Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom. Holy Scriptures and Israel is a ministry designed to share with the Jewish people the good news of the Lord Jesus Yeshua the Messiah and to instruct Christians on the Jewish roots of their faith. And now teaching God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective here is Gideon Levitan.

Gideon Levytam: The study of the book of Galatians. Something that is very important also in order to strengthen the fact that Shaul Paul knew very well what he was doing when he presented the gospel of the grace of God. Paul Shaul Paul he was a Hebrew he was an Israeli and he was Jewish. He was a Hebrew he was an Israeli and he was Jewish. Why we emphasize it again? Because some say that he was a Jew when he before he became a believer in the Lord Jesus the Messiah. When he became a Christian now he's no longer a Jew and now his name was changed and he's no longer Shaul but Paul.

But look beloved brothers and sisters it's good to be sound in the reading of the word of God according to Philippian chapter three Paul says in verses four and five he said to the Philippians though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other men thinkers that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more. And then he said in verse five circumcised the eight day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrew is touching the law a Pharisee concerning zeal persecuting the church touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless but what things were gained to me those I counted loss for Christ loss for the Messiah.

In other words if someone might say listen Paul Shaul really didn't have any rich heritage when it's come to understanding the background of among the nation of Israel or didn't know much about the history of the people of Israel Shaul Paul tells the Philippian that he knew very well he is a Hebrew of the Hebrew and he give us a list here of things concerning himself. He was circumcised on the eight day. He was of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrew touching the law a Pharisee concerning zeal persecuting the church touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless but notice this what things were gained to me those I count loss for the Messiah for Christ.

See Paul Shaul understood that all these beautiful history and background never gave him gain in a sense of salvation because those the history and the background that he had should have led him and should have led us all to acknowledge that Yeshua is the Messiah and it was the promise of God came to be fulfilled. So he says what things were gain to me those I count loss for Christ loss for Messiah. Notice that the word Christ is the come from the Greek language Christos which come from the Hebrew language Messiah Messiah. In other words he says even if I have all these credential all these things that I could gain from yet I count them loss.

They have no value for me if I don't have the Messiah Yeshua himself. So in Philippians chapter three Paul confessed that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Then if you understand scripture a little bit more you can see that in Romans chapter 11 he the very same Paul Shaul instructed the Romans concerning the future of Israel and in Romans chapter 11 verse one he said I say then has God cast away his people? God forbid for I am also an Israeli of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. You know that he's saying not only that I am a Hebrew a Hebrew of the Hebrews Philippians chapter three but I am also an Israeli.

I have a link to Abraham as a Hebrew I have a link to Yaakov Jacob whose name was turned from Jacob to Yisrael to a prince for God. But thirdly and I would like to just read this verse as well according to Acts chapter 21 when Paul was in Jerusalem he wanted to speak to the multitude who were not happy with him when he came into the temple and wanted to harm him. So I would like you to notice what Paul said in Acts chapter 22 verse one. He's speaking to his brethren the Jewish people and he said to them men brethren and fathers hear ye my defense which I make now unto you.

And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them they kept the most silence and he saith I am verily a man which am a Jew born in Tarsus a city of Cilicia yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers and was zealous toward God as he all are this day. You notice what he's saying here to these to the people in the temple area in the city of Jerusalem who were not happy with him and wanted to harm him because he he believe in the Lord Yeshua Jesus the Messiah.

He said to them brethren he said to the men brethren and fathers he says listen I want you to hear my defense. He says I am notice verse three I am verily a man which am a Jew. Notice he didn't tell them I am verily a man which was a Jew. No. He was a Jewish believer in Yeshua the Messiah just the same like he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews Philippians three just like he was an Israeli. Romans one Romans 11 and verse one he was also a Jewish man who believed that Jesus that Yeshua was the Messiah.

He was sitting at the feet of Gamliel. He was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers and he was also listen to these zealous to word God as all these others were there zealous towards the God of Israel. So what do we learn here when we think about this man by the name of Paul who wrote the letter to the Galatians. This man by the name of Paul accepted the Lord Jesus the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and became a child of God and he was chosen by the glorified savior the glorified Lord Jesus to become a chosen vessel to present the gospel among the nations of the world and he was really a committed a servant of the Lord.

So no one can blame Paul that he did not care for God or did not care for his heritage the Jewish people or did not care for the law of Moses. He himself said I was zealous as it says here just like you. I was zealous to that which the law of our fathers were taught. He was committed to the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. So as we began the study of the book of Galatians we have immediately to recognize that Paul that Shaul was indeed a one that had an authority a to instruct the believers in the region of Galatia and to show concern for their welfare.

Now I would like to mention one or two more things that are very important. When the apostle Paul when Shaul became a believer in the Lord Jesus he was raised by the Lord a to become a vessel to serve him. Well in Acts chapter 13 after his salvation after he have accepted Yeshua the Messiah he accepted the gospel of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Then he went to Antioch in Syria and from there actually even before he went to Antioch a which is in Syria he went for a while to the wilderness to the desert to Arabia for three years where the Lord taught him and instructed him and then he returned back to Damascus and then later on he went to visit the city of Jerusalem.

But I would like you to notice that the beginning of his ministry according to Acts chapter 13 he was called by the Lord to begin to serve him beyond the area where he was beyond Antioch of Syria. And according to Acts chapter 13 now they were in the church a that was in Antioch. This is verse one. Certain prophets teachers as Barnabas and Simon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Menahen or Manahem which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch in Saul. Notice now he's part of the local church the local assembly in Antioch.

His name is still called Saul Shaul. And then notice this. In chapter 13 verse two now as they ministered to the Lord apparently these brothers shared the word of God instructed people in that local assembly that was founded in Antioch in Syria. They ministered unto the Lord they fasted and then the Holy Spirit said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. Verse three says then when they had fasted and prayed and laid hands on them they sent them away. From here on beloved brothers and sisters Acts chapter 13 from verse three where the believers in the local assembly the local church in Antioch responded to the voice and to the message of the spirit of God to separate Barnabas and Shaul for the work of the ministry.

From there on Shaul and Barnabas began to travel in order to establish a local churches local assemblies in various areas in which the Lord have called them to go. Now they were preaching the gospel. They were what they were saying they were preaching the gospel message. They were saying to the people in the areas where they went that the Lord Jesus that the Lord Yeshua is the one that is the anointed one. He came from heaven. He died on a shameful cross in order to pay for the sin of this world. And so who will ever believe on him and if accept him will receive forgiveness of sins.

So as they went about they have gone they have three missionary journeys. The first one was at about 46 to 48 AD. The second missionary journey was at about 49 to 52 AD and the third missionary journey was at about 54 to 55 AD. During those years Shaul and Barnabas later on they kind of separated and went to a different direction but at the first two missionary journeys they went together and they have arrived to the region of Galatia. That's how we get this letter to the Galatians. When they have arrived there as we mentioned earlier they have arrived to their various cities that are mentioned in scripture.

In Acts chapter 13 verse 14 they arrived to Antioch which is a location that is in the region of Galatia. There we find out that this is Antioch of Pisidia in the region of Galatia. And the first thing that they have done they have entered into the synagogue. In the synagogue in Hebrew Beit HaKnesset Shaul and Barnabas Jewish believers in Yeshua the Messiah ministered to the Jewish community the fact that Yeshua is Messiah of Israel that have been promised by the prophets. To remind you they didn't have any New Testament writing. They went to the synagogue in the synagogue was the Hebrew scripture.

The law Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy the prophets and the writing from the book of Psalms and so on. They had the law the prophets and the writing and from the law the prophets and the writing they presented to the Jewish people in the synagogue that Yeshua Jesus indeed was the Messiah the promised Messiah. Now of course as we read they had much opposition. Some Jewish people have accepted the Messiah. That's how many local assemblies was formed but the vast majority did not accept their message and in a sense they began to persecute now the apostle Paul Shaul Paul and Barnabas and those that served with him.

And so what did they do? When they finished to speak in the synagogue and when they were not accepted by some others have accepted then they went to the goyim to the Gentile and to them they have shared the very same message that God loved so much this world that he send the Messiah and that Jesus was that Messiah according to the scripture and that if they will only believe in him and turn away from idols they will receive forgiveness of sins. So many of the Gentiles have accepted the Lord accepted the grace of God salvation is through faith in the person of the Lord Jesus the Lord Yeshua the Messiah no more and no less.

Simply believe on the Lord Jesus the Messiah and you shall be saved. So can you imagine we read in chapter 13 of Acts verse 14 he arrived to Antioch of in Pisidia. Then in chapter 14 we read that he arrived to Iconium verse one. Then again in chapter 14 he arrived in verse six to Lystra Acts 14 verse six. And then in the same chapter they arrived to Derbe Acts chapter 14 and verse 20. These are cities towns that were in the region of Galatia and we would call them the Galatians. Those people who have accepted the Messiah Yeshua Jesus and became children of God by grace through faith in him and they now have embraced him and acknowledged the Lord Jesus and begin their local churches local assemblies in their various towns in the various a localities.

And it was be it was something very precious for Paul a Shaul Paul because he loved them. He ministered to them. He taught them. He is in instructing them. He ministered to them. In fact he was used by the Lord Jesus to form local assemblies in various towns and cities included here in the Galatia region. Well can you imagine how wonderful it was when he was preaching the message of the gospel to them and many have accepted the person of the Lord and became part of the family of God. And so as he preached the gospel I would like to remind you that the gospel is simply good news.

In Hebrew we call it that means simply that there is a way whereby someone can receive from forgiveness from the living God. All who have sinned all who have gone astray who have only turned their hearts to the savior they will receive forgiveness of sins. And what is the gospel? According to first Corinthians chapter 15 the very same Paul said this to the Corinthian for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Messiah this is Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was buried and that he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures.

Now you notice that Paul give us the definition of the gospel of the What is the message? What is the gospel? What is the news about the Lord Jesus? Is it the Messiah that Christ died for our sins? We all have sinned and he died for our sins. And it is based upon the Hebrew scriptures. Notice he mentioned according to the scriptures. Well he didn't have the New Testament the New Covenant yet written when he said that it is according to the Hebrew scriptures that their forefathers of the apostle Paul Shaul Paul and Barnabas and others foretold that the Messiah will come and he will die for the sin of Israel and the sin of this world.

Well Israel at his first coming didn't accept him. And that's why Israel is in a sense waiting the day in which nationally Israel will accept him at the second coming. But in the meanwhile God began something new in which Jewish and Gentile individuals who believe in the Lord Jesus the Messiah together form the body of Christ the body of a Messiah. That's why when we read Galatians chapter one in the introduction and verse one Paul said Paul an apostle not of men neither by men but by Jesus the Messiah and God the father who raised him from the dead and all the brethren which are with him unto notice unto the churches of Galatia unto the assemblies the called out ones in the region of Galatia.

He's writing to them this a letter in order to give them instruction concerning the truth of the gospel which we are going to speak about more as we continue with the study of the book of Galatians. So the background the background beloved brothers and sisters is the missionary journeys that Paul Barnabas and others have done visiting the region of Galatia sharing the message of the gospel. Jew and Gentile unite together in the body of Messiah accepting the Messiah and forming local churches local assembly. The word church does not mean a building. The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia which simply mean individuals who are called out.

They are called out from among Israel. They are called out from among the nations of the world and together they form a local church or local assembly. So the word church the word assembly does not speak to buildings which were made from bricks and stone and wood. No the word church. That's why it says here unto the churches unto the assembly. The church simply has to do with people individuals who have acknowledged the Lord Yeshua Jesus a the Messiah. Now as we continue on and we will see we're going to go throughout the rest of the a letter to the Galatians we must share the reason for the writing of this letter to the Galatians.

You see every letter that Shaul wrote to a certain local assembly in a certain city or region had a purpose. The reason that he wrote the book of Romans or the letter to the Romans is in order to instruct the Romans believers of the truth of justification. You remember what he said in Romans chapter one and verse 16 for I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe. But then he continued and he said unto the Jew first and also to the Greek.

And then in verse 17 he continued Romans 16 and 17. He says for therein the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith. When Paul wrote to the Romans he wanted them to understand the truth of justification. We have been declared just justified on the basis of the gospel of the grace of God. I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah he said in Romans 1:16. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that only believe. Anyone who truly believe in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah in the gospel his death for our sins his burial and resurrection he is redeemed he's justified.

God have declared him just. This is amazing beloved a brothers and sisters and friends. That's why the apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. The letters that he wrote first Corinthians and second Corinthians he wrote it to the Corinthians because there was so much problems among the believers in the city of Corinth. There was a lot of immorality there was a lot of disorder there was a lot of divisions. There was a lot of abuses of gifts. There were all sort of things they were taking each other to court to there were many things that were wrong in the city of Corinth in among those local believers in this local churches in the city of Corinth.

So Paul wrote to them this letters to correct them in their error of a divisions.

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levitan. Gideon teaches God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective. For more information about this ministry write to Holy Scriptures and Israel box 1411 Niagara on the Lake Ontario L0S 1J0 or visit our website at holyscripturesandisrael.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. at Willowdale Christian Assembly Hall 28 Martin Ross Avenue in Toronto. Holy Scriptures and Israel is made possible by your prayers and financial support. If you would like to support the program visit holyscripturesandisrael.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.