The Positive Aspects and Hidden Dangers of the Jewish Roots Movement (Pt. 6)

The Positive Aspects And Hidden Dangers
of the Jewish Roots Movement (Pt. 6)

Rock of Offence Special Commentary

Examining a Problem that has Plagued
the Church Since the First Century

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This is Part 6 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. 3
Pt. 4 --- Pt. 5 --- Pt. 7

Return To Home Page

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The Internal Work of
the Holy Spirit

The indwelling Holy Spirit who seals the believer now lives inside their body and begins to teach them how to avoid sinful behavior, obey Christ's Lordship authority and pattern their life according to the example set by Christ. The Bible refers to this as 'sanctification' - and the believer's success or failure during this time of training cannot add to (make them ‘more saved’) – or terminate God's gift of eternal life previously received. In the New Testament, sanctification is described in various ways such as; the renewing of your mind, the Holy Spirit's 'good work in you', presenting yourself as 'a living sacrifice' - and 'transformed by being conformed to the image of Christ'. (Read Romans 12:1-2, Phillipians 1:6 and Romans 8:28-30)

Sanctification is an important part of the believer's maturity. The failure to cooperate with God concerning this internal work will grieve the Holy Spirit, which is something all believers should avoid. But, even if the worst happens - and we grieve Him - the Holy Spirit by Whom we are sealed will remain and never leave; just as both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul taught.

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive ..." (Words of Jesus from John 14:16)

"...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Words of Jesus from Matthew 28:20)

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Words of Saint Paul from Ephesians 4:30)

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Words of Saint Paul from Hebrews 13:5-6)

These truths are only fully revealed
in the Epistles of Saint Paul to the
Church.

It is no wonder the Hebrew Roots
movement and the many churches and
denominations that embrace a false
'Christianized Judaism' either
ignores, redefines - or seeks to
silence the teachings of the
Apostle Paul ...

And the Pauline Revelation.

Learning to be a Spiritual
Detective: The Bait and
the Hook

Anyone who enjoys the sport of fishing understands this simple principle. If you want to catch a fish, you offer them something to eat. You choose something (the bait) that you know the fish wants to eat. This can be real food (like a worm) or an artificial lure. The idea is to trick the fish into taking the bait - because a hook is hidden inside the bait that the fish cannot see. If your efforts are successful, the fish has now become your next meal.

To further illustrate our fishing example, we occasionally quote counter-cult expert Jan Groeneveld. Jan has since passed on and is now with the Lord. Her ministry involved warning believers about religious cults that operate from within the institutional church under a Christian name ... which is something that directly applies to the subject of this study.

She often warned;

"The most dangerous lie is that which
most closely resembles the truth."

Using different terminology, Jesus taught
the same thing. But sadly, a vast majority
of Christians ignore this warning.

In order to discover and expose Christian counterfeits, you must understand the simple fishing principle of the bait and the hook. A “counterfeit”, is something that’s a forgery, an imposter or imitation - but masquerades as the real thing. It fools spiritually inexperienced people because it looks and sounds authentic. Counterfeit money is one example. A well-made counterfeit 100 dollar bill can’t be detected or identified by the average person. It takes someone with experience in handling money. Christian counterfeits operate in a similar way. We should always remember that spiritual counterfeits use bait, which are generally good things that convince church members that it originates with God.

Peeling Back the Layers

Many church organizations, denominations and para-church movements are structured similar to an onion. They are designed in a 'defensive' way for marketing purposes. All the positive, good-looking layers surround the core, which is their true salvation doctrine ... whether it’s right or wrong. This core doctrine is almost always referred to as, “The Gospel of Christ” - and determines whether the church truly represents Christ - or possesses an outward (and false) 'appearence of godliness". This is why all churches insist that they preach an authentic and 'Biblical' gospel. Some refer to this doctrine as “Historic or Biblical Christianity”. But, these kinds of labels are vague and designed to be misleading. This opens the door for the Bible to be interpreted out-of-context for various reasons.

Let's take a closer look at the problem:

In many cases various brands of Bible interpretation continues to be called 'Biblical' regardless of whether it's right or wrong. This is why those who refer to themselves as 'Bible believers' can 'believe the Bible wrong' - and still claim to be 'Bible believers'. This is true for individuals, congregations and major denominations. To see 'the core' - you have to peel back the different layers. Sometimes a church (or individual) is an authentic representative of Christ, because 'their core salvation doctrine' is in agreement with the principles of the New Covenant ... or the new 'administration of the Spirit' found in the Epistles of Saint Paul. However, in many cases, the salvation doctrine is aligned with what the Apostle Paul calls “a different gospel” (a counterfeit). This allows a church organization to continue looking as if it represents Christ (or being 'Christian in name only') because of the many “good layers" that surround and obstruct our view of 'the core'. These kinds of churches and individuals are often referred to as being; 'Christian in name only' (or counterfeit) because the core docrine on which they base their faith is corrupt and perverted through the use of out-of-context Scripture.

This problem represents a covert and spiritually lethal internal war that’s been going on since the first century. Due to its importance, we provide various commentaries concerning this subject.

A Review of the Hidden Danger

It was necessary to produce this Bible study because of the growing popularity of various ministries that teach Hebrew Roots theology. Several well-known pastors and televangelists, whose names we omit from our writings, are involved in this effort. Much of their teaching (but not all) is related to the doctrine of Messianic Judaism, which correctly identifies Jesus (they use His correct Hebrew name “Yeshua HaMashiach”) as Israel’s Messiah. On a positive note, God is using these ministries to help Jewish people rediscover their Messiah, spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. This is done in preparation for the future day, spoken of by the Apostle Paul, where all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:25-29). God is also using these ministries to educate the Church about their historic roots, which can be valuable information when its done for the right reasons.

However, an often unrecognized danger
exists.

While educating the Church about its
historic Hebrew roots, the leadership
of these groups (but thankfully not
all) include a salvation doctrine that
the Apostle Paul said would lead them
dangerously astray in their faith.
Paul referred to this doctrine as:

“A different gospel”

Paul warned that God does not honor this teaching, which perverts the authentic Gospel and carries a curse (Galatians 1:6-8). The word 'pervert' is used because the teaching represents an illegal mixture of Old Testament Jewish Law and the New Testament (or New Covenant) Grace of Christ. Paul warns that these two Biblical administrations are established on radically different sets of rules and principles (or covenants) ... which is why they must be kept separate and never mixed together (Romans 11:6 and 2 Timothy 2:15).

Important Note: As previously mentioned in this study - before believing in Christ on the Damascus road, the Apostle Paul (formerly known as Saul) was trained as a Jewish Pharisee under Gamaliel, who was one of the most highly respected teachers of the Law in Israel (Read Acts 5:34 and Acts 22:3). Later, as the Divinely appointed apostle of the Church, Paul was now required to preach a message that opposed the religious principles he embraced as a Pharisee ... and previously used to persecute the Church of God. As a result, Paul's evangelistic message is based on the following truth: The Torah-based Law he once served is now 'nailed to the cross', taken out of the way - and replaced with the New Covenant of Christ.

This is how Paul describes his
situation:

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me." (Galatians 1:11-24)

(Important Note: Paul said that it was Judaism that motivated him to "persecute the Church beyond measure - and to destroy it". The same Judaism (or Law of the Torah) Paul speaks about here - that drove him to destroy true Christian faith (as described above in Galatians 1:23-24) - is the same 'Law of the Torah' (or the Old Testament Law of Moses given to Israel at Mount Sinai) that many Christians and Messianic Jewish believers have embraced today. Think about the contradiction and unthinkable spiritual consequences that exists in this wide-spread practice. This is why Paul commanded, not only Timothy, but the entire Christian Church that the Scriptures must be 'rightly divided' (2 Timothy 2:15) in order to keep Judaism from perverting true New Covenant faith in Christ.)

When considering his past life under Judaism - and the pain, suffering and death he had brought upon Christian believers, Paul made the following statement to Timothy:

"This is a faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners,

Of whom I am chief.
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17)

Some leaders of the Hebrew roots movement have joined other denominational ministers in the church - and refer to their Torah-based (conditional) salvation as “Biblical Christianity or Biblical theology”. It is related to the same teachings that nearly destroyed the faith of the Galatian Church and motivated Saint Paul to write his "Epistle to the Galatians" in order to correct the error and warn future generations.

Under the Old Testament administration of the Law (or Judaism), observing the Feasts of Israel was a requirement for the Jewish people - especially the three mandatory feasts of Passover (in the spring), Pentecost (spring/summer) and Tabernacles (in the fall). Keeping these feasts was essential if a Jew wanted to be righteous under Judaism.

However, keeping these feasts is
not a requirement for righteousness
or salvation under the New Covenant
that began after the cross.

Yet, those who operate under 'a different gospel' and embrace various brands of Messianic Judaism often claim that keeping these feasts is a 'Biblical' requirement that Jews and Christians alike must satisfy if they want to be righteous before God.

When speaking to the Galatian Church, who had embraced a “Judaized gospel”, Paul said;

“You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” (Galatians 4:10-11)

The Pauline revelation and the epistles of Saint Paul give specific details about how to obtain salvation under the New Covenant (after the cross) ... which changed all the previous rules that governed salvation under the Torah (or the Law). The book of Hebrews refers to these New Covenant changes as, “the new and living way of Christ” in Hebrews 10:19-23. When God refers to anything as being 'new' - He intends for us to understand that it’s different (and better) than what previously existed. If something is new, it’s not a continuation or extension of the old - rather it replaces the old as stated in the book of Hebrews.

"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He (Jesus) is also mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." (Hebrews 8:6-7)

"In that He (Jesus Christ) says, "a new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13)

"The new and living way" is also called the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Read: Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 9:15, Heb. 10:19-23, Heb. 12:24).

Nowhere in Paul’s New Testament writings does he say that observing the Jewish feasts or any other tenant of Old Testament (or Torah) Law is required to obtain and keep righteousness, justification or salvation. Yet, Paul does say - as a result of the sacrificial death of Christ - that all of these spiritual benefits are now purchased for the believer and given as God’s free (unmerited) gifts. After the cross, the only requirement to receive God's gifts is our faith or trust in Christ's finished work.

Concerning this controversial subject,
Paul gives the following warning;

"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.” But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the Law is not of faith..." (Galatians 3:10-12)

"Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight". (Romans 3:20)

"You have become estranged (separated/cutoff/alienated) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from Grace." (Galatians 5:4)

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: For if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain (Note: The word "vain" maeans that Christ's death becomes meaningless)." (Galatians 2:19-21)

Those who preach the popular “Judaized gospel of Christ” (or what we often refer to as "Christianized Judaism") all commit the same error ... and operate under countless different names throughout Christendom. These ministers fail to recognize that the believer is under an entirely new and different Divine program (Hebrews calls it “a better covenant established on better promises”) that imputes (assigns) certain attributes of Christ, such as salvation and God’s righteousness (Romans 4:4-8, Romans 5:18-21 and 2 Corinthians 5:21), directly to the believer - apart from works, merit or behavior. It didn’t start until after the cross and it replaces the previous merit-based program of the Law ... which changes all the rules that govern salvation. Additional supplemental information is available at the following links:

The Believer's Position In Christ

Imputation: The New Covenant Method God
Uses To Transfer His Spiritual Benefits To Us

After reading some of our comments, some readers might get the idea that we oppose the Jewish people. If this is your perception, it is not correct. Unfortunately, many church leaders and their followers are tricked into taking this anti-Semetic position, as discussed earlier in this study, by embracing a popular brand of historic theology that does not come from God. Additional information is available at the following links.

The Battle for God's Grace

Israel and the Church

Avoiding the Error of Replacement Theology

Exposing The Error of the
Moral Code Exemption

What many refer to as 'the Law's moral code' (or Ten Commandments) is actually part of the previous 'administration of the law'. However, the Church is now governed by 'the administration of the Spirit' which operates according to vastly different rules and principles.

Bible teachers associated with the Hebrew Roots movement often comment that the “moral code of the Law" and the spiritual consequences for breaking this law (such as losing salvation) remains valid and intact. They claim that only the part of the law that deals with animal sacrifices to atone for sin - was the part fulfilled by Christ, and therefore no longer applies. They claim that when Paul said the believer was delivered from the Law - he was only talking about the part involving temple rituals and animal sacrifices. In other words, they retain that part of the Law they want to keep, but claim that 'the other part' - or the part that doesn’t impact their doctrine - no longer applies.

This 'moral code exemption' should raise some serious red flags for all believers - since the Apostle James (the half-brother of our Lord) rejected this popular belief. Contrary to many Bible teachers, James warned that the whole body of the Law cannot be divided. In other words, you have to embrace all of it - or none of it - and warned that God condemns this popular practice of 'dividing the law' and considers it to be spiritually illegal. A vast majority of church leaders and their followers choose certain commandments (such as the Ten Commandments), which they strive to obey. Yet, they conveniently ignore the other 603 commandments and ordinances of the Law that are nearly impossible to keep. Why is obedience impossible? Many commandments of Old Testament Law require an operational physical Jewish temple which was destroyed in 70 A.D. - and no longer exists. This is one of several reasons why God now considers the Law to be 'obsolete'. Under the New Covenant the body of the Christian is the 'temple of the Holy Spirit' ... and not a physical earthly building. This is also why it is wrong - and actually denies the finished work of Christ - to refer to a church building as; 'the house of God'. God's house is where the Holy Spirit lives - and after the cross and the day of Pentecost He now lives in the body of the believer.

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Once again, we should pay particular
attention to the warning of James:

"For whoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet stumble in one point, he is
guilty of all (or guilty of disobeying
all the law)." (James 2:10)

When the teachers of the Judaized gospel and those in the Hebrew Roots movement attempt to divide the Law in order to defend their counterfeit salvation doctrine, they are teaching a grievious form of error that carries eternal consequences.

Why?

God considers the whole law of the
Torah to be indivisible ...
meaning that it cannot be divided
into separate pieces.

The authority that the Law previously possessed to cancel a person's salvation - when its rules and principles are broken - (also called the curse of the Law in Galatians 3:13-14) ... is 'set aside, nailed to the cross and taken out of the way' under the New Covenant. After the crucifixion of Christ and the start of God's new 'administration of the Spirit' on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) ... the spiritual benefits of justification, eternal life and righteousness took on their new roles as God’s unmerited gifts (See Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 3:24-26, Romans 4:4-8, Romans 5:18-21 and 2 Corinthians 5:21). As a result, the written part of the Law - specifically the 'moral code' of the Ten Commandments - now only exists to educate believers about the practices that God considers to be sin ... so that they can be avoided.

Under the rule of Old Testament Law disobedience to the Ten Commandments often carried the penalty of losing salvation. But, failing to obey the Ten Commandments under the New Covenant can never cause the loss of salvation (or eternal life) - because the law that gave disobedience its power to condemn a person to hell is taken out of the way by the sacrifice of Christ. Learning to avoid the sin that initially sent Jesus to the cross is part of the believer's 'Divine training program' known as Sanctification. But, God condemns the popular practice of using sanctification as a condition to receive His free gift of eternal life. If attaining some 'impossible to know level of sanctification' is a condition to be saved, then God's 'free gift' becomes nonsensical ... and assurance of salvation can never be realized. Yet, this kind of mental torment and bondage is found under countless different brands of 'Christianized Judaism'. The following Scriptures will help us to avoid this kind of spiritual torment - and those who teach it.

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)

"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), which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13-14)

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the Household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:11-22)

"Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be married to another - to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the Law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (or Old Covenant Law)." (Romans 7:1-6 - Emphasis Added)

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: For if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain (The word 'vain' in this case means that Christ's death becomes meaningless)." (Galatians 2:19-21 - Emphasis Added)

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh (or trying to earn salvation through works, merit or religious performance) but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:2-4 – Emphasis Added)

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This is Part 6 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. 3
Pt. 4 --- Pt. 5 --- Pt. 7

Return To Home Page

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