ments in the Torah that relate to the way one should treat another, therefore, apply to both Jewish people and Gentile believers. Commandments pertaining to “your brother” and “your neighbor” and “one another” should be interpreted in like manner, i.e., incumbent upon both Jews and Gentile believers in their behavior toward both Jews and Gentile believers. These are the weightier matters that Yeshua emphasized for all of his followers. These are among the laws that the Gentile disciples learned as they heard Moses preached in the synagogues on every Sabbath."}] 66:["$","p","85",{"children":"In summary, we can identify the commandments in the Torah that apply to Gentile disciples under three categories of laws:"}] 67:["$","p","86",{"children":"

\n The Seven Laws of Noah
\n +
\n The Four Laws of the Apostolic Decree
\n +
\n You Shall Love Your Neighbor Laws\n

"}] 68:["$","p","87",{"children":"

Taken together, the commandments that fall under those three categories constitute a majority of the Torah’s commandments that can be observed today. Therefore, it’s absolutely wrong to say that the Torah does not apply to Gentile believers. When we combine all of the seven Noachide laws and their various derivatives with the four laws of the apostolic decree and all of their implications, we discover that many of the Torah’s 613 commandments, particularly the prohibitions, do apply directly to Gentile believers and are incumbent upon them. When we add to those all of the Torah’s laws and ethical standards about interpersonal relationships (the love your neighbor laws), we find that the majority of the Torah’s laws have direct application to all the disciples of Yeshua: both Jews and Gentiles. Therefore, one cannot say that the Torah is only incumbent upon the Jewish people. Most of the Torah’s prohibitions apply equally to both Jews and Gentile believers.

"}] 69:["$","p","88",{"children":"The exceptions are commandments pertaining to Israel’s sanctities, such as calendar observances (Shabbat and festivals), circumcision, tzitzit, tefillin, mezuzot, and the rest of the dietary laws, not to mention the various Levitical laws of the priesthood, the sacrifices, the sacred portions, and the Temple. Commandments pertaining to Israel’s ritual sanctities are not considered incumbent upon Gentile disciples. Bottom line: First Fruits of Zion does not teach Gentile disciples that they have any mandate to observe those commandments. This distinction is argued at length in Paul’s epistles, especially Galatians where he warns the Gentile disciples who are considering becoming Jewish, “I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law” (Galatians 5:3). (See my book, The Holy Epistle to the Galatians.)"}] 6a:["$","p","89",{"children":"That being said, it’s also obvious from a thorough reading of the New Testament that Gentile disciples in the days of the apostles participated in Israel’s holy days along with the Jewish community, but when they did so, they did not do it on the level of a mitzvah (commandment). There is no prohibition on celebrating the seventh day as a day of rest or a day of worship. There is no prohibition on celebrating the biblical holidays in concert with the Jewish people. As explained above, in the Messianic Era, the nations will worship on the holy days and follow the biblical calendar. A proleptic approach to the kingdom encourages Gentiles to do so even now in anticipation of that future era."}] 6b:["$","p","90",{"children":"Diversity of the Communities"}] 6c:["$","p","91",{"children":"Distinction theology opens the door for a vast variety of expression among the communities of Yeshua. Not every community of Yeshua should be a synagogue. In the Philippines, for example, I would expect a community of