This is my Chief Rabbi. He reposted this recently!
How
Does the Netzarim Faith Differ from Christianity
by
Rabbi Robert O. Miller
“Who
is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him
know them. For the ways of Yahweh are right; the righteous walk in
them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9)”
“For
this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)”
In
2 Timothy 2:15 the term “rightly dividing” is translated from
“ortho tomeo,” literally means "to rightly cut, to cut
straight." Messiah YahShua came to straighten out the
interpretation of Yahweh’s Word. Messiah YahShua has cut and
divided the Word of Yahweh in order to give us true understanding of
Life. The Netzarim Faith maintains that the Messiah didn’t come to
start a new religion. He came to restore the Faith Yahweh gave to
Israel who were to be a Kingdom of Priests ministering to the rest of
mankind (Exodus 19:6).
“Do
not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Naviim (Prophets).
I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to
you, till heaven and earth pass away, one yod (smallest letter in the
AlephBet) or one taug (accent marks above the letters) will by no
means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Whoever
therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever
does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of
Heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the Rabbis of the Torah and Parushim (Pharisees –
separated ones), you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Matthew 5:17-20)”
“But the path of the just is like the
shining light, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The
way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them
stumble. (Proverbs 4:18,19)”
YahShua
did not abolish the Word of Yahweh. Our Messiah came to fulfil Torah
by correctly interpreting it. Messiah YahShua came only to abolish
the enmity or hatred man had towards Torah because of their sin
nature and a wrong interpretation of Torah that opposed Yahweh. Sin
had separated mankind from Yahweh. The wrong interpretation of Torah
created isolationism instead of evangelism and withheld the goodness
of Yahweh’s Word from others. It had always been the Father’s
intention for His Torah to be given to the nations through Israel.
Israel was to be the Light (Menorah) to the entire world – a
Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 9:16).
“Arise,
shine; for your light has come! (Messiah) And the glory of Yahweh is
risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth (Lack
of Torah), and deep darkness (spiritual shame) the people; but Yahweh
will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The
Gentiles shall come to your light (Isaiah 60:1-3)”
It is through
Torah that Messiah YahShua is revealed. In Messiah’s own words He
upholds Torah.
“For
if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
But if you do not believe his writings (Torah), how will you believe
My words?" (John 5:46,47)”
Messiah
YahShua said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the
Naviim (Prophets). I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” The
Greek word “kataluo” {kat-al-oo-O} interpreted here as “abolish”
was a term used to describe an interpretation that was not correct or
subversive. But the Greek word “pleroo” {play-o-O} interpreted
here as “fulfil” was used to describe a proper interpretation of
the Scripture, to render the full meaning. This word coincides with
the Hebrew word “basar” {baw-sar'} which means full message or
meaning. He is warning us not to think! "I have come to fulfill
the Torah, " He says, "but do not even think that by
fulfilling it, I am thereby abolishing it."
Woe to the
teacher that abolished Torah! Those who are held responsible are
accountable to Yahweh who appointed them. "My brethren, let not
many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter
judgment. (James 3:1)"
“For
assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one yod
(smallest letter in the AlephBet) or one taug (accent marks above the
letters) will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Messiah YahShua is saying not even the slightest stroke of a pen or
the smallest letter of the AlephBet will be nullified.
“It
is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke
of a pen to drop out of the Torah. (Luke 16:17)”
“…the
Scripture cannot be broken…( John 10:35)”
"Not a letter
shall be abolished from the Torah forever" (Exodus Rabbah 6.1).
Since we can see Heaven and Earth are still here we know the Torah is
still in effect!
“Generations come and generations go, but the
earth remains forever. (Ecclesiastes 1:4)”
“May his name
endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun (which is in the
heavens). All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call
him blessed. (Psalm 72:17)”
“[David’s] line will continue
forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be
established forever like the moon, (both in the heavens) the faithful
witness in the sky." Selah (think about that!) (Psalm
89:36-37)”
“He set the earth on its foundations; it can never
be moved. (Psalm 104:5)”
“This
Torah with its statutes and laws is everlasting. We may not add to
them or detract from them. Whoever adds to them or detracts from them
or misinterprets the Torah is a wicked impostor and a heretic (Mishna
Torah).”
“So anyone who does not obey one of the smallest
commandments, and teaches other people not to obey it, will have the
smallest part in the Kingdom of Heaven. But any one who obeys and
teaches the Torah, will have a big part in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The
least figure in the Kingdom of Heaven right now is Hellel ben Shahar
that has the position of HaSatan (the Prosecutor). He is the accuser
of Yahweh and His people (Revelation 12:10).
“Now there was a
day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh,
and HaSatan also came among them. And Yahweh said to HaSatan, "From
where do you come?"
So HaSatan answered Yahweh and
said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back
and forth on it."
Then
Yahweh said to HaSatan, "Have you considered My servant Job,
that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright
man, one who fears Elohim and shuns evil?"
So HaSatan
answered Yahweh and said, "Does Job fear Elohim for nothing?
Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and
around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of
his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now,
stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely
curse You to Your face!"
And
Yahweh said to HaSatan, "Behold, all that he has is in your
power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out
from the presence of Yahweh. (Job 1:6-12)”
So
what our Messiah is saying, that if you deny Torah and teach men that
it is done away with, you’re not just insignificant, you are of the
devil!
Everything
that Messiah YahShua taught from the Torah and He did not teach
anything that was not from the Torah. Messiah YahShua taught Torah!
Now, we are instructed to bring Torah to the people of all nations.
He told us to teach the Gentile nations "to obey everything I
have commanded you (My Disciples)" (Matt.28:18). And He
commanded His disciples to obey the Torah (Matt 5:17-19 & 23:1-2)
If we have a Kingdom we have a King and if we have a King we have a
Ruler and if we have a Ruler we have rules and what are those
rules-----Torah. Messiah YahShua promises to bless the Torah
teachers, “he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
You
can teach what you know but you can only reproduce what you are.
“For
Messiah is the goal of the Torah for righteousness to everyone who
believes. (Romans 10:4)”
In John 14:15, He said, “If you love
Me, keep My commandments.” What exactly did Messiah YahShua
command? Well, the first recorded command he gave appears in Matthew
4:17, “From that time Rebbe YahShua began to preach and to say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The word
“repent” or “teshuvah” means to turn away from sin. “…sin
is the transgression of the Torah. (1 John 3:4)” To repent means to
turn back to Yahweh and His precious Word.
“‘…you
have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to
stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi (Priesthood),’
says Yahweh Almighty.” (Malachi 2:8) Who has taught people that the
teaching given to Moses by Yahweh has been done away with and caused
them to stumble at the commandments of Yahweh? When you look at the
ministry of the Messiah and His disciples you can see it wasn’t
them. So the question can be asked, “Who did subvert the Faith of
Yahweh and create a new religion?”
Messiah
YahShua warned: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
(Matthew 7:15)
Rabbi Shaul (Paul) warned: “I know that after I
leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the
flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth
in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!”
(Acts 20:29-31)
How can we tell a false prophet or teacher? “By
their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) What is the
“fruit” of these “false teachers”? Here are their fruit:
“There are six things Yahweh hates, seven that are detestable to
him: haughty eyes (arrogance), a lying tongue (teach falsehood &
error), hands that shed innocent blood (condemning), a heart that
devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a
false witness who pours out lies (slanderer) and a person who stirs
up conflict in the community (of the Faith).” (Proverbs 6:16-19) In
other words they “cause many to stumble” at the Word of Yahweh.
On the contrary, the Netzarim Faith and its teachers have fruit that
cause people to love the commandments expressed in Yahweh’s Word.
Let’s
take a look at the difference in the two types of teachers:
“For
they being ignorant of Yahweh's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of Yahweh. For Messiah is the goal of the Torah for
righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the
righteousness which is of the Torah, that the man which doeth those
things shall live by them. (Romans 10:3-5)”
It is through
Messiah that we are able to strive to live by the instructions &
teachings – Torah - of our Creator – Yahweh.
Centuries
of Christian Anti-Semitism, Anti-Hebraic, and Anti-Torah replacement
theology has resulted in a religion that promotes darkness and
rebellion against Yahweh by ignoring, replacing, or discarding His
instructions to mankind. The Christian belief that the Torah has been
abolished would have been viewed as ridiculous and wicked by King
Messiah YahShua and his Talmidim (Disciples). This kind of theology
is in direct opposition to the teachings of the man who Christians
claim is their Christ. "The rejection of the Law by
Christianity, therefore, was a departure from its Christ."
(Jewish Encyclopaedia, ed. Isidore Singer New York and London: Funk
and Wagnalls, 1903), Vol.V.,p.52)
In
order to perpetuate the lie of the death of the Torah, Christian
leaders had to reach back into the musty corridors of time and find a
theological way of eliminating the bulk of Messiah YahShua’s own
teachings. They found this by a slight-of-hand interpretation of the
writings of Messiah Sha’ul, in a way that is un-Hebraic and which
Rabbi Sha’ul, that they call Paul (midget), would vehemently
oppose. The man that originated this school of thought was Marcion
the heretic. Marcion’s Anti-Semitic; pro-Paul churches spread
throughout the Roman Empire and soon became a major threat to the
Messianic faith.
Marcion
was born in 85 CE at Sinope on the Black Sea and was raised to be
very Anti-Semitic. Marcion taught that the entire Hebrew Bible should
be rejected because it belonged to an evil, inferior deity (Yahweh),
and not to “the God revealed by Jesus of Nazareth.” He also
rejected any of the Messianic writings, which appeared to speak
favourably of "Jewish practices" (like keeping Torah).
Marcion
taught the law was something obsolete and of little use to a
Christian. The Torah that he began to call the Old Testament and its
commandments is opposed to his New Testament founded on grace.
Following this school of thought you end up with either a
schizophrenic deity, or Marcion’s two gods.
In
“Against Marcion,” Tertullian accuses Marcion and his followers
of "forbidding what (Yahweh) commands and commanding what He
forbids. (IV.1)" Following Marcion, Mainstream Christianity
often commands what Yahweh forbids: "Forget the Sabbath. Ignore
the holy days and dietary laws. And shave that beard, so you will
look like a Christian!" "Marcion sets up unequal gods."
Tertullian writes, "The one a judge, fierce and warlike
(Yahweh), the other mild and peaceable (God), solely kind and
supremely good. (Tertullian, Against Marcion I.6.)"
A
spirit of lawlessness has been hanging over the Church for all of its
history. Tertullian shows the importance Messiah YahShua attached to
keeping Torah when he writes about the rich young ruler who
approached Messiah YahShua: "So when he is asked by that certain
man, "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to obtain possession of
eternal life?” he inquired whether he knew –which means, was
keeping, the Creator’s Commandments---.Come now, Marcion, and all
you companions in the misery and sharers in the offensiveness of that
heretic, what will you be bold enough to say? Did Messiah here
rescind those former commands---? (Against Marcion IV.36)”
Who
are we supposed to be following? Marcion’s perversion of what Rabbi
Sha’ul said or Messiah YahShua’s teachings based on what Yahweh
says.
“Therefore,
beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by
Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the
longsuffering of our Sovereign is salvation--as also our beloved
brother Rabbi Sha’ul, according to the wisdom given to him, has
written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of
these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which
untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they
do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you
know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own
steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow
in the grace and knowledge of our King and Savior Messiah YahShua. To
Him be the glory both now and forever. Amien. (2 Peter 3:14-18)”
I
can only imagine the anguish Rabbi Sha’ul would feel to see the
Holy Torah, that he loved and honoured so much, be so viciously
attacked and declared dead by those like Marcion who twist and take
out of context his very words. Tertullian opposes Marcion’s misuse
of Rabbi Sha’ul’s writings by pointing out the "Jewishness"
of Rabbi Sha’ul's faith, and then asking, "What had (Rabbi
Sha’ul) still to do with Jewish custom, if he was the destroyer of
Judaism? (Against Marcion V.5)"
Interestingly
enough, those taking Rabbi Sha’ul’s words and twisting them are
called in the Greek “athesmos” {ath’–es-mos} which means,
“one who breaks through the restraints of law and gratifies his
lust.” In other words lawless or Anti-Torah.
Tertullian
also refers to Romans 7:7, to combat Marcion’s hatred of the Torah:
"What shall we say then? That the Torah is sin? Yahweh fordid.”
Shame on you, Marcion. Yahweh forbid: the apostle expresses
abhorrence of complaint against the Torah---Yet he adds even more:
"The Torah is holy, and its commandment is just, and good (Rom.
7:12)." (Against Marcion V.14) As Tertullian points out later,
"you cannot make a promoter of the Torah into an opponent of it.
(Against Marcion V.17) "
Today,
the Neo-Marcionite Christians overlook or choose to ignore the
positive things Rabbi Sha’ul said about the Torah. "For in my
inner being I delight in Yahweh’s Torah" and "I myself in
my mind am a slave to Yahweh’s Torah " (Rom. 7:22,25). He
tells Rabbi Ptolemy (Timothy), "We know that the Torah is good
if one uses it properly" (I Tim. 1:8). To the Corinthians he
writes, "Keeping Yahweh’s Commandments is what counts"
(ICor.7:19). "I have committed No offense, either against the
Torah of the Jews or against the Temple"(Acts 25:8). "Brethren…I
had done nothing against our people, or the customs of our
Patriarchs…(Acts 28:17)”
Messiah
YahShua did not abolish the Word of Yahweh. Our Messiah came to
fulfil Torah by correctly interpreting it. Messiah YahShua came only
to abolish the enmity or hatred man had towards Torah because of
their sin nature and a wrong interpretation of Torah that opposed
Yahweh. Sin had separated mankind from Yahweh. The wrong
interpretation of Torah created isolationism instead of evangelism
and withheld the goodness of Yahweh’s Word from others. It had
always been the Father’s intention for His Torah to be given to the
nations through Israel. Israel was to be the Light (Menorah) to the
entire world – a Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 9:16).
“Arise,
shine; for your light has come! (Messiah) And the glory of Yahweh is
risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth (Lack
of Torah), and deep darkness (spiritual shame) the people; but Yahweh
will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The
Gentiles shall come to your light (Isaiah 60:1-3)”
It is through
Torah that Messiah YahShua is revealed. In Messiah’s own words He
upholds Torah.
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me;
for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings
(Torah), how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46,47)”
The
Netzarim Faith teaches:
“I, Yahweh your Elohim, am a jealous
Elohim, … showing love to a thousand generations of those who love
me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)
“See, I am
setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if
you obey the commands of Yahweh your Elohim that I am giving you
today; the curse if you disobey the commands of Yahweh your Elohim
and turn from the way that I command you today by following other
gods, which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
“Blessed
are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
(Revelation 22:14)
“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the Torah of Yahweh. Blessed are those who keep
his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” (Psalms
119:1-2)
The False teachers teach: They pit YahShua against Moses
and lie when they say YahShua taught against the Torah. They do this
so that they selectively teach that the commandments of Yahweh are
done away with. Messiah YahShua said, “Do not think that I came to
destroy the Torah or the Naviim (Prophets). I did not come to abolish
but to fulfill.
The
Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Keep [Yahweh] decrees and commands,
which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your
children after you and that you may live long in the land Yahweh your
Elohim gives you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40)
“Come,
let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the Temple of Elohim of
Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”
The Torah will go out from Zion, the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.”
(Isaiah 2:3)
The False teachers teach: We are no longer to keep
Torah.
The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“You see that a person is
considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
(James 2:24)
“…the people of Yahweh … keep [Yahweh’s]
commands and remain faithful to YahShua.” (Revelation 14:12)
The
False teachers teach: That all is needed for salvation is belief in
Christ. However, we know belief is not enough, “the devils also
believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19)
They
also teach, that nobody is justified by keeping the commandments.
There is a story in Matthew about this question: “a man came up to
YahShua and asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to get eternal
life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” YahShua
replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life,
keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:16, 17)
The
Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
(Deuteronomy 6:5)
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge
against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.
I am Yahweh.” (Leviticus 19:18)
“YahShua replied: “‘Love
Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All
the Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
(Matthew 22:37-49)
The False teachers teach: deceptively that
YahShua nullified all other commandments by only upholding these two.
They say, “Love is enough!” But Yahweh said, “love me and keep
my commandments.” (Exodus 20:6) YahShua taught: “If ye keep my
commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)
The
Netzarim Faith teaches:
Moses was told by Yahweh: “I will raise
up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites,
and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I
command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18)
Stephen witnessed that YahShua
was the “prophet like unto Moses” who had been prophesied to
come. “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel,
‘Yahweh your Elohim will raise up for you a Prophet like me from
your brethren. Him you shall hear.’”
(Acts
7:37) “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me
commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command
leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has
told me to say.” (John 12:49-50)
The False teachers teach: that
one must decide to either follow Moses or the Messiah they are
mutually exclusive. Moses is outdated while the Messiah is new and
improved!
The
Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it
holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh
day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim. On it you shall not do any
work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female
servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and
all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore
Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
(Exodus
20:8-11)
The False teachers teach: twisting Romans 14:5-6, where
Rabbi Sha’ul wrote: "One person esteems one day above another;
another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his
own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he
who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He
who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who
does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks."
From
this statement, it could appear to some that Rabbi Sha’ul or Paul
is saying that whatever day one chooses to rest and worship is
irrelevant so long as one is "fully convinced in his own mind"
and "observes it to the Lord."
Keep in mind that
Rabbi Sha’ul, earlier in this same epistle, had written that "the
Torah is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good," that
"the doers of the Torah will be justified," and that he
found "delight in the Torah of Yahweh" (Romans:7:12; 2:13;
7:22). If he were saying in Romans 14 that Sabbath observance is
irrelevant or changed, such an assertion would be completely
inconsistent with his other clear statements in this same letter.
The
passage in question about days in Romans:14:5-6 is immediately
between references to eating meat and vegetarianism in verses 2, 3
and 6. There is no biblical connection between Sabbath observance and
vegetarianism, so these verses must be taken out of context to assume
Rabbi Sha’ul was referring to the Sabbath.
The Expositor's Bible
Commentary explains that "the close contextual association with
eating suggests that Paul has in mind a special day set apart for
observance as a time for feasting or as a time for fasting"
(Everett Harrison, 1976, Vol. 10, p. 146). It is apparent that Rabbi
Sha’ul wasn't discussing the Sabbath but, rather, other days during
which feasting, fasting or abstaining from certain foods was
practiced.
Rabbi
Sha’ul was writing to a congregation composed of both Jewish,
returning Israelites and gentile believers in Rome (Romans 1:13;
2:17). Eating and fasting practices that were not clearly addressed
in the Scriptures had become a point of contention.
The Talmud
records that many Jews of that time fasted on Mondays and Thursdays.
They also had other traditional fast days (compare Zechariah 7:3-5).
Since some of the Jewish Believers in Rome self-righteously
criticized others (Romans 2:17-24), perhaps they had become like the
Pharisee who boasted, "I fast twice a week" (Luke 18:12),
and set themselves up as more righteous than others who were not
fasting at these times.
Rabbi Sha’ul was setting the record
straight by emphasizing that fasting is a voluntary exercise of
worship not limited to particular days. Therefore, one person's
fasting on a particular day when another is eating does not make him
more righteous.
These
are just some of the examples of how the Netzarim Faith differs from
Christianity.
“…when Yahshua had ended these sayings,
that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them
as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew
7:24-29)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose
hope is Yahweh. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat
comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the
year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah
17:6-8)
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Thanks for reading. Hopefully this will help answer questions for you and others!
More later....
