Law | Holy Bible Prophecy

The Hebrew Roots Movement Exposed

June 13, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

The Judaizing false gospel is becoming more and more prevalent within Christendom today. We see many groups emphasizing Sabbath, Jewish feasts, dietary restrictions, tassels, circumcision and other ceremonial elements of the Law of Moses as well as the “sacred name” of Yeshua (Jesus). Many Messianic and Hebrew Roots groups are falling into the blatant error which the New Testament describes as another gospel. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using the name “Yeshua” or keeping Sabbaths or Jewish feasts, the New Covenant makes it abundantly clear that these are not obligatory for Christians who obey Jesus. See my article on The Sabbath. We read in the NT:

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. (Acts 15:5-24)

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16,17)

Below is a preaching series which exposes many of these errors. While the preacher makes some lighthearted remarks and unnecessary tangents, the presentation is an overall helpful expose of what the Bible teaches on this topic.

Filed Under: Hebrew Roots, Israel, Jews, Law, New Covenant, Sabbath, Sacred Name, Zionism

“Good Works” vs. “Dead Works”

May 28, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

by Alan Martin

“Good works” vs. “works of the Law”. We must not confuse the importance of maintaining good works with the equally vital truth that we are not to pursue a righteousness based upon “works of the Law”. Consider Paul’s very strong exhortation to Titus – “This is a faithful word and concerning these things I desire you to strongly affirm, in order that those who have believed in God should maintain good works.”

“Maintain” here is a word meaning – “to practice as a profession.” These good works that we are to practice are not “works of the law”, but acts of compassion that flow out of faith working through love – especially “the love of the brethren.” Paul reaffirmed the urgency of maintaining good works as he closed his letter to Titus – “And let our people learn to practice as a profession (maintain) good works unto urgent needs.” Since Paul urged that all believers be taught to maintain good works, we must not allow misguided men take away from this urgency by confusing good works of faith with “dead works of the Law.”

Paul taught that Jesus came to redeem us from all lawlessness – and to purify to Himself a people zealous of good works. In light of this truth, never let men negate the importance of maintaining good works. These good works have nothing to do with “works of the Law”, they are “works of faith” that flow out of brotherly love. We are not saved “BY” maintaining good works, but we are saved “TO” practice them as a profession!

Maintaining the good works of meeting the urgent needs of our brethren is “a trustworthy saying” that Titus and the rest of us are to take thought to strongly affirm. May we become just as zealous for maintaining good works as Paul urged Titus to make those saints under his care!

Filed Under: Faith, Law, Love, Works

Pure Grace or Hyper-Grace?

April 30, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

A Review of Pure Grace by Clark Whitten

The most important criticism of of Clark Whitten’s book Pure Grace is that it cripples the Christian so that they cannot walk in righteousness. While there is much emphasis on God’s grace in justification and the “imputed righteousness” of Christ being counted to the believer, the book seriously twists and neglects the subsequent sanctification of Christians who actually practice righteousness when God regenerates them. Apart from this sanctification and regeneration, there can be no final justification and salvation.

Whitten’s book exchanges biblical grace for hyper-grace and turns biblical obedience into legalism. Whitten uses the word “law” very generally by taking New Testament verses about the Mosaic Law and applying it to any form of obedience or moral law. Whitten says,

“Can we agree that Christians are not under the law? . . . A gospel of law-keeping is no gospel at all. There simply is no “good news” associated with a life lived under the law. That is true before salvation and even more applicable after one is saved.” (Clark Whitten, Pure Grace (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2012), 59-60)

In context, there is no indication that Whitten has the Law of Moses in mind when he says “under the law” as Paul did when he said “under the law.” It’s easy to see how Christians who take the commandments of Christ seriously will be accused of being legalistic according to Whitten’s misuse of “law.” It is true that Christians are not under the Law of Moses. Certainly Paul rebuked what he called “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6) which caused the Galatians to “fall from grace” (Galatians 5:4). But this other Gospel was not obedience to Christ; it was seeking to be justified by observing the Law of Moses.

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