Thursday, 9 September 2021

O Foolish Galatians - 2

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Yesterday, we started a series on Galatians 3. Galatians (in general) is the source of material that those opposed to Messianic Jewish theology like to use as a "stick" to beat us Messianics. So, let me put you at ease right now. There is nothing in the book of Galatians, or any other book of the Bible, that is inconsistent with our faith system in Messianic Judaism.

That begs the question, "What's not to love in Messianic Judaism?" There are those who think Christianity was created to get rid of Judaism. In fact, many of the early church fathers were quite anti-Semitic. The whole "Saturday to Sunday" thing was nothing but a huge attempt to separate Christianity from the "Jewish" Sabbath.

Rabbi Trail: The problem with that is that Saturday was never the "Jewish" Sabbath, but God's 4th Commandment and a celebration of His completed work of creation.

Leviticus 23:1-3 Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying: "Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, and tell them: These are the appointed moadim of Adonai, which you are to proclaim to be holy convocations ... My moadim. Work may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You are to do no work ... it is a Shabbat to Adonai in all your dwellings.

Did you catch that? It's a little hard to see in the TLV. God says these are HIS appointed feasts (not Israel's, Judaism's, nor the Jew's), and the first one is Shabbat. End RT.

Let me be clear, I'm not angry with people who worship on Sunday (as some may be). Worship any day you like. Romans 14:5 One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. But don't think that changing the day of worship changes the Sabbath Day.

Some "hang their hat" on this verse - Colossians 2:16 Therefore, do not let anyone pass judgment on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbat. The Bible is true. "Do not let anyone pass judgment on you." But do let God direct your steps. We take our instruction from the Lord. We must allow the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to our lives.

Daniel prophesies an attempted change in Shabbat. Daniel 7:25 He will speak words against the Most High, and will continually harass the kedoshim of the Most High, and will try to change the appointed times and law. "Appointed times" are "Moadim' in Hebrew. They are set times ordained by God.

Finally, I'm ready to quote Galatians 3. Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the deeds of Torah are under a curse ... for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep doing everything written in the scroll of the Torah." This is going to take some "unpacking."

To "rely on the the deeds of the Torah" is to believe that obedience to Torah will get you into the kingdom of heaven. The rabbis teach (correctly) that if one sins in any area or at any time, it is as if all the good righteous obedience is instantly wiped out.

There are two things at work here. Salvation itself, and the fruit of salvation, and they cannot be confused or mixed. Salvation is by grace and not of works. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves ... it is the gift of God. It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. That's the first part. The next verse reveals the second part. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship ... created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.

Good deeds in Hebrew are Mitzvot. We obey God's commandments, not to achieve salvation, but to reflect the changed life we now have. How did Yeshua say this? John 15:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I have no problem with Galatians 3:10. We obey God, not to earn His love, but because we love Him. He gave us His Son, how could He love us any more?