Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

The Holy Spirit recorded for us in the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Acts one of the most important events recorded in all of Scripture. That event is often overlooked by the majority of Christians who lack understanding of the dynamics of the New Testament as well as the attending history and culture of the first century. What you will see in this article, and the ones which follow, is that God gives us a "pattern" for Gentile engrafting into Israel, the people of God. Let me say it another way. The New Testament reveals to us a specific manner by which Gentiles could become part of Yeshua's church. Thus we will explore the inclusion of Gentiles in the Yeshua Movement (the Yeshua Messianic Movement within Judaism) as given by the Holy Spirit and enumerated by the Yeshua's hand-picked pastor Yacov (James) as well as the other Apostles. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this "pattern" was followed well into the fourth century before Roman paganism stamped it out. I must remind you that these instructions and commands from the Yeshua's (Yeshua's) church, concerning how Gentiles were to be added and engrafted into believing Israel, all transpired AFTER THE CROSS which has dramatic importance for us as "Christians" today. The sad part about the whole matter is that few Christians today know the history of their faith and how Yeshua and the Apostles established rigid conditions for Gentiles to become part of believing Israel, the people of God. Today, lacking such information and knowledge, we as mainline Christianity accept what is done by our denominations as being the "standard," yet is it? And if not, don't you want to know before your die when it is too late to do anything about it? With this in mind, I have prepared a detailed examination that will not only challenge you and your belief system, but hopefully stimulate your repentance in areas of belief and conduct. May God bless your efforts in studying His Word to show yourself approved. Let us begin.

Answer for yourself: Was the Book of Acts written following the cross and therefore the truths found within the book must therefore apply to the Christian and the Christian Church today? Yes.

Answer for yourself: When Yeshua commanded his disciples and Apostles to go into all the world and "teach them (Gentiles) to observe those things I have commanded you," can we say for certain that one of "those things" which was to be taught and obeyed by Gentiles was the truths contained within the decisions and teachings that came out of the first "church council" in 50 C.E. which laid the foundation for what was "necessary" for Gentiles to be "saved" (Acts 15:28) and included in the Yeshua (Jesus) Messianic Movement and Yeshua's church? Most assuredly we can and must!

Answer for yourself: As you read the following article, I ask you to be honest in asking yourself that if Gentiles like you and me are to be "taught to obey those things Yeshua commanded," then why is it that you have been in church your whole life and never were acquainted with nor taught to obey the things that you will discover in these articles? You must answer that for yourself.

Answer for yourself: Is it of the remotest possibility that you, after finishing these articles, will come to the inescapable conclusion that you have not been taught the truths concerning many of the foundations of what your faith in Yeshua should consist of as commanded by the first church of Yeshua at the church council of 50 C.E. which set the foundations for taking the Gospel to the Gentiles like you and me? Most assuredly!

So often many mistakenly believe that the "cross of Christ" altered "this or that" whereby they mistakenly lean on their own understanding or other's erroneous teachings in arriving at conclusions that often set the course of their beliefs, conduct and their behavior which CANNOT be supported by comparison with many Scriptures that "contradict" such conclusions. Therefore, our beliefs, faith, behavior and conduct cannot be RIGHT if contradicted by Scripture, and thus we cannot be sure that we are accepted by God if our lives and beliefs do not line up with EVERY SCRIPTURE. Unknowingly, much of the traditional Christian's reasoning violates many Scriptures and often such reasoning, when conceived in actions and well intentioned deeds, are defined by the Bible as sin. The root of such is false teaching or the lack of in-depth teaching by the vast majority of Christianity today which seems to focus on "milk" instead of "meat."

Let us begin our study with foundational truths from the Book of Hebrews chapter 5:

Hebr 5:12 (KJV) For <1063> when for <1223> the time <5550> ye ought <3784> (5723) to be <1511> (5750) teachers <1320>, ye have <2192> (5719) need <5532> that one teach <1321> (5721) you <5209> again <3825> which <5101> [be] the first <746> principles <4747> of the oracles <3051> of God <2316>; and <2532> are become such as <1096> (5754) have <2192> (5723) need <5532> of milk <1051>, and <2532> not <3756> of strong <4731> meat <5160>. 13 For <1063> every one <3956> that useth <3348> (5723) milk <1051> [is] unskillful <552> in the word <3056> of righteousness <1343>: for <1063> he is <2076> (5748) a babe <3516>. {is skillful: Gr. hath no experience} 14 But <1161> strong <4731> meat <5160> belongeth to them that are <2076> (5748) of full age <5046>, [even] those who by reason <1223> of use <1838> have <2192> (5723) their senses <145> exercised <1128> (5772) to <4314> discern <1253> both <5037> good <2570> and <2532> evil <2556>. {of full age: or, perfect} {use: or, an habit, or, perfection}

Let us examine the Greek word for "teachers":
Lexicon Greek 1320

1320 didaskalos {did-as'-kal-os} from 1321; TDNT - 2:148,161; n m AV - Master (Yeshua) 40, teacher 10, master 7, doctor 1; 58

• 1) a teacher
• 2) in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man
• 1a) one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so
• 1b) the teachers of the Jewish religion
• 1c) of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds around them i.e. John the Baptist, Yeshua
• 1d) by preeminence used of Yeshua by himself, as one who showed men the way of salvation
• 1e) of the apostles, and of Paul
• 1f) of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit
• 1g) of false teachers among Christians
  

Answer for yourself: Did the author of Hebrews tell us that only hired preachers are to teach the things of God to others? No.

Answer for yourself: Did the author of Hebrews tell us that we (all) are to teach the "duties" of man toward God to others? Yes.

Answer for yourself: Could it be possible that we as adult Christians could be mistaken about the Bible and interpretation of various passages because of the lack of personal in-depth Bible study and have failed to teach others correctly because we were taught in error concerning many of the fundamental duties required of us toward God and to our fellowman? It sure is!

Answer for yourself: Did you notice that according to the definition of the Greek word used by the Holy Spirit for "teachers" that we are to "TEACH THE JEWISH RELIGION?" I hope so.

Answer for yourself: Did you notice that according to the definition of the Greek word used by the Holy Spirit that those in the religious assemblies of Christians were taught the JEWISH RELIGION? I hope so.

Answer for yourself: In your Christian Church are you being taught the Jewish Religion as Paul intended as seen from the original language in which we find the manuscripts of the New Testament?

Answer for yourself: If not, why not since this was the Apostle Paul's intention?

Answer for yourself: As a Christian, have you been taught the JEWISH RELIGION (understood as Messianic Judaism) in your churches or have you been taught a REPLACEMENT RELIGION that considers most everything "Jewish" as being outdated, replaced, or cursed? More than likely the latter.

Let us now examine the Greek word for "oracles":

Lexicon Greek 3051

3051 logion {log'-ee-on} from 3052; TDNT - 4:137,505; n n AV - oracle 4; 4

• 1) a brief utterance, a divine oracle (doubtless because oracles were generally brief)
• 1a) in the NT, the words or utterances of God
• 1b) of the contents of the Mosaic law
  

Answer for yourself: Did you notice that according to the Greek word used by the Holy Spirit in this New Testament Scripture that these believers in Yeshua (Jesus) in the Book of Hebrews were needing to be TAUGHT AGAIN the contents of the Mosaic law because they had not grasped the necessities within the Mosaic Law required for them to begin teaching others? I hope so.

Answer for yourself: Is Paul advocating teaching the Mosaic Law to believers? No, in fact he was called to Jerusalem to answer charges that he was teaching Jews everywhere not to circumcise their their children and that they were no longer under the "Law." Sound familiar?

Answer for yourself: Does you Pastor agree with Paul that Christian churches should teach the Mosaic Law (remember this all occurred after the cross and crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua)?

Answer for yourself: Were you aware previously that believers in Yeshua in the first century, both Jew and Gentile (remember this is written 30 years AFTER THE CROSS) were being taught the contents of the Mosaic Law? Most likely not. This is startling and should arouse you from your spiritual slumber as we proceed to discover more truths for too long overlooked by the Gentile Church.

Answer for yourself: If the churches founded by Paul were being taught the Mosaic Law, then why aren't you? Please share these papers with your Pastors and see how they will try to refute what the words given by God really say in the original languages in your Bible. It is so simple, for the most part most who will deny what I show you will do so only because they lack the necessary language skill in Greek and Hebrew, for if they had these skills they would have discovered what I and hundreds of other diligent Pastors and Teachers in the Body of Christ have discovered that altered the courses of our lives.

Let us examine the Greek word for "milk":

Lexicon Greek 1051

1051 gala {gal'-ah}

of uncertain affinity; TDNT - 1:645,111; n n AV - milk 5; 5

1) milk

1. a metaph. for the less difficult Christian truths

Answer for yourself: Do you see where we as believers are admonished by Paul to not be focused on or dwell on "less difficult Christian truths?" I hope so.

Let us examine the Greek word for "strong":

Lexicon Greek 4731

4731 stereos {ster-eh-os'} from 2476; TDNT - 7:609,1077; adj AV - strong 2, sure 1, stedfast 1; 4

• 1) strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid
• 1a) in a bad sense, cruel, stiff, stubborn, hard
• 1b) in a good sense, firm, steadfast
  

Answer for yourself: Do you see that by no longer dwelling on "less difficult Christian truths" and beginning to focus on the deeper truths [for instance that Gentiles are commanded to study and follow the Mosaic Law such as celebrating the Festivals of the Lord and not pagan "Christianized" holidays which we have done, keeping the Sabbath instead of Sunday, righteously giving the Tithe to areas where God said it should be given and applied and not where your church often directs it, and eating kosher which is a Biblical truth "hidden" in the English wording and translation of your Bibles] will cause our lives to be strong, steadfast, and we will not be tossed "to-and-fro" by every conflicting wind of doctrine, even Christian doctrine, much of which is in error because of the failure of the Pastors and Teachers to study deeply the truths in the Bible? I hope so.

Let us now examine the Greek word for "useth":

Lexicon Greek 3348

3348 metecho {met-ekh'-o} from 3326 and 2192; TDNT - 2:830,286; v AV - be partaker 5, take part 1, use 1, pertain 1; 8 1) to be or become partaker

1. to partake

Let us now examine the Greek word for "have":

Lexicon Greek 2192

2192 echo {ekh'-o} including an alternate form scheo {skheh'-o}, used in certain tenses only), a primary verb; TDNT - 2:816,286; v

AV - have 613, be 22, need + 5532 12, misc 63, vr have 2; 712

• 1) to have, i.e. to hold
• 1a) to have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as
• 2) to have i.e. own, possess
• 2a) external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
• 2b) used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship
• 3) to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition
• 4) to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to
• 4a) to be closely joined to a person or a thing
  

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God? He sure is as we see below.

Let us examine the Greek word for "unskillful":

Lexicon Greek 552

552 apeiros {ap'-i-ros} from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3984;; adj

AV - unskillful 1; 1

1) inexperienced in, without experience of

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and will not learn to experience the deeper things of God? He sure is.

This is a monumental statement because I dare say that we have failed, due to lack of study to understand the real message in many Scriptures, thus we have failed to grasp the truths that the first century church both knew and experienced and commanded be taken into all the world to the Gentiles in the Great Commission. All we have to do is look around and compare our experience to what we read in the Book of Acts and we can easily see that "something" is missing.

Let us now examine the Greek word for "word," as in Word of God:

Lexicon Greek 3056

3056 logos {log'-os} from 3004; TDNT - 4:69,505; n m

AV - word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7, thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330

• 1) of speech
• 1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
• 1b) what someone has said
• 1b1) a word
• 1b2) the sayings of God
• 1b3) decree, mandate or order
• 1b4) of the moral precepts given by God
• 1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets
• 1b6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim
• 1c) discourse
• 1c1) the act of speaking, speech
• 1c2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
• 1c3) a kind or style of speaking
• 1c4) a continuous speaking discourse - instruction
• 1d) doctrine, teaching
• 1e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative
• 1f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter in dispute, case, suit at law
• 1g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed
• 2) its use as respect to the MIND alone
• 2a) reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating
• 2b) account, i.e. regard, consideration
• 2c) account, i.e. reckoning, score
• 2d) account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
• 2e) relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation
• 2e1) reason would
• 2f) reason, cause, ground

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and will not learn to experience the deeper things of God concerning the "sayings of God, the moral precepts of God, the doctrines and teachings of God? He sure is!

Answer for yourself: Does God desires His children to be "unskillful and ignorant" in His words that lead to our righteousness? No. Let us investigate.

Please, dear saints, pay close attention to the Greek word for "righteousness":

Lexicon Greek 1343

1343 dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay} from 1342; TDNT - 2:192,168; n f AV - righteousness 92; 92

• 1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
• 1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God (notice there is a way a man can attain approval of God by something he does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)....THE JEWS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS.....BUT NOT THE CHRISTIANS
• 1b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
• 2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due

Answer for yourself: Does one's correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting, which are a direct result of what he believes, have a bearing upon him be acceptable to God? It sure does.

Answer for yourself: Can you see the importance of believing correctly, for if the truths we affix our actions upon are faulty or incorrect, then our conduct and behavior is less than pleasing to God?

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word (and in the context of Hebrews this meant failing to understand the Mosaic Laws which provide the foundations for one's beliefs and appropriate actions), that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and fail to achieve that position of acceptableness before God? He sure is.

Answer for yourself: Are you aware that when Paul said "all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction" that NONE of the New Testament had been written yet and could only refer to the Old Testament (the Law, Prophets, and Writings)?

Answer for yourself: Are you aware that it would take almost 400 years for the New Testament to be put together?

Please don't quit reading the article at this point, for let me remind you that I didn't choose these words or orchestrate Biblical history but the Holy Spirit did, and although we might not have heard of these concepts and doctrines preached from the pulpits of our churches, it does not change the fact that we will be judged by the Word of God and not by our denominational doctrines and what we have earnestly believed to be correct but which can be shown to be incorrect when applied to the truths of the Scriptures, original languages of Scripture, Biblical history, Biblical culture, archeology, etc.

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and fail to understand and obey the doctrines concerning the way in which we MAY attain a state of approval before God? He sure is.

Answer for yourself: Do you see that besides the sacrifice of Messiah that we play a role in making ourselves acceptable to God as indicated by the Greek word for "righteousness"?

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and fail to obtain the CORRECT way of thinking and feeling that ultimately leads to our CORRECT behavior, obedience, and conduct; thus assuring our position of approval before God? He sure is.

Now please pay close attention to this next word!

Let us examine the Greek root word for "righteousness" which occurs so often in the New Testament:

Lexicon Greek 1342

1342 dikaios {dik'-ah-yos} from 1349; TDNT - 2:182,168; adj AV - righteous 41, just 33, right 5, meet 2; 81

• 1) righteous, observing divine laws
• 1a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
• 1a1) of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined
• 1a2) innocent, faultless, guiltless
• 1a3) used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life
• 1a3a) only Christ truly
• 1a4) approved of or acceptable of God
• 1b) in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them

Answer for yourself: Were you aware before you read this article that being "righteous" contains man's responsibility for observing divine laws and keeping the commands of God?

Answer for yourself: Do you see again the concept of "being approved or acceptable of God" tied to keeping the commands of God and His divine laws?

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and will fail to observe Divine laws and Commandments intended to make us acceptable to God?

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God, believing that these Divine Laws and Commandments have passed away, thereby assuring that we will fail to observe these Divine laws and Commandments, thereby hampering making ourselves acceptable to God? Most assuredly.

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and fail to realize that the commandments of God have NOT passed away, and much more, fail to obey them? He sure is.

Answer for yourself: Is the author of the Book of Hebrews telling us that if we hold to, cling to, possess in our minds, or find ourselves focusing on the elementary truths of our faith, to the neglect of the deeper truths of God's Word, that we will be unskillful in our understanding of the Word of God and fail to think, feel, and thus act in a manner pleasing to God, thus not assuring our "acceptance" before God? As hard as it may be for you to accept this concept, the original words of the Greek manuscripts from which we take a poor English translation say otherwise.

Let us examine the Greek word for "babe":

Lexicon Greek 3516

3516 nepios {nay'-pee-os} from an obsolete particle ne- (implying negation) and 2031;

TDNT - 4:912,631; adj

AV - child 7, babe 6, childish 1; 14

• 1) an infant, little child
• 2) a minor, not of age
• 3) metaph. childish, untaught, unskilled
  

Answer for yourself: In other words, if we fail to study for ourselves, is there any way we can be assured that we are being taught Biblical truths by those we subject ourselves unto? No! The sad thing is that we spend our whole lives "hoping" our life-styles are pleasing to God, where if we would have studied, learned, and repented where necessary, we could have had confident assurance we both are acceptable to God and a good witness of Him to others.

Answer for yourself: Has the failure on your part to study the Bible, the original languages of the Bible, Biblical history and culture "in-depth" robbed you of vital information so necessary to your obedience to God? Most definitely.

Answer for yourself: Is the first church council of Jerusalem, which was headed up by the Apostle James in 50 C.E. LOADED with hidden truths which, when known, should alter the course of the Christian's life? Most definitely! Let us continue our investigation as we dig out these truths for our lives.

As you can see, this momentous church council occurred in 50 C.E. in Jerusalem and speaks to the Christian today. Sadly, very few Christians have known the extent of what is taught in Acts 15, nor heard their Pastor or Teacher teach on the subject. The participants at this first church council are the zakenim (elders) and sh'likiim (apostles) which formed the foundation for this new Messianic movement which was headed by Yeshua (Jesus), the chief cornerstone. Let us never forget that Yeshua's church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and not the Baptists or the Catholics, yet the majority of Christians today know very little about "apostolic doctrine," and it was this "apostolic doctrine" which the church of Jesus Christ "steadfastly continued in!"

Instead we know only our "denominational and non-denominational" doctrines, which more often than not, conflicts and opposes "Apostolic Doctrine" which Yeshua and the Apostles both believed, taught, and commanded taken to the Gentiles throughout the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

You may have never noticed, but the Great Commission of Matt. 28 DOES NOT SAY to take Yeshua or his "identity" to the world, but the Commandments, the Torah and the Law of Moses is to taken unto the Gentiles throughout the whole world. ":Not so" you say, well lets investigate and I promise you that you will be amazed by what you will now learn.

Let us continue in the second article to lay the foundations that are necessary for us to correctly understand how Gentiles were to come to God and be accepted into Yeshua's church ("fitting" into Yeshua's church is called "engrafted" by Paul in Romans 9-11). Shalom