Dd-46. HAS GOD’s LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? Part 2. DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. Dd-50. HAS GOD'S LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? Part 2.
HAS ANY OF GOD'S LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? Well, HAS GOD'S LAW OF CIRCUMCISION BEEN ABOLISHED?
In part #1 of this study, Dd-45. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 1, we left off on the 119 Ministries argument number 5 where they argue that since circumcision if PART of the law of God, then how could God abolish PART of his law without telling us? And in this study, we will continue showing that God has indeed TOLD us that circumcision in the flesh according to the Law of Moses is NO LONGER to be kept. Again, I will place all the arguments from the 119 Ministries' website in a DIFFERENT font style so you will not confuse my teaching with THEIR FALSE teaching. Let us continue exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the 119 Ministries as well as all seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations because they all make the same errors of interpreting the Scriptures.
Before we begin testing the above interpretations of Galatians chapter two, it might make sense to recognize that there is a chapter 1. Chapter 1 builds and sets the context that leads into chapter 2. We must consider that this is a letter and is intended to be read as such. The real problem established in the first chapter is that the Galatians were abandoning the heart of the gospel message (the true process and way of salvation itself). Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Paul overemphasized that the Galatians should recognize the importance of the true gospel, which is the same gospel Paul teaches. He then follows with this warning: Galatians 1:10-13 For do I NOW persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by ME is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul distinguishes between pleasing men and pleasing God. Paul states that the gospel he preached is not from men, but from God. Thus, the false doctrine that is confusing the Galatians is from men and not God. The only reason the gospel from men exists is to please men, not God.
Here is where a whole lot of TRUTH is MIXED or combined with a FALSE assumption. It is true that Paul is making a distinction between pleasing God and pleasing man, but it will become clear that the FALSE ASSUMPTION of the 119 Ministries is that Paul was teaching Christians the LAW of God written in the Old Testament, under the OLD covenant, given to Moses to give to the children of Israel for THEM to keep throughout THEIR generations. In other words, those in the 119 Ministries ASSUME that Paul is teaching us, as Christians, to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as an OUTWARD showing of our TRUE circumcision of the heart not made with hands, which we receive BY our FAITH in Jesus. And for those in the 119 Ministries to make such a CLAIM that this is the TRUE gospel is completely and absolutely an INCORRECT interpretation of the entire book of Galatians. I will show you in a minute what I mean by this, but for now I want you, the reader, to notice HOW they CHANGE the meaning of what Paul is truly teaching, by changing the FOCUS from what is truly being said by Paul to what the 119 Ministries WANTS you to believe is being taught. And what they want, or more precisely, what they NEED, is for you to believe is that Paul is NOT teaching AGAINST circumcision in order to support THEIR teaching. So they argue, it is the WAY that MAN is falsely teaching that circumcision should be PRACTICED is the problem. In other words, they are INTERPRETING Paul's teaching to mean that Paul is not teaching against being circumcised in the FLESH made WITH hands. But rather, to THEM, Paul is against the circumcision in the flesh made with hands when one is circumcised in the flesh in order to be SAVED. They are saying that what is wrong is the man-made teaching or MAN'S TRADITION that we are to be circumcised in order to be SAVED. In other words, they are claiming that some Sabbath DAY keeping Christians have erred by wrongly teaching that circumcision in the flesh is REQUIRED by God in order to be SAVED. And thus, that is NOT they themselves in the 119 Ministry are teaching. But rather, they themselves are saying that Christians must be circumcised in the flesh as an OUTWARD SIGN to show others their INWARD circumcision of the heart. DO NOT BE DECEIVED by this manipulation of God's Holy word my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. Please notice that the real issue that is under discussion has slowly been CHANGED from Paul teaching against GOD'S law under the OLD Covenant to Paul teaching against the commandments of MEN who are wrongly teaching that it is a SIN for a Christian to NOT be circumcised in the FLESH made with hands. And thus, they conclude that the supposed correct way to be circumcised in the flesh made with hands should be done only as an OUTWARD showing that God has circumcised your HEART. And they COMPARE their INTERPRETATION with water baptism. That is NOT what the Apostle Paul is teaching! They are wrestling with the teachings of the Apostle Paul to their own DESTRUCTION just like the Apostle Peter WARNS us in 2 Peter 3:16. There is NO commandment of God written in the NEW Testament under the NEW Covenant to be circumcised in the flesh made with hands for ANY REASON whatsoever. So, therefore, ANY circumcision done in the FLESH that is being done to KEEP the LAW of God for ANY reason is NOT OF God but of MEN. Namely, the Jews and the Jewish Judaizing Christians, whom Paul calls FALSE brethren. And it was those FALSE JUDAIZING brethren that were wrongly teaching that Gentiles could NOT be saved UNLESS they are first circumcised in the FLESH according to the Law of Moses. And Paul plainly says no absolutely NOT! We are save by grace and not by works of the law of commandments CONTAINED in ORDIANCES, according to Ephesians 2:8-15. Let us continue exposing the errors of interpretation made by the seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping groups of Christians. Here is another quote from the 119 Ministries website.
That being said, is the Law of God from God or from men?
This is simply another QUESTION that is asked to distract Christians away from the real issue which is at hand. And that issue or question under discussion is “DOES THE APOSTLE PAUL teach us that we ARE to be circumcised in the FLESH made with hands for ANY REASON whatsoever?” So, obviously, that question of whether or not circumcision is the law of God or the law of men should never be asked. What Christian would ever deny that the law of GOD is NOT FROM God? Most assuredly the law of circumcision is FROM GOD! So WHY ask this question when the answer is already known by every Christian that the law of circumcision is indeed FROM God? That questions is asked for the sole reason to get you, the reader, to start to think that Paul is indeed teaching the LAW of God, as in, Paul is NOT teaching AGAINST any PART of the LAW of God concerning CIRCUMCISION or any other Law of Moses under the Old Covenant. They want you to see that Paul is ONLY teaching against the MANNER in which circumcision is being practiced, so that they can argue that Paul is NOT teaching AGAINST any of the law of God under the Old Covenant. But their ERROR in doing this PROVES that they themselves are FALSE teachers. For you see, they actually concede that the law of CIRCUMCISION in the flesh has indeed been ABOLISHED at the cross by claiming that the REASON for WHY the keeping of the law of circumcision in the flesh has CHANGED. In other words, they are saying that the MANNER of HOW the law of circumcision MUST be kept has changed from being SAVED to now being an OUTWARD showing of their faith to obey God's commandments contained in ORDINANCES. And for that reason, they can no longer use the argument that not ONE JOT or TITTLE of the law shall pass from the law until ALL be fulfilled. This tactic of changing the FOCUS is used by all teachers of FALSE doctrine. This is WHY the 119 Ministries try and change the focus of what is actually being taught in Galatians, which is from Paul teaching AGAINST the law of CIRCUMCISION in the flesh, to Paul NOT preaching a gospel that is PLEASING to MEN. And thereby they can then try and convince you, the reader, or the hearer or their teaching, that PLEASING MEN means the traditions and commandments of MEN, which then leads to them convincing you that this means that Paul is actually teaching against the MANNER in which the law of circumcision is PRACTICED. And THEIR definition of MANNER is to keep the Old Covenant in the EXACT SAME WAY as the Jews, but NOT to be SAVED. But rather, Christians OUGHT to keep all of the Law of Moses only to be more PLEASING to God to SHOW God your love. Again, the DISCERNMENT that the WAY of KEEPING God's law has CHANGED is TRUE. Please read the study called Dd-5. What Does Contained in ORDINANCES Mean? However, the MANNER in which THEY interpret as being the change is that we MUST be circumcised in the FLESH. And to them, that means Christians MUST keep the Law of Moses, but not keep it in order to be SAVED. Again, THEIR definition of “MANNER of CHANGE in the way to keep the law of God” is to keep the Old Covenant in the EXACT SAME WAY as the Jews, but NOT keep it to be SAVED. But rather, Christians OUGHT to keep all of the Law of Moses only to be more PLEASING to God to OUTWARDLY SHOW your love for God saving you. In other words, THEY are teaching to KEEP the Law of Moses as ONLY an OUTWARD showing of our TRUE spiritual circumcision by our FAITH in Jesus Christ. And they compare the reason for WHY they are keeping the Law of Moses to water baptism in order to try and say that they are not keeping the Law of Moses to be SAVED. But rather, they are CLAIMING that Christians must keep the Law of Moses ONLY as an OUTWARD showing that they ARE saved. That is what they are trying to convince you that Paul is teaching. The TRUTH of the matter is that the TRUE GOSPEL that Paul is preaching is NOT PLEASING to these FALSE brethren, the Jewish Judaizing Christians. And these Judaizing Jewish Christians are COMPELLING the Gentile Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands. Paul blatantly said for the uncircumcised in the flesh to NOT become circumcised in the flesh. But those in the 119 Ministries are too filled with PRIDE to admit that to NOT become circumcised in the flesh is the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ. For you see, if they did, then they would be admitting that THEY are the ones teaching a DIFFERENT gospel than what Paul is teaching. And if they admitted that, then THEY would have to stop teaching their DIFFERENT gospel than what Paul is preaching and their whole church denomination would crumble. PRIDE is indeed hard to overcome, but it is better to admit that one has erred in their interpretation of God's word than it is for them to continue to deceive God's children to believe a FALSE gospel that is in VAIN. The TRUTH of the matter is that these, Jews who became Christians, are FALSELY teaching that the GENTILE Christians must be circumcised in the flesh and that these Jewish Christians were in FEAR of being PERSECUTED by the JEWS in the Jew's religion. The teaching of Paul has nothing to do with the law of GOD versus the traditions and commandments of MEN. The LAW of circumcision in the FLESH was the law of God under the OLD covenant as a SIGN that the one circumcised was in a COVENANT relationship WITH God. Again, the LAW of circumcision is still yet in force and MUST be KEPT, but the MANNER in which we now keep the law of circumcision in the NEW Testament, under the NEW covenant, is by our FAITH in Jesus as our TRUE spiritual circumcision of the HEART cutting away SIN from our heart. None the less, let us continue to look at other arguments given by the 119 Ministries.
If the whole supposed point of Galatians is to teach against God’s law then why is Paul stating that he is teaching against doctrines of men? This will become clearer as we proceed.
Again, FALSELY misleading. The whole point of Galatians is to expose the FALSE teachers. And those false teachers are the Jewish Judaizing Christians who are teaching their OWN commandments from what they were taught as a JEW under the old covenant. And thus they are INCORRECTLY compelling Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as the JEWS under the OLD covenant. Neither Paul nor the entire New Testament teaches against ANY of the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God. But there is absolutely no doubt that Paul is teaching AGAINST the law of CIRCUMCISION in the flesh made with hands as NO LONGER being required OF Almighty God HIMSELF. Now MEN, namely the JEWS and the Jewish Judaizing Christians, were compelling the Gentile Christians to keep the OLD covenant in order to be saved. They were teaching the OLD traditions under the OLD covenant given to them being the children of Israel. And Paul was teaching AGAINST the OLD traditions of men, the children of Israel, to embrace the NEW traditions under the NEW covenant, which were not yet actually traditions because they were brand NEW. Also, WHERE in the book of Galatians does Paul STATE that he is teaching against the DOCTRINES of MEN. Just do a simple search in a concordance on the word “MEN” and you will find that it is found only four times in the book of Galatians. And none of those four times is found that Paul STATES that he is teaching against the commandments, the traditions, the teaching, nor the doctrines of MEN. So in TRUTH, Paul is teaching against the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. Now, it is true that both Jesus and Paul did teach against the doctrines and traditions of men. However, in this particular instance, Paul is CLEARLY teaching against the law of Almighty God himself that has been ABOLISHED at the cross of Jesus. For you see, Jesus FULFILLED that part of the ceremonial law to REPLACE the MANNER in which that ceremonial law would be kept under the NEW covenant. In other words, Jesus abolished the WAY in which the law of Almighty God was being KEPT under the old covenant. We still KEEP the law of God to be circumcised to be in a COVENANT relationship with him. But the WAY that we KEEP the law of God to be circumcised has CHANGED. We are circumcised by Almighty God himself by our FAITH in Jesus as the atonement of our sins. But if the 119 Ministries conceded to this TRUTH in God's word, then they can NO LONGER use Matthew 5:17,18 to subvert Christians to keep ALL the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. They could no longer subvert Christians to keep ANY of the ceremonial law INCLUDING the keeping of Saturday as being the seventh day of the week as the ONLY TRUE Sabbath. That is why that I personally see that this passage of Scripture in Matthew 5:17-19 as one of the biggest STUMBLING BLOCKS to not only the 119 Ministries but also to the entire Hebrew Roots Movement including EVERY Saturday, seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping church denominations. Again, I cover these errors of INTERPRETATION on Matthew 5:17-19 in the study called Dd-72. 119 Ministries ERRORS of interpretation Pt 2 in great detail. But for even a more in-depth study on this passage of Scripture please read Dd-23. What does MATTHEW 5:17,18 TRULY Mean? We will also cover this verse briefly further on in the study of God's word. But for now, just know that Jesus did not come to COMPLETELY abolish the law, but Jesus did come to ABOLISH some of the law. For you see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Greek word “KAYTALYO” which is translated as destroyed in the King James Version and as abolish in the New International Version also means to completely destroy or to utterly destroy and abolish the whole law. In other words, Jesus did not come to COMPLETELY and UTTERLY destroy or abolish the ceremonial laws in his FIRST coming, but Jesus did, in fact, come to ABOLISH some of the ceremonial law such as the ANIMAL sacrifices and the law of CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH. Please continue weighing the evidence from both sides. Change the way that you understand the words “ABOLISH” and “FULFILL”. Did Jesus do away with SACRIFICE for the forgiveness of sin? Or did Jesus FULFILL the SACRIFICE for sin in order to CHANGE the WAY in which we NOW KEEP the SACRIFICE for sins? In other words, we still must KEEP the law of SACRIFICE for sins. But NOW, under the NEW COVENANT, we KEEP the law of sacrifice for sins by our FAITH IN Jesus as the atonement for our sins. We are NOT UNDER the old covenant to offer animals sacrifices of sins. And to offer animals sacrifices for sin would be a slap in the face of Almighty God. You would be WEAK in your faith in the new covenant if you try to keep BOTH the old and the new covenant. Let us continue exposing the errors of interpretation made by the 119 Ministries which are the same errors made by all Sabbath keeping church denominations.
So far, after reading most of Galatians chapter 1, it appears that Paul is teaching against the doctrines of man, not against the Law of God. Paul continues establishing this context:
Continue to notice how they changed the real issue at hand to make the argument to be between the law of GOD and the commandments of MEN. I ask you my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, WHEN has the law of CIRCUMCISION ever been a commandment from MAN. Almighty God himself gave this command to Abraham to be circumcised in the FLESH as the SIGN of HIM and his children being in a covenant relationship with God. And without being circumcised in the flesh you were NOT SAVED, as in, you were NOT in a COVENANT relationship with God. And God's law of circumcision in the FLESH has continued to be GOD'S law right up to the time of the CROSS of Jesus which was when it was ABOLISHED or replaced, as in, the MANNER of HOW the law of circumcision is to NOW be KEPT under the NEW COVENANT. Can you not see that the ONLY way to be under the New Covenant is by FAITH in Jesus? And Paul clearly teaches us that we ARE CIRCUMCISED in HIM. Jesus is our circumcision. And that is WHY Paul teaches AGAINST becoming circumcised in the FLESH. It is MEANINGLESS to keep the Law of Moses to become circumcised in the FLESH because we ARE circumcised by Almighty God himself in our HEART by our FAITH IN Jesus. Again, this changing the focus to the commandments and traditions of MEN is a common argument used by the 119 Ministries throughout all their studies. It is DECEPTIVE because no true Christians accept the commandments of MEN. So then, if they can convince you that Paul is teaching ONLY against the commandments of MEN, then you will be deceived into believing that Paul is NOT teaching against the law of GOD, as in, Paul is teaching that NONE of the law of God has been CHANGED. But what Paul is truly talking about is specifically related to the doctrines of these FALSE brethren that are FALSELY compelling Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands. And the law of being circumcised in the FLESH is, in fact, a law of GOD and not a commandment, doctrine, or tradition of MAN. BUT it BECAME the commandment and tradition of men given to the children of Israel under the OLD covenant for THEM to keep in that MANNER throughout THEIR generations. Plain and simple, the seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians are DECEIVING you with their own twisted version of understanding the Scriptures. Now, they can say the same thing about me. And that is why I am giving you ALL the evidence from the WHOLE word of Almighty God so that you can make the right choice to believe the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ. As we continue, I want you to notice what the word of God is ACTUALLY saying. So simply ask yourself WHY is Paul being PERSECUTED if Paul is teaching Christians to KEEP the Law of Moses the SAME as the Jews? Ask yourself WHY are the Christians that have been converted from the Jew's religion COMPELLING the GENTILE Christians to be circumcised in the flesh after the LAW of MOSES under the OLD covenant? Can you not see that it is NOT the doctrines of MEN that Paul is teaching against here in the book of Galatians. YES! The law of God BECAME the doctrines and traditions of the JEWS. And then, the Jewish Christians, who were taught to keep the Law of Moses all their lives, THOUGHT that they and all Christians MUST keep the all Law of Moses to be SAVED because it was their TRADITION to keep the Law of Moses. So it was the Jewish TRADITION of keeping all the Law of Moses that the Apostle Paul is teaching AGAINST, because the law contained in ORDINANCES was ABOLISHED at the cross, according to Ephesians 2:8-15 and Colossians 2:8-17. Please read the studies called Dd-3. What COLOSSIANS 2:14-17 TRULY MEAN? Dd-4. What does EPHESIANS 2:8-15 TRULY MEAN? But for now, please read Acts 15:5.
Acts 15:5.
“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed (Meaning that theses were JEWS who became believers in Jesus, which Paul calls FALSE brethren that crept in unaware to spy out the LIBERTY of the Gentile Christians, and it was these Jewish Christians that were) saying, That it was NEEDFUL to circumcise them, AND to COMMAND them to KEEP the law of Moses.”
So then, Paul is saying that THIS PERSUASION from these JEWISH Christians was NOT of God. But rather, it is their own Jewish tradition that they were taught under the OLD covenant Law of Moses all their lives. It became their TRADITION because they were FAITHFUL to keep the law of God. Being circumcised in the flesh is NOT a MAN-MADE TRADITION. But it did become a tradition by not REMEMBERING WHY the law of circumcision was given to them in the first place. The TRUTH of the matter is that Paul is INDEED teaching AGAINST the law of Almighty God Himself that has been ABOLISHED at the cross by Jesus FULFILLING the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. The law contained in ordinances is NOT the MORAL law. But rather, the ceremonial laws contained in ORDINACNE, as in, the MANNER in which the ceremonial law WAS being kept under to OLD covenant was CHANGED to the NEW manner in which God HIMSELF now desires His ceremonial laws to be kept in the NEW Testament under the NEW Covenant. And that new WAY of KEEPING the commandments of God is to have FAITH in Jesus as being our TRUE sacrifice for sins, our TRUE Passover Lamb, our TRUE circumcision made WITHOUT hands, our TRUE Sabbath rest, and our TRUE righteousness. Jesus is the END of the LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS. The law was added UNTIL Jesus came. The law is a SCHOOLMASTER to lead the Jews to Jesus and the NEW COVENANT to obey the TWO commandments of Jesus. Let us continue with some more arguments made by the 119 Ministries.
Galatians 1:13-14, For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Paul is pulling from his own personal experience in Pharisee doctrine (Phil 3:5). Paul was one of the most esteemed Pharisees of his day and was training under the top teacher in Pharisee doctrine. We learn of the genesis of Paul’s persecution of the Church in the Book of Acts. Paul was actually a witness to the stoning of Stephen that is described in detail in Acts 6:8 to Acts 7:60. It is worth mentioning that in Acts 6:12-14 we learn that Stephen was “falsely accused” of teaching that Yeshua (Jesus) changed the Law of God. Acts 6:12-14 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us. Yet supposedly it is now “correct teaching” that Yeshua (Jesus) changed the law of God. Somehow what is a false accusation for Stephen is now true accusations according to the modern mainstream Church. What has really happened is that the Law of God never changed.
Let us pause here for a moment and CLEAR UP yet another INCORRECT INTERPRETATION made by those in the Hebrew Roots Movement and the 119 Ministries, who have FALSELY concluded that Acts 6:8-14 is teaching that Stephen was being FALSELY ACCUSED of teaching something that was NOT true. Stephen was most definitely teaching against the OLD covenant by his teaching the NEW covenant. A false witness is one who DISTORTS the FACTS. Please read Acts 6:8-15 to see what this passage of Scripture is actually saying.
Acts 6:8-15.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10. And they were NOT able to RESIST the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. 11. Then (Or so then, since they could NOT refute the teaching of Stephen by HONEST means of using the Scriptures) they SUBORNED men, which said, We have HEARD him SPEAK blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. (In other words, they found some men that would LIE and PURGER themselves to say that they themselves were EYE witnesses who HEARD with their own ears blasphemous words spoken by Stephen against God when in truth, they did NOT hear what Stephen taught. They were bought and paid for LIARS to testify against Stephen. This is why they were called FALSE witnesses) 12. And they (The Jews who could not refute the SOUND teaching of Stephen) stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13. And set up FALSE witnesses, (Again, these witnesses were called FALSE witnesses because they were paid to LIE and bear FALSE witness against Stephen when they said that they themselves HEARD Stephen SPEAK that Jesus would destroy the temple and ABOLISH the Law of Moses) which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: (Surely there is no doubt that the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ might sound blasphemous to the Jews. Hearing that their Temple would be destroyed and that Jesus is NOW the TRUE and ONLY sacrifice for sins that Almighty God will accept would certainly sound blasphemous to a Jew that was taught all their life to offer ANIMAL sacrifices to make atonement for their sins) 14. For WE have HEARD him SAY (In other words, these witnesses were coerced into LYING that they themselves were EYE witnesses and HEARD with their own ears that Stephen said these things, which is why they are called FALSE witnesses. What they were TOLD to say was indeed the TRUTH of what Stephen taught, which was), that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and SHALL CHANGED the customs which Moses delivered us. (The Temple was indeed destroyed in 70 AD and the animal sacrifices ENDED in 70 AD just like Jesus, Stephen, and the other Apostles and disciples of Jesus taught. So the customs that God delivered to Moses CHANGED. Jesus has now become our TRUE sacrifice for sins, our TRUE Passover Lamb, our TRUE circumcision made WITHOUT hands, our TRUE Sabbath rest, and our TRUE righteousness. Jesus is the END of the LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS. The law was added UNTIL Jesus came. The law is a SCHOOLMASTER to lead the Jews to Jesus and the NEW COVENANT to obey the TWO commandments of Jesus) 15. And all that sat in the council, looking steadfast on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”
The TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus HIMSELF said that the temple would, in fact, be DESTROYED. And Jesus ALSO said that he did not come to “KATALYO”, which means to COMPLETELY DESTROY the Law of Moses. So then, BOTH of these statement made by these FALSE witnesses were TRUE. Therefore it is NOT the testimony that these witnesses gave as the REASON as to WHY they were called FALSE witnesses, but rather it was they were paid to lie by saying that THEY heard Stephen teach these things. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that something which is TRUE cannot be called a FALSE witness? In other words, the statement in verse 14 tells us two things that are both TRUE.
#1. Jesus of Nazareth did, in fact, prophecy and teach his disciples that the temple would be DESTROYED in Matthew 24:1,2.
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said unto them, See you not all these things? Verily (Or TRULY) I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
So then, HOW can these witnesses be called FALSE witnesses if what they are saying that they heard Stephen say is TRUE? The answer is that they themselves did not PERSONALLY HEAR with their OWN ears Stephen preach these words. You see, when these Jews who were disputing with Stephen could NOT resist what he was teaching, then they convinced other Jews to lie for them. In other words, after they unsaved Jews could not refute Stephen themselves, then they went about and found some other Jews who would LIE and say that they HEARD Stephen blaspheme against the Law of Moses. And they did that so that they could get a crowd of Jews stirred up enough to stone Stephen. These witnesses were FALSE witnesses, in that, they LIED about their ACTUALLY HEARING Stephen teach with their own ears that the temple would be destroyed and that the custom of keeping the Law of Moses would be CHANGED.
#2. Jesus of Nazareth would change the Law of Moses.
Again, this is a TRUE statement. But this TRUTH was not something that was ACCEPTED by those JEWS in the early church. Nor is this TRUTH that some CHANGES were made in the Law of Moses accepted by the 119 Ministries and literally every Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations. For you see, what Jesus, Stephen, Peter, Paul, and the entire New Testament church taught was AGAINST the TRADITIONS of the Jews taught to them in the OLD Testament under the OLD covenant. It was the TRADITION of Jesus to go to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover. So the word “TRADITION” does NOT always mean a MAN-MADE tradition. The truth of the matter is that the death and resurrection did, in fact, CHANGE the MANNER or the WAY in which the CEREMONIAL Law of Moses is to NOW be kept under the NEW covenant. This TRUTH cannot be denied without DENYING the TRUTH written in the NEW Testament. In other words, we, as Christians, do not offer animal sacrifices to have our sins forgiven because we BELIEVE that Jesus is NOW our SACRIFICE for the forgiveness of sins. And we, as Christians, do NOT teach that we must be circumcised in the flesh because we know and understand that our FAITH IN Jesus places us in a COVENANT relationship with Almighty God. So we ARE indeed KEEPING God’s LAW of circumcision by our FAITH IN Jesus as our circumcision not made with human hands. And some Sabbath-keeping Christians know this truth and have come out of the Sabbath-keeping group of Christians. But other Sabbath-keeping groups of Christians have become SO DECEIVED that they have now turned to CLAIMING that Paul is a FALSE teacher and NOT a TRUE Apostle of Jesus. And they make this CLAIM because they cannot refute Paul’s teachings. So they make the CLAIM that Paul’s teachings CONTRADICT the teachings of Jesus. Please read the study Dd-63. JESUS WORDS ONLY SABBATH TRUTH! for the arguments of why some have resorted to throwing out the entire New Testament except for the words of Jesus ONLY in the four gospels. That is how DANGEROUS this Hebrews Roots Movement and 119 Ministry has become. So then, since what these witnesses who were bought and paid for to bear FALSE witness said what Jesus and Stephen said, then the only way for these witnesses to be FALSE witnesses is that they LIED when they said that they HEARD Stephen himself say these things. Or they were FALSE witnesses because they TWISTED what they heard by saying that Jesus himself would destroy their Temple, when what Jesus ACTUALLY said was that the Temple would be destroyed. All we know for sure is that Stephen was preaching the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ and miracles were being done in the name of Jesus and what he said about the temple being destroyed did come to pass. And some things have indeed changed from the OLD covenant to the NEW covenant.
Let us continue.
Instead, men’s poor understanding and application of the Law of God changed because of the Jewish sects like the Pharisees. This is Paul’s point because Paul was raised in such a doctrine. His point is that he knows better than anyone of the error’s the Galatians are entering into. Thus Paul is setting the foundation of his correction to the Galatians. Paul is not preparing to declare that observing the Law of God is in error, but false first-century doctrine surrounding the purpose and intent of the Law of God is in error.
Again, they are getting you, the reader and seeker of the TRUTH, to focus on the APPLICATION of the law of God CHANGED and NOT that the law of God ITSELF has changed, which is TRUE, but it is NOT the WHOLE truth. For you see, what the 119 Ministries is CLAIMING is that those Galatians were keeping a PERVERTED version of the Law of Moses that were traditions of MEN. So simply ask yourself if the law of being circumcised in the flesh was a perverted TRADITION of MEN or if the law of circumcision was indeed the LAW of Almighty God himself? You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, God did not, what we call, “abolish” any law itself. But rather, Jesus FULFILLED the ceremonial laws in the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES in order for Jesus to become the REPLACEMENT of HOW the ceremonial laws are to NOW be kept in the New Testament under the NEW Covenant. In other words, we ARE circumcised by our FAITH in Jesus. Our FAITH in Jesus is our TRUE circumcision to be in a NEW Covenant relationship with God. And thus, circumcision in the FLESH made with hands in NO LONGER required to be kept as INSTRUCTED in the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. But the 119 Ministry claims that Paul is teaching that we must still yet be circumcised in the flesh even though we have received the TRUE circumcision through our FAITH in Jesus. In other words, Saturday Sabbath-keeping Christians wrongly teach that we must keep BOTH covenants in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. Then they try and use Philippians 3:5 where Paul basically says no one knows the law better than me as an argument to say that Paul was using his great knowledge of the LAW to correct the brethren at the church of Galatia. But is their INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures true? For you see, IF SO BE their interpretation is true then we must also be offering ANIMAL sacrifices as an OUTWARD showing of our FAITH IN Jesus as our TRUE sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Again, it is true that Jesus and Paul did teach against the traditions of men. However, this is not at all what Paul is saying in either the book of Galatians or in Philippians 3:1-9.
Philippians 3:1-9.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the SAME things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3. For we ARE the circumcision, which worship God in the SPIRIT, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO confidence in the FLESH. (Speaking of being circumcised in the FLESH made with hands) 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. (Or even though I could BOAST in the FLESH) If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I MORE: 5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, BLAMELESS. (Meaning that BEFORE Paul was converted to Christianity that he kept the whole Law of Moses and could not be blamed for breaking any point of the Law of Moses. And no Jew had more zeal than him to PERSECUTE Christians for preaching the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ) 7. BUT what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ (Or HOWEVER, those things I used to BOAST about in keeping all the Law of Moses without blame I NOW count as NOTHING) 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that (Or in order that) I may win Christ, 9. And be found in HIM, not having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the LAW, but that which is through the FAITH of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by FAITH:”
Paul is preaching the SAME thing here that he is to the Galatians, which is that CIRCUMCISION in the flesh made with hands avails NOTHING and that Christians are not to seek to be justified by becoming CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH in order to try and keep BOTH the New Covenant and the Old Covenant at the same time. We did not receive the Holy Spirit to empower us to keep the Law of Moses. That is a LIE of Satan being told to you. Plain and simple, the law of CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH has been ABOLISHED at the cross of Jesus as you will plainly see as you continue in this study of God's word to expose the ERRORS of interpretation made by those in the 119 Ministries, the Hebrew Roots Movement, and in Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches. Please read what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:18,19 and also notice that Paul makes a clear DISTINCTION between the LAW of God concerning CIRCUMCISION and the COMMANDMENTS of God.
1 Corinthians 7:18,19.
“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED. 19. Circumcision is NOTHING, (Speaking of circumcision in the FLESH NOTHING) and uncircumcision (In the FLESH) is nothing, BUT the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.
So then, any JEW would certainly say that Paul is BLASPHEMING God because they do NOT understand the NEW covenant. They do not understand that the LAW of CIRCUMCISION to be in a COVENANT relationship with God is still in force to be KEPT in a NEW and BETTER WAY. They do not understand that the old WAY of keeping the law of circumcision was ABOLISHED and CHANGED to now being circumcised by our FAITH in Jesus as our TRUE circumcision of being in a NEW COVENANT with God. I do not see how God's word can make it any clearer than this. PLAIN and SIMPLE, Paul is CLEARLY teaching us, as Christians, to let NOT any one of us seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH. And, without a doubt, the law of circumcision was given by Almighty God himself and it was NOT a doctrine of MEN, as those in the 119 Ministries are FALSELY teaching in order to get their followers to be circumcised in the flesh and keep all the Law of Moses. I know that most of you are seeing the TRUTH of the whole word of God and that the 119 Ministries are in ERROR in their interpretation of the Scriptures. None the less, let us continue looking at the other arguments of the 119 Ministries.
Yeshua (Jesus) Himself even taught against this false doctrine. As a result of so much false application of the Law of God Yeshua (Jesus) came to fully preach and teach (pleroo) the Law of God, not to abolish it(Matthew 5:17-19). Yeshua (Jesus) even commanded us to do the Law of Moses (Moses’ Seat), not the corrupt practices of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-3). The whole point of Yeshua’s ministry was to be an example on how to correctly apply and practice the Law of God, not to be an excuse for not observing God’s law.
Let us pause here for a moment and take a CLOSER look at Matthew 5:17-19, which seems to be a major stumbling block to those in the 119 Ministries, the Hebrew Roots Movement, and literally every other Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping church denominations. Let us read Matthew 5:17-19 and see what this passage of Scripture is truly teaching us.
Matthew 5:17-19.
“Think NOT that I am come to DESTROY the LAW, or the prophets: I am NOT come to DESTROY, but to FULFILL. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in NO wise pass from the law, till ALL be fulfilled. 19. Whosoever, therefore, shall break ONE of these LEAST commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the LEAST in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven.”
Now, the 119 Ministries and all other Sabbath-keeping churches FALSELY INTERPRET this passage of Scripture to mean that Jesus came to do either ONE or the OTHER. So, therefore, they wrongly conclude that you can not have it BOTH ways. But the TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus did, in fact, come to destroy or ABOLISH part of the law BY his FULFILLING the law and the prophets. You see, the word translated as “DESTROY” here comes from the Greek word “KATALYO” which means throw down, to abolish, to destroy. HOWEVER, this Greek word “KATALYO” ALSO means to destroy UTTERLY, to overthrow COMPLETELY. In other words, this Greek word that is translated as “DESTROY” in the King James Version and as “ABOLISH” in the New International Version carries with it the meaning that Jesus did not come to COMPLETELY ABOLISH the law, but to only abolish the ORDIANCES or the OLD LETTER of the law INSTRUCTIONS on HOW to keep the law of God.
So then Matthew 5:17,18 should have been translated as follows.
“Think not that I am come to UTTERLY DESTROY or to COMPLETELY ABOLISH the law, OR the prophets: I am not come to UTTERLY or COMPLETELY DESTROY, but to FULFILL. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Now some Sabbath-keeping Christians may think that I am changing the meaning of this Greek word “KATALYO” just to fit my own personal interpretation of Matthew 5:17-19. But all anyone needs to do is to THINK these things through for yourself. For you see, EVERY Christian agrees that ANIMAL sacrifices are NO LONGER accepted by God. But the LAW of SACRIFICE for the forgiveness of sins was not “KATALYO” in that it was COMPLETELY abolished. But rather, Jesus FULFILLED the LAW of sacrifice contained in ORDINANCES to BECOME the ONE TRUE sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, the ONLY sacrifice that God will accept. So Jesus fulfilled the LAW to ABOLISH the ORDINANCES under the OLD Covenant to become the NEW ORDINANCE under the NEW COVENANT. And to me, to KEEP what Jesus ABOLISHED at the cross is a slap in the face of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus. So while you THINK you are more pleasing to God, you are actually DISPLEASING and TEMPTING God be your keeping the Law of Moses. The words of Jesus that say not one jot or tittle shall in no way pass from the law till ALL be fulfilled simply means that not one jot or tittle that has NOT ALREADY been fulfilled by his FIRST coming will NOT pass away or be fulfilled until heaven and earth does indeed pass away at the end of the SEVENTH 1000 year long day of the Lord. The Jews were looking for a warrior king Messiah. So Jesus was simply saying, I'll be BACK to finish the job, so do not worry. I assure you that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till every jot and tittle be FULFILLED. Again, some of you may argue that I am changing God's word to make it say what I want it to say. But in TRUTH, I am just pointing out to you, the reader, the seeker of the TRUTH, that in the original language these Greek words sometimes have many different meanings other than the English translation that we read, which is just that, a TRANSLATION. In other words, this verse could have just as easily been translated as UTTERLY destroy or COMPLETELY abolish, which would then AGREE with the REST of God's word without trying to manipulate, twist or change many other CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE passages of Scripture in order to TRY and get them to agree with your OWN personal private translation of Matthew 5:17,18. Let me explain what I mean by this in more detail. Please keep in mind that Galatians 3:19 teaches us that the LAW was ADDED because of transgression UNTIL the PROMISE of the MESSIAH be FULFILLED. This teaches us that some CHANGES in the LAW were, without fail, and indeed made AT the FIRST coming of Jesus at his DEATH and resurrection. And we know that MORE changes will be made AT his second coming, but not ALL will be fulfilled until the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. In other words, Jesus did indeed ABOLISH SOME of the LAW of GOD written in the OLD TESTAMENT at his FIRST coming. And one such part of the LAW of GOD that was INDEED ABOLISHED and FULFILLED at the SAME time was the OFFERING of SACRIFICES for sins, which no true born-again believer denies. So then, Jesus did, in fact, come to do BOTH things. Jesus BOTH abolished AND fulfilled. Now, I know and understand that the words “CEREMONIAL” law and “MORAL” law are not in the Bible itself. But anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear know that there is a DIFFERENCE between what we, as Christians, call the MORAL law from what we call the CEREMONIAL law. The MORAL law was actually given to ALL of mankind at the fall in the Garden of Eden when mankind was made to know good and evil. That is when mankind received their God-given CONSCIENCE to know right from wrong. Then the Law of Moses was ADDED because of the transgressions of the MORAL law of the CONSCIENCE which had become seared in some. So then, God had Moses write down his moral law. There is more moral law than just the Ten Commandments. But if the Ten Commandments were kept, then the rest of the moral law would be fulfilled. The same is true in the New Testament. If we walk in LOVE toward one another we FULFILL the keeping of all the MORAL commandments of God. And that is ALL that we are commanded to do under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. My point is that SOME PART of the law given to Moses by Almighty God himself was ADDED because of the children of Israel breaking God’s MORAL law that was ALREADY written in the CONSCIENCE. And we, as Christians, simply CALL that part that was added as being the CEREMONIAL law contained in ORDINANCES. Basically, an ordinance is simply the instructions of how to keep the law. The children of Israel were instructed or taught HOW to rest on the seventh day of the week in Exodus chapter 16 BEFORE the actual other NINE commandments were given to the children of Israel. And the other ordinances of how to keep these other nine commandments were written by Moses and placed in the SIDE of the ark. There were also many ceremonial laws that were HIDDEN PROPHECIES pointing to Jesus. One ceremonial law can be very EASY as a SHADOW pointing to Jesus. And that ceremonial law was the feast of Passover. The feast of Passover was a SHADOW pointing to Jesus as being the TRUE Passover Lamb. And in the same way, the keeping of the weekly Sabbath was one of those laws that contained HIDDEN things that God wanted the children of Israel to SEE so that they would know that Jesus is their MESSIAH. But most of them did not understand these hidden prophecies in the ceremonial laws pointed to Jesus. So they unknowingly took Yahweh's NAME in VAIN by rejecting their Messiah. Jesus came in the NAME of Yahweh and they took the coming of Jesus in VAIN by their UNBELIEF that Jesus is the Messiah. Please read ALL the studies that I have listed at the end of this study which will cover all the Scriptures and every argument raised as to why Christians must keep the Sabbath on SATURDAY, the seventh day of the week, as the only true DAY of the week upon which the Sabbath must be kept according to the incorrect interpretations made by the Saturday Sabbath-keeping Christians who have failed to see the TRUTH that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Also, remember that the 119 Ministries teaches that Christians must keep ALL the LAW and that not ONE jot or tittle of it shall pass away until ALL is fulfilled. So why then do they backpedal, so to speak, and make excuses concerning the law of God in the area of offering animal sacrifices for sins? If ALL truly means ALL, then there should be no excuses for not KEEPING ALL the Law of Moses. And, therefore, they should also teach that Christians must offer animal sacrifices in order to be forgiven of their sins as an outward showing that they believe in Jesus as the atonement of their sins. But we all agree that to do BOTH would make a MOCKERY of the sacrifice of Jesus. We know and understand that it would be in VAIN to believe in Jesus as our sacrifice if we kept the Law of Moses to offer animal sacrifices to be forgiven of the sins we commit after we accept Jesus as our Savior. The TRUTH of the matter is that the law of God pertaining to animal sacrifices has INDEED been both ABOLISHED and FULFILLED by Jesus at the cross. And the TRUTH of the matter is that there were OTHER parts of the OLD covenant law of God that have been ABOLISHED and FULFILLED as well by the cross of Jesus. However, some Christians were being DECEIVED to keep those laws contained in ORDINANCES that were nailed to the cross for FEAR of the JEWS. And that is what Paul is teaching AGAINST. Paul is saying that if you are not circumcised then do NOT get circumcised in the FLESH because it means NOTHING to God anymore! What matters is faith in His Son Jesus. And by your FAITH in Jesus you ARE circumcised. You ARE KEEPING the TRUE SPIRIT of the law. And for you who are in Jesus to keep the OLD LETTER of the LAW is to be FALLEN from grace and your WORKS are in VAIN. Plus, being in Jesus no longer PROFITS you, your faith is in VAIN. So I implore you to get OUT of the seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations. Quit listening to their LIES. Also, please note that since we KNOW without a doubt that the animal sacrifices were indeed ABOLISHED at the cross, then the phrase TILL ALL be fulfilled does NOT mean that NONE of the law has been ABOLISHED until heaven and earth pass away. This phrase should read till IT be fulfilled meaning that SOME of the law of GOD was FULFILLED at the cross and the REST will be fulfilled at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Section 2 of PART #2 of Has any of God’s law been abolished?
So then, so far, in this study of God's word, we have learned that most certainly the law of God concerning being circumcised in the flesh was indeed FULFILLED at the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord and savior. And of course, we all already knew that the animal sacrifices were fulfilled being REPLACE by Jesus as the ONLY ACCEPTABLE sacrifice that Almighty God the Father will ACCEPT. So, we can say likewise that God no longer ACCEPTS circumcision in the FLESH and therefore the ONLY circumcision he NOW accepts is the circumcision of the HEART, which can ONLY be obtained by our FAITH in Jesus. And I can get ahead of myself here and also say that the ONLY Passover feast that God accepts under the NEW covenant is our FAITH that Jesus has become our Passover lamb. And in the same way, the ONLY Sabbath keeping that God accepts under the NEW covenant, is our FAITH IN Jesus that HE is our REST, wherein we CEASE from our OWN works of righteous, which is the LAW. Remember the words of Paul where he counted everything he achieved under the laws of Moses he counted as dung so that he could WIN Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:1-9.
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the SAME things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the SPIRIT, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO confidence in the FLESH. 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. (Or even though I could BOAST in the FLESH) If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I MORE: 5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, BLAMELESS. 7. BUT what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ (Or HOWEVER, those things I used to BOAST about I NOW count as NOTHING) 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, (Do you really think that Paul intended his words here to mean that he counts obeying the MORAL commandments as being DUNG?) that (Or in order that) I may win Christ, 9. And be found in HIM, not having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the LAW, but that which is through the FAITH of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by FAITH:”
HOW were the children made righteous under the Law of Moses AFTER they sinned? Their OWN righteousness was EARNED by them OFFERING SACRIFICES to God for the FORGIVENESS of their sins. But now, under the New Covenant, there are no more WORKS of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES to offer animal sacrifices to be FORGIVEN of sin. So our righteousness in of FAITH in the SACRIFICE of the shed BLOOD of Jesus. Here is Galatians 3:19, which teaches us that the law was temporarily added for reason of transgression UNTIL the PROMISE of the coming MESSIAH be FULFILLED.
Galatians 3:19.
“Wherefore, (Or for what REASON) then SERVE the LAW? (Again, speaking of the CEREMONIAL law contained in ordinances of keeping the yearly feast days, the monthly new moon festivals, the weekly Sabbath days and the dietary laws, and the animal sacrifices) It was ADDED because of transgressions, TILL the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
So then, some part or some aspect of the law CHANGES in some way at the death and resurrection of Jesus, otherwise, Jesus died in VAIN. In other words, Jesus did not come to COMPLETELY abolish the WHOLE LAW or to UTTERLY and completely destroy ALL the law, but rather Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies hidden in the ceremonial laws written in the Old Testament that are speaking of him as being the Messiah. The ceremonial laws were SHADOWS pointing to Jesus. So then, the TRUTH of the matter is that some part of the LAW was INDEED ABOLISHED at the CROSS of Jesus when Jesus FULFILLED what Almighty God had spoken through the prophets in the Old Testament. Let us continue this study in God's word to see that Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST the law of CIRCUMCISION in the flesh made with hands by looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries and exposing how they have INCORRECTLY interpreted the Scriptures.
Continuing in Acts chapter 8 we learn that Paul began his quest against the Church: Acts 8:1-3 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. In Galatians 1:14 Paul specifically mentions that he became even more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of the fathers. This, in fact, is the crux of the whole problem that Paul is attempting to address. Paul was persecuting the Church because they abandoned and taught against Pharisee doctrine. In Paul’s day, the two dominant Jewish sects were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Yeshua (Jesus) taught against Pharisee and other such doctrines (oral law/Talmud) that was against the Law of Moses. This began to shake up the religious power groups which were the mainstream seminaries and teachers of the first century. In an effort to maintain their power over the people they fought back against the Church with violence. In the first century, mainstream Jewish leadership practiced something called the “oral law” (Talmud). Paul later refers to this doctrine as the “works of law” (see Qumran document 4QMMT (4Q394-5)) or “commandments of men.” Y’shua (Jesus) also referred to the “oral law” as the “traditions of the elders” that violates the “law of God” (Mark 7; Matthew 23). There is much that can be said about the “oral law.” However, at a very basic level, the “oral law” consisted of doctrines, teachings, and commandments of men that much of the mainstream Jewish leadership of the first century elevated above the commandments of God. In some cases, the “oral law” even contradicted the commandments of God.
Now the 119 Ministries says that Paul, formerly known as Saul, persecuted the church, because Christians ABANDONED and taught AGAINST the Pharisees doctrine, and then they go on to say that Jesus did the SAME thing. That is to say that Jesus also taught AGAINST the doctrine of the Pharisees. This much is true. But IF the REASON that Saul, being a Pharisee, persecuted the church, because they ABANDONED the doctrine of the Pharisees, then, would not this argument or line of reasoning CONTRADICT itself? Paul persecuted the church because the church taught against the law of God, which the JEWS knew and understood fully. The JEWS, as in, ALL the Jews knew perfectly that in order to be in a covenant relationship with God, then you MUST, without fail, be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, according to the ORDINANCES contained in the Law of Moses. Otherwise, you could NOT become a child of Abraham, and thus, a child of God. This was NOT a FALSE tradition of MEN, but rather, this was the LAW of Almighty God that Yahweh HIMSELF CHANGED or rather FULFILLED by His Son Jesus at the cross. NOW, under the NEW COVENANT, we as Christians ARE circumcised in our HEART by the blood of Jesus Christ, according to the NEW ORDINANCES written in the NEW Testament. The law was a SHADOW pointing to Jesus as the TRUE, So Jesus is now our TRUE circumcision sign of being in God's NEW Covenant. All this talk about oral law, the traditions of men, and the doctrine of the Pharisees in just a DISTRACTION or a dancing around the real issue in order to get your focus off of the TRUE issue. And the true issue is that Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST the law of GOD concerning CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH made with hands, which was the Old Covenant ORDINANCE as to HOW to keep the law of circumcision. It has nothing to do with the APPLICATION of the law or the WAY they PRACTICED the law according to ORAL traditions. But rather, the TRUE issue is that the law of God, being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands, has indeed been ABOLISHED or replaced by Jesus becoming our TRUE circumcision made WITHOUT hands. And this TRUTH in God's word CONTRADICTS the 119 Ministries misguided and INCORRECT INTERPRETATION of Matthew 5:15-19. Let us read Galatians 1:13-16 to see the TRUE reason of WHY Saul persecuted the church.
Galatians 1:13-16.
“For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, (Paul here is making a definite distinction that the Jews' religion that he kept is in the PAST when he was once a devout Jew in the Jews' religion) how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. 14. And profited (Or advanced) in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15. BUT when it PLEASED God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, 16. To REVEAL His Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters, in our Lord Jesus Christ, that the life Paul once lived, he lived in the Jew's religion, is now in the PAST. But NOW. the Apostle Paul has been called by Almighty God through His Son Jesus to preach the NEW COVENANT through the TRUE gospel of Jesus. The truth of the matter is that the reason anyone persecuted the church was that it PLEASED the JEWS. In other words, the more zealous Paul persecuted the church the BETTER he advanced himself in the eyes of the JEWS. Paul was PLEASING MEN, speaking of the JEWS, when he was PERSECUTING the church. Please read Acts 12:1-3 where Herod was persecuting the church and when he saw that it pleased the Jews then he persecute the church even more.
Acts 12:1-3.
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)”
Let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries, which they use to falsely teach that Christians are to keep ALL the law, because they also incorrectly teach that none of the law has been ABOLISHED at the cross of Jesus.
This major issue of the first century is also the point and purpose of Y’shua’s (Jesus’) teaching in Matthew 5, His rebuking in Mark 7, and many of His other points of contention with Jewish leadership during the length of His ministry. The critical point to remember here is that there is a clear difference between the “commandments of men” and the “commandments of God.” Mark 7:6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men Mark 7:9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. Mark 7:13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” It is the Word of God that we are to follow, not doctrines and traditions of men. Even in Mark 7:10 specifically, we see our Lord appealing to what was written by Moses as the Word of God. We must remember that it is every word that came out of the mouth of God (which happened at Sinai) that is to be food for us (Matthew 4:4). He also taught us to teach all nations to obey everything (not just some things)He commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). In Galatians, Paul refers to such doctrine, elements of the world, and commandments of men as bondage (Ga 2:4; 4:3). The doctrine that Paul is teaching against in Galatians is a form of the same doctrine that Yeshua (Jesus) taught against. Yet we know that Yeshua (Jesus) did not teach against the Law of Moses while refuting such false doctrine but actually appealed to it and used it as the foundation to expose the error in their doctrine.
There is no question as to whether or not Jesus or Paul taught against doctrines, traditions, and commandments of men. The TRUE issue is whether or not Paul taught AGAINST the law of GOD in the OLD Testament which was to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH according to the law of Almighty God HIMSELF that he gave to Moses to write down and give to the children of Israel. Paul clearly taught us with NO interpretation needed that circumcision in the FLESH profits NOTHING.
1 Corinthians 7:18,19.
“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him NOT become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is NOTHING, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”
WHAT commandments? Are they the commandments written in the OLD Testament under the OLD covenant? Surely NOT! For you see, those commandments of Almighty God HIMSELF most definitely taught that it was a MUST to be circumcised in the FLESH. So the keeping of the commandment of God is speaking of the TWO commandments that Yahweh put in the mouth of Jesus to give to the church which are written in the New Testament. So, no! Paul was NOT teaching against some so-called commandments of MEN in Galatians 2:4 and 4:3. And Paul was definitely NOT speaking of the commandments written in the OLD Testament under the OLD covenant in verse 19 in 1 Corinthians chapter 7. But rather Paul was teaching us to keep the commandments of Yahweh written in the NEW Testament under the NEW covenant. And being circumcised in the FLESH is NOT a commandment in the NEW Testament under the NEW covenant. But it WAS indeed a commandment written in the OLD Testament under the OLD covenant and NOT a so-called commandment of men that was not being done correctly. That argument was conjured up in someone's mind to try to explain away the teaching of Paul that the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES is nailed to the cross. Let us continue.
This all leads to Paul’s closing of Galatians chapter 1: Galatians 1:23,24 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us NOW preaches the FAITH which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.
Let us read just a little more context which clearly and plainly teaches us that the reason Paul ONCE used to PERSECUTE the church for the GOSPEL that he once tried to destroy. And NOW PREACHES the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ. So if Paul persecuted the church because they ABANDONED the Jew's religion by their supposedly incorrectly applying the Law of Moses then it should be clear that Paul was actually condemning HIMSELF because he himself was a Pharisee and now he is preaching the exact SAME gospel that he once tried to destroy. But the truth of the matter is that Paul persecuted the church because the church was indeed teaching that the Law of Moses was ABOLISHED and was REPLACED with a NEW COVENANT. There is NO DOUBT that when Paul was converted to Christianity that he taught the SAME GOSPEL of Jesus Christ that he was PERSECUTING the church for preaching, before he became a Christian. The TRUE gospel teaches AGAINST the law of God concerning being circumcised in the FLESH after a person becomes a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ because Jesus is the END of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES for a believer. Please understand that I am NOT saying that Jesus is the end of the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God. But rather, I am saying the same thing that Paul is saying. And that is that Jesus is the END of the CEREMONIAL law of God. And one of those ceremonial laws was concerning circumcision in the FLESH made with hands.
Please read Galatians 1:21-24.
“Afterward, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23. But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past NOW PREACHES the FAITH which ONCE he DESTROYED. (The faith that Paul once had was the SAME faith as the Jews. And the faith that Paul once tried to destroy was the CHRISTIANS FAITH and NOT the faith of the Jews. It is ridiculous to even think that Paul who once followed the faith of the Jews to persecute those who were following the faith of the Jews WHILE he himself was following the same faith at that time. That makes no sense whatsoever) 24. And they glorified God in me.”
It stands to reason that Paul, being a Jew and a Pharisee, would NOT have tried to DESTROY the very thing that he himself believed and followed BEFORE he was called by Jesus himself to preach the GOSPEL to the Gentiles. For you see, most definitely Paul ONCE followed the faith of the Jews. And the Jews believed and OBSERVED the law of God given to them by Moses to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH. Paul knew the Law of Moses. And he also knew what Jesus was teaching him by revelation through the Holy Spirit. Paul became convinced that Jesus was indeed the TRUE Messiah who had the words of eternal life. Paul taught what Jesus taught him to teach. And Paul taught AGAINST the keeping of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. Let us continue to see exactly what that faith is that Paul NOW PREACHES. It will become quite clear if it has not already that Paul did, in fact, PREACH AGAINST being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH for any reason whatsoever as we continue to take a closer look at the arguments given by the 119 Ministries.
We already know that the persecuting began with Stephen and that Stephen was falsely accused of teaching that Yeshua (Jesus) would change the Law of God.
Again, these witnesses were called FALSE witnesses, because they LIED saying that they HEARD Stephen blaspheme God when they never HEARD Stephen first hand. What they CLAIMED that they heard Stephen say is, in fact, TRUE. In other words, what Stephen taught was indeed the TRUTH. Stephen did indeed say that Jesus taught that the temple would be destroyed. And Jesus did, in fact, ABOLISH part of the law of GOD at his first coming. It was ALL of the law contained in ORDINANCES that Jesus abolished by FULFILLING the law to CHANGE only the ORDINANCES. Also, Stephen did not blaspheme God. The definition of false witnesses means that they distort the truth. And what better way to stir up the Jews than to say that Stephen was blaspheming God. But when they could not find anyone who actually HEARD what Stephen taught first hand they compelled some Jews to be FALSE witnesses.
Paul left the Pharisee doctrine and began practicing true faith. It should be becoming rather clear that Paul’s letter to the Galatians is not teaching against the Law of God. Instead, Paul is teaching against men using and teaching the law of God to create a different gospel. Paul would state that the Law of God is good if it is used correctly. The problem is that the doctrine being presented to the Galatians is a doctrine that incorrectly applies the Law of God, well beyond what it was ever intended to do. For Paul also said in another letter: 1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully.
Let us correctly interpret the true meaning of 1 Timothy 1:8 by keeping it in its CONTEXT.
Please read 1 Timothy 1:5-8.
“Now the END of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (In other words, the END of the commandment is to walk in LOVE whereby we FULFILL all the MORAL commandments that God requires of us) 6. From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; (Meaning that some Christians have turned away from the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) 7. Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (In other words, some Christians have turned away from the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to NOW desire to teach the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES desiring to be teachers of the LAW of Moses) 8. But (Or now please do not misunderstand what I am saying. For you see,) we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;” The Greek word that is translated as “lawfully” means LEGITIMATELY. And the word legitimately means to do something that conforms to the rules. So then, which is the TRUE gospel and which is the DIFFERENT gospel? Are the RULES or the commandments of the true gospel of Jesus Christ to keep ALL the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES to be saved or lest we sin? Or are the rules and teaching of the true gospel of Jesus Christ FULFILLED by our obeying the ONE commandment of Jesus to walk in LOVE? The 119 Ministries FALSELY teaches that the TRUE gospel, according to THEM, teaches that NONE of the Law of Moses written in the OLD Testament has been ABOLISHED. And, therefore, the DIFFERENT gospel to THEM is to interpret Paul's words to teach that Paul was NOT teaching AGAINST the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES. And, therefore, they wrongly teach their followers to be circumcised in the FLESH according to the Law of Moses. They wrongly teach their followers to obey ALL the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant following the ORDINANCES written in the Old Testament. And to me, keeping what Jesus ABOLISHED is a slap in the face of god and His Son, Jesus. Let us again read 1 Timothy 1:8 in its CONTEXT and see what the word of God ITSELF says is the TRUE gospel. 1Timothy 1:5-9. “Now the END of the commandment (Speaking of the END of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES) is charity (Or is to walk in LOVE) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6. From which some having SWERVED have TURNED ASIDE unto VAIN jangling; 7. Desiring to be teachers of the LAW; understanding NEITHER what they say, NOR whereof they affirm. 8. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; (Or if we use it according to the teaching of the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ to follow and obey the NEW COVENANT written in the New Testament, which has NEW and DIFFERENT ORDINANCES) 9. 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,”
Are you not made in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? Then the Law of Moses contained in ordinances is not made for you, who are in Jesus Christ. The TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT to be a teacher of the LAW to teach that men are justified by the LAW. And this is one of the things that Paul was teaching AGAINST in Galatians chapter 2 where we clearly and plainly see Paul teaching AGAINST the LAW of GOD concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands. Remember the question put forth by the 119 Ministries is:
FAQ – Galatians 2:3-5 – Did Paul Teach Against Circumcision?
This is a very SIMPLE question to answer, but they do not ACCEPT the SIMPLE answer as being the TRUTH. Therefore, they must do all this VAIN JANGLING to dance around the REAL ISSUE, which is to answer the simple question.
DID PAUL TEACH AGAINST CIRCUMCISION?
We will end here for now and continue the REAL ISSUE of this question in PART 3 of this in-depth study in God's word to expose the errors of INTERPRETATION made by the 119 Ministries, the Hebrew Roots Movement, and all seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations. To continue reading this series of studies called HAS GOD'S LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? simply click on this link Dd-47. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 3 And to go back and read part 1 please click on this link Dd-45. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 1 Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH. My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day. Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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