Ruth was given the protection of the community, such as the right to glean the harvest, up front because of her association with Naomi. She most likely also had a transition time during her marriage to Naomi's son. Caleb was with Israel almost from the beginning, and recieved the Torah along with them. What have they to do with my point, especially when I've given counter-examples that you've not even attempted to address?
Selling meat to non-believers has nothing to do with giving one set of rules to Jews and one to Gentiles.
It doesn't say they were non-believers, but aliens living in the land. There were many in the Tanakh who worshipped YHVH but who were not Israelites, like Jethro, Naaman, and Nebuchadnezzar.
What your statement really implies is that Gentiles are incapable of living to the same standards as the Jews.
If you are just as capable, then why don't you?
But in any case, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that those of us who were not born and raised keeping the Feastdays of YHVH, watching what we eat, keeping the other ceremonial commands, thinking of matters of ritual cleanliness, etc., require time to learn and make the transition under the best of circumstances. Trust me, I fail often, and I know whence I speak of when I say that it takes time to learn and grow. I plan to write a book on that subject someday. But you know what? I fail in keeping my temper, in having lustful thoughts, in taking time for prayer, and a host of other things too. That doesn't mean that I stop trying.
In addition, there are many commands that we may be morally capable but physically incapable of keeping. For example, though I would if I could, I do not have the resources to be able to fly out to Jerusalem three times a year. For another example, a tribesman who lives in a harsh part of the world where the major part of the diet that keeps him alive is pork may not be able to keep kosher without risking his family's health. (The latter case is precisely why I believe that God intentionally did not make kosher manditory on Gentile believers even in the Tanakh.)
However, the inability to keep one command does not release me from all others. I may not be physically able to loan money to a person in need due to my own financial situation, but that does not release me from the commands to love and care for him in other ways--for example, by helping him to fix his broken-down car. Likewise, the inability to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem does not release me from the commands to observe God's Appointed Times. The inability of a tribesman to keep kosher does not release him from the command to give up his idols and fetishes.
The normal Christian life should be as such:
1) Recognizing one's fallen state, repent and trust in the Lord Yeshua for one's salvation.I minister to men in prison. When I meet a man who is struggling with homosexuality (and there is a lot of it behind bars) or a murderous temper, I don't worry about the fact that he cusses a lot. Outside of prison, if I meet a man who cheats on his wife and smokes, how much effort do I put into telling him that smoking is bad?2) Having been so saved, read the Word and seek ways to apply its teachings to one's life, not to obtain the salvation already given, but because one loves the Lord and trusts Him to know what is best.
3) When discovering a new command, or an old one that convicts one of any existing sin, seek to keep it. Memorize the passage, try to apply it at every opportunity until it becomes a habit and a lifestyle rather than an artificial external rule.
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3.
That's part of what I think the Apostles were dealing with when they set the bar so low for new Gentile believers to enter into the community (see my other post for the other reason). Some things, like putting an end to idolatry, are major and have to be nipped in the bud from the get-go, while others, like eating pork, can wait for the person to read about it themselves and let the Spirit convict them or not at His pleasure and in His time.
My point of Ruth and Caleb was Gentiles, as well as Jews, must come to God through faith-not ceremonies or rituals. It is those Jews who through faith that the Gentiles are grafted into. We are one family.
It doesn't say they were non-believers, but aliens living in the land....like Jethro, Naaman, and Nebuchadnezzar.
The verse you quoted does not clarify what "alien" means. You can no more interrupt it as meaning non-Jewish believers and I can say these were unbelievers. However, I will add that generally when the term "alien" is used (such as Gen 19:9) it refers to an outsider who doesn't fit in with the crowd.
As far as your list of Gentile believers in the OT, until the perfect sacrifice was made, these individuals looked forward to promise. We look back. That was the normalizing process of God's grace.
In addition, there are many commands that we may be morally capable but physically incapable of keeping.
No excuses. If we are incapable of keeping one part of the law we are guilty of breaking the whole thing. Our God is a perfect and holy God that cannot stand to view even the slightest imperfection. That is what divine love is all about; that He would have fellowship with those who would rebel.
If you seek to "keep the commandments" you'll end up like the rich, young ruler-unable to fulfill all the commandments. It is in Christ that we must trust for our strength to overcome, and were we fail to ask forgiveness.