Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Pollutions of idols mentioned in Acts 15: 1 – 21.

 

Yahshua did not come to abolish Torah as He confirmed in Matt 5: 17 - 20, saying: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. (18) For truly, I say to you, till heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one title shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. (19) Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This leaves us with the question: What is meant by righteousness? We read from Psalm 119: 172, “Let my tongue sing of Thy word, for all Thy commandments are righteousness.”  The opposite of righteousness is lawlessness or the breaking of the commandments, otherwise known as sin. We read from I John 3: 4, ‘Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.’ So it is clear that Law-keeping is righteousness and Law-breaking is lawlessness or sin. But how is it possible for us as believers to keep the Law better than what the scribes and the Pharisees do? 

 

To understand how it is possible to keep the Law better than what the scribes and the Pharisees do, we first need to clear up a major fallacy about the teachings of Rav Shaul.  Many have viewed His teachings as speaking against the Torah portions which they do not wish to accept. But, Rav Shaul was really teaching about the importance of all the commandments including those viewed as least, or the ones that people believe they need not keep any longer; stressing that the Set-apart Spirit is the necessary agent for enabling righteousness. We need to follow the steps set-out in The Scriptures exactly if we want to receive the Set-apart Spirit to enable us to start obeying Torah, which leads to righteousness as we read from James 2: 26, ‘For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’  However, we should never compel new believers to do things, for which they are not ready, yet. People should do things because they came to understand and believe the same. Repentance is a process and as people learn more by self-study and from teachers, who themselves went through the discipleship program employed by Messiah; they will develop a better understanding and will eventually start obeying YHVH from the heart. We need to remember that YHVH wants us to serve Him willingly from the heart and not because someone else forced us to serve Him. In addition Yahshua said that we should not lord it over people, since that is what the Gentiles do, as we read Mark 10: 42 – 45, ‘And calling them to Himself, Yahshua said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. (43) But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; (44) and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. (45) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 

 

Having said that let’s turn to Galatians 5, to understand what Rav Shaul was really saying in what many consider to be very controversial. We commence reading from verse 1 of Galatians 5, as follows:  ‘It was for freedom that Messiah set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.’ What is this saying? Yahshua has set us free from the slavery of sin. He provided us with freedom from sin – not freedom from Torah as some believe. We read accordingly from Yaa’cov (James) 1: 25, ‘But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ Some Christian commentators to the Scriptures want to convince the reader that the law of liberty, mentioned here is different to Elohim’s Torah, but we see from Psalm 119: 44 & 45, that it is in fact Torah, as follows: ‘So I will keep Thy law continually, forever and ever. (45) And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Thy precepts.’  Sin is the transgression of the Law (or Torah) as we have already read in 1 John 3: 4. But because any attempt to obey Torah by ourselves is futile, we cannot trust in anything but Yahshua to give us the power to overcome sin. Believe in the Oneness of Elohim is vital to our faith to understand and follow YHVH fully. Yes, I know that Christians say they believe in the Oneness of Elohim, but by the commentaries to the Scriptures by Christian authors, we get to understand that they do not truly believe the same. When it comes to circumcision for example, they insist that circumcision is part of the Father’s Torah, but they are under grace (or liberty) of the so-called ‘Son’s commandments’. They do not understand that if YHVH is truly One as He says He is, then the Father’s Torah and Yahshua’s commandments is one and the same thing. Yahshua is the visible Image (or part) of the invisible Elohim. He is the body spoken about in Hebrews 10: 5 (which is a quote from the correct version of Psalm 40: 6), as follows: ‘Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING THOU HAST NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY THOU HAST PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN THOU HAST TAKEN NO PLEASURE.”’ We need to obey (YHVH)’s teachings as Yahshua the salvation of Yah became the sacrifice for our sins.

 

Continuing from verse 2 of Galatians 5, we read: ‘Behold I, Shaul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Messiah will be of no benefit to you.’ Yes, that is correct; circumcision does not ensure our salvation. Yahshua the salvation of YHVH is the only way for us to attain Salvation. He is the door and if we do not go through Him, we remain lost, circumcised or not. We read accordingly from verse 3, ‘And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole law.’  Like Abraham, we should not be circumcised before we are sure that we want to follow Yahshua all the way. The first step in our walk with Elohim is as Rav Kepha explained to those who came to believe in Yahshua, in Acts 2: 38, as follows: “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Yahshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins (transgressions of Torah); and you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.’ Without having taken this step, it is impossible for us to obey Torah. Circumcision is the final step that we should take, because without the Set-apart Spirit indwelling us, we cannot obey Torah. By the time we are ready to ask for circumcision, we will want to obey Elohim fully, and will therefore want to be circumcised out of our own free will.

 

Torah applies to all who follow the way of Elohim, as we read in Exodus 12: 49, in this way: “The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.” We know that this was talking about the fact that those who partake of the Passover should be circumcised. However, it also implies that all the commandments applicable to those who follow the way of Elohim, as is confirmed in Numbers 15: 15, as follows: ‘As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the alien who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before YHVH.’  When Yahshua became the sacrifice for the sins of the world, the only portion of the Law that was abolished, was the Sacrificial Law in respect of sin. The covenant of circumcision was made with Abraham at least 430 years before the introduction of the Sacrificial Law (as is confirmed in Galatians 3: 17), and was definitely not part thereof. In addition we know that Yahshua was both immersed (as per Mark 1: 9) and circumcised (as per Luke 2: 21); and that we the called out ones, who follow His perfect example should therefore do likewise. But, before we continue, we need to understand that neither the keeping of the Law nor circumcision ensures our salvation. We are saved by the grace of YHVH through faith. However, it is as we read in James 2: 24, ‘You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.’  We prove our faith by what we do. If we say that we believe in the Sabbath and Feast Days of Elohim, but refuse to attend services during these days, our faith is of no use.

 

It is therefore easier to understand what Rav Shaul is saying to Gentiles and those who were not circumcised eight days after birth, as we read from verses 4 & 5 of Galatians 5, ‘You have been severed from Messiah, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (5) For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.’ As sinners we need to repent first, then be immersed and only then will we want to obey Elohim from the heart. After immersing a new believer, the teacher who immersed him/her is according to the commission given us by Messiah (in Matthew 28: 18 – 20); responsible to teach the believer everything that Yahshua taught His disciples. That is why Yahshua introduced a discipleship program, to ensure that there will always be teachers available, who were themselves taught by someone who has gone through the same discipleship program before them. It is during this discipleship program that new believers are taught about the additional requirements of Torah, such as the Sabbath, The Feast Days of Elohim, clean and unclean foods, the wearing of Tzitzit, and eventually circumcision. Continuing in verse 6 of Galatians 5, we read: ‘For in Messiah Yahshua neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything, but faith working through love.’  It does not matter whether you were circumcised or not, before coming to believe in the way of Elohim, as He is only interested in those who obey and serve him from the heart (through faith). If you were circumcised thinking that it will assure your salvation, you are wrong. However, if your motivation for circumcision was out of love, because you know that those who belong to Messiah are Abraham’s offspring; heirs (of the Promised Land) according to the promise (or everlasting covenant) that He made with YHVH (as we read in Galatians 3: 29), you are on the right track. Proceeding with the idea of faith working through love, we read from verses 7 & 8 of Galatians 5, ‘You were running well; who hindered you from obeying truth? (8) This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.’ Our Father does not want us to do things against our will and will never persuade us to do so. He is only interested in obedience from the heart – He gave us a free will because He is not interested in robots, all made to follow Him because they are forced to do so. With this in mind, let’s continue reading verses 9 – 13, as follows: ‘A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. (10) I have confidence in you in the Master, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. (11) But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision (for salvation), why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. (12) Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. (13) For you were called to freedom (from slavery of sin), brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.’

 

Continuing in Galatians 5: 14 to 26, we read: ‘For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (15) But you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another. (16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (17) For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you, may not do the things that you please. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (i.e. under the punishment or curses of the Law). (19) Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, Impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, (21) envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (24) Now those who belong to Messiah Yahshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (26) Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” Our standard is Messiah and we should not compete against our fellow Nazarenes. We need to compare our actions with that of Yahshua and overcome our shortcomings; else we will not be in the Kingdom of Elohim. If Yahshua kept the Feast days of Elohim, including Chanukah, then we who follow Him, should do like-wise. If Yahshua was immersed, so should we; if Yahshua was circumcised, so should we.

 

Most Christians, Messianic/Nazarene and like-minded believers have no idea what the prophecy in Zechariah 8: 23 entail. We read from Zechariah 8: 23, “Thus says YHVH of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.”’”  This has definitely not happed yet, and to be quite honest, unless and until it happens, our Messiah will not return. How dare I say that? The answer to this question comes from Hosea 5: 15, in this way: ‘I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.’ Things are going to get so bad that we will eventually turn to Yahshua/YHVH, verbalizing what is written in Hosea 6: 1 – 3, as follows: “Come let us return to YHVH. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. (2) He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him. (This tells us that Yahshua will return after an absence of 2000 years) (3) So let us know, let us press on to know YHVH. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.”  Yahshua will only return when we, the remnant of the lost ten tribes acknowledge our guilt and become fully Torah observant. It will only be once we are fully Torah observant that Judah will recognize us as their brother. Both the Torah and the prophets foretold the coming of Messiah, at which time the exile of the lost ten tribes will end, and Messiah will re-gather both Houses of Israel and return us back to the land of Israel. In John 10: 16, Yahshua tells our Jewish brothers, saying: “And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one Sheppard. (17) For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.”  Yahshua told the Jews here, that the main reason for Him having to die on the tree is to ultimately re-gather/restore both houses of Israel. This was confirmed in the prophetic words of Caiaphas in John 11: 49 – 52, as follows: ‘But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, (50) nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” (51) Now this he did not say on his own initiative; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yahshua was going to die for the nation, (52) and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of Elohim who are scattered abroad.’  

 

Messiah was prophesied in Deuteronomy 30: 1 – 5 to end the physical exile of both houses of Israel. After His death and resurrection, and prior to His ascension to heaven, Messiah’s disciples asked Him in Acts 1: 6, when He will restore the kingdom to Israel? Yahshua replied as follows (in Acts 1: 7 & 8): “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in al Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Our Messiah gave His disciples (including us His modern day disciples) a command in Matthew 28: 19 – 20, to go into the entire world and teach them what He taught them (which included Torah). So all nations (not only the two houses of Israel) are to be taught to obey what Yahshua our Messiah taught His disciples, including Torah. But does this include circumcision? Reading from verse 1 of Acts 15, we see that there was a dispute between Rav Shaul and Barnabas, about physical circumcision. However, in verse 2 we see that they determined that they together with certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders regarding the matter. We need to understand that their decision to take the matter to the priests and Levites in Jerusalem is in accordance with the Torah command found in Deuteronomy 17: 8 – 12, like this: “If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you shall arise and go up to the place which YHVH your Elohim chooses. (9) So you shall come to the Levitical priest or the judge, who is in office in those days, and you shall inquire of them, and they will declare to you the verdict in the case. (10) And you shall do according to the terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which YHVH chooses; and you shall be careful to observe according to all that they teach you. (11) According to the terms of the law which they teach you, and according to the verdict which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the word which they declare to you, to the right or the left. (12) And the man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve YHVH your Elohim, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.”

 

We read from Acts 15: 5, ‘But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”’ We know that Rav Shaul was also from the Sect of the Pharisees, as may be read in Philippians 3: 5 in this way: ‘circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee.’ From verse 5 (of Acts 15) we understand that Rav Shaul, a Pharisee and believer in Yahshua, had a disagreement with other Pharisees who were also believers in Yahshua. Continuing in Acts 15: 6 we see that the elders and the apostles came together to consider whether circumcision was indeed required, when Gentile believers come to believe in Yahshua the Messiah. The phrase ‘circumcised according to the custom of Moses’ in verse 1 is according to the Hebraic understanding, to be ‘joined with the covenant made with Abram’. So, circumcision is a sign that you are joined to the covenant that YHVH made with Abraham. This covenant includes both the physical descendants of Abraham as well as those who according to Galatians 3: 26 – 29, becomes Abraham’s heirs according to promise, as follows: ‘For you are all sons of Elohim through faith in Messiah Yahshua. (27) For all of you who were immersed into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yahshua. (29) And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.’  A believer in Messiah is an heir of the promise that was made with Abraham.

The promise that YHVH made with Abraham was an eternal covenant, between YHVH and Abraham and his offspring. The covenant made with Abraham was as recorded in Genesis 17 and especially verse 12: “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations…“  The conditions of the covenant are recorded in verse 8 of Genesis 17 as follows: “And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their Elohim.” We see therefore that the covenant of circumcision has nothing to do with salvation, but it has to do with living in the land of Canaan. Our father in the faith Abraham was circumcised at a very old age. However, we see in his case that he believed YHVH before he was circumcised. This is recorded for us in Genesis 15: 6 as follows: ‘Then he believed in YHVH; and He (YHVH) reckoned it to him (Abram) as righteousness.’ When he was circumcised as a sign of the covenant between him and YHVH, his name was changed to Abraham. Since then all Israelites and their children were circumcised at the age of eight days old. However, many of us Israelites, who lost our identity as Israel, became like gentiles and stopped circumcising our children, because we believed that the Torah was done away with. In some of our cases, our renewed belief in Yahshua our Messiah also came first.

Having discussed physical circumcision, the question is; what is circumcision of the heart? We find the answer to this question in Colossians 2: 9 – 13, in this way:  ‘For in Him (Yahshua) all the fullness of Deity  dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah; Having been buried with Him in immersion, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.’ Immersion is believed by many to be the new (or rather renewed) covenant circumcision – the circumcision of Messiah. However, when we look into the Scriptures we find that circumcision of the heart was already mentioned in Deuteronomy 10: 16 as follows: “Circumcise then your heart and stiffen your neck no more.” We read more about this in Deuteronomy 30: 6 as follows: “Moreover YHVH your Elohim will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.” Other scriptures talking about circumcision of the heart may be found in Jeremiah 4: 4 and Jeremiah 9: 26. We who are called during this age and who know that Yahshua is the Rock of our Salvation are according to the teaching in 1 Peter 2: 8 & 9 , a chosen race (the Israel of Elohim), a royal priesthood, a Set-apart Nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession.

In Ezekiel 44: 1 we read about the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east and was shut. In verse 2 we read: “And YHVH said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for YHVH Elohim of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.” In verse 3 it mentions the prince Yahshua who shall enter by way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the same way. This is a scene of the future when Yahshua will have returned already. In Ezekiel 44: 7 to 9 we read: ‘When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, even My house, when you offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they made My covenant void – this in addition to all your abominations. And you have not kept charge of My Set-apart things yourselves, but you have set foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary.” ‘Thus says YHVH Elohim, “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.’  This quote from Ezekiel should make us think - it is a thought provoking end-time prophecy. If we who believe that we are already a kingdom of priests, think we are circumcised in heart, and refuse to be circumcised in the flesh, is that not rebellion? Can we truly have a circumcised heart, and yet refuse His commandment for a fleshly one, too? It is just a matter of which comes first. We have seen that Abraham was circumcised in heart, first. His obedience and faith in YHVH preceded his fleshly circumcision. But, when YHVH gave him that requirement – when He said, “cut off your foreskin, you and all your males for all generations”, Abraham didn’t quibble.

After all what does YHVH require of those who serve Him? For the answer we turn to Deuteronomy 10: 12 & 13, ‘And now, Israel (meaning both houses) what does YHVH your Elohim require from you, but to fear YHVH your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to keep (YHVH)’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?’  As explained before, the word soul simply means life.  The word heart in Hebraic thought means your ‘seat of emotion’ or ‘your faith’.  We see from Genesis 15: 6 that Abram’s faith in YHVH came before he was circumcised, as follows: ‘Then he (Abram) believed in YHVH; and He reckoned to him as righteousness.’  Only after Abram believed (with his heart), came the requirement of physical circumcision of the flesh (soul or life) as per Genesis 17.  So according to Deuteronomy 10: 12, we need to love YHVH with all our heart (our belief system), meaning circumcision of the heart, but also with all our soul (life; flesh or the way you live), including circumcision of the flesh. What we believe should become a way of life – we live from Sabbath to Sabbath and from Feast Day to Feast Day. People see how we live, by what we eat (i.e. only kosher food), and how we keep Torah - not cooking meat and milk derivative products together and (something they don’t see), being circumcised. We see confirmation in the Renewed Covenant from Acts 8: 36 - 38, that immersion (circumcision of the heart) has to do with what we believe, as follows: ‘And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being immersed?” (37) And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may” And he answered and said, “I believe that Yahshua Messiah is the Son of Elohim.” (38) And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch (meaning that we cannot immerse ourselves); and he immersed him.’

At this point we also need to consider how the subject regarding circumcision is concluded in Acts 15. We read Rav Kepha’s reaction to the matter in Acts 15: 7 - 11, in this way: ‘And after there had been much debate, Peter (Kepha) stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days Elohim made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. (8) And Elohim, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Set-apart Spirit, just as He also did to us (meaning Jewish believers); (9) and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. (10) Now Therefore why do you put Elohim to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (11) But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Master Yahshua, in the same way as they also are.’ We read from verse 12 that the entire multitude present at the meeting kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Rav Shaul, as they relate to them about the signs and wonders Elohim had done through them among the Gentiles. In Acts 15: 13 – 21 we see that Rav Yaa’cov (James, Yahshua’s half-brother) confirms that the Gentiles came to believe in Messiah as prophesied by the Prophet Amos, and gives his judgment as follows: ‘And after they had stopped speaking, Yaa’cov answered, saying, “Brethren listen to me. (14) Simeon (Peter) has related how Elohim first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. (15) And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, (16) ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, (17) IN ORDER THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK YHVH, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’ (18) SAYS YHVH, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM OF OLD (quoted from Amos 9: 11 & 12). (19) Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to Elohim from among the Gentiles,  (20)  but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. (21) For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”’  Yaa’cov saw that the non-Jews coming to faith in Messiah and joining the community of Israel is associated with the prophecy in Amos 9: 11 & 12.

 

A pertinent question at this point is: Why do so many of us assume that Acts 15 is talking about two different ways, in which Jewish and Ephraimite believers in Messiah are to show their faith in YHVH? The reason for this is that most of us interpret that the so-called ‘Old Testament’ was written for ‘them’, and the so-called ‘New Testament’ was written for ‘us’. Most reject what YHVH spoke through Moses and therefore interpret the Scriptures as two separate books. In order then to have the correct understanding of Acts 15, we need to take a Hebraic view of the Scriptures and understand how the Torah and the Prophets relate to what is written in the Renewed Covenant. We read Yahshua’s own words in this regard in John 5: 43 – 47, as follows: “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him[1]. (44) How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the esteem that is from the one and only Elohim? (here Yahshua who is Immanuel, meaning Elohim in the flesh confirms that there is only one Elohim) (45) Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”  Reading this, most believe that it is aimed at our Jewish brothers; however, verse 47 makes it clear, that we cannot believe Yahshua’s words, if we do not believe the writings of Moses.

 

The decision by the elders and the apostles in Jerusalem regarding the dispute about circumcision in Acts 15, was that, because repentance is a process, new believers need to be taught to abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood, before they are taught about the other requirements of Torah, such as the Sabbath, the Feast Days of Elohim, clean and unclean foods, the wearing of Tzitzit, and eventually circumcision. We read in Acts 15: 21 that they will learn these additional requirements as they attend synagogues near them, or through internet ministries such as ours. This is very similar to our father Abraham. It was only after he came to believe in YHVH (as is recorded in Genesis 15: 6) that he was circumcised, as we read in Genesis 17: 24, as follows: ‘Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.’  As explained before a believer in Messiah becomes an heir of the promise that was made with Abraham (as per Galatians 3: 29). Whilst new believers are not circumcised, they are not joined to the covenant made to Abraham, and are therefore not members of the family of Abraham, or of the Commonwealth of Israel. In other words once a Gentile or Israelite who thinks he is a Gentile is returning to faith in YHVH, by having his heart circumcised (himself immersed), forsaking idols, abstaining from fornication, blood and things strangled (meaning he is beginning to obey Torah), he will learn to follow the rest of the Torah commandments, as he attends services on the Sabbath, or study teachings like this via the internet.

 

The ruling of James (Rav Yaa’cov) in Acts 15 is in agreement with the rulings of the Pharisaic Rabbis followed by Orthodox Jews of today. New believers should eventually follow all the requirements of the Torah, but is only required to follow the essential four listed in Acts 15: 20 at the beginning of their walk with Elohim. If we understand the ruling of Acts 15 from a Hebraic viewpoint, we will know that it does not contradict what Yahshua taught in Matthew 5: 19, saying: ‘Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’  We are aware that circumcision is not a requirement for salvation. However, if we as heirs of Abraham through Yahshua our Messiah want to inherit the Land of Israel, we will have to comply by doing our part in the covenant which YHVH made with Abraham, our father in the faith. This gets us back to the four initial prohibitions to be taught to new believers. But the question is why the requirement ‘that they abstain from things contaminated by idols.’? The ten tribe nation of Israel were taken captive because of idolatry, as we read from 2 Kings 17: 22 & 23: ‘And the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam  which he did; they did not depart from them, (23) until YHVH removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day.’  We see further from 1 Kings 12: 28 – 32 how Jeroboam lead Israel into worshipping idols, as follows: ‘So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them (Israel), “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” (29) And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. (30) Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. (31) And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi.  (32) And Jeroboam instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.’ We read consequently from Hosea 4: 17, ‘Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.’  A second witness to this is found in Hosea 8: 3 & 4, ‘Israel has rejected the good; the enemy will pursue him. (4) They have set up kings, but not by Me; they have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, that they might be cut off.’  Note that things offered to idols are not only restricted to meat, but may include such items as Easter Eggs, hot cross buns, Xmas cake etc. However, the point to remember is that the idolatry which was the cause of Israel’s captivity, resulting in them becoming like Gentiles, had to do with keeping Feast Days at different times to what the Scriptures ordain, especially those that are a month later than the Feast Days kept in Judah, but also the feast days of pagan religions, such as Xmas and Easter. .

 

We notice further that at the end of the book (in Hosea 14: 8 & 9), Hosea prophesied that some in Ephraim will eventually cease to follow idols, as follows: ‘O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; from Me comes your fruit. (9) Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of YHVH are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.’  This prophecy tells us that those who understand that Ephraim have worshipped idols and will repent from doing so are those who are WISE. What does this mean? We read the answer from Deuteronomy 4: 5 & 6, as follows: “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as YHVH my Elohim commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. (6) So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ So we see that those who know and practice Torah are considered to be wise. It is only by knowing Torah that you will fully understand Acts 15.

 

Continuing in Acts 15: 29, we read: ‘that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.’ Next we look at the words, ‘from blood’; which refers to all those things in Torah which refer to as the proper way in which to deal with various blood issues. One such issue is that we should not eat meat with any residue blood in it:

• Only meat from specific species is permissible.

• Mammals and fowls must be slaughtered in a specific way: slaughtering is done by a trained individual, using a special method of slaughtering, called shechita (see Deuteronomy 12: 23 & 24). The Shechita slaughterer known as a shochet severs the jugular vein, carotid artery, esophagus and trachea in a single continuous cutting movement, with a sharp un-serrated knife, essentially avoiding unnecessary pain to the animal. If one of these criteria is not attained, the meat is rendered unsuitable. Prior to slaughtering, the animal must be checked to ensure that it does not have a medical condition or defect that would have caused it to die within a year, which would make its meat un-suitable. The lungs of slaughtered animals should also be examined, to see that they are free of adhesions – so as to prevent the consumption of animals infected with tuberculosis. Sick and diseased animals are not clean.  Animals which die naturally or are torn by beasts are also not fit for human consumption (see Leviticus 17: 15). In addition we are commanded not to eat a limb removed from a living beast as per Deuteronomy 12: 23.

• Blood must be removed as much as possible as per Leviticus 3: 17 and Leviticus 17: 10. This is done during the koshering process, by soaking and salting the meat.

 

Even so, there are many believers who go to restaurants, where they order steaks that even though it comes from kosher animals, are still full of blood. Yes, this means that we as believers cannot eat from normal un-kosher restaurants.

 

The next blood issue which is equally important is for husbands and wives in a totally kosher marriage relationship to abstain from each other when the woman is menstruating. This means that for any new believer who come into the faith, it becomes immediately important to get to know what the Torah has to say about these ‘blood issues’.

 

Back in Acts 15: 29, we also need to consider the words, ‘from things strangled’. This is another Torah command which has to do with how believers ought to prepare the meat of kosher animals before it is ready to be cooked. Animals should according to point (b) above be properly slaughtered and the blood should be let out on the ground and covered with soil.  How many believers are sure that the meat that they buy conforms to these requirements? How many of our ladies soak meat in coarse salt or brine, before cooking it? Many in Christianity and especially Messianic/Nazarene and likeminded believers know about these requirements, but never followed them?

 

Finally, we get to the prohibition against fornication; this is yet another Torah command, implying that new believers need to start studying Torah, prior to immersion, and as they continue studying after immersion, will learn to eventually obey all the Torah teachings applicable to them. The law (or Torah) is according to Romans 7: 14 spiritual and will continue even into the Kingdom of Elohim. The Rabbinical Jewish rabbis teach [Mechilta, Bachodesh 6] that whoever acknowledges the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN denies idols and acknowledges the entire Torah.

 

To conclude therefore we read Rav Shaul’s admonition to (gentile) believers in Corinth from 2 Corinthians 6: 14 – 18; 7: 1, as follows: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (15) Or what harmony has Messiah with Belial, or what has a believer in common with and unbeliever? (16) Or what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For we are the temple of the living Elohim; just as Elohim said, ‘I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR ELOHIM, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. (17) THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,’ says YHVH. AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. (18) And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says YHVH Almighty. (1) THEREFORE, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting set-apartness in the fear of Elohim.”’  Selah!

 

[1] Some accept traditions and teachings of men far more easily than believing what Yahshua the word of Elohim, has to say about things; an example being the authority that Judah has regarding the Feast Days of Elohim.