 Judaism and Christianity, do they match? Is Christianity merely an extension of Judaism as Messianic Jews would have us believe? Or is Christianity a completely different religion? If it is an extension, then we can argue that a Jew can believe in this religion and still remain faithful to the Torah. However, if it is different, then we must deal with Christianity in terms of a Jew leaving Judaism for another religion. In our search for truth, we have the Torah as our guide. When we are presented with a new idea, we ask ourselves whether or not this idea corresponds to what is written in the Torah. Our goal in this final section of our study video is to examine some basic Jewish beliefs while keeping this question in mind. Do Christian beliefs match what the Torah says? We begin first by examining the differing views of the nature of God, His laws, and the Jewish people. Here's a little background. A beautiful way to gain insight into the Jewish perspective is to start with an often quoted passage from the Zohar, the book of Jewish mysticism, which states, Israel, the Torah, and God are one. This passage tells us so much in such concise form. What does the Zohar mean when it says that Israel, the Torah, and God are one? Certainly this does not suggest the Trinity. It can mean that each one is unique with nothing to compare with it. Who is like you, O Lord, among the heavenly powers? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? From Exodus 15, verse 11, or, quote, for what nation is there so great who has God so near to them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great who has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this Torah, which I said before you this day, from the book of Deuteronomy 4, verses 7-8. And also, quote, the Torah of God is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of God is sure making wise the simple from Psalms 19, verse 8. It can mean that all three are so interrelated that they are as one in their essence. By being so interrelated, we can learn about each one by studying the other two. We can learn about God by understanding His Torah and the Jewish people. We can learn about the Torah by understanding God who gave it and the people who keep it. And we can learn about the Jewish people by understanding our God and His Torah. In addition, it can mean that the three are so intrinsically bound that if we try to change one, we must change the other two. If anyone tried to replace the Jews as God's chosen people, they must change what God is and must change His Torah. Just like a three-legged stool, if one leg is shortened, the other two must also be shortened to allow the stool to fulfill its purpose. Quote, if these ordinances depart from before me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. Jeremiah 31, verse 35. Just as we are God's witnesses wherein our mere existence testifies to His existence, so too our existence testifies that His law is eternally viable. Let's examine the Unitarian views of God as opposed to the Trinitarian views of God. Since the time of Abraham, the most critical message that the Jewish people brought to the world was the oneness of God. This was a revolutionary idea 3,800 years ago, and even today, most of the world still does not clearly grasp its significance. To provide clarity, God tells us to understand Him as He revealed Himself to our ancestors at Mount Sinai. For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have tried to convince us that the Trinitarian view of God, that's one God existing in three persons of equal status, namely the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the same as our Unitarian view of God. Nowhere in the Torah is the Trinitarian view mentioned, and furthermore, the Trinity did not become official Church doctrine until the 4th century. Our ancestors in the Torah had not known a three-part God manifested in human form, and their direct experiences with the one God is sufficient reason for us to reject such an idea. Quote, If there arises among you a prophet saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, Deuteronomy 13 verses 2-4. Another quote, They sacrificed to powerless spirits, not to God, to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not, from Deuteronomy 32 verse 17. In talking about the oneness of God, it is essential for the Jewish people to understand that in our Bible, no passage describing God and His nature contains any words, not even a hint concerning a Trinitarian view or human form. Quote, Unto you it was shown that you might know that the Lord God, He is God, there is none else beside Him. Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 35. In addition, Quote, You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me, I even I am the Lord, and beside me there is no Savior. Isaiah chapter 43, 10 verse 11. Another quote, And there is no God beside me, a just God and a Savior, there is none beside me. Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else. Isaiah chapter 45, 21 through 22. And lastly, Quote, Yet I am the Lord your God, from the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but me, for there is no Savior beside me. Isaiah chapter 13 verse 4. The question we have to ask is, are God's commandments eternal? What is the biblical view of this question? Quote, You shall keep therefore His statues and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days upon the earth, which the Lord your God has given you forever. Tudoronomy chapter 4 verse 40. Another quote, And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord your God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. Tudoronomy chapter 6 verse 24 through 25. Another quote, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them. Psalm chapter 103 verses 17 through 18. Will the commandments be enforced in the messianic era? Quote, And David my servant shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd. They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. Ezekiel chapter 37 verse 24. The word that Isaiah the son of Amma saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. From Isaiah chapter 2 verses 1 through 3. Another question we have to ask is with whom does God keep His covenant? Quote, Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and mercy with them that love Him, and keep His commandments to a thousand generations, and repays them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to give Him that hates Him, He will repay Him to His face. You shall therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command you this day, to do them, wherefore it shall come to pass. If you hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord your God shall keep unto you the covenant, and the mercy which He swore unto your fathers. Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 9 through 12. Let's look at another quote. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments. This is from the book of Daniel chapter 9 verse 4. Now let's take a moment and look at a New Testament perspective on the commandments. Although Jesus generally affirms the eternally-binding nature of Torah law, the Gospels contain ambiguous statements and relate several incidents where he takes issue with rabbinic legislation. Nevertheless, historical records indicate that Jesus' disciples were Torah-observing. However, the direction of historical Christianity is based primarily upon the teachings of Paul, rather than those of Jesus. Although Paul never met Jesus, he composed the majority of the New Testament writings in which he never relates anything about the life of Jesus, nor quotes any of his teachings. Instead, Paul's writings primarily reflect his interpretation of Jesus' nature and mission. As well, Paul's writings reveal that he often came into conflict with Jesus' actual disciples over the issue of Torah observance, and this schism continued into the second century. During this time, Paul was viewed as a heretic by the Jewish followers of Jesus, who were rapidly becoming a small minority in the church. The thrust of Paul's teachings, along with the historical direction of Christianity, was that there was no longer any obligation to observe the ceremonial and ritual laws of the Torah, such as the Sabbath, holidays, dietary laws, and circumcision. Compare what Paul said about the Torah in the New Testament to what King David said in the Tanakh. In the New Testament, the Book of Romans chapter 3, verse 28 states, Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, or the Torah. Quote, for Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone that believes the Book of Romans chapter 10, verse 4. The second book of Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 7, describes the Torah as, quote, the ministry of death and letters engraved on stone. Galatians says, for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians chapter 2, verse 21, quote, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. This is from Galatians chapter 3, verse 13, quote, but before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. Therefore, the law, or the Torah, was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians chapter 3, verse 23, verse 26. Let's see how this compares to what the Tanakh, our Jewish Bible, teaches. Quote, the Torah of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. From Psalm chapter 19, verses 8 through 9. Another quote, happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Torah of the Lord. They are those who keep His testimonies and who seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity. They walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes, then I shall not be ashamed when I gaze at all your commandments. Psalm 119, verses 1 through 6. Quote, your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and your Torah is the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, yet your commandments are my delight. The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting. Give me understanding and I shall live. From Psalms chapter 119, verses 142 through 144. Quote, for the Lord is righteous. He loves righteous deeds. The upright shall behold His face. Psalm 11, verse 7. Another quote from King David. The Lord rewards me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanliness of my hands, He recompenses me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me. And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before Him and have kept myself from iniquity. Second Samuel chapter 22, verse 21. So which way is the right way? Does keeping the law lead us to become righteous? Or is righteousness only achieved by faith in Jesus? Here's the bottom line. The church came to believe that it was not bound to keep the Torah and therefore did not remain part of the covenant established with the Jewish people. Although all of Jesus' early disciples were Jews, within several hundred years no Jews remained in the church and Christianity became a totally non-Jewish religion. The question we ask is, are the Jews still God's chosen people? There is one issue that both Jews and Christians agree upon, namely that the Tanakh clearly identifies the Jews as God's chosen people and Judaism as the true religion in the world. Where Jews and Christians differ is what happened following the birth of Jesus. Quote, now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own treasure among all the peoples. For all the earth is mine, from the book of Exodus chapter 19, verse 5. Another quote, for you are a holy people to the Lord, your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a special people to himself above all the nations that are upon the earth. Deuteronomy chapter 14, verse 2. And one last quote, and the Lord has declared you this day to be his special people as he has promised you and that you should keep all his commandments and to set you high above all nations which he has made in praise and in name and in honor and that you may be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as he has spoken, Deuteronomy chapter 26, verses 18 through 19. In the New Testament, the Jews are often portrayed as heartless and overly legalistic, rejected by God, yet nevertheless, a people who will eventually come to accept Jesus at the end of days. For the present time, many Christians say that we have been cast out of God's grace because we have refused to accept Jesus which introduces us to Christian replacement or covenant theology. In the book of Galatians, Paul laid the foundation for replacement theology in which the body of believers in Jesus has replaced the Jews as God's chosen people. Give me a few examples here, quote. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way but his son by the free woman was born as a result of a promise. These things may be taken figuratively for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves. This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free and she is our mother. Now you brothers like Isaac are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the spirit. It is the same now, but what does the scripture say? Quote, get rid of the slave woman and her son for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son. Therefore brothers, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman. From the book of Galatians chapter four verses 22 through 31. As we can plainly see, a careful study of Christianity shows that it does not match Judaism in the most fundamental areas. In reality, any words of truth that are found in the New Testament are not new because they are already found in the Tanakh. Conversely, any new concepts that are found in the New Testament are not considered to be true because they are foreign to the teachings of the Tanakh.