[ First posted October 18, 2012. “RW” Messianic pioneer in Asia Pacific region, and Sinaite “NSB” — a parting of faith directions causes an irreconcilable rift in the 3-decade relationship between Christian bible teacher and former Christian student. This is part of the original email exchange; excerpt has been reformatted for posting. Since this is a revisit, you might want to read previous posts leading to this postscript: Discourse: S6K/Messianic — Sacrificial System in TNK. We color code for visual aide, the Hebrew Scriptures or TNK is represented by Israel blue while NT is RED.—Admin1.]
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RW: ON EARTH→ HEAVEN –
- Shadows, Temporary→
- Reality, Permanent
- People born on earth into the Family of Adam #1→
- Believers born-from-Above into the Family of Adam #2
- Wilderness Tabernacle – after the pattern in heaven→
- Heavenly Tabernacle – permanent – shown to Moses.
- Access to Tabernacle limited to priesthood.→
- Access to Tabernacle open to all Believers, even now.
- Levitical Priesthood to administer all sacrifices→
- Melchizedek Priesthood to administer one sacrifice.
- Blood of animals make Atonement, temporary→
- Yeshua, the one sacrifice, makes Propitiation, permanent.
- High Priest somewhat a mediator→
- Yeshua as Man and Deity, the perfect Mediator.
- Unblemished bulls and goats for sin offerings→
- Yeshua, Perfect sinless Lamb of God, THE sin offering.
- People on their own, live as they wish.→
- People helpless slaves to sin Believers love slaves to Yeshua
- People of Israel chosen as God’s witnesses.→Believers live according to Torah, being in one Family
- All Believers designated as God’s witnesses.
All believers, Jew or Gentile, should live according to Torah.
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NSB@S6K comments on this conclusion of RW’s article “Lamb of God”:
At first glance, this comparison—or rather, this differentiation of OT teaching with NT teaching systematically presented as prophecy and fulfillment according to “progressive revelation” appears credible, logical, insightful, even truthful . . . except that one has to ask, according to whose “truth”?
Actually, “RW” has written a book about his own quest for God and Truth, titled “According to R.” S6K Core Community have copies and have read it when we were still into messianic theology and learning from him at his annual messianic conferences. None of these “truths” are new to us, we ourselves passed on these teachings to others. . . but now we reject all 10 except for 11 which we partly agree to, that —
All believers, Jew or Gentile,
should live according to the Torah.
Our problem is with that word “Believers” . . . we have to ask, beievers in Whom? in which God? the TNK version or the Christian OT/NT version? Of course we know RW is referring specifically to believers in Yeshua.
Messianics endorse the TORAH only as long as Jesus is at the center and in every aspect of it.
Sinaites endorse the TORAH of YHWH, revealed on Sinai, so who is at the center of it? YHWH, the Revelator, the Covenant-God of Israel and God of all who would believe in Him, embrace Him and commit themselves to obeying His Word.
Hear and heed indeed, O Jew, O Gentile, both in the “mixed multitude” that stood on Sinai, both liberated from bondage: Representative Humanity.
Though the covenant is specifically with Israel, TORAH is for all nations. By God’s grace, instead of leaving humanity ignorant of His Will, He leaves instructions about how to relate to Him and to one another in the Decalogue.
Absolutely, living the TORAH is good for all—individuals, families, communities, governments—and many do live by its guidelines, whether they’re aware of it or not–Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Messianics. Even atheists, agnostics, unbelievers with high moral and ethical values live by it; in fact many of them are even more understanding, more tolerant and more respectful of all kinds of religious beliefs than religionists themselves. There is something about religious fanaticism that promotes tunnel vision and exclusivism. We know, we’ve been there.
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Here’s one sample of casual reading of biblical verses we have been guilty of, this relates to Point #3:
Wilderness Tabernacle – after the pattern in heaven→Heavenly Tabernacle – permanent – shown to Moses.
Check out #3 where Moses was supposed to have been shown the pattern for the tabernacle in the wilderness; we had always taken for granted that Moses was given a vision of the “Tabernacle in Heaven” because of the NT book of Hebrews.
Now, re-read Hebrews 8:5 and determine for yourself: [http://bible.cc/hebrews/8-5.htm]
New International Version (©1984)
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
New Living Translation (©2007)
They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”
English Standard Version (©2001)
They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
“Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.
See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.
Take note: just as you were shown on the mountain.
Do the NT/Hebrew verses and the Exodus verses indicate that Moses saw a vision of the Heavenly Tabernacle?
It appears Moses was shown a pattern while he was on the mountain. Well, you might argue, ‘that’s nitpicking’; whether the pattern was shown on sand, or tablet of stone, or papyrus scroll, the pattern was reflecting the heavenly tabernacle.
Really, how can an earthly tabernacle be a replica of a heavenly original?
In the TNK, whenever a vision of something or someone ‘other’ (heavenly/divine) is described, the describer can barely describe it and resorts to so many images (see Ezekiel 1:4-28). Why? Because “it” is simply indescribable! It is out of our perceived ‘reality’ and our human experience.
So, what must have been shown to Moses was an earthly design, for the purpose it will accomplish during the wilderness wanderings; redesigned by Solomon for the 1st magnificent Temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed, then rebuilt as the inferior 2nd Temple, which was later permanently destroyed by the Romans.
Now back to “whose truth”?
We’ve color-coded RW’s list of OT/NT; implicit are the following ideas suggested:
- half-truth/complete truth
- imperfect/perfect
- temporary/permanent
- blinded/sighted
- legalistic/free from OT Law (by grace)
It is an insult to CHOSEN people of the ONE and ONLY Covenant YHWH made with humankind to portray them as “used” by the God of Israel as a mere springboard or stage setting, preparatory for the grand event to happen later to benefit a gentile religion/church, the “New Israel.”
Where is the source of this teaching? Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, aside from Hebrews.
NASB Romans 10:2-9
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them [Israel] is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven’ (that is, bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “The Word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart“—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ‘that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved:
11:7-15
What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day.”
And David says “let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stumbling block and a retribution to them.”
“Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their backs forever.”
NASB Notes:
- The spiritual dullness of the Jews had continued from Isaiah’s day to Pauls day.
- The “transgression” and the “failure” of Israel leads to the salvation of the Gentiles, which leads to the jealousy or envy of Israel, which leads to the “fulfillment” of Israel when the hardening is removed, which leads to even more riches for the Gentiles.
Please check the context of the TNK verses quoted by Paul to support his teaching regarding his own people. The quote from David is Psalm 69; read the whole psalm in the context of what period in David’s life it was written (good bible study for you); then conclude for yourself if Paul’s using it as prooftext is applicable or even proper.
It is an insult to the God of Israel to portray Him as capable of doing what Paul of Tarsus teaches in the Epistle to the Romans, using TNK verses taken out of context to support this NT antithetical doctrine.
Supposedly, Israel will one day “see” and accept Jesus as Lord and be saved like Christians/Messianics; but God has to remove the blinders first.
Oh, so Israel was not at fault after all?
- They were destined to be disobedient to TORAH since God knew all along it was impossible to obey His laws?
- Yet God punishes Israel for failing to do what He knew they could never do without divine assistance from His indwelling Holy Spirit Who would not be available until the post-crucifixion Pentecost outpouring?
- And Plan A had to come to pass first before Plan B, just so God could bring in the gentiles?
- Was that REALLY the divine plan hidden here and there all over the TNK?
- If so, then poor Israel, to have suffered so much anti-semitism for something God Himself had planned all along.
- Is that OT GOD a GOOD and JUST God?
- Well no, that is why the compassionate and merciful SON-GOD had to come to change the image of that unjust and unfair Old Testament God.
All that “logic” according to NT teaching!
There was a time this made so much sense to us, we could not understand why Jews and unbelievers fail to see God’s GRAND PLAN according to NT! Now that we’ve learned and understood the one and only original PLAN as revealed on Sinai, preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures, we realize we were the ones with blinders, not the Jews.
God will not take our blinders off our eyes; we have free will remember? That is up to each truth-seeker to do for himself. It’s always and ultimately about individual choice, ‘see’?
[AST] Micah 6:6-8
[You ask,] With what shall I approach HaSHEM, humble myself before God on high? Shall I approach Him with burnt-offerings, or with calves in their first year? Will HaSHEM be appeased by thousands of rams or with tens of thousands of streams of oil? Shall I give over my firstborn [to atone for] my transgression, or the fruit of my belly [for] the sin of my soul?
He has told you O man, what is good! What does HaSHEM require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
[JPS] Micah 6
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