabbath day and manna would fall from Heaven, and they were told to pick it up
each morning, except on the 6th day, they were supposed to gather more than
just one day’s allotment, and they were not supposed to collect it at all on
the Sabbath, (but on other days they
weren't supposed to get more than they were supposed to or it would just rot),
and yet we find that when they went into the promised land, the manna stopped. How were the people of
Israel to relate to or think about the laws of the manna given in the Torah
then?
Well, those laws no longer
applied, they were no longer in effect. But they weren't despised, they weren't
something you would regard with contempt or disdain, but rather it was obvious
that those were laws for a certain purpose and people, in a certain time, and we see that in God's redemptive purposes, the manna has spiritual lessons for us, and
was pointed to Christ who said He's the true manna, and they were for the
Sabbath rest while Israel were in the wilderness, and it was provision for them. But once they got
into the promised land, the day they were in their own land, the manna stopped
now.
How would we talk about
that, what language or words would we use to say how Israel was to regard those
laws about the manna? We would say those
laws passed away, or those laws were not in effect anymore at all, even as a
system. (Would anyone in the promised land be punished if they tried to go out
and gather manna). No, it just wasn't in
effect for them anymore because they were in the land now. But certainly, there
were other laws about the Sabbath that were observed still. (And as noted
above, there are many spiritual lessons we can learn from the manna which the
New Testament indicates to us).
The manna was still a
cherished part of their history, it was something precious to them, and it was full
of meaning about God's provision, about faith, about rest and the Sabbath, and
ultimately pointing forward to Christ the true Manna, the true Bread of God
that came down from Heaven to give life to the world. The manna was gathered
into a jar kept in the ark of the covenant, so it was still respected and had a
cherished place, but it was no longer in effect for the people in the promised
land.
Though not from the Torah,
we see in the New Testament that at one point, the Lord Jesus Christ gives
power to His twelve disciples to cast out demons and to heal all manner of
sickness and He sends them out to preach the gospel and to heal and to travel
to various towns and cities and at that time, in Matthew 10, He commands them
not to go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans but rather to go to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel. But in Matthew 28, after Christ was crucified, died, and rose
from the dead, He now tells His apostles to go throughout the whole world, and we
see in the book of Luke and in the book of Acts that He tells them that they
will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The command of Christ at one time (in
Matthew 10) to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, is superseded
by His command after He rises from the dead, to go to the whole earth to preach
the gospel. (Similarly, Jesus gives commands in Matthew 10 about not taking
things with them, and then in Luke 22:35- 36, He modifies what He had said, and
He even refers to the fact that before He had sent them on one way, now He is
sending them out another. There are still spiritual lessons in all these things
that we can learn and benefit from).
The point is that these
are examples and illustrations of how the Lord can make laws and give commands in
His infinite wisdom and goodness that are for a certain time or a certain
people until something else occurs. He can modify, cancel, or change laws. He
can give freedom where once He gave restriction. He can open things to us that
He once closed. If He could give Noah and humanity all the animals to eat, when
at first He gave only the plants to Adam and humanity to eat, why can He not,
when Christ comes, through Christ, declare all foods clean for everyone?
The Lord's Supper was not
commanded all along throughout the Bible. Adam and the patriarchs didn’t have
it. It was not until the Lord Jesus took the bread and told us it's His body
and took the cup and told us it’s His blood, this is enacted the very night before
He's about to be crucified and give His body and blood for us. And then He told
us to do this in remembrance of Him and this is repeated in the New Testament
and is so precious to us today.
Baptism was not commanded,
particularly not in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, until after Christ dies and rises from the dead. And then in Matthew 28
the Lord tells us to do this, and we have baptism which we see throughout the
book of Acts consistently observed and in the Epistles.
The Law and the Prophets,
and every part of God’s Word, should be very precious to us. The New Testament
quotes or refers to the Old Testament all over the place, so it is not to be forgotten,
it is not to be despised, it is not to be held in contempt, rather, as we have
seen, very often, particularly with ceremonial or civic aspects of the Law, it
pointed forward to Christ and the gospel, and it is interpreted and applied to
us in Christ today spiritually.
One helpful way to think
about this may be as Dr. Peter Masters speaks of it in his book “Not Like Any
Other Book”. Dr. Masters wrote:
“All Scripture is
binding today unless Scripture itself cancels, limits or modifies what it
prescribes. Many passages, such as Old Testament historical narratives, record
acts of God’s people carried out in obedience to His commands-such as the
“church” going to war-which are not literally binding for today, because the
record makes clear that they were God’s will for that time and locality. This
is usually too obvious to warrant discussion. All God’s ancient commands
continue for today in a spiritual sense, referring, for example, to our
fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have already noted that
the New Testament cancels literal compliance with the ceremonial law of Moses.”
- Masters, Peter. Not Like Any Other Book. Wakemen Trust. 2004.
Or
as Francis Turretin, answering the question “Was the ceremonial law abrogated
under the New Testament?”, wrote around the 1680’s:
“The
ceremonial law can be viewed in two ways: either with regard to doctrine and
signification; or with regard to obligation and observance. The question is not
whether it was abrogated as to doctrine. We confess that it still remains
and is useful in many ways among Christians; and that the mystical truth,
hidden under this shell, is always the same and of perpetual necessity.
Hence on account of that analogy, the names are always retained (the ancient
state being changed) and circumcision, sacrifices, altars, incense are
attributed to Christians, not because these rites ought to prevail under the
gospel, but because the truth of these figures always remains (in which
we have the things adumbrated by these signs). Rather the question is whether
it was abrogated as to obligation and obedience and whether believers are still
in subjection to the ceremonial law (as the Jews of old) and are bound to keep
it (as the Jews maintain). This was the opinion not only of the Jews of old (and
is of those in our time), but also of the Judaizing false apostles in the time
of the apostles. They urged the observance of ceremonies as necessary, rashly
confounding the law with the gospel, Moses with Christ. However we with the
apostles and the whole church, deny it.” Turretin, Francis. Institutes
of Elenctic Theology. P&R
Publishing.
I would also emphasize
that in the New Testament we have human authors, but the true Author is the Holy Spirit, and He
is inspiring the Scriptures, and so when the New Testament quotes or refers to
the Old Testament, we have Holy Spirit inspired commentary on the Old Testament.
Did the Early Church Keep
the Old Testament Ceremonial and Civic Laws?
Early church history shows
us that believers in Christ did not observe the Jewish rites, but understood that the Old Testament laws
regarding rituals were physical, external types and symbols, pointing to the
reality of Christ and since Christ brought the spiritual truth of these things
to them, they held on to Christ and no longer observed the physical, external
rights and rituals such as circumcision, the Sabbath, and food laws as the Jews
in the nation of Israel had.
Here's a quote from Justin
Martyr, about 100 years after the crucifixion of Christ, speaking with a Jewish
man named Trypho. Justin brings this subject up:
“Is there any other matter, my friends, in
which we are blamed, than this, that we live not after the law, and are
not circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers were, and do not observe
sabbaths as you do?”
Trypho the Jewish man replies:
“This is what we are amazed at,” said
Trypho…this is what we are most at a loss about: that you, professing to be
pious, and supposing yourselves better than others, are not in any particular
separated from them, and do not alter your mode of living from the
nations, in that you observe no festivals or sabbaths, and do not have the rite
of circumcision; and further, resting your hopes on a man that was crucified,
you yet expect to obtain some good thing from God, while you do not obey His
commandments.
We can see from this
conversation in early church history that both the Christian believer, Justin
Martyr, and the Jewish man, Trypho, acknowledged and agreed that Christians do
not follow the external rites and ceremonies of the Old Testament law, such as
the Sabbath, the festivals, circumcision, etc.
Like Peter, they did not live like Jews.
Tertullian, a Christian
teacher who lived from 155 A.D. – 220 A.D. in the Roman Province of Africa,
wrote:
“Therefore, since it is
manifest that a sabbath temporal was shown, and a sabbath eternal foretold;
a circumcision carnal foretold, and a circumcision spiritual pre-indicated; a
law temporal and a law eternal formally declared; sacrifices carnal and
sacrifices spiritual foreshown; it follows that, after all these precepts had
been given carnally, in time preceding, to the people Israel, there was to
supervene a time whereat the precepts of the ancient Law and of the old
ceremonies would cease, and the promise of the new law, and the recognition of
spiritual sacrifices, and the promise of the New Testament, supervene;
while the light from on high would beam upon us who were sitting in darkness,
and were being detained in the shadow of death. And so there is incumbent on us
a necessity binding us, since we have premised that a new law was predicted by
the prophets, and that not such as had been already given to their fathers at
the time when He led them forth from the land of Egypt, to show and prove, on
the one hand, that that old Law has ceased, and on the other, that the
promised new law is now in operation.” Tertullian, An Answer to the
Jews. Chapter 6. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0308.htm
Early Church Fathers also
observed that men such as Adam, Abel, Enoch, and Noah were accounted as
righteous and blessed by God, though they did not have circumcision or
sabbath-observation commanded them.
The church is one new man now, made of
Jews and Gentiles, it's not any one national country where the people are all
of one race or ethnicity, all in a certain physical land, rather the gospel
spreads to all lands and people of every tribe and tongue and nation and
language hear the gospel and become Christians by believing in Christ, and they
are baptized, and they are in the Church, and so these national ceremonial and civic
laws are not in place for them, they have the spiritual reality that these
things pointed to.
Adam is a type of Christ (Romans 5:12-21, esp.
vs. 14. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45).
The blood of Christ speaks better than the blood
of Abel and calls out for our pardon and forgiveness (Hebrews 12:24)
Christ is an ark of salvation to save us from
the wrath of God (1 Peter 3:20-22)
Christ is the great Seed or descendant of
Abraham through Whom the whole world would be blessed (Galatians 3:8-16)
Many have seen Joseph with his rejection and umiliation
but then exaltation and salvation threw him because of his sufferings and exultation
as a type of Christ.
Christ is the Angel of the Lord who appeared
throughout the Old Testament, to Abraham along with two angels, the One who
spoke to Hagar in the desert, Who wrestled with Jacob, Who spoke to Moses from
the burning bush, Who spoke to Gideon, Who appeared to Samson's parents, Who
appeared to the prophet Zechariah, etc.
Christ is the Passover Lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Christ is the Rock that followed the Israelites in
the wilderness, 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
“Moreover, brethren, I
would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the
cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the
cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink
the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Christ is the one who cleanses us from the
leprosy of sin and makes us clean.
Christ is our City of refuge.
Christ is our kinsman redeemer.
Christ is the true Manna - John 6:25-58, esp.
vss. 32-33 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses
gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread
from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and
giveth life unto the world.”
The serpent lifted up on the pole,
healing all who looked to it, was a type of Christ- John 3:14-15: “And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted
up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”,
Isaiah saw Christ’s glory and was glad - John
8:56-58: “Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said
the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen
Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.”
Jonah’s three days and three nights in the heart
of the fish was a picture of Christ’s resurrection:
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the
whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the
heart of the earth.”, Matthew 12:40
Yes, we do have regard for what the Lord has taught us in the Law, in
the Torah. We believe it is divinely inspired and important, and there are many
glorious, rich, beautiful things to be found there that are a blessing and
benefit to us, when understood through a Christ-centered, gospel centric
interpretation. But we recognize that especially the ceremonial aspects of the
law, point forward to Christ and His coming, the gospel, and the salvation He
would bring us. Now that He has come, we don’t need the physical, external,
outward rites and ceremonies of the Torah they had then, we have the fulness of
those things in Christ spiritually.
All the statements by FFOZ or Torah Clubs quoted
in the various sections of this paper are very concerning, and I think
dangerous. We must be very, very careful in what we say, especially as teachers
who will receive a greater judgment. We should be careful to be precise in our
words, lest we lead someone astray! These are
not one or two statements about some minor, obscure, or fine point in
theology that are unclear or debatable. These are concerning, dangerous
statements, made about vast, crucial truths of the Christian faith-The Trinity,
the deity of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, what the gospel is, the Church, the
relationship of believers to the Law and Grace.
Four
Testimonies
Does
all this really matter?
Why
make an issue of this?
This isn’t just theoretical or academic. The truths of the
gospel really do matter deeply to real people living real lives right now!
The Hebrew Roots/Torah Observant movement has many other
groups other than FFOZ, but there are many commonalities. Here are four
testimonies of people with real experiences in Hebrew Roots/Torah Observant
Groups. These testimonies take us inside these movements and groups and give us
real-life experiences of people who were part of these groups and who went down
these paths. They can be helpful for noticing patterns in what can occur with
these groups or movements.
1. Here is the testimony of a woman who at the time of her writing
this was actually still currently held in a Hebrew Roots/Torah Observant mindset.
She took to social media to describe her experience of
trying to keep the Passover:
“This
year I felt overwhelmed. We decided to keep pasach at the house this
year. We used one of my male goats my husband slaughtered, but after we killed
the goat everything went south. Blood
went everywhere, my husband got a headache, he went to bed, I ended up cooking
it by myself running back and forth between kids and cooking.
This
Passover was the hardest. I didn't feel my heart was in the right place.
I have never been as upset and angry as I have this Passover, not just
that, drained emotionally and physically. My animal was wasted, I cried my eyes out,
I even cursed. I feel like I should give up, like I'm a failure. I let
my Creator down, I couldn't even go through one night of trials and
overcome it. I wanted to have a special Passover with my family, it ended up
being like a big regret and a burden on me..."
Is the Passover meant to make someone feel overwhelmed,
like it is the hardest, upset, angry, drained emotionally and physically, in
tears, cursing, feeling like giving up, like one is a failure, like one let
down their Creator, and like a big regret and burden?
Looking at the Passover from this Torah observant
perspective, this woman is laboring under a burden she should not have to bear.
How satanically ironic that something like the Passover, which is meant to
point us to our the Saviour Jesus Christ shedding His precious blood in our
place as the Lamb of God, dying to
redeem us and give us freedom, would instead be something that was a cause for
her to be upset, angry, drained, and have the guilt and shame of feeling like a
failure and a burden.
This woman was focusing on her own works and attempts at
keeping the laws of the Torah in regard to the Passover, and not on Christ, who
is Himself the true Passover, who has been sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7-8),
and who the Old Testament Passover was meant to point us to all along!
Christ is our Passover, and we keep the Passover most truly
when we cling to Him and worship Him in awe and adoration for His blood spilled
for us, and when we walk in the deliverance and freedom He has given us.
I believe our Lord would say to this poor woman, laboring
under guilt, exhaustion, anger, and her own emphasis on working the works of
the Law, what He says to all of us:
“Come unto Me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”,
Matthew 11:28-30
2. Here is the testimony of a man who became involved in a
Torah Observant Group:
“At first, I
thought the ideas were zany, but soon the arguments towards Torah Observance
sounded convincing and logical. After
all, if God said don’t eat pork, maybe nobody should ever eat it? Maybe since we are grafted in, we should be
following the Torah? And from there, I
buried my ‘roots’ so to speak, deeper into the doctrines of the HRM.
I
thought to myself, maybe I had been missing something important in traditional
church and what if what I had believed growing up was wrong? After all, I had never questioned any of it
before but instead of studying the Scriptures for myself and carefully weighing
everything, I swung the other way and embraced the HRM perspective and
teachings because it seemed there was an answer to everything.
Soon
our small family must have appeared Jewish to anyone who would enter our home
or observe our way of life. From the wearing tzitzit and head coverings to the
way we observed Shabbat to the removal of crosses and the replacement with the
mezuzah and menorah and the refusing of all things labeled ‘pagan’ by most in
the HRM – the way I understood ‘pleasing God’ changed greatly both on the
inside and maybe more so on the outside.
Fellowship
with other Christians typically included arguments advocating Torah observance
and denouncing ‘paganism’ in ‘churchianity’. ..The whole Torah
Observance/traditional holiday-avoiding lifestyle made me feel isolated in many
ways. But at the same time, I thought I
was better than all these churchianity Christians who didn’t fall for the HRM
arguments that my household presented…
Still,
I found myself turning into a righteous snob without realizing it. I had dropped out of nearly all fellowship
and found that I had no best friend I could confide in about spiritual matters,
even within the HRM.
But
there was still something that didn’t make sense to me; I observed Christians
who lived full of love and joy, and I hadn’t known true joy in a long time. The
fruit in my own life had gone downhill tremendously. It’s like Jesus said, those who strain a gnat
and swallow a camel or those who look at the speck in someone’s eye but forget
the plank in their own; while I was worried about everyone else accepting the
Torah truth, my own life didn’t reflect anything that anyone could desire.
Besides
judgmentalism, I was losing hope, complaining a lot more, becoming skeptical,
starting to become confused about what I believed, and I even swore like a
sailor which was new to me. I wasted my
time doing useless projects and even a few times got drunk on purpose. My faith was becoming ship-wrecked and I knew
I was soon coming to a complete faith crisis…Something drastic had to change; I
had to come to the end of myself….
Thankfully
I did finally come to the end of myself.
One evening, I opened my Bible to read as though it were the first
time ever. I poured over the epistles
with a voracious fervor like I was completely starved. Those first few weeks I took time to read
Galatians, again and again and again, along with Romans and practically all
the epistles and multiple commentary notes.
So
many varying degrees of thoughts went through my mind while reading – from
extreme hope, to extreme confusion, to HRM arguments, to finally coming to the
question that I wasn’t sure if I could ask:
could it just maybe really be this simple to be a
Christ-follower? All I had to do is
trust in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to produce fruit and love in my life?
…I
regret my strong involvement in HRM, but I know God can use all things for
His glory if we let Him.
People
who have never been in captivity may not be able to understand freedom or may
not fight for it, but those who have been in bondage appreciate and fight for
their freedom all the more. And I
have that freedom in Christ. I’m
learning what grace looks like practically both for my own life, in
raising my children, and in dealing with other believers.”
3. Here is the testimony of a child who was effected by his
parent’s involvement with the Hebrew Roots Movement/Torah Observant Groups:
“It started when I was about nine years old. My parents
were under the impression that if they did more to please God, that God would
bless the family more. The basic idea was that if we kept the law of Moses, and
observed all the feasts (old covenant holidays), God would be pleased with us.
When we made this change, my mother told me it was just an observation, more
like adopting a new culture. We were gaining a new insight into what life and
religion was like back in Bible times.
Soon after, we started attending a study group (or as they
say in the Hebrew Roots, ‘Congregation’) ... My friends and I would play out
there for hours while our parents would sit together and study the Torah (the
first five books of the Bible.
A few years went by, we had been to a few different groups
by that time, and eventually had started our own with friends we had made the
whole time. I was a little older by this time, and I was listening to what the
adults were saying)…
…I believed Jesus died and rose again for my sins, but
the obsession with the Law that everyone had gave me the impression I had to
keep all 613 commandments to be saved. None of it made sense to me. How could
Jesus die for me and still expect me to live a perfect life? I knew I wasn’t
able to do it, and as hard as I tried to be perfect, I believed I was
headed straight for Hell. I remember crying out to God on several
occasions, pleading for mercy, and thinking to myself , “You don’t deserve it,
He won’t listen to you”.
Not long after I turned 14, God led my parents out of the
Hebrew Roots Movement, and we started going to a Baptist church. I was relieved
to know at this point that I didn’t have to follow the Law of Moses to be
saved, and that I just had to let Christ into my heart… I remember sitting in
the church building, my pastor giving us a sermon …, and seeing the pulpit had
a cross on the front. While I was listening, I started focusing on the cross. …
and how Jesus defeated sin on the cross. The image was simple, but it was
powerful to me, and God changed my heart right there. I was free! I know
people go through much worse than I have, in a sense, I’m very blessed to have
suffered very little, though when I look back now, I don’t so much see myself
as I do another 10 year old boy, in torment, feeling unworthy of God’s
presence, of His mercy. I hope that in writing this, someone will
spare themselves, and their children of the bondage that is in the Hebrew Roots
movement.”
4. Here is a testimony of a woman who participated in Torah
Observance teachings, including First Fruits of Zion. These testimonies can be
helpful as we see patterns of what can happen when someone begins to participate
in this material or these groups:
“I
found myself on Amazon.com looking for books on biblical eating and the law,
and discovered a whole genre of books on Torah observance. … After reading
them, I was thoroughly convinced that, even as new covenant believers, Christians
did have a responsibility to observe the law, except for the
commandments that were absolutely impossible or inappropriate for us to follow
(ie, stoning someone for working on the Sabbath).
Along the way I also became a major fan of websites
that were a one-stop-shop for all things Torah Observant, especially First
Fruits of Zion.
These ministries taught that while salvation is received solely by having
faith in Jesus, that a lifestyle of righteousness can only be achieved through
obeying the law. After all, Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, but
to fulfill it. Of course, their definition of “fulfillment” was that Jesus was
the fullness or embodiment of the law. Therefore, how could we say we loved
him, and disobey his commandments? He even said that if you loved him, you
would obey his commands. So goes the logic of the Torah observant movement…
I began to learn that it was necessary for us to
understand the Hebrew culture, idioms, and language, in order for us to truly
understand scripture,
which in turn made me doubt the accuracy of any mainstream Christian
interpretations of scripture, and lose faith in our ability to even
understand scripture without the aid of those who are experts on the ins and
outs of the Hebrew culture and language. (HR/TO proponents argue that the
Greek/Western mindset misinterprets scripture, as it doesn’t understand its
context, which has resulted in most in Christendom turning its back on the
Torah.) This led me to trust the teachings of those within the TO movement over
others because they sought to interpret scripture from the information they
received in their studies of Hebrew culture and language. Little did I know,
therein laid the problem. Their sources for this information were unbelieving
Jewish rabbis and their teachings.
With
my beliefs changing so much, I made the decision to leave
the church I had been a part of for almost 5 years, and set out
on my own…
Along
the way there were certain aspects of the TO/HR movement that bothered me...I
found that even the TO/HR proponents were evolving in their understanding of
what it meant to be a biblical Christian. They began to see non-Messianic
rabbis as “fathers” of the faith whose authority Christians were obligated to
come under. They believed that aside from its exclusion of Jesus Christ
as savior, that rabbinic Judaism, complete with praying 3 times a day facing
Jerusalem, learning and obeying the Talmud, and even delving into mystical
practices (Kabbalah) should be an integral part of the Christian’s faith. I
actually was able to be deceived by their teachings on prayer. I remember
owning a DVD series produced by First Fruits of Zion called Praying in the
Spirit, that took the position that praying pre-written prayers from a prayer
book 3 times a day facing Jerusalem was the way one prayed “in the spirit” and
“without ceasing”. It bothers me now to think about how I used to take
mini breaks at work to pray, and actually brought a tiny compass along with me
to ensure that I was indeed facing Jerusalem when I did it.
While
I was able to be deceived into thinking that praying set prayers according to
Jewish tradition was a biblical commandment, I could never buy into the idea
that unbelieving Jewish rabbis had a place of spiritual authority over me or
other Christians. Wandering into the territory of mystical Judaism and obeying
the teachings of the Talmud stood out as being clearly blasphemous to me. What
was worse was to hear messages and read articles about how many
Christians were beginning to abandon Jesus altogether for Orthodox Judaism,
and how we needed to work to prevent this trend from spreading further into the
TO Christian community. Somehow people who began studying the Torah and
Hebrew idioms and culture out of a sincere love for Jesus, wound up growing
farther and farther away from him. One day they were pursuing the “Jewishness
of Jesus”, and the next they decided that Jewishness in and of itself was their
savior, and that Jesus was merely a deceiver. Unexpected, but the
reality none the less….
The
writer describes how she reached out to a Pastor for help with some other areas
of her life and then:
…as
I explained to him how I was practicing my faith, he kindly suggested that it
was not good for me to be without the fellowship of other believers, listening
to online sermons in my room. While no church was perfect, he strongly
believed that I would be better off in a church, connected to other Christians,
however flawed they may be, than I would be going it alone…
…
Up until that time, I had bought into the HR notion that Western
interpretations of scripture were unreliable due to their lack of understanding
of the Hebrew culture and language. Anything written in the New
Testament that seemed to indicate that we were no longer under the law was
actually pro-Torah observance. We had just been interpreting those passages
incorrectly. Works like The Complete Jewish Bible were able to translate those
verses “correctly”, and restore the proper pro-Torah meaning.
…a
couple in New Jersey, … prayed with me over the phone. They were just “regular”
Christians, and before getting to the meat of our conversation they wanted to
make sure I was a Christian too. They asked me some standard litmus test
questions, one of them being “How do you know you have salvation?” I explained
to them that I was confident that I had salvation because I believed that Jesus
had died on the cross for my sins and because I obeyed his
commandments. That seemed fair enough to them, and having satisfied them with
my answer, we moved on. However, there was a major problem. When I said that I
obeyed Jesus’ commandments, I wasn’t just talking about righteous living that
comes from loving God and loving one another. I was referring to the law.
When I heard these words come out of my mouth I realized that my theology
was dangerously off course. I now believed I was saved because of Jesus’
sacrifice on the cross and because I obeyed the Mosaic laws.
Then I realized that I no longer truly understood why
I needed Jesus at all. If I had the law, and obeying it
made me a righteous person, what was Jesus’ role? After speaking to this
couple, I noticed that I felt very far away from Jesus. I can’t say I’ve ever
felt his presence in a noticeable way, but I certainly felt that there was a
distance between us now. How could I, in my desire to love Jesus and obey
him, have ended up feeling like we were strangers? Unfortunately
my good intentions had not been enough. I found myself, after having been
raised in church my whole life, and saved since 6 or 7, now needing to relearn
the basics of my faith all over again. Above all, I needed to
understand why Jesus came to earth, and why I needed him.
During
this period of relearning my faith I also reread Paul’s letter to the
Galatians, and all of the sudden it made so much sense. Galatians was
written to people just like me, Gentile Christians who had been deceived into
believing they had to obey the law of Moses. When you have lived
as a Galatian, Paul’s words really come alive, and speak so clearly to your
situation. I thank God that he preserved his letter for us.
Now
that my mindset was changed, my lifestyle began to change as well. I allowed
myself to eat my favorite foods, even if they were considered unclean or
weren’t kosher. I no longer felt the need to celebrate biblical holidays, and
allowed myself to do whatever I wanted Friday night and all day Saturday … I
stopped trying to learn about the Jewish mindset on biblical issues, and
regained trust in the scholarship behind mainstream bible translations. My
Complete Jewish Bible and all those other HR/TO books and resources went in the
trash, and I eventually started attending a regular church.
At
the end of it all, I had learned many lessons:
I saw that when I strayed, God would leave the 99
other sheep, and come and get me, and bring me back to the truth.
You can either have the law or Jesus. You cannot mix
the old and new covenant. It’s all or nothing.
No one alive today can keep the law in full. There is
no temple, no Levitical priesthood, and most of us don’t live in Israel, so we
cannot live by the law even if we wanted to.
Beware of the yeast of the Pharisses! The yeast is their teachings.
Today’s unbelieving Jewish rabbis are the religious descendants of the
Pharisees. They believe and teach what the Pharisees taught. Their
teachings are hostile to the gospel, and will lead believers away from Jesus
Christ, even if they have good intentions.
The heart of our faith is found in Jesus’ death and
resurrection, and faith in him and his message. The gospel is meant to be
easily accessible and understood by people of all cultures and languages. Jesus
and his blood are the “roots” of the Christian faith, not his culture or the
language he spoke.
They may be the backdrop of the events of his life, but they can become a major
distraction to God himself, if we let them.” https://womenofchristianity.com/testimony-coming-out-of-hebrew-roots-movement/
Conclusion:
Are the Hebrew Roots Movement and Torah Observant Groups A
Concern? Does it really matter?
Yes, it does.
The Lord Jesus Christ, His sufferings, death, and
resurrection is our only hope.
Just a few closing thoughts:
1. It seems that fairly often, these groups, FFOZ, and Torah
Club leaders will charge churches or individuals with believing “replacement
theology” or even with being “anti-semitic”, “anti-Jewish” or “anti-Torah”.
While I cannot speak for every church or individual, the
people I have known in churches are none of these things. They are loving
Christians, who hate no one, and who have compassion on, love, and pray for all
the people of the world, indeed for Israel, that all would come to Christ and
be saved.
Regarding
replacement theology, in the gospels, the Lord Jesus did foretell what would
happen to Him and to many in the Jewish nation. For example, Jesus commended the faith of a
Gentile, a Roman Centurion, who came to Him:
“When
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto
you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you,
That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the
kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.”, Matthew 8:10-12
During
the last week of His earthly life, while in Jerusalem, the Lord foretold that the
Jewish leaders and people would kill and crucify Him in a few days as an
ultimate rejection of God and of Christ who had come to them, and the Lord wept
for Jerusalem and foretold that they would be judged and face terrible
punishment.
He
cursed a fig tree that was barren, representing the nation of Israel and people
of Jerusalem, which had advantages and appearances of being fruitful, but were
truly barren when He came to them.
He
told parables about what would happen, that He would be rejected, and that
terrible judgement would fall on the nation:
The
Lord Jesus said “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will
He do unto those husbandmen? They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those
wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall
render Him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never
read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous
in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken
from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,
… And when the
chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that He
spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the
multitude, because they took him for a prophet. Matthew 21:40-43, 45-46
We
see in the book of Acts that the Lord Jesus sent His apostles to Jerusalem and
Judea first, to proclaim the gospel starting with them, however they were
rejected, persecuted, driven away, and killed, and we see that Paul turned to
the Gentiles (while always continuing to pray and reach out to his brothers and
sisters in the flesh, the Jewish people):
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they
were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by
Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and
said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to
you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”, Acts 13:45-46
Later,
the Apostle Paul in Romans 9-11 tells us that as a whole, national Israel did
reject the gospel and fell and has been hardened, though some are saved, we see
from Acts and Romans that since the Jewish people by and large rejected the
gospel, the apostles were commanded to turn to the gentiles, and they did so,
and many gentiles heard the gospel and believed and were saved and rejoiced.
And
so today we are in the days of what may be called the Church age, where all
believers, Jews and Gentiles are together as one new man, the body of Christ,
the Church.
But
Paul tells us that one day, after the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, the
Lord will again bless national Israel and Israel will see the truth and receive
the Messiah and be saved in those days.
“For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel
shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”, Romans 11:25-26
Although
“blindness in part is happened to Israel” (Romans 11:25),
And
“the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which
followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of
righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were
by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it
is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 9:30-33),
and
“Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I
was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel He saith,
All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying
people.” (Romans 10:19-21).
God
has not cast away His people Israel (Romans 11:2). He will not cancel the
promises and blessings He made with the nation of Israel, He will bless them
and save them and fulfill every promise He has made to them, particularly when
the Lord comes back to rule and reign over the Earth and to bring in a time of
flourishing and joy in His presence.
The
Churches I have known have believed and taught these things, while as I said
earlier, sincerely loving and respecting the Jewish people. They have not
taught what FFOZ constantly charges is “replacement theology”.
Upholding
the gospel and the Church’s understanding of Scripture for 2,000 years is not
replacement theology or antisemitism. That is not the issue here.
2. There are many other organizations that teach and give
understanding into the Torah, the Law of God, Israel, etc, but with none of the
alarming statements and doctrinal dangers of First Fruits of Zion or the local
Torah Clubs.
For example, the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
is an organization that began in the early days of the Holocaust, when
Christian pastors and businesspeople becoming aware of the terrible things
going on to the Jewish people, prayed, sacrificed, labored, and gave
financially to help the Jewish people. The organization continues to this day,
and publishes a wonderful magazine called “Israel, My Glory” and also
has a website full of articles and resources about the Old Testament, Israel,
and the richness and beauty of the Law and the Prophets, but from a
Christ-centered, solid doctrinal perspective (For example, see this Friends of
Israel Article: https://www.foi.org/2023/09/15/should-christians-celebrate-the-fall-feasts-of-israel/.)
There are
conferences that one can attend, such as the upcoming national Friends of
Israel conference called “Proclaim” about
“The Biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah”. https://www.foi.org/proclaim/
There are many ways to get involved and many opportunities
to learn and grow as a believer and even to volunteer to serve through the
Friends of Israel gospel ministry, where one does not have to be concerned
about the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry making strange, alarming, or
disturbing statements questioning or denying the Trinity, diminishing the deity
of Christ, telling you that the gospel
that Christians have believed for 2,000 years is partial and incomplete, that
the Churches are preaching an incomplete gospel, that sola Scriptura, Scripture
alone, is wrong, or that believers are under the Law or emphasize keeping the
Torah or works of the Law instead of Christ and what He has done for us.
Many other Christian organizations have a wonderful
teaching ministry, including many Jewish believers in Christ who specialize in
teaching regarding Israel, Old Testament Scripture and history from a
Christ-centered perspective, who would absolutely deny First Fruits of Zion and
the teachings of the Torah Clubs.
My plea to people would be: please do not support
organizations like FFOZ that disparage the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the
gospel, the Scriptures, the Church, or that teach that believers are under the
Law and the whole Torah. There are so many other worthy ministries that
do wonderful work, that are doctrinally sound, and that could really use your
support! There are many doctrinally sound resources available for people to
learn about the Old Testament or Jewish culture and history. There is a Ladies’
Bible Study going on in my own church right now all about the first book of the
Torah, the Book of Genesis, and about finding Christ and the gospel in this
amazing book of the Bible.
Please support good, solid Christian ministries that are
doctrinally sound instead of organizations like FFOZ which have said so many
dangerous and alarming things, which people have testified lead people astray.
Give these good, solid ministries your support instead of problematic ones like
FFOZ.
I have heard local leaders speak about how much they want
peace and unity in the churches, and their brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.
How about discarding FFOZ materials and not supporting them anymore, because of
these alarming and dangerous statements they have made, and just selecting a
different Bible study resource for studying the Torah, or the Old Testament
prophets or Jewish festivals of the Old Testament? Why does it have to be
FFOZ’s materials? Why can’t they just select something else that would be very
good, but without all the problematic statements like those ones here?
3. Lastly, if a group is teaching falsehood, or making
statements that are very dangerous and misleading like the ones I’ve quoted
from FFOZ in this paper, can or should we support it with our attendance,
participation, and with finances as we purchase workbooks, curriculum, and
videos?
No. There is such a thing as biblical separation. In matters of great doctrinal importance,
especially the soul-saving doctrines of the gospel, the doctrines of the
Trinity, the deity of Christ, believers not being under the Law, we cannot
support, endorse, or partake with people who hold to serious error and
dangerous or false doctrines that can mislead so many.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and
avoid them.”, Romans 16:17
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”,
1 Timothy 6:3-5
Are Torah Observant Groups a concern?
Yes, there is much
more that could be discussed, but I have tried to show here a little of why.
I don’t know if anyone really wants strife or contention. I
know I don’t. However, what groups and people teach matters. The true gospel
matters. It matters for the eternal salvation, comfort, hope, and joy of souls.
We cannot just say nothing while people may be grievously deceived on such
vastly, eternally important matters.
My goal in this paper has been to share what I believe are
very concerning, alarming, irresponsible, and dangerous statements that come
from FFOZ, and other Torah-Observant Groups, and their materials that I believe
can lead people to serious falsehood.
My hope is that you will
read these statements and understand why I have real concerns about these
groups, and why I cannot support them, and my hope is that you will also have
these concerns, remain in a solid, gospel-preaching, biblical local church, and
choose material to study that will be a blessing to your Christian life, and
not something dangerous or misleading, as I believe the statements quoted here
show FFOZ and the local Torah Clubs to be.
The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be
with us all. Amen.
Addendum:
With the quotes and statements about Hebrew Roots and Torah
Observance groups given above in mind, I thought it would be fitting to
encourage you to read the book of Galatians in the New Testament. Here are passages
that seem particularly relevant.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him
that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not
another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of
Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God?
or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the
servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10
“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain
came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he
withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also
was carried away with their dissimulation. 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?” Galatians 2:11-14
“We
who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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. Galatians 2:16
“For
I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain.”, Galatians 2:19-21
“O
foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among
you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit,
are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”, Galatians 3:1-3
“So then
they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of
the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but,
The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.”, Galatians 3:9-14
“But
before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring
us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And
if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.,” Galatians 3:23-29
“But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the
Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no
more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature
are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again
to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I
am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.,”,
Galatians 4:4-11
“Am I therefore
become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”, Galatians
4:16
“My
little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in
you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand
in doubt of you. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear
the law?”, Galatians 4:19-21
“Stand
fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if
ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye
are fallen from grace.”, Galatians 5:1-4
“For
in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but
faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should
not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the
Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall
bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”,
Galatians 5:6-10
“And
I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?
then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which
trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all
the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself.”, Galatians 5:11-14
“But
if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”, Galatians 5:18
“Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one
in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear
ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think
himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”, Galatians 6:1-3
“As
many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be
circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For
neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have
you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that
I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world
is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as
many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the
Israel of God.
From
henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
AmenTo the Galatians written from Rome.”,
Galatians 6:12-18
Amen.
Indeed,
God forbid that we should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!
May
grace and peace through Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen.
