Proof: Christianity actually teaches AGAINST Following Messiah!
Christianity's grandest deception
Revised 02/2018
"Following Christ" is forbidden in Christianity
and it is easily proven ...
Note: In this article I will be using the actual name for the person known to most as "Jesus" the Christ (Messiah). His historically correct name is "Yeshua". I prove elsewhere that "Jesus" is not and has never been his real name.
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Before beginning our study – a brief clarification:
Assumed knowledge of the reader
It is assumed for the purpose of this discussion that you are already familiar with contemporary Christianity’s teaching that the Law (Torah) is no longer in effect – that it has been annulled, superseded, abrogated, abolished or replaced. In other words, I am assuming you already know that the position of contemporary Christianity is fundamentally anti-Torah. This is such a soundly recognized fact of contemporary Christian ideology that I do not see the need to provide evidence proving it. In fact, the anti-Torah teaching may be the most foundational doctrine of the Christian religion and is generally accepted throughout otherwise differing denominations.
Such a rejection is actually a rejection of Yeshua (Jesus) and God, since rejection of the teachings (Torah) that Yeshua embraced is no different than a rejection of Yeshua and The Eternal One (God) who provided those teachings.
The current state of affairs
Typical Christians, whether they realize it or not and despite their sincerity, do not and never have "followed" Christ, and this includes those who would vigorously yet ignorantly claim otherwise. Instead, they follow their church’s teachings regardless of how contrary to Scripture those teachings may be. Ironically, these Christians blindly and often knowingly discard the faith-example and teachings of the very person whom they claim to worship, Yeshua the Messiah, generally known by his false name "Jesus" Christ.
I say “often knowingly” because there are many contemporary Christian leaders who directly teach that Messiah's (Christ’s) example is not to be followed, and many Christians who are deceived by such leaders will openly admit that they do not consider following the example of Christ to be a necessary tenet of the faith. Such Christians flatly reject Christ’s example when that example is shown to differ with what their church's teach, and that difference is generally very easy to show.
Christianity's common misuse and severe misunderstanding of the apostle Paul’s teachings is largely responsible, which Christianity wrongly claims teaches that the "Law" is no longer in effect. By overruling Messiah’s teachings and example with its misinterpreted and distorted understanding of the apostle Paul's epistles, Christianity has seated their version of the Christ-devoted apostle Paul above Christ. In fact, if the dominant focus within contemporary Christianity upon their distortions of the apostle Paul’s teachings is recognized and admitted, along with how those distortions are used to usurp all other teachings in Scripture, then contemporary Christianity is proven to have effectively seated their version of Paul on the throne of God!
Law vs. grace
The man-made “law versus grace” debate has been ongoing since the apostate origins of contemporary Christianity in 4th century Rome. (Note: Authentic Christianity/Messianism began in first century Jerusalem and is simply a completion of the original Biblical faith of Abraham and a sect of Judaism which I call "Yeshua Judaism). This debate generally and wrongly centers upon the alleged teachings of the apostle Paul, which are grossly misinterpreted within contemporary Christianity. Amazingly, the teachings of the Messiah on the matter of "law vs. grace" are rarely considered within Christianity. Isn’t it odd that contemporary Christianity largely ignores the teachings and faith example of the very Messiah (Christ) it claims to promote?
A universally typical argument put forth by most contemporary Christians is that the death of Messiah on the cross “abrogated” or “did away with” the Law (Torah). In order to prove this they must show that Messiah never taught that the Torah would be applicable after his death. If it can be shown to be otherwise, then their argument is nullified. Let me state that again since it is extremely important.
mustneverafterdidafter I will conclusively prove that Messiah did indeed promote during his earthly ministry before his death that Torah should be revered and obeyed by his followers after his death and resurrection. This means that Yeshua the Messiah directly refutes the absurd and false belief of Christianity that his death put an end to "the Law" (Torah).
By bringing Messiah’s own teachings and example into the "law vs. grace" debate, the question of whether or not Torah should be applicable in the lives of Christians is settled, and debating over what Paul may or may not have taught is irrelevant. It is for that reason that Messiah’s teachings and faith example regarding the “Law” (Torah) are generally avoided by contemporary Christian leaders whenever they speak about "law vs. grace".
Well, unlike Christian leaders, I will not ignore Yeshua's teachings and faith example. I will instead elevate them to the supreme level which they should occupy among those who claim to believe in the Messiah introduced in the New Testament.
Stop signs:
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Preliminary definitions
“Torah” (toe-RAH’) is the Hebrew word for “teaching” or “instruction” and is often rendered – somewhat incorrectly – as “Law” in English translations of Scripture. Its use in conversation and writing may to refer to:
1. The 5 books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) – part of the written Torah.
2. The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings (the entire Older Testament) – part of the written Torah. The term “Tanakh” (tah-NOCK’) is an acronym taken from combining the Hebrew words Torah (Law), Neviim (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The term “Old” Testament is a covertly irreverent term. Therefore, I generally use Tanakh when referring to what contemporary Christians call the “Old” Testament.
3. The traditions/opinions (Oral Torah) of Jewish sages – I discuss this aspect of Torah in great depth in a separate article in which I prove the legitimacy and necessity of oral Torah.
4. All of the above.
Given the four definitions above, I do not completely accept Torah as defined by numbers 3 and 4 to be the eternal and infallible Torah; however, my differences do not approach the point of large-scale rejection of such material. Therefore, in this discussion I will define Torah as number 4, with reservations.
To say that Torah is properly defined using simply numbers 1 and 2 is incorrect, but it is also incorrect in my opinion to accept all of the “oral Torah.” Definition number 1, often mistakenly called the “Law”, but which more accurately would be termed the “teachings” or “instructions”, is definitely the core heart-and-soul of Torah along with definition number 2 in a broader sense. Nevertheless, there is no doubt in my mind from studying it and from recognizing so much of it present in the New Testament, particularly the “inner essence” of Torah, that Judaic "oral Torah" very often contains Divine teaching passed down from Moses, but in my opinion, not all "oral Torah" is of such Divine origin.
New Testament vs Tanakh (Older Testament)
I discuss the importance of the New Testament elsewhere on this site within the article entitled, “What Scriptures Did Yeshua (Jesus) Study?”.
It is important to note that in the New Testament it is clear the writers did not consider their writings to be the Torah (teachings) of God. Nevertheless, they should certainly to be considered Divinely inspired teachings so long as they are properly interpreted from the Hebraic context in which they were written and verified by referencing the Tanakh (Older Testament) just as was done by the Bereans of Acts 17:11. I personally am of the opinion that the New Testament is a legitimate form of "oral Torah".
Following the Leader
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
When as a teenager I first dedicated myself to Christ I was under the impression that the primary goal of every Christian was to “follow Christ” and that the church I attended was accurately teaching me how to “follow Christ.” In fact, the very name of the denomination in which I was raised, the “church of Christ”, explicitly distinguishes itself through its name to advocate following Christ. For the 30+ years I was within the contemporary Christian sphere of influence I continued to believe that such was the primary teaching of contemporary Christianity. Indeed, if you ask just about any Christian today they will tell you that Christians are those who “follow Christ” or who should strive to “follow Christ.”
Do contemporary Christians really “follow Christ” by observing the Torah (teachings) of Messiah? More importantly, do contemporary Christian leaders teach Christians of “follow Christ”?
What does it mean to “follow Christ” or to be “Christ-like”?
The third edition of the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament edited by Fredrick William Danker needs no introduction, as it is a standard lexicon for Greek New Testament studies. This lexicon defines the Greek term ἀκολουθέω [akoloutheó (ak-ol-oo-theh´-o), Strong’s #0190)], which is rendered as “follow” in Matthew 10:38 and the gospel parallels of Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23, as:
- literally to move behind someone in the same direction, come after
- to follow or accompany someone who takes the lead, accompany, go along with
- to follow someone as a disciple, be a disciple, follow
- to comply with, follow, obey
- to come after something else in sequence, follow
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D. defines it as:
- to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him
- to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party … to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example, in living and if need be in dying also
The simple common sense meaning behind the concept of “follower” is that “followers” strive to mimic or copy the characteristics and to practice and promote the teachings of the one whom they claim to follow. Therefore, to “follow Christ” is to:
- Think as he thinks
- Approve of what he approves of
- Oppose what he opposes
- Worship as he worshiped (and Who he, himself, worshiped as his God)
- Learn and practice his teachings
- Revere what he revered
- Obey him
Thayer’s Lexicon
Does contemporary Christianity teach this?
So, do most Christian leaders teach this? Do they truly teach that Christians are to “follow Christ”? Furthermore, do most Christians “follow” the Messiah in the common sense way just defined?
Most Christians probably object that I dare even ask such a question and will present evidence allegedly showing that Christians are taught to follow Christ. Such evidence will likely consist of Christian commentaries or teaching material. For sure such material does at first glance appear to instruct Christians to be Christ-like; however, appearances can be deceiving. Can such evidence be proven illegitimate and deceptive? Can it be proven that Christianity teaches against following Messiah?
To answer this question let us study Messiah’s teachings and practices concerning the Torah and compare them to the dominant anti-Torah teachings of contemporary Christianity. It is important to remember the foundational anti-Torah (lawless) core dogma of Christianity, as that fact proves crucial to answering the question.
What are Messiah’s teachings regarding the Torah (Law) and the obligation of Christians to follow him?
The verses I will present by no means exhaust the evidence of Messiah’s pro-Torah teachings but represent only a subset of more evidence in the gospels which illustrate the rock-solid pro-Torah stance of our beloved King Messiah directly, by example, and in parable form . These verses suffice to prove that Christians should adopt the same mindset.
Those who choose to reject the beliefs, faith-example, and teachings of Messiah demonstrate a rejection of him. Therefore, casting off Messiah’s example and teachings demonstrates a conscious decision to not be among those who strive to follow him. Instead, such a person is shown to prefer to follow the anti-Christ and to be a recipient of the “mark of the beast.” (More on that in a separate article)
Each set of verses I present will be scrutinized on a verse-by-verse basis.
Matthew 5:17-19 – Part 1
Yeshua the Messiah (incorrectly nicknamed “Jesus” the Christ by Christianity) was a forceful and passionate advocate of God’s – his God and ours – eternal Torah. There is no clearer proof of this fact than his own words as recorded in the gospel of Matthew. Two versions of Matthew 5:17-19 are provided, however the links within the website text allow you to view whatever bible version you wish on the Biblegateway website.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill1819(Emphasis mine.)
17 “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot [commandments] and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
“…not to abolish but to complete.”
The word rendered “destroy” in the King James Version (KJV) literally means, as rendered in the Complete Jewish Bible, to “abolish". Some Christians and Christian leaders purposely avoid terms like “abolish” when they promote that the Torah has been canceled, preferring instead terms such as replaced, superseded, annulled, or other similar words that do not sound quite as harsh. However, use of such terms carry the same meaning as “abolish” since the end result is the same: cancellation of Torah. Thus, Christians and Christian leaders show themselves to be deceitful participants in word games as they attempt to soften and conceal the fact that they firmly teach that the Torah (Law) is abolished and thus that they directly oppose the teachings of Messiah.
did notdid Whose teachings should you follow: Yeshua the Messiah’s, or those of the contemporary Christian leaders who directly contradict his faith example, and instructions?
Dr. Brad Young, author of the book, Jesus the Jewish Theologian, points out that in verse 17 Yeshua was actually making use of a common Hebraic expression with the use of “destroy/abolish” and “fulfill/complete”. In the Hebraic context of Yeshua’s day those who misinterpreted or misapplied Torah were said to “destroy” it, and those who correctly interpreted and applied Torah “fulfilled” it. Therefore, Dr. Young postulates that the intent behind the symbolic use of “fulfill” and “destroy” was:
“Don’t think that I have come to misinterpret the Torah. I have not come to wrongly interpret but to interpret it correctly.”
Although I agree that in most cases Dr. Young's opinion relative to use of such terminology would apply, I personally think he is incorrect in this specific case since verse 18 seems to support the more direct literal meaning.
Regardless of whether or not the interpretation or Dr. Young is applied, the verse is still proven to be a pro-Torah statement from Messiah.
Matthew 5:17-19 – Part 2
18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened.
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It is too obvious to even waste much time on. Nevertheless, despite Yeshua’s clear future reference, most Christians still insists that the Torah has been “abrogated” or “abolished.”
Are “heaven and earth” still here?
Could those who so boldly declare death to the Law (Torah) please tell me when heaven and earth passed away?
My sarcasm is intentional and used to prove the lunacy and nonsensical nature of the arguments from those within Christianity who directly contradict Yeshua (Jesus) by claiming the Torah is abolished.
Would the Torah opponents of Christianity please produce evidence of the destruction of heaven and earth? Would anyone among the elite leaders of Christianity’s Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Fundamentalists, Evangelical, Charismatic, Mormon, etc. denominations who teach that the Torah is no longer in effect or has been annulled please prove the past destruction of our planet?
We’re bordering on the ridiculous; however, more accurately stated, Christian leaders are promoting a ridiculous contradiction to the words of the “Christ” they claim to promote. If the planet is still here, which it is, then all aforementioned contemporary Christian groups are wrong about the abrogation of Torah.
So, if you can look up and see blue sky, and look down and see the ground, then Yeshua’s words are sill in effect and the Torah stands.
Has Messiah returned?
Furthermore, when were "all things fulfilled"? Unless I’m mistaken, Messiah has not yet returned, wars are being fought, people are still going through life’s ups and downs, and with the exception of the extreme northern and southern latitude the sun still rises every morning and sets each night. So it appears to me all things have not yet been fulfilled.
Heaven and earth are still here; therefore, not even the most minor elements (“yud or a stroke”) of the “Law” (Torah) have been annulled. Anyone who claims otherwise directly opposes Messiah’s teachings.
Future tense verbs
19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot [commandments] and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Emphasis and brackets mine.)
is calledis called“will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven“will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven”.afterafter
I think you get the picture; therefore, I will not repeat myself and always alert you each time future references in Messiah’s statements apply. Please simply be watching within Messiah’s words for the frequency of such allusions to the future scenario that would follow his death and resurrection which are often identified with the stop signs.
Contemporary Christian leaders and most Christians usually do not stop at promoting that the Torah has been simply abolished. No. They often go further by declaring that it is wrong for a person to even attempt to be Torah-observant, which once again directly contradicts the words of Messiah as voiced in verse 19. Ironically, the belief of such Christians that it is “sinful” to strive to observe Torah is proven particularly absurd by the fact that without Torah (Law) there is no definition of sin.
Follow Me
38 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” (Emphasis mine.)
Parallel passages are found in Mark 8 and Luke 9.
34“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
23“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
The admonition to “follow” Messiah and to thus conform wholly to his example is unmistakably shown to be a necessary requirement for all who claim to be Christian or Messianic. Do contemporary Christians strive to conform wholly to his example, to:
- Think as he thinks
- Approve of what he approves of
- Oppose what he opposes
- Worship as he worshiped (and Who he, himself, worshiped as his God)
- Learn and practice his teachings
- Revere what he revered
- Obey him
Lawlessness & Iniquity
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Emphasis mine.)
A similar warning is found in Luke 13.
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Emphasis mine.)
Verse 21 in Matthew shows the distinction of the Father in heaven while Yeshua was speaking from Earth. Such distinction is common within New Testament passages which provide evidence that Messiah is not God. However, the primary point I wish to make regarding these verses is the strong pro-Torah message Yeshua (Jesus) is proclaiming.
Once-Saved-Always-Saved & Eternal Security
Those who advance an extremely dangerous deception as they promote the “once saved-always saved” (OSAS) or “eternal security” error also have a problem with this verse because it very clearly implies the ones who cry, “Lord, Lord have we not…” unequivocally considered themselves “saved”. Verse 22 leaves little doubt of this:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
The “eternal security”, “once-saved-always-saved” (OSAS) proponents vainly attempt to extract themselves from these very clear words by claiming that since he said, “I never knew you” they must never have actually been saved. Those same people avoid the clear definitions in the New Testament of what it truly means to “know” Messiah and also (as is frequently the case) completely ignore the context. The definition of “knowing” Messiah is found in 1 John.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him… (Emphasis mine.)
Transgression of the Law (Torah) = Lawlessness
“Depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness)!”
The New American Standard Bible and others more appropriately translate the term “lawlessness”. Since Torah is “God's eternal law”, the lawless are those who do not keep Torah. From the following verse the point is further confirmed.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
The Greek word translated “lawlessness” in the NASB and “transgression of the law” in the KJV is one and the same word – anomia – and is shown from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to be:
Strong’s #458. anomia, an-om-ee´-ah; from 459;
- illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:
- iniquity,
- transgress(-ion of) the law,
- unrighteousness
Likewise, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament defines anomia as:
anomia;
- properly, the condition of one without law — either because ignorant of it, or because violating it.
- contempt and violation of law,
- iniquity,
- wickedness:
Thayer’sanomia => the condition of being without Torah because the person is ignorant of it (which Christians and their leaders are) or because it is violated or transgressed (which Christianity's leaders cause)=> To have contempt for Torah (which Christianity's leaders teach Christians to have)
Contempt for the Torah
This is precisely the same Greek word used in Matthew 7:23 where we hear Yeshua say, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (anomia).'” In fact, most cases of the word “iniquity” in the KJV are the same Greek word.
Christianity, as a primary component of the Christian faith, displays unrepentant contempt of Torah (anomia) by brazenly teaching against it. (I describe this further in the article: What is the Mark of the Beast?)
“I never knew you, depart from me!”
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Furthermore, note the contrast Messiah presents in Matthew’s record between the wise man who 1) “hears” and “does” and the unwise man who 2) “hears” and “does not do”.
Thus, even though Messiah is unmistakable in stating that obedience to his teachings is required, contemporary Christianity nevertheless “hears” and “does NOT do”, thereby advocating “unwise” doctrines which directly oppose Messiah. So it is actually worse than the “unwise” example in the parable since Christianity not only “does not do” his words, they go further by openly rejecting and fervently teaching against his words!
30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Emphasis mine).
Here Messiah makes it clear that you are either with him or against him. It is not possible to be “with” Messiah while teaching doctrine that is “against” what he taught. Contemporary Christianity’s anti-Torah teachings are spitting in the face of Messiah and firmly against him. Sadly, millions upon millions are therefore “scattered” in a world of lawless (Torahless) rebellion against God.
Messiah further warns against being a “law-breaker” in the parable of the sower.
24“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” ... 3637 “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Yes, there is that pesky stop sign again. Pesky, that is, if you are among those who believe that the "Law" is no longer in effect after Messiah's death. Matthew 13:36-42, particularly verses 41 and 42, undeniably refer to a future time at Messiah's second coming when the LAW-BREAKERS (those who violate, oppose, or reject the Torah) will be thrown into a fiery furnace. We’re not talking about civil laws of worldly governments. We’re talking about those who oppose or reject the “Law” or, more accurately stated, those who oppose or reject God’s eternal teachings, the Torah.
In Matthew 13 Yeshua (Jesus) is describing the time when he will send forth angels to gather the wicked out of his Kingdom. Visiting that passage again we read:
39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Here we have another instance of the use of the Greek term anomia. The “lawless” (Torah violators) are among those who are gathered first and cast into the furnace. Furthermore, here and elsewhere Messiah makes it clear that the wicked are gathered before the righteous – a clear and irrefutable contradiction of the silly, outrageous, and dangerous “rapture” theory. Of course, those clinging to a belief in the rapture do so because they want to and do not care that the person whom they worship as “Christ” proves the rapture to be a false doctrine.
Destination: Kingdom of God
A secondary important teaching relates to where the Kingdom will be. Note that the wicked are gathered out of the Kingdom, and the righteous, who were not gathered will then “shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom.” Obviously, since the wicked and the righteous are right here on planet Earth where the angels are sent to gather, the Kingdom from which the Torah violators are gathered is an Earthly Kingdom in which the righteous will then shine forth. Matthew 13:49 further solidifies this truth as well as more proof against the “rapture.”
49 So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous…
I will not dwell on it; however, the verses immediately following further confirm this as Yeshua describes how the wise man is the one who hears and acts upon the commandments whereas the foolish man hears but does not act.
There is more within the verses we have thus far covered that needs to be considered. It is a point that leaders of Christianity would particularly do well to consider as well as anyone else who teaches that the Torah is not applicable to Christians.
Profound warning against causing others to sin
Let us go back to focus on Matthew 13: 41-42. I will use bold text to indicate the region of the verses that I wish to discuss. I will also include Matthew 18: 6-7 to add additional clarity and support for the point I wish to make. To insure that it is clearly shown, I will be using multiple translations: The New American Standard Bible, the NET bible, the English Standard Version, and the Amplified Bible. If those versions do not appeal to you, use one that does. The same meaning is found in all others.
Matthew 13:41-42
NASB:41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NET:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ESV:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
AMP:41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense [persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin] and all who do iniquity and act wickedly, 42 And will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth.
Matthew 18:6-7
NASB:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
NET:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.
ESV:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
AMP:6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!
Notice all the stop signs? It is because these words from Messiah obviously apply then, now, and in the future.
All versions have the same meaning, but the Amplified Bible most clearly describes it when it says “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought]”. Pay particular attention to “who … hinders him in right conduct or thought”.
These verses present some of the most dire warnings found anywhere in scripture. There may be other warnings equal in severity, but there are none that exceed it. And to whom does this extremely grave and serious warning apply?
The Warnings
At this point it would be prudent to pause and consider the gravity – the enormous importance – of Messiah’s warnings found in Matthew 7:23, Matthew 13:41-42, and Luke 13:27. Taken together they read:
Matthew 7:23 NASB23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Matthew 13:41-42 NASB41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Luke 13:27 KJV)27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Those are not my words. Those are the words of Yeshua the Messiah, and individuals who do not like them provide proof of their choice to reject and oppose him.
Anomia & Adikia
Though the precise same Greek word, anomia, is not used in Luke 13:27 for the term of “workers of iniquity” as shown in the KJV, a very similar word is used. That Greek word is adikia. Among Thayer’s Greek Lexicon’s definitions of this word is: "a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness." Furthermore, given the almost identical nature of the three statements we can be reasonably certain that the same meaning applies to all – that meaning being “contempt and violation of Torah.”
So, Matthew 7:23, 13:41, and Luke 13:27 provide us crystal clear, common sense, unequivocal proof that Messiah vehemently opposes - then, now, and in the future - those who show contempt for his God’s Torah (Law), the Torah that he perfectly obeyed from the God to whom he was perfectly devoted. How much evidence is needed to prove that Messiah personally and repeatedly condemns violation of God’s eternal Law – the Torah? Furthermore, if he condemns Torah violation, he obviously worsens the condemnation for those who openly and willfully teach that Torah has been abolished?
And of course, the passages from Matthew 18:6-7 which we discussed earlier also need urgent consideration for reasons that should be obvious.
Sadly, I realize that very few Christians care enough to consider Messiah’s words even when those words warn of extreme consequences for what a Christian may practice or believe. Most are too happy with the “freedom” to be lawless which Christianity’s anti-Torah foundation provides. They have become spiritually dead beyond the reach of Messiah's teachings and example to the point that not even the most dreadful warnings found in Scripture spoken by Yeshua himself can affect them. Tragically, those warnings eventually will affect them in an intensely direct manner when what he warned about befalls them.
Yeshua identifies the most important passage of Scripture
Late in his earthly life Yeshua was quizzed by a devout Jew of his day, although it was actually an easy question for anyone knowledgeable of Torah.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Parallels to these verses are found in Mark 12 and Luke 10. These parallels confirm and elaborate upon the Pro-Torah response of Messiah.
Mark 12:28-34 (ESV) – 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Luke 10:25-28 (ESV) – 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
In these verses we see Messiah responding to a question about Torah. Few Christians realize that such questions were common and that they reflect the Jewish (Hebraic and Torah-centric) underpinning of the gospels. Furthermore, few contemporary Christians realize that Yeshua’s answer is precisely the answer that would be given by any Jewish rabbi or student then, today, and throughout history since the passages quoted by him represent the foundational basis of the Torah upon which all Truth is constructed. He was quoting what is called in Judaism the Shema (shMA) plus Leviticus 19:18. The Shema is Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
What is commonly called "Judaism" today is a faith that is actually based upon the biased opinions of a specific highly esteemed man (rabbi Akiva) and a small number of his followers whose opinions are found within the "Mishnah". One of those followers individually acquired, parsed, and ultimately compiled the Mishnah. The "Gemorah" (or Gemara, Gemora, etc.), which is also based upon the biased opinions of that Akiva-based sect within Judaism and which represents commentary on the Mishnah, was subsequently added to the Mishnah to ultimately become the "Talmud", upon which Judaism it totally based. Today's "Judaism" could legitimately be called "Akiva Judaism" or "Akivaism". More on that topic in separate discussions.
It is no coincidence that the Shema was, is, and will be when he returns, the core doctrine embraced and taught by Yeshua. The point is reinforced by Yeshua’s response to the questioner who himself displayed knowledge of Torah passages commonly considered fundamental teachings of a Torah based faith. You will note that Yeshua displayed complete agreement with the man who posed the question and stated that the individual’s Torah based beliefs placed him very near the Kingdom of God.
Answer:
The answer should be obvious. Christian rejection of and opposition to Torah places Christian's far from the Kingdom of God.
This episode recorded in the gospels is additional strong proof of Yeshua’s firm, uncompromising, and continuous pro-Torah position – a position he expects his followers to adopt and promote.
Does contemporary Christianity “follow Christ” by adopting and promoting his position? Shamefully, no it definitely does not. If it did, it would not continue to oppose his pro-Torah faith example and teachings.
A strikingly similar conversation is recorded in Jewish literature between two prominent rabbis and a potential Jewish proselyte.
Hillel & Shammai
Within the same time frame as Messiah Yeshua, actually about a generation before his time, there were two dominant rabbinic schools of thought within the Pharisaic sect of the widely varying, pluralistic sphere of Jewish belief – the school of Hillel and the school of Shammai. The lasting impact of these two schools is still heavily felt today in Rabbinic Judaism. There was a notable rivalry and mutually respectful debate between the two competing mindsets of Hillel and Shammai, with Hillel usually being less strict in his interpretation of Torah.
One day a young man approached Shammai and stated that he would adopt Torah into his life and convert to the Jewish way if Shammai could explain Torah (Law) while he, the young man, stood on one leg. Enraged by what he viewed as an impossible question and irreverent mocking of the Torah, Shammai drove the young man away with his staff.
The young man then approached Hillel with the same request. Hillel responded, “Love the lord thy God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and your neighbor as yourself. The rest is commentary.”
Having received his answer, the young man adopted the Jewish way and began his journey of Torah learning.
This represents but one of many common parallels between Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teachings and Hebraic thought. It is quite possible that since the Hillel/Shammai influence was deeply felt in Yeshua’s day that the questioner was actually seeking to know with which school of thought Yeshua agreed.
The Point Stands
Regardless, Messiah’s answer was thoroughly Jewish and with the standard, no-need-to-mention, pro-Torah understanding of his day. There is no hint whatsoever of any anti-Torah sentiment in Messiah’s response. In fact, in general the gospels present a very Jewish Messiah who often used standard rabbinic methods, such as parables, and oral Torah to convey truth. Even his arguments with rabbis of his day were typical since spirited debate was and is common.
Delving into Messiah’s Jewishness is beyond the scope of this discussion. A useful book revealing Messiah’s Jewishness is Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Dr. Brad Young. That book, as well as an increasing number of others, is packed with evidence of Messiah’s pro-Torah Hebraic nature. Though I may not completely agree with Dr. Young’s opinions, I recommend that book to anyone who seeks more insight.
A Final Word from Matthew
Although there is more I could reference from Messiah’s words, I realize this discussion is getting quite long; therefore, I will limit my review to one final passage from the gospel of Matthew. No one can argue its future reference since it is found within Messiah’s discussion of the future scenario after his departure from this world. This passage is found within two entire chapters of Matthew’s gospel in which Messiah provides an answer to a question from his disciples regarding what the future holds:
3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The future relevance of their question is obvious. Messiah’s response then follows and, as I stated, encompasses two entire chapters.
I am sorely tempted to delve into a lengthy discussion of the crucially important chapters of Matthew 24 and 25 since they have been severely misrepresented by Christian and Christianized Messianic leaders. The misrepresentation is due to the fact that if these chapters were properly interpreted those leaders would be exposed as the very deceivers to whom Messiah refers in his response. However, I will save that and expand upon it within the "Antichrist" discussion.
For now I simply wish to direct your attention to a single verse. It is a verse which further solidifies Messiah’s very negative opinion of the “lawless” (those who oppose Torah).
Matthew 24:12 (KJV)12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:12 (NET) 12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.
Here we once again find use of the Greek term anomia, and just as before it is translated as “iniquity” in the KJV and “lawlessness” elsewhere, such as the NET Bible.
Love Grown Cold
Once again Yeshua the Messiah is speaking negatively about “Torahlessness” or “contempt for Torah”. In his description of the growing wickedness of the last days he specifically mentions how lawlessness (rejection of or contempt for Torah) is a primary reason why “the love of many will grow cold.” That “love” is love for both God and one’s fellow man since rejecting The Eternal Creator’s Torah cannot possible contribute to love for that Creator and, therefore, also contributes to a growing coldness of heart among mankind in general.
Indeed, a major reason according to Yeshua the Messiah for a disappearance of the love is Torahlessness. The anti-Torah foundational doctrine of Christianity obviously contributes to the problem. Without doubt, Christianity’s foundational opposition to Torah unwittingly assists in fostering wickedness in this world.
futureafter
Honoring the son
Continuing with yet more proof that Christianity does not promote “following” Messiah we will now read from John’s gospel.
23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
A fundamental means of showing “honor” to the “son” is to honor his example by following him. As stated earlier, it is impossible to “follow” or “honor” Christ unless his teachings are “honored” and adhered to. Of course, the same applies to God, the “Father who sent him.”
refusing to honor
Believing the son
44“He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
“… He who believes in me, does not believe in me but in Him who sent me. …”
refusing to believe
Seeing the son
“… He who sees (understands) me sees (understands) the One who sent Me. …”
The Hebraic and thus Scriptural meaning of “see” in a Spiritual context is akin to understanding; therefore, to “see” Messiah is to understand him. Elsewhere it is stated that Messiah and God are one. I discuss that in other areas of this website, but the basic meaning is that Messiah as the perfectly obedient servant of the One who sent him is “one” in purpose and will with Father God. It is also stated that we are to be “one” with Messiah and with God in precisely the same manner. How can we “see” or be “one” with Messiah if we reject his undeniable pro-Torah stance?
To “see” Messiah is to follow him, and to follow Messiah is to revere and observe the teachings to which he, himself, was devoted.
“… I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness. …”
refusing to see
Hearing the son
… If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 “He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
Here Messiah makes mention of hearing his sayings (teachings) and choosing to not keep them. His words are obviously timeless in their application – applying as much today after his death as they did then before his death. This is made particularly clear by his mention of “the last day,” which obviously refers to a future time.
refusing to hear
Walk the Walk
The following verses speak for themselves showing that a true “follower” of Messiah walks as he walked spiritually and that such a walk includes reverence and observance of the eternal Torah (teachings).
We will read from 1 John 2:1-6, 1 John 3:3-4, 2 John 1:6-11, and Ephesians 4:15.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (Emphasis mine.)
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (Emphasis mine.)
6 And what this love consists in is this: that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by His commandments (His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching). This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love [guided by it and following it]. 7 For many imposters (seducers, deceivers, and false leaders) have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) in bodily form. Such a one is the imposter (the seducer, the deceiver, the false leader, the antagonist of Christ) and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win and receive back a perfect reward [in full]. 9 Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement. 11 For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings. (Emphasis mine.)
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (Emphasis mine.)
There is of course much disagreement to the position in this article that is expressed from contemporary Christians, and often the disagreement is voiced as …
But the Apostle Paul says… (The standard non-response.)
This is actually a non-response. It is more truthfully seen to be a trained avoidance and purposeful misdirection of the issue since those using it often realize, despite their likely denial, that they are sidestepping Messiah’s teachings. Therefore, whether explicitly or implicitly users of this non-response recognize that their understanding of New Testament teachings does indeed conflict with the words of Messiah, the one whom they claim to follow – i.e. that their teachings stand against Messiah’s.
Every time I have ever presented Messiah’s unmistakable pro-Torah stance and how it is impossible to “follow Christ” while rejecting Torah the inevitable and immediate standard response of the Torah opposing contemporary Christian is to bring the apostle Paul’s epistles into the discussion. This virtually always happens.
Is Paul anti-Torah?
Those who think Paul is anti-Torah are grossly ignorant of Paul’s intent, largely because they are ignorant of the Hebraic mindset of Paul and are among the very people Peter alludes to in 2 Peter.
141516 There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction,17beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless
It should be noted that although the Greek word rendered as “lawless” here is not anomia, and thus not precisely the same Greek word we previously discussed, it nonetheless has the same meaning. This is because we must apply the context of the time in which Peter was writing as well as his Hebraic mind set. When the proper context is applied and aligned with the rest of the New Testament, it is undoubtedly referring to those who practice Torahlessness – those who oppose or violate God’s eternal Torah.
Amazingly, Christianity teaches the very lawlessness (foundational anti-Torah doctrine) Peter warns us to avoid!!!
Summary regarding the apostle Paul's teachings
Regardless of what Paul may or may not have been trying to convey in his writings, Christians, especially Christian leaders, need to realize the following:
- Yeshua is the Messiah – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua gave himself to innocently endure suffering for the sake of all the world – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua was raised from the dead by the Eternal God – NOT PAUL (Paul is still in the grave)
- Yeshua will return to rule as King in his Father’s Kingdom – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua is the head of the Messianic (Christian) community – NOT PAUL
- The Messianic community is the body of Messiah – NOT THE BODY OF PAUL
- Ultimate, fully empowered God-given authority was given to Yeshua – NOT PAUL
Christianity or Paulianity?
They, like contemporary Christians, are quite ignorant of Torah and, therefore, do not realize that Paul was actually a strong proponent of Torah. Like Christians, their ignorance and general rejection of primarily "oral Torah" prevents them from seeing the oral Torah parallels in Paul’s epistles (as well as in the rest of the New Testament). They practice the exact same error of interpretation as do contemporary Christians for exactly the same reason – Torah ignorance. But at least they do not consider the Torah to be abolished.
Unfortunately, the Paul-worship attitude common within contemporary Christianity is so deeply entrenched that most contemporary Christians are incapable of shaking its effects – or have no desire to do so since their misinterpretation implies they have freedom to transgress God’s instructions (Torah). It is the spiritual equivalent of a powerful drug addiction that has its victim locked in an almost inescapable psychological dependency.
Is Paul the New & Improved Messiah? … Or God?
There is another reason why I honestly believe, without sarcastic intent, that Paul – or more correctly the anti-Paul fashioned together from contemporary Christianity’s Torah ignorance and misinterpretation of Paul’s writings – is the de-facto Messiah and even the God of contemporary Christianity:
- Contemporary Christianity incorrectly teaches that Messiah is God, but let us assume for the purposes of this point that it is correct.
- Nevertheless, Christianity openly and without apology elevates the distorted anti-Paul’s alleged teachings above those of the man-god Messiah whom it promotes as God. Of course, Christianity also flippantly and blasphemously elevates the distorted anti-Paul’s teachings above the entirety of instructions given through the prophets by the indisputable God of the Tanakh (Older Testament).
- Therefore, by overruling Messiah’s teachings and example with what they wrongly consider the teachings of Paul, Christianity proves itself to have effectively seated their false Paul on the throne of God!
The entire scenario is absolute spiritual insanity!
I continue to be amazed at the lack of legitimate reverence shown toward Messiah and God by contemporary Christianity. Sure, there may be the appearance of reverence, but it is insincere and not being totally directed towards the true Messiah and true God despite the insistence from most Christians that it is.
Was Torah “Nailed to the Cross”?
Many Christians are taught and largely accept the horrendously false teaching that because of his death Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teachings are no longer valid. Most of these false teachings are derived from an ignorant, un-Hebraic, and in some cases anti-Semitic misinterpretation of Paul’s writings. Because of this terrible error many Christians zealously blaspheme (scorn or reject) Messiah by proclaiming that all he taught was “nailed to the cross”.
instead of anti
Whether read or heard there are innumerable references in Christian material that make the same irreverent and blasphemous claim. Need I say more to demonstrate how “following Christ” is indeed NOT the actual position of contemporary Christianity? Do not foolishly listen to or fall lockstep behind Christian leader’s anti-Torah, and thus indisputably anti-Messiah teachings.
Effectively, contemporary Christianity teaches and Christians apparently feel that Messiah’s teachings died with Him and that upon his resurrection one of the most fundamental aspects of his teachings along with his example as a Torah-observant devotee to the One and Only Living God whom he, himself, worshiped were nullified because of the wildly unscriptural and lawless concept of a new “dispensation of grace”.
How can a person possibly say they follow Messiah or are “Christ-like” while discarding his teachings and faith lifestyle? It’s like saying you are a student of Isaac Newton but you reject his observed laws of physics!
Freedom in Christ is NOT freedom to sin
We earlier proved from the first epistle of John that sin is defined as “transgression of the Law”; or, more accurately stated, it is transgression of Torah.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Once again we find use of the Greek term, anomia, used and translated as “lawlessness” in the NASB and “transgression of the law” in the KJV.
Recall that we have already shown that anomia can be literally rendered as “violation of Torah” or “contempt for Torah”; therefore, 1 John 3:4 could be more correctly translated as:
1 John 3:4
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices violation or contempt of Torah; and sin is violation or contempt of Torah.
They want to feed their sinful nature by believing that they are free to sin. They want to “do what is right in their own eyes” just as pre-captivity Israel was shown to do in the writings of the prophets.
The situation is one of the various types of examples that perfectly fulfill Paul’s warning to Timothy as quoted from the Amplified Bible:
3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God's truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, 4 and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].. (Bold Emphasis mine)
If we also consider the following verse from Proverbs, the eternal spiritual peril caused when contemporary Christians “turn away the ear from the truth” is plainly described. Please note that in the following verse “Torah” is the literal Hebrew word that is translated in English translations as “law”.
9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law (Torah), even his prayer is an abomination.
The situation Paul describes in his letter to Timothy is precisely what has happened and what defines contemporary Christianity. It promotes a willful rejection of God’s teachings and the teachings of the one He anointed as His chosen agent (Messiah) – a choice I discuss more fully in my article on the The Mark of the Beast. As I prove in that article, acceptance of an anti-Torah mindset is acceptance of the dreaded Beastly mark.
For now, forget Paul existed
We are to follow Messiah, not Paul, and in cases where Messiah’s and Paul’s teachings appear to contradict there are only three possible choices:
- Reject what Paul said and cling to Messiah’s teachings.
- Realize that you likely misinterpreted Paul’s epistles.
- Consider that scattered statements in Paul’s writings may include some corruption caused by biased Christian scribes making either intentional or unintentional mistakes during their copying copies of copies of copies of the ancient writings. In such cases, those few verses may need to be put aside as potentially flawed.
Of the three choices given above, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the second – “Realize that you likely misinterpreted Paul’s epistles” – is the best choice. The third choice is also sometimes worth consideration since it is an absolutely proven fact that there exist a small amount of error in the New Testament writings.
Regrettably, many who fall into the same misinterpretation trap as contemporary Christians yet who realize Torah is not abolished, label Paul as a false apostle, reject him, and in extreme cases become fanatical Paul slanderers and anti-Paul activists – a movement I call anti-Paulism as defined earlier and which I passionately and unapologetically oppose. The choice to reject Paul by anti-Paulists is based on either severe ignorance or ulterior motives, or both. However, at least they are wise enough to know that the Torah (Law) of The Living God is not annulled.
Every knee shall bow – even Paul’s
I will end this segment of our discussion repeating what needs to be repeated and repeated and repeated until traditional anti-Law Christians finally grasp it.
- Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua (Jesus) gave himself to innocently endure suffering for the sake of all the world – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua (Jesus) was raised from the dead by the Eternal God – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua (Jesus) will return to rule as King in his Father’s Kingdom – NOT PAUL
- Yeshua (Jesus) is the head of the Messianic (Christian) community – NOT PAUL
- The Messianic community is the body of Messiah – NOT THE BODY OF PAUL
- Ultimate, fully empowered God-given authority was given to Yeshua (Jesus) – NOT PAUL
If that does not settle the issue and stop the sacrilegious use of Paul’s alleged teachings to overrule Messiah’s then I don’t know what will, and those guilty of continuing such error are tragically beyond the reach of reason or Scripture.
It does not matter if Paul’s teachings appear to contradict Messiah’s because Messiah’s should always rule supreme. Those who feel otherwise do not follow Messiah and should stop making false claims of doing so since their actual "Messiah" and "God" is proven to be an improperly interpreted apostle Paul. They should refrain from the false claim of being “Christians” and should instead just admit to being anti-Christians – followers of the anti-Christ.
Or, if that’s too politically incorrect for some people, they should refer to themselves as Paulians who attend The Church of Paul, are members of The Body of Paul, and are awaiting the time when Paul returns to reign as Messiah.
Conclusion
Yes. Most contemporary Christians are taught doctrines that make them enemies of the very Messiah they claim to love and, according to the words of Messiah, places them in a position of potential condemnation when he returns!
Personally, I am convinced that many Christians, particularly Christian leaders, realize their agenda conflicts with the actual teachings of Yeshua the Messiah, falsely named “Jesus” the Christ. Even the promotion of the false name “Jesus” is proof that Christian leaders do not follow the true Messiah, do not care about truth, and willfully choose to promote falsehood.
“Following” Christ has not been, is not, and apparently will never be the message advanced by many contemporary Christian leaders and embraced by many contemporary Christians.
A sad irony of history is that the very term “Christianity”, as applied to the contemporary Christian religious system, is essentially phony since it indicates Christianity is a religion that promotes “following” Christ (Messiah), when in fact contemporary Christianity advances an agenda that largely opposes Messiah’s teachings. A more accurate term for the majority of Christian organizations is Anti-Christ-ianity since they are anti (against) the teachings of Christ.
Incredibly, most Christians have dutifully accepted the role of sheep given them by Messiah, but have allowed a new shepherd to run the flock, as they neither flinch nor seriously scrutinize the teachings of their leaders even when those leaders promote doctrines that explicitly contradict teachings of Messiah. It reminds me of a tragic news story I read recently involving hundreds of sheep in the country of Turkey.
A number of sheepherders were sharing grazing land for their sheep. One sheep with an apparent death wish decided to jump from a high cliff. To the horror of the shepherds 1,500 sheep dutifully and mindlessly followed the “leader” off the cliff. Four hundred and fifty sheep perished, and those that lived did so only because the pile of sheep corpses at the base of the cliff eventually became a large fluffy cushion for those blindly joining the herd in this “blind leading the blind” animal tragedy.
Unfortunately, most contemporary Christians “follow” the lead of their teachers much like the hapless sheep followed their “leader” in the example just given.
Friend, I plead with you to consider the eternal question of whom you follow. Do you truly follow Messiah or are you following someone or something that promotes an ideology that directly contradicts and opposes his teachings and faith example?
Please. With and open mind and heart I ask that you calmly, sincerely, and scripturally consider the issues raised in this discussion.