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Having seen in the first of this series of articles that there is a pattern for our worship given by God to David which laid out the way the Jews and non-Jews are to worship God, and understanding that “the” pattern for such worship existed well into the fourth century for both Jews and Gentiles before it was changed by the pagan leadership of Rome, let us continue in our study into how Gentiles are ingrafted into Israel and the responsibilities that it entails.
One alien (Gentile) from a distant land was the Syrian general, Naaman. He came not, it is true, to the temple of God, but to the "man of God," Elisha, asking a cure for his leprosy. His mission accomplished, he confessed:
Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel (II Kings 5:15)
Elisha did not seek in any way to persuade Naaman to become a proselyte or a convert to Judaism. The prophet merely accepted his simple promise of faithfulness to God and blessed him at their leave-taking.
When, long centuries later, a antisemitic Gospel writer, ignoring his master's rule against anger and abusive name-calling, raged:
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he is converted you make him a son of hell twice as bad as yourselves. (Matthew 23:15)
Hidden in his haystack of hyperbole was one slim needle of truth. Converts were always welcome in Israel.
Answer for yourself: Does the New Testament teach that God shows no partiality, but welcomes the man of any nation who reveres Him and does what is right. (Acts 10:35)?
Acts 10:35 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (KJV)
Answer for yourself: Did you notice that there is two requirements to be "accepted with God"?
What does the word "nation" mean in the above verse?
The Strong's Concordance teaches us that the Greek word for "nation" is as follows:
1484 ethnos (eth'-nos); probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication, pagan): KJV-- Gentile, heathen, nation, people. So this is a picture of the non-Jewish nations of the world who can "be accepted" with God if they only "fear Him" and "worketh righteousness"! This is far cry from what most hear taught in their Christian Churches today where we are taught that to be "saved" and "accepted with God" that we have to accept the latest creed of faith of our denomination or non-denomination regarding the identity of Jesus or his mission.
Answer for yourself: What does the Greek word for "feareth him", as in "fearing God" mean?
The Strong's Concordance teaches us that the Greek word for "feareth" means:
5399 phobeo (fob-eh'-o); from 5401; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere: KJV-- be (+sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.
The Thayer's Greek Lexicon teaches us that the Greek word for "feareth" also means:
5399 phobeo- to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)
Answer for yourself: Do you notice that “reverence” of God is connected with “obedience"?
Answer for yourself: Does Paul use this term “nations” in the New Testament to refer to Gentiles, even Gentile Christians? He sure does.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware that in the Book of Numbers it says that Israel is NEVER to be numbered among the nations, thus when discussing “nations” the reference is always to non-Jews?
Answer for yourself: Are you aware that the phrase “in every nation” refers to non-Jews and not Jews?
Answer for yourself: Since Paul uses this term to refer to Gentiles, even Gentile Christians, is it possible that Gentile Christians can worship incorrectly and not worship in true worship of the true God? It may be hard for you to swallow, but the answer is "yes". Thus the need for Bet Emet and other ministries to warn the Christian of today.
Answer for yourself: Is Luke, the author of Acts, telling us that in every nation there are to be believing Gentiles who are reverencing, venerating, and responding to God with reverential obedience yet who might not be "Christians" but that they as well are "accepted with God"? He sure is! This just so happens to be what Judaism, the religion of Jesus, always taught as well.
Answer for yourself: We are told that we are to "work" righteousness.
Answer for yourself: What does the word "worketh" mean in the Greek language?
The Strong's Concordance teaches us that the Greek word for "worketh" means:
2038 ergazomai (er-gad'-zom-ahee); middle voice from 2041; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.: KJV-- commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.
The "root" word Strong's Concordance also teaches us is taken from: 2041 ergon (er'-gon); from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act: KJV-- deed, doing, labour, work.
The Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds:
2038 ergazomai- 1) to work, to labor, to do work 2) to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business" 3) to do, to work out a) to exercise, to perform, to commit b) to cause to exist, to produce 4) to work for, to earn by working, to acquire
Answer for yourself: Since we are to work "righteousness" then what does this word mean?
The Strong's Concordance teaches us that:
1343 dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay); from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification: KJV-- righteousness.
The above definition from Strong's Concordance is somewhat vague but the one from the Thayer's Greek Lexicon is not:
1342 dikaios-
a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
b) in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them
Answer for yourself: Did we just read that in every nation non-Jews who produce works of righteousness and labor in accomplishing righteous acts are "accepted with God"?
Answer for yourself: Did we equally see that we can not only can obtain and acquire works of righteousness by our obedience but we as non-Jews can also EARN by working a state of "acceptance by God"? It sure appears so and again this is what Biblical Judaism has taught from the beginning of time.
Answer for yourself: Understanding that Acts 10:35 is in the New Testament, did you see for yourself that the Law has not passed away, but instead, Peter testifies after the death of Jesus that in every nation of the world Gentiles (remember Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians in the New Testament) who reverence God and labor to be righteous (attaining a condition of acceptance with God by correct feelings that promote correct actions) by being upright and by KEEPING THE COMMANDS OF GOD are accepted (saved) by God?
Answer for yourself: Although it goes against the vast majority of Christian teaching today, did you notice that the words of your Bible, understood in their original language, describe that there exists a condition whereby man can make himself acceptable with God and ATTAIN BY HIMSELF a condition of acceptance before God, even after the cross of Christ?
Answer for yourself: Did you notice that if we are to “worketh righteousness” (labor to be righteous by obeying the commandments) that evidently there are things (obeying the commandments) by which man can do (not just believe) for himself to strengthen his relationship with God (make himself acceptable with God), thus meaning that “Jesus did not do it all” as we have been taught our whole lives?
Answer for yourself: Are you to believe preachers you have heard your whole life that reiterate the past preaching of a received "tradition" from the reformers of the middle ages, or will you allow the very inspired words of the Bible be your authority for what you are to believe?
We all want to be accepted with God and we were just told how; namely, to obey the Commandments of God that make up our Covenant and our Covenant stipulations. For the non-Jew it begins with 66 Commandments that frame the Covenant and Laws of Noah. For the Jew that number is 613.
The object of our obedience of the Commands of God is our demonstration of our love for and "fear of God" as required in the above passage. This also is how we "work righteousness" as we let these Commandments of God in our respective Covenants, Jewish and non-Jewish, dictate to us what we are to do and not do. This might be news to you but our Covenant stipulations, the Commandments and Laws that from our Covenants with God, when obeyed or disobeyed, determine our actual standing before God.
Answer for yourself: What does the word "accepted" mean in the Greek?
Let us first look at what the Strong's Concordance has to say:
1184 dektos (dek-tos'); from 1209; approved; (figuratively) propitious: KJV-- accepted (-table).
The "root word" means: 1209 dechomai (dekh'-om-ahee); middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively): KJV-- accept, receive, take.
Answer for yourself: Did you notice that this word, "accepted", is in the Middle voice? What does this mean in Greek grammar? Voice refers to the role of the subject in the action. Understand that since our verb is "active" in that "the person has to work righteousness" and performs some sort of action, then the verb is active which means that the subject is the performer or responsible for the action (the agent). So you and I are responsible to "fear God" and revere God in our actions as well as responsible to "do righteousness" and thereby acquire a condition of acceptability with God.
Answer for yourself: Having seen in prior articles dealing with Acts 15 and the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council were we saw the debate centered over what would be required of the non-Jew to be accepted among the Jews and the Israel of God then would it not apply that this passage detailing that the non-Jew must "fear God" and "work righteousness would equally refer to the non-Jew “being accepted into the family of God as well (being grafted into Israel)? It sure would.
Answer for yourself: Can you think of a passage in the New Testament whereby we are warned that many mistakenly believing that they are accepted with God will come to God and Messiah and be rejected instead?
Matt 7:21-23 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)
The death penalty...which is exactly "what" one earns for committing SIN, as Romans 6:23 says (THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH)...hung over us, just as it does for anyone who PRACTICES SIN (remember transgression of the LAW is defined as "sin" in the New Testament). Only those who turn FROM sin, turn FROM breaking the Law, and turn TO Yahweh in OBEDIENCE to Yahweh's every Word" will be given the gift only Yahweh can give...Eternal Life! We will be given access to the Tree of Life!
As we Read in Isaiah 59: 1-2, it is OUR SINS (INIQUITIES) that separate us from God.
Isa 59:1-2 1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV)
Now back to the point; we can either "work righteousness" and be accepted with God or as Matt. 7:21-23 states we can "work iniquity" and be not accepted and be told to depart from God. The choice is ours; that is if we are instructed correctly by our Spiritual teachers. But that is not always the case.
Let us examine the Hebrew word for "iniquity" used by Isaiah the Prophet in Isa. 59:1-2:
Isa 59:1-2 1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV)
The Strong's Concordance teaches us concerning the Hebrew word for "iniquities":
5771 `avon (aw-vone'); or `avown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 [7]) (aw-vone'); from 5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil: KJV-- fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
The "root word" as taken from the Strong's Concordance:
5753 `avah (aw-vaw'); a primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively (as follows): KJV-- do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse (-ly), trouble, X turn, do wickedly, do wrong.
This same English word is defined in the Strong's Concordance in the New Testament in Matt. 7:23 as "those not submitted to Jewish LAW" and it is our breaking of Yahweh's Law, that cuts us off from Yahweh. Let us now look at this in both the Greek and the English texts.
Let us examine the Greek word for "iniquities" as taken from the Strong's Concordance from Matt. 7:21-23.
458 anomia (an-om-ee'-ah); from 459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness: KJV-- iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
The "root word" is Strong's number 459 anomos (an'-om-os); from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3551; lawless, i.e. (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked: KJV-- without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked.
Answer for yourself: Did you notice that this passage Matt. 7:21-23 teaches that even Gentiles who work "iniquity" and who are not subject to the Jewish Law are told to depart from God?
These same Scriptures tell us that the REASON Yahweh will NOT listen to someone, is BECAUSE they are a SINNER...they practice sin. For your information this is the same word used by Yeshua [Jesus] in Matt. 7:23 where he tells "many" who come to him expecting "acceptance" to depart from him because they practice iniquity (Strong's number 458 & 459 meaning "the practice of not submitting to Jewish Law".
Now let us examine what Thayer's Greek Lexicon has to teach us about the word "iniquity":
458 anomia-
This is a very frightening revelation for a Christian who has grown up in church his whole life and who has been taught that he is not under the Law but under grace as well as being taught disdain for the Holy Law of YHWH which is literally his Covenant stipulations.
Answer for yourself: Is transgression of the LAW of Moses, which contains within it the Gentile's Covenant and Laws of Noah as spoken of following the Cross in the New Testament considered "sin?" Definitely yes.
Answer for yourself: Please note that Ephesians 2:1 says that these converts "WERE" (past tense) cut off from Yahweh, having no hope because something had separated them for Yahweh. What does Isaiah tell us in 59:1-2 that separated the Gentiles from God? Our iniquities, our sin which is transgression of the Law.
Answer for yourself: The New Testament, in I John 3:4, defines "SIN" as what? Transgression of, violation of, and ignorance of the Mosaic Laws. So it is these transgression of our Covenant Laws and Commandments that separate us from God and do not allow us to be accepted because we spend our lives under incorrect teaching that assures we don't "work righteousness" which is demonstrated by obedience to these Commandments of God residing in our respective Covenants with God.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who are without the Law, or who are ignorant of the Law, or who violate the Law, or who are destitute of the Mosaic Law (usually Gentiles) are told by Yeshua to depart from him? Yes. Can you imagine the horror waking up "dead" and being told by the one you expect to receive you to "get out of here"?
Answer for yourself: Even worse does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who depart from the law are "wicked?" Yes. Have you ever thought that accepting, believing Christian dogmas, and acting upon them in faith, in particular those regarding the Jewish Law, has made you "wicked" in the sight of God? The next time your preacher teaches you that the Law is done away with in Christ or that "Christ is the end of the Law" just remember that.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us that if we are ignorant of the Law, thereby showing our contempt of it, should we expect to likewise hear "depart from me" from Yeshua in the world to come? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does Matt. 7:21 teach us in the New Testament that those who violate the Law and are destitute of the Mosaic Law are told by Yeshua to depart from him. Yes.
Answer for yourself: If your church has taught you that the Law has passed away, thus making you destitute of the Law of Moses, should you expect that Yeshua will tell you to depart from him as well? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Do you realize that if the Law of God (Laws of Moses-Torah) is not valid today, then we are not sinners? Is that possible since that Yahweh teaches us that if we say "we have not sinned" then we are LIARS? No.
Answer for yourself: If I John 3:4 is a New Testament Scripture, then how is it possible that "sin" can be defined as "transgression against the LAW" if the LAW HAS PASSED AWAY AND WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? It can't!
Answer for yourself: Is transgression of the LAW following the Cross in the New Testament considered "sin?" Yes.
Answer for yourself: Before the CONVERSION of these GENTILE EPHESIANS, they lived in SIN. What did one earn for committing SIN which is defined in the New Testament as transgression of the Law? Death and separation from God (“depart from me”).
Answer for yourself: Romans 6:23 says THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH and death hung over all men, just as it does for anyone who PRACTICES SIN. Then is it a true statement that only those who turn FROM sin, turn FROM breaking the Law, and turn TO Yahweh in OBEDIENCE to Yahweh's Every Word" will be given the Gift only Yahweh can give...Eternal Life? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Do you find it difficult to believe that this is the same word used by Yeshua [Jesus] in Matt. 7:21 where he tells "many" who come to him expecting "acceptance" to depart from him because they practice iniquity (Strong's number 458 & 459 meaning the practice of not submitting to Jewish Law)? Not any longer.
Answer for yourself: Can you begin to see the importance of identifying with Israel who has always revered the Covenant Law instead of organizations (Churches) that teach the Law has passed away? I hope so.
Answer for yourself: Are you aware that it is within THE LAW of God where we find commandments concerning how we as Gentiles are to worship God according to “the pattern” given by David and handed down well into the fourth century? This website is showing you this.
Answer for yourself: Do you now better understand that since most of Christianity does not pay attention to the validity of the Law for their lives, that they overlook the pattern for how God is to be worshipped (Festivals and Sabbath and righteous giving of the Tithe instead of the way it is handled by most today), thus causing multitudes to worship God in vain?
It is with this understanding that ministries like Bet Emet and others are trying to reach Christians in the hope of revealing to them the beauty of the Hebraic Roots of their faith in hopes they will repent and worship God in Spirit and in Truth, for He is worthy of correct worship and love.
Please understand that before the Word of Yahweh was given to the Gentile People as a whole, they were cut off from Yahweh. Before this, ONLY the Tribes of the Children of Israel were given Yahweh's Laws, which GUIDED one to faith and obedience, thus culminating in Yahweh's SALVATION.
Bet Emet Ministries believes in examining our "belief systems" to see if we are in "the faith." We, at Bet Emet, through educational newsletters attempt to examine our "religious belief systems," our Bibles, concepts, religious doctrines, ancient meanings of biblical words, and the influence of ancient culture on the writers of the biblical text, and much more. After all, what are we to do one day when standing before God at the Judgment Seat and after confession that we have prophesied in his name, and in his name cast out demons and in his name done many wonderful works (we thought), and hear: "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?" This frightening example is to warn us that "many" will have a "religious belief system" that will guarantee their disqualification from entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
Answer for yourself: Is that you? Could that be You? How can you prevent yourself from awaking from the dead and finding that you are personally fulfilling Matt. 7? Don't you thing you better start examining YOUR "belief system" while you still can?
We at Bet Emet Ministries have had to repent of many doctrines we were taught in good faith that could not stand the text of critical examination. God desires we have faith in "truth" and not faith in "error or lies." We invite you to tell your friends that such an opportunity is available at Bet Emet Ministries. More to follow in article three. More to come in article three. Shalom.