Torah 101 - Will teach you the fundamentals of applying
Torah teachings to your life
People often ask us what they should do in order to understand and follow the teachings in the Torah. What are the first steps? Well, for those that are newly discovering the foundations of their faith, we follow the guidelines of Acts 15.
"19 'Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.'” Acts 15:19-21
The new converts of the early church were instructed to begin with this starting point and to continue learning Torah:
1. Abstain from the pollution of idols - False teachings, false celebrations, false worship and idolatry.
2. Abstain from sexual immorality - End immoral lifestyles and sexual sins. Pursue holiness based on God's definition of holiness.
3. Follow dietary rules - Follow God's biblical diet.
4. Learn and grow into the teachings of Moses (aka; The Torah - the first five books of the bible) while honoring the Sabbath/ Shabbat every week and the feast days.
Therefore, we will provide you with resources to help you begin this amazing journey into the teachings of the Torah and the pursuit of right living.
"19 'Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.'” Acts 15:19-21
The new converts of the early church were instructed to begin with this starting point and to continue learning Torah:
1. Abstain from the pollution of idols - False teachings, false celebrations, false worship and idolatry.
2. Abstain from sexual immorality - End immoral lifestyles and sexual sins. Pursue holiness based on God's definition of holiness.
3. Follow dietary rules - Follow God's biblical diet.
4. Learn and grow into the teachings of Moses (aka; The Torah - the first five books of the bible) while honoring the Sabbath/ Shabbat every week and the feast days.
Therefore, we will provide you with resources to help you begin this amazing journey into the teachings of the Torah and the pursuit of right living.
Abstain from the pollution of idols
Mostly this meant having no part with foods sacrificed to idols, which are polluted and will pollute you. Many people think this is something that can be ignored today, because no one sacrifices animals to false gods today. However, this is occurring every day and the food is making its way right in your local community. Did you ever hear of “halal foods”? Grocery store shelves carry halal foods and people are buying them thinking they are healthier, but these are actually food that has been slaughtered and prayed over in the name of the Muslim god Allah. Multiple scriptures tell us to never eat these things, so this teaching is very relevant today.
However, if the food sacrificed to an idol can pollute you, then how much more will the idol itself pollute you? Acts 15 also tells the new converts to flee from “sexual immorality,” but the Greek word is “porneia”, which is the root of the English terms "pornography, pornographic." This word is multifaceted because it means: to prostitute, to be unfaithful, to be a harlot, fornicate, act immoral, but it also means idolatry. Therefore, within this chapter (Acts 15) we have a double warning to flee from idolatry. Idolatry itself is also multifaceted, because it can mean religious worship of physical idols, or excessive reverence or devotion to just about anything except God.
False teachers and their teachings can lead to idolatry
Idolatry can also mean innocently following after pagan practices, or devotion to teachings that go counter to the teachings of the scripture that will lead you away from God. We must flee from these false teachings so they don’t lead us into idolatry. Never elevate a teaching or pagan practice that God despises above his words.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this teaching, don't receive him into your house, and don't welcome him”
2 John 1:7 & 10
Those who teach false doctrines are acting as an Antichrist. “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:18
This Antichrist spirit is on earth today turning people away from God with false doctrines. Eventually, the true Antichrist will rise and deceive many to the point in which they will worship his image (idolatry).
“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Revelations 16:2
We must also do away with pagan or occult practices that have crept into the church. These include practicing Yoga, celebrating Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and an assortment of holidays that originated in pagan practices.
“Take heed to yourself… that you not inquire after their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their gods…"
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Therefore, we cannot take pagan practices and make them holy, yet this is exactly what many have done and continue to do.
Paul also warned us that messing around with idols is really playing around with demonic forces:
“…Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
The idols are nothing, but participating with these idols is equal to participating with the wicked forces behind them.
Greed is also idolatry
Colossians 3:5 tells us: “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry”
Here we see that coveting is having such a strong desire for material wealth, people, or things in general that your lust for these things overrides your love for God. Therefore, Paul is saying your greed is also classified as idolatry, and once again this means you are yielding to wickedness.
Resources to learn more:
We have included resources that we would like you to study to learn more about abstaining from the pollution of idols and idolatry.
Just click the links listed below:
- Trick or Treat? - From Bill Cloud
- Silent Night, Holy Night? - From Bill Cloud
- The Easter Story - From Bill Cloud
Bill Cloud Ministries - Check their site for additional teachings or if the above listed links are not working.
However, if the food sacrificed to an idol can pollute you, then how much more will the idol itself pollute you? Acts 15 also tells the new converts to flee from “sexual immorality,” but the Greek word is “porneia”, which is the root of the English terms "pornography, pornographic." This word is multifaceted because it means: to prostitute, to be unfaithful, to be a harlot, fornicate, act immoral, but it also means idolatry. Therefore, within this chapter (Acts 15) we have a double warning to flee from idolatry. Idolatry itself is also multifaceted, because it can mean religious worship of physical idols, or excessive reverence or devotion to just about anything except God.
False teachers and their teachings can lead to idolatry
Idolatry can also mean innocently following after pagan practices, or devotion to teachings that go counter to the teachings of the scripture that will lead you away from God. We must flee from these false teachings so they don’t lead us into idolatry. Never elevate a teaching or pagan practice that God despises above his words.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this teaching, don't receive him into your house, and don't welcome him”
2 John 1:7 & 10
Those who teach false doctrines are acting as an Antichrist. “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:18
This Antichrist spirit is on earth today turning people away from God with false doctrines. Eventually, the true Antichrist will rise and deceive many to the point in which they will worship his image (idolatry).
“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Revelations 16:2
We must also do away with pagan or occult practices that have crept into the church. These include practicing Yoga, celebrating Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and an assortment of holidays that originated in pagan practices.
“Take heed to yourself… that you not inquire after their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their gods…"
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Therefore, we cannot take pagan practices and make them holy, yet this is exactly what many have done and continue to do.
Paul also warned us that messing around with idols is really playing around with demonic forces:
“…Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
The idols are nothing, but participating with these idols is equal to participating with the wicked forces behind them.
Greed is also idolatry
Colossians 3:5 tells us: “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry”
Here we see that coveting is having such a strong desire for material wealth, people, or things in general that your lust for these things overrides your love for God. Therefore, Paul is saying your greed is also classified as idolatry, and once again this means you are yielding to wickedness.
Resources to learn more:
We have included resources that we would like you to study to learn more about abstaining from the pollution of idols and idolatry.
Just click the links listed below:
- Trick or Treat? - From Bill Cloud
- Silent Night, Holy Night? - From Bill Cloud
- The Easter Story - From Bill Cloud
Bill Cloud Ministries - Check their site for additional teachings or if the above listed links are not working.
Abstain from sexual immorality
As we previously learned “sexual immorality,” comes from the Greek word is “porneia”, which is the root of the English terms "pornography, pornographic." This word is multifaceted because it means: to prostitute, to be unfaithful, to be a harlot, fornicate, act immoral, but it also means idolatry.
Resources for further study:
- What is Sexual Immorality - Online article
- Scripture verses on Sexual Immorality - Online
Resources for further study:
- What is Sexual Immorality - Online article
- Scripture verses on Sexual Immorality - Online
Follow dietary rules
In Acts 15 the new converts are told to refrain from eating blood and from eating anything strangled or improperly killed/prepared. This means you cannot eat rare steaks, or things like blood sausages or blood pudding. However, we need to understand that the people arguing this matter were all Jewish and so their definition of food would have been biblical foods (clean foods). This is why they never mentioned what foods to eat or not eat. It would have been silly for the Jerusalem council to make a list of acceptable foods, because they would have never considered swine a food, or any other detestable unclean animal. In addition, if the apostles would have suggested the new converts are approved to eat unclean foods, then I am sure the Pharisees in the group would have risen up in protest.
Keep in mind that even Paul stated food must be “sanctified through the word of God.” 1 Timothy 4:5. Sanctified means the food is set apart from the unclean (common)and made holy by the scriptures. Where in the scriptures does God set apart certain foods from other foods? In the Torah.
See a list of clean and unclean foods Click Here
See the following resource for additional study about the biblical diet.
Keep in mind that even Paul stated food must be “sanctified through the word of God.” 1 Timothy 4:5. Sanctified means the food is set apart from the unclean (common)and made holy by the scriptures. Where in the scriptures does God set apart certain foods from other foods? In the Torah.
See a list of clean and unclean foods Click Here
See the following resource for additional study about the biblical diet.
"For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:21. Therefore, it was expected that the converts would honor the Sabbath/Shabbat, which is from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. This would also include the feast days, since the converts would gather on these days also. What is the main purpose for these converts to gather with others on the Shabbat? To hear Moses (Torah) which is preached in every city. By hearing Moses preached every Shabbat the new converts would grown in their understanding of Torah and learn about
Learn and grown into the teachings of Moses
Learn the Torah every Shabbat by joining a LIVE service. Click Here to view past archives or join in every Saturday at 12:45 PM Eastern for the LIVE STREAM (see the LIVE STREAM tab on their website).
- The Fundamentals of Torah -
- Names of the First Five Books -
- Weekly Torah Portion - (Portions of scriptures read during the week for instruction and reflection)
- The Fundamentals of Torah -
- Names of the First Five Books -
- Weekly Torah Portion - (Portions of scriptures read during the week for instruction and reflection)
Honor the Shabbat & Feast Days
- 64 Biblical Reasons to Keep the 7th Day Biblical Sabbath -
- Shabbat Objections and Answers -
- Overview of the Feast Days -
- Hanukkah -
- What is the correct calendar?
- Support for the correct calendar - Only the current Hebrew calendar is authorized by the last Sanhedrin.
- Shabbat Objections and Answers -
- Overview of the Feast Days -
- Hanukkah -
- What is the correct calendar?
- Support for the correct calendar - Only the current Hebrew calendar is authorized by the last Sanhedrin.
Common Questions and Answers
COMING SOON!!! This section is currently under construction, but stay tuned!
We will announce the release of the new Q&A Sections on our Facebook page. Like and Follow us there! Shalom!
We will announce the release of the new Q&A Sections on our Facebook page. Like and Follow us there! Shalom!