What is a Judaizer?

Q. A reader named "Paul" asks: " What is a "Judaizer" and what is it not? How does this square with Apostate Christian thought which says one demonstrates their faith by NOT keeping His commandments?""

A. There are two questions here, so let's take the first one, which will lead to the second. A "Judaizer" is someone who says that one has to become Jewish to be saved, it has nothing to do with teaching the Torah, everyone who believes is to do that. A Judaizer is one who says you have to be Jewish (Judah=judaiazer) and that involves ritual circumcision. This is, of course wrong, and it was dealt with in the Book of Acts and the Book of Galatians.

There were people coming in to Gentiles saying that they had to convert to Judaism to be saved (Acts 15 1-3) and this involved getting circumcised and Galatians is clear that a Gentile does not have to do that to have a place in the Faith. The type of circumcision being discussed in Galatians is Ritual Circumcision, not the commandment to be circumcised as part of the Abrahamic Covenant. The commandments apply to both Jew and Gentile, and each have a place in the Olive Tree of G-d and one does not have to become Jewish. (1Cor 7.19-21).

We are commanded, however, to teach the Torah and this is not Judaizing, it is telling people to obey G-d. Does a person "judaize" if you tell your children to love their neighbor, or to tell the truth? Are you "judaizing" when you tell someone not to steal? Of course not, and neither are you "judaizing" when you tell someone they should keep the other commandments.

As far as the second part of your question, the doctrine that says if you keep the commandments you have fallen from grace is ridiculous. I have heard this before and was taught it in Bible College, so I know it is around. People actually think they show G-d their faith by disobeying Him, that is how deceived they are. In truth, you obey G-d because you love Him and want to please your Father, and that demonstrates to Him you believe. Faith is action, and that action has to be consistant with His Word, not what we think we should do. We are to obey the commandments that apply to you, and this goes for every man (Ecc 12.13). Any teaching that tells you that you don't have to keep the commandments should be rejected and you need to find another teacher. Now, go and study!