A Hebrew reader recently made a comment after reading my letter "Unraveling Armstrong's Doctrinal Errors" on this blog.
Here is his interesting challenge which I will endeavor to answer.
ImAHebrew said...
Shalom Michael, you have made a very severe mistake in how you looked at Acts 21. Paul was accused/reported to be teaching JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles, certain things. You don't make that distinction in your flawed argument. Paul submits to a sacrificial ritual to "prove" there is NOTHING (no truth) to those accuations/reports (Acts 21:25). You also fail to mention how the Believing Jews were Zealous in KEEPING THE LAW (Acts 21:20). And then, obviously, you failed to mention what happened later in Acts 28:17, where Paul reaffirms that he did not do as you and those who spread the false reports think he did, for he was not teaching the JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles to forsake Moses, the circumcising of their children, or the customs. You need to re-write and re-think everything you have written about the Law of Moses and Paul. ImAHebrew
October 30, 2011 6:29 AM
Thank you for visiting my blog and offering your insights into Paul’s teachings and things written about him. I also have Hebrew Blood in my veins and grew up in a church that taught a blend of Old Covenant and New Covenant theology. So I have a unique perspective on issues of law and grace few people possess.
You state I have made an error in my understanding of Acts. 21. Here is why I believe and write what I do concerning the Law of Moses. I write in light of Jesus Christ the Messiah crucified instituting a New Covenant in His blood. The Holy Spirit given to believers and salvation made available to believers through grace by faith in Jesus. I use the NIV Bible throughout unless specified.
ACTS 15 -THE CONTROVERSY
The controversy begins at Antioch where Paul and Barnabas oppose teachings that salvation is only through Moses by circumcision and keeping the law.
Acts 15:1, 1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.
Paul and Barnabas are asked by the church in Antioch to go to the church of Jerusalem and clear this up with the original Apostles.
Acts 15:2 “…So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”
THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE – JEWS AND GENTILES SAVED BY GRACE
The first men to speak up are a group of Pharisees (like Paul was) who are adamant about the same teaching.
Acts 15:5, 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” Peter, after much discussion, intervenes to decide the issue. Peter was the one Jesus gave the authority to loose and bind in the church, so here he uses that power and authority (Matthew 16:19). Both Jew and Gentile were the same to God, both received the Holy Spirit and no distinction was placed on either in terms of salvation (Acts 10:43-47). Peter calls placing the burden of the law on the Gentiles “testing God.” Peter refers to this yoke one neither we (the Jews) nor their ancestors could bear. He concludes salvation is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that saves both Jew and Gentile alike.
Acts 15:6-11, The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
A letter is then sent out written by the Apostle James verifying this and giving only four commands for the Gentiles to keep. They did not have to become circumcised or obey the Laws of Moses.
Acts 15:19-20, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE PROPHECY AND PAUL'S RETURN TO JERUSALEM
Before Paul went to Jerusalem a second time he was staying in Caesarea. A prophet from Judea named Agabus told Paul he would be bound by Jews in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles. The church members in Caesarea begged him not to go but Paul was not dissuaded and went anyway. What was to happen in Jerusalem was predetermined by Jesus to bring Paul to Rome. So what happened to Paul was God's will to which Paul readily submits ready to die in Jerusalem for Christ if necessary. Here is the account:
Acts 21:10-11, 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’
ACTS TWENTY ONE - THE GREETING
When Paul and his companions arrive in Jerusalem they are greeted by James, the chief Apostle, and all the elders. The first thing recorded is James and those assembled together telling Paul that the believing/Christian Jews in Jerusalem are zealous after the law and have been informed that Paul teaches ALL the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses. They correctly allege here Paul taught against circumcision and following the laws and customs of the Jews.
Acts 21:17-21, 17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.
I believe James was either in denial about the truth of what Paul was teaching, was in fear of the Pharisees in Jerusalem (Acts. 21:22), did not personally accept what Peter said in Acts 15 or, most likely, was in the process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Later James acknowledges that faith coupled with works is paramount and not deeds of the Law of Moses (Js. 2:14) James refers here to the Commandments of Jesus not of Moses. James wrote of the Law of Liberty instead (Js. 2:12-13).
Acts 21:22 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. (NKJV)
ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP
James directed Paul to act as though the he was an observant Jew which ended up backfiring and getting Paul arrested and nearly killed in fulfillment of the prophecy of Agabus. Paul took part in a purification ritual by financing the four men who have taken a vow. This was apparently a Nazarite Vow found in the Torah, Numbers 6:2. The key is that Paul was not under a vow himself but merely financing the four who were.
Acts 21: 23-24, 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP IS EXPOSED
While in the Temple Paul is recognized by Jews from Asia that know first hand what Paul teaches. These were at the Temple involved in some sort of activity there. These Jews could have been part of the controversy that began in Antioch. What Paul taught, in their view, was heresy and punishable by beating or stoning. It was the same thing Paul did to the Jewish Christians before his amazing conversion (Acts 9:20) immediately preaching Christ. The Jews from Asia knew Paul taught ALL men everywhere, against the people (Israel, Jews), the law (Torah), this place (Temple in Jerusalem).
Acts 21: 27-29, 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)
ACTS TWENTY ONE- THE AGABUS PROPHECY FULFILLED
Paul and his teachings were verified again and did not agree with what James wanted the people to believe. Paul was exposed by the Jews from Asia who knew what he actually taught to both Jews and Gentiles outside of Judea.
But was this the major lesson recorded here or secondary? Was the spreading of Paul’s message of Grace and Faith throughout the Gentile world the most important thing in Jesus’’ mind. I think so. The controversy had already been settled over what the correct view of the Torah was and what believers were bound to and loosed from in terms of law.
The prophecy is fulfilled and the Lord told Paul to be of good cheer because he had testified for Him in Jerusalem and would also in Rome (Acts. 23:11).
Acts 21:28, When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us!
Acts 23:11, The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
ACTS TWENTY TWO - PAUL’S PERSICUTION OF CHRIST
To analyze this passage is to discover that Jesus Christ had in fact literally ended the Old Covenant and replaced it with a New Covenant. If Paul, a Pharisee, a devout follower of the Law of Moses was persecuting Jesus, how could that be?
Paul had been hunting down Christian Jews and imprisoning and beating them for what, for following Jesus’ teachings? If the Christian Jews were keeping the Law of Moses what was to prosecute? On the contrary they were expelled from the synagogues for heresy, because they DID NOT follow the Law of Moses any longer. Paul testified of these things before the people who arrested him and the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem.
Acts 22:6, 6“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
JOHN CHAPTER FOUR – JESUS ENDS TEMPLE WORSHIP AND ESTABLISHES PAUL’S TEACHINGS
Before the beginning of the Jerusalem Church of Christ on Penticost 31 A.D. and before the crusifiction of the Messiah Jesus made a trip to Samaria to a town named Sychar (ancient Shechem) and at the Well of Jacob announced the end of Temple worship. Christ was living under the law at this time as was prophesied to fulfill all things.
John 4:21-26, 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN - THE BODY OF THE BELIEVER BECOMES THE TEMPLE
I Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
CHRIST WAS THE FULFILLMENT AND END OF THE LAW
Matthew 11:13-14, For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Romans 10:4, 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING
Paul teaches that circumcision or uncircumcised is nothing but to keep the law of love is what matters. (John 15:12).
I Cor. 7:18-19, 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
THE READING OF MOSES PLACED A VEIL OVER HEARTS- ONLY LIFTED BY TURNING TO CHRIST
2 Corinthians 3:13-18, 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED IN GOD’S EYES BY WORKS OF THE LAW
Gal. 2:16, 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
ALL WHO TRY TO CONTINUE IN THE LAW MUST OBEY ALL THINGS IN THE TORAH
Who can do everything in the law? Peter said the Jews could not bear the burden in Acts 15:10. God said Isreal would not obey (Deut. 31:16-20). The song of Moses is God’s prophecy that Isreal would not keep the covenant (Deut. 32-33) No man has nor can he continue in the Law perfectly, the law was to reveal sin so God would be glorified in his righteousness and extension of Grace through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Galatians 3:10, 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
THE TORAH/LAW WAS ONLY A TUTOR UNTIL FAITH CAME- UNTIL THE SEED
Jesus was the Seed promised to come from Abraham due to faith. The Law was only a tutor until faith. Christians are no longer under the Law. There is no longer Jew or Gentile…alone in Christ.
Galatians 3:19-29, 19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
A NEW COVENANT WAS PROMISED THAT MAKES THE OLD OBSOLETE
We cannot continue in the keeping of a law that has been fulfilled by a sacrifice and the blood of a perfect man, Jesus Christ our final atonement. Just like one does not continue to serve a commuted sentence or pay a forgiven debt.
Hebrews 8:10-13 (AB) 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. 13When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.
IN DEFENSE OF MY VIEW OF ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The controversy was that men from Judea taught incorrectly that the Christians in Asia, both Jew and Gentiles, must be circumcised and follow Moses’ Law. They taught this was required for salvation. The Acts 15 conference concluded that all are saved through Faith and the law discarded as a burden and unnecessary. Acts 21 Was the fulfillment of a prophecy given by the Holy Spirit to the prophet Agabus not an indictment of Paul’s teachings as you argue.
James creates an event that will make it look like Paul is still an observant Jew and cause the rumors to die. The cover-up fails but not for reasons of any Mosaic Law violations per se but a false believe that Paul had brought Trophimus, a Gentile, into the Temple which was not permitted.
It was the arrest of Paul on false charges while participating in a Nazarite ceremony that was central. Paul had done nothing to violate any of the Temple laws but was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple. That is why Paul was arrested, drug out of the Temple and into the street, the Temple doors closed and he was nearly killed by the mob. This answers Acts 28:17.
Christ told Saul that he was persecuting Him. This could not be if what Jesus taught and what Saul practiced were the same, they were not. Saul was trying to wipe out the new Christian Church because of heresy against Moses’ Law.
Jesus had already announced the end of temple worship in John 4. So the Feast Days and the Sacrifices that were contained in Statutes and Ordinances could never again be observed. Paul taught the same thing after his conversion.
The body of the believer becomes the Temple of the Holy Spirit. No more requirements for a physical Temple or a physical priesthood in Jerusalem. Christ prophesied the physical temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was in 70 A.D. Worship becomes in spirit and truth for God is spirit (Jn. 4:23-24).
Christ was the fulfillment and end of the law (Rom 10:4). Circumcision is nothing according to Paul (I Cor. 7:18-19). The reading of Moses without faith leaves one blind until Jesus is accepted then the veil is lifted. Paul taught no one is justified in God’s eyes by keeping the law ( Gal. 2:16). All were under the curse of the Law that was lifted by Jesus at His death. No one can obey and if they do they must keep the whole law.
The law was only a tutor until the Seed, Christ came, then it is of no use. A new covenant that was promised, not like the one I made with your fathers, has come and Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. The new has made the old obsolete (Hebrews 8:10-13).
Your position that Acts 28:17 proves I am in error about Acts 21 was answered previously in this section but once again, Paul’s assertion was correct in v17 in that he had not technically done anything in Acts 21 that was a violation of Temple Law and had been falsely accused that led to his arrest. So I do not believe I spread a false report as you suggest.
I feel my understanding of Acts 21 is solid based upon many different confirming passages found throughout the Old and New Testaments some of which I have offered today. There are dozens more offered in studies on my blog I hope you will explore.
Here is his interesting challenge which I will endeavor to answer.
ImAHebrew said...
Shalom Michael, you have made a very severe mistake in how you looked at Acts 21. Paul was accused/reported to be teaching JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles, certain things. You don't make that distinction in your flawed argument. Paul submits to a sacrificial ritual to "prove" there is NOTHING (no truth) to those accuations/reports (Acts 21:25). You also fail to mention how the Believing Jews were Zealous in KEEPING THE LAW (Acts 21:20). And then, obviously, you failed to mention what happened later in Acts 28:17, where Paul reaffirms that he did not do as you and those who spread the false reports think he did, for he was not teaching the JEWS which lived amoung the Gentiles to forsake Moses, the circumcising of their children, or the customs. You need to re-write and re-think everything you have written about the Law of Moses and Paul. ImAHebrew
October 30, 2011 6:29 AM
Thank you for visiting my blog and offering your insights into Paul’s teachings and things written about him. I also have Hebrew Blood in my veins and grew up in a church that taught a blend of Old Covenant and New Covenant theology. So I have a unique perspective on issues of law and grace few people possess.
You state I have made an error in my understanding of Acts. 21. Here is why I believe and write what I do concerning the Law of Moses. I write in light of Jesus Christ the Messiah crucified instituting a New Covenant in His blood. The Holy Spirit given to believers and salvation made available to believers through grace by faith in Jesus. I use the NIV Bible throughout unless specified.
ACTS 15 -THE CONTROVERSY
The controversy begins at Antioch where Paul and Barnabas oppose teachings that salvation is only through Moses by circumcision and keeping the law.
Acts 15:1, 1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.
Paul and Barnabas are asked by the church in Antioch to go to the church of Jerusalem and clear this up with the original Apostles.
Acts 15:2 “…So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”
THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE – JEWS AND GENTILES SAVED BY GRACE
The first men to speak up are a group of Pharisees (like Paul was) who are adamant about the same teaching.
Acts 15:5, 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” Peter, after much discussion, intervenes to decide the issue. Peter was the one Jesus gave the authority to loose and bind in the church, so here he uses that power and authority (Matthew 16:19). Both Jew and Gentile were the same to God, both received the Holy Spirit and no distinction was placed on either in terms of salvation (Acts 10:43-47). Peter calls placing the burden of the law on the Gentiles “testing God.” Peter refers to this yoke one neither we (the Jews) nor their ancestors could bear. He concludes salvation is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that saves both Jew and Gentile alike.
Acts 15:6-11, The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
A letter is then sent out written by the Apostle James verifying this and giving only four commands for the Gentiles to keep. They did not have to become circumcised or obey the Laws of Moses.
Acts 15:19-20, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE PROPHECY AND PAUL'S RETURN TO JERUSALEM
Before Paul went to Jerusalem a second time he was staying in Caesarea. A prophet from Judea named Agabus told Paul he would be bound by Jews in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles. The church members in Caesarea begged him not to go but Paul was not dissuaded and went anyway. What was to happen in Jerusalem was predetermined by Jesus to bring Paul to Rome. So what happened to Paul was God's will to which Paul readily submits ready to die in Jerusalem for Christ if necessary. Here is the account:
Acts 21:10-11, 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’
ACTS TWENTY ONE - THE GREETING
When Paul and his companions arrive in Jerusalem they are greeted by James, the chief Apostle, and all the elders. The first thing recorded is James and those assembled together telling Paul that the believing/Christian Jews in Jerusalem are zealous after the law and have been informed that Paul teaches ALL the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses. They correctly allege here Paul taught against circumcision and following the laws and customs of the Jews.
Acts 21:17-21, 17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.
I believe James was either in denial about the truth of what Paul was teaching, was in fear of the Pharisees in Jerusalem (Acts. 21:22), did not personally accept what Peter said in Acts 15 or, most likely, was in the process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Later James acknowledges that faith coupled with works is paramount and not deeds of the Law of Moses (Js. 2:14) James refers here to the Commandments of Jesus not of Moses. James wrote of the Law of Liberty instead (Js. 2:12-13).
Acts 21:22 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. (NKJV)
ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP
James directed Paul to act as though the he was an observant Jew which ended up backfiring and getting Paul arrested and nearly killed in fulfillment of the prophecy of Agabus. Paul took part in a purification ritual by financing the four men who have taken a vow. This was apparently a Nazarite Vow found in the Torah, Numbers 6:2. The key is that Paul was not under a vow himself but merely financing the four who were.
Acts 21: 23-24, 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
ACTS TWENTY ONE – THE COVER-UP IS EXPOSED
While in the Temple Paul is recognized by Jews from Asia that know first hand what Paul teaches. These were at the Temple involved in some sort of activity there. These Jews could have been part of the controversy that began in Antioch. What Paul taught, in their view, was heresy and punishable by beating or stoning. It was the same thing Paul did to the Jewish Christians before his amazing conversion (Acts 9:20) immediately preaching Christ. The Jews from Asia knew Paul taught ALL men everywhere, against the people (Israel, Jews), the law (Torah), this place (Temple in Jerusalem).
Acts 21: 27-29, 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)
ACTS TWENTY ONE- THE AGABUS PROPHECY FULFILLED
Paul and his teachings were verified again and did not agree with what James wanted the people to believe. Paul was exposed by the Jews from Asia who knew what he actually taught to both Jews and Gentiles outside of Judea.
But was this the major lesson recorded here or secondary? Was the spreading of Paul’s message of Grace and Faith throughout the Gentile world the most important thing in Jesus’’ mind. I think so. The controversy had already been settled over what the correct view of the Torah was and what believers were bound to and loosed from in terms of law.
The prophecy is fulfilled and the Lord told Paul to be of good cheer because he had testified for Him in Jerusalem and would also in Rome (Acts. 23:11).
Acts 21:28, When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us!
Acts 23:11, The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
ACTS TWENTY TWO - PAUL’S PERSICUTION OF CHRIST
To analyze this passage is to discover that Jesus Christ had in fact literally ended the Old Covenant and replaced it with a New Covenant. If Paul, a Pharisee, a devout follower of the Law of Moses was persecuting Jesus, how could that be?
Paul had been hunting down Christian Jews and imprisoning and beating them for what, for following Jesus’ teachings? If the Christian Jews were keeping the Law of Moses what was to prosecute? On the contrary they were expelled from the synagogues for heresy, because they DID NOT follow the Law of Moses any longer. Paul testified of these things before the people who arrested him and the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem.
Acts 22:6, 6“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
JOHN CHAPTER FOUR – JESUS ENDS TEMPLE WORSHIP AND ESTABLISHES PAUL’S TEACHINGS
Before the beginning of the Jerusalem Church of Christ on Penticost 31 A.D. and before the crusifiction of the Messiah Jesus made a trip to Samaria to a town named Sychar (ancient Shechem) and at the Well of Jacob announced the end of Temple worship. Christ was living under the law at this time as was prophesied to fulfill all things.
John 4:21-26, 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN - THE BODY OF THE BELIEVER BECOMES THE TEMPLE
I Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
CHRIST WAS THE FULFILLMENT AND END OF THE LAW
Matthew 11:13-14, For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Romans 10:4, 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING
Paul teaches that circumcision or uncircumcised is nothing but to keep the law of love is what matters. (John 15:12).
I Cor. 7:18-19, 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
THE READING OF MOSES PLACED A VEIL OVER HEARTS- ONLY LIFTED BY TURNING TO CHRIST
2 Corinthians 3:13-18, 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED IN GOD’S EYES BY WORKS OF THE LAW
Gal. 2:16, 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
ALL WHO TRY TO CONTINUE IN THE LAW MUST OBEY ALL THINGS IN THE TORAH
Who can do everything in the law? Peter said the Jews could not bear the burden in Acts 15:10. God said Isreal would not obey (Deut. 31:16-20). The song of Moses is God’s prophecy that Isreal would not keep the covenant (Deut. 32-33) No man has nor can he continue in the Law perfectly, the law was to reveal sin so God would be glorified in his righteousness and extension of Grace through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Galatians 3:10, 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
THE TORAH/LAW WAS ONLY A TUTOR UNTIL FAITH CAME- UNTIL THE SEED
Jesus was the Seed promised to come from Abraham due to faith. The Law was only a tutor until faith. Christians are no longer under the Law. There is no longer Jew or Gentile…alone in Christ.
Galatians 3:19-29, 19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
A NEW COVENANT WAS PROMISED THAT MAKES THE OLD OBSOLETE
We cannot continue in the keeping of a law that has been fulfilled by a sacrifice and the blood of a perfect man, Jesus Christ our final atonement. Just like one does not continue to serve a commuted sentence or pay a forgiven debt.
Hebrews 8:10-13 (AB) 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. 13When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.
IN DEFENSE OF MY VIEW OF ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
The controversy was that men from Judea taught incorrectly that the Christians in Asia, both Jew and Gentiles, must be circumcised and follow Moses’ Law. They taught this was required for salvation. The Acts 15 conference concluded that all are saved through Faith and the law discarded as a burden and unnecessary. Acts 21 Was the fulfillment of a prophecy given by the Holy Spirit to the prophet Agabus not an indictment of Paul’s teachings as you argue.
James creates an event that will make it look like Paul is still an observant Jew and cause the rumors to die. The cover-up fails but not for reasons of any Mosaic Law violations per se but a false believe that Paul had brought Trophimus, a Gentile, into the Temple which was not permitted.
It was the arrest of Paul on false charges while participating in a Nazarite ceremony that was central. Paul had done nothing to violate any of the Temple laws but was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple. That is why Paul was arrested, drug out of the Temple and into the street, the Temple doors closed and he was nearly killed by the mob. This answers Acts 28:17.
Christ told Saul that he was persecuting Him. This could not be if what Jesus taught and what Saul practiced were the same, they were not. Saul was trying to wipe out the new Christian Church because of heresy against Moses’ Law.
Jesus had already announced the end of temple worship in John 4. So the Feast Days and the Sacrifices that were contained in Statutes and Ordinances could never again be observed. Paul taught the same thing after his conversion.
The body of the believer becomes the Temple of the Holy Spirit. No more requirements for a physical Temple or a physical priesthood in Jerusalem. Christ prophesied the physical temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was in 70 A.D. Worship becomes in spirit and truth for God is spirit (Jn. 4:23-24).
Christ was the fulfillment and end of the law (Rom 10:4). Circumcision is nothing according to Paul (I Cor. 7:18-19). The reading of Moses without faith leaves one blind until Jesus is accepted then the veil is lifted. Paul taught no one is justified in God’s eyes by keeping the law ( Gal. 2:16). All were under the curse of the Law that was lifted by Jesus at His death. No one can obey and if they do they must keep the whole law.
The law was only a tutor until the Seed, Christ came, then it is of no use. A new covenant that was promised, not like the one I made with your fathers, has come and Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. The new has made the old obsolete (Hebrews 8:10-13).
Your position that Acts 28:17 proves I am in error about Acts 21 was answered previously in this section but once again, Paul’s assertion was correct in v17 in that he had not technically done anything in Acts 21 that was a violation of Temple Law and had been falsely accused that led to his arrest. So I do not believe I spread a false report as you suggest.
I feel my understanding of Acts 21 is solid based upon many different confirming passages found throughout the Old and New Testaments some of which I have offered today. There are dozens more offered in studies on my blog I hope you will explore.
Shalom Michael, the reason I have posted comments on your blog is because a follower of your thinking about the Law of Moses, and what happened at the Council of Acts 15/Acts 21 directed me here as proof she was right in her teaching. She teaches that the Law of Elohim/Moses is a curse and she, along with everyone else, does not have to keep any of those cursed commands. Now, I do appreciate you taking the time to address my first comment on how the Believing Jews received a report concerning how Paul was teaching JEWS who were living amongst the Gentiles, and how that they (the Jews) could forsake Moses, the circumcising of their children, and the customs. In your response, you failed to adequately address the distinction that was made BETWEEN what the Jewish Believers were bound by, and what the Gentiles were bound by. You did not mention verse 25 of Acts 21 at all, and that is a crucial verse in understanding how the Jewish Believers and Gentile Believers did not have the same obligation in what they observed:
ReplyDeleteAct 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
James’ point is that the Gentiles were not bound by the same requirements as the Jewish Believers were, and they (the Gentiles) were bound to observe only those four necessary commands from the Law of Moses, as decided by the Council of Acts 15. Those four necessary commands from the Law of Moses is what the Gentiles were under, and you act as if these four commands which are right out of the Law of Moses, is something totally dissociated from the Law of Moses. Shame on you. Why else would James add in verse 21 of Acts 15 IF those commands were not out of the Law of Moses:
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Also, in your argument, you try to say that James wanted Paul to be dishonest, and lie about what he teaches, by acting as if he (Paul) was an observant Jew. Shame on you again. Paul would have stood up to anyone and went toe to toe about his beliefs and what he teaches. He would not have tried to deceive those who were hearing the reports about him, by going through a sacrificial ritual. He was willing to come to Jerusalem and die, not deceive. So that’s not the Paul I know, and it’s a very weak argument for you to even suggest that Paul would go along with such deception.
Finally, you try to brush off Acts 28:17 by suggesting that Paul was falsely accused of violating Temple Law. That is not what Paul said in Acts 28:17:
Act 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
He was accused of teaching against the Jews and the customs of the fathers, and this is what he claims is false. He then goes on a “morning to evening” discourse of explaining how Yeshua is the Messiah. In that discourse, he explains FROM the Law of Moses about Yeshua (v23). It was the same thing Yeshua did when He “opened” the minds of His disciples about His suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection, USING the Law of Moses (Luke 24). The Law of Moses is not a curse. The curse is IF you fail in your observance of all things within the Law of Moses, to do them (Deu 27:26, Gal 3:10). But thanks be to Yeshua the Messiah, for He has delivered Believers from that curse. Believers are not just HEARERS of the Law, but DOERS, and this righteousness delivers us from the curse of the Law. Both Jew and Gentile Believers alike are DOERS of the Whole Law of Moses, according to its Spiritual Fulfillment. And the Jewish Believers were made Zealous in not forsaking Moses. ImAHebrew
ImAHebrew,
ReplyDeleteI do not write that he Law of Moses is a curse, but those who do not continue in ALL of the statutes and ordinances are cursed. And history demonstrates that has been the case as God predicted it would in Deuteronomy as I wrote. When Joshua took the Israelites to Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim in the Promised land the ratification of the law within the land occurred. The people split in half between the mountains and recited the blessings and cursings of the Covenant they had agreed to at Sinai. They broke the covenant as God said by seeking other gods and falling into idolitry. Their failure placed them under the curse. Messiah fulfilled the entire covenant so we are no longer subject to it.
However if you as a Jew want to go back to the law no one is stoping you, just remember to keep ALL of the requirements. Starting with a THE place where God places His name, A sanctified altar in THE land, holy fire, the ark and mercy seat, sacrifices for the altar from THE land...I won't continue being silly, you get the point...it can't be done physically.
I do get Acts 21:25 but even more crucial is on your web site you failed to mention Acts 15:7-11 which is the penultimate issue here:
v9,God placed NO DISTINCTION between Jew and Gentile in terms of salvation. The things Peter descided to command them were things that the Gentiles practiced in their idolitry and were coming out of. The two great commandments that Jesus mentioned, the first included a prohibition on idolitry, these things were all part of an idolitrous system of Gentile worship.
What about Corneilus? Did God like him because HE was a keeper of the law or because of his Alms to the poor? Corneilus received the Holy Spirit before he was even baptized and before Peter could even preach him a sermon. So works of a law do not excite God but love does. (Act 10)
THe letter of Barnabus or Apollos, titled Hebrews was written to the Hebrews/Jews and it is extremely clear on the law being obsolete to believers under the blood of Christ and a new and better covenant. But I have already written of this and offered many passages. The context is not found in surgically removed verses from the New Testament. The entire volumes must be digested then an answer will appear with the Holy Spirit teaching us all things.
A footnote. The New Covenant did not begin until the end of the gospels. During the record of Christ's message the Old Covenant that Christ came to fulfill was in full force (Gal. 4:4). After Penticost 31 A.D. the Holy Spirit being sent to believers began what is really the New Testament.
Also, I noticed a writer at your site calling me some pretty awful names in attempting to discredit my writings.
ReplyDeleteI have no adgenda other that to study to find what the truth is. I have spent thousands of hours over the past fifteen months since separating from 45 years in Armstrongism seeking, praying, fasting, meditating, and writing.
Invectives and slanders do NOT demonstrate the presence of the Holy Spirit. If I am being led by the Holy Spirit, I believe I am, then you are on the border line of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit...a dangerous place to be.
We are all on a journey and all at different points along the way, should we crush the little ones who may not be were we are or pray for them and lift them up? The Armstrong Cult I left choose to crush and enslave, do you as well?
Michael, I agree with everything you say, except for one minor point. You said, "Peter, after much discussion, intervenes to decide the issue. Peter was the one Jesus gave the authority to loose and bind in the church, so here he uses that power and authority (Matthew 16:19).
ReplyDeleteMY COMMENT: That sounds an awful lot like the "primacy of Peter" doctrine, which the Catholic Church and the King James translators have foisted off on us. I don't want to spend the time going through the fact that Jesus was talking to ALL of the disciples, not just Peter, and that He was not referring to their present physical lives at that time, nor was He talking about a "church" that would never die out, but would exist even in this age, when He said, "the gates of hell would not prevail". He was talking about the resurrection on both points. This is something that can be addressed in another thread, so as not to take away from the major issue.
hurrah, thank you for putting [abeliever] aka [iamhebrew] [ 1 person 2 names] who is NOT jewish, but ia an avocate of armstrongism and ellen white. He will not stop and is beyond reason, he and his brothers. I am so happy you act as a witness against this foul unbiblical conception founded by gross angels of light.
ReplyDeletei am afraid this man is totally indoctrinated with Armstrongism and he will agrue that the sky is blue'' over this issue.
no amount to edification shall shift this lying spirit this poor man suffers from and it is he who is name calling your blog. I am so happy you pointed out re the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit yes Sir, for in acts 15 near the end that is exactly what the Holy Spirit decided.
thanks for pointing this out.
28v
'' it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
I am so happy you told him blashpeme the holy spirit- because if u look there in acts 15 at the end - it was confirmed by the holy spirit.
your pal, standing with you in the truth
lucysmith.
ImAHebrew said...
ReplyDeleteShalom Michael, what was said about you at that site was for the benefit of a very confused individual who takes what you write and tries to destroy the Truth/Torah. She does view the Law of Moses as a curse, and has no idea HOW the Whole Law of Moses can be fulfilled Spiritually, and neither do you. Now, she says the Apostle Paul is “confused,” and disregards much of what Paul says, or misinterprets his words. By what you write, you do the same thing, and I understand how that happens. A very basic point in trying to understand Paul is to realize that there were Jews who DID NOT understand the Spiritual DOING of the Law of Moses, and much of what Paul writes is in opposition to their “works” doing of the Law. The Gospel is based upon Numbers 19, and the kosher smosher Jew of Paul’s day stumbled over how a man could fulfill the role of being the Red Heifer. Today’s Jew looks at the Ordinance of the Red Heifer as the foundation of the Torah, it’s the first and foremost ritual they have to follow before any temple worship could begin, and this is why they are searching for a perfect red heifer. Once Elohim “opens” their minds to understand there is a Perfect Red Heifer, it’s going to be all over for the Gentiles. And this is why I speak as I do against those who preach and teach AGAINST the Torah as you do and as she does. The Torah is Spiritual, and a Shadow of the TRUE reality found in Elohim’s realm, but it takes having one’s eyes opened to realize this. When the Believing Jews SAW the marvelous things hidden WITHIN the Torah, it made them more Zealous to do the physical keeping of the Torah, but they realized and KNEW the Spiritual DOING of the Torah far exceeded the physical/works keeping of the Torah.
So do not take it personal that I find your teachings false. I have been exactly where you are at in struggling with what Paul wrote, and I also fought with/against the lack of understanding that was within the WWCG. One of Paul’s most misunderstood teachings is his explanation of “Grace.” Paul taught that all sinners receive the free gift of righteousness IN the sacrifice of Yeshua, in fact, you HAD to be a sinner to be justified in Messiah (Gal 2:17). So, as sin is increased, this Gift of righteousness (Grace) is increased also. This is why most would say of Paul’s teaching, “Let us do evil, so that good may result,” or “Let us continue in sin so that Grace may abound.” Michael, our sin is turned INTO righteousness (DOING the Torah Spiritually) through the sacrifice of Yeshua. It was our sin that put Yeshua on the cross, and this killing of our sacrifice, accomplishes what the Torah required of us when we FAILED to confirm ALL the words of the Law. Plain and simple when you see it, but easily twisted and distorted by Lawless men when you don’t. I would advise you to go to that site and read post #12 and #13 concerning the Council of Acts 15 and the Grace of Elohim, and maybe we could have some dialogue there. ImAHebrew
ImAHebrew,
ReplyDeleteI advise you read every one of Jesus' words in the Gospels and then come back to writing. You are like those I spent time with in the Messianic movements that wanted to hold on to their Jewish traditions and also blend Jesus into the mix. I grew up in a church that did that also and destroyed itself and it's members.
Jesus speaks directly to you ImAHebrew in Luke 5, when he told the Jews that new wine cannot be put into old wine skins or the wineskins will burst.
Likewise new fabric can not be used to repair an old garment because the new and old fabric will not agree. The new covenant can not be woven into the shrunken and faded old covenant (Heb. 8:13) The two fabrics can not be mixed and do not agree. The old skins have served their purpose and have no more elasticity.
Also, the Jews were happy with the old wine, the old covenant, and refused the new wine, the new covenant.
It was time for me to start reading what is in the Gospels and citing that exactly not what someone is telling me is there. Especially the words of Jesus after his baptism and also resurrection that are NOT the words of Moses but quite different. Our Lord, who is the Holy Spirit, spoke through the Apostles and uttered much different words than Moses spoke in the Torah.
Our Faith in His Son is now equated to our righteousness in God's eyes.
lucysmith,
ReplyDeleteYes Lucy, ImAHebrew has a very confused approach to what Jesus taught and what the Apostles taught. That is from prooftexting and not letting the entire volume of the Holy Bible be his teacher. We who were poisioned by Armstrongism learned our religion that way - a sort of "cut and paste" theology that actually cut us off from Christ and left us fallen from grace.
If righteousness could come from the Law/Torah as he implies then Christ Jesus died in vain. It is either one or the other not both. One covenant has an end so the other can begin. They can not run parallel or simultaneously.
Grace and peace from our Lord!
Shalom Michael, Yeshua said that if you don’t believe what Moses wrote, you won’t believe what He said. It’s very important to understand that most who look at what Moses wrote, only see the old wineskin, and they don’t see the New Wine. Yeshua “opened” the minds of His Disciples to understand what Moses wrote, and their hearts burned within them as He did. That New Wine of the Gospel removed the “veil” that was over the eyes of most when they read Moses. Numbers 19 has veiled within it the suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua. This Gospel is veiled, but when you start to “see” Yeshua as the Red Heifer, the veil is taken away, and a whole new world of understanding what Moses wrote opens up to a Believer.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews look at the ritual of the red heifer as the “Ordinance of the Torah,” it’s the foundation or the first and foremost ordinance of the Torah. That is not just a coincidence, for Paul said that what he received as of “first” importance, is ALSO what he taught as of first importance, namely, that Yeshua suffered, died, was buried, and then raised on the 3rd day ALL according to what was written in the Scriptures. That is the “foundation” of the Gospel, those Scriptures which teach what happened to Yeshua, and the foremost set of Scriptures in all of what Moses wrote, is found in Numbers 19.
The ritual of the red heifer cleanses from the defilement of death, and separates a sinner from their sin. The Jews say that this ritual is the most mysterious rite in all of Scripture. They normally can look at a command and “reason” why Yahweh commanded it, but that is not the case with the red heifer. They say that Solomon in all his wisdom, despaired over the secret meaning of the red heifer. What caused them problems in looking at this ritual was the fact that anyone who was clean, and had anything to do in preparing the ashes of the red heifer, became defiled, yet, those very ashes could then be used to cleanse anyone who was defiled. They reasoned, how could something that defiles, cleanse, or how could something that cleanses, defile? The only way this paradox can be explained is in looking at Yeshua as the Red Heifer, and His dead body is the Ashes which was gathered by a “clean man” (Joseph of Arimathea), and deposited in a clean “vessel” (a tomb hewn out of solid rock in which no one had ever been laid), and that vessel had a lid to cover it (Numbers 19:15), and then for the unclean, LIVING WATER was added to the Ashes in the Vessel. Eternal Life was added to the dead body of Yeshua as He was in the vessel of the tomb.
Now, to understand how the ashes of the red heifer causes defilement, it is necessary to grasp and understand how we all touched Him in putting Him to death, for in His death, we are found as sinners…it is my sin and your sin that caused His death, and this defiles us. Yet, anyone who has sprinkled upon them the ashes which had living water added to them, becomes cleansed from death, and separated from their sin…This is the Gospel. And look at what Numbers 19:19 requires. On the 3rd day AND 7th day, a Clean Man shall sprinkle the unclean, and the unclean shall wash/be baptized. Baptism is a requirement of Numbers 19, plain and simple. Yet, this Gospel was perverted and lost by those who came UNDER a strong delusion. The false gospel that has risen and prospered for the last 1800 years is about to be exposed, and the One True Gospel, which is according to the Scriptures is going to again be Sprinkled on the 7th day. Michael, really start to look at the Scriptures according to the Spiritual Fulfillment of them, for if you do, you will have a whole New Wine in which to drink from. ImAHebrew
thank you for confirming the Word Mr Micael.
ReplyDeletei cannot understand how man, can cut and paste and try to prove they are right?
hello?
how can a person DISAGREE with acts 15 and not be a proven false teacher?
how does ''NOT so'' - become Yes?
dont u think this is carnal minded insanity to ARGUE with an apostolic decission approved by the Holy Spirit?.
plus...
throw their rotten tomatoes [ false theories] at the Throne of Grace.
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteYou mention "I don't want to spend the time going through the fact that Jesus was talking to ALL of the disciples, not just Peter, "
I reply;
Jesus had asked Simon (Peter) who he believed Jesus was. When Simon answered correctly, "the Son of the living God," then Jesus went on talking directly to Peter through the rest of the passage Jesus said "thee" and "thou" KJV each time which is singular Jesus also referred to Simon personally as "HIM" not "THEM" and "Peter" while naming no other disciples in that conversation.
Here is the actual passage where Christ is speaking to Peter:
Matt. 16:15-19, 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto HIM, Blessed art THOU, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto THEE, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto THEE, That THOU art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19And I will give unto THEE the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever THOU shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever THOU shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
From the context I must conclude that ONE disciple was given the power to loose and bind specifically and would be the "rock" upon which Christ would build his church was Peter and no other. James was obviously in charge in the Church in Jerusalem.
Now in conclusion, if you see any similarity in the Primacy of Peter Doctrine of the Catholic Church it is not my personal belief that Peter ever had anything to do with the "Universal" Church or was one of the first Popes. I dwell on only what is offered in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible. The fact that many yeas after the Romish/Popish church began that Peter was incorporated into it does not mean he was and history demonstrates his teachings were in opposition to the Catholic dogma and doctrines.
ImAHebrew,
ReplyDeleteYou apparently like to make statements I am supposed to accept with no supporting scriptures. We all have our opinions but the scripture is the foundation of my faith, not Jewish mythology, or allegory or traditions of men.
You say two different things. You state that the new wine (new covenant) and the red heffer both remove the veil. But the New Testament states the veil is removed by our FAITH in Jesus Christ.(Rom 4:13-16) (II Cor. 3:15-116)
The Red Heffer was the OC symbol of cleansing and purification but in the NC it is the goat/lamb of the Passover. Christ is our Passover and our Atonement that bore all of our sins, trespasses, uncleanesses. The Atonement Goat was carried outside the camp and killed. Christ was crusified outside the city of Jerusalem. The OC symbols, sacrifices, rituals, altar, ark of the covenant,tablets have all been abolished in Christ. Jesus is now our new High Priest at the Altar in Heaven and is before the Ark sprinkling his own blood for the remission of our sins 24/7 until he returns to recieve His throne and His kingdom. There is no more Levitical Ritualistic system, there is no use.
You talk in between two realities, the Torah and Yeshuah, one past one present. One old one new, one that did not offer eternal life one that does.
Moses wrote of the prophet, Jesus, and said "you shall hear him." Jesus chided the Jews for having faith in Moses' words but rejected His words when Moses told them He would come and that they SHOULD hear Him. The Jews heard but did not believe, Jesus was a stone of stumbling to the Jews at his time as prophecied.
If Jesus spoke the same words that Moses did there would have been no point to Jesus' words here.(Deut. 18:15-19) Jesus quoted this passage to the Jews who did not listen to the words he spoke that God gave Him to bring to them even though they knew the prophecy well.
John 5:46(NIV)
46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
God also verified the words of Moses in the transfiruration speaking of His Son saying "hear Him."(Matt. 17:5). Also repeated by the deacon Stephen (Acts. 7:37) He accussed the Jews, including Saul that was there, of ignoring Jesus,the prophet Moses spoke of before they stoned him to death.
Like I wrote earlier your teacher is telling you to pull Messiah back into the Torah calling it "spiritual" and make the deeds of the law more important that Grace and Faith. That will never work. Your wineskins have burst your new wine has spilled and is in the dirt.
Shalom Michael, I truly do not like to make any incorrect statements, for I take James’ admonishment very seriously: Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, I am always willing to be corrected if an error is exposed in my belief. Now, you say that Yeshua was the Atonement Goat because He was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem, and this disqualifies Him from being the New Covenant symbol of the Red Heifer. You need to correct your thinking here, because the Red Heifer ALSO had to be brought forth “without the camp,” just like the Atonement Goat. You try to discard the suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection as symbolized in the Ordinance of the Red Heifer, with such flawed logic? Shame on you.
You also say that the “veil” is removed by our FAITH in “Jesus Christ.” Do you have blinders on? What do you think I was speaking about when I expounded on the ritual of the Red Heifer. It takes FAITH in Yeshua BEING YOUR Red Heifer for the “veil” to be removed. The Jews had blinders on and couldn’t have FAITH that Yeshua was THEIR sacrifice, and it appears that you are just like them, for you to deny the Sacrifice of the Red Heifer.
You also say I have no supporting Scriptures. It is YOU who have no supporting Scriptures. For Yeshua said it was WRITTEN in the Law of Moses He would suffer, die, be buried, and then resurrected on the 3rd day. You tell me where Moses wrote that? You can’t, because you don’t believe the Words of Yeshua, just like you don’t believe what Moses wrote.
Consider this, when John and Peter run to the tomb to see and THEN believe, John makes a statement, “For as yet they knew not THE Scripture that He must rise from the dead.” John added this comment in to his account because he knew that many reading his account would be wondering why Peter and he had to run to the tomb to see and THEN believe. There is a very specific Scripture which DEMANDS that Eternal Life be added to the dead body of Yeshua, and this Scripture was the foremost Scripture used in converting believers in the Apostolic Church, and John wanted it clearly stated that they did not KNOW this Scripture when they had to run to the tomb. It was later that evening when Yeshua “opened” to them this Scripture, and this Scripture is Numbers 19:17. Make no mistake, this Scripture is FOUNDATIONAL and Earth Shaking. Living Water (Eternal Life) had to be added to the Ashes (Yeshua’s dead body) in the Vessel (the tomb hewn out of solid rock).
Let me ask you a question. Do you really think that Paul taught from morning to evening concerning Yeshua out of the Law of Moses and didn’t go into the allegory of the Red Heifer (Acts 28:23)? That would be rather foolish on your part IF you believe he didn’t. ImAHebrew
Jesus had asked Simon (Peter) who he believed Jesus was. When Simon answered correctly, "the Son of the living God," then Jesus went on talking directly to Peter through the rest of the passage Jesus said "thee" and "thou" KJV each time which is singular Jesus also referred to Simon personally as "HIM" not "THEM" and "Peter" while naming no other disciples in that conversation.
ReplyDeleteHere is the actual passage where Christ is speaking to Peter:
Matt. 16:15-19, 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto HIM, Blessed art THOU, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto THEE, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto THEE, That THOU art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19And I will give unto THEE the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever THOU shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever THOU shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
MY COMMENT: Let's don't proof-text. Jesus was asking this question to ALL of His disciples(verse 13), and again in verse 15, "He says to THEM, 'But YOU, whom do YOU say Me to be?' ". It appears that the reason why Jesus spoke the words recorded in Matthew 16:18 to Peter, was that it was he who had answered Jesus' question. Even though Jesus, because of this, directed his words at Peter, other New Testament passages make it clear that the other disciples (apostles) were also to have the same kind of "keys" as Peter. The exact same wording is used in Matthew 18:18 where the same "keys" are given to all of the disciples(many more people than the 12 apostles). They were to "bind and loose" – that is, they were to make decisions based upon what was already bound and loosed in heaven. The things that they were to "bind" or "loose" are seen as "having already been bound in heaven" and "having already been loosed in heaven", as the Greek words clearly show, and according to the Greek text, they were not given the "keys" at this time. In the Greek text of verse 19, the verb for give, "didomi", is in the future tense "doso".
There was nothing that Peter had that the others didn't have. When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother, Jesus said, "YOU(same Greek word "soi" as used in Matt. 16:19)shall forgive him seventy times seven". By your reasoning, this applies only to Peter. You can't pick-and-choose.
End of Part 1
From the context I must conclude that ONE disciple was given the power to loose and bind specifically and would be the "rock" upon which Christ would build his church was Peter and no other.
ReplyDeleteMY COMMENT: No ONE disciple was ever given "power" to "loose and bind" over the others. None were to have authority or power over the others. That is totally opposite of what Jesus taught them. He continually had trouble with them as they argued with each other as to who was going to be the greatest among them.
In verse 18, Jesus was showing Peter that he was just a little pebble, "petros", but that He would build His assembly upon the Rock, "petra". Jesus was that Rock, not Peter(mistranslation). Jesus said, "I will build of ME the ekklesia"(original Greek). Verse 19 is also mistranslated.
James was obviously in charge in the Church in Jerusalem.
MY COMMENT: James was not "in charge" of the "church". He was a leader. He made decisions, but so did the others, "apostles", "elders"(have you ever wondered why "elder" is separate from "apostle"), and the WHOLE congregation(Acts 15:22). None had preeminence over the others. Even Paul ridiculed the "apostles"(Galations 2). They were not any more important, or had anymore authority than anyone else. Only Jesus has authority.
Now in conclusion, if you see any similarity in the Primacy of Peter Doctrine of the Catholic Church it is not my personal belief that Peter ever had anything to do with the "Universal" Church or was one of the first Popes. I dwell on only what is offered in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible. The fact that many yeas after the Romish/Popish church began that Peter was incorporated into it does not mean he was and history demonstrates his teachings were in opposition to the Catholic dogma and doctrines.
MY COMMENT: The Catholic Church has given us the Bible we have today. King James was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. He maintained fifteen rules that the translators of the KJV had to abide by. The King was declared to be the "head of God's government on earth". Who could dispute that without losing their own head? Unfortunately, the church hierarchy and King James still had the ultimate say. Rule #4 confirms that decisions were made in favor of "church" traditions and to support "church doctrine. Also what is unfortunate is that when a little bit of error is mixed with truth, it can go unnoticed for a very long time. One of many mistranslations is Matthew 16:18-19. The KJV makes it sound as if PETER was the Rock, and that God would bind whatever Peter said to bind, and loose whatever Peter said to loose. Another mistranslation which is paramount to this discussion is in the area of "offices", "titles", "all authority", "ministers", "deacons", "ordination", and other gobbledygook.
End of Part 2
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI understand the translational issues with Matthew 16:17-19 but Peter went on to take a lead role in the Church after Christ's death and resurrection. In the first meeting of the Church on Penticost it was Peter who spoke out in Acts 2:14 and gave a very inspiring explination of what was occurring that day that was monumental.
Peter also took the lead in the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) taking the Gospel to the Gentiles with the Conversion of Corneilus (Acts. 10). In the Jerusalem conference Peter took the lead in revealing the concept of grace and faith for salvation (Acts 15:11), But James made the final judgement in that meeting vs 19, "It is my judgement."
If by no other measurement than just the number of times Peter is mentioned by Luke in Acts during the beginning years of the church he was the most prominent Apostle, then the focus shifts to the work of Paul as the major player for most of the remainder of the New Testament.
The foundation that the church is built upon is spiritual and metaphorically built upon the apostles and prophets. In I Peter 2 Peter explains the "Living Stone" with Christ as that life giving spirit (I Cor. 15:45) the spiritual corner stone of a spiritual house. He writes all believers are living stones being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. In verse 8 Peter quotes an OT prophecy that Christ is both a stone of stumbling and a rock." These are of course metaphorical terms the greeks loved to use and are allegorical and types not the actual things.