I have found that a number of Messianic Jews believe in Jesus, but in some ways they hold to Moses.
They are standing on both Sinai and Mount Zion. Many other types of Christians have this problem, too. Indeed, we are saved by grace through faith, and because we are dead the law, we become alive in Christ, and thus we are no longer under law!
And yet, there are Messianic Jews which still follow Sabbath on Saturdays and follow the dietary laws out of "obedience to God." That is wrong believing.
Consider one example of this Galatian error in Rabbi Eric Tokajer:
What Shabbat and Adultery Have in Common
He shares in his article (link above) that he still follows the commandments Moses laid out, even when he was confronted by another Christian about this.
Here are his final thoughts on the matter:
I ended our conversation by letting him know that Messianic Jews, just like all other believers, trust only in Yeshua’s atoning sacrifice for our salvation. Also, just like other believers, after making the choice to accept Yeshua as our Messiah, we also make the choice to do all we can to live our lives according to the commandments G-D has given us, which include loving G-D, loving our neighbors, keeping Shabbat, and not committing adultery.
So as you see, Shabbat and adultery are both commandments
from the Torah and they are both commandments that are possible for a believer
to obey while not being legalistic.
"Living by the commandments from the Torah" is going back under law.
No, we are no longer under law, but under grace! That is not an invitation to sin, of course!
Here's the extensive response that I shared with Rabbi Eric
Dear Eric:
I read your latest article about the Sabbath and Adultery. The Christian who confronted you about keeping the Sabbath was actually correct, but he was also wrong. Regarding the Sabbath, Paul takes care of this pretty simply: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16)
If your day of rest is Saturday because you choose it, then so be it. But if you are trying to keep Moses' law for sanctification (even if not for justification), that is wrong: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) and "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5:20) The law was never designed to help us, but rather to show us that we are helpless. When we receive Jesus, we are no longer under law (cf Romans 7)
Your friend had a point, somewhat that there are two commandments that we are instructed to keep, but he then cited The Shema. The fact is that there are two commandments that we keep, but it's a RESULT of God's grace working in us through Christ Jesus. We don't keep them to stay right with God, but as a response to allowing His life to work in us (Philippians 2:12-13) Consider what Jesus said to His disciples on the night that He was betrayed: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34) Before that, Jesus had told the Israelites of during His eartlhy ministry:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29)
And John summarizes these two new commandments perfectly:
"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)
Eric, when we are born again, we are DEAD to the law, and we live under grace:
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:4)
and also
"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." (Glatians 2:19)
and
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:13-15)
and
"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," (1 Timothy 1:9)
The Shema is part of the law, and I must ask you: "Have you loved God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? No one has, and no one can. We need the Holy Spirit to let His love shed abroad in our hearts to lead us (Romans 5:5)
Then the next question emerges: How then do we live? By the grace of God!
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:11-14)
It is essential that we settle on this effectively. The more that Christians try to keep the Ten Commandments, they are right back to their self-efforts, and such efforts bring forth sin! Not because the law is bad, but because there is no good thing in our flesh (Romans 7:18) It's time to leave Mount Sinai and come to Mount Zion fully, my friend!
Thank you for your time,
and may the LORD JESUS bless you and keep you.
Sincerely,
Arthur Schaper
