TORAH (the LAW) AND GRACE,THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS:

re-appreciating the BIBLEfrom the JEWISH BELIEVER’S PERSPECTIVE

Negros Island House Of PrayerMay 2015

WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS STUDY?

1. There are IDEAS and NOTIONS THAT THE “OLD TESTAMENT” is “FOR THE JEWS” and the New Testament is for the Christians

2. … that the “OLD” Testament is “old” and therefore quite useless or inapplicable, except for inspirational or instructional principles

3. … that the “Old” Testament is associated with “law” and the New Testament is associated with “grace” and since we are “not under the law but under grace”, we need to focus more on the New Testament….

The CONSEQUENCES of this perspective:

1. We have developed a “wrong hatred” for “the law” (in our love for and amazement with grace), that many Christians live such “lawless” lives, committing sins that even “unbelievers” would be ashamed of

2. We were unwittingly prevented from seeing the fullness of how it is to live like Christ lived

3. We missed MANY OF GOD’S BLESSINGS established in the law

4. We also have also developed a low regard for the Old Testament

Common notions of law versus grace

SO THE QUESTION NOW IS:

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.Our answer to this question WILL AFFECT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, AND CONSEQUENTLY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.

WE ARE IN THE SEASON OF RESTORATION

• ACTS 3:20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22"Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.…

• MATTTHEW 17:10And His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"11And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."…

EXAMPLE OF JEWISH UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURES:

Matthew 1:21 (angel Gabriel to Mary)…“… and you are to call his name Yeshua (Jesus in Greek), for (or BECAUSE) HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS..”

JESUS in Greek (adopted in the English Bible) “IESOUS” (literally “son of Zeus” because “Zeus” is the Greek “god”, so Jesus is “the son of God [Zeus]) HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REDEMPTIVE OR SALVATION MEANING. “Salvation” in Greek is “soter” which is so far from “Iesous”.However, in Hebrew, Yeshuah means “salvation” from the root word “yoshia” which means “he will save”. SO YESHUA MEANS SAVIOUR, but “Jesus” means “son of Zeus”!!!!(NOTE: GOD IN HIS MERCY ALLOWED the Greek language to be used to reach out to the Gentiles)

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THIS STUDY:

We hope to realize that:1. That the “Old” Testament is not EXACTLY “old and useless”

2. The Old Testament is the FOUNDATION of the NEW Testament

3. That to the JEWISH BELIEVER (Messianic Jew), the OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT IS JUST ONE unified whole, one CONTINOUS BOOK4. And that the proper understanding of all these things, has TREMENDOUS PRACTICAL BENEFITS TO OUR LIFE

WHY ARE WE APPROACHING OUR STUDY THIS WAY?

1. Because ALL BOOKS OF THE BIBLE are written by JEWISH AUTHORS

2. The “Scriptures” that they had was THE OLD TESTAMENT (before the New testament was codified)

3. BECAUSE JESUS WAS A JEW, who FULFILLED ALL THE LAW

4. BECAUSE THE GREAT TENETS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH ARE JEWISH CONCEPTS – righteousness, justification, sacrifice, sanctify, glorify, covenant, faith, grace

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BE JEWISH, WE ARE GETTING A JEWISH, and therefore, a more correct, more accurate, and much better UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE.

FIRST POINT:GOD DID NOT GIVE A BIBLE IN THE BEGINNING. HE GAVE HIS WORD FIRST. AND MANY WORDS THEREAFTER…

GOD IS A SPEAKING GOD, HE IS CALLED THE WORD (NOT THE BOOK)…

“In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.” (John 1:1)

THE SHEMA ISRAEL

• "HEAR, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one", found in Deuteronomy 6:4, sometime alternately translated as "The LORD is our God, the LORD alone."

• Hear – shema – means HEED, PAY ATTENTION, OBEY, FOLLOW, AGREE… TO GOD’S WORD

THEN GOD RESORTED TO HAVING THINGS WRITTEN DOWN:

• Exodus 24:4 ”Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ”

• Exodus 24:12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their INSTRUCTION."

NOW, we speak of “ALL SCRIPTURE…”that is, ALL THAT IS WRITTEN DOWN

2 TIMOTHY 3:14 ”But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

AT THE TIME THIS WAS WRITTEN, THE SCRIPTURES WAS JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS NOT YET CODIFIED. Yet the Old Testament was able to make us wise for SALVATION.

SO BEFORE JESUS CAME, GOD’S WORD was THE SO-CALLED “OLD TESTAMENT”

The OLD TESTAMENT is called the “TANAKH”.TANAKH is the compilation of the THREE CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE JEWISH OLD TESTAMENT:TORAH – PentateuchNEVI’IM – the PROPHETSKITUVIM – the WRITINGS

LET US START WITH THE TORAH….

TORAH – WHAT IT REALLY MEANS

TORAH – means “instruction, direction, way”.Composed of the letters yod-resh-hey the pictorial representation of which is an arrow hitting the mark

SIN – is the CHATTAAH in Hebrew and HAMARTHIA in Greek– which means to MISS THE MARK(meaning: WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS NOT RIGHT IS DETERMINED BY THE TORAH)

“HIS WAYS”• to fear Him, walk in His ways, to love Him and to serve Him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12) -- "His ways" were given in the Torah. (TORAH means “direction” – His ways)

• Question: IS THE TORAH OLD TESTAMENT, OLD TESTAMENT ONLY, OR SO “OLD” TESTAMENT as in “useless, discarded”, “obsolete”, IN VIEW OF THE FACT TTHAT WE ARE ALREADY UNDER THE NEW TESTAMENT?

NEW TESTAMENT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS INDICATED BY OBEYING THE TORAH

Luke 1:5 “In the days of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron;6 Both of them were righteous (upright – NIV) in the

sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments (statutes – Torah) and regulations blamelessly.”

NOTE: THE ASSESMENT OF THEIR BEING RIGHTEOUS WAS ALSO INDICATED BY THEIR OBSERVING THE TORAH.

TORAH OVER TIME:

Basically and foundationally, the TORAH is the TEN COMMANDMENTS.Over time, Torah became understood as:1. SHEBIKTAV (Pentateuch) – the first five books of

Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers) -- which contain the Ten Commandments

2. Then it became to include the AMPLIFICATIONS or commentaries (THE MISNAH AND THE TALMUD)

3. Then soon it included the CASE LAW (A TOTAL OF 613 SPECIFIC RULES, REGULATIONS, etc.) - HALAKHAH

ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE AND SIMPLIFY THE TORAH

1. To only 11 basic precepts (by David in Psalm 15) – 2. To only 6 by Isaiah in Isa. 33:15-163. To only 3 by Micah (Micah 6:8) – LOVE MERCY, DO JUSTLY, WALK

HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD4. To 2 by Isaiah again in Isa. 56:15. To only one liner by Habakkuk (Hab. 2:4 – “The righteous shall live

by faith”)

BUT FINALLY BY JESUS IN ONE BEAUTIFUL COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and… you shall love your neighbour as you love yourself. Thus is summed up all the law and the prophets.” MATTHEW 22:37-40

WHY HAVE WE A “BAD VIEW” OF THE LAW (the TORAH)?

• For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them." (Galatians 3:10)

• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us -- for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree." (Galatians 3:13)

• Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14)

• Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)

WE ALL KNOW THIS TOO WELL!!

1. No one can be saved by the works of the law2. If we do all the law but offend in one point, we

are getting of breaking all (James 2:10)3. There is a righteousness APART FROM THE LAW,

which is from God and which is by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21, 22 ff.)

4. WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT BY OURSELVES OR BY WORKS. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“SOLA GRATIA, SOLA FIDE!!”

NO “MIXTURE” OF LAW WITH GRACE!

YES, THAT IS VERY TRUE FOR SALVATION. However, AFTER YOUR HAVE RECEIVED SALVATION, IS THE LAW NO MORE?IS THE LAW DEAD AND USELESS?

THE GALATIAN HERESY:Is when YOU ADD LAW TO GRACE FOR SALVATION. PAUL CONDEMNS THIS IN GALATIANS:2: 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' • 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by

faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

3: 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. • 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive

the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? • 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you

now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

SO DO WE SMASH THE LAW BECAUSE THE LAW IS USELESS, BAD?

WAIT: THE LAW (TORAH) IS GOOD!!!

• Paul wrote that “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy righteous and good” (Romans 7:12).

• Paul says “We know that the Law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14).

• Paul said that he himself ”IN THE INNER MAN, I delight in God’s Law” (Romans 7:22-25).

SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE LAW???

HOW CAN IT BE – FOR THE LAW TO BE A CURSE AND GOOD AT THE SAME TIME?

• Deuteronomy 30:15-17a -- "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgements, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your hearts turn away so that you do not hear, you shall surely perish ..."

HOW MANY LAWS – ONE OR TWO?

• Romans 7:1-6: "Freed from the Law"• Romans 14:1-13: "The Law of Liberty"• Galatians 3:10-14: "The Law Brings a Curse“SOME SAY TWO BECAUSE OF ROMANS 8:1-2• 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in

Christ Jesus, • 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me

free from the law of sin and death.”

(SOME SAY “THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE” IS GRACE/NEW TESTAMENT, WHILE “LAW OF SIN IS DEATH” IS LAW/OLD TESTAMENT, SO TWO LAWS)BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL IS SAYING!! READ ON:

THE LAW – was it REPLACED, or REINFORCED!!...

ROMANS 8:• 1 ”Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in

Christ Jesus, • 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me

free from the law of sin and death. • 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened

by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And SO HE CONDEMNED SIN (not the law!!) in sinful man,

• 4 IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, (the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us - KJV) who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”

IT IS VERY CLEAR!!!!• The law cannot save us;

BUT ONLY JESUS, BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH;

• BUT AFTER JESUS SAVES US, HE GIVES US HIS SPIRIT TO WORK SO POWERFULLY IN US SO THAT “THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW (or righteousness of the law) MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US WHO LIVE NOT AFTER THE FLESH BUT AFTER THS SPIRIT”

• (Romans 8:5)

HOW ABOUT OUR BEING “DEAD TO THE LAW”?

ROMANS 7An Illustration From Marriage• 1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the

law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? • 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long

as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

• 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

• 4 So, my brothers, YOU ALSO DIED TO THE LAW THROUGH THE BODY OF CHRIST, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

AND THE FACT THAT “WE ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE”?

• For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness for everyone who believes. 

• (Romans 10:4)

So by being under grace, DO WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE LAW?

REFLECT UPON THESE VERSES. THESE ARE INJUNCTIONS OR COMMANDS TO A PEOPLE WHO ARELADY SAVED:

1. HEBREWS 12:14 – “MAKE EVERY EFFORT to live in peace with all men AND TO BE HOLY; WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.”

(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IS HOLY WITHOUT THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)

(Note: what is holy and common is defined in the Torah)

IF THE LAW IS “NO MORE”, THEN WHAT IS OUR GUIDE FOR THIS?...

2. HEBREWS 13:20 – “My the God of peace who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought Jesus from the dead…EQUIP YOU WITH EVERYTHING GOOD FOR DOING HIS WILL (MAKE YOU PERFECT IN EVERY GOOD WORK – KJV) AND MAY HE WORK IN US WHAT IS PLEASING TO HIM, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever amen!”(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IS PERFECT WITHOUT

THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)

3. MATTHEW 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”

(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IS PERFECT WITHOUT THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)

THE TORAH-KEEPING IS A MARK OF THE END-TIME BRIDE OF CHRIST

REVELATION 12:17 (KJV)• “And the dragon was wroth (ANGRY) with the woman, and went to

make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God (the torah), and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

THE REMANT OF THE SEED HAD TWO THINGS:1. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS I JOHN 5:10-11The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.…2. THEY KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS (TORAH)

FUNDAMENTAL TENETS OF CHRISTIANITY ARE FOUND IN THE LAW

“YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”• Christians tout this as a preeminent "faith teaching of Jesus."

Notice however, what the Messiah says to Nicodemus when the latter asks, "How can these things be?“ (John 3:1 ff)

• Yeshua replies to him: "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things?"

• Nicodemus is criticized by the Messiah, who says that as a "teacher of Israel," he should have known about being "born again." Now how would Nicodemus know about this if it was a new teaching of Yeshua?

• The answer is that "being born again" is not an original teaching from Yeshua and the launching point for some new Christian faith. Being born again was and is fundamental to the Torah,

• This can be seen in the book of Deuteronomy:

NEW BIRTH IN THE TORAH• Deuteronomy 10:16 -- "Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be 

stiffnecked no longer."The term "stiffnecked" is equivalent to not having faith. God called the generation in the wilderness stiffnecked because they failed to trust (have faith) in Him. (See Exodus 32:9; 33:3,5; 34:9, Deut. 9:6,13; 2 Chron. 30:8; Acts 7:51)Hebrews 3:7-4:2, commenting on these same stiffnecked people, said they received the Gospel but failed as they did not "mix it with faith," and "went astray in their hearts."• Deuteronomy 30:6 -- "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the 

heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

Here the word "live" is used in a spiritual sense and is equivalent to salvation.The epistles show that "CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART" IS THE EQUIVALENT OF "BEING BORN AGAIN":• Romans 2:29 -- "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and CIRCUMCISION IS

THAT OF THE HEART ..."• Colossians 2:11 -- "In whom also ye are circumcised with THE CIRCUMCISION

MADE WITHOUT HANDS ..."

‘RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH AND NOT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW” IS NOT A NEW TESTAMENT

CONCEPT, IT IS ALREADY IN THE TORAH

• God's Covenant with AbramGENESIS 15:5-7

• And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6Then Abraham believed in the LORD; and God reckoned (counted) it to him as righteousness. 7And He said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.“

• Paul merely reiterates this, but did not create this teaching, in Romans 3:21 ff

The case of DAVID…• Psalm 119:22 -- "Take away from me reproach and 

contempt, for I have kept your testimonies." Psalm 119:51 -- "... yet have I not declined in my interest or turned aside from your Law." Psalm 119:56 -- "I have kept your precepts ..." Psalm 119:102 -- "I have not turned aside from your ordinances ..." Psalm 119:121 -- "I have done justice and righteousness ..."

• Is this the same David that committed adultery with Bathsheba and had Uriah murdered? Not to mention a number of other documented violations of the Torah. According to Christian theology, David is clearly a liar. How can he claim to have followed "the Law," when we all know how he broke it in some terrible ways? To add to the "confusion," God Himself calls David, "a man after His own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14)

HOW COULD IT BE? For David to be such a law-breaker, but still accepted by God?

• Psalm 119:159 -- "Consider how I love your precepts (torah); revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to your loving kindness."

• The term "loving kindness" is hesed in Hebrew, and is the equivalent of the word grace in the "New Testament."

• David knew he was saved by God's grace – HESED -- NOT by keeping all the commandments perfectly, but rather by what he says at the beginning of the verse; "Consider how I love your precepts ..."

IS THE TORAH HARD?

• Deuteronomy 30:11-14 -- "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it.' But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it."

SO NOW WE GO BACK TO THE “OLD TESTAMENT” AND HOW WE SHOULD REGARD IT

Remember:

1. The WHOLE BIBLE (Old and New Testament) is a JEWISH BOOK – it must be approached with a Jewish MIND SET

2. ALL THE AUTHORS OF THE BIBLE are JEWISH, without exception

3. THE “NEW TESTAMENT”, although written in GREEK and MEANT MAINLY FOR GENTILES, still EXPRESS THOUGHTS IN THE JEWISH MIND SET, EXPRESSED IN A GENTILE MANNER

THE “FLOW” OF THE TANAKH

1. TORAH – INSTRUCTIONS (general principles, truths, foundational precepts)

2. NEVI’IM – PROPHECIES/PROPHETS – are the FULFILMENTS OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, its blessings and punishments, as God’s people lived their lives either in obedience or disobedience of the Torah

3. Then followed by the KITUVIM – WRITINGS, which are the reflections, learnings, journals, musings, etc. of God’s people of their experiences (Tehillim – songs/psalms, Mishlei – proverbs, Job – meditations/musings, Eikkah – lamentations, Ezra-Nehemia – records of rebuilding, Esther – Purim/records of redemption, etc…)

THIS FLOW IS OBSERVED IN THE PUBLIC READINGS

1. FIRST READING – TORAH PORTIONS2. THE “SECOND READING” – called THE HAFTARAH

(meaning “completion”, or “completer” is the READING OF THE PROPHETS/PROPHECIES

3. “THIRD READING” – OPTIONAL is reading of the WRITINGS

NOTE: THERE ARE USUALLY 7 TORAH PORTIONS BEING READ. The SEVENTH READER reads the LAST TORAH PORTION and the FIRST READING OF THE PROPHETS to underscore CONTINUITY.

The objective and the logic

THE OBJECTIVE of the PUBLIC READING OF SCRIPTURES is “TIKKUN-HA-OLAM” (“to fix the world”). LOGIC:You cannot “fix the world” (“fix your life”) if YOU DO NOT READ (HEAR) THE WORD – the GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PROPHETS/PROPHECIESNOTE: THE GENTILE/WESTERN TREATMENT OF THE BOOKS OF THE “TANAKH” SOMEHOW “DESTROYED” THE FLOW OF THIS LOGIC:

Notice the CONTRASTNumber of Books THE SAME, but treatment DIFFERENT:

A: What western classification treats as “history”, the Jews classify as “prophets/prophecies”B: the Jewish Bible reveals a MIND FRAME of the TORAH and THE PROPHETS AS THE FOUNDATION of Scripturesc. The Jews therefore EXPECT HISTORY TO FULFILL PROPHECY, AND CONFIRM THE TORAHD. NOTE “FORMER” AND “LATTER” PROPHETS in contrast to “major” and “minor”; to the jews there are no “maor” and “minor” prophets; they were all prophets

THE DAMAGE INFLICTED TO THE MODERN-DAY CHRISTIAN:

1. We have LOST our understanding and appreciation of the GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (torah) as ALSO PROPHETIC

2. WE HAVE A VERY LOW IF NO MORE RESPECT FOR PROPHETS AND PROPHESYINGS

3. OF THE FIVE MAJOR OFFICE GIFTS GIVEN BY JESUS TO THE CHURCH (Eph. 4: 11) – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, WE HAVE ACCEPTED ONLY THREE AND REJECTED THE FIRST TWO

4. Churches HAVE LITTLE OR NO PROPHETIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND DO NOT OPERATE PROPHETICALLY (we just operate “historically” because that is how we classified the prophets)

The manner of public reading:

1. PRAYER OF BLESSING2. Torah reading3. Prophetic reading4. (Writings)5. PRAYER OF BLESSING

THE READER GOES UP TO A PODIUM “GOING UP” ALIYAH (going to the temple to worship and singing songs is called “songs of ascent”)The PODIUM IS CALLED – BIMAH, which point to theBIMAH (BEMA) JUDGMENT

THE BEMA JUDGMENT

2 Corinthians 5:10,• "For we must all appear before the judgment seat

(BEMA) of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.“

• STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT: Believers/Christians will be “JUDGED” (NOT FOR SALVATION BUT FOR REWARDS) BASED ON THE TORAH (general instructions) AND NEVI’IM (the prophecies), WHICH IS READ AT THE BIMAH

So if this seems okay, why did God have to make a “new” covenant?

• Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:33 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.”

THE “NEW COVENANT” IS NOT A “NEW LAW” THAT WILL REPLACE THE OLD;

RATHER IT IS A…• Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and

a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep Mine ordinances, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God.

“BUT WE ARE GENTILES!!!

Why force this Jewish thing on us???”

ROMANS 11:13 I AM TALKING TO YOU GENTILES. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 DO NOT BOAST OVER THOSE BRANCHES. IF YOU DO, CONSIDER THIS: YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT SUPPORTS YOU.”

GENTILES – REMEMBER!!!!

• “Therefore, remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, . . . remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12).

Romans 11:18 Do not boast over those branches. IF YOU DO, CONSIDER THIS: YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT SUPPORTS YOU.”

THE ROOT THAT SUPPORTS US IS THE JEWISH ROOTS OF OUR FAITH!!

God's Sovereign ChoiceROMANS 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

PROOF OF THE “ROOTS” BEING THE JEWS

ROMANS 1:16 – I am not shamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK (Gentile)…

ROMANS 2:9 – Tribulation and anguish upon every soul that doeth evil, of the JEW FIRST AND ALSO OF THE GENTILE

ROMANS 2:10 – But glory and honour and peace to every man that worketh good, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GENTILE

ROMANS 10:12 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

GALATIANS 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for we are all one in Christ.”

BACK TO THE COVENANT – THE FAULT IS NOT WITH THE LAW, BUT WITH THE

PEOPLE (THE JEWS)Hebrews 8

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

THE problem is with the HEART – NOT with THE LAW!

• Yahweh promises, “I will give them a heart to know me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with their whole heart” (Jer. 24:7).

• This will be possible ONLY IF THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN OUR HEARTS WHEN WE RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD!! (Ephesians 1:12-14)

BUT IS THIS NOT FOR JEWS ONLY?EXODUS 12:49

“ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth with you” (NUMBERS 15:16, NUMBERS 15:29)

LEVITICUS 22:44 “You shall have ONE MANNER OF LAW, as well as for the stranger, as for one of your own country, for I am the Lord your God.” ISAIAH 56:6-8. Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD to be His servants, everyone who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO THE LAW THAT WERE FORMERLY GIVEN TO THE

JEWS ALONE?JOHN 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”• 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father

will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

• 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

WAS THE LAW “IMPOSED” ON THE GENTILE BELIEVERS IN THE EARLY

CHURCH?ACTS 15:19-21“It is my judgment therefore that we should not make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God.Instead, we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

AFFIRMATIONS:1. There are some parts of the law that are not to be imposed on the

Gentiles (“WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT HARD FOR THE Gentiles) – EXAMPLE: CIRCUMCISION, NAZIRITE VOW, WEDDING RITES,

2. BUT THERE ARE STILL PARTS OF THE TORAH THAT CONTINUE TO RULE THE CONDUCT OF GENTILE BELIEVERS:

a. ABSTAINING FROM FOOD POLLUTED BY IDOLS - V. 20A (this AFFIRMS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE WORSHIP LAWS)

ACTS 24:12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14HOWEVER, I ADMIT THAT I WORSHIP THE GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS AS A FOLLOWER OF THE WAY, WHICH THEY CALL A SECT. I BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS,

AFFIRMATIONS (Acts 15) :

b. Abstain From sexual immorality – v. 20b (these are ALL MORAL LAWS)c. Abstain from meat of strangled animals and cooked in its own blood v- 20c (THIS IS ALL KOSHER LAWS)d. the SABBATH (implied in verse 21 – they expected the Gentiles to

join the synagogues/assembly on the Sabbath) – THIS AFFIRMS THE HOLY DAYS AND FEASTS DAYS

ACTS 15:20-21Instead, we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

AFFIRMATIONS:

3. The GENTILE BELIEVER HAS A CHANCE TO EVALUATE THE REST OF THE LAW OF MOSES AS THE TORAH IS READ EVERY SABBATH AT THE SYNAGOGUE (Acts 15:21)

4. REMEMBER THE POOR (GALATIANS 2:10) – SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECT OF THE TORAH

5. TITHES

Examples of law (halachah, the 613 commands) that we cannot enforce

• Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

• De 21: 18 ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

• Lev 21:9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

Jesus castigated the human additions added by the Pharisees to the Torah

• Mark 7:8, 10“For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other things like this you do…You reject the commandments of God that you may keep your tradition.”

We don’t do the Levitical offerings anymoreNumbers 28: 1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

In the New Covenant, we don't need to sacrifice every day burnt offering to the Lord. This command is not valid anymore. Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah is one sacrifice for sins for ever.

NO MORE ANIMAL SACRIFICESLeviticus 4: 27 ¶ And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

We can't obey this command, because then we would despise offering of Yeshua the Messiah. Also this command is not valid in the New Covenant.

HALAKHAH NO LONGER IMPOSED• Judaism affected also in Early Church, which demanded

circumcision of Gentiles and keeping of the law of Moses. When there has been much disputing about those things in Acts 15, so was decided that Gentile believers don't need circumcision and keeping of the law (613 commands). This decision indicates that also 613 commands were rejected from Gentiles. Peter said that God didn't make difference between Jews and Gentiles, and He has purified both of their hearts by faith (to Yeshua), not by the law. Peter also said that they (Jews) can't put a yoke on the neck of the disciples (Gentiles), which Jewish forefathers had not strength to bear. That yoke was 613 commands. Peter said that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by believing and by keeping of the law. This means that Messianic Jews don't have to keep 613 commands as also we have noticed earlier in this writing.

BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW LIVES ON

• Circumcision of the New Covenant• Ro 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and 

circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

HERE WE SEE THAT EVEN UNDER GRACE, THE REFERENCE POINT FOR HOLY LIFE ARE THE STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW (TORAH).

The holy days and feasts are kept

• 1 Corintihians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth

• To the New Covenant believers must live and keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, which happens in the New Covenant by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The TORAH in the millennial reign• Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of

the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isa 51:4 ¶ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

• These Bible verses teach about the time in millennial kingdom where the law and word of God comes out from Jerusalem, because Jesus (Yeshua) rules there as the Prince of Peace. However, in the time of New Covenant the word and teaching come by the Holy Spirit and not according to any geological area, where some congregation would have leading position.

THE KEY OR STANDARD:THE MIND OF CHRIST

• 1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

• IF CHRIST WERE HERE, HOW WOULD HAVE HE DECIDED ABOUT HOW HE PRAYED, HOW HE ATE, HOW HE WORSHIPPED?...

• LETS US ALL SEEK THE MIND OF CHRIST AND NOT THE DOGMA OF OUR DENOMINATION

NO MORE RABBIS!!!

• Matthew 23:8 BUT BE NOT YE CALLED RABBI: for one is your Master, even Christ; and ALL YE ARE BRETHREN. 1 CorInthians 12:28 

• And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

SO NOW, WITH ALL THESE, HOW DO WE TAKE THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS?

WHO CALLED IT THE “OLD TESTAMENT” AND WHY IS IT CALLED THE “OLD TESTAMENT”?They got it BY IMPLICATION from the words of Jesus, and in the Book of Hebrews, in its ENGLISH TRANSLATION, taken from the GREEK :

“For this is THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT which is shed for many for the remission of sins (matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20) I Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6)

WHERE DID WE GET THE IDEA THAT OLD IS OLD and IS PASSING AWAY?

• Hebrews 8:13  By calling this covenant new, he has made the first one old (“obselete” – NIV), and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear – NIV) Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

• Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

• Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

What is OLD?

OLD in Hebrew is “olam”, which means, depending on usage or context:Long duration, antiquity, ancient, “always” (“has always been there” – old), everlasting, unending, forever, formerOLD COVENANT CAN THEREFORE be understood or taken as “former” covenant, “ancient”, “always been there”, antiquated.THE MESSIANIC JEWS ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY TAKE THE TORAH in the sense of “always been there”, “former”, WHICH HAS BECOME, the NEW COVENANT.“NEW” – “CHADASH” – MEANS “NEW THING”, “FRESH”, “NOW”. It is NOT REPAIRED, NOT RESTORED. It is NEW.

TESTAMENT, OR COVENANT?If there is a “new”, there must be an “old”.And why Testament? Why not covenant?The “NEW TESTAMENT” in Hebrew is “B’rit Hadasha”.“Hadasha” is NEW. “B’rit” is translated in Hebrew as EITHER COVENANT OR TESTAMENT. The Greek “diatheke” means ONLY TESTAMENT.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO:

COVENANT IS “BERIYTH”, shortened into “BR’IT”, means a solemn contract.It is effective immediately, when the two parties are alive.BUT IT IS SOLEMNIZED BY DEATH – the death of the sacrificial animals.The covenant is negotiated by a MEDIATOR.

Testament (last will) is made by a TESTATOR, who is stipulating benefits for a BENEFICIARY to be effected UPON THE DEATH of a testator.A last will and testament requires an EXECUTOR who is not the testator, who by the time the will is effected, is already dead.

PROBLEMS WITH “TESTAMENT”:

1. If Jesus is the “testator” whose death benefits us, then what is the testament that is being implemented, the Old or the New?

2. If Jesus blood is the blood of the “new testament” (and the animals’ blood is the blood of the “old testament”), does that mean that Jesus has to die again so that the NEW TESTAMENT can be put into effect?

CLEARLY, THE WORD “TESTAMENT” PRESENTS PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

If we use “COVENANT”:1. The “old covenant” is built upon, solemnized

by the blood (death) of the animal sacrifices2. The “new covenant” is built upon,

solemnized by the blood of Jesus.This is better and easier to understand.NOW CONNECT WITH THE MEANING OF THE WORD “OLD” AND “NEW”.One word for “old” is “old” as in obsolete.Another word for “old” is FORMER, OR BEFORE, IN CONTRAST TO CURRENT, OR NOW.

EXAMPLE:

The caterpillar is BEFORE OR FORMER (“OLD”). NOW (“NEW”) IS THE BUTTERFLY. The OLD (“former” – the caterpillar is VANISHING AND DISAPPEARING). IT HAS “BECOME” A BUTTERFLY.This is the messianic Jew’s understanding of the “OLD” AND “NEW COVENANTS”. The old is FORMER, it is VANISHING, BECAUSE IT IS BECOMING INTO THE NEW COVENANT.They call the NEW COVENANT the “ALREADY NOT YET.”

How about HEBREWS 9:15-17

• Hebrew 9:15–17 (NIV)• 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,

that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

• 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,

• 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is

living.THIS IS THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE “TESTAMENT” UNDERSTANDING OF BERIYTH.

HEBREWS 9IF TESTAMENT:• 15 For this reason Christ is the

mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

• 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,

• 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it i living.

IF COVENANT:• 15 For this reason Christ is the

mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

• 16 In the case of a COVENANT, it is necessary for one who presents it that it is based on death,

• 17 because a covenant is in force only when it is based on death; it never takes effect while the one who presents it cannot prove that it is based on death.

EXIGETICAL EXPLANATION:• However, in our English Bibles, verse 16 of our text reads as though the one making the

covenant must himself die. But this is because the Greek is not faithfully represented in our English translations. The Greek does not say that the one making the covenant must die, but rather that “death must be borne” by the one who ratifies the covenant. The meaning of the Greek verb phero used in this phrase is “to bear, carry, bring forward,” and in our text perfectly conveys the ancient covenant ceremony, showing that our author is well aware of covenant enactment ceremony in the Tanakh. For in using this word, the author of Hebrews means to convey the fact that in taking the covenant oath, the reality of the death of the one making the covenant is demonstrated, represented or brought into the picture when he walks between the slain parts of the slaughtered animals. Indeed, in the Lxx the verb phero (“to bear, carry, bring forward”) is regularly associated with the representative act of offering sacrifices, which may have also influenced our author’s choice of the word in our text. The one ratifying a covenant must offer (“bear”) the death of sacrificial animals as representative of his own death if he failed to honor the covenant. Verse 17 explains why it is necessary to bring forward the death of the one making the covenant, and further explains the method of covenant enactment. In our English Bibles, the opening phrase reads: “For a covenant is valid only when men are dead” (NASB). Literally, the Greek reads “For a covenant is confirmed over the dead,”15 where the word “dead” is plural (thus the NASB has “when men are dead”). Why does our author use the plural form of the word “dead?” Once again, the best explanation is that he has in mind the sacrificial animals slain at the covenant ratification ceremony.

So WHAT WAS BETTERED BY THE “NEW COVENANT”?

1. Change of PARTIES – instead of us, CHRIST STOOD FOR US (because WE CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE COVENANT)

2. Change of sacrifice - CHRIST DIED FOR US (who should be killed under the “old covenant” because we did not and could not keep its terms)

3. Change of priesthood – CHRIST BECAME OUR HIGH PRIEST because under the “old”, the animal sacrifices had to be repeatedly offered, and the high priest had to offer sacrifices for his sins first; WITH CHRIST, THE SACRIFICE IS OFFERED ONCE AND FOR ALL BY A HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS NO SIN

BUT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OR THE SUBSTANCE, OF THE LAW (THE TORAH) OF THE “FORMER COVENANT” DID NOT CHANGE – THE BLESSINGS AND CURSES. IT REMAINED THE SAME!

The SUBSTANCE of THE LAW (THE “FORMER COVENANT”) NEVER CHANGED!!MATTHEW 5:17-18“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets (the words he used here are TORAH and KEVI’IM – THE DIVISIONS OF THE JEWISH TANAKH – THE “OLD COVENANT”); I have not come to abolish them BUT TO FULFILL THEM (this is where the Messianic Jew got the concept of “becoming” rather than “replacing”); I tell you, UNTIL HEAVEN EARTH DISAPPEAR, NOT THE SMALLEST LETTER, NOT THE LEAST STROKE OF A PEN, WILL BY ANY MEANS DISAPPEAR FROM THE LAW UNTIL EVERYTHING IS FULFILLED (OR ACCOMLISHED.)

LISTEN TO YESHUA AS HE SPEAKS ON:

Matthew 5:17-20“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments (Torah) AND TEACHES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME (break the Torah) will be called LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (notice not “Kingdom of God”), BUT WHOEVER PRACTICES AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDS will be GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”

CAN WE EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW?

Of course!!!1. BY RECEIVING THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS2. AND BY FULFILLING THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW IN US BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US!!(Romans 8:5)

How about 2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-11?

• 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

CONCLUSION:

1. The TORAH is not lost or repudiated (we did away with the parties, the sacrifice, the priesthood, the ceremonial aspects), BUT THE MORAL AND ESSENTIAL PRECEPTS REMAIN

2. THE FORMER COVENANT IS JUST AS ESSENTIAL AS THE NEW OR CURRENT COVENANT, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE FORMER BECAME THE CURRENT OR NEW.

3. WE HAVE NOT LEFT OUR JEWISH ROOTS. IT IS THE ROOTS THAT SUSTAIN THE ENGRAFTED BRANCHES

4. GRACE IS SAVES US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW. GRACE ENABLES US TO AVAIL OF THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAW.

Beautiful summations:

EPHESIANS 2:8, 9, AND 10• 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

YESHUA’S WORDS:JOHN 10:10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (OR TO THE FULL).

In one word:

THE TORAH IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION.

BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE AND LIFE TO

THE FULLEST.IT’S YOUR CHOICE.