By Maria Merola אריאל
The erroneous idea that the Mosaic Law (Towrah) has now become “obsolete” (since the sacrifice of Messiah on the cross), is one of the most pervasive attitudes in the Christian Church today. The end-result of this heresy has lead to a growing decay of morality in American culture.
While most Christian leaders will blame Hollywood and politicians for our moral decline, they fail to see, that the “antinomian” heresy (which they adhere to) is the root cause of the “lawlessness” that we are now experiencing. Our Messiah prophesied that the increase of “lawlessness” (iniquity) would ultimately lead to the love of many growing cold:
When we throw out the Mosaic Law, (rendering it obsolete), we are also throwing away the two greatest commandments found in the Towrah.
To understand more fully what this phrase “under the law” means, see my other blog entitled: “What Does it Mean to be Under the Law?”
Romiym (Romans) 3:31 Do we then make void the Towrah (law) through faith? Elohiym forbid: yes, we establish the Towrah (law).
Notice 3 types of Law below:
Cart = Works
What is Grace?
© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, May 2009
While most Christian leaders will blame Hollywood and politicians for our moral decline, they fail to see, that the “antinomian” heresy (which they adhere to) is the root cause of the “lawlessness” that we are now experiencing. Our Messiah prophesied that the increase of “lawlessness” (iniquity) would ultimately lead to the love of many growing cold:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 22:35
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Towrah (law)?
37 Yahuwshuwa said unto him, You shall love YHWH your Elohiym with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the Towrah (law) and the prophets.
Many Christians are misled to believe that our Messiah was narrowing things down to only these two commandments found in Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12 & Leviticus 19:18. However, he was doing no such thing. He was explaining that these two commandments are the greatest of them all, because they establish the proper heart-motive for obeying the rest of the commandments. Without having love for our Heavenly Father, and for others, we do not possess the desire to obey the others.
One of the most common passages that Christians use to justify this antinomian heresy is found in Romans:
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.
To understand more fully what this phrase “under the law” means, see my other blog entitled: “What Does it Mean to be Under the Law?”
Most Christians throw this Romans 6:14 passage around like free candy, yet you will never hear them quoting another passage of Paul that seems to be in complete contradiction:
Romiym (Romans) 3:31 Do we then make void the Towrah (law) through faith? Elohiym forbid: yes, we establish the Towrah (law).
The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) illustrated in his letter to the Romans that our faith in Messiah Yahuwshuwa, does not make void or cancel out the Mosaic Law or the first five books of the Bible. He also emphasized that our faith in Messiah all the more “establishes the Towrah” (law) in our lives! This is contrary to what many in today’s Christian Church have taught us to believe.
The majority within Christianity have grossly misinterpreted Paul’s epistles and they are used out of context in order to try and convince us that we no longer have to obey the Mosaic Law.
But the same Paul whom these Christians love to quote warned us about the last days when many would “fall away from the truth” and they would give heed to “the man of sin.” This is none other than what many have called the “Anti-Messiah” or “the son of perdition.”
His false religion is called “Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots” which is completely opposed to the laws of our Creator. In 2nd Thessalonians 2, Sha’uwl (Paul) refers to this as the “MYSTERY OF INIQUITY,” and in his day, this religion of lawlessness was already “at work.” So what is this “Mystery of Iniquity?”
In the Strong’s Greek Concordance, the word iniquity is defined as follows:
#458. anomia an-om-ee’-ah from 459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:--iniquity, transgress(-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
#459. anomos an’-om-os from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3551; lawless, i.e. (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked:--without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked.
Did you get that?
INIQUITY = NOT SUBJECT TO JEWISH LAW!
*Note: James Strong who wrote the Strong’s Concordance used a poor choice of words by calling this “Jewish Law.” But he is not referring to the man-made laws of Judaism known as the “Oral Towrah” (Talmud). The term “Jewish Law” here refers to the instructions of our Creator----not Rabbinic Judaism.
In all of Paul’s epistles, he was not preaching lawlessness, contrary to what most people in today’s Church have come to believe. He was actually making a distinction between the DOCTRINES AND COMMANDMENTS OF MEN, versus the Laws of YaHuWaH, which are now WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS UNDER THE NEW COVENANT!
The Prophet Daniel was shown in his vision that the Anti-Messiah would be against the holy covenant of our Creator---in other words the Mosaic Law or the Towrah!
You see, the Towrah was written with the finger of Elohiym when Mosheh went up to Mount Sinai and when he came down and presented those tablets to Yisra’el, that was our marriage covenant!
The Anti-Messiah will be against this holy covenant (the Towrah):
Daniyel (Daniel) 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
Daniyel (Daniel) 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Daniyel (Daniel) 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their Elohiym shall be strong, and do exploits.
In 2nd Thessalonians 2, Paul wrote that the Anti-Messiah would “sit in the temple of Elohiym declaring that he is Elohiym.” When this 3rd Jewish Temple is built in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), the animal sacrifices will once again be resumed. Most Christians assume that because our Messiah paid the price once and for all with his sacrifice on the cross, that there will never again be animal sacrifices.
But this idea is completely false. What they do not understand is that animal sacrifices never took away sins in the first place---not even under the “Old Covenant!”
You see our Messiah was ALWAYS in eternity that LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD! His sacrifice was already completed in eternity past before he came in the flesh and died for us:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
1st Keefa (Peter) 1:19-20 But with the precious blood of Mashiyach (Messiah), as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Chazown (Revelation) 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
What does this all mean? It means that animal sacrifices were always meant to show us a “prophetic shadow picture” of our Messiah---not take our sins away!
Therefore, when the animal sacrifices are resumed during the Millennium (Ezekiel 40-48), they will not be for the purpose of taking sins away, “for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).
Most Christians have been erroneously taught to believe that under the “Old Covenant” animal blood took away sins (which it never did). And they are taught to believe that under the “New Covenant” it is the blood of Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa that takes away our sins. But his blood alone is what has ALWAYS taken sins away even under Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenant:
Most Christians have been erroneously taught to believe that under the “Old Covenant” animal blood took away sins (which it never did). And they are taught to believe that under the “New Covenant” it is the blood of Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa that takes away our sins. But his blood alone is what has ALWAYS taken sins away even under Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenant:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 10:11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Animal sacrifices will be resumed again in the 3rd Jewish Temple in order to show the Jewish people a prophetic shadow picture of their Messiah who was “slain from the foundation of the world.”
And when the Anti-Messiah “takes away the daily sacrifices,” that is when their eyes will be opened, and they will realize that he is the false Messiah who promotes “The Mystery of Lawlessness.”
The Anti-Messiah will “take away the daily sacrifices” which is what the Apostle Sha’uwl was talking about in 2nd Thessalonians 2 when he described the “Mystery of Lawlessness.”
Daniyel (Daniel) 8:11 Yes, he magnified himself even to the princes of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
Daniyel (Daniel) 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.
Daniyel (Daniel) 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
In Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 40-48 we find out that when Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach (Messiah) returns, he will be “the prince” who shall offer animal sacrifices during his one thousand year reign.
Some of you may be asking yourselves “Why in the world would he do animal sacrifice,s when he already provided the ultimate sacrifice of himself on the tree?” The answer is quite simple.
Since he was ALWAYS that lamb slain from the foundation of the world (in eternity past), his purpose for doing them during his millennial reign, will be for illustration purposes, or object lessons.
Since he was ALWAYS that lamb slain from the foundation of the world (in eternity past), his purpose for doing them during his millennial reign, will be for illustration purposes, or object lessons.
During the millennium, he will teach us his ways, and we will learn about what every animal sacrifice signified. Animal sacrifices will be done as a memorial, not as a means to atonement for sins.
In other words, he will not be doing these animal sacrifices to take away sins, because animal blood NEVER did take away sins in the first place! He will be doing them as a reminder to us, that he alone is that Lamb slain for all eternity!
Now we can understand what the “Mystery of Lawlessness” is all about, when it appears in the 3rd Jewish Temple! The majority of Christians will be deceived into believing that the Anti-Messiah is the genuine Messiah because he will “take away the daily sacrifices!”
The only reason why YaHuWaH allowed the 2nd Jewish Temple to be destroyed in 70 A.D. is because the majority of the inhabitants of Jerusalem at that time had still not accepted Yahuwshuwa as their Messiah. Therefore, the prophetic shadow pictures behind of the animal sacrifices were not getting through to them.
YaHuWaH saw that they were not seeing a picture of their Messiah in these animal sacrifices, therefore, he temporarily set aside the animal sacrifices, through an Anti-Messiah leader named Nero Caesar, and his general Titus.
In other words the “Antichrist” of that time “took away the daily sacrifices” according to Daniel’s prophecy. But YaHuWaH allowed it, in order to punish Yisra’el for their rejection of Messiah’s blood atonement. These prophecies from Daniel will be repeated again in the end times.
In other words the “Antichrist” of that time “took away the daily sacrifices” according to Daniel’s prophecy. But YaHuWaH allowed it, in order to punish Yisra’el for their rejection of Messiah’s blood atonement. These prophecies from Daniel will be repeated again in the end times.
In Matthew 5:17-19, our Messiah already told us that “one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the Towrah (law) until all be fulfilled.”
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
*Note: the word “fulfill” here in Greek is pleroo which means “to carry through to the end.” In other words until the end of the Millennium he will carry the Mosaic Law all the way to completion!
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
And when will “heaven and earth pass away?” It will be after the Millennium:
Chazown (Revelation) 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
All during the Millennium our Messiah Yahuwshuwa will be implementing the Towrah (Mosaic Law) and putting it into 100% full effect----including animal sacrifices!
Here we see prophecies about the Millennium where the Towrah will go out to all nations from Jerusalem:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the Elohiym of Ya’aqob (Jacob); and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Tziyown (Zion) shall go forth the Towrah (law), and the word of YHWH from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
Miykayahuw (Micah) 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, and to the house of the Elohiym of Ya’aqob (Jacob); and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the Towrah (law) shall go forth of Tziyown (Zion), and the word of YHWH from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
The Galatian Controversy
One of the most misunderstood books in the Briyth Chadashah (New Testament) is the book of Galatians. In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul was addressing this problem that existed with a sect of Judaism who were Gnostics called “The Essenes.”
This sect gave themselves the title “Works of the Law” and they were trying to force outward circumcision upon Gentiles as a means to salvation or justification when it never was even under the Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenants. In the Towrah, it is written that if a stranger wants to sojourn with Yisra’el and he wants to keep the Passover Feast with an Yisra’elite, he must first become circumcised in his flesh (Exodus 12:48). And so this is where the contention started in the book of Galatians.
This sect gave themselves the title “Works of the Law” and they were trying to force outward circumcision upon Gentiles as a means to salvation or justification when it never was even under the Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenants. In the Towrah, it is written that if a stranger wants to sojourn with Yisra’el and he wants to keep the Passover Feast with an Yisra’elite, he must first become circumcised in his flesh (Exodus 12:48). And so this is where the contention started in the book of Galatians.
Circumcision in the flesh and in the heart was required in order to participate in animal sacrifices in the sanctuary, but not as a means to salvation (see Ezekiel 44:7-9).
These Essenes in the book of Galatians, however, were making circumcision the pre-requisite to salvation when it never was. No place in the Towrah (5 books of Mosheh) does it say that one must be circumcised in order to be saved! YaHuWaH always intended circumcision to be an outward sign of circumcision of the heart:
Debariym (Deuteronomy) 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Debariym (Deuteronomy) 30:6 And YHWH your Elohiym will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YHWH your Elohiym with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to YHWH, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Yahuwdah (Judah) and inhabitants of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem): lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
And so under the Renewed Covenant, we have circumcision of the heart as the “sign” that we now belong to the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah) through Yahuwshuwa’s blood covenant:
Romiym (Romans) 2:
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the Towrah (law); but if you are a breaker of the Towrah (law), your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the Towrah (law), will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the Towrah (law), judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Towrah (law)?
28 For he is not a Yahuwdiy (Jew) who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29 but he is a Yahuwdiy (Jew) who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from Elohiym.
The Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) was telling those who were circumcised outwardly that it does not profit them if they are outwardly circumcised if they fail to keep the Towrah. Likewise he said that if an uncircumcised Gentile does obey the Law of YaHuWaH, his “uncircumcision” is then counted as “circumcision” because he obeys the commandments of YaHuWaH.
In this way, Sha’uwl (Paul) was teaching that we are truly Yahuwdiy or “Jewish” if we are circumcised inwardly by the Holy Spirit, who removes the foreskin of our hearts and then writes his Towrah (Laws) in our hearts and in our minds.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, says YHWH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohiym, and they shall be to me a people:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says YHWH, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
But you may be asking yourself “wait a minute---I thought that we are justified by grace through faith in Messiah---not by keeping works of the law!”
Yes! Indeed, we are “justified by grace through faith,” but then grace not only JUSTIFIES us, but grace also SANCTIFIES us and writes the law in our hearts and minds.
This is the sign of the “Renewed Covenant,” that we have YaHuWaH’s laws in our hearts and minds. Many Christians make the classic mistake of confusing JUSTIFICATION with SANCTIFICATION. But they are quite different.
When YaHuWaH brought the Yisra’elites out of Mitzrayim (Egypt), this is a picture of salvation (justification). But when he took them into the wilderness and taught them his statutes and precepts (Towrah or Instructions) this is a picture of sanctification (being set-apart and called to holiness). We must not confuse these two works of grace and treat them as the same thing.
YaHuWaH did not deliver Yisra’el out of Mitzrayim (Egypt) only to leave them in the wilderness without his instructions on how to live. He taught them his laws so that they would not find themselves back in Egyptian bondage again.
They ended up becoming slaves in Egypt in the first place, because they began to worship the same pagan gods of the Egyptians. He did not just bail them out of slavery, but he taught them how to stay out of slavery, and how to live holy.
The first set of laws came to us in stone tablets (which were corruptible or breakable). But now under the Renewed Covenant on Pentecost (Shabuoth) YaHuWaH presented those same laws to us, only now in “fleshy tables of the heart” (2nd Corinthians 3:3).
The Holy Spirit gave us the very same laws but now in an incorruptible form which is a new nature. We now possess the nature of Messiah himself which is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.
These are the very same laws given to Yisra’el only now in an incorruptible form. Messiah is the “Living Towrah” or the “Living Word of Yah.” The corruptible form of the law (the word) was crucified but now the same law (the word) has been resurrected into an incorruptible form, which is called the “law of the spirit of life.”
1.) Law of the Spirit of Life
2.) Law of Sin & Death
3.) Law of YaHuWaH in Stone
Romans 8:
2 For the Towrah (law) of the Spirit of life in Mashiyach (Messiah)Yahuwshuwa has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the Towrah (law in stone) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohiym sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the Towrah (law) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Many Christians love to quote Romans 8:1 but they only quote half of the verse and leave the latter part of the verse out. I often hear them say:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
And then they stop there! But there is a condition that makes us no longer under condemnation! What is that condition?
Romiym (Romans) 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The condition is this: They walk not after the flesh, but in the power of the Holy Spirit! And what does the Holy Spirit do? He frees us from our inability to keep the law!
The Law of the Spirit of Life (the Holy Spirit’s power in us to keep the law) has freed us from our inability to keep the law (the law of sin and death). YaHuWaH’s laws (in stone tablets) were only weak because of the fact that they were INCOMPATIBLE with our corrupted human nature.
But now that the Holy Spirit has given us the law in an INCORRUPTIBLE FORM, which is a NEW NATURE---THE NATURE OF MESSIAH HIMSELF, we are now able to FULFILL THE LAW just as Messiah completely fulfilled the law!
This means we have been given power from the Holy Spirit to live exactly as Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach lived!
The law in stone was weak because of our sinful nature, but “the law of the spirit of life” (the law of YHWH written in our hearts) has now freed us from this other law that works in our members that makes us want to break YaHuWaH’s laws. And so by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are now able to FULFILL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW!
There is a common mistake that many in the church make because they are viewing Paul’s writings with a Greco-Roman mindset instead of a Hebraic mindset.
When I ask most Christians how they would define sin, they don’t have a well-defined answer. They usually say something like “Well, ummm, uhh, it means to disobey God....”
While this is a true statement, how do we know when we are disobeying the Heavenly Father?
How do we know which laws apply now and which laws applied under the Mosaic & Abrahamic Covenants? Well the Apostle Yahuwchanon (John) knew exactly how to define what it means to “disobey” our Heavenly Father:
1st Yahuwchanon (John) 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Towrah (law): for sin is the transgression of the Towrah (law).
And what is the penalty for breaking the Laws of YaHuWaH?
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 18:20 The soul that sins, it shall die.
Romiym (Romans) 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Elohiym is eternal life through Yahuwshuwa Mashiyach (Messiah) our YHWH.
Now we get a better understanding of what Sha’uwl (Paul) meant when he rebuked the Galatians for adhering to “another gospel.”
He was rebuking those who would follow the doctrines and commandments of men---not the laws of YaHuWaH!
He was rebuking those who would follow the doctrines and commandments of men---not the laws of YaHuWaH!
Galatiym (Galatians) 1:6-7 I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Mashiyach (Messiah) unto another besowrah (gospel): Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the besowrah (gospel) of Mashiyach (Messiah).
The Essene Jews (Gnostics) in Galatia were making outward circumcision the PRE-REQUISITE TO SALVATION, but it NEVER WAS EVEN UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT!
But now many Christians want to misinterpret Paul’s rebuke to the Galatians as if he was telling them not to keep the Mosaic Law---but this, my friends is completely false! Paul was not preaching against circumcision or the Mosiac Law at all. He was preaching against the idea of “putting the cart before the horse.”
Horse = Faith
If faith can be likened unto a horse, then we know that the horse is what pulls the cart, hence it is faith that causes us to want to obey the Mosaic Law (Towrah)—not the other way around!
The foolish Galatians were trying to do “works” first (outward circumcision) as if the cart can pull the horse! In other words, they thought that by doing outward “works” of the Mosaic Law that they could earn salvation.
Paul was telling them that you cannot earn salvation and that “doing outward works” does not make you righteous by itself. It is only when we have faith first, followed by works done out of faith, that we are made righteous!
The Apostle Ya’aqob (James or Jacob) illustrated this concept very well:
Ya’aqob (James) 2:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one Elohiym; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Yitzchaq (Isaac) his son upon the altar?
22 You see how faith combined with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed Elohiym, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of Elohiym.
24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Contrary to popular belief, Sha’uwl (Paul) was not preaching against circumcision and neither was he preaching against the Mosaic Law. How do we know? In the book of Acts we discover that some of the Yahuwdiy (Jews) were falsely accusing Sha’uwl (Paul) of teaching the Jews to no longer keep the Law of Mosheh and to stop circumcising their baby boys. But he quickly put an end to those false rumors by demonstrating that he was still very much a Towrah observant Yahuwdiy (Jew):
Ma’aseh Shlichiym (Acts) 21:
21 And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Yahuwdiy (Jews) which are among the Gentiles to forsake Mosheh, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
23 Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the Towrah (law).
26 Then Sha’uwl (Paul) took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
Sha’uwl was not teaching Yahuwdiy (Jews) to stop circumcising their baby boys as we see from this account. He was merely preaching that adult male Gentiles did not need to get circumcised in order to enter into covenant with YaHuWaH Elohiym.
These Gentiles would later on decide to get circumcised “after” they had already entered into covenant when they were ready to do so. Nobody was supposed to force them to do this before they were ready.
Many Christians are taught to believe, that one has “fallen from grace” if they get circumcised in their flesh or if they obey the Towrah (Mosaic Law) because of what Sha’uwl wrote in Galatians 5:3-4:
“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace.”
In his letter to the Galatians, Sha’uwl was specifically addressing those from the sect called “Works of the Law” who were forcing circumcision as a means to justification.
He was not preaching that circumcision or obedience to the Towrah of YaHuWaH caused one to fall from grace. Sha’uwl demonstrated by his actions in Acts 21 that he was not suddenly calling circumcision a sin for Jews or Gentiles under the Renewed Covenant. As a matter of fact, it is still recommended to circumcise baby boys on the 8th day for health reasons.
What Sha’uwl (Paul) did in Acts 21 clearly demonstrated to the Yahuwdiy (Jews) that these rumors that were being circulated about him were false, and he was obviously not preaching against the Mosaic Law nor circumcision.
In order to make an open display of his faithfulness to the Towrah, he shaved his head and did a purification ritual according to the Mosaic Law. The Yahuwdiy (Jews) wanted him to prove that these rumors about him were false and so he did as they asked him to do.
Now we can clearly see from the account in Acts 21, that Sha’uwl (Paul) was not preaching against circumcision at all to the Galatians nor did he ever contradict what was written in the the Mosaic Law.
Sha’uwl remained a fully Towrah observant Yahuwdiy (Jew) even after his conversion to Messiah. His message was no different than what our Messiah taught.
He was always making a distinction between YaHuWaH’s laws and the man-made laws of the Rabbi’s. What most Christians are unaware of is that the Rabbi’s made up 613 of their own man-made interpretations of the Towrah, and they called their own traditions “The Towrah.”
Now we understand why our Mashiyach (Messiah) rebuked them so harshly! Listen to what he said to them:
Marqos (Mark) 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of Elohiym, that you may keep your own tradition.
Marqos (Mark) 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of Elohiym, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do.
Obviously, our Messiah was making a distinction between the instructions of our Heavenly Father called “Towrah” and the man-made “Towrah” of the Pharisees called the “Takanot.” A takanot (pronounced tah-kae-no) is a rabbinical commandment.
These were the additions to the Mosiac Law that rabbis, (who had absolute authority within Jewish society), saw fit enforce onto the people. These takanot are found nowhere in the Towrah.
They didn’t come from YaHuWaH our Creator. They came from the religious leaders. Ironically, the root meaning of the word is “to correct,” which implies that these rabbinical leaders didn’t believe YaHuWaH’s way was enough. They thought YaHuWaH needed their help to get his own laws right. Does this sounds like any Christian Denomination or movement that you know of?
Now, concerning the Talmud, I believe we can use it as a valuable source for historic reference, but many Jews elevate the Talmud, and they treat it as being equal to or above the inspired scriptures.
The Talmud is a book of rabbinical commentaries, but it is not to be treated as scripture. The reason why so many Christians get confused about the Mosaic Law of our Heavenly Father versus the man-made laws of the Pharisees is because the English translators of the Bible only used one word for “law” to describe seventeen different applications of the word “law” in the Greek New Testament!
Now, concerning the Talmud, I believe we can use it as a valuable source for historic reference, but many Jews elevate the Talmud, and they treat it as being equal to or above the inspired scriptures.
The Talmud is a book of rabbinical commentaries, but it is not to be treated as scripture. The reason why so many Christians get confused about the Mosaic Law of our Heavenly Father versus the man-made laws of the Pharisees is because the English translators of the Bible only used one word for “law” to describe seventeen different applications of the word “law” in the Greek New Testament!
There are many different types of “law” that Sha’uwl (Paul) was talking about in his epistles, but you will never know which kind of “law” he was talking about unless you look up the original words in the Concordance.
A keyword search under “law” in the Greek Strong’s Concordance of the New Testament returns 28 different words for “law!” So how are we supposed to know which law Paul was talking about?
You must also go back and read the Law & Prophets before you can understand the context of Paul’s letters because scripture interprets scripture.
You must also go back and read the Law & Prophets before you can understand the context of Paul’s letters because scripture interprets scripture.
Here are a just a few examples of how the word “law” is used in Paul’s Epistles:
Mosaic Law: (the five books of Moses) called Pentateuch in Greek or Towrah in Hebrew. This is the written marriage agreement between YaHuWaH and his beloved bride Yisra’el.
This can never be done away with because all of his covenants are “everlasting covenants.” If his written marriage agreement (Towrah) is done away with that means that there is no such thing as a New Covenant!
Pharisaic Law: The Takanot found in the Talmud or oral traditions. These are also called “dogma” in Greek. These are additional laws made by humans that are not found in the scriptures. These are the laws that were “against us” that were nailed to the cross and taken out of the way!
The Laws of the Land: Basically these are the civil laws. Paul told us in Romans 13 to obey the civil laws of the land where we reside.
The Law of the Spirit of Life: The Mosaic Law written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit as a sign of the New Covenant.
The Law of Divorce: This law is found in Deuteronomy 24, and it states that if a man finds any “uncleanness” in his wife, he may write her a certificate of divorce, and then he must send her out of his house. She may then go and become another mans wife, but she may never return to her first husband for this is an abomination.
YaHuWaH divorced the nation of Yisra’el in Jeremiah 3:8 and then he sent them away to the nations. Yisra’el then became joined to her false pagan deities, and this meant that she could never return to YaHuWaH her first husband, for this is an abomination.
And because of this law, Yisra’el remained bound to the “law of her husband” called “the law of divorce.” But once her husband (her Messiah) came in the likeness of sinful flesh, he then died making her “free from the law of her husband!”
This is the law that we have been “freed from” as Paul explained in Romans 7. Yisra’el is now free to marry her Creator, her first husband, her Messiah! So you see, we are not free from the Towrah (the written marriage contract), but we are free from the divorce decree that prevented us from returning to him!
This is the law that we have been “freed from” as Paul explained in Romans 7. Yisra’el is now free to marry her Creator, her first husband, her Messiah! So you see, we are not free from the Towrah (the written marriage contract), but we are free from the divorce decree that prevented us from returning to him!
The Law of Sin & Death: This is a natural law that wars within our members making us want to disobey the Mosiac Law. This is essentially the “sinful nature” or the evil inclination that is within fallen man.
The Law of Jealousy: This is described in Numbers 5 as a law that was done for a woman suspected of committing adultery on her husband but there was no proof or eye witness. The priest would perform this law and then he would “blot out the curses” written in a book that was against the woman if she had in fact committed adultery behind her husband’s back.
This is the “handwriting of ordinances” that was “blotted out,” which was against the adulterous wife (Yisra’el). Paul also spoke about it in Colossians 2:16 & Ephesians 2:14. The law of jealousy caused the Ten Northern Tribes to be ostracized by the Two Southern Tribes of Judah.
Therefore, the House of Judah thought they had to create ordinances which kept the Gentiles (divorced tribes) out of the Temple. But YaHuWaH did not want the Jews to do this. He wanted them to bring the lost tribes back into covenant. And so these man-made ordinances were “against us!”
So you see, when the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) spoke of the “law” in scripture, he was not always speaking of the Mosaic Law. You must look up the original Greek word to determine if the word is “dogma” (man-made traditions) or if it is “Pentateuch” (the 5 books of Moses). Even in Greek the word “nomos” is a very ambiguous word for “law.”
It can mean the Mosaic Law or it can also mean the Laws of the Pharisees. And so we have to fully understand the “context” of what Paul is writing about and then we can ascertain “which law” is being spoken of. The only way to know the difference between man-made laws of the Pharisees versus the Mosaic Law given to us as our Marriage Covenant is to study the Towrah!
It can mean the Mosaic Law or it can also mean the Laws of the Pharisees. And so we have to fully understand the “context” of what Paul is writing about and then we can ascertain “which law” is being spoken of. The only way to know the difference between man-made laws of the Pharisees versus the Mosaic Law given to us as our Marriage Covenant is to study the Towrah!
Those that do not study the Towrah, should not attempt to understand Sha’uwl’s letters!
Many have inaccurately stated that the laws of YaHuWaH put us into bondage, but that is not what puts us into bondage! What puts us in bondage is THE LAW OF SIN & DEATH! Messiah has redeemed us from the CURSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE LAW!
YaHuWaH’s laws have now been transferred from STONE INTO FLESHY TABLES OF THE HEART, and his laws bring us LIBERTY!
Ya’aqob (James) 1:25 But whoso looks into the perfect Towrah (law) of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Ya’aqob (James) 2:12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Towrah (law) of liberty.
Our Mashiyach (Messiah) taught us that we must keep the commandments if we want to enter into eternal life!
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 19:17 “.....but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Obeying the Towrah is not the PREREQUISITE TO SALVATION, but obeying his laws are ESTABLISHED ALL THE MORE, in our hearts as a result of faith! The Apostle Keefa (Peter) prophesied about this end-time Apostasy where many would twist Paul’s words to their own DESTRUCTION:
2nd Keefa (Peter) 3:
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation; even as our beloved brother Sha’uwl (Paul) also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
The Laws of YaHuWaH are all the more established now under the Renewed Covenant because of our faith in Messiah. They are not abolished nor have they been “nailed to the cross.”
Qolasiym (Colossians) 2:
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 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.
The first and last letter of the Ancient Paleo Hebrew Alphabet is called Alef & Taw אתand it is seen as the Red Heifer being nailed to two crossed sticks for Two Houses of Yisra’el! And so we must ask ourselves, “what kept the Two Houses of Yisra’el separated?” What was actually “nailed to the cross?”
It was the “handwriting contained in ordinances!” But what does the word “ordinance” mean? In the Strong’s Greek Concordance we find that it is a civil decree, in other words a MAN-MADE LAW:
#378. dogma dog’-mah from the base of 1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical):--decree, ordinance.
So you see Sha’uwl was not telling us that YaHuWaH’s laws were nailed to the cross! And so what exactly was nailed to the cross? There was a man-made decree invented by the Rabbis which commanded that a “wall” should be built up around the outer court of the Temple to keep the Gentiles out.
This was a law that was “against us” and our Messiah “took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross!” In doing this, he fulfilled the prophecy in Ezekiel 37:16-17 by taking “two sticks” for Ephrayim &Judah and making them as “one stick in his hand!”
If Sha’uwl was teaching us that YaHuWaH nailed his own commandments to the cross, he would be in direct contradiction to our Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa’s words in Matthew 5:17-19 and this would make Sha’uwl (Paul) a false prophet!
And even if Sha’uwl was preaching lawlessness (which he was not), then why would Christians choose to elevate Paul’s words above our Messiah’s words?
In many of Sha’uwl’s letters, he was addressing this problem with people being “under rabbinic law” instead of under the leading of the Holy Spirit (who is our teacher). If we are UNDER THE SPIRIT we are not under RABBINIC LAW.
That is what Paul meant when he said “you are not under the law.” He meant that we are not under Rabbinic or Pharisaic Law but we are under the Holy Spirit’s guidance who will always teach us to obey the laws of our Creator—not man-made laws.
Yahuwshuwa has given us the resources whereby we are able to be PERFECT AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 5:48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
But some will say “but nobody is perfect....” Yes, this is true when we are walking in the flesh, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to be PERFECT. Messiah would not command this of us if he had not already given us the resources to accomplish it!
The word “grace” in the Greek Concordance is “charis” which means “the divine influence upon the heart.” But what does this divine influence do to the heart?
Titus 2:
11 For the grace of Elohiym that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying unrighteousness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and set-apart, in this present world;
So you see “grace” is not only what justifies us, but grace is also our teacher! Grace not only brings us salvation, but grace teaches us to “deny unrighteousness” and lawlessness! Grace teaches us to live righteously, and to obey the Towrah!
The Renewed Covenant Is Stricter than the Old Covenant
Under the Mosaic Covenant we were given the “bare minimum” requirements to follow, but under the Renewed Covenant, we are required to give 100% of our lives to Yahuwshuwa!
Luqas (Luke) 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 10:37 He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 10:38 And he that takes not his cross (two sticks), and follows after me, is not worthy of me.
The Apostle Sha’uwl tells us in Romans 12:1 that we are to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice!”
Why is the New Covenant stricter? Because Yahuwshuwa has given us all of the resources we need by offering up his life for us. We now have two things which enables us to keep the marriage covenant:
1.) The blood atonement of Messiah which cleanses us when we slip and fall.
2.) The gift of the Holy Spirit who deposits the Towrah (Mosaic Law) into our hearts and minds, thereby enabling us to obey the written marriage agreement (commandments).
Now, with the resources that we have been given, we are without excuse. Under the First Covenant, if someone broke the Law of Mosheh, they died at the testimony of two or three witnesses.
However, under the Renewed Covenant of Grace, Hebrews 10:29 says: “HOW MUCH GREATER PUNISHMENT SHALL WE RECEIVE IF WE DO DESPITE TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?”
Ibriym (Hebrews) 10:
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Mosheh’s Towrah (law) died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much worse punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of Elohiym, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
I want to leave you now with one question. If you claim that you are “under grace,” yet you are still not obeying the commandments of YaHuWaH, can it be that what you thought was “grace,” is actually LICENTIOUSNESS & LASCIVIOUSNESS?
I want to leave you now with one question. If you claim that you are “under grace,” yet you are still not obeying the commandments of YaHuWaH, can it be that what you thought was “grace,” is actually LICENTIOUSNESS & LASCIVIOUSNESS?
No comments:
Post a Comment