I can't underestimate the value of a book by Vern Poythrees called "The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses". It really would help anyone who wants to understand how the Old Testament pointed to Jesus in the New Testament, and it's good for addressing some of the false teachings of the more cultic factions within Hebrew Roots and Messianic Jewish teachings. There are non-cultic factions as well, so I'm not criticizing all Hebrew Roots or all Messianic Jews...mainly the groups that claim non-observers of the Sabbath, festivals, and clean meat laws are in sin, unsaved, or spiritually inferior.
Vern describes how teachings within the Mosaic Covenant point toward spiritual realities. Often the cultic aspects of the Hebrew Roots and Messianic Jewish groups don't understand that the Mosaic Covenant often pointed to spiritual realities and instead focus more on the physical types and shadows and the commandments associated with them.
This is the sort of mentality that the Armstrongite group I belonged to as a young man (age 22-32) had.
Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Chris...keywords=SHADOW+OF+CHRIST+IN+THE+LAW+OF+MOSES
I suggest reading the Penteteuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers) first with a good study Bible and then reading this book. I recommend the ESV Study Bible. If you read it, with the accompanying notes, it will help a lot as preparation for reading the book, which is pretty deep.
The thinking of the cultic elements of these groups reflects a more fleshly understanding, which isn't surprising since I think many of them are unsaved. Some are saved and doctrinally confused, though.
I don't think there's any problem with someone observing the Sabbath, festivals and clean meat laws if they don't claim others are in sin for non-observance but once they cross that boundary, I consider them heretical. Conversely, though, I think there is some level of teaching value in observing the Sabbath, festivals, and clean meat laws. However, many of those who claim to observe the Torah are ignoring the fact that the Temple and the Levitical priesthood are no longer in place, and they do not follow Torah themselves as it is impossible for this reason. They can only follow their pick-and-choose, cafeteria plan version of it. A favorite question I ask of the more cultic ones is, do you go to Jerusalem three times a year for the pilgrimage feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) ) like Torah requires? Except for some natives of Israel, few do.
Vern describes how teachings within the Mosaic Covenant point toward spiritual realities. Often the cultic aspects of the Hebrew Roots and Messianic Jewish groups don't understand that the Mosaic Covenant often pointed to spiritual realities and instead focus more on the physical types and shadows and the commandments associated with them.
This is the sort of mentality that the Armstrongite group I belonged to as a young man (age 22-32) had.
Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Chris...keywords=SHADOW+OF+CHRIST+IN+THE+LAW+OF+MOSES
I suggest reading the Penteteuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers) first with a good study Bible and then reading this book. I recommend the ESV Study Bible. If you read it, with the accompanying notes, it will help a lot as preparation for reading the book, which is pretty deep.
The thinking of the cultic elements of these groups reflects a more fleshly understanding, which isn't surprising since I think many of them are unsaved. Some are saved and doctrinally confused, though.
I don't think there's any problem with someone observing the Sabbath, festivals and clean meat laws if they don't claim others are in sin for non-observance but once they cross that boundary, I consider them heretical. Conversely, though, I think there is some level of teaching value in observing the Sabbath, festivals, and clean meat laws. However, many of those who claim to observe the Torah are ignoring the fact that the Temple and the Levitical priesthood are no longer in place, and they do not follow Torah themselves as it is impossible for this reason. They can only follow their pick-and-choose, cafeteria plan version of it. A favorite question I ask of the more cultic ones is, do you go to Jerusalem three times a year for the pilgrimage feasts (Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) ) like Torah requires? Except for some natives of Israel, few do.