Tag: New Covenant

Posted on

Works Of Torah EXPOSED!

Mat 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in the heavens is great. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Words spoken against Yahweh’s Torah and the work of His Spirit in and through true believers is no light matter. Mark 3:29;“but he who blasphemes against the Set-apart Spirit has no forgiveness forever, but is subject to everlasting judgment,”. May those who may be tempted to speak so carelessly…refrain.

Belief without works is dead. Works without belief is equally death. However, “good works” produced by His Spirit prove His presence and workmanship. This contrast of works is the issue of this study. Lets begin with defining “Torah.”

Torah: The word is first seen in Gen 26:5 “…because Abraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My commands, My laws, and My Torot.” (Torah plural) KJV; Laws.

Yahweh blesses Abraham’s son because of the testimony that he (Abraham) had. Abraham began his relationship with Yahweh through belief AND confirmed his belief through obedience to Yahweh’s Torah.

Torah (defined); “instruction, direction (human or divine), prophetic teaching, instruction in Messianic age, priestly direction or instruction, legal directives, law, codes.” Yahweh’s Torah; cannot be limited to Genesis – Deuteronomy, (as some teach), but must include all scripture! (Genesis – Revelation)

1 – Yahweh’s desire for His people;

Deut 30:6 “And Yahweh your Elohim shall circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live…”

Yahweh’s desire has always been to have a heart relationship with His people. Yisrael’s unbelief resulted in the grafting in of believing gentiles among those of Yisrael who believed! As New Covenant believers we fulfill His heart’s desire!

Jer 31:33 “For this is the (new) covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares Yahweh: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”

Eze 36:27 “…and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”

Rom 2:28-29 “For he is not a Yehudi who is so outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But a Yehudi is he who is so inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in Spirit, not literally, whose praise is not from men but from Elohim.”

2 – Messiah Exposing Works of Torah

Mat 23:27-28 “Because you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly indeed look well, but inside are filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

As actors/imitators, in unbelief, they think that striving by human effort, to maintain the observance of Yahweh’s instruction is righteousness, but it has only an outward appearance of righteousness. Messiah sees their heart and pronounces them lawless!

This is an expression of unbelief, disguised in “works of Torah.” It is not to be confused with the workmanship of Yahweh in and through the believer!

3 – Paul Contrasts Belief and Works

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by favor you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahshua unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Favor / GRK; charis is defined as “graciousness, gift, benefit, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.”

Yahweh’s Spirit Of Truth upon the heart of the believer, causes the believer to walk in Yahweh’s Torah/instruction. This is not by human effort where one could boast. It is the workmanship of Elohim, a new creation in Messiah, producing “good works” in and through the believer to walk in…

This is why Paul contrasts “works” (of human effort in the flesh), and “good works” (of divine effort in the heart). Consider these contrasts;

Yahweh’s Spirit of Truth through believers express “good works.”

Human effort through religious unbelievers express “Works of Torah.”

The Spirit Of Truth produces trust in Messiah’s righteousness.

Works of Torah religionists strive to appear righteous.

The Spirit Of Truth brings Yah’s blessings through believers to others.

Works of Torah religionists strive to attain Yahweh’s blessing for themselves.

The Spirit of Truth reveals His Torah/Word to believers.

Works of Torah religionists only repackage/reword and quote believers.

The Spirit of Truth causes believers to express Yahweh’s Love consistently.

Works of Torah religionists talk and act loving…in public.

The Spirit of Truth enables believers to bear Yahshua’s light and easy yoke.

Works of Torah religionists become spiritually bankrupt and worn out.

The Spirit of Truth leads believers in rightly applying His Torah/Word.

Works of Torah religionists resist rightly applying His Torah.

The Spirit of Truth equips believers to follow the true Messiah.

Works of Torah religionists eventually turn back to their lawlessness.

The Spirit of Truth empowers believers to contend for “the belief.” (The Truth)

Works of Torah religionists blaspheme and malign “the belief.”

You can see why it’s no wonder that the religionists, when they turn back to lawlessness, feel a burden lifted and begin to proclaim that they are free!

Sadly for them, they cannot discern between true freedom in the true Messiah and a false sense of freedom in unbelief! Consider;

2Pe 2:20 “For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahshua Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the first.”

4 – The Works That Matter In The End

Rev 22:14-15 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood. (Also see Rev 21:27, 2 Thess. 2:11.)

The Spirit of Truth causes believers to do His commands, bringing once again, access to the tree of life! These will dwell with Yahshua forever inside the New Yerushalayim! (Rev 21:2)

Those who continue in their religion of falsehood are outside…

1Jn 4:6 “We are of Elohim – the one knowing Elohim hears us. He who is not of Elohim does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of the delusion.”(fraudulence)

WHICH ARE YOU?

2Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves whether you are in the belief – prove yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves, that Yahshua Messiah is in you, unless you are disapproved.”

Related Articles: “Overcoming” series; 1-5, “The Parable of The Bride & The Whore”

Posted on

Measuring Belief Systems By The Commandments

 

Prior to Yahweh giving HIS people HIS Commandments through Mosheh(Moses) in Exodus 20, they found themselves in bondage to a nation of idolators. Egypt worshipped many gods. Yahweh delivered HIS people from Egypt’s gods and then gave HIS Commandments with HIS promise to put HIS Commands in their hearts and cause them to walk in them. It is on that basis, that I present the following. HIS Commands are an excellent measuring stick of whether or not a belief system is in submission to HIM and walking in the New Covenant. (Also see article, “Comparing The Old and New Covenant.”)

Eze 36:26-27 “And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh, and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.”(All Scriptures are from the ISR 98, unless otherwise noted)

Commandment #1

Exo 20:2 “I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. You have no other mighty ones against My face.”

Even though this was spoken to the people of Yisrael, it is clearly understood by those who study the Scriptures (Genesis – Revelation), Who this “Elohim”(Hebrew) meaning “mighty one” is. HE identifies HIMSELF by NAME. My studies on HIS Name at the time of this writing have brought me to believe that HIS Name is Yahweh, THE Supreme Mighty ONE. You must understand that there has been and still is an aggressive movement to hide the true Names of The Father, Yahweh and HIS Son, Yahshua. I am not dogmatic that the Names that we currently use are accurate, but I do know this, HE will continue to confirm exactly who HE is to those coming to understand what The Father’s and The Son’s Names are NOT! All who believe The Scriptures from Genesis – Revelation are to call upon HIM by NAME and are not to have ANY other mighty one (real or fabricated) in HIS Place. Any belief system that forsakes HIS Truth and settles for a name and character that is simply not HIM, is a false belief system and will not know or understand The New Covenant.

Zec 10:2 “For the household idols spoke emptiness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain. Therefore they have wandered about like sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.”

Mat 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”

Commandment #2

Exo 20:4-6 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, Yahweh your Elohim am a jealous Elohim, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.”

Will man choose The Living Elohim? Or will he continue in lifeless images resembling created beings “in heaven above, in earth beneath, or in the water under the earth?”

Any belief system that expresses a propensity for idolatry through it’s propagation of images/pictures/likenesses of messengers (angels), man / woman, animals (or any combination of the aforementioned), is in opposition to HIS Commandments and is a false belief system not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant and will find itself devoid of protection from the powers of darkness.

1Ki 18:21 “And (Elijah) came to all the people, and said, “How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If Yahweh is Elohim, follow Him; and if Ba’al follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”

Rom 1:20-23 “For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse, because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the esteem of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four-footed beasts and of reptiles.”

Commandment #3

Exo 20:7 “You do not bring the Name of Yahweh, your Elohim to naught, for Yahweh does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.”

This commandment addresses the seriousness of not rightly discerning the proper attitude in regards to HIS NAME. Of necessity, we must consider the meaning of the word translated “vain”. It is the Hebrew word “shav”. From the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, and from the Brown / Driver / Briggs Dictionary, #H7723 we can conclude that any misuse of (desolating, ruining), any overuse of (selfishly, idolatrous), and/or any nonuse of (rendering useless, using deceptively, falsely, making nothing, empty, worthless) HIS NAME is taking HIS NAME in vain. This is a serious issue!

Isa 52:5-7 “And now, what have I here,” declares Yahweh, “that My people are taken away for naught? Those who rule over them make them wail,” declares Yahweh “and My Name is despised all day continually. “Therefore My people shall know My Name, in that day, for I am the One who is speaking. See, it is I.” How pleasant upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!”

The Father wants HIS Name Known! (Jer.16:19-21)

The Master, Yahshua gave HIS taught ones HIS Father’s Name! (John 17:6,11,12,26)

There is not another name that can deliver! (Acts 4:12)

Believers will have HIS True Name upon them! (Rev. 3:12, 22:4)

Any person and / or belief system that is rendering HIS NAME (or the knowledge of HIS NAME) as worthless, not important, etc., will not be held guiltless and is not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant! (Also see article, “Six Reasons Why The Greek – Roman – Latin Jesus Cannot be The Messiah“)

Commandment #4

Exo 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.”

Any belief system that rejects the 7th day as the Sabbath and does not set it apart as Yahweh has set it apart, ie. resting from work that is done the other six days of the week, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Mat 15:9 “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.”

(See article “Catholic Quotes on who changed The Sabbath”)

Commandment #5

Exo 20:12 “Respect your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged upon the soil which Yahweh your Elohim is giving you.”

The Master repeats it in HIS answer to the man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, saying in Mar 10:19 “You know the commands, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not rob,’ ‘Respect your father and your mother.’ ” “Respect” here means to “prize, revere, place great value upon”…

HE then says in Mar 10:29-30 “Yahshua said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life.”

Who should take precedent in your life? Gen.12:1, Matt.12:46-50, Lk.9:59-60, Lk.14:26…

Any belief system that contradicts the words of The Master is a false belief system that is not knowing nor understanding in The New Covenant.

Commandment #6

Exo 20:13 “You do not murder.”

Consider;

Exo 21:12-15 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall certainly be put to death.

But, if he did not lie in wait but Elohim delivered him into his hand, then I shall appoint for you a place where he is to flee. But when a man acts presumptuously against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him even from My altar to die. And he who smites his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

Psa 106:37-38“And they slaughtered their sons And their daughters to demons, And they shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they offered to the idols of the land was defiled with blood.

Mat 23:34-35 “Because of this, see, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scholars of Scripture. Some of them you shall kill and impale, and some of them you shall flog in your congregations and persecute from city to city, so that on you should come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Dwelling Place and the altar.”

Any belief system that propagates a false messiah and / or condones the premeditated murder of the innocent is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #7

Exo 20:14 “You do not commit adultery.”

Lev 20:10 ‘And a man who commits adultery with the wife of another man, who commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor: the adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly be put to death.”

Mat 19:4-6 And He answering, said to them, “Did you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate.”

Heb 13:4 “Let marriage be respected by all, and the bed be undefiled. But Elohim shall judge those who whore, and adulterers.”

Any belief system that condones sexual practices that are forbidden in the Scriptures is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #8

Exo 20:15 “You do not steal.”

Lev 19:11-12 ‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another. And do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your Elohim. I am Yahweh.”
Joh 10:10 “The thief (devil) does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure.”

Joh 12:4-6 (Judas, a thief helped himself to the money bag)

Rev 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Any belief system where theft, misuse of ministry money, profaning the Name of Yahweh, defrauding and / or swindling one another are common, is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #9

Exo 20:16 “You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

Exo 23:1 “Do not bring a false report. Do not put your hand with the wrong to be a malicious witness.”

Lev 19:16 ‘Do not go slandering among your people. Do not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.”

Joh 8:43-45“Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”

1Jn 2:22 “Who is the liar, except the one denying that Yahshua is the Messiah? This is the anti-messiah, the one denying the Father and the Son.”

Any belief system that condones lying, slander, gossip and a fabricated identity of The Messiah is a false belief system that is under the sway of the wicked one, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Commandment #10

Exo 20:17 “You do not covet your neighbor’s house, you do not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, or whatever belongs to your neighbor.”
Psa 10:3 “For the wrongdoer boasted of his cravings; And the greedy one cursed and despised Yahweh.”

Jer 5:8 “They were like well-fed horses, every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.”

Col 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry.”

Any belief system that encourages greed, material wealth, and selfishness rather than contentment and others-centeredness is a false belief system, not knowing nor understanding The New Covenant.

Posted on

Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17 – 18 ” “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete. Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.
For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.”

Why did YAHSHUA have to address false assumptions? Evidently there were rumors that HE was discontinuing the Law…and possibly even the Prophets of the Scriptures. Why do we have to address this question? Because the same false assumptions exist today!

Verse 17a “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets”

“destroy”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G2647 “kataluo”

From G2596 and G3089; to loosen down (disintegrate), that is, (by
implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specifically (compare G2646)
to halt for the night:—destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought,
overthrow, throw down.

Notice the context: It appears that HE is referring to BOTH the Law AND the Prophets. The context seems to suggest that whatever HIS intention is for EITHER, is HIS intention for BOTH. Has HE done away with the Prophets?

Verse 17b “I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

“fulfill”: Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries

G4137 “pleroo” play roo o

From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a
hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute
(an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:—
accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full
(come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

The following verses use the same Greek word “pleroo”;
Matthew 3:15 “But Yahshua answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.”
– Is YAHSHuA saying here “to do away with or discontinue all righteousness?”
Philippians 2:2 “…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, one in being and of purpose…”
– Is Paul saying here “to do away with or discontinue his joy?”
Colossians 1:25 “…of which I became a servant according to the administration of Elohim which was given to me for you, to fill the word of Elohim…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue the Word of YAH?”
2Thess 1:11 “To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power…”
– Is he saying here “to do away with or discontinue HIS good pleasure?”

Proponents of the belief that YAHSHUA “fulfilled” the law from this point on in this chapter, thus “discontinuing” or “doing away with law altogether”, also say that HE intends to now introduce a “new standard or set of laws” state that HE now proceeds to negate the “Old Testament Law” throughout the remainder of this chapter. These people became known as “Antinomianists” during the 2nd / 3rd centuries. This word came from the Greek word for “lawlessness” found throughout the New Testament. (See References on page 2)

Here is what the Holman’s Bible Dictionary says about this early movement:

ANTINOMIANISM (an tih noh’ mih an ihsm) The false teaching that since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law. The word antinomianism is not used in the Bible, but the idea is spoken of. Paul appears to have been accused of being an antinomian (see Rom. 3:8; 6:1, 15). While it is true that obedience to the law will never earn salvation for anyone (Eph. 2:8-9), it is equally true that those who are saved are expected to live a life full of good works (see, for example, Matt. 7:16-20; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jas. 2:14-26). Since we have been freed from the dominion of sin through belief in YAHSHUA, we have also been freed to practice the righteousness demanded by YAH (Rom. 6:12-22).

In Legge’s “Forerunner’s and Rivals of Christianity” a work on the history of the Early Church, he states”

(in the late 2nd to early 3rd centuries) “Some well-known Church Fathers who came from Gnosticism were Epiphanius, who had been a Nicolaitan, Ambrose of Milan, who had been a Valentinian, and Augustine, who had been a Manichean for 9 years before joining the Catholic Church. All these Gnostic sects were distinguished by their rejection of the Old Testament Law, some of them even rejecting the Mighty One of the Old Testament, and some of them even equated the Mighty One of the Old Testament with the Evil One! In their rejection of the Old Testament Law, the Valentinian Gnostics even rejected all moral laws, leading to scandalous living.

The Marcionites were later on refuted, but they also contributed toward the aversion to, and even rejection of, the Old Testament. Manes and his followers, the Manicheans, from among whom Augustine came, “looked on Judaism with horror, rejected the Old Testament entirely…”

“LAWLESSNESS”

G458

From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness:—
iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

References to “lawlessness” in the New Testament:

Matthew 7:23 – And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 13:41-42 – ““The Son of Aḏam shall send out His messengers, and they shall gather out of His reign all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and shall throw them into the furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 23:38 – ““So you too outwardly indeed appear righteous to men, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Matthew 24:12 – ““And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.” 

Romans 6:19 – ” I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as you did present your members as servants of uncleanness, and of lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness.”

2Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;

Hebrews 1:9 – (quoting from numerous Psalms & Prophets)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness

1John 3:4 – Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Please notice that the consistent use of this word “lawlessness” in these verses, contextually is describing some very serious consequences!

  • In light of these verses is it safe for anyone to say that YAHSHUA is saying in Matthew 5, that HE has “done away with ALL Old Testament Law?”
  • When does YAHSHUA say that this will be accomplished?

Matthew 5:18 – “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

When is that going to happen? Sometime in the future according to these verses:
2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Master will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Rev 20:11 – Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev 21:1 – Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Again, in light of what the Scriptures say, is it wise to say that YAHSHUA in Matthew 5:17 is suggesting that The LAW of YAH is NOT relevant any longer?

You decide. I pray that you make your decision based on what the Scriptures are saying instead of what lawless men are saying…

Posted on

The Law of The Spirit

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT

The following paragraph from a typical commentary is supposed to help the reader understand and rightly apply Romans 8:1-8. The perspective seen in this commentary reflects that perspective held by much of today’s traditional Christianity regarding The Law (Torah or Instruction) of YAHWEH. Unfortunately an unspiritual approach has enabled this perspective to be propagated. May you see the contradictions and inconsistencies of this commentary and today’s un-scriptural view of  the Words of YAHWEH!

The commentary states;

“How does the Christian live a righteous life without a constant struggle to keep God’s Law? Paul introduced another universal principle: the law of life lived in the power of the Spirit (8:1-2). Old Testament Law failed to produce righteousness. So in Messiah God condemned “sin in sinful man’’ and provided His Spirit, who enables believers to fully meet the Law’s requirements without “trying” (vv. 3-4). We focus on responding to God’s Spirit rather than on trying to keep laws (vv. 5-8). If we’re controlled by the Spirit who brought life to Messiah’s dead body, He will bring life to us who are spiritually dead (vv. 9-12). Our obligation is not to the Law, but to respond to the Spirit’s promptings (vv. 13-16).

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah YAHSHUA.”

Some would have us believe that Paul is making a distinction between the The Law of YAHWEH and Messiah YAHSHUA. However, if we are to stay with the context of the previous chapter we realize that Paul addresses the condemnation that comes upon those who “add to and/or subtract from” (Dt. 4:2 & 12:32) HIS Word and as the result are guilty of creating their own (or another) law! This, the Pharisees were guilty of. This also, today’s Christianity is guilty of.

Paul expresses this in Romans 7:22-23,

“For I joyfully concur with the Law of YAHWEH in the inner man, but I see a DIFFERENT law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind (the Law of YAH), and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”

An All Knowing ELOHIM would know that men would eventually replace HIS Law with their own law. The other law that Paul refers to in Romans 7 is that law that his sect had taught him to walk in prior to his coming to the unadulterated Law of YAH through his conversion in MESSIAH YAHSHUA! These two laws are in opposition to each other and cannot be reconciled. Paul describes the struggle that he has as he commits to the Law of YAHWEH through the renewal of his mind as a recipient of HIS SPIRIT, while at the same time his flesh wars against YAH’S Law at every turn. But YAH ALSO foreseeing this, promises the remedy to HIS own in Ezekiel 36:26-27;

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put MY SPIRIT within you and cause you to walk in MY Statutes, and you will be careful to observe MY Ordinances!”

In Messiah, one has the capacity to walk in obedience to HIS Law, by the power of HIS SPIRIT.

So again, we see Paul stating in Romans 8:1 that the condemnation of walking in law according to man is overcome by those who allow the SPIRIT to accomplish HIS work of causing HIS people to walk in HIS STATUTES and ORDINANCES. (HIS Law) Paul further clarifies this as we move on…

Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Some (in their lawlessness) would have us to believe that this “law of the Spirit” is a law that is completely disconnected from and in contradiction to the already established Law of YAH! How can that be? We must ask ourselves; Has the Spirit of YAH somehow established HIS own set of laws? Has the Spirit of YAH decided to act on his own accord? Consider what YAHSHUA says concerning the character/nature and ministry of HIS Spirit:

John 16:13

“But when HE, the SPIRIT of Truth comes, HE will guide you into all the truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own initiative, but whatever HE hears, HE will speak; and HE will disclose to you what is to come”

John 14:15-17

“If you love me, keep MY Commandments. And I will pray the Father , and HE shall give you another Comforter (HIS SPIRIT), that HE may abide with you for ever; the SPIRIT of TRUTH whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM: but you know HIM; for HE dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

John 14:26

“But the HELPER, the Set-Apart SPIRIT whom the FATHER will send in MY name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

From these verses it is apparent that the only Law/Commandments that The SPIRIT of TRUTH is to have anything to do with is The Word, the  Commandments uttered by YAHWEH HIMSELF!

Some even attempt to take their argument further and would have us to believe that the Commandments that YAHSHUA is referring to in John are only those which HE established during HIS earthly ministry! Lets keep in mind what John the apostle says in regards to who YAHSHUA is! According to his gospel in chapter 1, verse 1;

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with YAH and the Word was YAH. HE was in the beginning with YAH.”

John says that YAHSHUA came as The Word / YAH incarnate. So, if YAHSHUA is both The Word & ONE with YAH, when did HE begin to speak the things that the SPIRIT is to “bring to our remembrance?” Some would have us to believe that YAHSHUA began to speak beginning in the New Testament. How can that be if HE is described in the New Testament as YAH The Word??? If YAH does not change and YAH’S Word does not change, how do we scripturally rationalize having TWO opposing sets of YAH’S Law in existence? (i.e. one set of laws in the Old Testament and another set in the New Testament)

So, since HE is The Living Word of YAH, when YAHSHUA states that the Set-Apart SPIRIT will “bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” HE is referring to the process of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 with HIS Statutes, HIS Ordinances being now on the hearts and in our minds of those who receive HIM! Those who would rather have a New Testament (ONLY) YAHSHUA with a New Testament set of commandments are perverting the Scriptures and have fallen into what the New Testament refers to as “lawlessness” (anti-law) or the attitude and actions of rejecting the Law of YAHWEH. For that they will have to stand before The Living Law of YAH and give an account. I fear that it will not be a pleasant experience for them…

Many who reject this truth cite verse 3 in Romans 8 to somehow try and establish a case for YAH’S Law being “weak and beggarly”. But notice where the real weakness lies…

Romans 8:3

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, YAH did; sending HIS own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, HE condemned sin in the flesh,”

There are two possible applications to what Paul refers to here.

  1. Paul is saying that the Law of YAH was rendered weak “through the flesh”, being written on stone it was not capable of empowering anyone to obey it.

  2. Paul is saying that men have taken YAH’S perfect Law and polluted it by “adding to it and/or subtracting from it” making it weak and fleshly.

In either case, or even the combination of these two possibilities, it makes no difference, YAH sent HIS SON, The Living Word to inaugurate the New Covenant through HIS sinless life (as witnessed by HIS Law), proving HIMSELF to be the atoning sacrifice for OUR sins as The LAMB of YAH!

Romans 8:4

“that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Look at how perfectly this all fits together in context! Because Messiah YAHSHUA, (being YAH / Word incarnate) walked according to The Law of YAH, exposing the law of man (lawlessness in unbelief), and lived sinless so that HE would be an acceptable sacrifice on the for our sins, as proven by HIM being victorious over sin and death, we now by having HIS Law upon our hearts & minds are empowered by HIS SPIRIT to walk in obedience to HIS Law and experience victory over the flesh! Blessed be HIS Name!

Romans 8:5

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Simply put; “If your religion is based on what man (Adamic flesh) establishes, (unbelief, disobedience, additions to / subtractions from HIS Law), that is where your allegiance will be. If your religion is based on what YAH establishes, (Belief, Truth, HIS Law in your heart & mind) being quickened by HIS SPIRIT , then consequently your allegiance will be to HIM/HIS Word!” Paul states it this way so that you and I can objectively determine exactly where our own allegiance lies!

(See article, “Measuring Belief Systems By The Commandments“)

Romans 8:6

“For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Being fleshly minded in unbelief, (having your allegiance to what man establishes) will result in death. This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of sin and of death.”

Being spiritually minded in belief, (having your allegiance to what YAH establishes) will result in life! This is what Paul referred to earlier in verse 2, as “the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua…”

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal(fleshly) mind is enmity against YAH; for it is not subject to the Law of YAH, nor indeed can be”


Notice which mind cannot be subject to The Law of YAH! It’s the Adamic/carnal/fleshly mind who is not experiencing The New Covenant as prophesied in Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36 and witnessed on The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! It’s the carnal/fleshly mind who rejects YAH’S Law, written on the heart/mind, empowered by HIS SPIRIT causing obedience to HIM! But today’s Christianity is being taught that it is the spiritual minded believer who is to reject YAH’S Law, saying that obedience to YAH’s Law is “legalism, bondage, etc.” and is irrelevant to him/her today!!! That is diametrically opposed to what we have just read in The Scriptures!

Romans 8:8

“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please YAH.”

Those with their allegiance to what man establishes cannot please YAH because they have their minds set on a man made standard that either pollutes YAH’S Law by adding to it and/or subtracting from it OR they reject YAH’S Law altogether. Both cases are examples of “lawlessness” (anti-law). According to YAH’S Word “without belief it is impossible to please YAH.” True scriptural belief can only be experienced by hearing, (understanding, perceiving) believing YAH’S commentary by HIS Spirit of HIS Word, producing obedience in and through the life! True scriptural belief cannot be experienced in believing and obeying man’s law; his traditions and practices… One Law is of belief; “the law of the SPIRIT of life in Messiah YAHSHUA.” The other law is of unbelief; “the law of sin and death.” I encourage you to choose wisely…

(See article, “Works of Torah EXPOSED!“)