Laura wrote: > ... are Jewish believers still supposed > to observe the OT law?
Actually, it is impossible in that there is no Temple which is required for many of the commandments. Nevertheless, it is not sin for a Jew to observe that part of the Old Testament that he can observe. Yes, the Jew should observe the law in that it makes a continual remembrance of important historical events, such as Passover, and of that which is yet to come. Does a Jew have to observe the OT law to be saved? No. Not one bit of observance will save him in any way. Laura wrote: > Are those Gentiles who are Torah observant > fallen from grace if they observe the OT law? Certainly in the case of the Galatians, they would be fallen from grace, because they were basically turning to Judaism instead of Jesus Christ. They were responding to a teaching that said that they HAD TO BE CIRCUMCISED. Those that became circumcised out of obligation and duty were fallen from grace. We can't blanketly say in all cases this would be true because of the following prophesy: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." (Zec 8:23) The Messianic movement we see around us has a Godly root. It is fulfillment of prophecy such as this one. I'm not saying that everything that happens in this movement is of God, but we cannot close our eyes to the significant impact this is having both upon Christianity and upon Judaism. Therefore, those Gentiles who trust in Christ by grace and become Torah observant in accordance to grace and not legalistic teaching, these would be doing what James seemed to have in mind when he said that the Gentiles did not have to become Torah observant. James said, "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day." (Acts 15:19-21) Notice his last phrase, "For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day." Isn't the implication here that they can learn of Moses and his teachings in synagogue on the sabbath day? And isn't the implication then that some of them might want to become Torah observant? Would James object to that? I don't think James would object. What James and Paul both objected to was requiring Gentiles to come under the covenant of Moses. They apparently understood that this would abolish the distinctive nature of the Jew that God created through the covenant with Moses. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
