Should Gentiles Observe the Commandments of Torah?

[H4C Reader]

Shalom, admin... I have 2 questions...

1) should do the gentiles obey ALL mitzvot, including chukim (like mitzvah not to cut your side hair, etc.)?

2) I have learned MANY teaching from MANY Messianic congregation, but I become so confused because it is so fractured... TorahResource says about One Torah movement, FFOZ with its "Divine Invitation", YourArmsForIsrael with its "Two House of Israel" theology, etc... I often say to myself, will there be ONE TRUTH in Messianic movement in next era?

[admin]

Shalom, admin... I have 2 questions...

1) should do the gentiles obey ALL mitzvot, including chukim (like mitzvah not to cut your side hair, etc.)?

2) I have learned MANY teaching from MANY Messianic congregation, but I become so confused because it is so fractured... TorahResource says about One Torah movement, FFOZ with its "Divine Invitation", YourArmsForIsrael with its "Two House of Israel" theology, etc... I often say to myself, will there be ONE TRUTH in Messianic movement in next era?

There are many false teachers at work today, including many who teach error in the name of the "Messianic movement."

The single most important mitzvah of ALL of Scripture is to trust in Yeshua as LORD and Savior. When He was asked about doing the "works of God," Yeshua answered: "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (John 6:29). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6) since we are literally saved by hope, not by works of righteousness (Rom. 8:24, Titus 3:5). What God requires is authentic faith in His Son (אֱמוּנַת יֵשׁוּעַ). Again, this is the single most important mitzvah, the central commandment of Scripture.

The other two most important commandments are the Vehavta ("Love God with all your heart") and the commandment to love others as yourself (Luke 10:27). These presuppose 1) that you have FAITH that God is real, and 2) that you are enabled to observe these commandments in the truth. Apart from new life imparted through Yeshua, however, it is impossible to fulfill these commandments. Indeed, the "law of sin and death" is at work for all who attempt to draw close to the LORD apart from His appointed sacrifice for sin....

Legalism attempts to find the "key" to open the door into the Presence of God through various forms of self effort ("don't touch this," "don't eat that," etc. Col. 2:20-23). It's underlying hope is that if I do such and such (or abstain from such and so), God will be propitiated and I will be accepted. It is therefore a mode of relating to God based on His conditional acceptance and approval.... But faith is the key that opens the door to true freedom. It is the miracle that makes blind eyes see. When we truly "live in the Presence of the LORD" by faith, we are set free from the trap of legalism. We receive the love of God; we accept that we are accepted; and then we walk in God's zeal and care for our souls (in that order). We do not relate to God as Judge but as our Heavenly Father, our Abba, our loving Savior.

"The declared righteous shall live by faith" (צַדִּיק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ יִחְיֶה). The Apostle Paul warned that those who pervert the message of the gospel by adding any form of "works righteousness" are cursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

"For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith (צַדִּיק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ יִחְיֶה), but if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls" (Heb. 10:37-40)