Ordinances... Dogmas... Decrees... Emnity

[visionary]

The word “ordinance” or as some people are more familiar with the Greek word “dogma”, which is a man-made decree, trips up a lot of people. The Jewish Sanhedrin decreed that there should be a wall around the outer court which prevented the Gentiles from being allowed to come near the temple. Their attitude was that Gentiles can come so close but no closer.

Peter was raised to believe this until the Lord opened his eyes on the subject. Then Peter said..

Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

This attitude of superiority in being God's chosen still permeates the Jews. God also opened the eyes of those who were with Peter that day. The wall came down and Peter shared the truth with the gentiles.

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all

These people were obviously following what was and had been happening in Jerusalem or else how would they know about John.

Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Then Peter brings then up to date.

Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

What happens next astounds the circumcized Jewish believers who were with Peter but never got the heads up about the wall "emnity against us" has come down. This decree/ordinance/dogma that keep the Gentiles out of the faith.

Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

But this was “against us” that Peter and Paul was dealing with. God never commanded this in his temple nor in the lives of those who believe in Him. We are to be one people, under "one law", having the faith of the saints, in keeping the commandments of God and having faith in Yeshua. This was a man-made decree (ordinance) and this was brought on by the “enmity” (hatred) between Jews and Gentiles. That is what God destroyed on the cross, the “enmity,” which is not in the commandments that He wrote with His very own finger.

The sinful, prideful nature of man, there was “enmity” between Gentile and Jew when it comes to the truth. This enmity was like an invisible “wall” in the spirit which separated us, but we are now able to become “one new man” corporately as one body through Messiah. Paul described this “enmity” as being the “middle wall of partition” between us. But there was also a “literal wall” that was built under rabbinic ordinances that kept the Gentiles from being allowed to “come near” to the Temple of God. Paul saw the wall at the temple of Jerusalem was also the spiritual wall that separated God's people into two groups. Those who are on the inside, and those who are on the outside.

We are in the last generation and more than any other generation should finally be one people under God. We should have left spiritual Egypt by now, already gone through the wilderness of sin to come to Mount Zion and received His Kingdom of truth and grace and now are heading to the Promised land, not as a mixed multitude but as God's law abiding people.

 

[visionary]

Our Messiah is Yeshua, God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1 1 John 4:3), it was He who wrote the Torah with his very own finger into stone tablets, and then they were transferred under the Renewed Covenant from Stone into “fleshy tables of the heart.”

2 Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Messiah ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Hebrews)8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says God; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them their Creator and Redeemer, and they shall be to me a people .....10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says God, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 

[pinacled]

Our Messiah is Yeshua, God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1 1 John 4:3), it was He who wrote the Torah with his very own finger into stone tablets, and then they were transferred under the Renewed Covenant from Stone into “fleshy tables of the heart.”

Matthew 3
for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.