Questioning Paul

Chapter 3

Part 6

Yaruwshalaim – Source of Reconciliation

 

In Scripture, eight symbolizes eternity, which is why the symbol for infinity and the numeral itself are so similar. It is why there is an eighth day of celebration associated with the Miqra’ of Sukah – Shelters, which is symbolic of us camping out with God for all eternity. Additionally, the Hebrew word for "eight," shamonah, is based upon sheman, meaning "olive oil," which is used as a metaphor for the Set-Apart Spirit who makes us eternal. Further, the olive tree is not only one of the world’s longest living, it is native to Yisra’el.

We ought not be surprised in that we were designed by the Author of this instruction, but it should be noted that the eighth day is the perfect time to perform this minor procedure. Excessive bleeding is minimized, as is infection, because human blood coagulates most effectively at this time because the major clotting agents, prothrombin and vitamin K, do not reach peak levels in the blood until the eighth day.

You may have noticed that this is the second time Yahowah has used "zakar – male" in association with circumcision. Since the instruction is directed toward, although not exclusive to, young boys, literally "ben – sons," the reason for using zakar only becomes obvious when we study the word’s etymology. Zakar means: "to establish in one’s memory, to remind, to remember, to reflect, to recall, and to memorialize something important, making it known." It also conveys the idea that "truth can cleanse and purify, causing us to shine brightly and brilliantly." When we are enveloped in the Set-Apart Spirit’s Garment of Light, we are cleansed and purified by Her so that we can radiate Yahowah’s pure and brilliant light. Moreover, each time a parent bathes their son, they will be reminded of their commitment to raise him to embrace the Covenant.

Relevant in light of Paul’s argument with Yahowsha’s Disciples, and his claim to the uncircumcised world, is that there are two different classes of individuals described in this statement. And both are to be circumcised, which signifies that two distinct groups of people can become part of Yahowah’s Covenant Family. Abraham’s direct descendants through Yitzchaq and Ya’aqob (who became Yisra’el) are "yalyd – naturally born" into Yahowah’s "beyth – family." But since Yahowah has routinely promised that the benefits of the Covenant would also be available to "gowym – people from different races and places," He has provided a provision for adoption. That is what "kasap miqnah – those deeply desiring to be acquired and included" from "nekar – foreign lands" represents. These are adopted children—gowym.

Hiding this reality, most English bibles base their translations of this verse on the Masoretic Text, where the ksp root of "kasap – longing" is pointed "kesep – money." As kasap miqnah, the clause speaks of those who "really want to be acquired and included." But as kesep, the order of things has to be reversed and miqnah kesep becomes a string of nouns: "acquisition money," which is then corrupted to read "purchased with money."

And yet while the "kasap miqnah – really wanting to be acquired and included" translation is more consistent with the Covenant and more informative, the miqnah kesep vocalization does address adoption, and thus provides us with two distinct ways to be included in the Covenant: natural childbirth as a literal descendant of Abraham, and by choice through adoption. Therefore, both renderings are acceptable when viewed from this perspective.

By chance, should you have an aversion to adoptive parents, who value a child more than its natural parents, "purchasing" a child, be aware that this is how Yahowah adopts us. He paid the price for us to live with Him as His children. This is what Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits represent.

As we return to God’s Covenant testimony, it is important that we consistently approach Yahowah’s Word from the proper perspective and with an open mind. In this light, when a word is repeated in Hebrew, it serves to substantially increase its importance. Such is the case with "muwl muwl" in this next passage.

Also, while its primary definition is "to circumcise, to cut off, to separate, and to remove the foreskin," you may be surprised by muwl’s secondary and tertiary definitions – both of which are listed below. Additionally, because of what we learned about kasap versus kesep, the following translation includes both renderings.

"He (huw’) must absolutely circumcise him, definitely cutting off the foreskin (muwl muwl – he must cease what he is currently doing, he must turn him around to face the opposite direction, to ward off threats to his wellbeing by changing his priorities while making a binding promise (scribed with the niphal stem denoting the genuineness of this relationship while stressing the benefit accrued to the parent, in the infinitive absolute which intensifies the importance of the act, and in the imperfect conjugation telling us that this instruction on circumcision will endure uninterrupted throughout time)) of the naturally born (yalyd – naturalized as a member of an extended family through natural childbirth) in your home (beyth – into your household and your family (singular construct)) and also (wa) those really wanting to be (kasap – those deeply desiring, strongly yearning, and passionately longing to be) included (miqnah – acquired, purchased, and obtained) / as well as those who are acquired (miqnah – purchased, obtained, and included, i.e., adopted) with your money (kesep – your precious metals; born out of a deep longing and love).

This shall be (hayah – this was, is, and always will be, this exists as (scribed with the qal stem, denoting a genuine relationship between the subject and the action of the verb which is existence, in the perfect conjugation telling us that this shall endure completely unchanged, in the singular conveying that there are no other options or contingencies, and in the consecutive form, associating our existence with the beryth – family-oriented covenant relationship and its sign muwl – circumcision)) My Family-Oriented Covenant Relationship (beryth-y – My mutually binding agreement and promise, My relational accord based upon home and family), in (ba) the flesh (basar – physical realm with humanity), serving as (la – toward the goal of) an everlasting and eternal (‘owlam – forever existing and never ending) Family-Oriented Covenant Relationship (beryth)." (Bare’syth / In the Beginning / Genesis 17:13)

Based upon God’s testimony, a "New Covenant" of any kind, much less one where circumcision is not required, is therefore a nonstarter. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise, and that includes Paul. Also, if someone condemns "the flesh," calling it evil, as Paul is wont to do, please note that Yahowah’s Covenant was cut with us in the flesh. In addition, in Bare’syth 1:31, we read: "And God saw all that He had made, and saw that it was good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, the sixth day." It is mostly in Gnosticism and Pauline literature where the flesh is considered bad.

God’s instructions have been all encompassing and perfectly clear – especially on circumcision. He simply asked parents to circumcise their sons on the eighth day. The request is easy, safe, and inexpensive when done shortly after birth. It’s man who has messed this up. Very few parents read the Towrah, much less consider its implications. Fewer still observe its instructions or share what Yahowah had to say with their children, as God has so often asked. And as a consequence, circumcision is one of many things which separate the preponderance of people from God.

As for Paul being authorized by God to contradict Him on a subject as essential as the Covenant and its sign, circumcision, you’d have to be a fool to believe this occurred. Yahowah said one thing, and Paul said the opposite. One of them was not telling the truth. Guess who?

Beyond this, if God changed His mind, if He decided to do something new which was counter to His previous promises, He would then cease to be trustworthy or reliable. So the entire notion of placing one’s faith in a god prone to make exceptions to his instructions is indeed a fool’s folly.

God is serious about circumcision. So we should be as well. This next statement is as enlightening as it is unequivocal. And especially relevant is ‘arel, a word which when fully amplified explains the nature of those who are uncircumcised.

"And (wa) the uncircumcised (‘arel – the stubborn, unresponsive, untrusting and un-reliant, the un-listening and un-observing, the un-cut-off, un-set-apart and un-separated) male (zakar – man who fails to remember to do this) who relationally (‘asher – who by association beneficially) is not (lo’) circumcised (muwl – willing to change his direction and priorities and make this binding promise) with regard to (‘eth) the flesh (basar – physical, human, and animal nature) of their foreskin (‘aralah), those souls (nepesh – speaking of what makes us unique individuals, alive, aware, and conscious) shall be cut off, be excluded, and banished (karat – shall be severed and cut down, shall be uprooted, die, perish, be destroyed, and cease to exist) from (min) Her (huw’ – speaking of our Spiritual Mother’s Covenant) family (‘am – people who are related biologically and through language).

By way of association (‘eth), they violated and disassociated themselves from (parar – they nullified the agreement, revoking its promises, tearing asunder and thwarting its benefits, splitting away and injuring themselves in the process by severing) My Family-Oriented Covenant Relationship (beryth-y – My mutually binding agreement, My household promise, My relational accord, My marriage vow based upon home and family (feminine singular, scribed in the construct form, connecting and associating the beryth – covenant with God’s ‘am – family))." (Bare’syth / In the Beginning / Genesis 17:14)

There should be no doubt. There should be no debate. According to Yahowah, circumcision and the Covenant are related. They go hand in hand. Preclude one and you exclude the other.

Circumcision is a signature, signed in blood, declaring our desire to be born anew by way of our Spiritual Mother into God’s family. And in that light, there is an interesting affirmation of the purpose our Spiritual Mother plays in our adoption at the end of this passage. Yahowah told Moseh to write "Her family," not "the family," or "His family." As a result, those willing to "shamar – closely examine" His "beryth – Familial Covenant Relationship" recognize that God was connecting several aspects of His message together for us.

First, God has a Paternal and a Maternal nature. ("So God created the man in His image, in the image of God, He created him – male and female He created them." (Bare’syth 1:27)) The Set-Apart Spirit (the feminine Ruwach Qodesh in Hebrew) performs Yahowah’s maternal responsibilities with regard to His family. Second, "beryth – covenant" is a feminine noun, as is the Greek "ekklesia – Called-Out Assembly," confirming the role our Spiritual Mother plays in the conception of both.

And third, by using "hy’ – Her" in association with "nepesh – souls" being "karat – cut off and separated" from God’s "’am – family," as a result of not accepting His advice, we are provided with yet another insight into the reason the souls of those who ignore Yahowah’s Invitations to be Called Out and Meet with Him, especially Passover, Un-Yeasted Bread, and Day of Reconciliations summons, are estranged from His family and cut off and destroyed – ceasing to exist. This occurs because they have rejected our Spiritual Mother’s provision.

While the more subtle innuendoes were instructive, the primary message here was clear and unequivocal. Yahowah established circumcision as the sign of the Covenant for all of the descendants of Abraham – naturally born or adopted – for all of God’s children, for every male member of Yahowah’s Covenant, regardless of race, place, or time. According to our Heavenly Father, there will be no uncircumcised males in Her Family or in His Covenant. And that means that circumcision is required to enter into heaven.

For those of you who cringe at the notion that Yahowah might have established a "requirement," which somehow negated freewill, relax. Circumcision is optional. We all are given the choice to be circumcised, and to circumcise our sons, or not. The choice is ours to make. All Yahowah is saying is that it is His "beyth – home," His "beryth – covenant," and His "’am – family," and that if we want to participate and to be included then we must make the choice to be circumcised—spiritually and physically. As with all fathers, it is His Home, and therefore: His rules. You don’t have to do what He says unless you want to live under His roof.

There are so many questions which are answered by this passage, let’s pause here a moment longer even at the risk of being a bit redundant. First, while "muwl – circumcision" is a physical act in the flesh, our "nepesh – souls" are everything but physical. The nepesh represents our "consciousness." While it is an essential part of our animal nature, as all animals have a "nepesh – soul, a unique personality, and an awareness of their environment," our consciousness has no physical properties. It has no mass and it is not matter. And yet, by failing to be circumcised our soul dies, because it is expressly excluded from Yahowah’s Covenant Family. Therefore, the choices we make in our mortal, material bodies influence whether or not we are elevated to a spiritual status.

Second, circumcision is not the means to salvation. But it can be a barrier to salvation. While not all, or even most, of those who are circumcised will be adopted into God’s family, men who have not been circumcised will not be admitted.

Third, we either agree to God’s terms or we nullify the opportunity He has given us to survive our mortality and to live with Him. There is no hint of leniency here, no sense of compromise, no opportunity for a future revision to alter this rule. We either accept it or not. No circumcision, no Covenant. No Covenant, no relationship with God. No relationship with God, no salvation. And therein is why such souls die.

God isn’t about to compromise. He not only isn’t going to change the terms of His agreement, He cannot change them without becoming untrustworthy and unreliable. There is a singular path to life. There is no accommodation for individual approaches to salvation, or for the collective appeal of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.

The implication here is something no Christian or Muslim seems willing or able to appreciate. Most believe that it matters not if their beliefs are in compliance with God’s instructions or not, because He knows their heart. Contradictions become irrelevant. To them, God is God no matter what you call Him. To them, observing the Sabbath is not relevant, and Friday prayers and Sunday worship are perfectly acceptable. Jihad and Grace are both embraced by the faithful, and many opposing paths are thought to lead to God. Sure Christmas and Easter are pagan, but since that is not what they mean to the celebrant, the faithful believe that their god will be understanding. For them mercy invokes a level of capriciousness which they do not see as either unjust or untrustworthy. Their god wouldn’t condemn them for getting some of the details, well actually most everything, wrong.

And yet, all of these musings are inconsistent with the God who inspired these words. With Yahowah, you accept the Covenant on His terms or not at all. Not only are we in no position to negotiate with God over something integrated into His very nature, we have everything to gain if we agree to His terms, and He loses nothing if we don’t.

Fourth, the "nepesh – souls" of those who do not rely upon God’s instructions "karat – die and are permitted to perish, ceasing to exist." This is the prevailing outcome for the vast preponderance of human souls. At the end of most people’s mortal lives, when they die, they will cease to exist, because their souls will simply perish. But this is not a penalty or a Divine punishment. In fact, Yahowah has little to do with this eventuality. It is by "karat – disassociating from" God that this fate occurs naturally. You see, eternal life with God requires us to associate with Him in the specific manner He has delineated. If we don’t accept His terms, if we don’t avail ourselves of the path He has provided, then our souls remain disconnected from the source of life, which means that they will perish, the individual consciousness ceasing to exist.

Most all religions, but most especially Christianity and Islam, seek submission by threatening eternal suffering and fiery tortures in hell for all of those who don’t acquiesce to their god’s edicts. But not a person among such believers pauses to think that if their god actually said, "Love me and agree with me or I’ll see to it that you suffer forever," such a spirit would not be lovable. In fact, a god who would make such statements would be sadistic. And that is why there is an alternative fate awaiting souls which is neither heaven nor hell, neither a reward nor a punishment. And yet, since such an outcome is neither something to be coveted nor feared, since ceasing to exist cannot be used effectively to lure masses of people into submission, religious leaders almost universally deny the fact that God has such a provision. Such threats are good for business, because they enable clerics to control and plunder believers.

That is not to say that there isn’t a place of eternal separation—there is. But there are no fires blazing or physical tortures perpetrated therein. She’owl, known as the Abyss in Greek, is a lightless place which exists exclusively in the dimension of time. And it is only for Satan, fellow demonic spirits, and for those who lead others astray by associating with them. This is a place of separation, filled with the most outspoken and notorious religious, political, economic, and military advocates. It is for those who victimize others, oppressing them, and leading them away from Yahowah, His Towrah, and His Covenant.

While eternal separation from God is a penalty, having one’s soul perish is not. Each individual is given the gift of life and freewill. Everyone can do with them as they please. If a person chooses to avail themselves of Yahowah’s Covenant, to walk away from Babylon and to walk to Him along the path He has provided, God has promised to give him or her the gift of eternal life, to mercifully forgive their sins, to empower such an individual, to enrich them, and to adopt that soul into His family.

But if we choose instead to ignore God’s provision, to rely on a different scheme, to alter the deal He has cut with us, or simply reject it, we will be ignored by God and remain unaltered by His Covenant promises. It’s ashes to ashes and dust to dust. Such souls don’t know God and God does not know them. For them, death will be the end of life.

The fifth lesson brings us back to Paul. Circumcision is the fulcrum upon which those who rely on Yahowah’s Word move in a different direction than those who believe the "thirteenth apostle and his thirteen epistles." In Acts, the moment we are introduced to Paul, we learn that he advised against circumcision. As a result, he was called to Yaruwshalaim to explain his departure from Yahowah’s Covenant instructions. Therefore, in his initial letter, the one he wrote to the Galatians, he was motivated to demean the message of Yahowsha’s Disciples, especially Shim’own (One who Listens, commonly known as Peter), Yahowchanan (Yahowah is Merciful, more commonly known as John), and Ya’aqob (Yahowsha’s brother, who was renamed "James" to flatter an English king). In Galatians, Paul ruthlessly attacks circumcision, and demeans Yahowah’s Covenant, calling them: "of the flesh," "a cruel taskmaster," "enslaving," and a "curse," "incapable of saving anyone."

Therefore, Christians have a choice. They can trust Yahowah, or they can believe Paul. Their claims are diametrically opposed and irreconcilable.

It is also instructive to know that we can’t blame this conflict between Yahowah and Paul on scribal error. While not a word from Bare’syth 8:21 to 17:11 can be found among the Qumran scrolls, these specific passages on circumcision are not only extant, they are unchanged. There isn’t a single discrepancy between the Dead Sea Scrolls, dating to the second century BCE, and the Masoretic Text from Bare’syth 17:12 through the end of the chapter. And on the other end, we have a complete copy of Paul’s letter to the Galatians dating to the late first century CE.

Moreover, the preposterous notion that Paul didn’t write Galatians, a book he claims to have written, a book which is universally attributed to him, a book which provides the most sweeping panorama of his life, and a book which serves as the most direct rebuttal to the Disciples regarding his animosity toward circumcision, the Covenant, and the Torah, does not exonerate Paul. He is equally opposed to circumcision, the Covenant, and the Torah in Acts and in Romans.

This means that the conflict between Yahowah and Paul cannot be resolved. If you side with Paul, you will invalidate the benefits of the Covenant. You will be excluded from God’s family. And your soul will cease to exist. (Unless you are a "soul winner," someone who evangelizes for Christianity and its Gospel of Grace. In that case, you will spend all of eternity in the Abyss with everyone else who deliberately sent souls away from Yahowah’s Covenant.) And that is why the choices we make in the flesh, while we retain our physical and animal nature, are so important.

The sixth lesson we can learn from this passage is not to trust English bible translations. Yahowah actually said: "And (wa) the uncircumcised and unresponsive (‘arel) male who fails to remember this (zakar), who relationally (‘asher) is not (lo’) circumcised or changed (muwl) with regard to (‘eth) the flesh (basar) of his foreskin (‘aralah), that soul (nepesh) shall be cut off, be excluded, be banished, and be uprooted, ceasing to exist (karat) from (min) Her (huw’) family (‘am). By way of association (‘eth) he violated, disassociating himself from (parar) My Family-Oriented Covenant Relationship (beryth-y)." (Bare’syth 17:14)

While not as revealing or complete, the Roman Catholic Vulgate was accurate up to the point of identifying whose family a soul would be excluded from. "The male whose flesh of his foreskin shall not be circumcised, that soul shall be destroyed out of his people: because he hath broken my covenant." Not only is the pronoun "Her" scribed independently in the Hebrew text via huw’, "‘am – family" was suffixed in the third person feminine singular, reinforcing the fact that it is "Her family" – speaking of the Set-Apart Spirit and the Covenant. Also, the reference to "his people" suggests banishment from the villages and land of Yisra’el, rather than from our Spiritual Mother’s family.

The King James Version reads identically, and thus promotes the same myth. It is one which would reinforce the ability of the church to excommunicate those who they opposed.

Recognizing that both translators had made a mistake, the New Living Translation, not knowing how to deal with "Her," added a second "covenant" and substituted it for "Her." "Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant." Since it is God’s Word, and since accuracy is therefore important, you should know that there is no basis for "any" in the Hebrew text. They combined "‘arel – uncircumcised and unresponsive" with "lo’ muwl – is not circumcised or changed," as if only one of these words was spoken by God. Then they completely ignored "‘eth basar ‘aralah – with regard to the flesh of their foreskin"—ostensibly to avoid destroying Pauline Doctrine. Then reversing course, they not only repeated "beryth – covenant," even though it was written only once, they neglected to convey that beryth was scribed with the first person singular suffix, making it "My Covenant."

Simply stated, as a sign of our desire to participate in Yahowah’s Covenant we are to be circumcised. The covering of the male genitalia responsible for consummating a marriage and producing children is to be "cut off and separated"—set apart. Our Heavenly Father’s Covenant is about bearing children and building a family by way of a monogamous marriage relationship. Yahowah does not want anyone to miss this point.

And yet adversarially, Paul has used "not being circumcised" as the fulcrum of his assault on the Torah, calling it irrelevant with regard to one’s salvation—even enslaving. Therefore, Yahowah’s message is the antithesis of Paul’s.

And so is what follows. Yachezq’el was given a prophetic preview of Yahowah’s return to Earth, during which time he received the following instructions regarding the Torah and, by association, circumcision...

"And (wa) Yahowah (efei) said to me (‘amar ‘el), ‘Son of man (ben ‘adam – child of Adam), place upon your heart (sym leb), look with your eyes (ra’ah ba ‘ayn), and listen with your ears (wa shama’ ba ‘ozen), accordingly, to (‘eth) everything (kol) which, as a result of the relationship (‘asher – beneficially as a blessing), I (‘any) have spoken (dabar – have communicated orally and in writing using words) with regard to (‘eth la) all of (kol) the clearly communicated prescriptions and inscribed recommendations of what should be done in this life to live (wa chuwqah – the engraved written instructions regarding life; from choq – the shared and nourishing thoughts associated with an allocation of something from one who is set apart which is designed to cut us into a relationship agreement) in Yahowah’s Family Home (ba beyth Yahowah – the home, family, household, temple, and tabernacle of Yahowah).’

And so with all of (wa la kol) My Towrah teachings (Towrah towrah – My Towrah instructions, My Towrah guidance, and My Towrah directions (scribed in the singular as a specific and unique title and then in the plural as a word to indicate that the Towrah is comprised of many teachings, directions, and instructions)), you should choose to place them on your heart (sym leb – you should decide to set and examine them in your core (qal stem indicating a literal reading is preferred, perfect conjugation telling us that this should be done without reservation, and consecutive form indicating volition)) in order to enter (la mabow’ – so that you gain entrance to) the Family Home (ha beyth – the house and household, the temple and tabernacle) and with regard to (ba) everything (kol) which comes forth from (mowtsa’ – the ways, acts, and proclamations of, which flows from our journey of exploration to the source of) this set-apart place (ha miqdash – the separated and dedicated sanctuary)." (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:5)

The Torah is the path which leads to the entranceway of Yahowah’s Home. There is no other way; no other door; no other set of instructions. Go forth and tell this to all those who want to live with God.

Yahowah is not fond of those who rebel against Him or those who diminish the value of His instructions. In this next verse, God specifically criticizes Yisra’elites (like Sha’uwl) for inviting those who have ignored the sign of the Covenant into His Home—calling what Paul has done: "the greatest and most detestable of all abominations." Indeed, to all of those who are opposed to Yahowah, Yisra’el, Yahuwdym, or the Towrah, Yahowah says:

"And you shall say to the rebellious ones (mery – to those who resist My guidance and are opposed to Me), to (‘el) the House of Yisra’el, this is what My Foundation, the Upright Pillar (‘edon – the upright foundation of the Temple), Yahowah (Yahowah), says: ‘Your greatest (rab), most (min) detestable abomination (tow’ebah – repulsive, loathsome, immoral, and abhorrent practice) of all (kol) in the House of Yisra’el is including (bow’ – pursuing) sons (ben) of foreigners (nekar – strangers), uncircumcised (‘arel) of heart (leb) and uncircumcised (‘arel) of flesh (basar – body) to exist (hayah) in My Sanctuary (miqdash – Home, from qadash – purifying place which is set apart) to defile and profane it and Him (halal huw’ – to desecrate and pollute it, treating Him with contempt [with huw’, meaning it or Him serving to unify Yahowsha’ and the Temple]) alongside (‘eth) My Home (beyth – House and Household)…" (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:6-7)

It isn’t that God is opposed to foreigners entering His Home. But instead, the message here is that we Gowym must follow the same path to Yahowah’s Household that Yahuwdym do—and that is by way of the Covenant and Called-Out Assemblies. There aren’t two paths to God, or two doorways to heaven, one for Jews the other for Gentiles. There is but one Passover, one Unleavened Bread, one Ma’aseyah, one Way.

The inference here is that by ignoring and rejecting the sign of the Covenant—circumcision—some Yisra’elites have treated Yahowah, Yahowsha’, and God’s Home, with contempt. And considering that Sha’uwl’s principle argument with the Torah has been and will be circumcision, his ministry and letters sit at the crosshairs of this prophetic warning. It’s hard to imagine Yahowah’s disgust being directed at anyone other than Sha’uwl in this regard. No one else in all of human history even came close to Paul’s influence regarding the specific topic of disassociating circumcision from salvation.

This is one of the most specific, and yet devastating passages on the topic of disrespecting the Torah, and especially the sign of the Covenant. In it, Yahowah is speaking about His return on the Day of Reconciliations (Yowm Kippurym), five days before the beginning of the Millennial Sabbath on the Miqra’ of Sukah. And in the context of bringing the Tribulation to a close, the one thing that He wants Yachezq’el to tell His people above all else is that inviting non-circumcised Gentiles into His Sanctuary (which serves as a metaphor for Sukah and thus heaven) is the single most repulsive and immoral thing any Yisra’elite has ever done. This does not bode well for Paul’s letters.

Yahowah is therefore predicting that there is a devastating consequence associated with Paul’s position on this matter—where he flaunted his rejection of the Torah and circumcision. And that is because disassociating circumcision from the Covenant, demeaning the Torah, and disassociating the Upright Pillar (Yahowsha’) from Yahowah’s instructions, has nullified God’s plan of salvation for billions of souls, causing Yahowah to prophetically tell us that the letter Sha’uwl would write to the Galatians is an "abomination."

By profaning the human sign, or signature, of the Covenant, the Spiritual signs, or metaphors, of the Covenant would also be defiled: bread, oil, wine, and blood. "…in (ba) your coming near and approaching (qarab) My bread (lehem), My finest and choicest oil and wine (halab – mother’s milk as a nurturing food for children), and My blood (dam), you broke (parar – severed, violated, and nullified, revoked, frustrated, and thwarted) My Familial Covenant Relationship (beryth) by all your detestable abominations (tow’ebah – repulsive and loathsome acts)…" (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:7)

Our collective unwillingness as a people to take Yahowah and His Word seriously has led to the nullification of the Covenant for many. And this problem has become ubiquitous as a result of Galatians and its byproduct: Christianity.

Specifically, Paul’s antagonism toward circumcision is mixed with references to the Ma’aseyah, represented by "bread," the Spirit, represented by "oil," and the Festival Feasts, denoted by "blood and wine." So by demeaning one, Paul demeaned all. He broke the connection between them and thereby nullified the Covenant and thwarted its intent.

For Yahowah to be this angry at this one thing—inappropriately inviting uncircumcised Gentiles into His family and home—it strongly suggests that God is using Sha’uwl’s most notorious single act of rebellion against His Torah to alert us to the consequence of the man’s message as a whole. Pauline Doctrine, by severing the connection between the Ma’aseyah and the Torah, rendered Yahowsha’s sacrifice irrelevant and of no affect for billons of Gentile Christians.

While Sha’uwl has invited people of every race and place into God’s family and home, Yahowah has put us on notice that his invitation was a fraud, and that the self-acclaimed Apostle was the greatest abomination in human history. And this is not the first, nor will it be the last time Yahowah lashes out at Sha’uwl prophetically. He and we have just begun.

One ill-advised letter was sufficient to separate Christians from God, because as a direct result of the canonization of Paul’s epistles, far too few Christians observe the Torah or teach the "required functions" of Yahowah’s "Set-Apart Ones," the Ma’aseyah Yahowsha’ and the Set-Apart Spirit. "…and not (wa lo’) closely observing and carefully considering (shamar – focusing upon and examining so as to be aware of by paying close attention to) the requirement (mishmereth – responsibility and mission) of My (‘any) Set-Apart and Purifying Ones (qadash / qodesh – set apart and cleansing (plural)).’" (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:8) One God, two manifestations, different roles, same result. The Set-Apart Spirit and the Son are both set apart from Yahowah to serve us.

The "required function and mission" of Yahowah’s "Set-Apart Ones" are something we are "to closely observe and personally be aware of." Therefore, God wants us to understand the roles His Son and Spirit play in this relationship and in our salvation—and specifically appreciate their contribution to the enablement of the seven Called-Out Assemblies. The entire Torah exists in large part to convey this information to us because our lives depend upon it. And yet it is this connection that Sha’uwl has severed. As a result, faith in his Gospel of Grace became nothing more than the belief in a ghoulish spectacle and myth.

You’ll also notice that their functions were listed as "mandatory." When God makes a promise, such as those delineated in His seven-step plan of salvation, He is committed to fulfilling what He has vowed. And that is what makes Him and His Torah trustworthy.

To appreciate this, we are encouraged to carefully observe the Torah so that we can properly convey what it says regarding the path we must follow to reach the doorway of Yahowah’s Home. "And you were appointed (sym) to personally and carefully observe (shamar – to focus upon, examine, and consider) this required function (mismeret – responsibility and mission) concerning My Sanctuary (miqdash – Shelter and Home, from qadash – purifying place which is set apart) on your behalf.’" (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:8)

But most Jews and Christians have rejected Yahowah’s instructions in favor of their debilitating faith. Far too few personally and carefully observe what the Torah has to say about Yahowah’s home and how we are to get there. And some, like Sha’uwl, have actually spoken against the path Yahowah has provided.

What follows is revealed in God’s voice. It is unequivocal...

"Thus says My Foundation, the Upright Pillar (‘edon – the upright foundation of the Temple), Yahowah (Yahowah): ‘Every (kol) foreign (nekar) son (ben) who is uncircumcised (‘arel) in heart (leb) and in the flesh (basar) shall not (lo’) be included (bow’ – be pursued, arrive, or come into) inside (‘el – and among) My (‘any) Sanctuary (miqdash – Shelter, Tabernacle, and Home; from qadash – purifying place which is set apart).’" (Yachezq’el / God Grows / Ezekiel 44:9)