Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Shalom,
One In Messiah part 24 – Romans, part 135
Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all—richly generous to all who call on Him.
Let’s not pull this out of context. The previous verse says “whoever trusts…,” so in context, you don’t have to be Jewish or non-Jewish (Greek) to trust God… “for the same Lord is Lord of all (everyone).” If there truly is “no distinction,” then why the desire to change? It seems that some Gentiles want to become Jewish and some Jews want to become Gentiles.
1Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing—but keeping God’s commandments matters. 20 Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called.
Here is the point… you don’t have to be Jewish to obey God, neither do you have to be Gentile to obey God. Anyone who obeys God, Jewish or not, gets a blessing. How much of our desire to obey God is optional? All of it, but so go the blessings. Ask God, “Can I have the blessings without obeying your commandments?” You might hear this for an answer (Yeshua is speaking)….
Matthew 7:23 “Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”
There is an error out there called “One Law.” Some of what I’m saying here sounds a lot like the “One Law” error, but it isn’t. The error of “One Law” is to accuse everyone who does not obey all the Law of God of being in sin. By that measure, every Sunday church is in sin. I do not believe that.
I do believe that Shomair is one community made up of both Jewish and non-Jewish people. Everyone who is part of our community is called to live by the same standard when they are with our community. (Same with Kashrut.) There are many other laws, but these two (Shabbat and Kashrut) seem to receive the preponderance of attention.
Rabbi Trail: When I say “Shabbat” here, I’m including all “Shabbatot,” including the Feasts of the Lord. Kashrut are all the biblical laws of keeping kosher. End RT.
There is an overtone of accusation by the proponents of the “One Law” error that I don’t have. If you want to worship God on Sunday, go ahead. There are plenty of good Sunday churches. Worship God every day if you like, but don’t think Sunday is the Sabbath. It isn’t! Likewise, if you want to eat pork and shellfish, go ahead! You can still get to heaven… probably quicker. (More on this some other time.)
Paul was writing to the Romans at a time when the believing world was trying to come to grips with all of these non-Jews who want to follow God. How do we (as Jewish believers) incorporate them into our (up until now, Jewish) patterns of life?
Today, the body of Messiah is predominantly non-Jewish. The question to be asked is, how do we incorporate the Jewish followers of Messiah into our patterns of life which for the last 1,800 years or so have been non-Jewish?
Please pray with me…. Lord, would You give us wisdom in these matters, so that when you return you will find righteousness in the earth. May that righteousness be reflected in Your body made of recognizably Jewish and non-Jewish people who love You and shine forth as beacons of light in a dark, sick, and dying world. In Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 26 July 2023 8th of Av, 5783
De 5:1-21[18] Ez 31 1 Ch 11 1 Th 3 (Jn 2)