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"GODFEARERS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE PATTERN FOR GENTILE PARTICIPATION IN THE ISRAEL OF GOD #4
We concluded the previous article with anticipation as we were to
see just "what" was to be taken to the Gentiles of the world in
fulfillment of Yeshua's Great Commission given not only to his disciples
and apostles, but to you and me as well as believers in God through
Yeshua.
Let me
fore warn you that a study of the Greek words will not only challenge what
you have been told and heard from preachers who stopped with the English
translation, but what is more startling, understanding of the original
meanings of the Greek and Hebrew words will CORRECT what you have been
incorrectly informed by well-meaning pastors and teachers who lack these
necessary language skills!
Answer for yourself: When Yeshua
commanded his disciples and Apostles to go into all the world in an effort
to teach and disciple all men everywhere (the Gentiles) to observe those
things he had previously commanded them (the Torah), do you think he was
aware that he would have to wait a thousand years for the English language
to be developed in order for the real meaning of what he intended could be
conveyed to the hearers? Or do you think Yeshua understood perfectly what
was to be conveyed to his disciples and did perfectly convey to the
Apostles such message, and they, correctly understanding the message set
out in obedience to his commands and accomplished the task (ie. The
Jerusalem Council and how Gentiles become part of believing Israel and the
Church) ?
Answer for yourself: Is it possible we
lost much of the truths God intended we receive when Yeshua's message was
translated from Hebrew Gospels into the Greek language and lost even more
when this Greek translation of Hebrew thoughts and words was finally
translated into English?
Answer for yourself: Do you know that
linguists tell us words change meaning every 70 years, and that being so
how much have we failed to understand of God's revelation and Yeshua, as
well as the Apostles' words which undeniably have changed in meaning since
the original context in which they were spoken or written almost 2000
years ago?
Luke 1:2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he
(Yeshua) through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the Apostles
whom he had chosen…
Answer for yourself: Do you see that
Yeshua continued to direct the Apostles (Jerusalem Church and the Acts
Council) through the ministry of the Holy Spirit ("it seemed good to
us and the Holy Spirit…that Gentiles adhere to these 4 'necessary
things' to be part of the Yeshua Movement and Yeshua's Church")?
Answer for yourself: Since I have
shown you through examination of the original language as well as the
Biblical history surrounding the events concerning the inclusion of
believing Gentiles in Israel and Messianic Judaism (Yeshua's Church)
following the cross of Christ (without the necessity of circumcision as
had been previously required by bigoted Jews) and since we have seen as
well that Yeshua continued to direct and spiritually lead the Apostles up
and through the Jerusalem Council through the Holy Spirit, then if you
have a faith or belief system that ignores, neglects, or says that such
things as kosher is just for the Jews, that the Sabbaths of the Lord are
just for the Jews, or that you are a New Covenant believer without
understanding that Yeshua commanded adherence to the Covenant of Noah
AFTER his last supper, then can you not see that you have been deceived
and have not been given the correct message Yeshua intended all Gentiles
like you and me receive?
As you
can see the above scenario illustrates an important point; namely that in
any translation of languages (for example from Hebrew to Greek, and then
from Greek to English) the concepts and meanings carried by the "original
word" or words from the original language MUST be faithfully
carried over to the second language or third language if the intent of
the speaker (ie. Yeshua/ Apostles/Paul) is to be retained uncorrupted.
Answer for yourself: Since Yeshua is a
Jew and spoke Hebrew, do we as Gentile believers today, when reading the
English language of our Bibles (which is a translation of a Greek
translation that is a translation of the original Hebrew) receive the
original thoughts intended by Yeshua when commanding his followers to go
into all the world with his message in the Great Commission? Before you
answer "yes" to this question I suggest you read a book entitled
Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus by Roy Blizzard and David
Bivin and you will get the shock of your life.
Such "disclosure of truth" from
the original language is good because we are finally getting to the REAL
WORDS OF YESHUA, and only that way, can we truly understand his message
both then and NOW. To do otherwise, by trusting translations in English
without personal evaluation on the believer's part, often leads us into
sins of conduct and behavior of which we are not aware because the English
words fail to convey to us the original intended meaning of the Word of
God and their corresponding actions which are required by God.
Let us examine the Great Commission from Matthew 28 and its
implication for Gentile evangelism and the impact on the Godfearing
Gentiles as seen in the Book of Acts.
Matt 28:18 (KJS) And <2532> Jesus <2424> came <4334>
(5631) and spake <2980> (5656) unto them <846>, saying <3004>
(5723), All <3956> power <1849> is given <1325> (5681)
unto me <3427> in <1722> heaven <3772> and <2532>
in <1909> earth <1093>. 19
Go ye <4198> (5679) therefore <3767>,
and teach <3100> (5657)
all <3956> nations <1484>,
baptizing <907> (5723) them <846> in <1519> the name <3686>
of the Father <3962>, and <2532> of the Son <5207>, and <2532>
of the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>: {teach...: or, make disciples
of all nations} 20 Teaching <1321>
(5723) them <846> to
observe <5083> (5721) all things <3956> whatsoever <3745>
I have commanded <1781> (5662)
you <5213>: and <2532>, lo <2400> (5628), I <1473>
am <1510> (5748) with <3326> you <5216> always <3956>
<2250>, [even] unto <2193> the end <4930> of the world <165>.
Amen <281>.
Let us continue this very important study by looking at the word "go":"
Lexicon Greek 4198
4198 poreuomai {por-yoo'-om-ahee} middle voice from a derivative of the same as 3984; TDNT - 6:566,915; v AV - go 117, depart 11, walk 9, go (one's) way 8, misc 9; 154
Let us now examine the tenses for the word "go":
Lexicon Greek 5679
5679 Tense - Aorist See 5777 Voice - Passive
Deponent See 5789 Mood -
Participle See 5796
Answer for yourself: Did you notice
that the word "go" in
the Greek IS NOT A VERB, BUT A PARTICIPLE and is used by the
Holy Spirit in the "passive voice" ?
A proper interpretation would be as follows: "as you go through life and as you order your life in its daily course, journey, and routine, without any big fan-fare or big productions (like renting football stadiums or coliseums and holding massive evangelist crusades), order your life in such a way that you let your light of your correct beliefs and obedience shine and be for a witness and a teaching tool to those you influence and have contact, thereby bringing them into the knowledge of the God of Israel and what He requires and deems "necessary" to be part of Yeshua's Church (being a Godfearer…who adheres to the decision of the Jerusalem Council concerning Gentiles who are to accept the Covenant of Noah and who can afterward choose those things that please God 'as Moses is read" as shown in Isa. 56… such as the Sabbaths [Feasts, Festivals, and Weekly Sabbaths])."
Answer for yourself: What amazes me is
that most Christian churches gear up for big productions and events in
hoping to win some to Christ, not realizing that the best evangelism is
person-to-person, not person-to-crowd evangelism that has little or no
follow-up with little or no accountability and discipleship. Notice again
that "go" is in the passive voice, meaning don't make a special
attempt or don't go out of your way to evangelize or plan for such large
promotions that detract from the personal approach which is best done by
the example of your life (one-on-one).
Answer for yourself: Can you now
better understand that the failure of the Christian Church to "win
the world" over the last 1900 years is not for lack of "effort"
in hold big meetings, big crusades, and building big monstrous churches
that can house a lot of strangers," rather we have failed because we
have put on the "few who we hire as representative ministers"
OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY found in the Great Commission that requires
that all believers let their lives be a "model" that would
attract those to whom we have influence and contact to God? I hope so.
Let us look at the Greek word used by the Holy Spirit for "teach."
Lexicon Greek 3100
3100 matheteuo {math-ayt-yoo'-o} from 3101; TDNT - 4:461,552; v AV - teach 2, instruct 1, be disciple 1; 4
The "root" word in the Greek for "teach" is as follows:
Lexicon Greek 3101 3101 mathetes {math-ay-tes'} from 3129; TDNT - 4:415,552; n m AV - disciple 268, vr disciple 1; 269
1) a learner, pupil, disciple
Let us now examine the voice and mood:
Lexicon Greek 5657 5657 Tense - Aorist See 5777 Voice - Active See 5784
Mood -
Imperative See 5794 Count - 376
Answer for yourself: What does the
imperative tense mean?
Lexicon Greek 5794 5794 Mood - Imperative
The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and
expresses a command to the hearer
to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one
commanding. Thus, Yeshua's phrase, "Repent ye, and believe
the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an
absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.
Answer for yourself: Do you see that
the Holy Spirit used the imperative mood of the word "teach" to
instruct us that we HAVE BEEN COMMANDED by orders of the one commanding
(Yeshua), to teach the doctrines and precepts of Yeshua, and which was
verified to the Jerusalem Council by the Holy Spirit to ALL Gentiles,
thus helping all Gentiles of all nations become disciples of Yeshua and
his faith? I hope so.
Answer for yourself:
Did you see that we have been given an
absolute command requiring our absolute obedience to teach ONLY THOSE
THINGS WHICH HE COMMANDED and not the traditions and doctrines of men
which make what he commanded and the Commandments of God of none effect?
I hope so.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware
from these previous studies that in many instances the Christian Church
has done just the opposite of what Yeshua commanded, and stands guilty of
"Sin" for having replaced many of the teachings of Yeshua, as
well as many which were given to his Apostles which seemed good to the
Holy Spirit, with those of their own creation which have anti-Semitic and
anti-Judaic motives? I hope so.
Notice that
Yeshua's disciples and Apostles were to teach all Gentiles in all nations
to observe the things both believed and taught by Yeshua.
One small look at Gentile Christian Doctrine, as compared with Biblical Judaism, and one notices right away the wide gulf that exits between what Jews believe and what Christians believe.
Answer for yourself: If Yeshua
believed things which you do not, should you not repent and accept the
mind of Christ and his beliefs and cast down beliefs you hold when shown
to be incorrect?
Answer for yourself: If we as
Christians have a belief system that can be shown to be contradicted by
the teachings of Yeshua, his Apostles, the original languages of the
Bible, or the Holy Spirit as revealed in Scripture, should we not cast
down, no matter what the source, our vain imaginations that exalt
themselves against the truth and knowledge of God contained in the Bible
when correctly understood?
Answer for yourself: Yeshua in Jn.
7:16 states" My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me."
Knowing this, can Yeshua teach or preach something other than the
doctrines of God that existed then and which can be traced to Sinai and
the giving of the commandments of God? No.
Answer for yourself: Yeshua in Jn. 14:23 states (KJS): "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." If we don't keep Yeshua's words, which are the Father's Words spoken to the Apostles through the Holy Spirit, can we say we really love him since he says our failure to keep his words is anything but an expression of love?
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IN THIS SITE HOW YESHUA AND PAUL DISAGREE ON SALVATION AND AT OTHER OF OUR SITES WE EXAMINE INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES WHERE PAUL ABSOLUTELY CORRECTS AND CHANGES THE TEACHINGS OF YESHUA.
No, our failure to obey him is evidence of a lack of love for him.
Answer for yourself: Did Yeshua say
that our failure to obey his words
is an indication we don't love him, and are his words found in the Acts 15
Church Council's decision? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Did Yeshua say
that his word was not his, but his Father's word? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Can we be
certain...absolutely certain… that Yeshua NEVER changed his Father's
words, and those things he commanded his disciples to take to the Gentiles
was his Father's Words ("teach them [Gentiles] to observe the
commandments") as well as the words spoken by the Holy Spirit in Acts
15 which affirm the Laws of Noah for all Gentiles as necessary to be part
of Yeshua movement and his church? Absolutely.
Answer for yourself: Since Yeshua did not have the authority or desire to change his Father's Laws, then what give us as Christians the right to change the Father's Words (Acts 15 for an example since our traditional Christian experience contradicts what is recorded and commanded by the church of Yeshua in Acts 15).....or even more, to violate his words by substituting our denomination's faith and message, their visions, plans, desires and programs, and even worse, doing so in his name?.
Let us examine the word for "nations" as found in the
Great Commission:
Lexicon Greek 1484 1484 ethnos {eth'-nos} probably from 1486; TDNT - 2:364,201; n n AV - Gentiles 93, nation 64, heathen 5, people 2; 164
Answer for yourself: Did you notice
that in the Great Commission only Gentiles, and not Jews were to be
taught? I hope so.
Answer for yourself: Do you see that
Yeshua intended the Jews, who according to Romans 9:4 ("Who are
Israelites (Jews) to whom pertaineth the
adoption, and the
glory, and the
covenants, and the giving of
the Law, and the service
of God, and the promises) had these Godly truths and
manifestations of their religion, were to share with the Gentiles their
religion (Second Temple Conservative Pharisaical Judaism) along with the
fulfillment of the first coming of Messiah?
Answer for yourself: Why did the Gentiles need adoption, glory, covenants, Law, service of God and the promises?
Simply
because the Gentiles of the world had false religion and their worship of
God was in vain!
Answer for yourself: How could the
Apostle Paul, after the cross of Christ, use the term "Gentiles"
[which according to our definition
inferred false religion and worship] for "Christian
Gentiles" after they had come to the knowledge of God (Monotheism)
and Messiah? That's easy. The Apostle Paul understood,
like you should, that just because you come to the faith and
knowledge of God as the ONLY God, along with the understanding of the
Messiah's death for your sins,
your "converted" Gentile Christian religious belief system and
lives are yet filled with memories of "what you used to do in a
religious setting "before you learn from the Jew about God's
adoption, glory, covenants, Law, service of God, and the promises of God.
It would be so much easier today if we did not have to unlearn much
of what we have accepted in religious teachings believing what we were
told was God's truth. But much of what has been passed off as truths from
God are in reality manifestations of Replacement Religion begun long ago
by the early Gentile Christian Church of the Dark Ages, who being very
anti-Semitic and anti-Judaic, changed and substituted "their
understandings" for what Yeshua commanded the Jew to teach them.
Scholarship reveals the tragic events of such a deception which you and I
have accepted wholeheartedly without questioning and study to verify if
what we were told is the truth as it existed in Yeshua's day and
thereafter before changed by Constantine in the fourth century and others
like him because of hatred toward the Jews.
Answer for yourself: Is it possible to
go to Christian Churches who do not teach the Hebrew Roots of the Church
and be completely devoid in your religious belief system of truths concerning
adoption, glory, covenants [NOTICE it is in the "plural"
meaning more than one yet Christian Churches only tell you about one…ie.
"new"),Law, service of God [Hebrew for worship}, and the
promises of God? Let me answer that for you. I was! Even after Baptist
Seminary I was to a large extent for I was taught from a Gentile "perspective"
all the while forgetting that Yeshua said "salvation
is of the Jews"….not "was of the Jews"!
As the disciples and Apostles of Yeshua "went" in
fulfillment of the Great Commission they were to be teaching the Gentiles
to observe those things commanded by Yeshua.
Let us focus on the Greek term for "teaching" as found in
the Great Commission:
Lexicon Greek 1321 1321 didasko {did-as'-ko} a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn);
TDNT - 2:135,161; v AV - teach 93, taught + 2258 4; 97
Answer for yourself: Was Yeshua
intending the Gentiles of the world to learn "Apostolic doctrines"
as it existed then and which the early church "steadfastly continued
in according to Acts 2:42" or was he referring to Greek Catholic
doctrines, Reformation doctrines, or Protestant doctrines which would be
created much later? That should not be hard for you to understand.
Answer for yourself: Do you see that
Yeshua intended his Apostles and Paul, as well as others, to share with
Gentiles, to instruct them, teach them, impart instruction, instill
doctrine into them, and explain and expound the things he taught? I
hope so.
Answer for yourself: Can you instruct others in doctrines which have not been created yet?
Answer for yourself: Having heard
repeatedly in churches that we are to take Yeshua (Jesus) to the nations
and for them to accept him and believe IN HIM,
does not the Great Commission actually say JUST THE OPPOSITE; that
we are to TEACH GENTILES TO OBSERVE
what Yeshua COMMANDED and not replace such an absolute commandment
from Yeshua which was given to his Apostles and disciples about "what
doctrines to teach which existed in that day" with the doctrine
of getting the Gentiles to believe in his "identity" for
salvation? It sure does.
Let us examine the Greek word for "observe."
Lexicon Greek 5083 5083 tereo {tay-reh'-o} from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to 2334); TDNT - 8:140,1174; v
AV - keep 57, reserve 8, observe 4, watch 2, preserve 2, keeper 1, hold fast 1; 75
Answer for yourself: Did Yeshua
command his followers to teach other Gentiles in all the world to KEEP,
OBSERVE, WATCH OVER, AND PRESERVE those things he had taught and carefully
take this teaching and commandments to the Gentiles? He sure did.
Answer for yourself: Did Yeshua
command his followers to teach other Gentiles in all the world to
attend to carefully to his commandments and to observe those thing he had
commanded? He sure did.
Answer for yourself: Did Yeshua
command his followers to teach the Gentiles in all the world to "hold
fast" and carefully observe "all those things which he had
previously commanded the Jews?" He sure did.
Answer for yourself: As a Gentile
Christian, and according to the words used by the Holy Spirit, have you
been taught, let alone observe, things
commanded of the Jews? Sadly, most likely not!
Answer for yourself: Since it can be
clearly shown, upon study, that Gentiles kept the Biblical Feasts and
Saturday Sabbath well after the cross of Yeshua until the fourth century
before changed by Roman paganism, do you carefully observe all those
things Yeshua had previously commanded the Jews such as the Feasts and
Sabbaths?
Answer for Yourself: Why not if this
is the true message of the Great Commission?
Answer for yourself: Can you preserve
those things both taught and commanded by Yeshua if you ascribe to
REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY which says that the Law and the Biblical Feasts have
passed away and that we are no longer under the Law (remember the Apostle
Paul commended the Law to the Romans church in Romans 9:4)? No way.
Answer for yourself: Can you preserve
and obey those things both taught and commanded by Yeshua if you believe
that the writings and letters of Paul (New Testament) have replaced the
writings of Moses (Old Testament) [understand it was 400 years after the
cross before there was a New Testament]? No.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware
that Yeshua never read one thing Paul wrote, and would be appalled today
to know that the New Testament has replaced the Old Testament in his
churches? I bet you didn't, but it is a sobering thought once you see the
scope of what is being said.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware
that almost all of Paul's letters are for "correction of Gentile
beliefs and actions" and none are for doctrine, reproof, correction
and instruction of Jews except for a small number of Judaizers who
themselves believed in Messiah?
"Let us now investigate the Greek word for "command" as Yeshua taught his followers to teach all Gentiles to observe all those things which he had previously commanded to be done.
Lexicon Greek 1781
1781 entellomai {en-tel'-lom-ahee} from 1722 and the base of 5056; TDNT - 2:544,234; v AV - command 10, give commandment 3, give charge 2, enjoin 1, charge 1; 17
1) to order, command to be done, enjoin
Having looked extensively at the Great Commission, we now know for sure that Yeshua never intended for the Gentiles in the various nations of the world to be taught anything OTHER THAN the COMMANDMENTS AND HOW TO CORRECTLY OBSERVE THEM!
I'm sure that now you see the importance of such a commandment
issued to all Gentiles as they were shortly to be included in the Yeshua
Messianic Movement without having to make complete and formal conversion
to Judaism as was previously expected and required. Not only that but
their previous beliefs and religious pagan ceremonies were to be repented
of and a new "service of God" instituted whereby they would
worship the Father in Spirit and Truth instead of darkness as previously
done.
This new Messianic movement within Judaism of the Second Temple
Period, having obeyed the Great Commission, would now face a problem of
the highest magnitude within twenty years after the Cross of Christ: "What
are we going to do with these Gentiles who claim to be followers of
Yeshua? The solution came in the form of a declaration by the Apostle
James, both the Lord's brother and head of Yeshua's church: "We
should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."
(Acts 15: 19-21).
Bennoah1@airmail.net