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πολιτειαν : Citizenship for the grafted in?

Paul was being stretched out on the rack as the centurion in charge prepared to interrogate him by flogging.

Scourging Whip 1Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship (πολιτειαν).”

800px-Bronce_de_Ascoli“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

While the NIV takes a few liberties in translating this passage (the word for ‘citizen’ only appears once in this Greek text), it starkly illustrates the importance of citizenship and the differences between ‘natural born’ versus ‘purchased/adopted’ citizenship. Continue reading “πολιτειαν : Citizenship for the grafted in?”

“I’m a good Christian and so am I” -Daniel Botkin

While preparing for next week’s conference, I was planning which speakers and topics I want to attend.  Daniel Botkin is a name I’ve heard a number of times, but am not really familiar with, so I thought I’d do a little research.  Turns out, besides being a gifted teacher and long-time Messianic Jew, he is also an artist.  In cruising some of his work, I found this little gem that harkens back so some of our posts about Mr. “Golden Mouth.”

I'm a Good Christian

Botkin brilliantly captures the absurdities that came from the mouth of this ‘hero’ among the ‘church fathers.’  Following is the desription of this painting in Botkin’s own words explaining the text on the scrolls as well as the Hebrew around the perimeter: Continue reading ““I’m a good Christian and so am I” -Daniel Botkin”

REVIVE2014 Hebraic Roots Conference

The annual Revive conference is next weekend.  This will be the first I have been able to attend…  Can’t wait!!

If any of my friends on here are planning to attend, please hunt me down.  Would love to meet and talk!!  My wife and I will be staying in the host hotel!!

If you haven’t made plans, there is still time!  Here is the schedule for the weekend and other details!!

‘Cheapening’ Jewish identity?? Oh, really??!

Great article and comments, especially by John Reiler:

Does It “Cheapen” Jewish Identity When a Gentile Practices the Torah of Israel?

And, the article OMJ is addressing is:

Unity in Messiah: A Commentary on One Law and Gentiles

 

Those who would seek to build/rebuild the dividing wall between Gentiles and Jews would be wise to consider that they fight against a work that God is doing in the world.  The diving wall was torn down by Messiah and the Apostles, but reconstruction began late in the first century with complete division between Jew and Gentile completed by about 400 A.D.  Few, for the next 1700 years passed through/across that wall.

In the last 35 years the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit has again been moving to destroy that wall and Gentile believers all over the planet are coming to a place of Torah observance while maintaining faith in Yeshua.  At the same amazing time Jews by the DROVES are coming to faith in Messiah Yeshua!!  Continue reading “‘Cheapening’ Jewish identity?? Oh, really??!”

Tzitziot. In or Out. A few thoughts.

Yesterday’s Torah Portion included Numbers 15:37-41 concerning tzitzits, a subject we have discussed before.

As I finalized my preparations for Shabbat and a lesson titled ‘Faith and Focus‘, I turned my attention to re-reading the parsha and considering the other various parts when several thoughts on tzitziot hit me.  Often discussed/debated is the question whether to wear them in or out and who are they supposed to remind.  Consider this:

23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the [a]nations will [b]grasp the [c]garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”Zechariah 8:23

20 And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the [a]fringe of His [b]cloak; 21 for she was saying [c]to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will [d]get well.”  Matthew 9:20-21

35 And when the men of that place [a]recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; 36 and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.  Matthew 14:35-36

If the fringe, the tzitzitot, are hidden, how are the nations to grasp it, or how did the sick reach out and touch Yeshua’s?  Simply, it was worn outwardly.  Isn’t that implied when Yeshua said,

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [a]hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [b]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

Discuss.

Interesting verse with 10:1…. (prophetic picture?)

So, a couple days ago while reading/researching the beginning of the series we started yesterday, A Common Error in Christianity and Judaism, I came across a couple verses I do not recall having ever seen.  Because I was researching examples of ‘Israel’ and ‘Judah’ in juxtaposition, this was one of the passages that I happened upon…

7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8 He [a]numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9 They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good [b]to you.” 11 The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Immediately, another verse came to mind, Continue reading “Interesting verse with 10:1…. (prophetic picture?)”

If the Law was not given to Gentiles, then how did Y’shua save Gentiles from the condemnation of the Law?

If the Law was not given to Gentiles, then how did Y’shua save Gentiles from the condemnation of the Law?.

I like this pity blurb!  There are only two possible answers, neither of which the ‘church’ wants to deal with.

Marinate!

Shavuot/Pentecost and evangelism

Yesterday I was privileged to lead a Shavuot celebration/feast/gathering for a couple fellowships at Lake Greenwood, SC. What a wonderful day of worship, sharing, meeting new brothers and sisters, and eating.

Acts 2:1-4. When the day of Pentecost came. Pastel & pen. 26 May 2012.As I prepared a short message for our service, I really felt our Father leading me to consider ‘evangelism’ and ‘the nations.’  While Shavuot celebrations typically center around the giving of the Torah and/or the receiving, in greater measure, of the Spirit, the root that both events point to is evangelism!  Interestingly, others had this same point of focus this year!

The stage is set in Acts 1,

1 The first account I [a]composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had [b]by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To [c]these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 [d]Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for [e]what the Father had promised Continue reading “Shavuot/Pentecost and evangelism”

Completed Christian?

If a ‘completed Jew’ has found

Yeshua,

what does that make a Christian who has found

Torah?

Revelation 12:17 says, Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 says, This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.