Rethinking Christianity: New Religion or Reformed Judaism by Institute of Religion

Rethinking Christianity:

New Religion or Reformed Judaism

Presented By: Ray – St. Michael Williams

Welcome

• 4th of May, 2024 – Civil (Secular)

• 26th of Nisan (Abib) – Hebrew (Israelite Calendar)

• The 1st Month of the Hebrew (Israelite | Jewish) Religious Year

• 1st Sabbath in the feast of Weeks

• 6 Sabbaths left until the Shavuot (Pentecost)

Reference - Leviticus 23 (Law of Moses | Torah)

• Commanded Assemblies

• Non-Observance is a violation of the commands

• Sin is Transgression of the Law

Author: Bernard Starr, PhD

• Professor Emeritus at the City University of New York (Brooklyn College)

• Organizer of the art exhibit "Putting Judaism Back in the Picture: Toward Healing the Christian/Jewish Divide."

No where in the New Testament does Jesus or Paul say he is rejecting Judaism and starting a new religion.

“

”

Author: Bernard Starr, PhD

• Professor Emeritus at the City University of New York (Brooklyn College)

• Organizer of the art exhibit "Putting Judaism Back in the Picture: Toward Healing the Christian/Jewish Divide."

The evidence in the New Testament persuasively suggests that both Jesus and Paul viewed their teachings as Jewish revisionism---not a rejection of Judaism or the proposal for a new religion . If this is true, as it seems to be according to the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles (book 5 of the New Testament), then we must ask: Who

launched Christianity?

“

”

How should Christianity be understood?

Judaism Christianity OR Judaism Christianity

Judaism “Old

New Religion

Reformed

Time Religion”

Where did modern day Christianity start?

expanding apostasy - seen through corrupted worship, doctrine and government

Jon Gary Williams

Where did modern day Christianity start?

expanding apostasy - seen through corrupted worship, doctrine and government

Jon Gary Williams

Constantine at Council of Nicea (325 AD):

“It appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul Let us then have nothing in common with the detestabte Jewish crowd: for we have received from our Saviour a different way... Strive and pray continually that the purity of your souls may not seem in anything to be sullied by fellowship with the customs of these most wicked men... All should unite in desiring that which sound reason appears to demand, and in avoiding all participation in the perjured conduct of the Jew”

Where did modern day Christianity start?

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) to Dialogue with Trypho: “We, too, would observe your circumcision of the flesh, your Sabbath days, and in a word, all your festivals, if we were not aware of the reason why they were imposed upon you, namely, because of your sins and your hardness of heart ” …. “Therefore, we must conclude that God, who is immutable, ordered these and similar things to be done only because of sinful men”

Origen, priest, (184/4 , 253-254 AD): “The resurrection of the Lord is celebrated not only once a year but constantly every eight days.”

Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea, (260/5 - 339/40) similarly states: “While the Jews faithful to Moses, sacrificed the Passover lamb once a year ... we men of the New Covenant celebrate every Sunday our Passover.”

Where did modern day Christianity start?

Polycrates, Smyrna (130 - 196 AD): Response to Victor, Bishop of Rome trying to change the Time of Lord’s Supper (2 nd Quarte Decima Controversy)

“ As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the exact day , neither adding nor taking away . For in Asia great luminaries have gone to their rest, who shall rise again in the day of the coming of the Lord, when He cometh with glory from heaven and shall raise again all the saint s. I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles , who is laid to rest at Hierapolis; and his two daughters, who arrived at old age unmarried; his other daughter also, who passed her life under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and reposes at Ephesus; John, moreover, who reclined on the Lord's bosom, and who became a priest wearing the mitre , and a witness and a teacher- he rests at Ephesus . Then there is Polycarp, both bishop and martyr at Smyrna ”

Moreover I also, Polycrates, who am the least of you all, in accordance with the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have succeeded - seven of my relatives were bishops, and I am the eighth, and my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven

Where did modern day Christianity start?

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) “Therefore, we must conclude that God, who is immutable, ordered these and similar things to be done only because of sinful men”

Polycarp (approx. 100 – 157), Bishop Smyra,

• Polycarp visited Rome in the time of Anicetus (Bishop of Rome, 155 – 166 AD)

• Anicetus could not persuade Polycarp to forego the observance as by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant

• Polycarp did not succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep [the observance in his way], for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him.

• On that trip: Anicetus conceded to Polycarp in the Church the celebration of the Eucharist

The historian Eusebius (ca. A.D. 260 -340) provides a valuable dossier of documents regarding the controversy which flared up in the second century over the date for the celebration of the Passover. There were of course two protagonists of the controversy.

WaveSheaf

14thofNisan(Passover)

Alexandria

Cyrene

Where did modern day Christianity start?

Bishop Sixtus (A.D. 116 – 126, Bishop, Church of Rome)

• (A.D. 135) Judaeo-Christian members and leaders were at that time expelled from the city together with the Jews, and were replaced by a new Gentile group.

• Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 113-17) - adopted a policy of radical repression of Jewish rites and customs.

• These repressive measures would encourage Christians to substitute for customs regarded as Jewish, new ones.

Epiphanius (ca. A.D. 135) Bishop of Cyprus , the Easter-controversy arose , “the controversy arose after the time of the exodus of the bishops of the circumcision and it has continued until our time.”

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) “Therefore, we must conclude that God, who is immutable, ordered these and similar things to be done only because of sinful men”

Where

did modern day Christianity start?

This is where we want to be as Christians

Reformed Judaism New

Religion

Ethnic Israel: still valid

Israel Today: Ethnic and Spiritual (Jew and Gentile)

Laws of Moses: still applicable

Kingdom of God: on earth (Jerusalem)

Other Nations: relationship with God in the future

Ethnic Israel: replaced (disobedience), not valid

Israel Today: Spiritual Only (No Jew or Gentile)

Laws of Moses: abolished (Laws of Christ)

Kingdom of God: Heaven (not on earth)

Other Nations: relationship with God now

Judaism Christianity VS Judaism Christianity

Reformed Judaism

Ethnic Israel: still valid

Israel Today: Ethnic and Spiritual (Jew and Gentile)

Laws of Moses: still applicable

Kingdom of God: on earth (Jerusalem)

Other Nations: relationship with God in the future

Church Hierarchy:

1. Jesus

2. Jews (Oracles of God entrusted to the Jews Romans 3:1-4)

3. Adopted Gentiles

Religion

Ethnic Israel: replaced (disobedience), not valid

Israel Today: Spiritual Only (No Jew or Gentile)

Laws of Moses: abolished (Laws of Christ)

Kingdom of God: Heaven (not on earth)

Other Nations: relationship with God now

Church Hierarchy:

1. Jesus

2. Anybody (No Jew or Gentile)

Judaism Christianity VS Judaism Christianity

New

Gentile Gentile Jew

Author: Bernard Starr, PhD

• Professor Emeritus at the City University of New York (Brooklyn College)

• Organizer of the art exhibit "Putting Judaism Back in the Picture: Toward Healing the Christian/Jewish Divide."

While Jesus and Paul established the foundation for the new religion, neither of them officially initiated Christianity as a religion separate from Judaism. On the contrary, both remained dedicated to Judaism throughout their lives, as documented in the New Testament.

So why are so many people convinced that Jesus or Paul created a new religion?

Many who believe that Jesus had in mind a new religion cite his pronouncement in Matthew 16:18: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church." They jumped to the conclusion that "Church" in this statement means a Christian or Catholic Church, as we know it today--a building housing a new religion.

But that doesn't make much sense.

“

”

The

Problem :

If Christianity is not supposed to be a new religion, then are over 2 Billion (innocent and sincere) people living in deception?

Israelites

The Basics

Jews

Nation of Israel = 12 Tribes of Israel

(Israelites)

Kingdom of Israel = Samaritans (10*)

Kingdom of Judah = Jews (3 *)

• Benjamin • Judah • Simeon?*

Fate of the Jews Fate of the Samaritans

Cyrus king of Persia allows Jews to return Jerusalem

Ezra 1:1-4

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel— he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Assyria Resettles Samaria

2 Kings 17:24-29

24 And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. 25 And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26 So the king of Assyria was told, “ The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him[a ] go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” 28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. 29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived.

Israelites

All Jews are Israelites

Not all Israelites are Jews

Jews

• 2 Samuel 7:12-13

'When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ‘

• Isaiah 9:7

'Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. '

Luke 3: 23 - 38

Matthew 1:1 - 16

Jesus ( Yeshua ) was a Jew (Israelite)

The Disciples were Jews (Israelites)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Matthew 4

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 15:

1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

Matthew 19

27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The 12 Disciples (Apostles)

1. Simon Peter

2. Andrew (brother of Peter)

3. James (son of Zebedee)

4. John (brother of James)

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew (aka Nathanael)

7. Matthew (the tax collector)

8. Thomas

9. James (son of Alphaeus)

10. Thaddaeus (aka Jude, son of James)

11. Simon the Zealot

12. Judas Iscariot

• (replaced by Matthias)

New Testament Books: 27

• Matthew

• Mark

• Acts (of the Apostles)

• Luke

• John

• 1st John | 2nd John | 3rd John

• Revelation (of Jesus through John)

The Apostle Paul Philippians 3

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

1. Romans

2. 1st Corinthians

3. 2nd Corinthians

Hebrews

• James

• 1 Peter & 2 Peter

• Jude

92% of the New testament Jewish or Israelite

4. Galatians

5. Ephesians

6. Philippians

7. Colossians

8. 1st Thessalonians

9. 2nd Thessalonians

10. 1st Timothy

11. 2nd Timothy

12. Titus

13. Philemon

•

“Church”: The Church is not a building or a place, it is the People

“Church”: The Church is not a building or a place, it is the People

You

go to the assembly of the church

Matthew 16:18

• 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (G1577 ekklēsia), and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

• Strong's G1577 - ekklēsia

• a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

• an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

• the assembly of the Israelites

• an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

• the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

• the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

“Church”: The Church is not a building or a place, it is the People

Where in scripture was the church formed?

“Church”: The Church is not a building or a place, it is the People

Where in scripture was the church formed?

Traditional answer:

Acts 2 (on the day of Pentecost) is the birthday of the church

“Church”: The Church is not a building or a place, it is the People

Where in scripture was the church formed?

Spiritual Israel?

Recap:

• The church started in the Wilderness as Ethnic (Physical) Israel (Exodus 19, Acts 7 | Pentecost Timing, 3 rd Month)

• Jesus builds a new church (Matthew 16:18)

• The church of Jesus is marked by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Day of Pentecost)

Acts 2: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Strong's G4339 - prosē lytos

Spiritual Israel?

Recap:

• The church started in the Wilderness as Ethnic (Physical) Israel (Exodus 19, Acts 7 | Pentecost Timing, 3 rd Month)

• Jesus builds a new church (Matthew 16:18)

• The church of Jesus is marked by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Day of Pentecost)

Physical Israel: the Church

Judaism

Jesus:

“The Remnant Church”

“Spiritual Israel”

Christianity

Romans 11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite , a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin . 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “ I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace . 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking . The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened

Spiritual Israel?

Recap:

• The church started in the Wilderness as Ethnic (Physical) Israel (Exodus 19, Acts 7 | Pentecost Timing, 3 rd Month)

• Jesus builds a new church (Matthew 16:18)

• The church of Jesus is marked by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2, Day of Pentecost)

Physical Israel: the Church

Judaism

Jesus:

“The Remnant Church” “Spiritual Israel”

Christianity

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking . The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened

Timeline

Exodus 19 : the Church in the Wilderness

Matthew 16:18: Jesus is going to chose a remnant out of physical Israel

Acts 2: The Holy Spirit comes | Remnant from Physical Israel selected | Spiritual Israel starts

During this Period:

• Only Physical Israel are considered the Remnant Church of Christ

• None of the Apostles think uncircumcised persons can join Jesus’ Church

• Paul has not been converted as yet

• Disciples have not rejected their Jewishness

• No new religion has been formed

Acts 9: Saul (Paul) is converted

Acts 10: Peter has a vision about Cornelius | Gentiles can join without circumcision

Acts 11: 26 and when he [Barnabas] had found him, he brought him [Paul] to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Timeline

Acts 10

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.

Acts 10: Peter has a vision about Cornelius | Gentiles can join without circumcision

Judaism Christianity Gentile

Three (3) Worlds of Paul

“

I arrive at an initial observation which gets us into Paul's world, the first main subject of this introductory chapter. Actually, we might equally be speaking of worlds, plural; part of the excitement of reading Paul is the fact that he straddled at least three worlds, so that whatever he says demands to be heard within three different acoustic chambers, which may or may not have been audible to one another even though Paul intended them to resonate simultaneously.

”

The Three Worlds of Paul

Second-Temple Judaism was a many- sided and vibrant mixture of what we would now call (though they would not have recognized these distinctions) religion, faith, culture and politics.

But even its clashing elements were usually clashing about the same issues: what it meant to be part of God's people, to be loyal to Torah, to maintain Jewish identity in the face of the all-encroaching pagan world, and (above all in the view of some) to await the coming of God's kingdom, of the 'age to come' promised by the prophets, of Israel's redemption, hoping that when that day dawned one might have a share in the coming vindication and blessing.

This was the world from which Paul came, and in which he remained even though he said things which nobody within that world had thought of saying before and which many in that world found shocking, even destructive.

“

The Three Worlds of Paul

The first world, the one by which he ascended the mountain, was of course Judaism

“ The second world was that of the Greek, or Hellenistic, culture which by Paul's day had permeated most of the recesses of the Eastern Mediterranean world and a good deal beyond ”

Paul, to the surprise of some both then and now, was a Roman citizen, and if we take even a moderate view of the historicity of Acts he seems to have made good occasional use of the privilege. [Third world

“

”

“

” 1 2 3

]

The Three Worlds of Paul

Though his phrase 'all things to all people' often now seems merely to indicate someone prepared to trim their sails to every passing wind, Paul meant it in a more robust sense.

He had been entrusted with a Jewish message for the whole world, and part of the way in which the message was to get out was by his embodying in himself (in ways that caused some then, and cause some still, to raise an eyebrow) the outreach of Israel's one true God to the wider world of the Gentiles.

To the three worlds which together form Paul's context we must add a fourth, already in being by the time of his conversion, a world which formed, we may suppose, an almost equally disturbing setting. He belonged to the family of the Messiah, to the people of God he referred to as the ekklesia, the 'called-out ones', corresponding in some ways (though not others) both to the Jewish synagogue community and to civic gatherings in the Gentile world.

“

” “

”

Timeline

Acts 15

15 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “ Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses , you cannot be saved .” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question . 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders , and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “ It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Acts 10: Peter has a vision about Cornelius | Gentiles can join without circumcision

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Judaism Christianity

Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave[b ] that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

Point:

• At the time, this is the only way the Jews understood that one could join the community

Timeline

Judaism Christianity

Exodus 12

Gentile

Timeline

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah , 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Point:

• The new covenant was to be made with the physical and ethnic house of Israel and Judah

• This did indeed happen, the disciples were Israelites

Judaism Christianity

Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Acts 15

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “ Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us , 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith . 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will .”

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name .

Timeline

Judaism Christianity Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Romans 2:

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts , while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded [b ] as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart , by the Spirit , not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God .

Timeline

Judaism Christianity

Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Colossians 2:

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,12 having been buried with him in baptism , in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Timeline

Judaism Christianity

Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Deuteronomy 10:

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Point:

• Circumcision of the Heart is not a new testament concept

• Loving Gentiles is not a new testament concept

Timeline

Judaism Christianity

Gentile

Timeline

To join Israel (Spiritual):

• Belief in the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel*

• Circumcision of the Heart, not the flesh

• Repentance and Baptism

• The rite to eat of the Lord’s Communio n

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

To be Explicit:

• Physical Male Circumcision in not required to join the Israel of the Messiah

• Physical Male Circumcision in not required to join the Body of Christ

• Physical Male Circumcision in not required to join the New Testament Church

• (God Forbid a Non -Israelite female believed)

Judaism Christianity

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Romans 9:

I am speaking the truth in Christ— I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a ] my kinsmen according to the flesh.4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring , but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Romans 11 :

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root [c ] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches . If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Romans 11 :

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Ephesians 2:

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Reformed Judaism Because

• It is considered Reformed Judaism because there is a different PRIESTHOOD

• The previous priesthood was Levitical in th e Order of Aaron.

Hebrews 4: Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God , let us hold fast our confession . 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Judaism Christianity Gentile

Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Reformed Judaism Because

• It is considered Reformed Judaism because there is a different PRIESTHOOD

• The previous priesthood was Levitical in th e Order of Aaron.

Hebrews 7:

12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him , “ You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

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Acts 15: How can Gentiles Join Israel?

Isaiah 56 :

Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people” ; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer ; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”

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Acts 1

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God .

4 And while staying [a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with [b ] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? ” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth .”

Point:

• Jesus taught the disciples for 40 days after his ressurection

• The disciples expected Jesus to restore the Kingdom to Israel, not take anyone to heaven

• The prophets speak to a restoration of the Kingdom of Israel, which will rule over all nations

• (Reference Zechariah 14 | Isaiah 2 | Micah 4)