Featured Messianic Jews and the law.

Brother, what do you interpret "we establish the law" to mean? It was written by a Jew who endorsed eating with Gentiles rather than strictly following the Jewish dietary laws (Galatians 2:11-14).

 

I understand you are saying the law was established, made to stand, by faith. But I do not understand what you comprehend under the idea of established, made to stand. Peter and Paul did not think it established the fact that they had to continue following the dietary laws of the Old Testament. What about the law do you believe was established?

Briefly, I believe it is established in the sense that faith makes it firm that the law did/does what it was designed to do. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (3:20). We are not under the law, but under grace (6:14-25). Paul is in effect turning the tables on his detractors who clamor for the Mosaic law, saying it is they under the gospel dispensation who truly establish the law of God. (Romans 2:27 is interesting in this connection.)

 

Am I understanding you correctly, then, to say that Jews who believe in the Messiah are obligated -- simply put, must -- keep all the dietary laws of the Old Testament? To me such an idea challenges the New Testament and rebuilds the middle wall of partition that was broken down making Jews and Gentiles one people (Ephesians 2:13-15).

Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 Timothy 4:1-4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall ... [command] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Colossians 2:15-17 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

 

If it is not a "must do" what is the case for it as a "should do"?

 

Romans 3 begins by showing the advantages being a Jew offer -

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.​

Those advantages were like an arrow with a point at both ends because if they don't use them, they work against them -

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.​

Having the Law establishes their guilt as lawbreakers - sinners -

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.​

Having the Law did not make them better than lawless Gentiles, but it showed their guilt. Gentiles certainly were not innocent without the Law - the same sins made them guilty.

Jesus, by his sinless life under the Law, with his atoning death & resurrection makes all the difference, as the representative, man for mankind, to make justification by faith in Jesus the way of salvation for all repentant sinners, Jew & Gentile alike -

26 to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.​

So we come to your proof-text -

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.​

The Law is established, not as an enduring legal & ritual code for Messianic Jews to live by, leaving Christian Gentiles free to break it,
BUT
the Law is established as -
1. The Law sets forth the perfection required of mankind, specifically the children of Israel, and also applying to Gentiles.
2. Thus the Law convicts all of their sins, making all guilty & in need of salvation by some means other than keeping the Law.
3. The Law is the basis for our salvation through faith in Christ who kept the Law to perfection for repentant sinners, both Jew & Gentile.

There is of course a call for repentant sinners to turn from their sins, & not to continue in sin -

Rom. 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ​

Christian, both Jew & Gentile are now dead to the old sinful nature, are now free to live as faithful believers, both of the Holy Spirit & enabled by him to walk with God.

The Apostolic period was a transition time, as they sought to win Jews who were living under the Law with all its carnal manifestations. That transition time ended absolutely with the destruction.

If I invite a Jew to a meal, I wouldn't serve pork, or lamb braised in milk, nor beef to a Hindu. We shouldn't give offence, but practise common courtesy. We all have our scruples. That does not establish the Law as a code of conduct.

Why ever should Christian Jews want "identifiers"? We are one flock, with one Shepherd, one redeemed people of God. Paul writes in Ephesians -

2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15 having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 for through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God ...... ​

 

None of those assertions are fairly based on the New Covenant Scriptures, & there are few identifiable allusions to Scripture,. Instead they are based on the concept of a continuing Israelite covenant, the conditional Old Covenant of Exodus 19 (IF) being given over 400 years after the original everlasting unconditional Covenant with Abram in Genesis 12 which includes all families on earth.

The idea of a continuing distinction between Israel & the Church is false. Vast numbers of Israelis/Jews responded to John's preaching & baptism, as they did during Jesus' earthly ministry. Then, from Pentecost onwards many thousands responded to the Gospel forming the Church. Thus Israel, as a chosen people, including priests & Pharisees, repented & believed their Messiah as recorded in Acts. Only the influential leaders & their followers continued to reject Jesus & his Apostles, so congregations/synagogues of Christians were set up for specific Christian worship, though it seems they sought to continue temple worship while the temple stood.

A key passage is Acts 21 -

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 and they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.​

There is no reason to suppose that the Christian Jews/Israelites immediately stopped keeping the Law & customs. They were continuing to live within their culture, & it did not immediately become sinful to practice what God had commanded through Moses. Only after AD 70 did it become impossible to continue to do the rituals. Their attitude to the Law did change, as they were no longer trying to keep the Law for their salvation. I don't think there is any reference to Christians offering sacrifices for salvation, though they kept the Passover.

The external rituals have now ceased, as Hebrews explains, but we do practice the Law from the heart, by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Note however Heb. 13 -

10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.​

We can understand from that the Christians did not continue the tabernacle/temple worship, nor focused on Jerusalem as the centre for worship. Jesus taught that each local gathering was a place of worship -

John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.​

 

Where did I say God's covenants are revocable? I said the Old Covenant given in Exo. 19 was conditional -

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.​

The problem is not a revocable covenant promised & revoked by God, but a conditional covenant that Israel failed to obey, failed to keep that Covenant. However God did keep it himself, for his people, by the incarnation, life, death, resurrection & ascension of the LORD Jesus Christ. And vast numbers of the children of Israel believed that message proclaimed by the Apostles, as recorded in Acts.

And he gave them a New Covenant, an Everlasting Covenant in the blood of the LORD Jesus Christ.

If, IF they want to live & be judged under the Old Exodus Covenant, they will surely fail & be condemned. Come to Jesus, come & welcome.

 

Psalm 117 is quoted in Romans where Paul is explaining the LORD Jesus Christ is LORD of both Jew & Gentile who worship him together as one people of God -

Psalm 117:1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations:
praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us:
and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
Praise ye the Lord.

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.​

Notice the frequent Covenant reference in Scripture to "my people" rather than "my nation." References to "nation" use the Hebrew "Goyim" H1472, as used in Gen. 12:2, which is the common word used also for Gentiles.

I submit that there is a radical New Covenant understanding needed for Messianic Jews.

 

The way it is being framed could be divisive.

 

Nevertheless it is so.

This one?

No...

Acts 15
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentiles), and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
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.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.