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To understand correctly how the Gentile Christian Church is to relate to the Israel of God we must begin with the writer of the Ephesian epistle of whom the vast majority of scholars believe was the Apostle Paul. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles states that the Gentiles, like you and me, have been quickened or made alive in a spiritual sense by Yeshua because our sins and trespasses had separated us from God.
Let us notice in Ephesians 2:1-22 that Paul was speaking to Gentile Ephesian converts (like you and me) who had turned from a life of sin, and had turned to obeying Yahweh. In Ephesians 2:1-2, KJV, we read: I And you [hath he quickened!, (Gentiles) who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked (before your repentance, faith in one True God) according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit (of the world) that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Please note that Ephesians 2:1 says that these converts "WERE" (past tense) cut off from Yahweh, having no hope.
Answer for yourself: Just what SEPARATES one from Yahweh? Given up? Read on please.
The Scriptural answer to what separates one from God is found in Isaiah 59:1-2 KJV:
I Behold, YAHWEH'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 BUT YOUR INIQUITIES have separated between you and your FATHER, and YOUR SINS have hid His face for you, that HE WILL NOT HEAR.
Notice, the Apostle Paul says that these Ephesian Gentiles WERE in TIMES PAST disobedient and that they were NOT "disobedient" at the time he was speaking to them. And, when they WERE DISOBEDIENT, they WERE cut off from Yahweh, as ALL SINNERS ARE!
Remember that the New Testament defines "SIN" as the breaking of Yahweh's Laws, as I John 3:4 clearly states:
4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the LAW: for sin is the transgression of the LAW.
Answer for yourself: Do you realize that if the Law of God (Laws of Moses-Torah) is not valid today, then we are not sinners, since "sin" is defined in the New Testament as transgression of the Law? I bet you didn't.
Answer for yourself: How can we pride ourselves any longer that we are not under these Laws when the non-Pauline parts of the New Testament testify to the eternal validity of God's Laws?
Answer for yourself: Does not Yahweh teach us that if we say "we have not sinned" then we are LIARS? Thus, the Law is valid today!
Answer for yourself: If I John 3:4 is a New Testament Scripture, then how is it possible that "sin" can be defined as "transgression against the LAW" if the LAW HAS PASSED AWAY AND WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? It is not possible. Thus you can now easily see that the teachings you have heard since childhood declaring that the Law has passed away and that we are “under grace only” are not only inaccurate, but sinful teachings that have deceived you and let many of you into sin by faulty conduct and behavior as a Christian whereby often we break these Laws and Commandments often out of just ignorance of them, let alone willfully.
Answer for yourself: Let us notice in Ephesians 2:1-22 that Paul was speaking to whom... Gentile believers or Jewish believers? Gentile believers like you and me.
Answer for yourself: Are you beginning to view God's Law in a somewhat more positive light since you see that the Law has not passed away? I hope so but this will become abundantly clear as we continue to read this series of articles.
Before these Gentile Ephesians turned TO Yahweh in OBEDIENCE to Him (OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS of their respective Covenant...thus ceasing SINNING in their conduct and behavior), they previously had lived in the "way of this world" (flesh), and NOT the "Way of Yahweh".
The Apostle Paul then continues speaking to the Ephesians, saying in Ephesians 2:3-5, KJV:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation (our manner of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others. 4 But Yahweh (God), Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in SINS,....
Before the CONVERSION of these GENTILE EPHESIANS, they lived in SIN. The death penalty...which is exactly "what" one earns for committing SIN, as Romans 6:23 says (THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH)...hung over them, just as it does for anyone who PRACTICES SIN (remember transgression of the LAW is defined as "sin" in the New Testament). Only those who turn FROM sin, turn FROM breaking the Law, and turn TO Yahweh in OBEDIENCE to Yahweh's Every Word" will be given the gift only Yahweh can give...Eternal Life! We will be given access to the Tree of Life!
As we Read in Isaiah 59: 1-2, it is OUR SINS (INIQUITIES) that separate us from God.
59:1 Behold <2005>, the L-RD'S <3068> hand <3027> is not shortened <7114> (8804), that it cannot save <3467> (8687); neither his ear <241> heavy <3513> (8804), that it cannot hear <8085> (8800): 2 But your iniquities <5771> have separated <914> (8688) between <996> you and your God <430>, and your sins <2403> have hid <5641> (8689) [his] face <6440> from you, that he will not hear <8085> (8800). {have hid: or, have made him hide}
Lexicon Hebrew 5771
05771 `avon {aw-vone'} or `avown (2 Ki 7:9, Ps 51:5 [7]) {aw-vone'} from 05753; TWOT - AV - iniquity 220, punishment 5, fault 2, Iniquities + 01697 1, mischief 1, sin 1; 230
This same English word is defined in Strong's Concordance in the New Testament in Matt. 7:23 as "those not submitted to Jewish LAW") and it is our breaking of Yahweh's Law, that cuts us off from Yahweh.
These same Scriptures tell us that the REASON Yahweh will NOT listen to someone, is BECAUSE they are a SINNER...they practice sin. For your information this is the same word used by Yeshua in Matt. 7:23 where he tells "many" who come to him expecting "acceptance" to depart from him because they practice iniquity (Strong's number 458 & 459 meaning "the practice of not submitting to Jewish Law".
23 And <2532> then <5119> will I profess <3670> (5692) unto them <846>, <3754> I never <3763> knew <1097> (5627) you <5209>: depart <672> (5720) from <575> me <1700>, ye that work <2038> (5740) iniquity <458>.
Lexicon Greek 458
458 anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from 459; TDNT - 4:1085,646; n f AV - iniquity 12, unrighteousness 1, transgress the law + 4060 1, transgression of the law 1; 15
Lexicon Greek 459
459 anomos {an'-om-os} from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3551; TDNT - 4:1086,646; adj AV - without law 4, transgressor 2, wicked 2, lawless 1, unlawful 1; 10
Answer for yourself: Is transgression of the LAW of Moses (following the Cross in the New Testament) considered "sin?" Definitely yes.
Answer for yourself: Please note that Ephesians 2:1 says that these converts "WERE" (past tense) cut off from Yahweh, having no hope because something had separated them for Yahweh. What does Isaiah tell us in 59:1-2 that separated the Gentiles from God? Our iniquities, our sin which is transgression of the Law.
Answer for yourself: The New Testament, in I John 3:4, defines "SIN" as what?
Transgression of, violation of, and ignorance of the Mosaic Laws.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who are without the Law, or who are ignorant of the Law, or who violate the Law, or who are destitute of the Mosaic Law (usually Gentiles) are told by Yeshua to depart from him? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who depart from the law are "wicked?" Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us that if we are ignorant of the Law, thereby showing our contempt of it, should we expect to likewise hear "depart from me" from Yeshua in the world to come? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who violate the Law and are destitute of the Mosaic Law are told by Yeshua to depart from him. Yes.
Answer for yourself: If your church has taught you that the Law has passed away, thus making you destitute of the Law of Moses, should you expect that Yeshua will tell you to depart from him as well? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Do you realize that if the Law of God (Laws of Moses-Torah) is not valid today, then we are not sinners? Is that possible since that Yahweh teaches us that if we say "we have not sinned" then we are LIARS? This should be clear by now.
Answer for yourself: If I John 3:4 is a New Testament Scripture, then how is it possible that "sin" can be defined as "transgression against the LAW" if the LAW HAS PASSED AWAY AND WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? Obviously for the New Testament church the Laws of Moses had not passed away, and within them are contained the Laws of Noah which are the stipulations and responsibilities for the Covenant given to the Non-Jews according to Acts 15 and other places.
Answer for yourself: Is transgression of the LAW following the Cross in the New Testament considered "sin?" Yes.
Answer for yourself: Before the CONVERSION of these GENTILE EPHESIANS, they lived in SIN. What did one earn for committing SIN which is defined in the New Testament as transgression of the Law? Death and separation from God.
Answer for yourself: Romans 6:23 says THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH and death hung over all men, just as it does for anyone who PRACTICES SIN. Then is it a true statement that only those who turn FROM sin, turn FROM breaking the Law, and turn TO Yahweh in OBEDIENCE to Yahweh's Every Word" will be given the Gift only Yahweh can give...Eternal Life? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Do you find it difficult to believe that this is the same word used by Yeshua in Matt. 7:21 where he tells "many" who come to him expecting "acceptance" to depart from him because they practice iniquity (Strong's number 458 & 459 meaning the practice of not submitting to Jewish Law)? Not any longer.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware that many of these laws which the Christian has been told has passed away, laws within these "Mosaic Laws" intended for non-Jewish and Gentile "believers," are commandments instructing non-Jewish believers how to worship properly and how to give their tithe properly [which 99.9% of Christianity does not do correctly];something that few churches I have seen has right or obeys correctly?
Answer for yourself: Are you now aware that our failure to heed these commandments is sin and that our "strange fire" and false worship given to God instead of these selected commandments which should be obeyed in our worship of the Creator both displeases and hurts Him?
Answer for yourself: Can you begin to see the importance of identifying with Israel who has always revered the Covenant Law instead of organizations (Churches) that teach the Law has passed away? I hope so.
Please understand that before the Word of Yahweh was given to the Gentile People as a whole, they were cut off from Yahweh. Before this, ONLY the Tribes of the Children of Israel were given Yahweh's Laws, which GUIDED one to faith and obedience, thus culminating in Yahweh's SALVATION.
It is impossible to read and understand correctly the New Testament without some basic background knowledge in such areas as culture, politics, language, literature, and religion. It just so happens when we read of Cornelius in Acts 10 that almost all of Jewish evangelism to the non-Jew was ceased. Converts were accepted but no longer were the Covenant of Noah and the Laws of Noah being taught or preached to the non-Jew as their way of Salvation. Such was the bigotry and hatred of the Jew to the non-Jew in the first century. Yahweh's message of Repentance, Conversion, and Salvation was not going to be again preached to the Gentiles until AFTER Yeshua came and died. Yeshua's death and believed resurrection was the catalyst that motivated these "brainwashed Jews" to break from current Jewish teachings and theology as implanted by R. Shammai, and others, and repent and go into all the world whereby they would literally "teach" the non-Jew to observe those things in the Law which God had given them and required of them. Not only would the Apostles scatter following the persecutions in Israel but Paul would make three such journeys to the non-Jews with the Laws of Noah as well as invitation to enter into the Covenant of Noah.
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified Yahweh, saying, Then hath Yahweh also to the NATIONS (GENTILES) granted REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE.
Acts 11:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that YAHWEH is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every NATION (Gentiles; according to Baalam's prophecy Israel is never to be counted among the nations, thus he is referring to ALL GENTILE NATIONS) he that "feareth Him" and "worketh righteousness" is accepted with Him (this is true Biblical SALVATION for all mankind).
Notice this verse mentions both FAITH and OBEDIENCE THAT CULMINATES IN RIGHTEOUS WORKS...FOR SALVATION
Notice this statement by the Apostle Peter was the response to previous revelation that the Gentiles could be accepted by Yahweh if they responded in faith (feared Him) and practiced righteousness (understood as obedience to faith that culminated in good works which was the accurate response to faith).
Yahweh is NOT a "Respecter of persons." ONLY those who REVERE Him (by OBEYING His word, and who WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS) by practicing and obeying Yahweh's Commandments, Laws, Statutes, and Judgments in their daily lives, are accepted BY YAHWEH.
Before Yahweh opened the "Way of Salvation" to the Gentiles, it was considered UNLAWFUL [according to Shammai's 18 articles], even to The Believers (who were then all Hebrews, by the way), to rub elbows with the Gentiles. However, this "artificial separation" was not an Ordinance from Yahweh or part of the Written Law, but from the oral teachings of Rabbi Shammai, and others, who hated Gentiles and was one of the leading Torah scholars of the day. This ordinance was stated by Peter in Acts 10:28, KJV:...it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company, or come unto, one of another nation...
According to THESE ordinances attributed to Shammai, it made NO DIFFERENCE that any Gentile might be practicing RIGHTEOUSNESS...as Cornelius (a GENTILE was doing) in Acts 10:1-2, KJV:
10:1 <1161> There was <2258> (5713) a certain <5100> man <435> in <1722> Caesarea <2542> called <3686> Cornelius <2883>, a centurion <1543> of <1537> the band <4686> called <2564> (5746) the Italian <2483> [band], 2 [A] devout <2152> [man], and <2532> one that feared <5399> (5740) God <2316> with <4862> all <3956> his <848> house <3624>, which <5037> gave <4160> (5723) much <4183> alms <1654> to the people <2992>, and <2532> prayed <1189> (5740) to God <2316> always <1275>.
The word translated 'devout' in Acts 10:2 is word #2152 in Strong's Greek Dictionary: the word 'eusebes', and means: well reverent, pious.
Lexicon Greek 2152 2152 eusebes {yoo-seb-ace'} from 2095 and 4576; TDNT - 7:175,1010; adj AV - devout 3, godly 1; 4
1) pious, dutiful
Answer for yourself: Acts 10:1-2, KJV states: Cornelius...a Centurion of the Italian Band. A DEVOUT man and one that FEARED YAHWEH with all his house. The word translated 'devout' in Acts 10:2 is word #2152 in Strong's Greek Dictionary: the word 'eusebes', and means: well reverent, pious. In other words, Cornelius, a Gentile after the cross, was making himself HOLY by KEEPING what? The Commandments of God.
Answer for yourself: Only "living by" the HOLY Laws and Commandments of Yahweh makes one "holy" because it separates the obedient person from the majority of mankind who do not obey the L-RD. If one lives any other "way," then he lives in "what" since he transgresses the Law? Sin.
In other words, Cornelius was making himself HOLY by KEEPING the Laws of Yahweh! Only "living by" the HOLY Laws and Commandments of Yahweh makes one "holy" because it separates the obedient person from the majority of mankind who do not obey the L-RD. If one lives any other "way," then he lives in sin...and Yahweh then, correctly, considers that person to be a SINNER. Yahweh, assuredly, is no "Respecter of persons", so even IF a GENTILE OBEYS HIM, then that Gentile is ACCEPTED BY HIM. Yahweh has proven this through the instructions He gave through Moses, saying previously in Exodus 12:48-49, KJV:
48 And when a stranger <1616> shall sojourn <1481> (8799) with thee, and will keep <6213> (8804) the Passover <6453> to the L-RD <3068>, let all his males <2145> be circumcised <4135> (8736), and then let him come near <7126> (8799) and keep <6213> (8800) it; and he shall be as one that is born <249> in the land <776>: for no uncircumcised person <6189> shall eat <398> (8799) thereof. 49 One <259> law <8451> shall be to him that is homeborn <249>, and unto the stranger <1616> that sojourneth <1481> (8802) among <8432> you.
The above passage, since it included circumcision, refer to "conversion" of the non-Jew to Judaism. Cornelius was not circumcised, but yet was "accepted" by God as were full-converts since they both "feared" God and "worketh righteousness." The only difference would be their Covenant responsibility: the full-convert would be responsible for all 613 like the Jew whereby the Godfearer, like Cornelius, would only be responsible for the Covenant of Noah with its 66 Commandments.
The word translated 'stranger' in this verse is word # 1616 in Strong's Hebrew Dictionary: the word "ger", and means: foreigner, alien. This is the Gentile like you and me!
Lexicon Hebrew 1616 01616 ger {gare} or (fully) geyr (gare) from 01481; TWOT - 330a; n m AV - stranger 87, alien 1, sojourner 1, stranger + 0376 1, stranger + 04480 1, strangers + 0582 1; 92
Answer for yourself: Did the text of Exodus 12:48 say that there is ONLY ONE LAW for both Jews and Gentiles? Sure did!
Answer for yourself: In Exodus 12:48-49 (KJV) it states that when a STRANGER shall sojourn with thee...ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the STRANGER that sojourneth among you. Notice both the Gentile and Jew have only one Law, thus they shared the SAME what? Covenants.
We need to stop and understand that within the Laws of Moses, taken as a unit, within them are Covenant stipulations and laws that are for the non-Jew according to the Laws and Covenant of Noah. This are again assumed and added to for the Jew where the 66 are added to thereby culminating in 613 for the Jew, but again within them are the 66 for the non-Jew's relationship with God.
Answer for yourself: The word translated 'stranger' in this verse is word # 1616 in Strong's Hebrew Dictionary is the word "ger", and means what? Gentile.
Well, if you read this then you notice right off the bat that this is not the traditional message of the Gentile Church or it's interpretation of Pauline Christianity today. The issue boils down simply to this. We have religious documents in the New Testament which have been altered in many places [this website along with our others have proved it] and forgeries among the New Testament passages when compared to the Hebrew Scriptures are evident to those who have done enough study to spot them. Consequently there are two different and conflicting messages in the New Testament regarding how one is obtain Eternal Life and Salvation:
Be not mistaken; they are not the same; one comes from a synthesis of mystery religions, astral worship, gnosticism and a little Judaism and the other from Abrahamic faith as handed down by Biblical Judaism. If you fail to discern this fact then you have not studied enough your faith and the true origins of Christianity and because of this you will be unprepared to meet God in the judgment after death. Thus the need to study to see these things for yourself in order that you can be a true follower of Jesus and be certain before you die that you have made your election and calling certain. Blessings...Craig Lyons M.Div.