THE JUDAIZERS

1. Ever since the first salvation promise was given by God, there has always been some individual or group who felt they needed to add their own works to that promise in order to be saved.

2. This started with Cain when he rejected the animal blood sacrifice and thought to please God according to his own personal merit and efforts. Genesis 4:3-7

3. This attack on God’s grace continued through both ages prior to the church.
   A. There were those who accepted the sacrifices as pointing to the coming Messiah/Savior, and expressed faith/trust in that promise.
   B. And there were those who rejected the sacrifices or gave only overt obedience to them. In both cases, they sought to establish relationship with God on their own terms.

4. During the age of Israel, the Mosaic system of law and sacrifices was instituted in order to establish Israel as a unique nation with the job of representing God’s truth to the world.
    Exodus 19:5-6; Deut. 4:5-6

5. Israel failed to fulfill God’s design, and ultimately expressed their failure by rejecting Jesus as their Messiah/Savior.  Because of this, God temporarily removed the commission from them and gave it to
a new group; a spiritual nation comprised of both Jew and Gentile – the church.  Matthew 21:33-46; 23:33-39; 1 Peter 2:4-10

6. But God used the nation of Israel as the building block for the new priestly nation.

   A. John 4:22, “for salvation is from the Jews.”
   B. Acts 3:26, “For you first, God raised up His servant.
   C. Luke 24:44-49
   D. Ephesians 2:11-22
   E. Matthew 13:52

7. In fact, as the gospel and Christian doctrine was taught, it was the Old Testament Scriptures that was used as a text book.  The "bible" of the early church was the Old Testament.
This is what Paul and Peter appealed to for supporting much of their doctrinal teaching. 1Peter 3:8-12.
Romans 16:25-26
Romans 1:2
Rom. 3:21
Luke 24:25-27, 44-48
2Tim. 3:14-17

8. However, since the Mosaic system was totally fulfilled in Christ, God discontinued the worship protocol that was given to Israel, and designed a new and different protocol for the church.  Galatians 3:19-29

9. But because of the strong Jewish presence in the early church, there was a great impulse to incorporate the worship protocol from the age of Israel into the church. This was a distortion of the  principle of Matthew 13:52 and became a system of works for both salvation and for Christian living.

   A. It added the works of the law to FAITH in order to accomplish
       salvation. Acts 15:1, 5
   B. It distorted the true purpose of the Mosaic system.
       Romans 3:19-31;
   C. Adherence to this false view actually nullified the grace of God
        for those who practiced it.  Galatians 2:21; 5:1-9

9. The judaizers gained inroads into all the churches, and it took extensive teaching by Paul to counter it.  Galatians 1:7; 2:4; Acts 15:24

10. What the Judaizers taught:
   A. Circumcision for salvation: Acts 15:1
   B. Observance of the law of Moses:  Acts 15:5
   C. Observe the Sabbath and feast days: Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16-17

11. Since Paul was the main opponent of the Judaizers, they attempted to discredit him.  2 Cor. 11:1-13; 10:2; Gal. 5:7-12

12. The refutation of Judaistic legalism is found primarily in Romans, Galatians, and Colossians.

13. Today, the influence of Judaistic legalism is still prevalent.

   A. The works system for salvation incorporates both Mosaic and non-Mosaic issues.
   B. Baptismal regeneration is a distortion of the true gospel.
       See Topic: Dunked and Drowned
   C. The movement of the Messianic Jews (Christians) is an attempt to force Mosaic rituals onto the church (the feasts, the Sabbath, dietary and dress codes). Hebrew Roots Movement: https://www.gotquestions.org/Hebrew-roots.html
   D. Also the Roman Catholic church distorts the true gospel:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Roman-Catholicism.html

14. In addition, there are other infiltrations that water down true Christianity in the manner of the Judaizers.
   A. The attempt to bring back the temporary spiritual gifts, such as tongues, healing and prophecy, distorts the truth and confuses the issues.
   B. The use of emotional gimmicks and pressure to influence people discredits true Christianity and causes only confusion.
   C. In the post Apostolic age, we live by faith and not by sight. We relate to God based on the completed written word, and not by pseudo supernaturalism that is really only emotional  hypnotism.
      But only knowledge of God’s word helps us do that.
   D. Too many today, like the “multitudes” in the time of Christ, want to SEE or FEEL something overt to impress them. This is only emotionalism that enslaves and addicts people to error.

16. Analysis from Baker Bible Dictionary:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/judaizers.html

17. Analysis from Got Questions Ministry:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Judaizers.html
 

Questions and comments are always welcome

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