A word in your Bible that needs to be
changed is the word Law. This word
in Greek nomos - Strong’s #3551, does not give the reader the right understanding of the full intent of the Hebrew
word Torah, which means, God's teaching, guidance, instruction.
Ponder these Scriptures spoken by the mouth of Yeshua the Messiah:
"Think not that I am come to destroy (do away with) the Torah
(God's teaching, guidance, instruction), or the Prophets: I have not come to destroy (do away with Torah), but
to make full (by giving the right interpretation one establish Torah). For verily I say to you, Till Heaven and
earth pass, not one yod or one stroke (of the Hebrew text) shall in no way pass from the Torah (God's teaching,
guidance, instruction), till all be fulfilled ( finished). Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments
(Deut 22:6), and shall teach men to do so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever
shall do Torah and teach others to do (Torah), they shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. For I say to
you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of Heaven". Matthew 5:17-20 AGI
Yeshua (Jesus) tells us plainly that God's teaching, guidance, and instruction
has not passed away. Torah is not, nor has it ever been a document of Salvation beloved. What Torah is, is God's
precious teachings, guidance, and instruction to Israel and for all who join Israel. Torah teaches us how godly
people should lives. However, we ALL fall short of His precious Torah, but because it is 
not a document of Salvation, we have no fear of condemnation
trying to keep it. In Yeshua we are free from the "curse" of the Torah. Yeshua took all of them upon
Himself and nailed them (the curses) to the tree (cross), and paid in full our debt. "Messiah has redeemed us from the curse (condemnation) of the Torah, being made a curse for
us: for it is written (in Torah), ‘Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree’ (Deut 21:22)." Gal 3:13 AGI
In the words of Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul): "Do we then nullify the Torah
(God's teaching, guidance, instruction) through Faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish (make right-
giving the right interpretation) of the Torah (God's teaching, guidance, instruction). Romans 3:31 AGI
You see beloved of God, we will always fall short in this life, but
through the "Grace of God" (Yeshua), we do what we can to live a godly life. Doing the Torah of God has
become a delight and a privilege because
its not by works that one seeks right standing with God, its by faith alone
in Messiah finished work that one arrives at right standing with God.
Did the Jewish people in the first century understand this? Yes beloved, many of them did. In a very important
document found in the Dead Sea Scrolls was what has been called, The Community
Rule (1QS). This document belonged to the Essenes community, a Jewish sect
in the first century. The Essenes are the only ones in all of Judaism who wrote about Ma’ase ha Torah, "works
of the Law." Paul address this terminology in the book of Galatians.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are very important to us, but the very last part of The
Community Rule document is the most profound to me. This document is at
the very heart of our understanding of what the first century Hebrew people believed about Torah I believe.
The Community Rule (1QS)
[As for me, I belong to wicked mankind, to the company of ungodly flesh. My iniquities, rebellions, and sins, together
with the perversity of my heart, belong to the company of worms and to those who walk in darkness. For mankind
has no way, and man is unable to establish his steps since justification is with God and perfection of way is out
of His hand. All things come to pass by His knowledge; He establishes all things by His design and without Him
nothing is done.
As for me, if I stumble, the mercies of God shall be my eternal salvation.
If I stagger because of the sin of flesh, my justification shall be by the righteousness of God which endures for
ever. When my distress is unleashed He will deliver my soul from the Pit and will direct my steps to the way. He
will draw me near by His grace, and by His mercy will He bring my justification He will judge me in the righteousness
of His truth and in the greatness of His goodness He will pardon all my sins. Through His righteousness he will
cleanse me of the uncleanness of man and of the sins of the children of men, that I may confess to God His righteousness,
and His majesty to the Most High.
Blessed art Thou, my God, who opens the heart of Thy servant to knowledge! Establish all his deeds in righteousness,
and as it pleases Thee to do for the elect of mankind, grant that the son of Thy handmaid may stand before Thee
for ever. For Without Thee no way is perfect, and without Thy will nothing
is done. It is Thou who hast taught all knowledge and all things come to
pass by Thy will. There is none beside Thee to dispute Thy counsel or to understand all Thy holy design, or to
contemplate the depth of Thy mysteries and the power of Thy might. Who can endure Thy glory, and what is the son
of man in the midst of Thy wonderful deeds. What shall one born of woman be accounted before Thee' kneaded from
the dust, his abode is the nourishment of worms. He is but a shape, but molded clay, and inclines towards dust.
What shall and-molded clay reply? What counsel shall it understand?] (The
Dead Sea Scrolls in English by: G. Vermes 1990, pages 79-80).
They understood the Grace of God, do you?
Tell me, did they believe in God being the ONE who would make them righteous? According to this writing, absolutely
they understood God’s GRACE!!! Many first century Believers followed the Torah, but they knew that trying to earn
merit or keep their Salvation by some deed or works, was legalism and a yoke only God Himself could bear. I believe
many of the Essenes became Believers in Messiah Yeshua.
Why then does the Church teach contrary to this about the Jewish people? I will not answer that for you, you must
find the answer out for yourself. May the Holy Spirit show you Torah lives today, and it is all Good!!!
Remember beloved of God:
|
No Torah, |
For truly Messiah Yeshua is the fullness of Torah, God's teaching, guidance, and instruction made flesh for all mankind!
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