This is the ninth article in the “New Life” series written to address the needs of those seeking or those new to their faith in Jesus. This series may also be helpful to anyone who suspects that something is missing from their faith walk. Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash.

In last week’s article entitled “Our Hidden Past Revealed,” we learned that we had inherited lies resulting from the split between the Gentiles and the Jews.  Gentile leaders were not content to merely go their own way.  They began an “anti-Jewish” campaign that is still in effect to this day. I personally have encountered numerous Christians who hold Jews in contempt and want nothing to do with them because they are “Christ killers”.

After the split, followers of Jesus were no longer allowed to keep the Sabbath or other appointed times outlined in Leviticus 23. If caught, they could be put to death. Followers of Jesus were forced to break the dietary laws that God had established. These things were forbidden because they were considered “Jewish.”  Never mind that the very God they were professing to worship had established the laws permanently.  Thus began the heretical teaching that the law of God was defective or no longer valid. This stems primarily from a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of some New Testament passages, such as Hebrews 8:13. Others will cite Matthew 5:17 and declare that Jesus Himself said the law is now ended.  Apparently, those who teach such nonsense failed to continue to read even the next two verses. 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-19).

Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? By no means! Instead, we uphold the Law (Romans 3:31).

If you read chapters 5 through 7 in Matthew, you will notice that Jesus repeats some of the law and extends our accountability each time.  For example, not only is murder a sin, but so is being angry or even calling others insulting names.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:21-22).

Pagan practices of the Gentiles were introduced to replace the now-forbidden appointed times. Followers of Jesus were now to worship on Sunday (the day of the sun god).  In pagan religions there are many gods, but the chief god is the sun god.  Christmas and Easter now replace the seven feasts.  The only exception is what is now called Pentecost, which was originally known as the Feast of Weeks. Followers of Jesus were required to keep a pagan solar calendar rather than the Biblical calendar, which was based on lunar cycles, so Pentecost rarely falls on the same day as the Feast of Weeks. Sam Nadler’s book, Messiah in the Feasts of Israel, shows how the feasts or appointed times established by God help us better understand His Son and what He has done and is doing for us.

Many of the leaders, now known as “church fathers,” wrote articles condemning all Jews, even the Jewish followers of Jesus. The Jews were called “Christ killers,” a term that is still around today among those claiming to follow Jesus.  In truth, the Jewish leaders were forbidden by the Romans to put anyone to death. The Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to the Romans to be crucified.  We are all responsible for His death because He paid our sin debt.  If Jesus had not paid our debt, all of us, Jews or Gentiles, would be lost forever and without hope.

 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”^[a] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27).

May I never join in their meetings; may I never be a party to their plans. For in their anger they murdered men, and they crippled oxen just for sport (Genesis 49:6).

Passages in the New Testament were misinterpreted or even changed to accommodate the false teachings. In recent years, other manuscripts have been discovered.  We now know that much or all of the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew, not in Greek.  There is now evidence of changes in the Gospel of John and in some of Paul’s letters that clearly show the attempts to “support” the false teachings.

The church fathers (John Chrysostom, Tertullian, Origen, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, Ignatius of Antioch, Origen of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lyons, Augustine of Hippo, and many others) wrote about their hatred of the Jews.  They spread many lies, including the heresy that Gentile followers of Jesus have now replaced the Jews and inherited God’s promises and blessings to Israel.  This clearly opposes what God has said in the Bible about Israel and the Jews. God’s promises do not change or fail. Michael L. Brown’s book, Our Hands are Stained with Blood shows how Christians’ hatred of Jews has continued through the centuries.

Another heresy is that the Old Testament is no longer valid and that those who follow God’s laws are “under the law”.  The term “under the law” is misunderstood.  It is a Hebrew idiom that means that a person has violated God’s law and is now subject to punishment.  It does not mean that the law is no longer valid.  In fact, those who teach that we should not follow God’s law are themselves very much “under the law.”

There is also the heresy that Jesus came to create a new religion.  In the first place, God hates religion. Instead, God desires to have a relationship with us. Religion is a man-made system to worship God or false gods on our terms. God is our Creator, King, and Judge, and He determines how we will worship Him. God wants to walk and converse with us, but only on His terms. When we choose to worship on our own terms, we fall into one of Satan’s many traps.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:23-26).

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

 Praise God that people are awakening to the truth about their origins as followers of Jesus!  There are many books and articles written on this subject that tell the true history.  A book that we and many others have found helpful is The Messianic Church Arising!: Restoring the Church to Our Covenant Rootsby Robert D. Heidler. There are many YouTube videos on this subject, but a word of caution.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your selection and to help you discern the truth.  Even with all the troubles in the world, we are living in a glorious age of restoration.  God continues to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.