Answers (3)
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says YHWH. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Sins – What are sins? Abraham Heschel suggests that Christianity is pre-occupied with sins. Christians place enormous emphasis on sins perhaps because we view Yeshua’s redemptive work primarily in terms of forgiveness of sin. We have been well versed in the chasm between our natural state and God’s holiness – a chasm that is the direct result of our sins. But what, precisely, are sins?
Oh, we could make a long list. We could write down every offense, every fault, every shortcoming. But somehow we know that there’s more to it than just a list. Would we include errors, mistakes and unintentional mishaps? Would that be enough? Probably not. Under all of this lies an attitude of rebellion. So, is that sin? Is sin defiance before God? That doesn’t seem to account for those violations of God’s instructions that I wasn’t aware of until after I did the deed. I wasn’t trying to rebel, but I still offended. If we want to live without sin, no matter how difficult that might seem, don’t we have to have a pretty good picture of what it is that causes so much trouble?
A picture just might be what the doctor ordered. The Hebrew word, het’, is the combination of Chet, Taw and Aleph. We might see “first to destroy the fence.” That changes our view a bit. If sin is related to destroying the “fence,” then what is the fence? The biblical imagery of the fence takes us right back to the covenant and the Torah. God’s fence around His people is found in the protection of the Torah. His covenant with Israel is based on this fence. It is the distinguishing characteristic between Jew and Gentile. Jews stand in special relationship to God because they chose to keep His commandments. This is not a relationship of rescue or deliverance. It is a relationship of purpose. God chose Israel as the vehicle for bringing the world to Him and Israel was to accomplish this great purpose by living according to His Torah. Sin tears down the distinctiveness that God planned to use. Sin destroys purpose.
Now we see why unintentional mistakes are still sins. We don’t deliberately decide to trample the distinctiveness that God wants to use. We make a mistake. Our purpose in the world is compromised. We are not distinctively different and, therefore, not quite as useful. Once we realize that we have compromised His purpose, we must acknowledge that some part of the covenant relationship has been damaged. We need to put the fence back up.
Sin is serious because it prevents me from fulfilling God’s design. It blocks my usefulness. It frustrates my true identity and my true productivity. Of course, it separates me from the Holy One of Israel, but not because He rejects me. It separates me because He can’t accomplish what He wishes to do in me, and I can’t become all He knows I can be in Him.
Topical Index: sins, het’, purpose, fence, Isaiah 1:18
This brings to mind 2 other words – chen (Chet-Nun) and Noach (Nun-Chet). Chen means “grace” and Noach (Noah) means “rest”.
The pictoral meaning of chen is a fence around life. If chet (sin) is to “destroy the fence” and Torah is the fence around life, then Torah = grace. It is the very expression of God’s heart towards his children. How backwards we have it to call it “law” and then claim it to be done away with.
Similarly, Noach (nun-chet) is “life protected”, or life “inside the fence”. Surely, when we know our life is protected, when we know we are safe, we can Noach – rest. It is when we stray outside the fence, when we destroy it through sin, that we step outside of God’s protection and then have to bear the consequences (immediate or otherwise).
A great insight. I wish I thought of it. It would make a wonderful Today’s Word. Maybe it’s time for all of you to take over. 🙂
LOL …. hahahahahahahahahaha!
One thing I have learned from “Today’s Word” (I liked the title “At G-d’s Table”), is we are in this “together”. Such a wonderful word “together”. It is the “Union of Two Houses”. As in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s trenchant book: “Life Together”. Remember Nehemiah? So- “together” built we the wall around Jerusalem. This is getting very interesting. It’s “deja vu” all over again! -(lol!) No laughing matter tho’ -actually more a matter of tears that the “wall” has been torn down.
Allow me to lay this stone: G-d (Himself) is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of need. (Psalm 46.1) I have mentioned two doctors;both are for our healing- (and do we ever need to be healed!), Dr. Law and Dr. Grace. And I have laid another stone- “it’s not either/or it’s both.” (the union of two houses!)- “Both” of these doctors are “incarnated in one man. The G-d/man, Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2.5).
What about “sin”. Sin separates. Death is the ultimate “separation”. Where is “togetherness” where sin exists? They do not dwell together- it is an “oil and vinegar” mix. Light and darkness cannot (as the popular bumper sticker says- “coexist”). Darkness can be defined as “an absence of light.” Since “G-d is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5 KJV)
Look!- Here’s another “stone!”- (they are plentiful aren’t they?)- Go figure. – “In other words, God was in Christ to restore (and reconcile) His relationship with humanity (Adam). He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. (2 Corinthians 5.19)
G-d is all about “shalom.” Yes, the “full” meaning of the word. Every stitch of it. Unity, peace, wholeness- etc. And to accomplish this “shalom” between a G-d who has revealed Himself as holy and Adam (the man who “stumbled”) required, (because He is holy and just), a blood sacrifice- a propitiating, atoning sacrifice ‘brought to you by’ G-d Himself, the perfect Lamb of G-d.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of G-d, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1.29)
Sins, or sin? It really matters not. Why? Because it is not the “amount” of sin- it is the fact of sin. G-d is holy. (remember?) G-d is 100% holy. (Pardon me for even trying to describe the holiness of YHWH by using numbers- a very dumb idea- I’m a limited man) G-d is not 99% holy. G-d is not “okay”. No, no.. and no. Heaven is a perfect “sin-free” (hallelujah!) place, and dear family- we are soon to find out something we cannot even begin to imagine. Is it going to be “that good?” –(even better!) (1 Corinthians 2.9)
Yes, brother Skip- sin is very destructive. All we have to do is take a look around. I believe the word is “oy!”. But we are not to “look around.” We are to look up! -“I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help!- My help cometh from the LORD- the Maker of heaven and of earth.” ..-And the great Elohim became my Sacrifice- the Word became flesh and ‘tabernacled’ among us and we beheld His glory- the glory as of the begotten of the Father- full of grace and truth. (John 1.14)
Shalom Rodney,
“Surely, when we know our life is protected, when we know we are safe, we can Noach – rest.”
For me this has much resonance … for me the protection and rest that you speak of us exists in parallel with a personal concerted effort to change. With a personal concerted effort to remain single minded and obedient.
Please don’t get me wrong … we all must walk in faith and trust and under grace …. even when we falter! But resting comfortably in joy while living a life style not in the image of Yeshua, would seem to me to be delusional …. a desire to have it both ways …. a desire to have salvation but enjoy the conformity to the old world order!
Sadly there are huge numbers of purported beleivers whose lives look just like those of “this world”! Yet these purported beleivers seem to rest comfortably thereby fulfilling the prophecy within Revelations:
3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Let us pray … this very day that people will have eyes that see and ears that hear … Sh’ma Yisrael!
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good morning brother Drew.. “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!”- lol!. I would “tweak” the above statement just every so slightly- (we have to be very concerned tho’ about those “tweaks!”- lol!!) Seriously- that is exactly what Hasatan does. He “tweaks”- (read “twists”) the word(s) of YHWH. Just an ever so slight movement of jots and tittles and we are headed in the wrong direction by just one degree. Wow!- do we need to “know the Book!” Hasatan “twisted” – “G-d hath said” and morphed the words to “hath G-d said?”. So subtle (and sneaky!). What a snake-in-the-grass!
Our victory is found in our surrender. Our “daily” victory is found in our “daily” surrender to the Victor. “Use me O G-d, and wear me like a suit of clothes today, that I may know and do what is pleasing in your sight.” This is my prayer and these are my words, in the name and authority of the One who died for me on Calvary’s tree. Accomplish in me and through me your perfect will, my compassionate and holy Father. I gladly, fully and freely surrender every part of my being for your use, this very day. These are my words I have spoken, in the presence of these witnesses, for the glory of G-d and the service of man. Strengthen me my Abba to do this, Amen.
I agree, Drew. That was my point. We have for 1700 years been told that the “law” has been done away with and we are now under “grace”. But true chengrace is the fence around life that our Father has given us to live within – His teachings and instructions for life found in Torah.
That is what I meant when I said “Life protected is life inside the fence“. The fence is Torah and it expresses His grace toward us in that He loves us enough to give us clear instructions to live by. It is completely up to us whether or not we live in obedience to Torah (i.e. what I see as the biblical definition of “under grace”) as opposed to living in rebellion – what mainstream Christendom has called “under grace” but is in fact the opposite.
Think about it – when do I come “under” the law of the land? When I break it. I then suffer the consequences that the law provides for breaking the law. If I don’t break the law, then it gives me freedom to live in harmony with my fellow man.
God’s Torah is the same. We come “under the law” when we live in rebellion against His instructions, bearing the consequences accordingly. When we truly repent and begin living in obedience to His teaching and instruction, it is then that we truly discover freedom and what it means to be “under grace”. The rest – noach – comes from knowing that we’re living within the safety of the boundaries set for us by our Father (just like our own children live within the boundaries that we set for their safety).
We’ve had it backwards for 1700-odd years. Now God is “righting the boat” so to speak, using people like Skip to get the message out. This is the ministry of the prophet – to stand in the breach of the fence (or wall) and shout, “Hey, you lot! This is where the fence is – you’re supposed to be in here, not out there outside the fence! There’s danger out there. Get back in here where it’s safe!”
May we all have ears to hear.
Shabbat Shalom.
“We have for 1700 years been told that the “law” has been done away with and we are now under “grace””
Hi Rodney,
Don’t mean to be argumentative, but growing up in a Catholic environment in Southern California, I never got any impression that the law had been done away with 🙂
As a boy, Father O’Toole and the Nuns set the following priorities at St Anne’s Church:
1. God: the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
2. The 10 Commandments
3. Baptism, Confession, Communion, etc.
4. Hail Mary, Full of Grace
We were obliged to obey the Law; Faith was sort of taken for granted 🙂
Hey Michael,
I as well grew up in a very conservative Catholic environment (Philadelphia) and can attest to how “the law” was used. I am not saying that it was understood correctly but I can say that “faith and works and obedience” was a Catholic mantra. To an extreme I can even point to a “legalistic” facet of religious practice.
Conversely however this “mantra” varied greatly from diocese to diocese seemingly at the whim of the handlers (Bishop/Cardinal/et. al.). Historically this catholic handling/recognition of “the law” (and church tradition) was a primary diffentiator between Rome and the reformist/protestant denominations.
From a theological perspective however I think that Rodney’s comment is accurate still, in that catholocism’s religious application does not really reflect its doctrine pertaining to “the law”. In fact I would more accurately classify it as the doctrine of guilt without attempting to offend anyone!
Anyway we cut it …. systematic obedience by rote, tradition and in many cases oppression does not really foster our relationship with Mashiach does it? Instead it fosters a relationship with “the faith/belief system” which is just as bad as the doctrine of “false grace”!
Awesome !Grace fulfils the Torah !Grace brings the real meaning of the Torah!Grace is the revelation hidden in Torah Glory
Great insight, Rodney! Thanks!
Hi Drew – good point! And you’re right to say “…seem to rest comfortably”. Having recently moved from a church leadership position we discovered two things, both centred on ‘not resting’. First, that so, so many believers are far too busy doing things they have never been called to do, encouraged by ‘church visions’ dreamed up by people who think Christians are not being productive unless they are building the church and the Kingdom ‘for God’. And second, that the majority of these same people are bitterly sad deep down that they have never so much as glimpsed the ‘abundant life’ they believe was promised to them if they ‘believed in Jesus’. We actually had people leave the church because we told them that they had to “stop doing things”! Oh, if people could only learn to ‘rest’ for it is only in that rest that people can truly get to know (yada) Elohim. We pray with you!
Shalom Ian and Tara … 🙂
Ah … rest! If believers could only, as you state, understand that Shabbat was made for man … and that Shabbat is a picture of Yeshua … and that resting in HIS bosom is what ELOHIM desires for us.
The building of ELOHIM’s Kingdom as you imply is not a function of outward “manifest destiny” but rather a local community based endeavor. An endeavor which should yield a distinct (torah based) perspective for those looking in from the outside! And the community should be something that is greatly attractive …. successful, peaceful, restful, joyful!
Your comments are so appreciated and really expose the disconnects that many believers have with The LORD. It is really distressing to hear of zealous believers who are sad because they have not glimpsed the “abundant life” … certainly this is not Adonai’s plan!
Hi Drew,
I have not been a practicing Catholic for over fifty years so I’m not in the best position to defend their views, but I think there is something to be said for their systematic pedagogical approach, even if it does miss the mark on some key points 🙂
Hi all,
Torah is the “fence”, Jesus (Yeshua?) is the “door” by which all of us outside (Gentiles?) the “fence” can get in and be safe. If this is right, I think it is, what a wonderful thing to rest in this Saturday (Sabbath?)
Very profound and very true, Cathy. Yeshua is not only the door for the Gentiles, however, but for the Jews also. Remember Paul’s analogy of the two olive trees, the wild tree and the cultivated tree? Some of the natural branches were broken off the cultivated tree and wild branches were grafted into the tree in their place, but those branches that were broken off, if they want to take part in the tree, have to be grafted back in too. The Torah, the prophets and the other writings all point us to Messiah. Torah obedience was never about salvation, but about relationship and our usefulness in the Kingdom. Salvation only comes through One, Yeshua/Jesus. He is the “end (goal, purpose) of the Torah”.
The point is that both Jew and Gentile have to be grafted in through Messiah Yeshua. Paul said that there is “neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female” in the Kingdom. We all come in through the same door. Yeshua. He’s the door for all mankind. “No-one comes to the Father but by me”.
Torah is the fence – it sets the boundaries for safety. And, yes, Shabbat/Sabbath rest is a part of that (in fact it came before Torah was given). It is a wonderful blessing. Shalom.
“Yeshua is not only the door for the Gentiles”
Hi Rodney,
I like to think of Yeshua as a kind of “proxy” Server; and Yahweh as a “set of commands” sitting on an old IBM mainframe, or virtual copy thereof, up in Heaven somewhere.
It’s a kind of “client/server” or “master/slave” relationship, in which as clients we can directly connect to the old mainframe, or obtain access via the proxy server.
Doesn’t matter, either way 🙂