Mark
1:9-15 (KJV)
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens openedb, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens openedb, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven,
saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
13 And he was there in the wilderness
forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels
ministered unto him.
14
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom of God,
15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of
God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. [5]
Mark 12:28-34
(CJB)
28 One
of the Torah-teachers came up and
heard them engaged in this discussion. Seeing that Yeshua answered them well,
he asked him, “Which is the most important mitzvah
of them all?” 29 Yeshua answered, “The most important is,
‘Sh’ma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu,
Adonai echad [Hear, O Isra’el,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one], 30 and you are to
love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
understanding and with all your
strength.’u
31 The
second is this:
‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’v
There is no other mitzvah greater than these.” 32 The
Torah-teacher said to him, “Well
said, Rabbi; you speak the truth when you say that he is one, and that there is
no other besides him; 33 and that loving him with all one’s
heart, understanding and strength, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself, mean
more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When
Yeshua saw that he responded sensibly, he said to him, “You are not far from
the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared put to him another sh’eilah. ([6])
[7]
Almost two thousand years ago, a young rabbi (teacher)
appeared on the scene in ancient Israel. From the moment of his birth till his
climatic death thirty-three years later, his life stood a kingdom and an
ancient religion on its head. His followers took his message after his death
and in the beginning, transformed the world. Now, to the present age, there are
many who are returning to the ancient message, the message of Yeshua ha’n’zirim,
or as most know him, Jesus the Nazirite. This message? The Word of God as
presented through the Hebraic Perspective.
I have written or at least addressed this before, but for new readers or those who don't want to wade through 4 years of post, I thought I might need to bring it back up again. One lesson you learn from the wilderness is to be upfront, transparent. I am a believer in the Hebraic Perspective of G-d's word. So, what then is the Hebraic Perspective? One writer explains it
thus:
“…The Hebraic Perspective is the biblical mindset that the
Apostles walked in and interpreted Scripture
from. An illustration will help to convey the difference
between the Hebraic perspective and Greek–Western perspective that the Church
and Christians operate in. Let’s say there are two Mercedes Benz,
identical in every way. One is given to Nikos the Greek,
while the other is given to Yakov (Jacob) the
Jew.
Nikos immediately pops the hood open and takes the motor
apart, dissecting each section so he can label each part. He takes the tires
off the car and separates them from the wheels, etc., and by the end of the week
he’ll know how many parts there are to the car, where they all came from, what
their function is, where the ceramic for the spark plugs was made and how heavy
the gas tank is, etc., but he won’t be able to put all the parts back together
again the way they were. Welcome to Systematic Theology 101, also known as
Humpty Dumpty Theology. The Greek perspective dissects the parts from the
whole. It offers a number of benefits, but the car will never be the same.
On the other hand, Yakov will take the key to the Mercedes,
put it into the ignition, start it up and drive
off on an adventure. The Hebraic perspective sees the
whole. The benefit is that the car is used for the Designer’s intended
purpose, and the person remains sane while driving along the Road of Life, for
there are many Greek rabbit trails and conundrums that lead to nowhere, but use
up the person’s time and energy, going ‘round and ‘round in circles. For
instance, Arminianism vs. Calvinism. Both see ‘parts’ of the reality, but
aren’t content with fusing or merging them together, throwing out the bones,
and keeping the meat.
How we come to the
Scriptures determines how we walk out our faith…”[8]
There are many teachers out there, some good, some not so
good, some who shouldn’t be teachers at all. Sha’ul (or as most know him, Paul)
said this to Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:1-11
(NET)
1:1 From Paul,1 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior2 and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1:2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
1:1 From Paul,1 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior2 and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1:2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia,
stay on in Ephesus3 to instruct4 certain people not to spread false teachings,5 1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies.6 Such things promote useless speculations
rather than God’s redemptive plan7 that operates by faith. 1:5 But
the aim of our instruction8 is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere
faith.9 1:6 Some have strayed from these and
turned away to empty discussion.
1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do
not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so
confidently.10
1:8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses
it legitimately, 1:9 realizing that law11 is not intended for a righteous person,
but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the
unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
1:10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals,12 kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact,
for any who live contrary to sound teaching. 1:11 This13 accords with the glorious gospel of the
blessed God14 that was entrusted to me.15 ([9])
We come to you as teachers, yes, but first and foremost as
seekers, fellow searchers for truth and the way to imitate and walk as our
Messiah did. What does it truly mean to be a follower of Yeshua through the
Hebraic Perspective? Truly? It means to learn how to eat chicken and spit out
the bones; the “chicken” is the Word of G-d, and the “bones” are the teachings
and traditions of men. What we want as teachers of the Hebraic Perspective is
to return to the pure teaching of our Messiah, a teaching that was not at odds
with the Tanakh (the Hebrew Scriptures or as most know it as the Old
Testament), and the teachings of the Apostles which in no way contradicted what
Yeshua taught or what the Tanakh taught. In other words, harmony of the Writing
Word of G-d. Does this in any way
conflict with what “traditional Christianity” teaches? Well, yes it does, but
you have to be the judge of that. One group, the congregation of El Shaddai
Ministries of Bonney Lake, WA hold to this statement of believe:
·
We believe in one God, as He was revealed
Himself in the Scriptures. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One.” (KJV
Deuteronomy 6:4)
·
We believe that the intended meaning of this
word “One” is found in the original Hebrew text, which used the word “echad”
and means “a composite unity.” We believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Son of
God, the Messiah (Who’s the Christ), the Eternal One in Whom all the fullness
of the deity dwells in the bodily form, and who is the Word who became flesh
and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the uniquely
begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.
·
We believe that the Spirit of God comforts,
teaches, leads, indwells and empowers all whom He regenerates.
·
We believe that the Bible, both the Tanakh (Old
Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant), is the only inspired,
infallible and authoritative Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
·
We believe that all have sinned and have fallen
short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
·
We believe that Yeshua’s death and resurrection
accomplished the atonement for all who would place their faith in Him. Whoever
trusts in God, in His work alone, is made a new creation in Messiah, indwelt by
the Spirit of God, and is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the
kingdom of His Own Son. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5 & 6)
·
We believe in the community of God’s covenants
with the physical people of Israel according to Jeremiah 31:35-36 and parallel
passages. Part of the fulfillment of these covenants is the physical return of
the people of Israel to their Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 30)
·
We believe salvation is by faith through the
grace of God alone, and not by human efforts. One may not earn, merit or keep
this eternal salvation by his own efforts. A new creation is the work of God
alone. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:29-39)
·
We believe in the spiritual unity of equality of
all believers in Messiah Yeshua. (Ephesians 2:11-22)
·
We believe that everyone who trusts in Yeshua is
grafted in to the “olive tree.” While this does not make them Jewish, they are
granted the privilege of having written upon their hearts, as participants of
the New Covenant, God’s laws. (Romans 11:11-24; Jeremiah 31:33)
·
We believe in the immersion in living waters
done in the name of Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach.
·
We do not hold to or believe in the following:
“Two House” teaching as it is a form of replacement theology, that any nation
is made up of any one of the lost tribes, in trying to determine which lost
tribe you come from as our identity must be in Messiah, the “Sacred Name”
movement, sighting of the new moon or by anyone’s personal barley crop to
determine the Biblical calendar as they have no authority. We do believe that
the Jews in Israel are made up of every tribe. [10]
In addition to all this, we believe that the Torah,
or what is called the Law of Moses, is in effect today, and that ALL believers
come under it as a way to walk and live their lives as properly defined by
Yeshua. Those who read my blog know that I have a slightly different view on
who Messiah is – that I am a strict monotheist – but I still feel deeply about
99% of what El Shaddai teaches and believes: that being said, allow me to quote
from First Fruits of Zion founder Boaz Michaels:
“…That They May Be One
John 17:21
This is the Master’s prayer for us. For every denomination,
doctrine and flavor of the Christian/Believing movement, the Master prayed that
all of us might be echad, one. He prays that we might be yachdav,
united. What kind of oneness is this? The various beliefs and religious
movements that have sprung from the Gospels have demonstrated anything but
unity. Is it possible that the Master’s prayer has gone unanswered? Absolutely
not.
We must set aside for a moment the vast theological and
doctrinal differences that divide us, and examine this “oneness” on a different
level. He did not say, “May they all be identical.” He did not pray, “May they
all have the same halacah.” He did not say, “May they all work out the
same theology.” He did not pray, “May they all explain the mystery of the
incarnation and the essence of God and Messiah in identical creedal
formulations.” He did not say, “May they all have an accurate understanding of
vicarious atonement and propitiation.” He did not say, “May they all be able to
articulate salvation by grace through faith this not of ourselves lest any man
boast.” He did not say “May they all worship with the same kind of music in the
same way and pray the same prayers.”
The kind of oneness that the Master is speaking of here is
simpler, deeper and more profound than any of those things. It is the same sort
of oneness He has been speaking about in regard to His unity with the Father.
It is a spiritual unity that transcends all these surface differences that
divide us. Just as the Father is in Messiah, and Messiah is in the Father, so
too, we are all joined together in a common bond with God. We share a common
bond with God, and that bond is our common salvation, the Way, the Truth and
the Life, which is Messiah. It is never our place to judge another person’s
relationship with Messiah. We have to make the assumption if one claims to be
in the faith, they are. We are only able to see if this claim is true by one’s
fruit—born forth over time. It is our responsibility as Torah-minded people to
restore them to the proper expression of our faith within the context of the
Messiah and Torah.
There are vast differences in the way we understand, explain
and apprehend that salvation. There are vast differences in the way we
formulate our creeds and doctrines, and for the most part, these differences
are substantial. They are not just insignificant issues that can be
dismissed in favor of a vague ecumenicalism. Instead, they are substantial
differences that often preclude the possibility of mutually edifying, peaceful
fellowship.
Fortunately our salvation is not based on having our
theology straightened out (though bad theology is certainly an impediment to
encountering God). Salvation is not, as the Gnostics taught, based on having
accurate knowledge, nor is it, as legalists assume, based on one’s ability to
accomplish some magnificent standard of righteousness. Salvation is based on
grace, a gift to humbled hearts that are turning to God in repentance and
saying, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Though in the flesh it would appear that we are not at all
united, from God’s point of view we are all woven together in a spiritual unity
knit from the yarn of grace. From our perspective, it may look like our faith
is a confused mess with innumerable groups all at odds with one another. It may
look like the furthest thing from unity that one could imagine. Many (most) of
these sects believe all manner of unbiblical (and often enough even heretical)
ideas that would have made the disciple’s eyes pop out if they knew what was to
come of the movement they began. Yet underneath the surface of this confused
quagmire are myriads and myriads of human souls, each of them a spark of
Godliness, born from on high, redeemed, purchased back, and being brought to
unity with God.
The Master’s prayer is answered. We are one, whether we know
it or not; like it or not, we are one in Messiah; we are one in the Lord. There
is One God. His Name is One. And there is One Messiah, One Redemption, One
Salvation, One People of God, One Israel of God, and His bride (body of
Messiah) is probably bigger and wider than we expect…”[11]
Now to be honest – bringing back the original teaching of
Messiah meets with opposition everywhere we go. The reasons are many – and
legion – but I say this lovingly: most who oppose this teaching do so out of
ignorance, they just do not and have not had the truth revealed to them. I
question no man’s sincerity in their believe, but we all must be open to the
teachings of the Spirit of G-d – we must forever remain teachable and when need
be, correctable. No man holds onto the full truth – run from them if they
insist their way is the only right way. We all just see darkly, yet the time is
coming when we shall see clearly – pray for that.
Now I ask that you indulge me here; some things need to be
said, and I mean no offense to anyone, but if I am to be honest and teach what
I believe is the truth, then I must lay all my cards upon the table, even to my
own hurt.
I am one of those that, depending upon the website you go to, some would
probably consider to be “legalistic” because not only am I a follower of Yeshua
Ha’Machiach (or if you prefer Jesus the Messiah – far be from me to correct you - reconcile it with G-d, not me)
but I also am Torah Observant – and I see no contradiction between the
two. There are those that have stated on other websites “...We do not put
much stock in denominational affiliation or encourage it in others...” and of
this I heartily agree; but I am also in agreement with Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul):
“...And receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to judgments
of your thoughts. For indeed one believes to eat all things; but being weak,
another eats vegetables. Do not let him who eats despise him who does not eat;
and do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received
him. Who are you that judges another's servant? To his own master he
stands or falls. But he will stand, for God is able to make him stand. One
indeed esteems a day above another day; and another esteems every day alike. Let
each one be fully assured in his own mind. He who regards the day
regards it to the Lord; and he not regarding the day, does not regard it to the
Lord. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does
not eat, does not eat to the Lord, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives
to himself, and no one dies to himself. For both if we live, we live to the
Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore both if we live, and if we
die, we are the Lord's. For this Christ both died and rose and lived again,
that He might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why do you judge your
brother? Or also why do you despise your brother? For all shall stand before
the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord,
every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So
then each one of us will give account concerning himself to God. Then let us
not judge one another anymore, but rather judge this, not to put a
stumbling-block or an offense toward his brother. I know and am persuaded in
the Lord Jesus, that nothing by itself is common; except to him who esteems
anything to be common, it is common. But if your brother is grieved with your
food, you no longer walk according to love. Do not with your food destroy him
for whom Christ died. Then do not let your good be spoken evil of, for the
kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is well-pleasing
to God, and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things of peace, and the
things for building up one another. Do not undo the work of God for food.
Truly, all things indeed are clean, but it is bad to the man eating because of
a stumbling-block. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor
anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. Do
you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Blessed is he who does not
condemn himself in what he approves. But, the one doubting, if he eats, he has
been condemned, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is
sin...” (Rom 14:1-23)
I can go onto
the web and find entire websites devoted to the bashing of the “Heretic Hebraic
Perspective Movement”. I see my own pastor, Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai
Ministries in Bonney Lake, WA, being
declared a wolf in sheep’s clothing and then have those who claim to be Christians
denouncing him as going to hell right alongside those of us “stupid or duped”
enough to put ourselves under “legalism” by people who have never heard his
sermons or those who take what he teaches out of context. I am a teacher of the
Hebraic Perspective myself and have had “peace-loving, God Fearing” Christians
spitting in my face, waving their bible six inches from my nose and balling up
their fists, all to “correct” me of my misguided ways.
Why you might ask? All of this because we read the Bible differently: we
see it as what it is, an ancient near east document, a Jewish document, penned
by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, and delivered to a nation whose duty was to inform the rest of the
world about the one true God. When they failed, God had to correct them; in
their fear of continued failure, they withdrew into themselves and locked up
the knowledge of God in their (man-made) “religion” and traditions; to save
them and the rest of mankind God sent His only begotten Son to remove the
man-made wall that separated Jew and Gentile and to correct these man-made
traditions of the elders of Israel and to bring back the ancient paths so that
all men could walk in love toward one another and with a Holy God – the Torah
through faith in and as defined by the Son of God. We who observe Torah do so not
because of any salvational issue – for salvation is of Messiah alone –
but because we understand that the Father gave us a way to walk and because we
love Him, we want to do what he says.
I have lost no
"freedom" in my walk, I, in fact, have been set free and delivered
from 40 years of addiction and the cycle of violence that accompanied it by my
faith and obedience to the Word of God. So you see, I have issues when people
call God's word bondage, or equate the commandments of God with the doctrines
of devils (I’ll expound on this momentarily). This also becomes an issue with
me because when any come against the Torah, they are in fact calling my Savior a
liar for did He not say Matthew 5:17-20 DRB:
"..Do not think that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil. (18) For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass,
one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
(19) He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he
that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(20) For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of
the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven..")
Last time I checked heaven and earth were
still here, and all things have not yet been fulfilled and won’t be until this
has happened:
1 Cor 15:21-28 DRB
“…For by a man came death: and by a man the resurrection of the
dead. (22) And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be
made alive. (23) But every one in his own order: the firstfruits,
Christ: then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming.
(24) Afterwards the end: when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to
God and the Father: when he shall have brought to nought all principality and
power and virtue. (25) For he must reign, until he hath put all his
enemies under his feet. (26) And the enemy, death, shall be
destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he
saith: (27) All things are put under him; undoubtedly, he is
excepted, who put all things under him. (28) And when all things
shall be subdued unto him, then the Son also himself shall be subject unto him
that put all things under him, that God may be all in all..."
So either our Messiah lied or maybe those
who claim Torah observance is “legalism” just don't have as firm a grasp on the
word as they believe they do.
I commend any and
respect all for their stance and defense of what they believe though; my
intention is never to try to convince anyone of anything different as that
isn't my place. That duty belongs to the Holy Spirit alone to bring all into
the truth; so consequently, all are free to accept and reject any part of God's
word that they please; that issue then becomes between them and God.
Yes, to be fair though, there are
problems within the Messianic movement. We ourselves make mention of it as a
“Messy – anic” problem. There are many in the movement who have swung the
pendulum too far to the other side, but then, there is nothing new about that
is there? These "fringe" elements of the Messianic movement
need loving correction just as some elements of Christianity do (or do you
think the Westboro Baptist Church is mainstream?). For those I fellowship
with, we know we are saved only by the blood of the Lamb and we serve God and
prove our love for Him by keeping His word out of love, not duty or obligation.
What child doesn't want to please their father by obeying the instructions a
loving father has set before them?
That is what we do for the word also says in 1 John 2:1-6 LEB:
"... My little children, I am writing these things to you
in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, (2) and he is the
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world. (3) And by this we know that we have come to know him,
if we keep his commandments. (4) The one who says "I have come
to know him," and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth
is not in this person. (5) But whoever keeps his word, truly in
this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in
him. (6) The one who says that he resides in him ought also to walk
just as that one walked..."
Truly to walk as Yeshua did
means we have to be what He was –Torah observant. If He wasn’t, He cannot be
the Messiah for the Word says:
Deuteronomy 17:15 (HCSB)
15 “...you are to appoint over you the king the Lord your God
chooses. k Appoint a king from your brothers. You are not
to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of your people...” [12]
To be King of the
Jews, and to be King of Israel, He had to be a Torah observant Jew... Also:
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 (HCSB)
18 “...When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of
this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical
priests. 19 It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of
his life, so that he may learn to •fear n the Lord his God,
to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes...”
Our walk with God is our
sanctification, our becoming holy unto Him. God calls us to be holy as He
is Holy, for Heb 12:14 says:
"...Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one
will see the Lord..."
Now if one picks and chooses their way through the word of God, and
casts off this here and disregards that over there in favor of that which fits
their comfort zone, lifestyle or in other words, a "theology" that limits
the amount of change they should be bringing into their lives, how can they
then tell the sacred from the profane if they do not God define it for them in
His holy word?
1Jn 3:1-8 LEB
"...See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should
be called children of God, and we are! Because of this the world does not know
us: because it did not know him. (2) Dear friends, now we are
children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that
whenever he is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he
is. (3) And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself,
just as that one is pure. (4) Everyone who practices sin also
practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (5) And you know that
that one was revealed in order that he might take away sins, and in him there
is no sin. (6) Everyone who resides in him does not sin. Everyone
who sins has neither seen him nor known him. (7) Little children,
let no one deceive you: the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just
as that one is righteous. (8) The one who practices sin is of the
devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this reason
the Son of God was revealed: in order to destroy the works of the devil..."
Sin is lawlessness. Those who live strictly on "grace" live in lawlessness and thus they are under mercy, not true grace. As Messianics we understand that grace is from Genesis to Revelation and we also understand what true grace is; true grace is what gives us the ability to obey God the Father’s and Jesus' words (commandments, statutes, ordinances). We can then walk upright, righteous before God for we walk in obedience. And what have we lost by doing so? Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, not the Torah of God or God's words. By keeping His word, we have lost nothing. Maybe I don't eat pork, or shell fish; so I keep the Feasts of the Lord instead of the traditions of Easter and Christmas; so I hold the Shabbat (the 7th day Sabbath, Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) as God commanded and I love His people the Jews and the holy land Israel... I love my Messiah, I am saved by His blood, so what have I lost? Unfortunately, there is much vitriolic attention turned toward to the elements of the Hebraic Perspective movement while those within whatever "flavor" of religion be it denominational or other devour us for our holding to the written word of God. It would be better for us all if they who denigrate us would pull the beam out of their own eye, then they could see clearly enough to remove the speck in ours.
I told you
early I would expound upon some saying the HRM follows the doctrines of devils:
this is what I mean:
In Christianity there are
about 22,000 Independent denominations; about 9,000 or so Protestant
denominations; “Marginals” (those including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc.)
make up about 1600 denominations; those with the “Orthodox” label total around
781 denominations while those that call themselves Roman Catholic include
around 241 different denominations! Add up the Anglicans and whatever little
splinter groups you can find and the numbers are staggering. [13]
There is by one count 44,689 different Christian denominations in the world
today. [14]
Now, multiply that number by the individual congregations that make up each
denomination and the numbers are staggering. If the number of congregations is
similar to just the number of congregations in my area (Seattle, WA – a web
search reveals around 2,000 denominations with over 22,000 congregations…)
then there is on the conservative side around 500,000 different congregations
meeting today, and that is probably a low, very low number.
You can go to any number of websites and find similar statistics, but I think
you get my point: you have approximately 44,689 denominations all with their
own spin on Scripture, and probably very few of them with a favorable view of
the Hebraic Perspective movement. While this may seem as an unfair
generalization, if you have access to the world wide web, just go look. There
are a lot of sites out there just waiting to “debunk” the Hebraic Perspective
movement. Depending on how you word the question into a search engine, you can
come up with between 2,000 and 20,000 responses, some for, a whole lot against,
and the rest asking questions. But to be fair, type in “Christian
denominations” on Google® you will get about 2,570,000 results. You will find
website after website denouncing the Hebraic Perspective movement as a cult at
best and teachers of the doctrines of demons at worst, with all kinds of
opinions in between. Yes, the Messianic movement has some “Messy-anic” elements
to it; some might say we are our own worst enemies. We have the “One Law”
proponents[15],
the “One House” group[16],
“Two House”[17]… lions and tigers and bears oh my…
You see, I do understand the
concerns, but I don't focus all my energy on denouncing others.
I am not out to convert
anyone to my way of thinking or my belief in the One True God and His Divine
Messiah. I am not out to convert Christians into Messianics (though this is my
hope and prayer for them, that they leave a powerless, dead “religion”[18] and
come into true faith…), or to convince Jews Yeshua is the Messiah (and
subsequently try to convert them into “Christians”; I want them to remain in
what I believe is the only true “religion” which is the form of Judaism that
was practiced, preached and taught by Messiah Yeshua…) or to challenge anyone
on what they hold as truth. That is not my call, or my job. The act of
salvation and sanctification is the providence of God Almighty alone, it does
not rest in men like me or any other. All I can do is present what I believe to
be truth; it is up to you to ponder it, test my words against the plain
meaning of Scripture, as admonished in Romans 12:2, and again in 1 John
4:1. I am teachable and correctable as long as any reproof comes from Scripture
(all of Scripture, not just favorite verses of the New Testament, for God
says He doesn’t change... let’s start there. We either believe that or we don’t...)
and the Scriptures used are not used to distort and twist the context in which
they are found. The Word of God is not a menu, letting us pick and choose from
it as we please. It has to be taken as a whole, and examined carefully, not
“cherry-picking” our way through it so that we can justify our pet doctrines
and beliefs. To do so is to manipulate the Word; when taken in context,
you cannot manipulate the word and make it say whatever you
want it to say.
That being said, this is
why I have such a problem with the all the different sites and folks that bash
and denigrate the Hebraic Perspective movement. A careful examination of most
of the various sites reveals to me a pattern of “cherry-picking” Scripture; a
little Paul here, a lot Paul there; throw in some Peter and John and shake
well…
What you usually end up
with then is a hodge-podge of Scriptural references all taken out of their
proper context and then used to justify and “prove” that those of us who
believe in the WHOLE word of God are in fact as stated in 1 Timothy 4:1-2:
1 But athe Spirit explicitly says that bin later times some will 1fall away from the faith, paying
attention to cdeceitful spirits and ddoctrines of demons,
Does this make sense? Does
it seem right to anyone who has a mind to reason that because a person holds
that ALL of God’s word is truth (Psalm 119:160, Psalms 19:9, John
17:17, 1 John 2:27), that they believe that God’s whole word is light (Psalm
119:105, Proverbs 6:23, John 8:12, John 9:5, 1 John 1:5), that it is pure
and perfect (Psalm 19:7-8), that it is the way (Psalms
119:25-40, Psalm 1, John 14:6), that in it is life (Psalm 19:7,
Psalm 16, Psalm 23, Psalm 119:1, Proverbs 3, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 19:17,
Mark 10:17-31, John 3:36, John 5:18-47, John 6:26-65), that through the
shed blood of Yeshua alone (who is the way, truth and life) and then
after we are delivered from sin by the atonement of His sacrifice, we can be in
obedience to the word and find salvation (1 John 1:1-7, 1 John 2:1-6, 1 John
3), can anyone with a mind and a heart to reason say that we who believe
these things follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons?
When did God’s word, the holy word become the
teaching of demons? Before anyone can say I’m “cherry-picking”, any single
scriptural verse I give you it must be understood that I expect you as one who
should be schooled in the proper way of reading Scripture to hold that verse in
its proper context: read 5 above and 5 below that verse, or 10 above and 10
below! But read it in its context, understand what you read. The Epistles of
the Apostles were written as letters, not as chapters and verses, they were
written to be read in their entirety, and understood in that context. When you
do so, you cannot manipulate the words to fit one’s particular “bent” on the
Word; you have to accept the Word as it is intended.
One fine example of
defending the Word of God comes from a ministry called 119 Ministries. I am
going to site an excerpt of an article posted on their website http://119ministries.com/home. For those seeking truth, I encourage you to examine their site, and
test yourself...
BEGIN QUOTE:
“…[Note: For the sake of the reader, quotes from the original “Anti Hebraic Perspective”
article will be quoted in blue text. The 119 response will be in standard black text. Like the “Anti Hebraic Perspective” or “Anti Hebrew
Roots” movement, (though we are not fond of labels and boxes) we will also use
the term “HRM” to generally represent
those that hold to the validity and truth of all of Yahweh’s instructions in
the faith.]
Anti-HRM Quote:
"In recent years,
I've had quite a bit (too much) interaction with several groups within what
might be called a "Messianic movement" or a "Hebraic Perspective
movement." Just as you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, don't just a
movement by its name. After all, the Christian faith does have Hebraic
Perspective, just as we do follow the Messiah, but these movements are a
distortion of the Christian faith, a change from "the faith." (cf. Jude 1:3).
The Anti-HRM author begins by attempting to establish
a notion that those that believe in following all of God’s instructions in the
Bible, have "changed
the faith," or in essence,
hold to a different faith.
The author elevates and
attempts to inject credibility into this concern, by quoting a verse from Jude:
Jude 1:3
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
How many realize that context is the most important
tool to use when studying your Bible?
Here, AntiHRM is implying that “lawfulness” is a
change from the faith. What we are about to discover, is that Jude is
actually warning against the very teachings and doctrine of AntiHRM. In reality, this could not be any more ironic, and was
in fact, a very interesting way for AntiHRM to begin his warning against practicing
all of God’s Word.
Let’s determine who Jude is referring to in verse 3 by
reading verse 4:
Jude 1:4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Thus, those that have “changed the faith,” as AntiHRM put it,
are those "who
turn God’s grace into licentiousness," and actually "deny Jesus" (Y’shua) in the
process.
“Licentiousness” is another word for being “carnal” or “after the flesh.” The
Greek word being translated is “aselgeia”. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon renders “aselgeia” as “of
carnality” here in Jude, as well as in 2 Peter 2.
Let’s examine the usage of this word in 2
Peter 2, which is in the context of “False Teachers.”
2 Peter 2:7-10
…and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy (aselgeia) conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
…and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy (aselgeia) conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
In
verse 7, the Greek word “aselgeia” is used in the context of lawless
deeds, uncleanness, despising authority, being presumptuous, and self-willed. Those
who are “aselgeia” even comfortably speak evil against dignitaries
(those belonging to God).
All of these negative things of “aselgeia”
are contrasted with the “righteous” (Lot).
The Greek word for “righteous” in 2
Peter 2 is “dikaios.”
Strong’s defines “dikaios” as the
following:
Strong’s – G134 - dikaios
1) righteous, observing divine laws
a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous,
virtuous, keeping the commands of God
Note
how the righteous keep God’s commandments, which is why those that are “aselgia”
are contrasted against the righteous. Peter is literally declaring those
that are “aselgia” to be the opposite of the “righteous.”
Before we continue, the
Greek word “aselgia” occurs again in 2 Peter 2:
2 Peter 2:18-19
For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness(aselgeia), the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness(aselgeia), the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
The false teachers that are “aselgeia” (teach
against keeping God’s commandments) promise “liberty” but are actually
in bondage themselves, slaves of corruption.
If the “aselgeia” (anti-law) preach that they
promote “liberty/freedom” and really do not, then it may benefit us to
determine what the Bible defines as freedom.
What is “liberty”
according to the Bible?
James 1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Did you notice how James refers to the Law of God as “liberty?” Not
only that, but James specifically notes the blessings that comes from “doing”
the law of God. Only someone
that practices the whole Word of God, with a desire to love God and seeks His
instructions, is the one who will fully grasp what James is saying. However, if we believe the whole Bible to be true,
then keep in mind, the Bible already said that blessings come from doing the
law of God (Deuteronomy 11:26-29). That is why the law of God is freedom. The reality is that breaking the law of God is sin
(Numbers 15:22;27, 1 John 3:4). As
Paul said, sin leads to death and curses. We should not want to sin. Sin is bondage. Again, this is also why obedience to God’s law is
freedom, as it is the opposite of sin.
James also says it is
the law of liberty by which some day we will all be judged:
James 2:12
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
What
James is stating about the Law of God is problem to common mainstream Christian
theology and doctrine, for James is sounding very pro-law in his statements.
Quite often, this is where the Christian theologian will have to invent terms such as “moral law” (not in the Bible) verses “mosaic law” to try to explain away what James is teaching.
To consider that what Moses wrote to be liberty and freedom is just too much for the indoctrinated seminary graduate to grasp. It makes them uncomfortable, and suggests that they might be wrong.
Quite often, this is where the Christian theologian will have to invent terms such as “moral law” (not in the Bible) verses “mosaic law” to try to explain away what James is teaching.
To consider that what Moses wrote to be liberty and freedom is just too much for the indoctrinated seminary graduate to grasp. It makes them uncomfortable, and suggests that they might be wrong.
However, that is what the Bible clearly teaches. What
Moses wrote is indeed freedom for God’s people:
Psalm 119:44-45
So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
Thus, James is simply just quoting what his Bible (the
Old Testament) already established. James was one of the first books of the New Testament,
and Paul’s letters were not even around yet to be confused into the error of
lawlessness (2 Peter 3:14-17))
Thus, those that are “dikaios” (righteous),
meaning walking in the Law of God, were walking in freedom.
Those that are “aselgia”
(anti-Law of God), according to Peter, teach and speak of liberty, but actually
teach bondage and lawlessness.
We now have two groups in context:
1) “Dikaios”
– The righteous – those desiring to keep the commands of God.
2) “Aselgia”
– Those that are “in carnality” that teach against the commandments of God.
As Thayers Greek Lexicon states, those that are “aselgia”
are “of carnality.”
Paul agrees with Jude
and Peter’s warning on those that are carnal, they simply do not like the law
of God. They
do not want the law of God to be 100% truth (Psalm 119:142; Malachi 2:6).
Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
It is the carnal mind,
the “aselgia,” that is not subject to the law of God, the law of
liberty.
It is those who are “spiritual”
that go after and desire the Law of God (Romans 8), because the Law of
God is “spiritual” (Romans 7:14).
Let us read Jude 3-4 again, referring to those that are “aselgia.”
Let us read Jude 3-4 again, referring to those that are “aselgia.”
Jude 3-4
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (aselgia) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (aselgia) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
How many times have we
heard that we are under grace, thus obedience to the law of God is made void?
Does that even make sense?
Does that even make sense?
Grace removes us from the curse of our breaking of the
law of God, our sin, not from our responsibility to keep the law of God, or not
sin.
Paul calls the law we are no longer under, the “law
of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2). The Law of Sin and Death is
the consequences of breaking the "Law of God." Doesn't that sound
more like the purpose of the cross...to take away sin, not to take away the Law
of God?
Jude warns us of such a mistake. We are not to use the
“grace card” to teach against the commandments of God.
To do so is actually
denying our Savior Himself. By His own definition, our Savior is the Word of
God. If we are to say that
something in the Word of God is no longer of no effect, then we are denying is
very own established truth, its liberty, its freedom.
It takes us from the law of God (liberty) and places us back under the law of sin (bondage).
Jude, Peter, and Paul all warn us to beware of such teachers.
It takes us from the law of God (liberty) and places us back under the law of sin (bondage).
Jude, Peter, and Paul all warn us to beware of such teachers.
To deny the Word of
God, is to deny Christ.
The starting claim by AntiHRM is that HRM has “changed the faith.” Yet,
when we read Jude in context, and even pull in Peter’s writings on the same
matter, we find that those that have “changed the faith” are those that are “of carnality.” They
“change the law of God” using the
excuse of “grace.” They crept into the Church unnoticed, and were marked
out long ago for condemnation, as even Ezekiel 22:23-28 declares regarding the
coming "Day of Wrath,"
or "Day of the Lord":
Ezekiel 22:23-28
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken.
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken.
The irony is that Jude 3-4 is actually against the
very position AntiHRM holds to, and sadly, he does not yet see it. What
we will see in further examination of AntiHRM's article, is that this will be
the common pattern. Scripture that is cited is often against his
position, and not for it.
It is never too late though, to come back to the whole faith, the whole Word of God…to experience the liberty and blessings that Yahweh, or Creator, intended for His people. The same liberty and blessings that our Messiah Y’shua practiced and taught, and commanded us to teach all nations to obey (Matthew 28:19-20) in His “Great Commission.”
It is never too late though, to come back to the whole faith, the whole Word of God…to experience the liberty and blessings that Yahweh, or Creator, intended for His people. The same liberty and blessings that our Messiah Y’shua practiced and taught, and commanded us to teach all nations to obey (Matthew 28:19-20) in His “Great Commission.”
If we really want to
know who “changed the faith,” then perhaps we
should quote Paul, as perhaps he might carry more weight than the Old
Testament, our Messiah, Jude, James, or Peter.
Romans 3:31
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:31
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
It is time to “uphold” the law in the faith, instead
of teaching against it…instead of breaking it, and calling breaking the law of
God liberty.
Notice how Jude 3 clearly states that the faith was
"for once for all" handed down to
the saints...this is very important to understand. There has always been
just one faith, and it has never changed. The Jewish messiah did not come
to start a new religion with new ways, but teach us the same faith that has
always existed. It is the same faith that Adam and Eve had. It is
the same faith that Abraham had (Genesis
26:5). It is even the
same message and faith that those at Sinai had (Hebrews 4:2). The same faith
that Paul preached was the same that was taught and practiced at Sinai (teaching).
We need to establish our Creator’s perfect instructions (Psalm 19:7) in our lives. He intended them for us for a reason. We simply have to believe the Word of God, to commit to it, to call on its truth and authority. We should believe and do the same thing our Messiah Y’shua (Jesus) also did, which is why He was and is called, the Word of God. He did not come to be our excuse (“grace card”) for not walking the Word of God, He came to take away our sin and teach us how to walk the Word of God…
We need to establish our Creator’s perfect instructions (Psalm 19:7) in our lives. He intended them for us for a reason. We simply have to believe the Word of God, to commit to it, to call on its truth and authority. We should believe and do the same thing our Messiah Y’shua (Jesus) also did, which is why He was and is called, the Word of God. He did not come to be our excuse (“grace card”) for not walking the Word of God, He came to take away our sin and teach us how to walk the Word of God…
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who are
walking in deception, who fail to understand where men are leading them. May
they transfer that trust and faith from the doctrines of men, and back to the
full faith in the whole Word of God. May we realize that so many of us were once also walking in deception,
and that by His grace and spirit, we found the blessings and liberty of His
whole truth. May the same be extended to all.
The last thing any of us should want to do, as Jude 3 warns, is to turn the grace of God into aselgeia (of carnality/lawlessness).
The last thing any of us should want to do, as Jude 3 warns, is to turn the grace of God into aselgeia (of carnality/lawlessness).
In fact, this exactly what HRM opposes. Sadly,
it is mainstream Christianity that Jude 3 is speaking to, who use grace to
teach that we can and should set aside certain commandments, consequently
changing our faith, and changing the Word of God that is to stand forever.
This is why this is all so important. This is not contention over silly matters. These are important matters. This is all about how we define sin, or breaking the Law of God. If keeping the commandments of God is man's whole purpose (Ecclesiastes 12:13), then anyone trying to minimize the importance of these matters and discussions is in serious misguided error. They do not even understand their purpose, their sole reason for existence. If we cannot Biblically establish what sin is, then we cannot be in agreement with our created purpose. Our whole purpose is to believe on and follow the Messiah, who is the Word of God. We cannot pick and choose what parts of the Messiah we want to follow. We either believe and practice what He believed and practiced, or we deny Him, and the Word of God He stands for, who He claimed to be.
This matter deserves our full attention and study, as long as our agenda is of serving Yahweh, and not man…”[20]
This is why this is all so important. This is not contention over silly matters. These are important matters. This is all about how we define sin, or breaking the Law of God. If keeping the commandments of God is man's whole purpose (Ecclesiastes 12:13), then anyone trying to minimize the importance of these matters and discussions is in serious misguided error. They do not even understand their purpose, their sole reason for existence. If we cannot Biblically establish what sin is, then we cannot be in agreement with our created purpose. Our whole purpose is to believe on and follow the Messiah, who is the Word of God. We cannot pick and choose what parts of the Messiah we want to follow. We either believe and practice what He believed and practiced, or we deny Him, and the Word of God He stands for, who He claimed to be.
This matter deserves our full attention and study, as long as our agenda is of serving Yahweh, and not man…”[20]
END QUOTE.
Well, enough said. I am sure I haven't changed one’s take on anything,
but ponder this:
What
is our proper attitude to God and His word? Is it one of thankfulness, of
gladness that in His infinite wisdom He has provided for us a model and a
blueprint of how to walk holy with Him, how to love our Messiah and our fellow
man? Or do we approach His word with scorn, disdaining that which He lay before
us, in order for us to keep what we only feel is
appropriate in our lives?
Yeshua/Jesus is our model
of a life that was spent in obedience to God the Father and His word. Why do we
treat His (Messiah’s) words as if Paul’s or the other disciples’ words (or
at least some other man's interpretation of the Apostles words) carry more
weight than what He said? O man, justify this before God! I would rather
keep and follow all the word of God (and I include the Apostles' words here
as from God - just let us understand what they are saying; they never
contradicted Yeshua's words or the Father's) and be told at the end that
this wasn’t necessary, than have to stand before a Holy, Terrible, Almighty God
and be asked why I discounted His word or why I held it in disdain. Why is
there this need to disrespect God and His written word for words and
interpretations and opinions penned by men? Why do those who claim to follow
God hold His word in contempt of what is written and deny the lead of the Spirit
to bring them into the knowledge of the truth? My heart is saddened, but I pray
that all of us will heed the words of God, repent and not bash one another but
come together in unity as one body, loving the Father and His Son, Yeshua (or
Jesus if you prefer…) as it is written…
That's all I've got to say; I ask your forgiveness if I have offended
you in anyway, which not my intention, and I forgive you for anything you have
said that I may have been offended by, for I really have no right to be
offended. If I have made mistakes, they are mine, not my teachers... Put credit
where credit is due.
This is what we, as teachers, as seekers as searchers for
the true and authentic Messiah believe and teach. We seek to change no one,
just present them with a new – and ancient – perspective, one that comes from
the heart of G-d himself.
May the Lord
richly bless you this day my beloved, Amein
David Robinson, Elder
and Teacher
At the Gates of
Yerushalyim Ministries
[1] Authors note: Use
of information from Jewish-themed websites should not be construed as these
sites endorsing or confirming any thesis introduced by the author of this
epistle. I present the information from their respective sites for
instructional purposes only and/or to aid in the readers understanding of the
subjects discussed. The inverse is also true – by using these sites in no way
confirms or denies that this author holds to all things found on these sites –
but brethren, we all can learn from one another, Jew and Gentile; may it be so
in shalom and love and respect.
[2]
Author’s note:
Throughout this study I’ll be using the Net® Bible and the Net® Notes: within the notes you’ll see symbols like this: ( א B Ψ 892*
2427 sys). These are abbreviations used by the NetBible© for
identifying the principal manuscript evidence that they (authors and
translators of the NetBible©) used in
translating the New Testament. Please go to
https://bible.org/netbible/ and
see their section labeled “NET Bible Principals of Translation” for a more
complete explanation on these symbols and other items pertinent to the way the
NET Bible uses them.
[3] Author’s Note: In
these studies I have used the notes that come along with the passages I cite
from the sources that I cite: these need a bit of a disclaimer though. As in
all things, not everything that is footnoted is something that I necessarily
agree with, especially if it contradicts what I believe pertains to any matters
of the Torah or the commandments of G-d. I give you the notes as they are written by the authors of the
material I cite from, so that you can see the information contained within
them. It truly is not my place to edit or correct them; if they state anything
that is in opposition to what I teach, then so be it. I will address these
issues if requested, but for the sake of brevity (as if any of these posts of
mine are brief ☺ ) I insert them and let them stand
as they are. If I don’t agree with them, why do I include them you might ask? I
don’t believe in censuring anyone’s opinions or scholarship; as I would not
want mine censured, so I will not do to that to another. As Rabbi Hillel once
stated, “What is hateful to you, do not do to another. That is the whole Torah.
Go and learn it.” Torah leads me to respect others, even if I disagree; it leads
me to present both sides of the coin, even if it could mean I’d lose part of
the argument. That is not to say I should not challenge something I believe
contradicts the truth of G-d’s word; that I will do in the main body of my
epistles; that is where my gentle dissent belongs. Most (but not all) of the
differences will come when I quote from the NET® Bible (but not exclusively);
it has a decidedly Western/Greek mindset to it, but as a wise man once said
“How do you eat chicken? Swallow the meat and spit out the bones…” I do though
want to present the NET® notes because there is a wealth of information and
research contained within them that I hope you find helpful.
[4] One may wonder why I omit the “o” when I write the
title “G-d”. While there are many who say that to leave out the “o” is a sign
of being under the influence of the Rabbis who forbid saying the name of
Yahveh, I say, one must come to a conclusion on their own, and do as their
heart convicts them (within the bounds of G-d’s word of course). I believe in
the power of the name of the Most High – the name of Yahveh – and in uttering
it in awe and reverence, yet find no contradiction in my soul for the
hyphenated title “G-d”. I have written it both ways – stopped doing it, and now
I have returned to the practice – as I said, one must follow the conviction of
their heart. I do not disrespect anyone else’s opinion on this matter, and
regardless if you think it wrong or right, I ask for the same respect. Let each
be fully persuaded in their own mind and heart – and let G-d sort it out with
each believer. For now, this is right for me, till the Father corrects - or
confirms; I am after all, a work in progress. Shalom.
[5] The Holy Bible : King James Version.
1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.).
Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
u
Deuteronomy 6:4–5
v
Leviticus 19:18
[6] sh’eilah =
question
[7]
Stern, D. H. (1998). Complete Jewish
Bible: an English version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B’rit Hadashah (New
Testament) (1st ed., Mk 12:28–34). Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament
Publications.
·
[The
following notes are taken from the NET Bible® footnotes, copyright (c)
1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press L.L.C. All rights reserved. Used by
permission from www.bible.org, n.d. Numbering system is unique to NET® Notes. For more information, see footnote #2and 3.]
1 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in
the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
2 sn God our Savior. Use of the title
“Savior” for God the Father is characteristic of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and
Titus. It occurs six times in these letters, but only twice elsewhere in the
NT. However, it occurs commonly in the OT, especially in Isaiah. It emphasizes
the Father as the initiator and source of salvation.
4 tn This word implies authoritative instruction:
“direct, command, give orders” (cf. 1 Tim 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17). See BDAG 760
s.v. παραγγέλλω.
6 sn Myths and interminable genealogies.
These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in
Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim 4:4; and Titus 1:14. They
were perhaps built by speculation from the patriarchal narratives in the OT;
hence the connection with genealogies and with wanting to be teachers
of the law (v. 7).
7 tc A few Western mss
(D* latt Ir) read οἰκοδομήν (oikodomēn, “[God’s] edification”) rather than οἰκονομίαν (oikonomian, “[God’s] redemptive plan”), which is read by the
earliest and best witnesses.
tn More literally, “the administration of God that is by
faith.”
sn God’s redemptive plan. The basic word (οἰκονομία, oikonomia) denotes the work of a household steward or manager or
the arrangement under which he works: “household management.” As a theological
term it is used of the order or arrangement by which God brings redemption
through Christ (God’s “dispensation, plan of salvation” [Eph 1:10; 3:9]) or of
human responsibility to pass on the message of that salvation (“stewardship,
commission” [1 Cor 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25]). Here the former is in view (see
the summary of God’s plan in 1 Tim 2:3–6; 2 Tim 1:9–10; Titus 3:4–7), and Paul
notes the response people must make to God’s arrangement: It is “in faith” or
“by faith.”
8 tn Grk “the instruction,” referring to
orthodox Christian teaching and ministry in general, in contrast to that of the
false teachers mentioned in 1:3–4.
10 tn The Greek reinforces this negation:
“understand neither what they are saying nor the things they insist on…”
11 sn Law. There is no definite article
(“the”) with this word in Greek and so the inherent quality of the OT law as
such is in view. But the OT law is still in mind, since the types of sinful
people surveyed in vv. 9b–11a follow the general outline of sins prohibited in
the Decalogue.
12 tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἀρσενοκοίτης states, “a male who engages in sexual activity w. a pers. of his own sex, pederast
1 Cor 6:9…of one who assumes the dominant role in same-sex activity, opp. μαλακός…1 Ti 1:10; Pol 5:3. Cp. Ro 1:27.” L&N 88.280 states, “a male partner
in homosexual intercourse - ‘homosexual.’…It is possible that ἀρσενοκοίτης in certain contexts refers to the active male partner in homosexual
intercourse in contrast with μαλακός, the passive
male partner” (cf. 1 Cor 6:9). Since there is a distinction in contemporary
usage between sexual orientation and actual behavior, the qualification
“practicing” was supplied in the translation, following the emphasis in BDAG.
13 tn A continuation of the preceding idea: Grk
“teaching, according to the gospel.” This use of the law is in accord with the
gospel entrusted to Paul (cf. Rom 7:7–16; Gal 3:23–26). Because of the length
and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the
translation.
15 tn Grk “with which I was entrusted.” The
translation is more in line with contemporary English style.
[9]
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The
NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible.
Biblical Studies Press.
[11] From the article titled “The
Unprofitable and Worthless Torah Movement - A Call for Unity and Respect “
by
Boaz
Michael, President / Founder First Fruits of Zion, www.ffoz.org
l 17:15 Gen
17:6,16; 35:11; Num 24:17–19
[12]
The Holy Bible : Holman Christian standard version. 2009. Nashville: Holman
Bible Publishers.
n 17:19
Dt 14:23
• No single English word conveys
every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful
submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God
of Israel.
[13] From the article “…The Facts and
Stats on "33,000 Denominations" The 20,000 30,000 numbers and David
Barrett's statistics Part II…”
at http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm
[14] http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm ;
website described as “...a personal web site from Phil Porvaznikcontaining
many discussions, debates, and articles on Catholic Apologetics, Philosophy,Spirituality
and Conversion Stories…”
[15] [Note: In identifying these
different factions, to be honest with you , I’ll let you know if I have any
theological leanings toward the basic premises of the different groups or
not..] “One Law” proponents are those that believe God’s Torah is the privilege
and obligation of all His people, Jew and non-Jew alike. I probably identify
myself more with this basic tenant than with any other, though my walk or halakah is
based upon the interpretation of the Torah as expressed by Yeshua and His
disciples and not necessarily those espoused by rabbinical sources. Where the
two agree, I agree.
[16] Those that believe that God is
calling forth His people as one family (whether Jew or Gentile) being reunited
and restored as the house of Israel. (Eph 2:11-22) [Note: again,
part of my theology agrees with the “One House” basic premise, but not
necessarily all they espouse.]
[17] “…Generally speaking, the
so-called “Two House Theory” (sometimes called the “Ephraimite Movement”)
thinks that Christians are actually members of the “lost tribes” of Israel
(Ephraim is used as a synonym for the Northern Kingdom of Israel that was taken
into captivity in 722 BC). Based on readings from the prophets Ezekiel (Ezek.
37:15-28) and Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31), this doctrine maintains that one day the
lost tribes (i.e., the church) will be reunited with the “house” of Judah
(i.e., the Jewish people) under the terms of the New Covenant…” From the
website developed and maintained by John J. Parsons at www.hebrew4christians.com, the article: “Two House Theology: Are Christians
the “lost tribes” of Israel?” [Note: No offense to my “Two House”
brethren, but my identity revolves around my Messiah, not with the “lost
tribes”. This is my take and I mean to disparage no one for their belief
system, Messianic or Christian, for if we can unite on one theme and that is
our love and respect for the Savior of Israel and of all mankind, Yeshua the
Messiah, then maybe we can end this “failure to communicate” at last and unite
as one..”]
[18] Just a note: I have no axe to
grind against Christians, only the system of religion called
“Christianity”. If a person identifies themselves as “Christian” and what they
mean is they follow the living “Christ” or Messiah, then hey, if you call me a
“Christian” in the confines of that definition, I’m okay with it. But the system
of religion as practiced today called “Christianity”, O come out of her
O my people, for you sit in the seat of Babylon; a very dangerous place to be
indeed.
[19] New American Standard Bible : 1995 update.
1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[20] This article, I believe, is no
longer available (at least as far as I can find) in 119 Ministries Archives. If
you would like the whole article, email me at the address listed at the end of
my epistle and I will send it to you. Shalom.
