For a while now, we have seen the Noahide laws being promoted by the some in the Messianic Jewish community. Recent promotion of the idea comes from the IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations & Synagogues). What this means is that they are saying Torah observance is only for those who are naturally born Jews. The observance includes the observance of feasts, Sabbath keeping, and following the dietary laws.
First Fruits of Zion recently published its founder Boaz Michael’s book, The Twelve Gates, in which he espouses the same doctrine.
One glaring fallacy in the whole issue is the fact that 1 John 3:4 defines sin as “transgression of the law (Torah)”. If, as some say, the Torah is ONLY for those of Jewish birth, then others cannot sin because they are not bound by the rules God laid down (Torah). However, this means those not Jewish born don’t need a Messiah at all because they are sinless.
Sorry folks. This boat won’t float.
(The following link will take the reader to our sister site: Torah Chai and the response to Boaz Michael’s book. )
But wait, there’s more….
When Yeshua fed the 5000, if you remember, he began with 5 loaves and two fishes. Later he again fed a multitude but this time he began with 7 loaves and “several” fishes.
What’s all this about? You can be assured these numbers have meaning. Throughout the scriptures we find Torah (the Law) being compared to bread (the bread of life for instance). Yeshua even alludes to himself as the bread. And so, when we find him beginning with 5 loaves it seems clear the example represents the Torah.
When they gather up the left-overs, there are twelve baskets full. Early on, we find the Father telling us the twelve tribes are to be priests to the world. And what do priests do? Their responsibility is to teach Torah as well as living it. Of course, in this first example, there are also the two fishes. Yeshua tells his 12 that he is going to make them fishers of men…fish alludes to men. Jeremiah 31:31 tells us the new (renewed) covenant is for the house of Israel and the house of Judah… Then there is Jeremiah 33:24 which mentions two families in similar context…two fish?!
Now, what about the 7 loaves in his second life-example? There are 7 Noahide laws. These were being taught as the “gentile laws” then as now. And, we don’t see the multiplication of the bread with the 7 as we did with the 5. And, by the way, the list of laws called the Noahide laws were not all given by the Father. There are man-made additions.
Yeshua/Jesus made it quite clear that these two events were live examples for his followers then and now. Where is the scripture you ask? Right here in Matthew:
Mat 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Ha Satan began twisting the Father’s words in the garden. Yeshua told the Pharisees they were of their father, the devil. Why? Well look at His words in Mark 7:7-13. He tells them they “make the scripture (G~d made) of none-effect” with their traditions (man-made rules/laws). There is a comparison here we need to see. Man-made receives condemnation. Combining the Father’s with man-made is mixing the holy and the profane….it is a form of Baal worship. Remember, Moses and John (Revelation) both say there is a curse for adding to or taking from His word.
And now a post script: John 1:1 begins by telling us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….” Then in verse 14, John says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”. The point is simple. If non-Jewish born believers don’t need Torah, as the Noahide promoters say, then we don’t need the Word made flesh either. It gets back to the same thing: no Torah equals no sin but from a different angle.
Again, this boat won’t float. This is the crux of the matter. Like it says on one of the news channels…We report, you decide.
