Messianic Judaism - The Torah and the Testimony Revealed

Chapter I

Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, you Pretenders!

For you travel all over the dry land and around the coast lands of the sea to make one convert, and when he is made, you make him twice the son of hell-fire as yourselves.
Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 23:15

In this study you will learn about the debate that the Apostles and other believing Jewish leaders had concerning the conversion process, and about how that conversion process should be applied to Gentile believers coming in from among the nations. The question of which boiled down to whether or not the Gentile convert believers needed to partake in the Temple sacrifices in addition to their Faith in Yeshua's sacrifice, or if Faith in His sacrifice alone was sufficient.

In this study you will learn what the Hebrew idioms, "works of the law", and "under the law" meant, and what the word justified meant, to the first century Jewish believers who had lived, and grown up, and spent all their lives participating in a Temple centered covenant, with its sacrifices, and of how Yeshua affected the process in how we, and the Gentiles alike, are to approach God for the remission of our sins.

This study is on the Book of Galatians, the most commonly misunderstood and misquoted book outside of the Book of Romans. And why is it misunderstood and misquoted - and I might add, often mistranslated?

Because it, like all the rest of Scripture is a Hebrew book, written by Jews, and as such, can only be understood within the Hebrew mindset, language, and culture, as well as political environment that they were written and inspired within. The understanding of which has not been applied by the translators of the Christian bibles.

So to get to the heart of the matter, we can begin by asking, what is a Jew?

The word Jew in Hebrew is Yahudi [pronounced Yahoodee], which comes from the Hebrew word Yahudah (Judah). And accordingly, in the most strict and original sense of the word, a Jew is a descendent of the tribe of Judah.

After the time of King Shlomo (Solomon) the Kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Judah to the South, and the Kingdom of Israel to the North.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah preserved the Faith of Avraham that had been revived through Moshe (Moses); while the Northern Kingdom of Israel became idolatrous, and worshipers of pagan deities.

A Jew from this time on up to the time of Yeshua became known as anyone who practiced the Faith of Avraham, as preserved by the tribal Kingdom of Judah.

Thi and His Emissaries (the Apostles), and is what is often referred to in the renewed covenant as The Faith or as The Way.

So a Jew in the most common sense of the word in Yeshua‘s time was someone who practiced the Faith. The Faith of Avraham, revived through Moshe, and preserved by the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was, likewise, composed of the 3 tribes of Judah, Levi, and Benyamin.

Today, the word Jew has a much broader meaning.

Today the word doesn’t necessarily mean you are a follower of Torah, or of the Faith of Avraham revived through Moshe, or preserved by Judah.

Neither does the word Jew today necessarily mean you are a physical descendent of the tribe of Judah.

Today, the word Jew can apply to any descendent of the original 12 tribes of Israel whose mother identifies themselves as Jewish, regardless of whether or not they follow the Faith of Avraham, regardless of whether they believe in the God of Avraham, Yitz’chak (Isaac) and Ya’aqov (Jacob), and regardless of whether they obey the Torah.

So when I use the word Jew in any of my writings I am referring specifically to those who follow the Faith of Avraham, revived through Moshe, and preserved by the Southern Kingdom of Judah; and not to the loose way the word is used today. And to the Emissaries and original believers, I refer to them as Nazarene Jews.

That is, as Jews who believe that Yeshua of Nazareth is the Messiah, and who are all zealous for the Torah; Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 2:23; Ma'aseh (Acts) 4:10; 21:20; 24:5,14; 28:22.

In other words, as followers of the Faith of Avraham, revived through Moshe, and preserved through the Southern Kingdom of Judah, who recognized and confessed Yeshua as the Messiah.

As such, the standard I use for all my presentations of Scripture is the Torah of Yahuweh His Son as Yesh'yahu (Isaiah) 8:16-20, Revelations 12:17 and Revelations 14:12 state must be.

Today I am going to share with you the Book of Galatians, from the standpoint of a 1st Century Ma'aseh (Acts) 21:20 Nazarene Jew. Fand His Emissaries (Apostles), and as understood by the Jewish believers who heard it.

Let’s go to Galatians and begin with Chapter 2. And just to help clarify the text more precisely, I will translate the word Gentile as people of the nations, as foreigners, or as some variation thereof.

Because both in the Hebrew and in the Greek that is precisely what it means.

Let’s begin. Galatians 2:1,

2:1 After 14 years I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that good news which I preach among the nations. But in private with those who were uncertain, lest by any means I might run, or had run in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

So here we see the Emissary Shaul (the Apostle Paul) responding to some question of circumcision. And he responds to the question and issue presented to him by stating that neither he, nor his Greek companion Titus, felt it necessary to be circumcised.

Then Emissary Shaul proceeds for the next three chapters to present various analogies as to why he believed it was not necessary for Titus to be circumcised, and in Chapter 5:2- 4 at the close of his discourse, he reaffirms his opening conclusion by stating,

5:2 "And I say to you, that if you become circumcised, the Messiah will profit you nothing.

5:3 I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is obligated to keep the whole law.

5:4 The Messiah has become useless to you. You who attempt to be justified through the law, you have fallen from grace.

The whole study to follow will be to answer and reveal what is meant by this use of the word "law" within the context of Galatians, and of how this use of the word ultimately leads us not to a conclusion nullifying Torah, but to various analogies presented by Shaul (Paul) contrasting the difference between faith in Yeshua's sacrifice for salvation versus the presentation of Temple sacrifices for salvation.

So first we will ask, what is meant by the phrase, "he is obligated to keep the whole law", and "You who attempt to be justifies through the law"?

What law? Which law? The Scriptures use the word "law" to refer to many different types of law.

For example, there is the Law of Torah which Yahuweh ordained to define for us how to properly conduct ourselves as His children, and as His representatives in this world.

This Law of Torah is revealed to us in part in the form of commandments such as,

You shall not murder, you shall not accept bribes or pervert justice, you shall not oppress the poor or the widow, you shall not practice witchcraft or sorcery or have sexual relations with animals, you shall rest your farmland every 7th year, pray for your enemies, do good to those who hate you, etc...

Here are some samples of verses where the word translated as law, or as commandments, in the Christian Bibles is referring to the Law of Torah. Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 5:17-19; 23:23; Romans 8:7; Revelations 12:17; 14:12.

Then you have the law of sin, which is the exact opposite of Torah, and which is the express violation of Torah; I Yahuchanan (I John) 3:4 (KJV), some examples of which can be found in the following passages. Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7.

Then there is the law of the Temple sacrifices, the examples of which can be found in numerous passages, three of which are as follow, Hebrews 9:22; 10:1; and Galatians 3:19.

The law of circumcision for 8 day old male infants, B'resheet (Genesis) 17:1-27; Luke 2:21.

And finally, for purposes of this study, we will add only one more law, the law of circumcision for conversion to 1st Century, Temple based, Judaism, Maaseh (Acts) 15:1-5; Galatians 5:3.

As the study progresses, you will see that the law of circumcision for conversion, and the law of Temple sacrifices, work hand in hand with one another.

So throughout the remainder of this study I will sort out, in the various instances, the specific "law" being addressed in any given situation and explain its relevancy within the context of the Book of Galatians.

But first let's begin by defining from the Hebrew mindset what is meant by the word "justified", a term which is key to understanding what Shaul is saying in the Book of Galatians.

But first let me state very clearly what it does not mean. It does not mean that the Torah, God's instruction to mankind, was done away.

To make this very clear before we go any further, let’s clarify some of Yeshua’s, and the Emissary Shaul’s teachings to eliminate any pre-conceived notions any may have about what they taught.

In Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 5:17,18 states emphatically,

5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law, or the prophets [a phrase referencing part of the acronym for the Tenach]. I did not come to destroy them, but to bring them out in fullness.

5:18 For truly, I say to you, until the atmosphere and the earth pass away, not the least stroke of a pen will under any circumstance pass away from the Torah ("Law") until all things written within them are brought to completion.

This use of the word Law within the context of "the Law and Prophets" is a specific reference to the Torah, defining for us God's eternal standard of what is right and wrong in His eyes, and in Truth.

After making this statement, Yeshua immediately begins the famous teaching from the Mount, which in its entirety is not only a teaching of the Torah (the Law), but an expansion of it - reinforcing utterly His statement that He did not come to do away with the Torah (the Law), but to bring it out in fullness.

The Messiah Yeshua began His teaching with the statement that the atmosphere and the earth will pass before the least stroke of a pen in the Law of Torah would pass away, and that He would not do away with it, but rather, would expound upon it and bring it out in fullness. He then proceeds to spend the next three chapters in Mattit'yahu (Matthew) doing precisely that.

Then at the end of the teaching at the Mo concludes by stating in Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 7:21-23,

7:21 Not everyone who says to Me Master, Master shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but only he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

7:22 For many will say to Me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in your Name, cast out demons in your Name, and done many wonderful things in your Name.

7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me you workers of iniquity.

Iniquity is willful violation of God's instruction to us as revealed in the Torah. It is the very rebelliousness of the sinful nature that leads one into sin, into violation of that Torah. That very nature in the unrepentant soul that causes one to oppose and act contrary to the Torah, contrary to God’s "Law". Iniquity is willful sin.

As it is written by the Emissary Shaul in Romans 8:7,

8:7 The mind of the flesh is utterly opposed to Yahuweh for it is not submissive to the Torah of Yahuweh, nor indeed can be.

This is who Ystates, Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity (you who will not submit yourselves to the Torah of Yahuweh).

taught at the beginning of His ministry, then what did He teach in the middle of His ministry?

Let’s go to Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 19:16,17;

19:16 and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing must I do that I may have eternal life?

19:17 said to him...If you want to enter into life, obey the Commandments.

Likewise, what did Yeshua teach at the end of His ministry?

In Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 23:2,3 it is written,

23:2 the Sadducees and Pharisees sit in the seat of Moshe,

23:3 therefore whatever they instruct you (from the Torah), that do; but do not follow after their examples, for they do not practice what they teach.

instructed His Talmidim (students/disciples) to obey the instruction of Yahuweh as revealed in His Torah given through Moshe.

And finally, what do the Scriptures teach that He taught after His resurrection?

In Mattit'yahu (Matthew) 28:18-20 Yeshua said,

28:18 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

28:19 Go therefore and make Talmidim (Disciples) of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father [Yahuweh], and of the Son [Yeshua], and of the Ruach haKadosh (the Holy Spirit) [Chokmah/Wisdom],

28:20 teaching them to perform all that I have commanded you

And what was one of the last things Yeshua commanded them before His death and resurrection? He commanded them to obey the Torah (the "Law") given through Moshe.

And now He’s saying, after His resurrection, Go you now and teach My people who are dispersed among the nations - among the ‘Gentiles’, these same things.

In Luke 24:46,47states it was necessary for Him to suffer and to rise from the dead the 3rd day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

That what? That repentance and remission of sins should be taught to ALL nations.

What is repentance? It is to stop sinning, to stop violating Torah. Because the wages of sin is death, and He doesn’t want us to die the 2nd death, but to live; D‘varim (Deuteronomy) 30:11-19; Yahuchanan (John) 3:16,17; Revelation 20:1-6,14.

Judaism teaches, almost exclusively, repentance, that is, obedience to God through Torah; I Yahuchanan (I John) 5:2,3.

The theologians teach almost exclusively about the remission of sin; that is, the Testimony of Yeshua as our sin offering for the forgiveness of sin; I Yahuchanan (I John) 5:11.

commanded us to teach ALL nations both repentance and remission of sin.

To the Torah and the Testimony, if anyone does not teach according to these words, it is because they have no Light in them, Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 8:16-20.

the Messiah is Light. Walk in the Light even as He is in the Light and His blood will cleanse you from all sins past (from all past violations of Torah); I Yahchanan (John) 1:7, Romans 3:25; and I Yahchanan (I John) 3:4.

Then in Ma'aseh (Acts) 1 it is showed Himself to His Emissaries (Apostles) for 40 days, then told them that in a few more days they would receive the Promise of the Ruach haKadosh (Holy Spirit).

So, what day did they receive the immersion of the Ruach (Spirit) on?

On the day Christianity calls Pentecost, but what is more accurately called Shavuot, which is the appointed time ordained in Torah to be observed on the 50th day after the First Fruits (Bikurim) Offering. The 50th day after Ye ascended to the Father following His resurrection as the First Fruit (Bikur) to the Father of those raised from the dead. V'yikra (Leviticus) 23:9-22; I Corinthians 15:20-23.

So one must ask then, if the "Law" was done away, then why were the Emissa blessing them with the immersion (baptism) of the Ruach haKadosh (Holy Spirit) on this day that was supposedly done away if the Torah, the so called "Law", was done away?

Now that we know taught, and about what He commanded His Emissaries to teach and do, and about what they were commissioned to take to the people of the nations, let’s see who the Emissary Shaul was, and see what his beliefs and teachings were.

In Galatians 2:7-9 it states that the Emissary Shaul was the Emissary to the uncircumcised among the nations, and Kepha (the Apostle Peter) was the Emissary to the circumcised among the nations.

So, Shaul was the Representative to the nations. To the uncircumcised Israelites who had been dispersed among the nations. To graft them back into the natural olive tree and restore them to the promises given to Israel through Avraham; Romans 11.

And also to the non-Israelite, non-Jewish people of the nations interested in serving the God of Avraham, Yitz‘chak (Isaac) and Ya'aqob (Jacob), to call them out and graft them into the common wealth of Israel, and cause them to share equal inheritance in the promises given to Israel through Avraham, and the Avrahamic Covenant, Galatians 4:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-13,19; Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 47:21-23.

So who was Shaul, this Emissary to the Gentiles, to the nations?

The Scriptures say that he was an Israelite, of the lineage of Avraham, of the Tribe of Benyamin.

That he was circumcised the 8th day as required by the covenant made with Avraham, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, and concerning the righteousness which comes from the Torah (the "Law"), blameless.

A Jew, raised in Jerusalem and a Talmid (Disciple) of the famous Gamaliel, receiving the highest education in Torah that Israeli society had to offer at the time.

In fact, to be taught Torah by Gamaliel required memorization of the Torah, of the first five books of the Bible, by age 20.

So Shaul, this representative to the nations, to "the Gentiles", was a Pharisee, circumcised on the 8th day, fully Jewish, fully Hebrew, fully educated in Torah, and utterly blameless concerning His commitment to Torah.

So what did Shaul do as an Representative to the nations?

In Ma'aseh (Acts) 16 it says he had Timothy, who was a foreigner, a "Gentile", circumcised.

In Ma'aseh (Acts) 18:21, 20:6, and 20:16 it is written that he celebrated the Feasts of Yahuweh.

And in I Corinthians 5:6-8 that he encouraged the believers in Corinth (about 1,000 miles from Jerusalem), who were non-Jews, non-Israelites, to keep the Feasts of Pesach (Passover) and Hag Matzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread).

It also states in Ma'aseh (Acts), Chapters 8 and 21 that he twice took a Nazarite vow (the only vow of which requires the shaving of the head, an animal sacrifice, and payment of money to the Temple treasury as part of its prescription).

This instance in Ma'aseh (Acts) 21 was, likewise, for the primary purpose of proving to Jewish believers in Messiah, who were zealous for the Torah (the Law), that he himself, likewise, did not walk contrary to the Torah, but upheld it even as they.

Additionally, in Ma'aseh (Acts) 24:17, it is written that he went up to offer sacrifices on behalf of his nation.

And in Ma'aseh (Acts) Chapter 17 and 18 it says that it was his custom to go to the synagogues every Sabbath, and was the long awaited Messiah.

You see, the religious leaders of the Faith at the time knew from the writings of Daniel, that from the time the decree went out to rebuild Jerusalem, to the time Messiah arrived on the scene, would be precisely 69 weeks of years (69 heptads), or 483 years.

This would place His arrival at 29 CE, and the majority of leaders and of the people of the Faith were looking for Him, and expecting His arrival, in order to deliver them from Roman rule.

Shaul simply went around and announced in the synagogues this long awaited "Good News" o was that long awaited Messiah, and that He didn’t come as the ruling King as the main stream at the time were hoping for, but as the suffering servant to pay for our sins. Read the Book entitled, "What the Rabbis Know about Messiah" by Rachmiel Frydland for more on this topic.

Likewise, you can read the Book of Ma'aseh (Acts) from beginning to end and not one time find Shaul entering a synagogue to teach that the Law of Torah was done away; a teaching of which would be totally contradictory to his lifestyle.

But over and over again Shaul upholds the Torah, declares tha.

That is, Shaul taught the Torah of Yahuweh and the Testimony of Yeshua.

He was of those who obey the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Yeshua Yesh'yahu (Isaiah) 8:20; Revelation 12:17; 14:12.

In Ma'aseh (Acts) 24 when a certain sect of Jews accused Shaul before Governor Felix, Shaul responded in verse 24:21 that it was concerning the resurrection of the dead that they were opposing and accusing him, and in Ma'aseh (Acts) 25:8 Shaul plainly states in his own defense that he had done nothing against the Torah (against God’s "Law"), against the Temple, or even against Caesar.

So now that we know Emissary Shaul’s educational background, upbringin as the Messiah. And besides circumcision in some situations, as like with Timothy who was a Greek, Ma'aseh (Acts) 16:3; but not with others, like as with Titus, who was also a Greek .

In Ma'aseh (Acts) 20:21 Shaul’s message, in summary, was to testify to the Jews and to the Greeks - repentance towards God and faith in the Messiah Yeshua.

Repentance and faith, obedience and faith, the Torah and the Testimony, Yesh'yahu (Isaiah) 8:16-20; Rev. 12:17 & Rev. 14:12; this was the teaching of the Emissary Shaul to both the Israelites and to the foreigners among the nations.

Is there anything Emissary Shaul taught about the Torah (the Law) directly, and in clearly understood terms?

Yes. In Romans 7:12 he states that the Torah is holy, and that the Commandments are holy, and just, and good.

Now, what believer in their right mind is going to speak against something just, or teach that something just, and holy, and good has been down away?

Let’s say that you, as an American, believe that the Constitution of the United States is just and good, and some foreigner comes up to you and says the US Constitution has been done away, that you are no longer under the law of the US Constitution, but under grace.

You are going to look at the person like they are lunatic. It would be such an absurd statement to make. But yet people say this about the Torah (about God’s "Law") continuously, the law of which is the Constitution of Yahuweh's Kingdom, and, of the entire universe.

Now let’s say a foreigner came up to you and said, I’m not under your constitution. American law is forbidden in our country.

Does that mean he is not under law in his country? No.

Does that mean that if he visits America, that he does not have to abide by American, constitutionally based, law while he is here? No.

Does that mean that if he wants to become an American citizen that he will not be bound to our constitution and laws upon obtaining citizenship? No.

Does that mean that the law he is under in his country is better than American law? No.

Does that mean that the American law is bad, or something that someone would not desire to be under? No.

In fact, when you get right down to it, American law, when in harmony with the US Constitution, is the most fair, most righteous, most blessed law on this earth apart from the Torah (from God‘s Law), when in line with the Constitution.

And the only law greater than the US Constitution is the Constitution of God’s "Law" contained in the Torah, the Prophets, and in the Writings of your Bible.

And these analogies are parallel with Yahuweh’s "Law", with Torah.

You may be a foreigner to the Commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger to the Promises given to Avraham, just like a Russian can be a foreigner to the Commonwealth of America and the promises granted by the US Constitution. But wouldn’t you rather be under the greater law, and under the greater promises?

And I tell you, in the spiritual realm, you are either under the Torah (under God’s "Law") or under the Accuser's (S-tans) law. Who’s law do you want to be under?

The Emissary Shaul calls God’s "Law" just and good and holy, Romans 7:12. Ya'aqob (James) calls it the Law of Liberty, Ya'aqob (James) 1:25, like Americans consider the US Constitution the law of liberty.

The Emissary Shaul also calls the Torah spiritual, Romans 7:14; and states that it is only the sinful mind that opposes it, Romans 8:6-8.

And in I Yahuchanan (I John) 3:9, it is written that those who are sons of Yahuweh (sons of God), that is, who are conceived of the Ruach haKadosh (of the Holy Spirit), do not continue to violate His Torah (His "Law").

It is interesting to note that despite all this evidence, that people, even in Shaul's day, in Romans 3:8 also accused him of teaching people to do evil that good may come; because people to this very day teach this very same doctrine in the Shaul's anglecized name, Paul.

Teaching people to break, resist, oppose, and to even do away with the Torah (with God’s Law) so that’s God’s good grace may abound to them.

But what was Emissary Shaul’s response to this doctrine and accusation?

He called it slanderous and declared that the condemnation of those who teach such slanderous doctrine is justified.

Shaul states in I Corinthians 6:9,10

6:9 Don’t you know that those who do unrighteousness will not inherit the Kingdom of Yahuweh? Neither they who prostitute themselves, or those who worship idols, or those who commit adultery, or feminized males, or homosexuals,

6:10 nor those who steal or lust after other people’s possessions, nor people who party or are drunkards, or those who speak evil of those who are good, nor those who commit extortion, will inherit the Kingdom of God.

He repeats this same message to the Galatians in Galatians 5:19-21 and to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:3-7 as well as to the Colossians in Colossians 3:5-10 and to the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 4:18, all predominantly "Gentile" assemblies.

And what do these commandments in this message of warning and rebuke to them come out of? They come out of the Torah, out of the "Law" that was allegedly done away.

The Emissary Shaul clearly did not teach that the "Law" defining right and wrong, and defining the standards and expectations of Yahuweh concerning His people, as done away.

Shaul just got through telling the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and the Thessalonians that if they continued to sin, that is, if they continued to violate the Torah, God’s "Law", that they would NOT inherit the Kingdom of Yahuweh, and that the wrath of God would be upon them.

He went to the synagogues every Shabbat (Sabbath), Ma'aseh (Acts) 17:2,18:4 (I find it interesting that the Emissary to the nations went to synagogue every Shabbat to reach the "Gentiles").

He kept the appointed times of Scripture, Ma'aseh (Acts) 18:21, 20:6,16 as the other Emissaries also did; Ma'aseh (Acts) 2:1.

And as stated earlier, He had Timothy, who was a Greek, circumcised, Ma'aseh (Acts) 16:1-3; and he did this, right after the council in Ma'aseh (Acts) 15, that determined that foreigners coming into the fold through Yeshua need not be circumcised.

He took Nazarite vows on at least two occasions, Ma'aseh (Acts) 18:18; 21:17-23, the vows of which require the sacrifice of an animal; B‘midbar (Numbers) chapter 6. And he went up to Jerusalem at least once to offer up sacrifices on behalf of his nation; Ma'aseh (Acts) 24:17,18 in connection with one of these vows (the Ma'aseh (Acts) 21:17-23 vow).

He taught that the "Law" is just and good and holy, Romans 7:12; that the "Law" is spiritual, Romans 7:14; and that it is only the sinful mind that is opposed to it, Romans 8:6,7 not the spiritual mind, Romans 8:5-9.

And in Romans 6:12 that the grace of Yahuweh is not a license to continue violating His Torah; and in Romans 3:8 that those who teach such slanderous doctrine are condemned, and justly so.

These are the teachings of the Emissary Shaul, the Representative of the Jewish Faith to the nations. Yet, despite all this, people continue to declare and teach continuously, and ignorantly, that Shaul taught the "Law" as done away, contrary to his own teachings, practices, and lifestyle; and contrary to Yeshua's own words that not even the smallest stroke of a pen would pass from the Torah until heaven and earth pass away.

, he did not come to do away with the Torah, but to bring it out in fullness.

So, you say we are saved by grace, not by works; and justified by faith in Yes, not by works of the "Law". That we are not under the "Law" but under grace. AND SO WE ARE!! Our people have known this from the beginning, because it is the very "Law" that people say is done away that teaches us about grace and salvation.

And now that we know what these things do not mean, and we know what the Emissary Shaul was not teaching, let’s return to Galatians and continue our investigation apart from all the theological biases of religion that were beaten into people's heads all their lives, and see what the Scriptures, Messiah Yeshua, and the Emissary Shaul are really teaching.

Let’s begin with Galatians 2:11-15.

Now,

2:11 when Kepha (Peter) had come to Antioch, I confronted him face to face, because he had conducted himself in error.

2:12 for before certain men came from Ya’aqob (James), he would eat [in table fellowship] with the people of the nations; but when these men from Ya’aqob (James) arrived, Kepha (Peter) withdrew and separated himself, being alarmed by those of the Circumcision persuasion. [the Ma'aseh (Acts) 15:1,2 sect].

2:13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Kepha (Peter) before them all, If you being a Judean, live as a person of the nations, and not in a manner resembling a Judean, how can you compel the people of the nations to become Judeans?

To understand this confusing and easily misunderstood statement I will provide some Hebrew background information.

Prior to Yeshua’s coming, our people received atonement and remission of sin through the offering of animal sacrifices. And in order for a Gentile to be able to partake in these sacrifices for the remission of their sin, they had to convert to the Judean (Jewish) Faith; and in order to convert they first had to be circumcised.

But now after Yeshua’s coming, the traditionalists, referred to in Scripture as "the Circumcision", even though they believed in Yeshua as the Messiah, argued that even as circumcision was required of a foreigner before they could enter into the Avrahamic covenant to partake in the Temple sacrifices, even so, these believers from among the nations also needed to become circumcised before partaking in Yeshua’s sacrifice.

This debate over circumcision, likewise, was not about 8th day circumcision which is a requirement of the Avrahamic Covenant incumbent upon the parents to perform upon their 8 day old male infants; but was about the circumcision, developed through oral tradition, that had been required to take place (prior to Yeshua's Ministry) before a "convert" could partake in the Temple sacrifices for the remission of their sin.

Now in this passage we see Kepha (Peter), [who was a Jewish man and Emissary of the Jewish Messiah, and who was to set an example to the people of the nations of the proper way to walk], himself, walking out of step with the proper example, the proper halacha (the proper way to walk).

And in light of the vision given to him in Ma'aseh (Acts) 10 & 11, Kepha (Peter) should have known better than to fear fellowship with the uncircumcised who were coming out of the nations to Torah through faith in Yeshua, rather than through the traditional way that "the Circumcision" was defending.

But instead of being confident about his fellowship with t

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