The new commandment of Jesus

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you. (John 13:34)

Honestly, it’s not that quite new. Hillel’s Golden Rule was known before, if the story really did happen. A fact is that is was commonly known that this rule was the most important according to human behavior.  It was the second part of the Great Commandment.

When John in his letters spoke of the brotherly love and the love of God etc. and when he spoke explicitly about the new commandment, he obviously had this “great commandment” in mind. Looking to the rule of Hillel it’s the core of all the commandments together. It was a one-word description of the whole Torah.

Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. (1John 2:7)

It fits perfectly in the rule of Hillel when it is told to gentiles. This is the first thing they have to do. A gentile who was about to come to a complete new environment of Jewish practices, was positively welcomed by Hillel and stimulated to “go and learn”.  Here a gentile was welcomed to learn Torah.

There was a New Commandment, a new entry for the gentile people. Jesus advocated this. And to add some practical laws to it, the apostles also gave the Seven Laws of Noah (or at least some rules based upon that) by the apostolic convent. (Acts 15) They clearly make a distinctive reduced set of rules for gentiles who joined the people of Israel. But the Great Commandment applies to all mankind and has all the other rules in it as it were.

Now, since the Messiah Jesus from God and the Holy Spirit, applies that great and so special love from heaven into the very heart of his people, by this love we are about to live as we first were dead. This pure love answers the commandment of love exceedingly perfect.

John also taught the rule of Hillel in his own version:

Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now. He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1John 2:8-11)

Contribute to the name of this blog

I read following article and it reminded me that the importance of works was the reason to name this blog Faithbased works and that faith works. The first stressed men’s works,  the latter the power of the Spirit what drives on to do good works.

With a protestant background I’m thought that we need to be led by the Holy Spirit. As a result of the Pauline instructions that we do not gain salvation through works and the Roman Catholic abuse of doing works, works are often completely faded away and put in a bad light. On top of  that it also was very destructive for the view on judaism which emphasizes works.

In my church community we are in need of emphasizing works.

And what works do count? Not the works  you do as slavery, following your desires. Not that great buildings and other works you do. But the works of good deeds, choosing the good. Maybe it’s a little. But that counts.

Following article is based on some verses of the book Revelation only. But there are far more texts in the New Testament which arguing for doing good works. Read only the letter of Jacob. Or check what Jesus said in Math.5.

For now just the article:

 Revelation 20:12-13

(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

  Revelation 9:20

(20) But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.

  Revelation 14:13

(13) Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessedare the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

  Revelation 18:6

(6) Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
New King James Version

Works are very important to the book of Revelation—seven times in chapters 2 and 3, and four or five other times in the rest of the book. Christ’s concern is that His people are working.

The main purpose of the book of Revelation is not merely to give us insight into what is coming. It is also to convince the Christian that his loyalty, his devotion, his steadfastness, his suffering, and perhaps even martyrdom, is not in vain—that he is assured of a wonderful future. The reason for the stress on works is that character is not formed merely by knowing something but by knowledge combined with putting it to work until it becomes a habit. Over time, habit becomes character, and character follows the person right through the grave!

If we are not working, emphasizing loyalty to the Person of God and to His way, making every effort to overcome Satan, the world, and the self-centeredness within us, resisting with all of our being the temptations to do what is natural, carnal—if we are not expending our energy, and spending our time working out our own salvation with fear and trembling—it is very likely, then, that we are not going to have the character necessary to go through the grave. The wrong works will follow us, and we will not be prepared for the Kingdom of God.

Thus, what a person has done, that is, what he has worked on in this lifetime, follows him through the grave—either into the Lake of Fire or the Kingdom of God.

The book is designed to focus attention on what is of greatest concern to Christ for His people. He wants to ensure that they do not give up or become weary due to the great pressure of the times, and that they instead endure, persevere, and be loyal and steadfast to the very end.

His concern at this time is not preaching the gospel as a witness, but the salvation and continued growth of those He already has. The quality of the witness is directly tied to the quality of those making the witness. What good is it to have this wonderful, awesome message—the gospel of the Kingdom of God—carried by those who are poor examples of what it says? Christ’s first priority is to ensure the spiritual quality of those who make the witness, and then the quality of the witness is ensured. We cannot let the cart get ahead of the horse. The one naturally follows the other. First things first.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

The 7 noachides: fair enough

This is not only the meaning of contemporary rabbinical Judaism but also of the disciples of the Notsri Rabbi Yeshua ben Joseph, according to rabbi Jacob Emden(1697-1776) son of chacham Tzvi. The gentiles are not bound to the Torah.

Since I read this blogpost recently which shared an article of rabbi Jacob Emden, I more and more came to realize that this little saying of this rabbi can be a key for me to understand the distinction of the unique position of the Jews with respect to the Gentiles. Not all is clear for me, but that there is a difference between Jew and gentile is pretty clear. Not in terms of Grace, but in other terms.

When it comes to replacement theology many church-people would say that it has been an error, and now with just recognising Israel as something special, as “the chosen ones with the promise of conversion to Christianity”, we can go on and everything is fine. Just a reconciliation of their own faith and recent Jewish history.

But what the unique position of Israel implies to Christianity is much more than many church-people could think about. The fact is that we remain gentiles, not Jews. You can say that we are “grafted in”, and yes its true (I never can deny that because my heart agrees with it) but we are not become Jews. The apostle Paul recognized the Jewish people clearly as a different people in his letter to the Romans. The difference will end in a broad repentance of the Jewish people, the chosen ones with the benefits they have, and a great glory will begin when this beloved people will come to their God. In the Messianic era, times will change. Then we would not say Christianity or Judaism, we would say One God. (Zach.14:9) But until then Jews are separated and kept under their covenant.

Christians (a few amongst the broader common who are true and faithful) have a share in that covenant. There’s one covenant above everything and that is the so called covenant of grace. And those who have a share in it can only have it through the Messiah Jesus, as a part of the Jewish people. Becoming a part of that will mean a dying life. Dying because you are a part of Him, the despised Messiah, he who is rejected until now. You’ll share the same. Only through dead you’ll become righteous. The kingdom is not now, but after resurrection. Now we are all defiled, no man is perfect. Nice churches and great buildings have nothing to do with real Christians. No, Judgement begins at the house of God (1Pet.4:17) and Many are called but few chosen. (Matthew20:16 and 22:14) So in fact true Christians are hard to find, the majority of the Christians make not a good picture of it. It’s hard to understand but in the church are the most anti-christian powers active. That’s why it is so difficult for orthodox Jews to get the right picture of it.

A share in this grace and this new life and ultimately in the world to come, will be the same for the faithful Jew and Christian. However there’s a difference in the way they have to go and the purpose they have. The Jew has a unique covenant and halacha in which role they serve also as a keeper of the Torah, a shomer Torah. (Rom.3:2) And as gentiles: From the Jews we learn Torah, from them we have the Messiah, from them we have grace.

As we enter that share in Torah, grace and salvation, we have a share in their benefits as there are the adoption to be a child of God, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Torah, and the service of God, and the promises. (Rom.9:4) But it is never said (by Jesus and the apostles) that the gentiles are obligated to keep the 613 commandments and the authorised halacha of rabbinical Judaism. Even the 10 commandments are not obligated. The disciples only began to say to keep the 7 Noachide commandments. (Acts15)

But a very special result of entering the covenant of grace is that we have got a new will and a new desire to serve the God of Israel. Then it comes to happen that a person wants to keep the law fully. Through the law he sees that he violated His goodness which he regrets. In order to get saved from the wrath of God he is going to obey the laws with a great love in his heart to do this. He is convinced by his own heart whether something is good or not. (Rom.14) But the underlying law comes always from the bible, the very word of God, which speaks to the heart. This is the voice and commandment of the Messiah. Which the called and chosen gentile heartily will obey.

How far can we serve God? So far as we know Him and His commandments. If we want to serve God and we want to get His kingdom on earth, how recommendable is it to “assist the Jews in the observance of their Torah” as Jacob Emden said. If they really come to the Torah of God they’ll come to their Messiah too, or better to say the Messiah will come to them. And to us.

One Law theology – a review

As I have been involved in the Messianic Movement for several years mostly by reading blogs and chatting online, I’m now a bit familiar with the thoughts and the developments within the movement of the last decades and last years. For me as a Dutch person raised in  a tradition of reformed theology, the appearing Messianic community looks a bit confusing especially in the Netherlands. The only reliable represents for me were Da Costa and Capadose. Recent persons doesn’t make that sense. But now with a more international approach my view is much broader.

I think the recent Jew/Gentile matter is caused by the re-owning of the land of Israel as a fulfillment of the biblical prophecy and the reconsidering of the Jews as a covenant people. The consequence is: There are Jews in God’s plan and they differ from the (supposed) common true Christian Church/Ecclesia.

Afterwards interesting matters arise about the Law. Supported by new and good scholarly views on the historical Jesus and Paul in its proper context, new challenges arise to match the Torah of the Jews with the Law of the Christians.

One part amongst the the Messianics is the One Law theology movement. It shortly means one law for Jew and Gentile.

On the other hand there’s a dispensation theology just between Jew and Gentile which means the Torah applies to the Jew only, but the gentile Christians has an invitation to it, not an obligation. I can’t agree with the Torah for the Jews only. I think the Torah is for each and everyone. I firmly believe there’s one law for all. However there’s a difficulty to understand the Torah. How do we handle and interpret the Torah, that’s the question.

The Torah is a revelation and guidance from God. It’s a relationship between God and men. Another revelation is the Messiah Jeshua. It all depends on how we see this. Is this the Divine Logos? The last word, the perfect Torah? This second revelation completes it all with the claim that he is the Messiah.

It’s all about that claim: His Messiah-ship. Only that has authority to change things. That’s why Jews can’t see him as a mere prophet according to Deuteronomy 13, because he changed the practice of Torah. That’s why the elders and the scribes persecuted him because he said that the temple will be destroyed and the moral laws will be changed. (e.g. Acts6:14) They didn’t accept his Messiah-ship.

So, when you don’t accept his Messiah-ship you are obligated to fulfill the whole Torah as it is written. On the other hand when you accept his Messiah-ship you can walk in Messianic times. A halacha in the Messianic era. In that Messianic era the temple is build up with the Messiah in heaven. So a lot of Torah rules depending on the existence of the temple are changed. At least changed in practice. Now we don’t have to slaughter thousands of bulls and lambs anymore in order to forgive sins.

These Messianic times are yet began since Jesus’ crucifixion. But I also could call it pre-Messianic times meant for gentiles. For the common conversion of the Jews we are still waiting. After, or with that conversion the so longed kingdom of the Messiah would appear on earth. And who will enter that kingdom, that land? “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (ps.37:11) The people who received the Torah and the promise didn’t enter the land. God provided something better for them. (Hebr.11:40)

Most important is to get saved in the Messiah. Then you enter the covenant and the real Torah which all is summarized in one word: Love. It’s deeply expressed in following question and answer of our catechism (of Heidelberg): “What is thy only comfort in life and death? That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.” (more)

They will get the promise and enter the land. When the Messiah comes. At that time we will see.

Who is a Jew?

This question raises many problems amongst the Jews and the Israeli government. And it’s not surprising. The question is as old as the people of Israel. Of course there are rules in the Torah, but even that doesn’t make the ultimate sense.

The question is by which authority are we declared to be Jews? Real Jews? Jews circumcised by heart? Which Authority makes His people to be the elected ones? Who is adopted in that community?

It doesn’t belong to a certain land or to certain tradition. They are all around the world. Scattered to the end of civilization and beyond. But one people at the same time. What makes one to be a Jew? That’s a great question. It’s even seen in my own local Christian reformed church. Who belongs to the covenant?

Paul put it before our eyes: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise [1] is not of men, but of God. (Rom.2:29) And once a time, may it be near, everyone should agree about this statement. And no other authority should cooperate in this matter anymore.

Chief Sephardic Rabbi: Bolt Coalition if Conversion Law Fails

[1] The word Jew derives from the word Judah, which means one who praises God.

The Messianic age and eating pig

I read a book about the life of the Jewish Fridericus Ragstat a Weille (1648-1729). When it cames to the difficulties when he was going to become a Christian, he took some encouragement from what he said a text from some rabbinical scripture which states that in the days of the Messiah it would be even allowed to eat pork.

The writer of the book gives this reference: jalkoet chadasch,fol.182, pag.2-36. (pronounced in Dutch) I’ve looked a bit around with Google and didn’t find the resource. However I have found this: “Jalkut Kodosh” (later cited “Jalkut Kadash” and “Talkut Kadash”): Yalqut Khadash, a seventeenth-century anthology of Kabbalistic material. I don’t know if this is right hint.

I would like to read this reference to be sure of this. Maybe someone of my readers does know something about it. Where can I find/read these texts?