In Acts 15, we have the ''Influencers'' who Paul calls false brethren who came to the church in Antioch to spy out their liberty. These influencers were proselytes or converts to Judaism.  Acts 15:1: " Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED.'' When Paul speaks of works of the law, he is primarily referring to circumcision and conversion to Judaism, rather than obedience to the Torah. 

Acts 15 is often seen in context of the early church's struggle with the inclusion of the God-fearing Gentiles into the faith and the role of the Torah in the lives of believers, especially Gentile disciples. The influencers believe that since the God-fearers have pledged their allegiance to Yeshua (Jesus), they need to complete their faith and take it to the next step and become Jewish, so they can share in the commonwealth of Israel and be saved. 

The influencers believed that the Gentile disciples needed to undergo physical circumcision and become Jewish to be saved. And the God-fearing Gentiles were bewitched by the influencers. 

Circumcision as a Marker of Jewish Identity -Paul opposed the idea that God-fearing Gentiles needed to undergo circumcision and become Jewish to be included in God's covenant. Paul called this the ''Works of the law.'' Some early Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus) insisted that the God-fearing Gentiles must fully convert to Judaism to be part of the Messianic community and be saved, but Paul rejected this requirement.

Paul emphasized that faith in the Jewish Messiah was the true basis for inclusion in God's family, rather than circumcision or conversion rites. Paul taught that salvation of the Gentiles was through faith (loyalty) in Yeshua, and it is understood that does not require Jewish ritual observance like circumcision, but Gentiles are invited to be part of the Messianic community through faith in the Jewish Messiah. 

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15):

The decision made at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 is often seen as a significant turning point for the Messianic movement. The Jewish apostles concluded that God-fearing Gentiles should not be burdened with the full yoke of the Torah but should adhere to basic moral principles.  From the apostle's perspective, this is viewed as a recognition that the covenant between God and Israel has now expanded to include Gentiles, but this does not mean Gentiles need to fully become Jewish in order to be saved. 

The Jewish apostles emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Yeshua (Jesus) and that obedience to God's moral and ethical laws, as laid out in the Torah, is important for spiritual life. The Holy Spirit is believed to guide the believer in both understanding the Torah and living it out in a way that aligns with the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus).

In summary:

Acts 15 and Galatians highlights a key issue in the early church - whether Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved (works of the law). From the Messianic perspective, this issue is resolved by affirming that salvation is through faith in Yeshua (Jesus), not by circumcision. However, the Jewish apostles including Paul continued to honor the Torah's teachings, seeing them as a guide for righteous living, while acknowledging that Gentile believers are not required to undergo circumcision or works of the law in order to follow the Messiah. 

The letter to the Galatians is a strong defense of salvation through allegiance in Yeshua (Jesus) and not by becoming Jewish. Paul is not teaching against obeying God's commandments. Paul is against the influencers who were teaching the God-fearing Gentiles had to become Jewish in order to be saved. Paul wasn't against the Gentile disciples keeping God's commandments for righteousness and holy living. 

The influencers were essentially saying that Gentiles who wanted to follow the Jewish Messiah had to take on ritual conversion to be saved. However, Paul through the Holy Spirit made it clear that is salvation by grace through faith (not faith alone), and not becoming legally Jewish.

Keep in mind, that Paul was a Jewish rabbi - a Pharisee, and his understanding of the Torah was profound and deeply rooted in his Jewish heritage. Paul teaches that believers, both Jewish and Gentile, are called to live in accordance with God's righteous standards -which includes many of the moral and ethical teachings found in the Torah.

Paul's own life was marked by Torah observance. He was a Pharisee who had been trained in the Torah, and even after his conversion to follow Yeshua (Jesus), he continued to obey the Torah. 

Works of the law is not a rejection of Torah obedience. Paul taught that obedience to the Torah is still part of the believer's walk with God. Paul didn't teach against the Torah; rather, he taught that salvation and right standing with God come through faith in Messiah, and that the moral principles of the Torah still have a place in the life of a believer, empowered by the Spirit.

1. The works of the law are not obedience to the commandments found in the Torah. 

2. Works of the law is referring to identity marker, becoming legally Jewish to be saved.