Beware! Modern Judaizers Abound!
*NOTE - not all Torah teachers are Judaizers
We never cease to be amazed at the various doctrines that are born out of resisting the Holy Spirit as He really is. From city to city we travel, encountering believers who will no longer use the name "Jesus." Some misunderstand what the Bible says, and others are simply bent on going against the grain. They still abide in the Mosaic Law and customs; they refuse to celebrate the birth of Jesus (blaming it on the erroneous date when Christians do so), even though a host of angels sang at His birth; they neglect celebrating His resurrection from the grave whereby we are saved; they seek out every little jot and tittle of the law, teaching and proselytizing whomever they can; they have no life in them, and they offer no life. They twist the things that the apostle Paul clearly put forth concerning freedom in Christ by His Spirit, and freedom from Old Covenant law.
Jesus said they are "blind leaders of the blind - both falling into the ditch." Indeed, they prove daily that they actually worship natural Israel, and not the Messiah!
Modern Judaizers continue in their darkness even though the Jerusalem council, including James, the brother of Jesus, and the other apostles who were still in Jerusalem, said that for those Gentiles who believed, nothing would be required of them concerning the law of Moses; only that they should stay away from food offered to idols (which was a practice of pagans), and that they should care for the poor (which is a demonstration of God's love).
Some of the Judaizers claim that the New Testament is full of "loopholes." Others claim that the New Testament book of Hebrews should not be included in the Canon of scripture. They would like to get rid of the letter to the Hebrews for the same reason that those who hate America would like to get rid of her Constitution - because it gets in their way! Of course, all Judaizers teach what Paul taught, but from their own twisted perspective. Some refuse to worship God with those they call their fellow Christians unless those Christians adopt their Old Covenant ways.
Some Christians who are looking backward in order to reinforce their foundation of understanding are bettered thereby. However, when we follow the way of the "ancient paths," we must be careful not to assume that God loved the paths more than where they were to have led us - OUT OF THE WILDERNESS OF TYPES AND SHADOWS, INTO THE LIFE OF THE PROMISED ONE BY THE SPIRIT! When those ancient paths lead us to a richer life in the One who has already come, wonderful; but when they lead us to antiquity, they are not pleasurable to God, nor are they fruitful for the New Covenant believer.
Judaizers constantly teach that the mysteries of God and the ways of God are revealed either in the Hebrew language or in the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant, showing the highest regard for them; but they hardly mention the revealing of God by His Spirit. I have yet to hear one of them teach on walking in the Spirit, who gives us life beyond the ceremonies and commandments - the One through whom the deeds of the body are destroyed. I have yet to hear one teach on sanctification by the Spirit. I have yet to hear one teach on the Spirit at all, much more one who demonstrates the anointing of the Spirit. They are dead.
I have yet to see one actively involved in setting anyone free through the power of the Spirit, i.e. miracle healing, and/or deliverance; and I have yet to see anyone born again through their teaching.
They claim to believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, but they mix in obedience to the Old Covenant Sabbath and other Old Covenant ordinances in order to gain favor with God. I have heard some of their followers declare with great trepidation that they hope they are keeping the Sabbaths, together with the other ordinances, in a manner worthy enough to be resurrected (raptured) by Him. By saying so, they reveal their belief that strict observance of Old Covenant laws and ordinances give them favor with God, when the New Testament teaches clearly the opposite. The Judaizers teach that obedience to God is obedience to Mosaic law rather than obedience to the Spirit - even though the Spirit of Jesus Christ living through an individual cannot possibly break Mosaic law, or any other law. They keep their students in bondage, rather than freeing them. They keep them sin-conscious through repeating the written law, which is impossible to obey in that way.
One need only read the book of Galatians, not to mention Romans, and Hebrews, to see clearly how the Mosaic law, though it was "good," was to lead us to Jesus Christ. It was powerless in helping us to obey. Indeed, this truth is clearly laid out throughout the whole Bible. The Old leads to the New! When the New came, the Old was done away with! The righteousness of God was not done away with, and neither were His commandments; but they are lived out by a "new and living way" (Hebrews 10:20)! It is impossible that sanctification can come by Mosaic law. Impossible! It is abundantly clear that now the "law is written in our hearts." His righteousness is lived out of us as we yield to His Spirit in Truth.
There are countless examples and illustrations that we could elaborate on through the scriptures demonstrating the Judaizers' refusal to accept the way of God's Spirit and to walk in Him. However, I simply leave you the following story of Stephen's death encounter with the Judaizers of his day. Notice how they accuse him of speaking "against the laws of Moses," "against God," "against this holy place" (the temple where God tore the veil in two from top to bottom because there was no more use for it), and that "he shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." This is the same message that modern Judaizers give. For example, they accuse New Covenant Christians of degrading God when we do not refer to Him by His Hebrew names; they accuse us of disobedience to God when we reject the notion that we are to live by the written Torah rather than by the Spirit; they accuse us of changing the customs and ceremonial laws and feasts delivered by Moses when we show little interest in continuing in them, even though they have long been fulfilled.
In short: They resist the Holy Spirit. They resist Jesus Christ as He really is, the All-Sufficient One. They resist the complete and finished work that was brought about through His life, death, and resurrection. They resist the Father's will, whom they claim to so carefully obey through law and ceremony. They resist the testimony of the apostles and of the natural brothers of Jesus Christ.
They continue in marriage to the "bondwoman," while claiming to be married to the "free;" and this is impossible.
They have chosen to add the law to Christ, so they shall be judged by the law. If you follow their ways, you will also be judged by the law. If you live according to the law, you will be judged by it, and if you live according to the Spirit, you are free from the condemnation of the law (Rom. 8).
(Acts 6:8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
(Acts 6:9) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
(Acts 6:10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
(Acts 6:11) Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
(Acts 6:12) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
(Acts 6:13) And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
(Acts 6:14) For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
(Acts 6:15) And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
You may read the entire message that Stephen preached, by reading chapter six and seven in their entirety
(Acts 7:48) Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
(Acts 7:49) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
(Acts 7:50) Hath not my hand made all these things?
(Acts 7:51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
(Acts 7:52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(Acts 7:53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
(Acts 7:54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
(Acts 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
(Acts 7:56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
(Acts 7:57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
(Acts 7:58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(Acts 7:59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
(Acts 7:60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
We never cease to be amazed at the various doctrines that are born out of resisting the Holy Spirit as He really is. From city to city we travel, encountering believers who will no longer use the name "Jesus." Some misunderstand what the Bible says, and others are simply bent on going against the grain. They still abide in the Mosaic Law and customs; they refuse to celebrate the birth of Jesus (blaming it on the erroneous date when Christians do so), even though a host of angels sang at His birth; they neglect celebrating His resurrection from the grave whereby we are saved; they seek out every little jot and tittle of the law, teaching and proselytizing whomever they can; they have no life in them, and they offer no life. They twist the things that the apostle Paul clearly put forth concerning freedom in Christ by His Spirit, and freedom from Old Covenant law.
Jesus said they are "blind leaders of the blind - both falling into the ditch." Indeed, they prove daily that they actually worship natural Israel, and not the Messiah!
Modern Judaizers continue in their darkness even though the Jerusalem council, including James, the brother of Jesus, and the other apostles who were still in Jerusalem, said that for those Gentiles who believed, nothing would be required of them concerning the law of Moses; only that they should stay away from food offered to idols (which was a practice of pagans), and that they should care for the poor (which is a demonstration of God's love).
Some of the Judaizers claim that the New Testament is full of "loopholes." Others claim that the New Testament book of Hebrews should not be included in the Canon of scripture. They would like to get rid of the letter to the Hebrews for the same reason that those who hate America would like to get rid of her Constitution - because it gets in their way! Of course, all Judaizers teach what Paul taught, but from their own twisted perspective. Some refuse to worship God with those they call their fellow Christians unless those Christians adopt their Old Covenant ways.
Some Christians who are looking backward in order to reinforce their foundation of understanding are bettered thereby. However, when we follow the way of the "ancient paths," we must be careful not to assume that God loved the paths more than where they were to have led us - OUT OF THE WILDERNESS OF TYPES AND SHADOWS, INTO THE LIFE OF THE PROMISED ONE BY THE SPIRIT! When those ancient paths lead us to a richer life in the One who has already come, wonderful; but when they lead us to antiquity, they are not pleasurable to God, nor are they fruitful for the New Covenant believer.
Judaizers constantly teach that the mysteries of God and the ways of God are revealed either in the Hebrew language or in the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant, showing the highest regard for them; but they hardly mention the revealing of God by His Spirit. I have yet to hear one of them teach on walking in the Spirit, who gives us life beyond the ceremonies and commandments - the One through whom the deeds of the body are destroyed. I have yet to hear one teach on sanctification by the Spirit. I have yet to hear one teach on the Spirit at all, much more one who demonstrates the anointing of the Spirit. They are dead.
I have yet to see one actively involved in setting anyone free through the power of the Spirit, i.e. miracle healing, and/or deliverance; and I have yet to see anyone born again through their teaching.
They claim to believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, but they mix in obedience to the Old Covenant Sabbath and other Old Covenant ordinances in order to gain favor with God. I have heard some of their followers declare with great trepidation that they hope they are keeping the Sabbaths, together with the other ordinances, in a manner worthy enough to be resurrected (raptured) by Him. By saying so, they reveal their belief that strict observance of Old Covenant laws and ordinances give them favor with God, when the New Testament teaches clearly the opposite. The Judaizers teach that obedience to God is obedience to Mosaic law rather than obedience to the Spirit - even though the Spirit of Jesus Christ living through an individual cannot possibly break Mosaic law, or any other law. They keep their students in bondage, rather than freeing them. They keep them sin-conscious through repeating the written law, which is impossible to obey in that way.
One need only read the book of Galatians, not to mention Romans, and Hebrews, to see clearly how the Mosaic law, though it was "good," was to lead us to Jesus Christ. It was powerless in helping us to obey. Indeed, this truth is clearly laid out throughout the whole Bible. The Old leads to the New! When the New came, the Old was done away with! The righteousness of God was not done away with, and neither were His commandments; but they are lived out by a "new and living way" (Hebrews 10:20)! It is impossible that sanctification can come by Mosaic law. Impossible! It is abundantly clear that now the "law is written in our hearts." His righteousness is lived out of us as we yield to His Spirit in Truth.
There are countless examples and illustrations that we could elaborate on through the scriptures demonstrating the Judaizers' refusal to accept the way of God's Spirit and to walk in Him. However, I simply leave you the following story of Stephen's death encounter with the Judaizers of his day. Notice how they accuse him of speaking "against the laws of Moses," "against God," "against this holy place" (the temple where God tore the veil in two from top to bottom because there was no more use for it), and that "he shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." This is the same message that modern Judaizers give. For example, they accuse New Covenant Christians of degrading God when we do not refer to Him by His Hebrew names; they accuse us of disobedience to God when we reject the notion that we are to live by the written Torah rather than by the Spirit; they accuse us of changing the customs and ceremonial laws and feasts delivered by Moses when we show little interest in continuing in them, even though they have long been fulfilled.
In short: They resist the Holy Spirit. They resist Jesus Christ as He really is, the All-Sufficient One. They resist the complete and finished work that was brought about through His life, death, and resurrection. They resist the Father's will, whom they claim to so carefully obey through law and ceremony. They resist the testimony of the apostles and of the natural brothers of Jesus Christ.
They continue in marriage to the "bondwoman," while claiming to be married to the "free;" and this is impossible.
They have chosen to add the law to Christ, so they shall be judged by the law. If you follow their ways, you will also be judged by the law. If you live according to the law, you will be judged by it, and if you live according to the Spirit, you are free from the condemnation of the law (Rom. 8).
(Acts 6:8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
(Acts 6:9) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
(Acts 6:10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
(Acts 6:11) Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
(Acts 6:12) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
(Acts 6:13) And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
(Acts 6:14) For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
(Acts 6:15) And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
You may read the entire message that Stephen preached, by reading chapter six and seven in their entirety
(Acts 7:48) Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
(Acts 7:49) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
(Acts 7:50) Hath not my hand made all these things?
(Acts 7:51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
(Acts 7:52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(Acts 7:53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
(Acts 7:54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
(Acts 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
(Acts 7:56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
(Acts 7:57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
(Acts 7:58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(Acts 7:59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
(Acts 7:60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.