An In-depth Review of One New Man in Y'shua

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:

http://netzari.org/

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.