In Part 3 of the “Pork Chop Trilogy” we will attempt to bring all the facts together to arrive at the truth of the matter regarding the issue of the dietary regulations as put forth in Scriptures.
What is extremely important to understand is that the same conditions for salvation apply to both Jews and those of any other nation.
And the deity, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the sacred ruach, even as he did unto us; AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM, purifying their hearts by trust. Now therefore why do you tempt the deity, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, WHICH NEITHER OUR FATHERS NOR WE WERE ABLE TO BEAR? But we trust that through the grace of the sovereign Yahushua messiah WE SHALL BE SAVED, EVEN AS THEY. (Acts 15: 8-11)
For THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE between the Jew and the Greek: for the same sovereign over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Rom. 10:12)
THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN MESSIAH YAHUSHUA. (Gal. 3:28)
Where there is NEITHER GREEK NOR JEW, CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but messiah is all, and in all. (Col. 3:11)
If we now return to the statutes that “require” clean foods for salvation, then we must also demand fleshly circumcision and all the rest, for if you break one point of the Torah of Moses (the Law, Old Covenant) you have broken it all (James 2:10). And if we do that, then will you not again bring yourself under the Torah of Moses?, and no man is justified by his deeds under the Torah of Moses (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:20, 28; Gal. 2:16, 3:11, 24).
If you believe that we are saved by being justified under the Torah of Moses, “then the messiah died for nothing” (Gal. 2:21). Those who believe that we are justified by the Torah of Moses have “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:6). We must walk as “uncircumcised” Abraham walked (Rom. 4:9-17; Gal. 3:5-9), not as the “circumcised” Jews under the Torah of Moses.
Scriptures are pointing out that the conditions for salvation are the same for everyone. A person‘s salvation is not dependent on food issues, which are works of the flesh, whether the issues are those of clean or unclean meat, being a vegetarian or not, or whether one eats with unwashed hands, etc.
Therefore, the only works from the written Torah of Moses concerning food that are still valid after the messiah‘s death are those part of the four dogmasin or public decrees announced at the Council of Jerusalem (49 C.E.) which were contained in the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise (Torah of Trust).
All relevant laws incorporated in the Torah of Trust and predate the Torah of Moses remain in force and all other dogmasin or works of the flesh found in the Torah of Moses that are adverse to us have been nailed to the stake (Col. 2:11-16).
The only command considered ”necessary“ in reference to the consumption of meat/food was that we are to abstain from eating anything offered to idols, from the eating blood or the eating of anything strangled. Notice that there is no instruction to abstain from any other types of food whether that food be clean or unclean. If such were ”necessary“ for salvation surely it would have been stated. The Scriptures are quite explicit in this regard.
Isaiah 65
Another argument brought forward as evidence to support the idea that one’s salvation is dependent on their diet is the passage of Isaiah 65: 1-7.
• First, to place things in context, the evidence presented in Parts 1 and 2 dismisses the notion that men were required to eat clean meat prior to the flood or even on Noah’s ark. The fact that animals were subdivided into clean and unclean in the pre-Flood world proves nothing, since vegetarianism was the standard.
Neither can one argue that mankind was restricted to clean meat after the Flood. Gen. 9:3 clearly states that Yahweh gave permission for mankind to eat all types of animals, an understanding which was even confirmed by the diet conscious Hasidic Jews like Josephus and the author of Jubilees.
There is no scriptural statement whatsoever that would prove that after the flood and prior to the time of the Torah of Moses mankind was restricted to eating clean meats.
Animals are clean and unclean by their nature and, no doubt, Yahweh used these traits when he required the priestly nation of Israel to only eat and offer sacrifices and burnt offerings of clean animals.
But such works of the flesh were accomplished to teach Israel that they should not consume unclean knowledge, only clean knowledge (e.g., Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8, 3:1; Prov. 18:8, 23:6; 1 Cor. 10:3).
It was also for this prophetic symbolism that the nations of the world were described as unclean animals (Dan. 7:1-28; Acts 10:9-37).
• Second, the instructions by Saul and the edict made by the Council of Jerusalem clearly prove that we are not under the covenant of the Torah of Moses but under the covenant of grace (Acts 15:1-16:5; Col. 2:8-23; Eph. 2:11-22; Rom. 6:14-15; Gal. 3:10, 23-25, 5:18).
Only four of the dogmasin (decrees) found in the Torah of Moses are still applicable, and none of these included a restriction against unclean meat (Acts 15:20-21, 23-29). To the contrary, all other dogmasin, which would include the dietary rules, have been dismissed.
Likewise, the messiah and his apostles taught that it was not food that defiles a man but the thoughts of his innermost self. These facts clearly support the idea that those under grace are not required to eat only clean food, no matter how healthy it is, in order to obtain salvation. Neither does it command that they eat unclean food.
However, it should also be noted that, according to Scriptures, only clean offerings and sacrifices are to be presented to Yahweh therefore it would not be acceptable to provide unclean meat/food on a Sabbath or Festival Day because of the meaning it entails which is the partaking of clean knowledge.
The four dogmasin only allow the followers of Yahweh to enjoy whatever food their appetites desire as long as it is blessed to Yahweh and does not offend those eating with them.
Now let us consider the passage in Isaiah 65. The opening verse of this prophecy reads:
I (Yahweh) have been sought for by those not asking; I have been acquired by those who were not searching. I said, “Behold, it is I, Behold, it is I,” to a nation not calling upon my name. I have spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people who walk on a road that is not good, following their own thoughts. (Isa. 65:1-2)
The context of this passage is defined by Saul, who (quoting from the LXX version) states:
For Isaiah says, sovereign, who trusted our report? (Isa. 53:1). So trust is out of report, but the report through the word of Yahweh. But I say, Did they (Israel) not hear (the report)? Yes, rather, into all the earth went out their (the prophets’) voice, and to the ends of the habitable world their words. But I say, Did not Israel know? First, Moses says, “I will provoke you (Israel) to jealousy through those not a nation, through a nation without understanding I will anger you” (Deut. 32:21). But Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those not seeking me; manifested I became to those not enquiring after me” (Isa. 65:1). But to Israel he says, “I stretched out my hands the whole day to a people disobeying and contradicting” (Isa. 65:2). I say then, Did Yahweh thrust away his people? May it not be! For I am an Israelite, out of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Yahweh did not thrust away his people, whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scriptures say about Elijah?, how he pleads with Yahweh against Israel, saying, “Yahweh, they have killed your prophets and they have torn down your altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life” (1 Kings 19:10). But what divine answer did he speak to him? “I have left 7,000 men for myself who have not bowed a knee to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18). Thus then also in the present time there has been a remnant according to the ELECT OF GRACE. But if by grace, no longer out of works; else grace no longer becomes grace. BUT IF IT IS OF GRACE THEN IT IS NO LONGER OF WORKS. What then? What Israel seeks for, this it did not obtain; but the elect will obtain it, and the rest (of Israel) were hardened, according as it has been written, “Yahweh gave them a ruach of slumber, eyes so as not to see, and ears so as to to hear, UNTIL THIS DAY” (Isa. 29:10). (Rom. 10:16-11:8)
The context, therefore, is that Yahweh had spread out his hands to Israel, but the Israelites were a rebellious people and, though they heard the report, they closed their eyes and ears to it. As a result, the message was sent to another people, those not making inquiry, that is, a people formed out of the nations (note the parable in Matt. 22:1-14).
Saul is in fact using this very prophecy from Isaiah to confirm his own mission to go to the nations. On more than one occasion, Saul rejected the Jews because they refused to hear the message about the messiah and went to the nations instead (e.g., Acts 13:44-51, 18:4-7). Nevertheless, Yahweh has not rejected all of Israel, for there remains those of Israel who do trust—these are the elect of grace.
The key in Saul’s explanation of this passage from Isaiah is that the elect of Israel come by means of grace, and “NO LONGER OUT OF WORKS.” With this very point made, let us now examine the remaining verses in the passage from Isaiah. Speaking of the Israelites (not those of Israel called “the elect of grace,” who are not charged with sin, but those who sinned while “under the works of the Torah” and continually rebelled), Yahweh continues:
A people who continually provoke me upon my face, sacrificing in gardens and burning incense upon the bricks, who sit among graves and sleep in the watch towers eating the flesh of swine and a broth of unclean things in their pots; who say, “Draw near to yourself, do not come near to me, for I am more sacred than you.” These (people) are a smoke in my nose, a burning fire all the day. Behold! It is written before me, I will not be silent, except I will repay; and I will repay to their bosom, your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together, says Yahweh, who burn incense on the mountains and upon the hills have blasphemed me. And I will measure out their former work upon their bosom. (Isa. 65:2-7)
What was their crime? To begin with, they say, “Draw near to yourself, do not come near to me, for I am more sacred than you.” Therefore, they are a prideful and arrogant lot.
Along with this, Yahweh tells them that they “continually provoke me upon my face, sacrificing in gardens and burning incense upon the bricks.” These are acts of idolatry and pagan worship. Yahweh, therefore, was angry because they were a rebellious people breaking the ten commandments.
Added to these statements comes the reference to swine’s flesh: Those sacrificing and burning incense to pagan idols where also those “who sit among graves and they sleep in the watch towers eating the flesh of swine and a broth of unclean things in their pots.”
These actions were also the acts of the pagan religions. Because of such customs among the nations, the symbolism of unclean food was later used by Yahushua the messiah to describe the nations to Keph.
The point here is not that the Israelites were just eating swine’s flesh but that they were sacrificing and eating swine as part of a pagan cult!
They were practicing this form of demon worship against their agreement with Yahweh not to bow down or serve other eloahim and while they themselves were under the Torah of Moses and its works which forbade eating swine’s flesh!
Sacrificing pigs and then feasting upon their flesh was a custom of pagan Baal worship. In fact, the Israelites were heavily chastised for following the Baal religion while claiming to be following Yahweh (e.g., Judg. 2:11, 13, 3:7, 8:33, 10:10; 1 Sam. 12:10; 1 Kings 16:31-32, 18:18; Jer. 11:13, 17, 12:16, 23:1-40; etc.).
It is not a coincidence that the religious leaders of Judaea in the time of the messiah and apostles, who were claiming to follow Yahweh, were described as vipers, hypocrites, and the children of Satan. One of Yahushua’s proverbs ridiculed such men by telling the followers of the messiah, “Do not cast your pearls before the swine (Matt. 7:6).”
The metaphor used in this above verse from Isaiah is connected with the scriptural use of clean and unclean foods to represent clean and unclean knowledge.
Further, Saul clarifies the entire passage by separating the Israelites who come under grace (the remnant elect) from those who were under the Torah of Moses. It was those under the Torah of Moses to whom Yahweh states, “I will repay to their bosom, your iniquities and the iniquities of your father together.”
It must be remembered, all those under the Torah of Moses are under a curse (Gal. 3:10-13). It was the very people who claimed to be following Yahweh while under the works of the Torah of Moses that rebelled and fell into pagan practices.
But the people who shall obey Yahweh are the elect of the Israelites and the elect of the nations under grace (the latter having not originally sought after Yahweh but to whom Yahweh made himself known).
Those who failed under the works of the Torah of Moses are not the elect of Yahweh; but those under grace, both of Israel and the nations, are the true Yahwehists.
The symbolism of those “who sit among graves and sleep in the watch towers” (Moffatt has “pass the night in vaults”; the New Jerusalem Bible has “spending the night in dark corners”; and the Amplified Bible has “lodge among the secret places [or caves where familiar spirits were thought to dwell]”) “eating the flesh of swine and a broth of unclean things in their pots” is a reference to pagan idol and demon worship.
The key to understanding the passage in Isaiah is to consider the swine eating incident in context: These Israelites were not just eating swine’s flesh, they were doing so while stationed in graveyards or concealed quarters in order to worship demons.
This statement is not a condemnation against those under grace, who sanctify their meat to Yahweh, for as Saul writes, “because every creature of Yahweh is good, and nothing is to be rejected after being received with thanksgiving; for it is made sacred by Yahweh’s word and conversation with him” (1 Tim., 4:1-5).
The passage condemns Baal worship and rebellion against Yahweh by following after pagan religions and following other eloahim. Worse, the Israelites were doing so while under a covenant, the Torah of Moses, that forbade them to eat swine’s flesh!
Is it actually possible that Scriptures teach that people who are not under the works of the Torah of Moses will lose their salvation because of the food they eat?
Would a person be condemned to lose his salvation if his family was lost in the wilderness and starving and the only thing he could find for a meal to keep everyone alive was a rabbit?
One must carefully consider judgment on the matter and not be swayed by those who wish to bring one back under the Torah of Moses and its works, for no man is justified under the works of the Torah.
Those who hold to this view only wish to make others their followers and compel these burdens for their own glory (Gal. 6:13).
Yet, as Scriptures prove, this burden was even too heavy for the ancient Israelites to bear and they all failed.
Conclusion
Let us conclude with a few comments. You cannot pick and choose which statutes are applicable for salvation. Only Yahweh can do that. Neither can we condemn what Yahweh does not condemn.
The dietary rules found in Scriptures, as well as fleshly circumcision and other cleanliness statutes, are excellent to practice, possessing great health benefits.
Their symbolism for taking in clean knowledge is also beneficial as a teaching tool. As Scriptures states, if a man does these things “he will live” and it will be well with him (Ezek. 20:1-25).
It is important to recognize, as stated earlier, that only clean offerings are to be brought before Yahweh therefore unclean meats/food should not be presented on a Sabbath or Feast Day.
But, conversely, one cannot condemn or judge others because they eat unclean meat when Yahweh will not support this attitude. We must be careful of judging others in this regard, for by our own judgments we will be judged.
When all of the relevant passages from Scriptures are examined, they all point to the fact that the dietary regulations (just as with fleshly circumcision) were not part of the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise (Torah of Trust) and were not necessary for either Abraham’s or our salvation.
What really is important for everyone today is the keeping of the Torah of Trust which encompasses works of the ruach (good works) which Abraham kept by trust (i.e., eternal commandments, laws and statutes) and not the works of the flesh as listed in the written Torah of Moses (the Law, Old Covenant) excepting of course for the four dogmasin not adverse to us.
It is recognized that those parts of the written Torah of Moses, not included in the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise (Torah of Trust) and not actually required for salvation, can be useful for guiding us to a more healthy physical well-being.
The Torah of Moses is meant to teach us. Additionally, and more specifically, it informs us of what sin is. It is just a matter of being able to recognize and distinguish between those parts of the written Torah of Moses that were ”nailed to the stake“ and those which are still valid for salvation of which are contained in the Torah of Trust.
Indeed, why place burdens on the followers of Yahweh that the ancient Israelites were unable to bear?
Regarding the epistles of Saul which deal with this issue in-depth, Keph says:
There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. (2 Pet. 3:15-16).
It is not surprising, therefore, that Saul has been so misunderstood by so many in his effort to communicate the dynamics of the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise (Torah of Trust), the inheritance, and the written Torah of Moses (the Law, Old Covenant).
Saul’s job was not an easy task in the first century and the scriptural concepts are still not easy to explain today.
Yahweh be with you.
I am indeed saddened when I read through your conclusions which may lead those who choose to take your teaching at face value as The Truth. I am amazed at how many times you have stumbled over the very Truth born in the scriptures of Yahuwah’s written Word/Torah/Instructions for Righteous Living and Ruling that you place as standards in the midst of your presentations and how we must discern these simple statements of faith/trust to your own leading, liking and bias.
With that said, I will attempt to reason with you (who identifies yourself as being a masked man) by addressing a very simple Truth found in Paul’s statement to the Galatians in chapter 3 verse 19:
“What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made; ordained through malachim by the hand of a mediator.”
Paul states that the “law” in question was added because of transgressions. Transgressions of what? Consider what Yahuwah has said in YeremYahu 7:21-23:
“In this manner says Yahuwah Saabaoth (of Hosts), the Elohim of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spoke not to your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Mitzraim (Egypt), concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing I commanded them, saying, Listen to my voice I will be your Elohim and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.”
What has Yah said? It is very plainly stated that the sacrifices for sin were not part of the original Torah/Instructions for Righteous Living and Ruling! The sacrifices found in the book of Leviticus and onward were added due to the Torah because of Rebellion to the Original Covent! That original covenant is the 10 Words from our Abba which mandate what is required to be His people (read “bride”).
Paul also writes in Colossians 2:13-14:
“And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the torture stake; having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it.”
This teaching of Paul explains that the ordinance that stood against us were nailed to the torture stake of MosheYah Yahushua. What were the ordinances that stood against us? Those that were added to the original Covenant because of transgressions against the terms of the Covenant/Torah! The the elements of the original Covenant, them selves, which lay out what is expected of Yah’s people/bride. The penalties implied in the added ordinances to the Covenant/Torah were satisfied with Yahushua’s sacrifice if we, by Faith and in Trust, accept it in place of our own blood or the blood of goats and sheep and turtle doves. Once we accept his mastership over our lives, then we can become re-newed creatures in His sight and without our former sins attached! But if we sin, we have an advocate with Abba who is Faithfull to forgive us our transgressions against the Covenant/Torah if we repent/stop breaking the Covenant! How many times? 7? 70 times 7 Yahushua replied, when inquired of how merciful we should be in regards to those who sin against us.
Mercy is found in the original Torah of our Abba as is stated in requirement #2 of the Ten Words/Commandments, found in Exodus 20:4-6:
“You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow down to them, or serve them; for I Yahuwah your Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity/Torahlessness of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy(grace, favor, unmerited kindness) to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments/Torah/Instructions for Righteous Living and Ruling.
Yah hates sin and will repay sin (transgressions of His Torah) unto the third and fourth generation of those, He says, hates Him. But will extend His unmerited grace, mercy and kindness to those who, He says, loves Him and keeps or guards His Torah! There is only one Torah/Covenant and it can be renewed to us if we return to Abba. The so called “old covenant” that is fading away contains the same terms as the “covenant of promise” that was extended to Abraham and the spiritual children of Abraham. The same terms will be written upon our hearts/minds when the re-newed covenant is given and the prophesy is fulfilled. At that time, no man will need to teach his neighbor about Abba because all will know Yahuwah, supernaturally! He will download His Covenant knowledge into man’s own psyche. The tablet of man’s heart will replace the former tablets of stone; first carved by the very hand of Yahuwah and then with Moshe’s own hands, after the first offering at a covenant relationship with Yah was dismissed with the rebellion of the children of Israel at Moshe’s first coming down with the Torah/Instructions for Righteous Living and Ruling. Yahushua himself will write his Marriage Covenant contract on tablets of flesh.
This Yah who was mediator of this Covenant was none other than Yahushua himself. The bride groom! The terms of the Covenant constructed a marital contract between the husband and his bride. Yahushua stated that if you will be my people (bride) THEN I will be your Elohim (husband). Vows were exchanged between the contractual parties at mount Sinai.
In very short order, rebellion to the contract by the very ones who swore an oath of faith/fidelity/trust with their Elohim/husband reared it’s sinful head and remediation was found to be a necessity because of Yah’s merciful nature and love for His people/bride, so remedy was added to the contract to temporarily fix a growing problem . . . sin or transgression of the marital covenant.
I will boldly state that if one cannot see the simplicity found in Paul’s explanation of this law that was added because of transgressions of the original contractual agreement; which is the original Torah/Instructions for Righteous Living and Ruling; then they have need of being taught the rudiments of what is expected of us in regards to what is His expectations toward us! By default, they also are found to be the one’s that Kepha (Peter) addresses in 2 Kepha 3:15-16, as you have touched upon in your closing remarks.
Your discernment of the true context of what was debated at the Yahrushalayim Council is also in error. The topic was the minimum standard by which a Pharisaical Yahudite (Jew) could have table fellowship with a gentile. Kepha was rebuked and was in fear of the pharasaical Jews who despised any contact with those of the gentiles/nations, because he was secretly having fellowship with the gentile believers. This is further born out with Kepha’s vision of the sheet that was let down from heaven holding all manner of land dwelling beasts and creeping things. You will notice that the fowls of the air and the fishes and other creatures of the seas were absent from the midst of the sheet! Kepha quickly discerns the meaning and goes in unto a gentile believer’s home and pursues fellowship in MosheYah Yahushua. Prior to this revelation, Kepha’s understanding regarding fellowship with the gentiles (nations) was unwavering in that it was blasphemous and sinful to do so! By the way, Yah’s judgment from the beginning and exemplified in the Torah prevailed at that council. It was nothing new, but had been left off because of the “traditions of the elders” (pharasaism/judaism) which had “made void” or of “no effect” the Torah of Abba.
Like Abraham’s example, circumcision of the heart (mind) must come first! The outward sign of what is inside the cup naturally follows with the physical circumcision of the flesh, as exemplified in Abraham’s faithful walk of trust with Yahuwah (he himself was circumcised along with all males within his tribe, home-born and strangers who joined themselves to him, alike). If circumcision or any other pursuit of keeping Yah’s Torah is without the Faith and belief in Yahushua first, then it becomes a pursuit of salvation by works only and is doomed from the beginning in that all flesh have fallen short of the mark Yah has set as the requirement in being perfect. Trust / Faith has always been the prerequisite in starting a meaningful relationship with the Most High Elohim. The mystery of Elohim is Yahushua and Yahuwah, through their Ruah, dwelling within His people. It is Yah that will fulfill the works of the Torah within us by strenthening us to fulfill all that Torah (The Ten Words) requires and not ourselves only! With man nothing is possible. With and through Yah, all things are possible!
It is Yahushua’s sacrifice through the shedding of his own blood (and not the blood of bulls and goats and sheep and turtle doves) that cleanses us of all our former sins (read Romans 3:19-30). Pharasaism / Judaism believe’s in the blood of animals in place of their own blood to wash away their sins, because they have been led to believe that sacrifice pleases Elohim. This is also represented in the imperativeness of the Jews demands that the believer’s must first be circumcised as it was held as a required blood self sacrifice to enter into the Covenant of Elohim.
I will leave you with this for now as I am in hopes that these foundational and rudimentary truths will be examined by you and will effect the outcome of your conclusions that you have presented in regards to what is required of Yahushua’s own. I pray that you and those who will read your teachings, and believe them to be truth, may not be found as those described in the passages found in MattithYahu 5:17-20 and 7:21-23:
“Think not that I came to destroy the law or the proophets: I came not to destroy but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one youth or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the Torah, till all things be accomplished. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least instructions, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kngdom of heaven: but whoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
“Not everyone that says to me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Abba who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, did we not prophesy (teach) by your name, and by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works? And then, will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me you that work iniquity/Torahlessness.”
Paul is indeed hard to understand if you are not grounded in what is required of us to be in covenant with the Most High Elohim.
Shalom and Yahuwah be with those who truly seek His face!
Hello Brandt,
Evidently you did not fully understand my response regarding Two Torah’s as expounded in Scriptures.
I will try again to get the point across.
First of all it would seem that we are in agreement that there existed a different Torah before the Torah of Moses made at Mt. Sinai. I give this from Scriptures:
Second, the Torah that existed from the beginning is referred to as the Torah of Trust. It was a verbal agreement. This verbal Torah of Trust is what Abraham kept and was justified by.
We would both agree that the commandments, statutes, and laws contained in this Torah of Trust are considered good for us and not against us. According to Scriptures they are good works.
The Abrahamic Covenants of Promise are an extension of the Torah of Trust. Abraham was considered righteous because of his trust. Remember that he was justified before his fleshy circumcision.
Later, because of transgressions against the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise, the written Torah of Moses, along with all of its fleshy works, was augmented to the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise/Torah of Trust.
We both agree that the written Torah made at Mt. Sinai was a marriage covenant. This marriage agreement was subsequently broken. This resulted in the house of Israel to be divorced by Yahweh and then cast out of the land.
Scriptures are very clear regarding two Torahs or Covenants.
One is referred to as the Torah of Moses, (Old Covenant, the Law) which was temporary and allowed the nation of Israel to remain on the land as long as they kept their marriage agreement. This temporary marriage covenant (Old Covenant) was broken and, as mentioned before, the house of Israel was cast out of the land.
The other Torah is the New Covenant which is an eternal marriage covenant. When it is made the people of Yahweh will dwell eternally on the land per the Abrahamic Covenants of Promise (Torah of Trust).
It is most apparent that this has not happened yet.
Barnabas recognized the fact that the New Covenant was not yet established when he wrote:
Where I think you might have some confusion regarding what Saul and Scriptures teach about the Torah of Moses (the Law, Old Covenant) is the fact that the Torah of Trust is contained in the Torah of Moses. That is why it was necessary for the Council of Jerusalem to distinguish between the good works (based upon trust) which benefit us and the fleshy works that are against us, both types all being contained in the Torah of Moses. Remember the continual augmentations of fleshy works because of the constant sinning of Israel. Eventually these augmentations contained curses as contained in the book of Deuteronomy.
The book of Acts reveals how to distinguish between what is still applicable from the Torah of Moses for attaining salvation and eternal life.
In other words the eternal laws, commandments and statutes (all being good works) as contained in the Torah of Moses were and are still valid for everyone to this day. All other fleshy works which are contained in the Torah of Moses are not required for salvation. This includes the dietary regulations and fleshy circumcision.
This is a complicated subject that requires much more than can be written in this response and again I refer you to Chapters 2-8 of the publication The Festivals and Sacred Days of Yahweh for a comprehensive discussion about The Torah of Moses and the Torah of Trust as expounded in Scriptures.
After perusing the chapters I am hopeful you will be able to consider the evidence from Scriptures without any preconceived conclusions.
It would be best before any further discussion that you first read the referred chapters. I truly believe that when you read them you will find out that we do in fact have much to agree upon concerning the truth regarding Yahweh’s teaching on The Torah.
Yahweh be with you
We are indeed not in agreement to your statement that there was/is 2 separate covenants:
There has always been one covenant and is summed up by Yahushua when tried by the lawyer of the Torah that the greatest commandment is to Love Yahuwah our Elohim with all of our heart/mind, all of our soul/life and with all of our might/strength. This being a summation being in compliance with the first 4 or 5 (depending on how you look at the 5th command) of the original 10 Words or requirements of one to be in covenant with Yahuwah through His Son, Yahushua as the bride groom.
He also further explained that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as your self. This being a summation of the last 5 or 6 of the requirements in the list of the 10. The commands being given in their respective order of importance and weight, in my opinion.
Paul confirms the fact regarding how to love your brother correctly, in Yah’s eyes, when he taught the following in Romans 13:8-10:
“Owe no man anything, save to love one another: For he that loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law/Torah. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment/Torah instruction, it is summed up in this word, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfillment (through works) of the law/Torah.”
In regards to the writings/teachings of Qadesh La Yahweh Press, I found them online many years ago. I found them not to be the difinitive source for discernment of Yahuwah’s Words. Yah’s Ruah is the only medium by which we can discern all Truth from Abba, as demonstrated by the Words of Yahuwah. If you would like, I can closely quote Yahuwah from His Words which indicate and warn that no man/arm of flesh should be trusted as being the source by which we obtain discernment of Yahuwah’s Truth. That would include both you and I. It is up to each individual who seeks a relationship with the Most High Yahuwah through His only begotten son, Yahushua, to prove all things and hold fast to that which is proven to be good. Your truth and teaching seems to be based on bias; yours and others, and perhaps misleading translational attempts to bring across Yahuwah’s pure Words.
Again, I have thus far found only one covenant to be True from the beginning: If you will be Yahuwah’s People, then Yahuwah will be your Elohim. The 10 elements of this agreement being found in Exodus 20 in the form of 10 Words or instructions for right living and ruling – The Covenant Torah.
The allegory found in Abraham’s 2 wives with their 2 sons, is a prophecy showing the outcome of the two pursuits of a covenant relationship with Yahuwah: One that is through faith with promise. The other represents man doing it his own way, deceiving himself to believe that he does the work of Elohim. The last example showing that attempt at a covenant relationship is dead already with Yahuwah Himself absent from the agreement/covenant.
We are to heed every word spoken by Yahuwah and His sent one, Yahushua ha MosheYah. We are to do all that they say we should do if you want to be found in compliance with their expectations. The 10 Commandments or Torah for right living and ruling are their spoken words to mankind and terms of the covenant relationship ordained from the beginning. They are broken down for us in the statutes which show us examples of how to keep the 10 (or 2 depending on how you summarize). Penalties were added because of transgression of the 10 (2) and were given in the form of ordinances that were placed in addition to the Torah, because of Yah’s mercy. He will have compassion on whomever he wills it.
If you want to call the 10 Words (or 2) the original Torah of Trust, then I will agree with you, but you cannot pick and choose what applies and what does not, because every word that Elohim has spoken will not return to Him void. He is the Law/Torah/Covenant giver. If he said not to consume unclean animals, then he means it and there is good reason for it! If one chooses to alter that thing that Yahuwah has spoken, then:
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living Elohim!
As for me and my house, we will serve and obey Yahuwah and not men.
Masked man, I sincerely want nothing more but for all that truly desire Yah’s discernment and that seek it with their whole heart/mind to be given exactly that! It is my sincere prayer that our conversation about this very important topic of discussion might be valuable for those who might consider our dialogue and further their learning of how to rightly divide the Words of our dear Creator, Abba, Husband, Big Brother. Iron does indeed sharpen iron!
You might also re-consider being identified as one that wears a mask. Culturally speaking, only terrorists and criminals wear masks. Of course, the removing of that mask would have to be an outward sign of a change in heart/mind.
In Yahushua’s love and service,
Brandt
Hello Brandt,
First of all, you seemed to have missed reading the scriptural guidelines of attaining the knowledge of Yahweh’ s word as given by Qadesh La Yahweh Press.
Here is what is stated in the Introduction to “The Sacred Name Yahweh.”
Therefore no one is expected to blindly believe any information that is presented by QLYP. You must “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).”
Also, as stated under the “About” tab in the website:
Notice that the purpose is to provide information to the “serious student” of scriptural and historical studies.
A “serious student” would look at all of the evidence along with comparing it with Scriptures first before judging it to be false.
Here is the problem. You are not even willing to look at the evidence as proven by your response. You might want to heed the following:
Even the passage you referred to from Scriptures proves you wrong in regard to there not being two Covenants or Torahs:
You have admitted previously that the Torah of Moses was a marriage covenant. This covenant is also referred to as the Old Covenant and The Law.
The other covenant being referred to is the New Covenant as given in Scriptures:
Scriptures are quite explicit. There are two Covenants or Torahs! Old Covenant (Torah of Moses) and New Covenant (Torah of Trust).
Brandt, If you don’t get this, there is not much more to be done here. Sorry to say, the following passage from Scriptures seems to apply to you:
My advice to you is to look at the evidence and then follow the example of the Bereans when seeking Yahweh’s truth of the matter:
When you have taken a serious look at the evidence from Scriptures and only then, please feel free to contact me.
By the way, I consider it an honor to be condemned by you as a terrorist and a criminal. I believe Yahushua the messiah, sans mask, was accused of the same thing by the religious leaders before he was put to death.
Yahweh be with you.
Thank you, Ranger, for pointing out what has been “nailed to the stake” and no longer required for salvation. Although I don’t eat pork, I realize a brother or sister in the assembly may without condemnation.
Keep your mask, Ranger. Sometimes the masked man is a good guy.
Dear Yahu Ranger,
Thanks so much to you for your three-part study on the clean and unclean. From what I can see now, it goes with the Scriptures and what is taught. I remember back when it took me time to understand this because I had things twisted in my mind from past studies from the Church of God, International, then from other sacred name group writers. Funny how things can get twisted up from various people. They mean well, I’m sure, but they don’t understand the study of Scriptures in how it’s laid out for us.
Anyway, once I sit down and told myself this, Just listen to what is being said, study it, prove whether it’s true or not, and try to rid your mind of teachings that are simply the untruth, at that time did I begin to see that the Scriptures say what they say and mean it, the truth!
I do love your site and read your writings all the time just to refresh myself from what I have learned in the past. When I think of Yahu Ranger, makes me think of that old series called The Lone Ranger, who fought against criminals and upheld justice. I’d have to refresh myself on those shows. But when I think of you being a masked man, I have a theory to myself. I think of it as a person who fights for the truth, puts out the evidence and allows the evidence to lead where it may. It’s like saying, I’m not that’s the important one, the EVIDENCE is of extreme importance. Look at the evidence!
Then, on the other hand, I also think of feeling like a Lone Ranger sometimes being a Yahwehist because we are scattered, although I know I’m not.
Take care & Yahweh be with you, Yahu Ranger!
Yahweh be with you. Please continue with your posts.