I am posting this article on the One New Man by Andrew Gabriel Roth a Jewish born believer in Y'shua the Messiah. This is an excellent scriptural explanation of Jew and Gentile coming together as one new man. Check out his website for excellent resources:
And
it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto
you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children
among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children
of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
And
it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there
shall
ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 47.22-23
Throughout Torah one can find mention of the stranger,
alien, sojourner or temporary resident (ger toshav) who joins him or herself
with Israel and becomes part of the Israel of Elohim, as one people. “One
law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the ger (temporary
resident)that toshav (sojourns) among you” (Sh’mot/Ex. 12:49).
Regardless as to what Christian and Rabbinical traditions
say, Torah tells us that the Ger belongs to YHWH just as much as those who are
as blood line Jews or Israelites. Even King Dawid referred to himself as a Ger.
“Hear my prayer, O YHWH, and give ear unto my cry; hold
not thy peace at my tears: for I am a Ger (temporary resident) with you, and a
Toshav (sojourner), as all my fathers were” (Psalm 38:12). When
Dawid says “all of my fathers” he means his fathers going back to Adam, Noach,
Awraham, Yitzkhakh, Ya’akov.
All who enter into the Kingdom of Elohim are considered Ger
Toshav; all were/are strangers and aliens to this world as Rav Shaul said
of Awraham: “By faith Awraham, when he was called, obeyed and departed to
the place which he was to receive for an inheritance: and he departed while he
knew not whither he was going. By faith he became a resident in the land that
was promised him as in a foreign land; and abode in tents with Yitz’chak and
Ya’akov, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for the city
that has a foundation of which the builder and maker is Elohim” (Hebrews
11:8-10).
That foreign land that Rav Shaul refers to is a type
of the Malchut (Kingdom of) Elohim as it pertains to the Olam Haba
(world to come). All of YHWH’s people are pilgrims and sojourners
when it comes to the Kingdom of Elohim as the Kingdom is outside of this
world’s system.
Whether Jews or non-Jewish souls, it is irrelevant from
which background a person enters. There was a “mixed multitude” (erev
rav) at Mt. Sinai who fled Egypt along with Israel. Rabbis even suggest
that Torah was given in 70 languages so the “mixed multitude” and all nations
could hear and understand Torah. Torah states that the “mixed
multitude” who sojourned with Israel entered into Life, not as second
class citizens but as equals who are considered the SpecialTreasure of YHWH.
Neither Calev nor Ruth were Jewish
by birth, however, they both fulfilled extremely important roles in the
Kingdom of Elohim, indicating that YHWH and His Mashiyach have made a
place for all souls to enter into the common good of the Kingdom of Elohim.
Throughout the prophets, especially in Isaiah who addresses
this theme most often, there is considerable mention of the role that Gentiles
play in the Malchut Elohim. After revealing the Netzer in Isaiah 11, Isaiah
goes on to say, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall
stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Goy (Gentiles) seek: and his
rest shall beglorious” (Isaiah 11:8).
Goy is used in Scripture to denote nations, heathen,
Gentiles or people; when Greeks came to follow Y’shua they were no longer referred
to as Goy (Gentiles), but as Elohim fearers.
“I YHWH have called you in righteousness, and will hold
your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the
prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house”
(Isaiah 42:6, 7).
YHWH showed Isaiah how the
Gentiles were to be brought out of paganism and all manner of false religion,
and offered a heritage along with the Jewish people.
“Neither let the son of the stranger, that has
joined himself to YHWH, speak, saying, YHWH has utterly separated me from his
people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For this is what
YHWH says unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things
that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give
in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons
and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut
off.
Also the sons of the stranger, that join
themselves to YHWH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHWH, to be
His servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes
hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and
make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their
sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar; for mine House shall be
called the House of prayer for all people. YHWH Elohim which gathers the out casts
of Israel says; Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered
unto him” (Isaiah 56:3-8).
Clearly YHWH intended the Gentiles to enter into Covenant
with Him, which means to observe His Torah and to “keep the
Sabbath from polluting it.”
Most believers realize that we are living in the acharit
hayamim (latter days) and as such we are entering into a time for the
fulfillment of many prophecies including;
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that
the mountain of the house of YHWH shall be established in the top of the mountains,
and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And
many nations (Goy) shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of YHWH, and to the house of the El of Jacob; and He will teach
us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the Torah shall go
forth of Zion, and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:1-2).
The mountain is a symbol of YHWH’s government authority
which means that many will seek the Kingdom of Elohim which is established
above all of man’s kingdoms and religions. Although Torah and the Word of YHWH
have been trodden asunder by most Christians (most are currently observing only
61 percent of Torah) the fact remains that Torah will be acknowledged and accepted
by many Christians who realize that they have never been shown the deeper
application and meaning of Torah.
Notice how the Word of YHWH is
equated with Torah, but the Word of YHWH is Mashiyach! Torah and Mashiyach are
One and the same Spirit; they are perfectly unified as One. It is man’s
“religion” that has pitted them against each other.
In Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant) Writings when Gentiles
(Ger Toshav) entered into the Kingdom through Mashiyach, they were given the
designation of “Fearers of Elohim”:
“Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, a
centurion, whose name was Qurnelius, from that band of soldiers which is
called Italiqa. And he was righteous and feared Elohim, he and all his household.
And he did many alms among the people, and he beseeched Elohim at all times”
(Acts 10:1, 2).
Some might dispute this and
suggest that a Ger Toshav is not equivalent to a Gentile; however, this is a
moot point if we consider what YHWH says about the Jewish people: “Israel is
swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no
pleasure.” (Hosea 8:8).
Jews went into the dispersion because they threw off YHWH’s
Torah and broke Covenant with Him, and they have been punished in every
generation since. Had Jews as a race been obedient, they would have lifted up
Mashiyach and taught Torah to all who had ears to hear. Many more Gentiles
would then be Ger Toshav as they would have access through the Jewish people to
learn of YHWH and His Mashiyach; but as it stands today, most Jews are embarrassed
to be associated with the Ancient Paths (Jer. 6:16).
Many who acknowledge Y’shua as Mashiyach openly break Torah,
just as most Christians falsely believe that Y’shua or Paul did away with
Torah. Qurnelius was the first of many
Ger Toshav to enter into the Kingdom as witnessed by Mashiyach’s talmidim: “he was righteous and feared Elohim, he and all his
household” (Acts
10:2).
Here are two essential elements of true faith for any Jew or
Gentile to be “righteous and fear Elohim.”
“And while they were departing from their midst, they
beseeched from them that they might speak on another Shabbat these words to
them. And after the congregation was dismissed, many Yehudeans went after them,
and even proselytes who feared Elohim. And they were speaking and persuading
them to be adherents of the grace of Elohim. And on another Shabbat all the city
gathered to hear the Word of Elohim. And when the Yehudeans saw the large
gathering theywere filled with envy and they were standing against the words
that Polous was speaking. And they were blaspheming” (Acts 13:42-45).
Not only Yehudeans but “even proselytes who feared Elohim”
were meeting together on Shabbat as one people. The proselytes were
Gentiles who entered into Covenant with YHWH through Mashiyach Y’shua
and observed Shabbat together; they feared Elohim, which means they
repented of breaking Torah.
It is through Torah that we have the knowledge of
sin, so rather than to fear man and do what religion prescribed, many Gentiles
turned to YHWH through Mashiyach and entered into the Renewed Covenant which requires
Torah to be written upon the heart.
“And on the Shabbat day, we went without the gate of the
city to the side of a river, because a house of prayer was seen there. And when
we were seated, we conversed with the women who there assembled. And a certain
woman who feared Elohim, a seller of purple, whose name was Lydia, from the
city of Thyatira, (was there). Her heart our Master opened, and she listened to
what Paul spoke. Then she was immersed, and her household…” (Acts
16:13-15).
The symbol of entering into a mikveh (living waters)
and coming out purified was being practiced for centuries before Y’shua;
the candidate arose from the waters renewed unto YHWH and born anew. Lydia “feared
Elohim” and therefore presented herself to YHWH according to the requirement of
the Word of YHWH (Torah).
To Jewish onlookers Lydia’s immersion at the side of the
river was a mikveh based on Torah (the covenant of immersion [baptism]
is Torah). “And some of them believed, and adhered to Paul and Silas; and of
those Greeks who feared Elohim, a great many; and also of noted women, not a
few” (Acts 17:4).
As larger numbers of Gentiles
turned to YHWH, the Netzarim Jewish community was being challenged to disciple
each new soul into Mashiyach, but a dispute arose regarding the matter of circumcision
for Gentiles. Acts
15 records how followers of Y’shua from P’rushim (Pharisaic) background
demanded Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Torah of Moshe, but it is clearly
particulars of circumcision that were contested, not observance of the Torah of
Moshe.
“Because of this <I> say that you should not
be those oppressors who from the Gentiles are turning to Elohim. But we
will send (word) to them that they should abstain from uncleanness of
sacrifices (idols) and from adultery and from things that are strangled
and from blood. For from ancient generations in all cities Moshe had
preachers in the synagogues that on every Shabbat they read him” (Acts
15:19-21).
These four Commandments provided
preliminary elements (initiation) for Gentiles to join with the existing
Messianic community.
Gentiles were meeting with the Netzarim followers of Y’shua in homes and
synagogues and on Shabbat they were learning about Torah (Moshe) in the
synagogues, but all-Gentile based Christianity rapidly turned the tables.
Not only did the Gentile Church
abandon Moses, but they soon began to demand that Jewish followers of Y’shua
forsake both Torah and their Jewish heritage.
The true remnant followers of Y’shua are they who sing the Song
of Moshe (observe Torah) and have the Testimony of the Lamb (follow
Y’shua). In much of the world today it is non-Jewish followers
of Y’shua who are returning to the Netzari Faith and are teaching Jews about
Mashiyach and the importance of Torah observance. Many “fearers of
Elohim” (Gentiles) are sanctifying the Name of YHWH, observing Shabbat and the
Moedim equally alongside Jewish talmidim.
“Now I say, that Y’shua the Mashiyach ministered
to the circumcision in behalf of the truth of Elohim in order to confirm the
promise (made) to the fathers; And that the Gentiles might glorify Elohim for
his mercies upon them, as it is written: I will confess to you among the
Gentiles, and to your name will I sing psalms. And again he said:
Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people. And again he said: Praise MASTER
YHWH, all you Gentiles; (and) laud him, all you nations. And again Isaiah
said: There will be a root of Jesse; and he that shall arise will be a prince
for the Gentiles; and in him will the Gentiles hope” (Romans 15:8-12).
Many Gentiles have
been led by the Ruach haKodesh into Kingdom through Mashiyach and delight in
the Torah of YHWH.
“But I say: Did not Israel know? First, Moshe said thus: I will awaken your emulation by a people which is not a people; and
by a disobedient people I will provoke you. And Isaiah was bold, and
said: I was seen by those who sought me not; and I was found by those who
inquired not for me. But to Israel, he said: All the day have I stretched out my
hands to a contentious and disobedient people” (Romans 10:19-21).
According to Rav
Shaul the Gentiles, by turning to YHWH also create opportunity for the Jewish
people to make teshuva:
“But I say: Have they so stumbled as to fall entirely?
May it never be! Rather, by their stumbling, life has come to the Gentiles for
(awakening) their jealousy. And if their stumbling was riches to the world, and
their condemnation riches to the Gentiles; how much more their completeness?” (Romans
11:11-12)
Those who break
Torah can in no way make anyone jealous for Mashiyach or Torah. Paul is clearly
talking about the Gentiles attaining righteous qualities that come about by
having Torah written upon the heart.
Although
Jewish and Christian religious traditions deem that Gentiles are under a
different covenant than Jews, the fact of the matter is there is only One
Kingdom, One Mashiyach and One Covenant. There can never be one law for one
person and a different law for another within a united kingdom; this is
absolutely absurd thinking and foolish to postulate yet it is a very common
theme within Jewish and Christian religious worlds.
The big question in
the First Century was not a matter of if, but when
the Gentiles would be expected to bear righteous fruit of
having Torah written upon their hearts. Clearly there are massive
expectations on Jews to live upright and righteous lives in YHWH according to
Torah. However, when a Gentile soul enters into the Kingdom of Elohim after a
life of paganism, polytheism and all manner of Torahlessness, then logic and
reason would suggest that people need time to grow in Torah and develop an understanding
of what it means to have Torah written upon their hearts.
Jews are called to enter into Covenant, be
circumcised at eight days old, observe Torah and follow Mashiyach; this is what
YHWH intended for every Jewish soul. But YHWH is not a “respecter of persons” –
He is Creator of both Jew and Gentile which is why Mashiyach warned the chief
priests and Pharisees in the Temple: “…I say to you that
the Kingdom of Elohim will be taken from you and will be given to a people who
bear fruit” (Matthew 21:43).
Therefore, if the
Kingdom of Elohim were to be taken from the Pharisees for denying the
cornerstone who is Y’shua Mashiyach, then it would also impossible for Gentiles
to break the Torah that is incumbent upon Jews to observe, and somehow bear
fruit without Torah! Those who “bear fruit” are righteous Jews and Gentiles who
have Torah written upon their hearts and who bear fruit of the Love of YHWH and
love for their fellow man which is specified in the Terms and Conditionsof
Torah Covenant, which is Mashiyach.
Whether you are a
Jew who is taking the heat from your Jewish community for putting your trust in
Y’shua Mashiyach, or a Gentile who is being abused by family members and
friends for your love of Torah, the Kingdom of Elohim is all about bearing
righteous fruit and being Set Apart unto YHWH and His Mashiyach.
