The Positive Aspects And Hidden Dangers
of the Jewish Roots Movement (Pt. 3)
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
Examining a Problem that has Plagued
the Church Since the First Century
*****************************************************
This is Part 3 of a seven-part Bible study.
Click on the links below for the next part
or return to the homepage.
Pt. 1
---
Pt. 2
---
Pt. 4
Pt. 5
---
Pt. 6
---
Pt. 7
Return To Home Page
*****************************************************
The Principles of the Pauline
Revelation are Quietly Removed
or Suppressed in Many Brands
of Hebrew Roots Doctrine
When examining the teachings of the Hebrew Roots movement, it is necessary to pay more attention to what's not being said ... than what's actually being taught. Most false doctrine found within Christendom emphasize the parts of the Bible that supports their teaching, while suppressing the Scriptures that expose the error. As a result, this brand of false teaching can still technically be considered 'Bibical' ... only because it is taken from the pages of the Bible. However, it's actually 'not Biblical' because it fails to include the whole counsel of God found in the New Testament Epistles of Paul.
This is important because only Paul's
Epistles contain the rules and
principles that govern New Covenant
salvation - which are now binding
upon the Church. In Romans 8:1-4,
Paul refers to this doctrine as;
"The law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus".
Throughout church history, countless
numbers of well-meaning Christians
were unknowingly led astray in their
faith by a 'Torah-based' message that
undermines Paul's 'Law of the Spirit
of life in Christ' teaching.
According the research of various concerned Bible scholars, the Hebrew Roots movement uses a popular 'bait and switch' strategy. They win your confidence by discussing fascinating Biblical facts and arguments ... then slip in a 'Torah-based salvation message' that they claim is 'God's original theology of the Bible'. Yet, this kind of evangelistic message is the same one the Apostle Paul condemned in his Epistles to the Church. Paul rejects their persuasive brand of gospel because its based on the principles of conditional salvation found in Old Testaement Judaism and taught by the Torah. It is contrary to the Grace-based principles of the New Coveant now required to obtain salvation that Jesus established at the cross. This is exactly what Paul was addressing in his warning to the Church at Rome;
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (or the spiritually inexperienced)." (Romans 16:18)
This 'Torah-based gospel' (often associated with those who claim to be 'Torah observant') teaches about Christ's sacrificial death for our sins - and even gives an invitation to be saved by 'receiving Christ' at the end of their sermon. This is similar to the way Evangelicals conduct their church services. Yet, the Apostle Paul warned that the 'Jesus' they are preaching is actually 'another Jesus' (a counterfeit). This is why it's dangerous to asssume that anyone who preaches about Christ and the cross is preaching the authentic Christ of the New Covenant. They might be teaching the popular counterfeit Christ - skillfully designed to agree with Old testament Law (or the law of the Torah).
Unfortunately, this counterfeit or 'imitation Christ' is the one embraced by most professing Christians. The names are the same but the 'core doctrine of salvation' behind the name is radically different. This is why we must carefully examine every minister who claims to preach the gospel of Christ.
The Church should certainly take advantage of all the good information available through the Hebrew Roots movement. However, the New Testament warns that preaching 'another Jesus and his different gospel' to the Christian Church not only carries a curse ... but also disqualifies them from being a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father (Galatians 1:6-8 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
What Does The Term 'Torah-based' Mean?
The word 'Torah' in Hebrew literally means 'to instruct'. It represnts the first five books of the Bible written by Moses called 'the Pentateuch' (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The Torah also includes various rabbinical teachings and commentary considered to be the undisputed authority for the Jewish religion of Judaism. However ...
Contrary to popular church teachings,
Judaism and Christianity are not
the same. Christianity came out
of Judaism, but is governed by a
separate and radically different
set of laws and principles known
as;
"The New Covenant".
This is a new set of rules designed to
to govern the Christian Church that
comes into existence after the cross.
Taking the communion cup at the Last
Supper, Jesus makes the following
announcement:
"This cup is the new covenant
in My blood, which is shed for you."
(Luke 22:20)
Jesus used the word 'New' to describe the covenant His cross would establish. It means that the New Covenant is not an extension or continuation of the Torah (or the previous Old Testament program of Law) as many wrongly believe and teach. Both Jesus Christ our Lord and the Apostle Paul reveal that the New Covenant is a radically different program based on God's Grace - designed to fulfill and replace (not continue) the previous Torah-based program (Hebrews 8:6-13).
In his New Testament Epistles, the Apostle Paul often uses terms such as;
- The Law
- The letter
- The works of the Law
- The deeds of the Law
When Paul uses these specific terms he is referring to 'the body of law found in the Torah' (or the first five books of Moses in the Old Testament). Theologians also call it; 'the Law of Moses' - given to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai.
The Law of the Torah actually consists of 613 individual commandments, which includes the Ten Commandments. This is why various church leaders and their followers who seek to earn salvation by 'keeping Old Testament Law' are operating in a dangerous form of religious deception ... since they believe this requirement only pertains to the Ten Commandments. If anyone seeks to be saved by keeping the Law of the Torah (some refer to this as 'keeping God's commandments'), they must keep all 613 commandments - not just ten. Many of these are specifically connected to the Jewish temple that no longer exists. God condemns the practice of selecting only the commandments we want to observe - while ignoring the rest. The Apostle James draws our attention to this dangerous misconception when he said;
"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet stumble in one point, he is guilty
of all (or is guilty of disobeying
the whole Law)." (James 2:10)
Both Jesus our Lord and
the Apostle Paul Reveals
Important Facts About
the Torah and its Law
Important Note: In our previous discussion we learned that what most Christians refer to as 'the Law' is more accurately known as 'the law of the Torah' ... or the law found in the first five books of Bible known as 'The Books of Moses'. For this reason - we repeatedly use this expanded term (the law of the Torah) in the following paragraphs for the purpose of illustrating an important New Testament truth.
(Jesus is speaking) “Do not think that I
came to destroy the Law (of the Torah) or
the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill."
(Matthew 5:17)
In this passage Jesus tells us that His future sacrificial death on the cross does not destroy the law of the Torah - but rather fulfills it. Our Lord had a good reason for making this distinction. When a legally binding contract (Note: the law of the Torah is a contract known as a 'covenant' between God and the Israelites) is fulfilled or satisfied - it can no longer punish or condemn anyone for violating its provisions (the New Testament calls this punishment 'condemnation').
Here's a modern-day example:
A home mortgage is a binding contract allowing a bank to foreclose if the holder fails make the specified payments. However, when the loan (or debt) is fully paid the contract is fulfilled (satisfied) - and can now be rendered 'invalid' - making it now illegal for the bank to foreclose.
This is similar to what the crucifixion of Christ accomplished. Just before He died, Jesus cried out "it is finished". The law of the Torah had been fulfilled (finished) because He had fully satisfied its conditions and paid the sin debt of the human race. As a result, His one act at the cross sets the sinner free from all condemnation that originates from the law and, in exchange, gives them His righteousness as a free gift (outlined in Romans 5:15-21). God now considers the law of the Torah to be completely fulfilled by His Son's one sacrificial act.
This is why Paul made the following statment:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (the New Covenant) has made me free from the law of sin and death (or the law of the Torah). For what the law (of the Torah) could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son ..." (Romans 8:1-4)
Most Christians are taught that observing and obeying the commandments of the Law (or the law of the Old Testament called the Torah) is a requirement to obtain true salvation. Yet, the Bible warns that this popular brand of Christian faith is actually 'anti-Christian' and not part of Christ's New Covenant. This is why the Bible warns that this kind of faith is rejected by our Heavenly Father. This widely-accepted belief is not only found in the Hebrew Roots movement, but also in a majority of denominations and churches that teach 'the false doctrine of the judaizers' to their congregations (covered earlier in this study).
The Apostle John emphasizes this
same truth by saying;
"For the law (or law of the Torah) was
given through Moses, but Grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ."
(Read John 1:14-17)
In two short sentences, the Lord Jesus
Christ gives us a preview for dealing
with all human sin. Fulfilling the law
of the Torah was always at the center
of His plan.
Why is this so important?
'The law of the Torah' both defines and empowers all human sin. The law is what gives sin its power and authority to condemn people to eternal damnation. However, if the law of the Torah is fulfilled and is therefore 'taken out of the way', the sin that receives its power from that same law is made void. The Apostle Paul reveals this life-changing New Testament truth when he said ...
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Having wiped out the handwriting of
the requirements that was against us
(the law of the Torah), which was
contrary to us. And He has taken
it out of the way, having nailed
it to the cross."
(Colossians 2:13-14)
"For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5:13)
"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Important Note: Why does Christ give us the victory? ... Because He fulfilled and removed what was giving sin its power to condemn us.
"For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law (or the law of the Torah) are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath (or judgment);
For where there is no law (or law of the
Torah) there is no transgression (sin).
Therefore it is of faith that it might be
according to grace ...
(Romans 4:13-16 - Emphasis Added)
This is the truth Paul is communicating
to the Church:
Since the law was fulfilled, taken out of the way (abolished) and nailed to the cross (Read Ephesians 2:11-22 and Colossians 2:13-14), sin (past-present-future) can no longer be imputed to those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ.
God cannot impute sin if the
law of the Torah no longer
governs.
He only imputes sin (or charges sin to a person's account) if the law, that Jesus fulfilled at the cross and took out of the way, is somehow illegally reintroduced ... which is something that many within Christendom have continued to do for nearly two thousand years.
The truths revealing how Christ ended the government of the Torah originates from the 'Pauline Revelation'. In the following Scriptural references, we can now better understand what the Apostle Paul was teaching.
"For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the law, but under
grace." (Romans 6:14)
"Therefore, my brethren, you also have become
dead to the law through the body of Christ.
(Romans 7:4-6)
"Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh
will be justified in his sight". (Romans 3:20)
"You have become estranged (separated or
cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to
be justified by law; you have fallen from
Grace." (Galatians 5:4)
"For as many as are of the works of the law
are under the curse; for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue
in all things which are written in the book
of the law, to do them.”
"And we have such trust through Christ toward
God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
to think of anything as being from ourselves,
but our sufficiency is from God, who also
made us sufficient as ministers of the new
covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives
life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
Note: Paul uses the term 'the letter'
in this verse instead of 'the law'.
Yet, both refer back to the same
'law of the Torah'.
No wonder various ministers within the Hebrew
Roots movement, who attempt to reinsert the
law of the Torah into God's plan of salvation
after Jesus 'took it out of the way' - either
ignores, redefines or seeks to silence the
teachings of the Apostle Paul ...
And the Pauline Revelation.
*****************************************************
This is Part 3 of a seven-part Bible study.
Click on the links below for the next part
or return to the homepage.
Pt. 1
---
Pt. 2
---
Pt. 4
Pt. 5
---
Pt. 6
---
Pt. 7
Return To Home Page
*****************************************************
|