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THE LAW |
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WHAT IS TRUTH? |
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John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.” |
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WHAT
IS THE WORD? |
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John
1:1
In the beginning was the
Word,
and the
Word was with Elohim,
and the
Word was Elohim.
Psalm 119:1-2 “Blessed are the perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of YHWH! 2 Blessed are those who observe His witnesses, Who seek Him with all the heart!” YAHWEH'S PERFECT LAW It is Sunday morning. Minister Johnson climbs onto the podium, turns to Romans 10:4, and proclaims good news by announcing, "The Savior paid it all. We are free from those Old Testament regulations and now are under grace through faith alone!" Many in nominal worship today believe and proclaim this same message — that Yahushua the Messiah has "nailed the Law to the cross." How much of this belief is true, however? Has the Law been nailed to the stake or does Yahweh’s Law remain in effect for His New Covenant believers? Let us examine some popular New Covenant passages cited by those who would abolish Biblical law. WHAT WAS ADDED? Many point to a passage in Colossians as proof that Yahushua did away with the Old Testament Laws. Here Paul writes, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). (KJV) With an understanding of the Greek word "ordinances" in this verse, we find another meaning. The Greek word here is No. 1378, dogma. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary defines dogma as: "from the base 1380; a law (civil, cerem., or eccl.): — decree, ordinance." Colossians 2:14 “Having blotted out the certificate of debt against us – by the dogmas – which stood against us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the stake.” (The Scriptures 1998) Dogma is found seven times in the New Testament and refers to man-made decrees. One authority writes, "As the form of error at Colosse was largely Judaic, insisting on Jewish ceremonial law, the phrase is probably coloured by this fact," Word Studies in the New Covenant, p. 908. Thus, dogma here is not signifying Yahweh’s Law, but man-made decrees or ordinances. Paul was referring to the added law, which the Jews tacked on to Yahweh’s Torah. We find the Apostle Paul warning Titus of this added law: Titus 1:14 “Not paying attention to Yehudite fables, and commands of men who turn from the truth." Yahweh was not always pleased with these added laws. Yahushua chastised the Jews in Matthew 15 and Mark 8 for their "commands of men", which here meant eating with unwashed hands. The Jews made many physical commandments, but they neglected the spiritual aspect of Yahweh’s Law, and that is what displeased Yahushua. THE TELOS OF THE LAW In Romans 10:4 we have a passage that is misconstrued by a majority of preachers today: Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (KJV) On the surface it may appear as if Yahushua ended the law for everyone when He died on the stake. Does that harmonize with the rest of Yahweh’s Word, however? Are we now living lawlessly? If so, then we have no sin because "sin is not imputed when there is no law," Romans 5:13. But that cannot be, because Paul also wrote, "All have sinned and come short of the esteem of Yahweh," Romans 3:23. Is something missing here that most don’t see? The Greek word for "end" in this passage is telos, and telos is defined in Strong’s Greek Dictionary as: "to set out for a definite point or goal, the point aimed at as a limit" — No. 5056. This word "end" found in Romans 10:4 would be better translated "goal". We find a better rendition of this verse in “The Scriptures 1998”, which reads: Romans 10:4 For Messiah is the goal of the ‘Torah unto righteousness’to everyone who believes.” (The Scriptures) In
James
5
the same Greek word telos
is
translated "end": NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER Galatians is one of the most troublesome Books for many in today’s religious circles. In Galatians 3 we have a passage that has been misunderstood by the major populace today. Galatians 3:24-25 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (KJV) This verse is not difficult to understand if we consider some key facts. We saw in Romans 10:4 that the Messiah is not the end of the Law, but the goal at which the law aims. Messiah is the object or purpose for the Law. Only through the Law can we know Messiah, because Yahushua literally represents the Law in flesh. He lived the law in every aspect. If we do the same, we will be like the Messiah. Galatians 3:24-25 “Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by belief. 25 And after belief has come, we are no longer under a trainer.” (The Scriptures 1998) Paul is saying that through the Torah we know Messiah, but after we have come to the knowledge of Yahushua we no longer need a schoolmaster, because the Law is part of us now, as is the Messiah. In the Greek culture a schoolmaster was a paidagogos, a trustworthy slave who had the guardianship of the boys of a household. They needed him for guidance and instruction while they were young. But after they grew up, they lived by the precepts he taught them. It became second nature to do what they had been taught. They would no longer need the schoolmaster once they learned "the rules." This is the point Paul was making with the law. Through belief we comply with Yahweh’s will automatically. His precepts and laws are now part of us. We no longer need a strict schoolmaster guiding our every thought and action because doing the right thing is second nature. LAWKEEPING IN THE NEW COVENANT Yahushua and many of His faithful disciples not only show that the Law has NOT been annulled, but they also express for it a deep love. In Matthew 5 Yahushua says that those who keep and teach Yahweh’s Law will have great treasures in Yahweh’s Kingdom: Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. 18 For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. 19 Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.” Yahushua came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill or complete it, as the Greek indicates. Yahushua said those who uphold and teach the Law will be blessed with honorable positions in the Kingdom, but those who refuse to keep it and teach others the same fallacy of non-obedience will not be blessed and will not inherit any position. Yahushua was not the only advocate for Yahweh’s Law. We find the Apostle Paul, who is usually cited as being against the law, in Romans 3:31 in fact promoting lawkeeping: Romans 3:31 “Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.” Paul never said that Yahweh’s Law wasn’t important. Many will say that, “all we need is faith.” Paul says that we need both belief and law. We are not to throw out the Law because of belief, but as Paul says we are to establish it within our lives. In Romans 7 we find the Apostle Paul again promoting Yahweh’s Law: Romans 7:1,7 “Or do you not know, brothers – for I speak to those knowing the Torah – that the Torah rules over a man as long as he lives?... 7 What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah sin? Let it not be! However, I did not know sin except through the Torah. For also the covetousness I knew not if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet... 12 So that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good.” PAUL ADVOCATES FIRST COVENANT LAW Paul says that the Law has dominion or authority over us till death, just as marriage does between two people. He also says that without the Law we would not know sin. Paul concludes this passages by not diminishing the Law, but by giving it the highest honor. In one New Testament Passage we find the Apostle Paul using the Law of Moses to convey his own message to young Timothy. 1 Timothy 5:18 “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer is worthy of his wages.”” His using such an example indicates that Paul taught and promoted the Old Covenant Laws as authority, meaning the basis for New Testament teachings. Both of these laws can be traced back to the Torah: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”(Deut 25:4) “The wages of him who is hired is not to remain with you all night until morning.” (Lev 19:13) In Acts 24 Paul is standing before Felix, the governor of Judea. Paul is being accused of following and even promoting a division among the Jews. In truth, Paul never rebuked the Jewish faith, but proclaimed that he followed all that his ancestors taught. Acts 24:14 “And this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets.” In the governor’s attempt to condemn the Apostle, Paul not only says that he believes, but also unmistakably advocates the Law and the Prophets. If he believed in the Law and the Prophets, he clearly would have been observing both. The Law here includes all five Books of the Torah, while the Prophets indicates the entire collection of the Old Covenant prophets and all that they taught about Yahweh’s will through His Torah. Obviously, Paul never uprooted the Law, but had great respect and love for it. He realized its benefits. He knew that the only way to know right from wrong was by Yahweh’s Righteous standards inspired in the first five Books of His Word. What would we use for knowing right from wrong if Yahweh’s Torah were annulled? A LITMUS TEST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS The Law was not given to mankind to save us, but simply to show us right from wrong. In Romans 3 we see that without these standards we would live in a world with utter chaos. Romans 3:20 “Therefore by works of Torah no flesh shall be declared right before Him, for by the Torah is the knowledge of sin.” We are also warned of breaking Moses’ Law in: Hebrews 10:26-30 “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, 27 but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. 28 Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? 30 For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says YHWH.” And again, “YHWH shall judge His people.”” Notice that the writer of Hebrews very plainly says that once we have come to the knowledge of the truth, there is no more remedy for sins committed thereafter. This is a dreadful thought. The writer of Hebrews continues by stating that those who break Moses’ Law, which was received through Yahweh, will have a greater judgment than those of the First Covenant. This contradicts the man-made notion of a New Covenant based on “grace” and “faith” alone. Salvation involves more than a simple proclaiming belief and favour to all those who believe. Salvation requires an action — obedience. We find this confirmed in: Hebrews 5:9 “And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him.” Yahushua, the author of salvation, offers the gift of salvation only to those who obey Yahweh’s Word. We cannot just believe or say that we have belief, but must act on our belief by obedience. By observing His Law we demonstrate to Yahweh that we want to obey and serve Him. In 1 John 5:3 we read that if we love Yahweh we will obey His commandments. 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy.” This passage is important to understand because the message goes much deeper than most realize. We not only show love by keeping Yahweh’s commandments, but we must also keep them out of a deep-down desire to serve Him. His commandments must be so desirable that they never seem grievous to us. If they are grievous, then we have defeated the purpose of observing Yahweh’s Torah. Yahweh’s Law is to shape and mold us into Yahweh’s own character. Any negative feelings toward His Torah amount to resistance of that goal. Yahweh’s standards are a reflection of His own morals and ethics. Why should He not want us to have the same nature as He does? BELIEF ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH In the Book of Ya'acob (James) we find Yahushua’s brother unequivocally promoting law keeping for Yahweh’s people. Ya'acob 2:14-19 “My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him. 15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, 16 but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? 17 So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. 18 But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works. 19 You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder!” James asks a crucial question for any believer: What good is it if we have belief but no works? It’s like a vehicle with no gasoline, it travels nowhere. Our salvation works the same way. With belief and works we are promised Yahweh’s Reign; however, without either of the two our salvation comes to a halt, with no gasoline to continue. Ya'acob also said that even the demons believe in Yahweh’s and Yahushua’s existence, but just having this belief does not make them worthy of Yahweh’s Reign. They have neither works nor an obedient heart, OBEDIENCE AS WELL AS BELIEF Three noteworthy passages are found in the Book of Revelation. The first is the prophecy of the woman, meaning the Assembly, being taken into the wilderness for protection from the adversary. Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of Yahushua Messiah.” Notice what distinguishes Yahweh’s people. Two characteristics define Yahweh’s saints: keeping of Yahweh’s commandments, and having faith in Yahushua. By these two characteristics Yahweh’s expectations for His people are defined. We find these two attributes again in Revelation 14:12 “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of Yahushua.” Yahweh defines His Saints as those that are guarding His commandments and having a belief in Yahushua the Messiah. Very simply, these two elements are essential for a believer, for without them we will not have access to Yahweh’s Reign. In the last chapter of the Scriptures Yahweh warns us once again of the need for keeping His Commandments:Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.” Here at the end of the Scriptures Yahweh clearly says that keeping His commandments is a requirement for entering His Eternal Reign. Yahweh will only accept those with an obedient and humble heart. A heart that never wavers from Him, but stays true to the end. Every word in the entire Scriptures is for our benefit. Paul explains this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.” Every utterance that Yahweh has given is profitable in some way. Whether it be reproof, correction, or instruction, Yahweh’s Word has a place in each of our lives. It instructs us to righteousness, which is defined by observing Yahweh’s Law. FORGET NOT THE LAW OF YAHWEHWithin the prophets we can find an abundance of prophecies for the New Covenant believer. One prophet specifically educates us concerning the Law of Moses. His prophecy is a reply from Yahweh. In Malachi chapter 4, Malachi prophesies of the distant future. He tells of a time when the whole earth shall burn like a furnace, and the wicked shall become stubble. Malachi’s message is vital, for the message does not stop with those in the Old Covenant, but continues on for those in the latter days. He warns that we must not forget the Law of Moses: Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant, which I commanded him in Horĕb for all Yisra’ĕl – laws and right-rulings." This is important to understand. We in the 21st century learn here that the saints are told to keep ALL the Law, with statutes and judgments. We must not neglect any of Yahweh’s Law, but observe every inspired commandment as Yahweh so wishes and instructs us, His people. For a handy A4 Tract to print and give out as a study; click the button below:  Psalm 112:1 "Praise Yah! Blessed is the man, Who fears YHWH, Who has greatly delighted in His commands." |
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