The Seven Laws of Noah

Judaism teaches that there is no requirement for non-Jews to become Jews, and therefore there is no need for any sort of mission to convert people to Judaism. Instead, the belief is that G-d has laid down a minimum requirement on all humanity for a spiritually and morally acceptable life. So long as people live in accordance with this universal code they will inherit a place in the world to come.

This code of laws has become known as The Seven Laws of Noah. First of all, people must be monotheist, believing in the one Creator G-d. Secondly, they must accept the seven laws of Noah as follows:

idolatry is forbidden;
blasphemy is forbidden;
murder is forbidden;
sexual immorality is forbidden;
theft is forbidden;
eating from a live animal is forbidden;
establishing a just legal system is positively commanded.

Our standard and guide must always be the Word of God as given in the Holy Scriptures.

Let us now examine the above in the light of this:

1. Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) constantly relates salvation and fulfilment in life to a relationship with Himself. To read the gospels within the Brit Hadasha (New Testament) is to see that it is not simply a case of encouraging general good morality among people. Yeshua/Jesus claimed far more from people and for Himself than any other prophet. 

2. There are several other sets of laws within the Tanach (Old Testament/Covenant) that we are to follow:-

LORD, who may lodge in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

One of blameless life,
who does what is right
and speaks the truth from his heart,
who has no malice on his tongue,
who never wrongs his fellow,
and tells no tales against his neighbour;
who shows his scorn for those the LORD rejects,
but honours those who fear the LORD;
who holds to his oath even to his own hurt,
who does not put his money out to usury,
and never accepts a bride against the innocent.

He who behaves in this way will remain unshaken. (Psalm 15, David’s 11 commands.)

The person who:

behaves uprightly
and speaks the truth,
who scorns to enrich himself by extortion,
who keeps his hands clean from bribery,
who stops his ears against talk of murder
and closes his eyes against looking at evil —

he it is who will dwell on the heights, his refuge a fastness in the cliffs, his food assured and water never failing him. (Isaiah  33:15-16, giving his 6 commands.)

The LORD has told you mortals what is good, and what it is that the LORD requires of you:

only to act justly,
to love loyalty,
to walk humbly with you G d. (Micah 6:8, giving his 3 commands.)

These are the words of the LORD:

Maintain justice,
and do what is right,

for My deliverance is close at hand, and My victory will soon be revealed.

(Isaiah 56:1, giving his 2 commands.)

These are the words of the LORD to the people of Israel:

If you would live, make your way to Me. (Amos 5:4, giving 1 command.)

The righteous will live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4, again 1 command.)

3. Even in the Talmud, we find the following passage:

Rabbi Simlai said. ‘Six hundred and thirteen commandments were given to Moses;
three hundred and sixty five negative commandments … and two hundred
and forty eight positive commandments … Then David came and reduced them
to eleven. Then Isaiah came and reduced them to six. Then Micah came and reduced
them to three. Then Isaiah came again and reduced them to two … Then Amos
came and reduced them to one-Or you could also say Habakkuk came and reduced
them to one. (Makkot 23b- 24a.)

Keeping laws is not enough then when you read the Bible for yourself. When we examine the book of Isaiah we find in chapter 64:6 …"all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."

In Leviticus 17:11, we read "For the life of a creature is in the blood." "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,
and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22.

Israel was to be a light to the nations by their life under the LORD, but they transgressed and Isaiah chapter 5 tells of the judgement of G-d upon them. The warning is also within other books as well as the promise to bring them home again one day, which we have seen partly fulfilled in our lifetime. So in conclusion they were supposed to take the message of one G-d and convert the nations so that they could enjoy life and the life to come. Isaiah 56:3 and verse 7 says, Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, "The Lord will surely exclude me from His people," and "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Verse 8 confirms all the above, The Sovereign LORD declares — He who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

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