What was the heresy of the Judaizers?

[reccanboy]

The Judaizers were individuals who believed that you had to accept Christ as your savior, but in addition to doing so, had to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The Judaizers believed that we are justified by God, but through faith AND the works of the law.

Now, Paul stated that “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

How can this be, if in the Old Testament, individuals were justified through observing the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), or providing a sin offering. The Judaizers believed that this was done through God, but in the medium of both faith in Christ and the works of the Law.

So how can Paul draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, if the Old Testament teaches justification by faith and the works of the law?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. God bless

 

[Spirithound]

The Judaizers were individuals who believed that you had to accept Christ as your savior, but in addition to doing so, had to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The Judaizers believed that we are justified by God, but through faith AND the works of the law.

Now, Paul stated that “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

How can this be, if in the Old Testament, individuals were justified through observing the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), or providing a sin offering. The Judaizers believed that this was done through God, but in the medium of both faith in Christ and the works of the Law.

So how can Paul draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, if the Old Testament teaches justification by faith and the works of the law?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. God bless

Well Paul didn’t draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, he appealed to the Church. The Church held a council, Peter spoke, and the matter was finished.

Remember, Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant, the ceremonial law is no longer needed. Instead we receive God’s grace initially through baptism, the first sacrament Jesus instituted.

 

[Eucharisted]

The Judaizers were individuals who believed that you had to accept Christ as your savior, but in addition to doing so, had to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The Judaizers believed that we are justified by God, but through faith AND the works of the law.

Now, Paul stated that “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

How can this be, if in the Old Testament, individuals were justified through observing the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), or providing a sin offering. The Judaizers believed that this was done through God, but in the medium of both faith in Christ and the works of the Law.

So how can Paul draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, if the Old Testament teaches justification by faith and the works of the law?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. God bless

Read Hebrews and you’ll understand

 

[reccanboy]

Well Paul didn’t draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, he appealed to the Church. The Church held a council, Peter spoke, and the matter was finished.

Remember, Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant, the ceremonial law is no longer needed. Instead we receive God’s grace initially through baptism, the first sacrament Jesus instituted.

In Galatians 3:11-12, he quotes from the Old Testament in order to demonstrate that one cannot be justified through observing the law.

 

[ejb21]

The Judaizers were individuals who believed that you had to accept Christ as your savior, but in addition to doing so, had to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The Judaizers believed that we are justified by God, but through faith AND the works of the law.

Now, Paul stated that “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

How can this be, if in the Old Testament, individuals were justified through observing the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), or providing a sin offering. The Judaizers believed that this was done through God, but in the medium of both faith in Christ and the works of the Law.

So how can Paul draw from the Old Testament to refute the Judaizers, if the Old Testament teaches justification by faith and the works of the law?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. God bless

Hi

I’m not sure I fully understand the question. Did the Old Covenant ceremonial rituals really save anyone, or did they point to the future - more perfect - New Covenant. My take on it (and I could be wrong) from Romans and Galatians has Paul telling the Judaizers that they are not saved by circumcision. I think he makes this point by his reference to Abraham, faith in chapter 15 and circumcision in chapter 17. (saved may be the wrong word here).

I’ve spent the last two years having discussions with those who follow Protestant Reformed Theology and the many differences in the meaning of terms made those discussions nearly impossible. Take care.

 

[reccanboy]

Hi

I’m not sure I fully understand the question. Did the Old Covenant ceremonial rituals really save anyone, or did they point to the future - more perfect - New Covenant. My take on it (and I could be wrong) from Romans and Galatians has Paul telling the Judaizers that they are not saved by circumcision. I think he makes this point by his reference to Abraham, faith in chapter 15 and circumcision in chapter 17. (saved may be the wrong word here).

I’ve spent the last two years having discussions with those who follow Protestant Reformed Theology and the many differences in the meaning of terms made those discussions nearly impossible. Take care.

Thanks for the response. What I gather from Galatians is that the Judaizers believed that circumcision saves in the same way that baptism saves us.

Perhaps the Jews didn’t believe that circumcision justifies us…that’s something I have to study.

 

[puppypatrol]

The issue was not if one could be justified or saved by circumcision or the old law or traditions of the temple. The issue was if a person HAD to become a Jew before they could become a Christian. That was settled at the first church council by Peter, Paul and the other Bishops of the church. Christ had fulfilled the law of the Old Testament and a new convenant was established with new or updated practices not only for Jews but Gentiles as well.