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 Levytam.

Gideon Levytam: The study of the book of Galatians chapter two. Even as there shall be false teachers among you who privately shall bring in damnation, heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction. It's not new. It's always there. Wherever the truth of God is presented, you always going to find a counterfeit. It happened historically before the church was born. It happened when the church was born and it happened today during these last days of the assembly days in the same way. False teaching, counterfeit teaching that caused the people of God to be swayed away from their liberty and freedom.

And beloved brothers and sisters, already there the apostle Paul gave these warnings. And he says look what happened. Galatians two verse four because of false brethren unaware brought in and I want to remind you again at the days of the book of Acts, a transition was going to happen. Israel as a nation did not accept the Messiah. I wish we going to grasp that. Had Israel have accepted him, the Messianic kingdom will be established immediately. And Yeshua will reign as King of Kings and Israel will be a blessing to the world as God have intended of Israel to be for the world.

But the nation hasn't as it was predicted by the prophets of Israel that first coming Israel as a nation will not accept him though minority of Israeli Jewish people will accept him and God will use these apostles and servants to share the gospel with the world. So in those early days of the assembly in fact, the Jewish believers were looked upon by the Pharisees as another sect. We have the sect of the Pharisees. We have the sect of the Sadducees. We have the sect of the Herodians. We have the sect of the Messianics. But they didn't understand that it's not another sect.

It is the body of Messiah. It is a company that here was already planned in the plan of God that God have called the people to himself from among the Jews and the Gentiles as a heavenly company. And they didn't distinguish like unfortunately today many don't distinguish. Israel is Israel, the assembly is the assembly. The church hope is heavenly, Israel's hope is earthly. Israel is still in a state of unbelief. We are not Israel. We don't take from Israel the promises of God. Look at us. 2,000 years passed by. Where is the blessing that God have promised in the prophets if we are Israel?

We are still in a divided state. We are still scattered today. Where is the promises of God to Israel? It haven't been fulfilled as yet. It will happen exactly as promised but it hasn't happened. In the early days, I can understand that they had a problem but today 2,000 years passed by. You know somebody told me yesterday was very interesting that Israel as a nation from the day Israel came out of Egypt up till the time that Yeshua came was only 1,500 years. That's all. 1,500 years old. Israel as a nation under God was 1,500 years old.

When the Messiah came and Israel did not accept Yeshua and the church was born till today there is about 2,000 years. In existence is under God than Israel. Do you know that the church is more responsible under grace in these days than Israel under the law? Israel was looking for the coming of the Messiah. We have already accepted a Messiah who came. Israel never had all the canon of scripture. Only had the Tanakh. You and I have the complete canon of scripture. Israel didn't have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling every Israeli. You and I have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling every true believer in Yeshua the Messiah.

Israel lived in the days in which God's law was given to the nation to show them and point to the Messiah. We live at the days when the Messiah have already came and paid the price for our sins and set us gave us all that which he intended for us to have today. And yet the church failed deeper under grace than Israel failed under the law. That's why God will hold the professing church more accountable under grace than the nation of Israel who were under the law. You see brothers and sisters in the first days of the assembly, you can see why they said no, no, no, you have to be circumcised because God gave the Jewish people the command to be circumcised.

You can understand, you might say, though it's wrong. But today when people impose on the believers to keep certain rights and certain things and saying to them otherwise you are not saved. Imagine how it grieves the heart of God. Imagine how it takes away liberty from the believer so so what? So after all all what I did, I believe in Yeshua but I'm not quite saved, I'm not forgiven really because I haven't made it. That's grieving the Spirit of God when one does so. We might have liberties to do many many things but not for salvation.

We have liberties to do things to honor the Lord but not for salvation. What shall wash away my sin nothing but the blood of Yeshua of Jesus the Messiah. So notice that in verses four and five of Galatians chapter two, there were false brethren. And they wanted to take our liberty away from us. They crept in. They spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus in the Messiah Yeshua, not in ourselves, not in any regulation and men-made anything not even in circumcision. No, we have liberty which we received from the person of Yeshua the Messiah.

And they wanted to bring us back into bondage. Do you know that religion whichever shape and form you take it from it always lead us into slavery in bondage. That's why we are so thankful to be liberated by having the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. That is not liberty to live a sinful life. Of course not. Paul said in Romans six, shall we continue in sin that great may abound? God forbid. Not at all. Being at liberty to be a child of God does not give us license to do what we want. But it gives us spiritual liberty and freedom to know that God have accepted me a sinner on a basis of the finish work of Yeshua the Messiah.

And so you notice what Paul is saying here in verse five to whom we gave place by subjection not even for one hour. We didn't spend our time. We were not subject to this, not even for an hour. We knew very well the grace that God had provided for us. We are not going to allow anybody to put us back into bondage. And you notice what he says in verse five at the end that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. What is the truth of the gospel? That Christ the Messiah have died for our sins according to the scripture, that he was buried and he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures.

And those scriptures were the Hebrew scriptures what God had given to the people of Israel upon these scriptures we can verify the truth that when a Messiah will come sin will be paid and forgiveness and liberty will be provided for the believer. So now after he had the private meeting and then now he had the public meeting, now notice in the last verses here for us today verses six to 10, the outcome from the public meeting with the council in the city of Jerusalem. And now notice these brothers and sisters, look at the outcome that we find here in these verses verses say six to verse 10 which we read.

Galatians two six to 10. Notice in verse six the Jerusalem council really didn't add anything to the message of the gospel that Paul preached to the goyim to the Gentile. He says in verse six but of these who seem to be somewhat whatsoever they were, it make us no matter to me. God accepts no man's person. For they who seem to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me. In other words, whatever they heard about the ministry of Saul Paul to the goyim to the Gentile world they received it and accepted it and appreciated it and they didn't say Paul no, you have to add something.

It's not quite right. Paul said look, by the way these are the leaders. The council in the city of Yerushalayim those first century believers in Yeshua sometime at the early days of the assembly. Maybe 30 years passed by. These are the leaders. They didn't add anything to the message that Paul preached to the Gentile world. Secondly in verses seven and eight, the Jerusalem council distinguished between notice the gospel that is being preached to the uncircumcision to the Gentile and the gospel that is preached to the circumcision to the Jewish people. They distinguished the day is a way whereby we present the same message of the gospel to the Jews or to the Gentiles, the same message but you present it in a way that is suitable for the people to whom you seek to reach.

Not changing the message, not twisting the message, not elaborating on a message except giving it as it is but there is distinguishing between Jewish evangelization and Gentile evangelization. Notice in verses seven and eight and I'm reading those two verses. But contrariwise when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter. Notice that brothers and sisters. They recognized the leaders in the council in the city of Yerushalayim that there is a special way in which Paul was called to reach the Gentiles and a special way in which Peter was called to reach the Jewish people.

Not different message, the same gospel. They didn't add or subtract from the message of the apostle Paul. The same message was committed to both of them. One went to the Jews, the other went to the Gentiles. One went to the the other one went to the And you notice he used the word uncircumcision in verse seven and circumcision in verse seven B. Uncircumcision this is the Gentile world. Circumcision this is the Jewish world. Never anyone forced the Jewish people not to be circumcised and never anyone was called to force the Gentiles to be circumcised. To the Jewish people God have given to our people the right of circumcision.

It was given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and inaugurated in Leviticus chapter 12 and you commanded that the Hebrew boys will be circumcised. This is a sign of the covenant that God have made with himself and the people of Israel but not with the Gentile world, not with the nations of the world. And that 's why notice they saw that the gospel notice twice the word gospel is mentioned here. The gospel of the uncircumcision committed unto me this is Paul and the gospel of the circumcision committed unto Peter in verse eight it says for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentiles.

In other words, the same God the same Lord Yeshua the Messiah who committed the message to be preached by is the same Lord Yeshua the Messiah who committed the message to be preached by Paul to the nations of the world. To remind you that in Matthew chapter 16 Yeshua said to Peter Jesus said unto him blessed are thou Simon Bar-Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my assembly and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loose in heaven. Simon Peter Simon Bar-Jonah received the key as we mentioned this before. The key is simply mean the fact that he will be the first one to open the door through the preaching of the gospel to the Jews. His own people in Acts two to the Samaritan in Acts eight and to the Gentiles in Acts chapter 10 to Cornelius. But to Paul the same message was committed unto him as we read in Acts chapter nine verse 15 the Lord said unto him to this Hananiah go thy way for he this is Paul is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Both of these men Simon Peter and Saul Paul have seen the risen Messiah. Peter saw the risen Messiah on earth while Saul Paul saw the risen Messiah on a way to Damascus who was now in glory in heaven. Both were commissioned by the Lord the same message of the gospel one to the Jew, the other one to the Gentile. No wonder today brothers and sisters it's kind of sad when you look at many church church groups and you ask them if they have a missionary who reach to the Jewish people with the message of the gospel they don't have sadly.

They ever reaching to this country and to this country and to those nations but when you ask them do you have evangelization to share the message of the gospel with the Jewish people? Sadly to say they don't. As if the Jewish people don't need to hear the message of the gospel but here Paul made it clear that the one that called Paul to speak to the Gentile is the very same one Yeshua the Messiah who called Simon Peter to reach the Jewish people with the message of the gospel. So he distinguished between the circumcision in the and the uncircumcision only in the manner whereby we share with them the gospel and the expectation from them but not at all the necessity for circumcision or any keeping of all sort of men-made rules.

Now here let me conclude here with verses nine and 10. In verses nine and 10 the Jerusalem council gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship and they send them away. This is so wonderful because now we find out that the leaders they didn't blame Paul for what he's doing. No, it says in verse nine and when James that is Jacob and Cephas this is Simon Peter and John this is Yohanan who seem to be pillars perceived the grace that was given unto me. They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen and that they unto the circumcision.

You notice that James Cephas this is Simon Peter and and John. You know James was the half brother of Yeshua the Messiah. He's the one who became one of the pillars as it says here. They were firm standing as pillars in the city of Jerusalem maintaining the truth that Yeshua is the Messiah and preaching the message of the gospel. In the early days of the life of Yeshua the Messiah James did not even believe on him. John seven. Later on we find him becoming a pillar in the local assembly. You know brothers and sisters how we need today pillars who will stand for the truth of God who will preach sincere milk of the word who will tell us the truth who will not play with us religion but it will be reality.

We need it today in the last days of the church age when everything is falling apart around us with this all kind of teaching that are going on in the days of this in Christendom in the last days of the church age. Where are those pillars? We need them today to be those that will help us to continue on and and because of all the scene of confusion that exists today. And Satan is attacking the people of God on left and right through any form and shape of of various religious activities. We need those pillars.

We need men and women who love God, who love the word, who love the people of God to tell us and look at these pillars. What did they do with Paul? They could condemn him. Hey Paul are you out of your mind? What are you doing? You're telling that the Gentiles can be saved without to keep the law or be circumcised. How can you say this Paul? But they gave him the right hand of fellowship. The right hand of fellowship means when you lay your hand on someone identifying with his message. Paul said to Timothy lay not suddenly your hand on any man.

You know why? Because there's so much false that is going on. Be careful to lay hand carefully, not suddenly. Don't rush into agreement with everybody who tells you certain things. Be thoughtful, be prayerful, be careful because many false prophets have entered into this world. And so they gave him the right hand of fellowship verse nine and notice that they perceived that the grace that was given unto me and they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen and the day unto the circumcision. They agreed with the message.

They didn't add to the message. They didn't subtract from the message. The very same message that that I Paul and Barnabas were preaching to the Gentiles, they were preaching to our own Jewish brethren, the same clear message. That God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. Faith alone without works, without merit, without human intervention on a basis of the finish work of Yeshua the Messiah is that which save us. Nothing more and nothing less otherwise Yeshua died in vain.

If we have to add anything to his work and so in verse 10 only they would that we should remember the poor the same which which I also was forward to do. Paul you are going to go now to the nations of the world who became believers. Just remind them not to forget the Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and in Judea who became poor because they lost much because of their faith in Yeshua the Messiah. They lost family members. They lost relationship with the family. They couldn't have the privileges anymore to go to the temple. They lost properties because they were not accepted and they became poor.

Paul remember those poor of the people of of Israel. Don't forget your Jewish brethren. Tell this to the Gentile believers to remember and to recognize the need and you know Paul said in verse 10 which I also was forward to do. And you know what he did? Many a time Saul Paul collected funds. And he brought them to the city of Jerusalem to meet the needs of those believers who became poor because of their faith in Yeshua Jesus the Messiah. Amazing the kind of a servant Saul Paul was in his life since he became a believer in Yeshua the Messiah.

And so brothers and sisters the meeting and the verdict of the council in the city of Yerushalayim was and I'm going to close with these Acts chapter 15 and I'm closing. Look what they said and I'm closing that. It says in Acts chapter 15 and verse 28 and 29 for it seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. That ye abstain from meats offered unto idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication for which if ye keep yourself ye shall do well.

And then he says Shalom lakhem fair ye well. You only need to abstain from meats offered to idols from blood from things strangled and from fornication. If you are a believer in Yeshua the Messiah abstain for that and live your life to honor the Lord. That is the only thing which is necessary for salvation. No more and no less just accept Yeshua the Messiah and his work for you as he suffered for you on the tree. And with this we concluded Galatians chapter two in verses one to 10. May the Lord bless his word. Can you say amen to that?

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levytam. 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 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 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.