Why do you still consider yourself to be a Gentile?

Posted on 08/09/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Ephesians 2:11, Gentiles. Paul says in a number of places that those who come to Yeshua are no longer Gentiles but are the children or seed (literally “sperm,” which is the meaning of the Greek word) of Abraham (Eph 2:11–19; Rom 4:16; 9:8–11; Gal 3:7,9,14,28–29). The word Gentiles as used in the Scriptures (both in the Hebrew and the Greek languages) simply means “ethnic groups or nations.” There are many places in the Scriptures where Jews and Israelites are referred to as “Gentiles.” There is no class of people called Gentiles in the spiritual body of Yeshua. Scripture uses the following terms for the redeemed of YHVH: the saints, the called out ones (or church), the body of Yeshua (1 Cor 10:16; 12:27; Eph 4:12) the one new man (Eph 2:15), sons of Elohim (Rom 8:14, 19; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2), children of Elohim (Rom 8:16, 21; Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:10), or Abraham’s offspring (Gal 3:29), the bride (Rev 18:23; 21:2, 9; 22:17) for example.

Any attempt by anyone to keep the Jew—Gentile division alive within the body of Yeshua is in effect keeping up the middle wall of partition that the Apostle Paul gave his ministry life and eventually his physical life to tearing down (see Eph 2:11–19). It is also going against Continue reading →

Success! I trapped the skunk…

Posted on 08/07/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Life is full of battles. There are a lot of enemies out there. Some are human, others are non-human and then there are spiritual enemies as well. This blog is devoted, in part, to combatting the enemies of biblical truth whoever or whatever they may be.

Well, recently I’ve been fighting a different kind of enemy for the past few weeks—a skunk that has taken up residence in my yard. I finally got a live trap and baited it with marshmallows (kosher, of course) and peanut butter. Just last night I came out of my backyard office building (a converted chicken house) at about midnight and almost ran into the skunk. We both surprised each other as he scampered off. He’s really cute. Thankfully, he hasn’t sprayed, but he has been tearing up my flowerbeds and lawn in search of grubs and earthworms.

This morning he was in my trap. Yeah! I just came back from releasing him on the other side of the river.

After I shook him out of the trap and backed off quickly, he did spray, but didn’t get me.

Good riddance and have a nice life Mr. or Mrs. Skunk—whatever you are.

There’s the trap next to the garbage bag a wrapped it in. Just beyond the trap you can see a black spot disappearing into the grass. That’s the skink.

The Book of Deuteronomy: of Moses’ Farewell Address

Posted on 08/07/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Outline of Sefer Devarim/The Book of Deuteronomy

Chapter 1:1–5, Introduction

Chapters 1:6–4:40, First Discourse

Moses gives a veiled rebuke for sin and disobedience, and gives a review of the journey from Mount Sinai to Kadesh with exhortations to obedience.

Chapters 4:44–11, Second Discourse, Part 1

The religious foundations of the covenant, the spirit in which it is to be kept and the motives to right obedience are discussed. Moses shows how the covenant defines the relationship between YHVH and Israel and emphasizes the basic spiritual demands that such a relationship imposes upon Israel.

Chapters 12–26, Second Discourse, Part 2

The code of law dealing with:

Worship, Chapters 12:1–16:17

Government, Chapters 16:18–18

Criminal Law, Chapters 19:1–21:9

Domestic Life, Chapters 21:10–25

Rituals and the Sanctuary, Chapter 26

Chapters 27–30, Third Discourse

The enforcement of the Torah-law with its blessings and curses; establishment of a fresh covenant between YHVH and Israel (i.e., the younger generation).

Chapters 31–34, The Last Days of Moses

Chapter 31, Committal of the law to the keeping of the priests.

Chapter 32, The Song of Moses (a prophecy about Israel’s future).

Chapter 33, Moses’ patriarchal blessing over the tribes of Israel.

Chapter 34, The death of Moses.

Overview of the Book of Deuteronomy/Devarim from Various Commentators

This last book of the Torah starts out with “These are the words which Moses spoke ….” The Hebrew name for Deuteronomy is Devarim meaning “words,” which is the plural form of devar meaning “word, speech, a matter or thing, a commandment, a report, a Continue reading →

Blog Scripture Readings for 8-7 Through 8-13-16

Aside

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat D’varim — Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22
Haftarah — Isaiah 1:1-27
Prophets — Ezekiel 39:1 – 45:25
Writings — Nehemiah 5:1 – 11:36
Testimony — Galatians 6; Ephesians 1:1 – 5:33

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 8/7 through 8/13/16.

Galatians Explained Simply from a Hebraic Perspective (Pt 2)

Posted on 08/06/2016 by Natan Lawrence

A Quick Overview Commentary on Galatians (explained section-by-section):

This analysis of Galatians won’t be exhaustive, detailed or comprehensive. It will be a quick overview—a skimming over the theological waves. We’ll save the details for another time.

Gal 1:6–10, Paul opens his epistle up by claiming that the Galatian believers have turned away from the basic gospel message “to another gospel” (vv. 6–7). He is so opposed to this that he places a double curse on those who are teaching this other gospel (vv. 8–9). So what is this other gospel?

Gal 1:6–7, This could be a confusing passage the way it reads in some of our Bibles until you get into the Greek. Here it is in the KJV:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [Gr. heteros] gospel: which is not another [Gr. allos]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (KJV)

How do we make sense of what Paul is saying here? It is only understood by looking at the Greek words. The English word for another is two different words in Greek with two slightly different meanings. According to Moulton and Milligan (quoting Lightfoot in Vocabulary of the Greek NT) “the primary distinction between allos and heteros is that the Continue reading →

Just For Laughs…

Posted on 08/06/2016 by Natan Lawrence

On our way back from camping at Diamond Lake, Oregon, Sandi and I stopped at a restaurant to get lunch. This sign was posted over the sink in the men’s room. I kid you not!

Shabbat Shalom Everyone! Wildflower Pics from Diamond Lake

Posted on 08/06/2016 by Natan Lawrence

During our camping trip to Diamond Lake, Oregon last week, I took pictures of the wildflowers that grew along the shores and meadows around the lake. Wash your minds from the disgusting filth of the world around you with these pics from Yehovah’s lovely and pristine creation. Enjoy! Shabbat shalom.