April 14, 2006

• B"H

  
  

  (Oh how I wish this was a message board.)

  
  

  "One thing that I am not completely clear about is why the Jewish believers must continue to follow the culture established by the Torah, if all believers are now one in Christ.  I can see why that would be so for those Jews that do not believe that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb and Messiah, but why would that be still binding if they accept Jesus as their Messiah? - if it is binding upon them, why not upon the Gentiles that become saved into this completely Jewish religion?

  
  

  Also, if Peter was a Jew, and if the unclean things that he saw in his vision (Romans 10: 9-14) were now to be clean to him, and that God said to not call them unclean anymore, then why would the kosher diet and other cultural practices enacted by the Torah be binding on any Jew?

  
  

  I know that I am not explaining my questions well, so please be patient....I am only trying to be correct.  I really want to know the Truth.  I want to include these New Testament Scripture passages to help explain where I am coming from.

  
  

  Again, thank you for your patience.  I don't intend to be badgering you in any way, it's just that I have been hoping to find a Messianic Jewish believer who can explain these things to me.

  
  

  John

  
  

  RO 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

  
  

  RO 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

  
  

  RO 3:1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God."

  
  

  Hey John,

  
  

  You are not badgering me in any way. I love these type of discussions and am only too delighted to share my thoughts and reflections with you and others. I don't think I can handle all the issues you raised in your last response here right now, but I will attempt to address some of them.

  
  

  CONCERNING THE JEWISH WITNESS

  
  

  Not only has the Gentile church lost the sense of the Jewishness of Jesus, but the Hebrew, or Jewish, Roots of the faith have also been neglected and misunderstood. Accordingly, the purpose of Israel and the Jewish people in general, has been a sore spot for non-Jewish believers. Although I don't fit this description completely, in basic terms I am a restorationist. What this means is, I believe that certain truths and experiences, which were once a vital part of the heritage of the believing community, were somehow lost and then later, were and even now are being  restored. A few examples of this would be; the Bible and its divine message, the doctrine of justification by faith, the experience of divine healing, and of course the Hebrew Roots of the faith. There are many other items I could have added to that list, but I think these are enough to make the point. When the Bible was lost as a possession of the common people, tradition and superstition took its place. Is it any wonder why the period of human history prior to the renaissance is called the Dark Ages. Through the work of Hus, Wycliff, Tyndale and others the Bible was restored to the common populace in their vernacular languages. Through the Reformation, many vital teachings of the early Church were restored to the people of GOD.

  
  

  At present, through the agencies of archeologists, Bible translators, theologians and other scholars, the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebrew Roots of the faith are being restored. Not all of the laborers in these fields are godly men/women of faith, but even so, I believe that GOD is using them for His purposes. In terms of academics, the field of Hebrew roots is ripe for the picking. These days there are many fine books which one can read and study on the subject. One excellent source for such books and materials is www.MessianicJewish.net There plenty of others that I know of and a simple search on Google will yield great results too. If any one wants help with such resources, just ask me.

  
  

  Now back to our topic, The Jewish Witness.

  
  

  
  

  vs 5 "Behold, I have taught you statues and judgments, even as the LORD my GOD commanded me, that you should do so in the land which you are going to possess. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who has GOD so near to them, as the LORD our GOD is in all things that we call on Him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that has statues and judgments so righteous as all this law (Torah), which I set before you this day?"

  
  

  Deuteronomy 4: 5-8

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22 Indeed, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall they take hold of the skirt of one who is Jewish saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that GOD is with you."

  
  

  Zechariah 8: 20-23

  
  

  I think it is quite fair to conclude from these passages that GOD's original intent for Israel, and the Jewish people in general, was to provoke the other nations to jealousy. Certainly there would be miraculous signs and wonders, but a necessary part of Israel's witness was her distinctiveness. Israel was called to be separate from the other nations culturally by means of the specific commandments of GOD.

  
  

  
  

  1 "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, I am the LORD your GOD. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein you dwelt, you shall not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, shall you not do: neither shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall do My judgments, and keep My ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your GOD. 5 You shall therefore keep My statues, and My judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD."

  
  

  Leviticus 18: 1-5

  
  

  Israel and the Jewish people have not yet fully obeyed the LORD in this matter, but I believe that this is yet to happen. Those who pray for Israel and GOD's purposes should surely include a petition that Jewish people remain faithful to GOD and His calling upon the nation. Israel was purposed to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6) The Jewish distinctiveness and thus the very calling of GOD is lost if Jewish people succumb and assimilate into the culture of those nations around them. This has been the fault and pressure of the Gentile church since the middle of the 2nd century.

  
  

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  This post has become much too long I fear. I will add more thoughts later or possibly tomorrow. Tonight we are having a seder (Passover meal) with some good friends of ours in Chicago. Although we are starting early, approx. 4:30 PM, there's no telling when we will be done  .

  
  

  I bid GOD's blessings on you all,

  
  

  Shlomo

  
  

   

  • 6:27 am
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