Law - 'Versus' - Grace
by Rev. Allan Moorhead
Part 4
Believers Relationship to the Torah
This topic of our relationship to Torah is a topic of great interest in the church today and that is because most believers want to do what God expects from them because they love God. Also, the Holy Spirit is also bringing believers into a greater understanding of God's word and his righteousness. Many of these mature believers are also beginning to understand that there is more to a believer's life than just salvation. Some churches speak of salvation as the only means of a relationship to God. It is interesting to note that the book of Hebrews speak on how some believers are only able to drink the milk of God's word and are not able to consume the meat of God's word. These weaker brothers are always wanting to be taught and never teaching. The writer of Hebrews says that this leads to returning to the beginning of "the principles of the oracles of God" (Hebrews 5:12). That is to say the basics of Torah. Hebrews goes on to say "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment" (Hebrews 6:1-2). Although these are all good things to know and to review occasionally, the point the writer is saying is that it is time for us to go beyond these basic doctrines and move forward unto perfection. How do we do this, by learning God's word and practicing what we have learned in God's word. This is his entire word. This is the entire Torah.
What is exactly our role with respect to the Torah is a question that is asked of many pastors and teachers. The answers of course vary. Unfortunately, the answers vary so widely so that it is like shopping for a car. There are many different makes, styles, and colors to choose from depending on how someone interprets the scriptures. This is not the way it should be. God has an order, but confusion and lack of understanding has caused many believers grasping to know which way to go on the subject. Hopefully, this teaching will help clear some of the confusion.
Kingdom of Heaven and Torah
The Kingdom of Heaven is the same as the Kingdom of God. According to Ron Mosely in his book "Kingdom Relationship", the Hebraic mindset about the Kingdom of Heaven conveys these ideas:
1. Obedience to God's law
2. Reigning of the LORD over his subjects in love and healing
3. Deliverance of the King's people from every form of bondage
4. God's complete deliverance and protection of those in his Kingdom
Renown bible scholar Brad Young tells us that "the Kingdom of God is the power of God; that is, God doing what he wants, and the people of God doing what God wants…All people can experience God's rule when they obey God's absolutes."
When God is Lord in your life, then you are in the Kingdom of Heaven. To be in the Kingdom requires obedience. To serve the king is to honor is word.
Yeshua told the people that the Kingdom of Heaven is here now and among them, which he was talking about himself. (Matthew 4:17 & 16:28) To get into the Kingdom of Heaven, one has to go through Yeshua. He is the door to the Kingdom. Many say that, since Yeshua, we are in the age of grace. This is true, but more correctly we are really in the age of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is this age that the LORD is reigning in more people lives that ever before. We have been delivered from bondage of the law of sin and death, which is the curse of the law. This is because Yeshua went to the cross to pay for our sins and forever to be our atonement.
The Kingdom of Heaven is three fold. First, the Kingdom of Heaven that occurs immediately when one believes in Messiah. This rule of Messiah is somewhat limited because sin is still in the world along with death and unbelief. Second, the next manifestation of kingdom rule is yet to come and will come when Messiah returns and reigns in Jerusalem. Sin and death are not destroyed yet during this time. The third manifestation is the final kingdom in which all sin, death, and hell are destroyed, and all men are judged. Then righteousness reigns in the new heaven and earth. For all who believe in Messiah, the kingdom of God begins at that moment in their lives and continues through eternity. Romans 8:2 says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The law of sin and death is not gone, but because of what Yeshua did, it does not have dominion over us and thus the law of liberty now reigns in our lives instead. This is what is meant by term of being 'free in Christ'. When someone shouts, "I am free", it is because we are not only forgiven of our sins, but the slave-like dominion of sin is broken in our lives and the law of sin and death is no longer in effect. This should cause us to rejoice in the work of our Lord. Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Saul was speaking of why do brothers judge each other over what to eat. He said that righteousness, peace, and joy should be in our lives. This is what the kingdom is all about. But because the law of sin and death is not gone, can it still affect a believer's life? Let's research this out.
Law of Sin and Death
Because we have surrendered to the King and his kingship and because his law is written in our hearts, obedience should be a major fact in believer's lives. What should we be obedient to; the Torah as taught and shown by Yeshua. Saul relates the words 'works of' or 'walking in the flesh' as the same as sin and thus reviving the law of sin and death.
Several scriptures in the New Covenant mention that those who commit certain sins would not be allowed in the Kingdom of Heaven. For instance, Galatians 5:19-21 says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." These are difficult words. What exactly is Saul taking about here? Is this speaking only of the unredeemed? Does it include the redeemed and unredeemed? We have to ask ourselves, as a believer, do I ever walk in the flesh, and have I or can I commit these sins? Will I totally escape all retribution from committing these sins? Since Yeshua paid the price for our sins we can be sure that after we die our sins are forgiven. But since the Kingdom of Heaven is here now, at this very moment, working in our lives, can it be possible when we walk in the flesh and commit these sins that God's covering and blessings are removed from us in this life? And unless we repent and turn back to him, his presence seems to be missing in our lives. God made this clear in the Old Covenant that if Israel sinned, he would remove his covering and blessings. Yeshua's death gave us power to overcome the enemy and to break the bonds of sin, but if we willfully continue in our sins and walk in the flesh, then we've made a choice to rebel and the Kingdom of Heaven may be removed. But this is limited only to this life. It has nothing to do with salvation in the afterlife. How can this conclusion be made?Let's look further into walking in the flesh
In Romans chapter 7 we see a good exposition from Saul on how the law of sin and death works in our lives even today. In this chapter we find that before Yeshua we were under the law of sin and death and couldn't do anything about it. It had us bound until Yeshua died on the cross and rose again to set us free from this law. However Saul warns us in Romans 6:15, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Saul is saying just because Yeshua conquered the law of sin and death, and we are no longer under it; do not even think of such a thing as sinning against God. May it not be so.
Listen to Saul's words in Romans chapter 7:
"But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin, which dwells in me.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin" (Romans 716-25).
Saul is struggling here with the law of sin. When he does something he shouldn't, the law of sin reveals it to him, yet the Torah is good because it tells him the right way to follow God. Torah is revealing sin to him, which is good because, without that aspect of Torah he would have not seen a need for Messiah. Saul calls Torah the law of God in the inner man yet he wars with another law and that is the law of sin and death. Saul says with the mind he serves the law of God, but with his flesh the law of sin. He does not say the law of sin is gone. Sinful actions will invoke the law of sin. However, Saul does say that Yeshua will set him free from this body of death. This is the promise of resurrection in which we will no longer struggle with these corruptible bodies and the condemnation of sin.
Can we actually sin against God as believers? There are those who say this is not possible. James 2:8-9 says, "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." 1John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." These scriptures tell us that we certainly can and do sin against God. However, come judgment day, God will not remember our sins and will not hold them against us. Yet while we are in these fleshly bodies, sin certainly does affect us, and our relationship to God.
The law of sin and death will condemn us when we sin against God. When we do sin, we will feel bad about. You cannot ignore it. You can't keep telling yourself that I am saved and my sins are forgiven and expect the pain to go away. Torah demands that we walk in righteousness. There is only one way to ease this pain. Repent of it and give it to Yeshua. 1John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This law of sin drives us to Messiah.
In Romans 8:1-8 we read this:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God ." (NKJV)
Saul is telling us that there is no condemnation to those in Yeshua, who walk (to regulate or conduct one's life) in the Spirit and not the flesh. (Note, there are several other bible translations that leave out the part of "who walk not in the flesh but in the Spirit"). Is it possible that Saul is saying that that if you want peace with God, you must walk in the Spirit and not the flesh? Another question is, if you are born again, can you walk in the flesh? Brothers, it is not my purpose to make anyone feel loss of peace or condemnation, but to lift up the body of Christ and seek the truth. If by these scriptures you feel remorse, there is always Jesus. Remember that all believers are saved and you can rest assured in that. But there is more in the scriptures about how we should lead our lives and whether we can continue to sin by walking in the flesh and not face consequences. Let's look further into these questions...
Romans 8:4 "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." We must walk in the Spirit and not conduct our lives in the flesh or the righteousness of the law will not be fulfilled in us.
Galatians 5:16 says, "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." If we fail to walk in the Spirit, then most assuredly we will seek after the lust of the flesh. Walking in the Spirit is not the same as having the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit has to do with being obedient to the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The word here live is 'zao' which has multiple meanings that have to do with 'endless in the kingdom', 'breathe', 'among the living', 'powerful', 'true life', 'blessed' and 'strong'. Because we have the Spirit of God, we have eternal life. This is our salvation sign. But having the Spirit does not mean you necessarily walk in it by your actions and deeds. Walking is how you conduct your life.
What happens to us if we walk in the flesh or fulfill its lusts?
1Corinthians 3:9-16 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work, which he has built on it, endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."
All of our acts and deeds whether they will be good or bad will be tried at the judgment seat of Christ. If our acts and deeds are bad, they will be destroyed and we will have only our salvation left. Remember, salvation will not be lost but such individuals will not be crowned or clothed in the glory that could have been. What remains of our acts and deeds, that is good, will determine our rewards. All hay, wood, and straw are easily burned by fire. Gold, silver, and precious stones will remain for your reward. These items are just metaphors for those things that are precious in the eyes of God. Remember the words of 2 Timothy 2:5, "And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." If you want to be crowned, then be obedient.
God will not evoke his promises of salvation because it is of faith, but God is not mocked either. Obedience is important. He will destroy us in the flesh if we defile his temple.
Let's look at the scriptures for more clarification:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
As mentioned earlier, Galatians 5:16-25 says, " I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
Ephesians 5:5-6 says, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them."
It could be argued that 1Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:5-6, and Galatians 5:16-25 are only referring to unbelievers. And some of the believers use to act this way before Yeshua, but are now washed in the blood of Yeshua and made righteous. However, there are some scriptures that indicate that believers who act this way may have some serious problems ahead of them. Let's take a look...
Romans 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify (cause to die) the deeds of the body, ye shall live." This is an action that calls us to die to the flesh and put it away. 1Corinthians 5:7 says it another way, "Purge out therefore the old leaven (sin), that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." To 'walk in the flesh' is also to be carnally minded. Saul tells us in Romans 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Saul is saying here that if anyone is carnal minded, living in sin, they are enemies against God, and cannot even follow, submit, yield, obey, or comprehend the Torah of God. They are subject to the things of the world and not to the things of God. They cannot be part of the Kingdom of God.
Yeshua said in Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Here Yeshua is talking to the church at Ephesus. These are believers. If they don't repent, he will remove their candlestick out of his place. What place? Perhaps it is the Holy Place of God's temple where the menorah is. We can only speculate what is taking place here, but it is not a lost of salvation but perhaps a loss of position. They may in fact become 'outer court', believers instead of believers in the throne room of God.
Yeshua also called the church at Sardis to repent also. "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Revelation 3:2-3).
Yeshua is talking here to believers and not the unbelievers. We are required to repent. Repentance is turning from our wicked ways of sin. Sin is violation of the Torah. Torah is certainly still in effect.
John 15:10-11 says, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide (remain) in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full."
Here Yeshua is saying that you must keep his commandments to remain in his love. Failure to do so means lack of joy. "If ye love me, keep my commandments", Yeshua tells us in John 14:15. The living Torah commands us to keep his commandments if we love him.
The big question, 'Should Believers Follow the Torah?'
The answer to this is yes, yes, yes! We should follow Torah in its new manifestation through Yeshua, but remember that following Torah only comes after 'faith in Yeshua.'
In the book of James we learn many things about work (things we do) and faith going hand in hand. James 2:8 says, "If ye fulfill the royal law according to scriptures, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well." Here James says that if you love each other, you will do well (beautifully, finely, excellently, rightly, no room for blame, nobly, honourably, and good). From previous teachings, it was taught that love fulfills the law, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:10). So any obedience to Torah that does not comes with love is missing the purpose of Torah.
In James we learn that he commands us to put away our sins and "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves". What 'word' is James talking about here? This would be Torah or even more; the Torah, Writings, and the Prophets. Our modern translations would probably say "law and the prophets" when referring to all of the word of God. Even us as believers today refer to the Bible as 'the Word'. Remember, that there was no New Testament written as of yet when James wrote his letter. It is interesting to note that the word 'doer' can also mean 'one who obeys or fulfills the law' according to Thayer's Lexicon. So James is saying, 'obey the Torah'. In James 2:22, he says, "by works was faith made perfect". In chapter 2 James used the example of Abraham as an example of how Abraham's faith was made perfect by his obedience. Basically, James is saying that you can't show perfect faith without obedience to Torah. In James 2:24, he says, "Ye see then how that by works, a man is justified, and not by faith only". I believe that James is not advocating justification by works, but he is saying that works is the evidence of that faith. Again, it is the concept of faith first, and then obedience. Saul says the same thing in Romans 2:13, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
Law of Liberty
James 2:12 says, "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James is saying, talk and act like someone who is saved. The 'law of liberty' is the condition we are in under Yeshua. Since Yeshua died for our sins, we have this liberty. This liberty is due to the fact that we have power over the law of sin and death and cannot be subject to it unless we yield to it. Before Yeshua, the law of sin and death could not be overcome and no matter how hard one tries, the condemnation was always present. Before Yeshua, we were slaves to the law of sin and death, and now with Yeshua we are free from this law. This liberty is not a license to sin. Look at some of the scriptures that talk about liberty in Yeshua. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:13 says, "For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." James 1:25 says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
The 'yoke of bondage' was the attempt to be justified by the ceremonial/separation laws, which cannot bring you into the right relationship to God. This can only happen by faith. The term 'occasion to the flesh' is sin and 'doer of the work' can be likened to 'walking in the Spirit'. Yeshua is the living Torah and his commandments are of Torah. Yeshua commanded that we teach all the nations all that he commanded of us (Matthew 28:19-20). So if we are commanded to teach them, then certainly, we are commanded to follow his commandments also.
In Revelation 12:17, Satan comes after the remnant of God on the earth. These remnants are they who "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". Although this most likely does not refer to believers today, because this is after the rapture, it still shows that those on earth at this time, who believe in Yeshua, are keeping the commandments of God. So if they are, why don't we who are alive now?
1John 2:3 says, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." In opposing view you could say, if we don't keep his commandments, we don't know him. It appears that John here is talking about the commandments of Yeshua. Remember that he is the living Torah, and his Spirit is the spirit of Torah. If you do what Yeshua commands, then you in fact are following Torah.
1John 3:22 says, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." It appears here that John is talking about God and his commandments.
1John 5:2 says, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." This time John says they are the commandments of God.
Whether they are God's or Yeshua's commandments, they are one and the same.
Which Parts of the Torah Should Believers Follow?
If we are to follow Torah, what parts should we follow? This is a question that is asked by many believers. The opinions about this are many. The answer is not easy and I don't have all the answers, but I will give some insight to it. First of all, since Yeshua is the living Torah, all that he said is the proper direction to go to follow Torah. Yeshua came to correctly interpret the Torah as we learn in Matthew 5. Yeshua's words and life can sum up the Torah in its entirety. If it is not of love, then most likely it is not of Torah. Regardless, of how you may feel about which Torah law to obey, each man and woman must search his or her own heart to see what the Spirit is saying to him or her. God's word is ever living in every age. What might be a sin for one is not sin to another. And also, what might not be a sin to one is sin to another. What ever is done in faith determines this.
Ceremonial Laws and sacrifices: These Laws were given by God so he could show the people who he was and to give a picture of how the heavenly kingdom operated. They also provided temporary means of redemption with its sacrifices and covenantal applications. These laws were also witnesses to point to and reveal the Messiah. These laws also helped the people stay focused on heavenly things. Now, these things are but a shadow foretelling of Yeshua:
"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Hebrews 8:5)
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ". (Colossians 2:16-17)
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect". (Hebrews 10:1)
All of the above speak of the ceremonial, sacrificial, and covenant laws of Torah. They were parts of the Torah that pointed to Yeshua. They include the sacrificial laws, kosher laws, circumcision laws, temple laws, feasts of God, and Sabbath laws. Because these laws were shadows and witnesses for the Messiah, we are already obeying these laws when Yeshua is living in our hearts. Yeshua is our sacrificial lamb, our ram of consecration, the bull of priestly offering, the goat of the sin offering, the high priest, the cause of circumcised hearts, our permanent Sabbath, and the body of Messiah is the temple. However, if one desires to obey these laws, it would not be a sin to do so. Even Saul performed the ceremonial laws of Torah. But keep in mind, performing any of these ritual acts will not get you points with God, nor will it add to your salvation. On the other hand, some of these rituals can be useful for teaching to make a point, or if a believer uses them as a witness or to build and strengthen his own faith. Wearing a prayer shawl or phylacteries will not gain you favor with God but they might be helpful in being reminded of the word of God, in your studies and meditations, and so on. Only each believer can only realize the importance of such things to his walk. The danger here is no one should be compelled to do these things. We have a choice to follow these laws by the freedom we have in Yeshua. Just as Saul says that 'circumcision is nothing, but the circumcision of the heart', so are the rest of the ceremonial laws also. It is the heart that matters. On the other hand, do not condemn those who chose to follow after these ceremonial laws when they have faith in Yeshua. Keep in mind however, that most if not all of these ceremonial laws will return in the second part of the Kingdom of God when Yeshua returns as mentioned in part one of this study.
Kosher laws
Biblical Kosher laws mostly were given to protect the health of the Israelites. There were other covenantal purposes to separate them from the gentiles, but they are also health laws. Again Yeshua is most concerned about what comes out of the mouth and not what goes in that can defile a man (Mark 7:15). If a believer decides to follow Biblical Kosher laws, it is perfectly acceptable. If he decides not to, then it is also acceptable. However, it may not be the best health choice to make. I appreciate the LORD telling me not to eat hawks, and ravens, vultures and most insects. Chances are these creatures are disease carriers and it is wise not to eat them. Yeshua and the disciples did not make an issue of biblical kosher laws. So we can eat what we want but it may not be wise to do so.
So what parts of Torah do we follow? Outside of the temple, ceremonial/separation laws, and sacrifices, most of the rest of Torah has strong applicability to our lives. There is no doubt that moral and ethical parts of Torah do apply to mankind today. Yeshua and the disciples direct us many times in the scriptures on how to conduct our lives.
It is also interesting to note that after extending grace to the gentiles by a decision not to require the gentiles to get circumcised, James, the brother of Yeshua and bishop of Jerusalem, told the gentile believers what he expects them to obey with respect to the Torah:
"But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day" (Acts 15:20-21).
Some say that these commandments of James were just table manners so that the gentiles could get along with their Jewish brothers. This is possible. You can't have fellowship with those that are doing disgusting things in your eyes. But it is more than just that.
Certainly stay away from idols. God is LORD and there is none other. Acts of idolatry is a grave violation of Torah. Even meat that is offered to idols should be avoided. Saul say we have liberty to eat meat offered to idols when we know it means nothing but in eating you might cause a weaker brother to sin (1 Corinthians chapter 8). So it is better to stay away from any kind of food that you know has been offered to idols. Strangled animals and blood go hand and hand. Strangled animals do not bleed properly. Avoid blood. Leviticus 17:10-14 goes into great length about eating blood of any kind. Teaching on blood and this law can be extensive. Study the scriptures yourself on the subject. Only through your faith and what the Spirit speaks to you can help determine how far you can go with this law, which is the same with all the laws of Torah. Again this is a heart thing with love. Personally speaking I don't worry about gravy that may have dripping in it or meat that may be pink when I eat it. I have confidence this is not sin. But having said that, I try to avoid blood products or outright eating whole blood. James goes on to say that Moses is taught in every synagogue. Why did he say this? He is telling the gentiles to begin with these commandments, and then go to the synagogues and learn the rest of Torah. Study the Torah and the words of Yeshua and see what God is speaking to you.
What happens when we follow Torah
When we follow Torah, we are blessed. There is reward in following Torah. In Ephesians 6:2-3 we learn about one of the Ten Commandments, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth'." Here Saul quotes the Torah and tells us of reward if we honor our parents.
Psalms 19:11 "Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward." There is great reward in following Torah.
James 1:25 says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James says that we should look closely into the perfect law of liberty, which is the freedom that Yeshua gives us to love and to obey his commandments. (Remember that this is not liberty to sin.) But by the law of liberty we are doers of the work of God and we will be blessed.
Romans 10:5 says, "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them." This is a positive statement. The word 'live' has several different meaning such as 'endless in the Kingdom of God', 'breathe', 'among the living', 'powerful', 'true life', 'active', 'blessed', 'living water', and 'strong'.
Now Saul goes on to say that the righteousness of Christ is by faith, which is better than the righteousness of the law, which is not attainable. But once we believe in Messiah, our kingdom relationship continues by being obedient to Torah.
Proverbs 3:1-4 says, "My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man." Long life and peace is associated with obedience to Torah.
What happens when we don't follow Torah?
All people in the church community had to live within the confines of Torah or be kicked out like when Saul ordered the man who openly committed fornication with his father's wife (1 Corinthian 5:1-5). To live in a community of believers requires that we live within the structure of God's commands. If we fail to do this, then strife and hate can occur. Corruption of the church is a surety. Saul tells us, "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love, which are {found} in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life" (1Timothy 8-16). Although we have the righteousness of God because of Messiah, the law will convict us if we walk in the flesh.How do Torah and Grace work together?
Through the grace and mercy of God, Torah now becomes the law of faith. Romans 3:7 says, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." If there is to be any boasting at all, it is to be by our faith in Yeshua and not by the works of the law. Through the Spirit, Torah is written in our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33 says, "But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." This prophesy was partially fulfilled in Yeshua's first coming and will experience its final fulfillment when Yeshua comes the second time. All of Israel will come to this law of faith in Yeshua and all will know him.
Some believers say, that the law is gone... however they seem to know what is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing to God. They seem to know what sin is and what it isn't. How do they know this? It is because Torah is in their heart whether or they admit it or not. Torah works in every believer's heart. The constitutional laws of our nation were created based off of believer's consciousness that helped put them together. The civil laws of Torah were used in setting up our government. Where did these laws come from? They came from the written Torah and the believer's heart.
By the grace of God, we are grafted into the olive tree and made part of the commonwealth of Israel and are now partakers of the promises of God (Romans 11:11-21 and Ephesians 2:11-13). Why would we (gentiles), who are now adopted sons and daughters, dictate to the world that Torah is no longer part of the olive tree, or the commonwealth of Israel, or of the promises of God? We can't and should not. Yes, we are the children of faith, like Abraham, but did you know that Abraham kept the commandments of God?
Genesis 26:5 says, "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." The father of our faith, the root of the olive tree, kept the commandments of God. How did he know what the commandments were? Perhaps in the same way we do today, and that is by the Spirit.
Remember Galatians 3:21 "Is the law (Torah) then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be." Consider all the promises of God. None of them are in opposing view of Torah.
2Corinthians 4:6-7 says, "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen (clay) vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us." In our body, this clay treasure, is the Spirit of Torah, put there by the grace of God. It is interesting to note that in 1949 that the written Torah, also a treasure, was found in earthen or clay vessels in Israel confirming what we had known all along, that God's word is forever and will not be forsaken or hid away.Our only Conclusion - "All Torah is fulfilled in LOVE!"
Romans 13:10 says, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the Law (Torah)." Love God and your neighbor and you have fulfilled Torah. This is not a love that supports, accepts, or tolerates SIN. It is a love that teaches us to love and yet declare the entirety of God's holy Word. It is also only by the love and grace of God through Yeshua the Messiah that we can freely follow His Torah, His Law.
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Shalom
Barbara's Endnote:I like to thank Rev. Allan Moorhead for teaching the truth of God's holy Word from a First Century viewpoint. We feel this is the viewpoint Yeshua and all His followers, followed. In my new book on "GALATIANS - A Hebrew Mindset Interpretation - A Study from a Hebraic Perspective" (not released yet), I quote a friend of both Allan's and mine, Bible teacher Janice Boville. In a teaching Janice did in Denver in 2000 for BFP (Bridges For Peace), she made a powerful statement which I think expresses and sums up what both Allan and I understand God's holy Law (Torah) is really all about.
"Law 'versus' Grace - are these 'versus - contra'? No! What is the Judaic answer to that? Torah is a gift of Grace, and Torah is much more than Law! Torah is not a means of redemption, it is the way redemptive folks live, and what a gift it is!"
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Rev. Moorhead. And remember, the Torah is God's Grace dressed in human flesh, Yeshua, the Living Word of God. "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a Sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name 'Immanuel (meaning, God with us).'" --Isaiah 7:14
Shalom,Rev. Barbara Di Gilio