The Torah Network

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To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 9:5 ESV

The patriarchs…their race… These are unambiguous references to physical descent. The bloodline matters whether we like it or not, whether it fits our theology or not. Yeshua is a Jew by genetic and cultural heritage. There is no other way that he could be heir of David and King of the Jews.

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I have a question about Sukkot. Are we obligated to take all 8 days of Sukkot off work and go somewhere to observe it?

I know that the 1st and 8h days are Holy convocations. But is there a requirement to take all 8 days of Sukkot off work?

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I don't think there is a requirement to even leave your backyard, unless you are a male living in close proximity to the (currently non existant) temple. It says to take the 1st & 8th specifically off from work. If it meant days other than the weekly sabbath, it would have specified all 8 days. If you look at it from a rabbinical perspective, 8 days off work would be an undue burden. They do not even permit a holy day and the sabbath to be back to back, as they consider two days in a row off work an undue burden. So, no, you don't have to go far away, living in the diaspora, and you need only take the two or three sabbaths off work.

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I used to attend a Messianic Jewish congregation. But I had to leave after the leader left and new leadership took over. They wanted a closer adherence to Jewish tradition. This meant doing away with using God's name, not mixing meat and dairy, tradition over Scripture, etc. In some ways, I can see their point of view because the ministry was mostly about reaching Jews for Messiah. But it was getting less suited for me personally.

The Church of God group is mostly a traditional church that happens to keep the Sabbath, Holy Days and dietary laws. The music are those of a traditional protestant church. I miss the Hebraic themes and songs I had in the Messianic group.

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For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Romans 9:3 ESV

In Romans 11:1-2 Paul asserts that all of Israel was foreknown and elect, yet we also know that many Israelites are forever lost. Here, he wishes that he could take their curse onto himself to restore every individual Israelite to full relationship with God, but no sacrifice could possibly add to what Yeshua has already done. He took the curse of all sin upon himself for the sake of all people, especially Israel.

The fact that most Israelites remain unfaithful despite being both foreknown and elect is an absolute falsification of Calvinism. Even Yeshua’s sacrifice can’t force all of the called into repentance, not because God is incapable of saving every human who has ever existed, but because he has chosen to save only those who choose to place their faith in him.

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I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Romans 9:1-2 ESV

“My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have...” means “My conscience confirms this truth to me, in response to the influence of the Holy Spirit, by inflicting on me...”.

The sorrow, which the Holy Spirit has placed in Paul’s heart, tells him that he can’t just trade himself for the rest of the Jews confirms to him that God still loves Israel. If God didn’t love them because of what they did, then maybe there could be a way that a Jew could do something to earn back his love. The fact that there is nothing Paul can do to earn God’s love for the Jews tells him that there is also nothing the Jews, as a people, could do to lose God’s love.

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Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
Proverbs 13:16 ESV

It's good to act quickly, but not in ignorance. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" because fools act hastily without understanding the consequences of what they're doing. They make drastic decisions today that will have irreversible consequences for many years.

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Is the Cross Inherently Pagan? | #cross

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Is the Cross Inherently Pagan?

Many in the Messy-anic Movement claim the cross is inherently pagan because pagans have used it in the passed & Christians use it in pagan ways today…

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A person who diligently seeks good finds favor, but to one who searches for evil, evil comes to him!
#proverbs 11:27

In general, you get what you pay for, whether your payment is made in dollars, time, or worry.

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On this date in history, 11/12/1927: The Holland Tunnel under the Hudson River between New York City and Jersey City officially opens to traffic. #otd #tdih