Part 2: How are non-Jews to express their faith in YHVH?

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Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 07:25:53 +0000
From: Eddie Chumney
Subject: Re: How are non-Jews to express their faith in YHVH?
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org

WHAT ABOUT ACTS 15 ??????
(Part 2 of 2)

#3) ALL NATIONS joining themselves to the Messiah would come from an OUTPOURING of the HOLY SPIRIT

A major prophecy which addresses this issue is Joel 2:28:

KJV Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Peter quoted this verse when the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh was outpoured in Acts 2:

KJV Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

In Acts 10:44-45, Peter testified that the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh was poured out upon non-Jews per the prophecy in Joel 2:28

KJV Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Therefore, the NT addresses these THREE major expectations associated with the coming of the Messiah.

#1) The TORAH and the PROPHETS foretold that with the coming of the Messiah that there would be an END of the EXILE and that the Messiah would REGATHER BOTH HOUSES of Israel and return them back to the land of Israel

Messiah explained that He needed to die and remedy the SPIRITUAL HEART condition of His covenant people who broke the covenant made at Mount Sinai BEFORE there would be a PHYSICAL return of both houses of Israel back to the land of Israel.

#2) With the end of the exile of the house of Jacob by King Messiah that those from AMONG THE NATION would join themselves to the Messiah and Messiah would teach ALL NATIONS the Torah from Jerusalem

#3) ALL NATIONS joining themselves to the Messiah would come from an OUTPOURING of the HOLY SPIRIT

In Acts 10:44-45, Peter witnessed that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh was being done upon non-Jews.

However, while these three expectations were being fulfilled, they were not being fulfilled according to how PEOPLE were expecting the prophecies to be fulfilled.

Messiah was prophecied in Deut 30:1-5 and Ezekiel 37:15-28 to end the PHYSICAL exile of BOTH houses of Israel. AFTER He died on the tree, He was asked WHEN this would happen (Acts 1:6). Following answering this question, Messiah ascends to Heaven to be with His father.

So, we have several PROBLEMS associated with the stated Messianic expectations and HOW they are to be fulfilled by the Messiah:

#1) Messiah "leaves town" (Jerusalem) AFTER He dies on the tree and is resurrected and BEFORE there is a PHYSICAL end of the exile of both houses of Israel

KJV Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

KJV Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The COMMANDMENT that He gave His followers is to GO to the "uttermost part of the earth" where BOTH houses of Israel have been scattered and teach them Torah. Then, He ascends to be with the Father.

KJV Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

#2) Messiah gave a commandment to His disciples to GO into ALL the world and TEACH TORAH to ALL NATIONS

KJV Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

KJV Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

KJV Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ...

So, ALL NATIONS are to be TAUGHT ALL THINGS which Messiah taught His disciples. What is ONE of the things that Messiah TAUGHT His disciples to TEACH ALL NATIONS?

KJV Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

#3) ALL NATIONS who are to be TAUGHT the TORAH that the Messiah TAUGHT the disciples are NOT to follow IDOLS and OTHER GODS.

So, the question becomes WHAT REQUIREMENT will be upon the non-Jews among ALL NATIONS who are following IDOLS? Are they to obey ALL of Torah? Are they required to FOLLOW ALL the Torah immediately when they reject IDOLS and OTHER GODS or is this a PROCESS?

How is one ADOPTED / GRAFTED into faith in YHVH and follow Torah if he is NOT JEWISH?

There were many questions that need to be answered. This is the setting of the events of Acts 15. So, let's take a closer look at Acts 15 after establishing a FOUNDATION for understanding the issues and the problems.

KJV Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

First, let us understand that there were CERTAIN MEN (not all) who said regarding non-Jews who were coming to faith in Messiah: "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved."

The phrase "circumcised after the manner of Moses" in HEBRAIC understanding is to be JOINED WITH THE COVENANT MADE WITH ABRAHAM. The sign of the ABRAHAM covenant is CIRCUMCISION.

KJV Genesis 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

KJV 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

KJV Genesis 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

KJV Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any STRANGER, which is NOT of thy SEED.

Therefore:

#1) CIRCUMCISION is a SIGN that you are JOINED to the COVENANT that YHVH through the Messiah made with ABRAHAM.

#2) This included BOTH those physically descended from Abraham and those who are NOT physically descended from Abraham or the STRANGERS.

A believer in the Messiah is an HEIR of the promise that was made with Abraham.

KJV Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In HEBRAIC THOUGHT, joining yourself to the ABAHAMIC covenant whether you are of the seed of Abraham or a STRANGER is associated with JOINING the FAMILY of Abraham or the COMMONWEALTH of ISRAEL.

One who is "UNCIRCUMCISED" means that you are NOT joined to the covenant and NOT a member of the family of Abraham or the commonwealth of Israel.

KJV Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called UNCIRCUMCISION by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

UNCIRCUMCISM = ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL = WITHOUT MESSIAH = STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE (the covenant
made with Abraham)

CIRCUMCISM = CODE WORD FOR = JOINED TO THE COVENANT

KJV Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

MOSES wrote the book of Genesis which states that those joined to Abraham both JEW AND the STRANGER are to be circumcised.

The argument by these certain men was that PHYSICAL circumcision was required to "be saved" (JOIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL)

Paul and Barnabas DISAGREED that PHYSICAL circumcision was the PRIMARY way for a STRANGER of non-Jew to JOIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL.

The TORAH says that what YHVH requires PRIMARY is for the HEART to be circumcised.

KJV Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

KJV Deuteronomy 10:16 CIRCUMCISE therefore the FORESKIN of your HEART, and be no more stiffnecked.

So, Genesis 17:9-12 EMPHASIZES the need for PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISM

Deut 10:12, 16 EMPHASIZES the need for CIRCUMCISM of the HEART

Which is MORE IMPORTANT? There was a GREAT DEBATE.

Paul and Barnabas DISAGREED on the PRIMARY emphasis on PHYSICAL circumcision.

So, based upon what is written in the Torah about such debates over Torah issues, the issue was to be decided by a council decision in Jerusalem.

KJV Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should GO UP TO JERUSALEM unto the apostles and elders about THIS QUESTION.

KJV Deuteronomy 17:8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

Therefore, the debate and issue is now being resolved according to the TORAH.

KJV Acts 15:5 But there rose up CERTAIN of the SECT of the PHARISEES which BELIEVED, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Paul also was of the PHARISAIC SECT.

KJV Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Therefore, PAUL a PHARISEE and a BELIEVER had a DISAGREEMENT with OTHER PHARISEES who were BELIEVERS.

These CERTAIN ones of the SECT of the PHARISEES took that view that non-Jews were to be embraced as being full members of the COMMUNITY OF ISRAEL / JOINED TO THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT THROUGH MESSIAH and express that faith by IMMEDIATELY obeying ALL of what the Torah taught. They said:

"That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

Their view was PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISM (to JOIN the COMMUNITY of ISRAEL / JOIN themselves to the ABRAHAMIC covenant which was intended to be for ALL NATIONS) was needed AND that there needed to be COMPLETE Torah observance IMMEDIATELY.

Peter testified that YHVH poured out His Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh upon the non-Jews with the purpose of FIRST PURIFYING their HEART (being CIRCUMCISED in the HEART).

KJV Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

KJV Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

So, is it PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION which is the PRIMARY requirement to be joined the community of Israel AND follow ALL the Torah commandments IMMEDIATELY OR was it a CIRCUMCISED HEART which is the PRIMARY requirement to be JOINED to the community of Israel?

The ruling made was that the PRIMARY condition was for a non-Jew to FIRST be CIRCUMCISED in the HEART.

Next, James affirms who are these non-Jews who are accepting faith in Messiah based upon a prophecy in AMOS.

KJV Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

KJV Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

KJV Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

KJV Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

KJV Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Thereofore, James through the eyes of the prophets see that these NON-JEWS coming to faith in Messiah and joining the community of Israel is fulfilling what is written in Amos 9:11.

KJV Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

What is the a RESTORED and REBUILT Tabernacle of David?

Do you still remember the Messianic expectations that I discussed earlier? Not only is Messiah expected to restore and regather both houses of Israel but ALL NATIONS will be taught the Torah of the Messiah.

David ruled under a UNITED KINGDOM. However following the days of David and Solomon, David's UNITED KINGDOM was FALLEN. It was divided into the Northern Kingdom / house of Israel / Ephraim and the Southern Kingdom / House of Judah / Judah.

KING MESSIAH was seen to restore, reunite and rule over a UNITED KINGDOM

KJV Ezekiel 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

The ONE SHEPHERD is the MESSIAH (John 10:14)

KJV Ezekiel 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

"David my servant" is a term for KING MESSIAH.

The prophecy that the DIVIDED Kingdom of David would be REUNITED is found in Amos 9:11.

James saw that the non-Jews coming to faith in Messiah and joining the community of Israel is associated with the fulfillment of this prophecy?

How is Amos 9:11 seen today by Orthodox Jews?

In the book, "Torah Anthology: Yalkut Me'Am Lo'ez" on the book of Amos regarding the Amos 9:11, the following commentary is made on page 456:

"Amos speaks prophetically about the redemption [end of the exile of both houses of Israel) ... God 'will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen'. This refers to the calamity of the kingdom splitting in two in the days of Jeroboam (I Kings 12:13). As of then, and until the time of Hosea son of Elah (2 Kings 17), the kingdom of the house of David was 'fallen' ... the scripture compared Jerusalem and the reigning dynasty of David to a 'tabernacle' -- literally a temporary hut such is used by shepherds. David had been the monarch who shepherded the people of Israel (I Samuel 16:11) ... The scripture conveys that in the coming future, the kingship of the house of David will be established in THREE STAGES. First, a leader will arise of the seed of David, who will "feed them" and he will be their shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23) [NOTE FROM EDDIE: This was fulfilled by the FIRST coming of the Messiah]. He will teach them to practice righteousness and justice and thus establish 'the tabernacle of David' (Isaiah 1:27)[NOTE FROM EDDIE: Messiah taught His disciples how to follow Torah and how to teach Torah to others]. That stage of the future redemption will be followed by another stage when 'I the Lord will be their God'. It will be followed by the coming of the messianic king. 'My servant David' will be 'prince among them' [NOTE FROM EDDIE: This will be fulfilled at the 2nd coming of the Messiah].

Therefore the JEWISH understanding today is that the fallen tabernacle of David would be RESTORED in STAGES.

KJV Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned <1994> to God:

The Greek word for "turned" is:

epistrepho {ep-ee-stref'-o} from 1909 and 4762; TDNT - 7:722,1093; v AV - turn 16, be converted 6, return 6, turn about 4, turn again 3, misc 4; 39 1) transitively 1a) to turn to 1a1) to the worship of the true God 1b) to cause to return, to bring back

The word can actually mean "RETURN TO YHVH".

KJV Matthew 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace RETURN <1994> to you.

Also:

KJV Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I will RETURN <1994> into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

In Matthew 10:13, 12:44 this word that was translated as 'turn' in Acts 15:19 is translated in the King James RETURN.

Whether this Greek word is translated as TURN or RETURN is a CHOICE of the translators.

Based upon the ruling in Acts 15:16 that the FALLEN tabernacle of David would be RESTORED and that this RESTORATION is a RETURN of the house of Israel / Northern Kingdom back INTO the covenant which is based upon the prophecy in Amos 9:11, the context of the fulfillment of the prophecy would more ACCURATELY translate the Greek word in Acts 15:19 as RETURNED.

KJV Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Why the requirement that you "abstain from pollution of idols"?

When Ephraim / Northern Kingdom was "cut off" from the covenant in Hosea 1 being prophetically named, "Lo-Ruhammah / No mercy) in Hosea 1:6 and "Lo-Ammi / Not my people) in Hosea 1:9, it was because that Ephraim had joined himself to IDOLS.

KJV Hosea 4:17 EPHRAIM is joined to IDOLS: let him alone.

KJV Hosea 8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them IDOLS, that they may be CUT OFF.

However, Hosea also prophecies that Ephraim would at a certain point in time CEASE from FOLLOWING IDOLS.

KJV Hosea 14:8 EPHRAIM shall say, What have I to do ANY MORE with IDOLS? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

KJV Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them?

The prophecy says that those who understand that Ephraim has worshipped idols and will repent from worshipping idols are those who are WISE?

Who are the WISE? Those that know Torah.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Only if you KNOW TORAH and KNOW what is written in the prophets can you UNDERSTAND the ruling in Acts 15.

KJV Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.

"From blood" refers to all those things in the Torah which refer to the proper way to deal and handle various "blood issues". One of these "blood issues" is for men and woman to obstain from each other when the woman is having a "blood flow". Therefore, in order to keep this MINIMUM requirement for a non-Jew, you need to understand and know what the Torah says about "blood issues".

"From things strangled". Strangled is the greek word <4156>.

pniktos {pnik-tos'} from 4155; TDNT - 6:455,895; adj AV - strangled 3; 3 1) suffocate, strangled 1a) what is strangled, i.e. an animal deprived of life without the shedding of blood

"An animal deprived of life without the shedding of blood" refers to how an animal is to be properly slaughtered and eaten.

Therefore among the NECESSARY THINGS for non-Jews are:

#1) Various blood issues (include marital relations)
#2) Things strangled (the way one kills an animal and eats that animal / dietary laws)

While traditional Christianity has EMPHIZED these FOUR THINGS, they DON'T FOLLOW:

#1) Various blood issues
#2) Things strangled / dietary laws

Furthermore, those non-Jews who are fulfilling the prophecy of Amos 9:11 are RETURNING to YHVH. Therefore, among these non-Jews who are RETURNING to YHVH (which means RETURNING to TORAH) are those from among the Northern Kingdom who have been assimulated into the nations.

So, when they RETURN to TORAH does Acts 15 rule that they are to IMMEDIATELY try to follow ALL of Torah as a PRECONDITION to be joined to the COMMUNITY OF ISRAEL or the COVENANT which was made with Abraham?

There was a CERTAIN SECT of PHARISEES who BELIEVED which said, 'Yes'. The ruling by James and the brethren was 'No'.

So, if no, why were the four things NECESSARY. Abstaining from idols, fornication and blood issues were basic tests to determine that you WEREN'T following "other gods" whom the Torah calls "idols" and "following these gods" is likened in the Torah to FORNICATION and the most basic test to determine a desire to follow Torah AFTER FORSAKING IDOLS is following the Torah laws regarding various blood issues and dietary laws.

Finally:

KJV Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

In other words, once a NON-JEW who is RETURNING to faith in YHVH by having his HEART CIRCUMCISM by FORSAKING IDOLS and expressing a HEART to OBEY TORAH (follow blood issues and dietary laws) then the rest of how one follows the commandments will be understand as a PROCESS because "Moses is preached (the TORAH is read and explained in EVERY CITY on the SABBATH day)".

The ruling in Acts 15 by James and the other brethren is CONSISTENT with how the PHARISAIC RABBIS who wrote the TALMUD which is followed by ORTHODOX JEWS today. Regarding the requirements placed upon a non-Jew as a way of expressing faith in YHVH, he is to be TOLD what ALL the commandments of the TORAH but is only REQUIRED to follow the MINIMUM commandments at the BEGINNING of his walk.

In Deuteronomy 33:4 it is written:

KJV Deuteronomy 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

In the Torah commentary on the book of Deuteronomy by Moses ben Nachman (RambaN / Nachmonides: 1195 - 1270) who was an Orthodox Jew who lived in the middle ages and is widely followed by MANY Orthodox Jews TODAY comments on page 376 regarding this verse as it relates to the STRANGER / non-Jew:

"And our rabbis interpreted [reference is: Tanchuma Vayakheil 8) that he did not say, "an inheritance of the 'house of Jacob' or the 'seed of Jacob' but he stated 'of the CONGREGATION of Jacob' in order to suggest that MANY STRANGERS would join them and the TORAH would ALWAYS be an INHERITANCE of JACOB and ALL who CONGREGATE TO HIM, these being the STRANGERS that join themselves to the Eternal to minister unto Him, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob and they will all be called, "his CONGEGATION".

If the family of Jacob consists of a CONGREGATION who are NOT just of the LITERAL seed of Jacob, when they embrace YHVH and seek to follow Torah how do the rabbis of the Talmudic period view the steps / requriement of the STRANGER / non-Jew?

The rabbis teach in [Mechilta, Bachodesh 6] that WHOEVER acknowledges the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN denies the IDOLS and ACKNOWLEDGES the ENTIRE TORAH.

But, what is the PROCESS to ACKNLOWLEDGE the ENTIRE TORAH?

On Page 434 of his Torah commentary on the book of Exodus, RambaN (Moshes ben Nachman / Nachmonides: 1195 - 1270) tells us that the rabbis taught the non-Jew / STRANGER regarding his obligation in following Torah:

"We inform him of some of the LIGHT commandments and some of the WEIGHTIEST ... The convert ... is thus NOT taught the WHOLE Torah prior to conversion but ONLY some of the ESSENTIALS thereof, which is FOLLOWED by the TOTAL commitment to OBSERVE WHATEVER the TORAH commanded".

Therefore the RABBINIC view of the rabbis of the TALMUDIC period was CONSISTENT with the ruling of James and the brethren (who were also PHARISEES) that:

#1) WHOEVER acknowledges the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN denies the IDOLS and ACKNOWLEDGES the ENTIRE TORAH.

KJV Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Notice the REQUIREMENT in Acts 15:20 to ABSTAIN from IDOLS.

#2) "We inform him of some of the LIGHT commandments and some of the WEIGHTIEST ... The convert ... is thus NOT taught the WHOLE Torah prior to conversion but ONLY some of the ESSENTIALS thereof, which is FOLLOWED by the TOTAL commitment to OBSERVE WHATEVER the TORAH commanded".

KJV Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Those who were RETURNING to YHVH in Acts 15:19 were NOT taught the WHOLE TORAH but only the ESSENTIALS:

#1) Obstain from idols
#2) Blood
#3) Fornication
#4) Things strangled

which is FOLLOWED by the TOTAL commitment to OBSERVE WHATEVER the TORAH commanded".

KJV Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

To CONTINUE in TORAH after being REQUIRED to follow the ESSENTIALS is what James and the other brethren ruled in Acts 15:19-21.

I pray that this THOROUGH and DETAILED explanation of the HEBRAIC background of Acts 15 will be GREATLY helpful to NON-JEWS to know and understand that ALL BELIEVERS in the Messiah (NOT just Jewish believers) are to express their love to YHVH through the Messiah by loving Him and keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

The ruling in Acts 15 when understood from a HEBRAIC context does NOT contradict the teaching of the Messiah in Matthew 5:19.

I will discuss some of the other items of objection raised by Blaine an another e-mail.

When I was in Tampa, FL this past June for the "Restoring the Tabernacle of David" conference, I did a teaching on Acts 15 from a Hebraic perspective. If you would like a copy of this tape, please make out a check for $5 postage paid made out to (Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l) and send to:

Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
PO Box 81
Strasburg, OH 44680

and I will send you a copy of this teaching tape explaining Acts 15 from a HEBRAIC perspective which you can study and share with others.

May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l

(End Part 2 of 2)

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