Here is my refutation, and then some;
Hello,
Here are my comments of Chaims statement; The fundamental problem I have with Chaims analogy of Genesis chapter 17 is that circumsion of the flesh is done as a badge of the eternal covenant, or as the evidence of it, NOT to achieve the covenant as Chaim seems to be saying. The cutting off of the soul referred to in Genesis 17;14 had a practical application prior to what is taught in the New Testament, which is better described as a fullfillment of the SAME eternal covenant. So focusing on an evidence of the covenant which does change with the coming of Jesus and saying it in itself is an inseperable part of the actual unchanging covenant is wrong, in my view. A Christian parallel would be that we are not saved by works, but when we are saved works are produced, which is an evidence of real salvation. When, as I Christian I speak to a Jew about Jesus, it's not about a "new covenant" but rather how Christ fulfills the promise of the same eternal covenant spoken about in Genesis chapter 17. One other issue I would like to address which was brought to my attention is the notion that Christianity's triun Godhead concept is in fact stolen from ancient pagan mystery religions. The father of paganism is Satan. Satan, according to the scriptures was called Lucifer prior to the fall[Isaiah 14-and yes I know there is also a historical application of these verses]. Lucifer was the highest angel in heaven, angel numero uno. In that position and proximity to G-d, it is certainly plausible that he had either direct knowledge, or knew enough to suspect a triun aspect of G-d. Move forward to the beginnings of the written Word. Job chapter 1 verse 7 talks about Satan "going to and fro in the earth,and from walking up and down in it". Since the minute G-d began to reveal himself to man, Satan has been taking notes, analyzing G-d's word. Christ is on every page of the Bible, Genesis to Revelation[You would be shocked how much is revealed in Leviticus!] Satan is a duplicator, in fact in the NT the two Greek words translated as anti-christ mean either "over and against" or "substitute". So Satan had ample time prior to the coming of Christ to begin deceiving pagan man regarding a "substitute" triun godhead. Every biblically sound Christian knows about the ancient pagan mystery religions, read Hislop's Two Babylons, and it always amuses me when people approach me like that's some great revelation they are going to pounce me with. Nimrod the hunter was a hunter of mens souls. Look at the Hebrew. Babylon is there at the beginning and it's there at the end. Satan planted this substitute with the very intention, it would seem of causing people to say "Christianity comes from paganism" because the true Messiah came afterward. Satan was also planning something else, it would seem. The early church suffered terrible physical assaults,mutilation,tortures, etc. Being ripped apart by lions. But these brave Christians went to their deaths rather than renounce Christ. This was Satan attempting to destroy the church physically from the outside. Problem is that people saw that level of commitment and the church grew. So what was Satan's next plan? Constantine. Get inside the true church, make it a state religion, POLLUTE IT WITH ALL THOSE FILTHY PAGAN CONCEPTS, and spiritually kill it. And for 1,000 years that dirty perversion called Roman Catholicism did that very well. BUT A REMNANT OF TRUE BELIEVERS NEVER TOTALLY DISAPPEARED! This wonderful group of Christians[some within the Catholic system] whose legacy I have inherited, despite what jdl4ever tries to foist on me, still stand strong today. If JTF is commited to the notion that it is ok to assault Christians for preaching Christ to Jews, that I am "rodef" for doing so, then sadly this partnership is now over.