Sight Unseen
For you trusted in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge, it leads you away, and you said in your heart, “I am and none else is.” Isaiah 47:10
Wickedness – How could anyone trust in wickedness? Does that make any sense at all? No one actually puts their faith in evil, do they? Yes, there are folklore stories about making a pact with the devil, but for the most part we all know that these are fictitious. So what can Isaiah mean? The explanation is found in the elaboration. To trust in ra’a’ (evil) is to say to yourself, “No one sees me.” In other words, it is the presumption that I will not get caught. To trust in wickedness is to assume that unobserved behavior avoids moral consequences. It doesn’t mean that I don’t acknowledge the behavior is evil. It just means that I don’t think I will have to pay any consequences for doing it.
Why is this assumption about life so foolish? It is foolish because it denies the sovereignty of God. He always sees. The man who thinks that getting away with it is the man thinks he is his own god. Such a man is not only guilty of the moral infraction of his behavior, he is also guilty of idolatry. He has put himself in God’s place. He is a sinner twice over with a single act.
Of course, none of us is like this foolish man, are we? We never take action that depends on secrecy in order to avoid consequences. We never avoid the light in order to accomplish a deed. We never calculate the probabilities of being caught before we move ahead. No, all of our actions are able to stand in the light, justified because they are aligned with the character of the King. We would be mortified to even imagine that any deed of ours needed to be hidden in an effort to avoid its natural consequences. Of course. Of course.
But sometimes we aren’t quite so righteous, are we? Sometimes we do seek a little excuse, we do create a bit of darkness, sometimes we do scheme how not to get caught. What we don’t realize is that no matter how small the moral infraction, each of these acts is idolatry. Each action asserts that God is not Judge of all Mankind, that He is not sovereign and supreme and that His law is not written into the fabric of the universe.
When I volunteered in the jail, I worked with young men who routinely asserted that their only crime was being caught. They believed their actions were entirely justifiable. These men had no remorse, only regret that they weren’t smart enough to avoid arrest. Next time would be different. I often wondered if I were any different, with the one exception that I didn’t get caught. I was certainly capable of doing what they had done. Did I avoid those actions because of the fear of being caught or because I wished only to follow the King? Isaiah raises the age-old question of faith: Who do you trust? The idolater trusts himself. He has no other god. The problem is that his god is blind. My God isn’t!
Topical Index: trust, wickedness, ra’a’, idolatry, Isaiah 47:10
While seeking to make excuses for my ungodly behavior, I came across a quote from founding father Benjamin Franklin in a little devotional book, LETTING GOD: CHRISTIAN MEDITATIONS FOR RECOVERING PERSONS. From July 8th: “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” I don’t know who then added, “He who excuses himself accuses himself.”
Quoting from the rest of that article:
“…in recovery, there is no room for alibis (self-justification). Excuses are not allowed. Only truth is admitted. Complete honesty and self-responsibility are required….. Our life as recovering Christians is one that needs no excuses–just performance and willingness to do better.”
Thank you, Skip, for pointing us in the direction of doing better through Torah observance.
Hello, CYndee!
I have been attempting to understand just what this blog is truly about, but am still uncertain. Will you, or someone else, please tell me what you mean by Torah Observance? I know that Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible, but what does it mean to “observe” it as a Christian?
Thank you! May God be your portion as you live out this day!
Helen
Helen,
That is a very good question! The very fact that your asking it suggests that your heart is in the right place and seeking after truth. I will try to answer it as best I can without being too long-winded (but no promises 😉 ).
First, let me tell you what Torah obvervance is not. It is not trying to earn God’s favour, merit, salvation or anything else through works. The scriptures are clear – we are saved “through faith, not works, lest any man should boast” (although our definition of faith and the Hebrew understanding are often quite different – faith is not simply mental assent, rather it requires action, but that is for another discussion).
We are saved through the blood of Yeshua, through Him becoming our atoning sacrifice and reconciling us to our Father (which, in itself, is a principle laid down in Torah).
The Hebrew word Torah means “teaching and instructions” and it is literally God’s instructions for living. It contains instructions on how God wants to be worshipped (how we relate to Him) and how we relate to our fellow man. It is often broken down into 613 specific commandments (apart from all the historical stories that also have prophetic significance and teach us many things about who we are, where we came from and our relationship with God), many of which are context-specific.
For example, some apply only to women, some only to men, some only to employers, some only when Israel is living in the promised land, some only to Levitical Priests, some can only be performed when there is a functioning Levitical Priesthood and an altar in Jerusalem (i.e. the laws of sacrifices), some only to people in particular stations of life (e.g. children, fathers, mothers, the elderly).
Some, however, are still applicable today and were for all people (both natural born Israelites and foreigners/sojourners who joined themselves to Israel and to the God of Israel). These include the dietary laws (defining what is food and what is not food), the Feasts of YHVH (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles) as detailed in Leviticus 23, all of which have prophetic significance regarding the first and second comings of Messiah, and Shabbat (Sabbath).
What does it mean for a Christian today? The Law of Moses (God’s teaching and instructions for living) has never been repealed or replaced (despite 1700 years of church teaching to the contrary). They were never for the purpose of salvation, rather they were to teach us about the grace of God, the ministry of Messiah and our need for a saviour.
Many don’t apply to specific individuals (e.g. the commandments for women don’t apply to me as a man) and some are suspended (e.g. the sacrificial laws that require an altar and the Levitical Priesthood), but there are the rest that we can (and should) learn to obey, e.g. Sabbath (resting on the seventh day, which btw is not part of the Mosaic law but was instituted in Genesis 2) and learning what is and what isn’t food. Studying and celebrating the Feasts is another good one and brings with it much joy, especially for the believer in Jesus as we see the prophetic pictures of Him in that which has been celebrated for 3500 or so years and rehearse His 2nd coming in the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles.
Now, you’re going to ask, Why? Why should we do all that? One simple answer – we want to please our loving Father who has given us so much by being obedient to His word. Obedience brings blessings – disobedience brings curses (the natural consequences of disobedience). We don’t do it to earn blessings, we do it out of love for Him. He gave us specific instructions because He knows what’s best for us. He’s smarter than we are. And He loves us.
What is the blog really about? It is about learning together, walking together on the journey of life, building community. Skip spends hours studying, digging, mining the scriptures for gems of wisdom contained in the original languages and shares that with us to help us strip away the layers of translations, doctrinal biases and changes in language usage over the years to help us see what the scriptures really say, rather than what men have told us they say. Hopefully, along the way, we’ll begin to learn to dig for ourselves. I know I’ve learned a lot through that process, and I owe Skip a debt of gratitude for breaking the ground, so to speak.
Along they way, many of us have come to realise that Torah was not just for Israel in the wilderness, but as “fellow citizens of the Commonwealth of Israel”, as “wild olive branches that have been grafted into the root” along with some natural branches that were broken off and then grafted back in the same way, that God’s teaching and instructions are still relevant to us today. I did an interesting exercise a little while back – using the Blue Letter Bible web site, I did a search for every time the word “commandments” turned up in the New Testament. Try it and check out the references. I think you’ll be as surprised as I was.
Another reference that you might find useful is Today’s Word, Dec 19,2009.
Well, it wasn’t as short as I’d hoped to be able to keep it but I hope this begins to answer some questions for you. No, I’m not trying to ram it down your throat or say, “You now have to live this way”. I have come to this (imperfect) understanding after many years of study and learning, yet I’m still learning how to practically apply it to my family’s daily life. Our modern western culture is so far removed from the culture of the Bible that it presents significant challenges when we want to learn to be more obedient to Him and His Word. But then, no-one said it would be easy. We’re all on the journey, walking and learning together. I just hope that this helps you in some way in your quest for deeper understanding and relationship with our Father.
Blessings to you and yours,
Rodney.
“please tell me what you mean by Torah Observance?”
Hi Helen,
I think Torah Observance means means keeping the 613 Old Testament commandments.
But for an in-depth explanation, Rodney and Skip have referred to the following link:
http://www.jewfaq.org/halakhah.htm
Thanks, Michael,
I visited the website and read the article. I copied and pasted this from the site:
• Halakhah is a set of Jewish rules and practices
• It affects every aspect of life
• It adds religious significance to everyday activities
• Halakhah comes from the Torah, the rabbis, and custom
However, I kept thinking about this:
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Helen
Helen,
I did post another response to your earlier question but it contained some links and so I suspect it has been held for moderation. It will answer your question more completely once it appears.
Re John 1:17, it is worth noting that the word “but” is not in the Greek. As I have previously mentioned (here) there is no separation between Law and Grace in the Hebrew mindset – the Torah is the written manifestation of God’s grace towards us and Jesus/Yeshua is the embodiment of Torah and the embodiment of God’s grace.
Our obedience to God by following the commandments given in Torah (those that are applicable to us, in our particular station in life and in our temporal, social and geo-political context, which is not all 613 for any given individual) is not a matter of earning favour, earning salvation or for any other purpose other than loving children wanting to please a loving Father, who set down boundaries within which is safety and blessing and outside which is danger and negative consequences (exactly as we do with our own children for their protection and well-being).
Oh, btw, many of the rabbinic traditions, rulings and decrees are not in line with scripture – they are the “traditions of the elders” that “transgress the commandment of God” that Yeshua rebuked the pharisees about in Matthew Ch 5, because they add to or subtract from the instructions given by God through Moses. Judaism doesn’t have a monopoly on this though – there are many “traditions of men” in Christendom that add to or take away from God’s law too.
God’s instructions for living are not grievous, nor too difficult to bear (contrary to 1700 years of church teaching) but rather were given for our benefit to instruct us in how we are to relate to God and to our fellow man and how to live harmoniously in the community of faith (which does not necessarily mean in harmony with those in the world who are at enmity with God and His commandments).
Learning to become more obedient to His ways and His commandments (and it is a learning process and a journey for all of us, since most of us haven’t grown up in a society where it is the normal way of life) in no way negates, cheapens, rejects or takes away from the grace shown to us through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua. Without that sacrifice, “our righteousness is as filthy rags”.
It is, however, expected that the bride, once betrothed, will begin to learn the ways and customs of her husband in preparation for his return to bring her to the wedding chamber. If we are truly to be a part of His bride, then we should we not endeavour to learn His ways in preparation for His return?
Rodney, you said: “…………..Jesus/Yeshua is the embodiment of Torah and the embodiment of God’s grace. ”
“2 Cor. 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin”
This tells me that Jesus/Yeshua is/was the embodiment of GOD!!
Joh 4:24 God is (a) Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Rodney, thank you for your very thoughtful replies to my posts. You are very knowledgeable in the Old Covenant, but there is so much in the New that explains the Old………I cannot understand why so many folks attempt to hang on to Torah laws, attempting to “keep them”, when the way (as I understand it) to keep them is to, by faith, receive the Spirit of the Holy One, Who has already fulfilled them.
Mr.22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
34 ¶ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
I appreciate your comment: “The very fact that your asking it suggests that your heart is in the right place and seeking after truth” However, I believe I found truth when I found Jesus/Yeshua! He said that He is the TRUTH. John 14:6 And: Joh 4:24 God is (a) Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
I hope I haven’t wearied you with my words……… : )
Helen
Hi Helen,
Let me add something. I believe that I recently wrote about the summary of the law that Yeshua provided in the Matthew passage. If you search my web site for the verse, I think you will find something about the Shema in the New Testament. Basically, Jesus does not offer a NEW version of Torah. He reminds his audience that every day they say a summary of the Law in the Shema. This verse about loving God is part of the daily recitation of every orthodox Jew. They would have recognized it immediately. But the point is this: Yeshua’s summary does not suggest that this sets aside any of the rest of Torah. In fact, he implies that this is merely a short-hand way of saying, “Keep all the commandments you were already given.” The idea that the Torah was set aside by Jesus is simply not supported by the text. In fact, several English translations have been ALTERED in order to support the idea because it isn’t in the original (I wrote a bunch about this too).
Cyndee, I just read again your post, and this phrase has me greatly puzzled: “Our life as recovering Christians is one that needs no excuses–just performance and willingness to do better.”
Recovering Christians????? Are you saying that we Christians need treatment of some kind to “get over” our “addiction” to the Cross of Christ, to Him as our Savior, and to the New Covenant in His Blood??? It almost seems that you are implying that Torah Observance is that “treatment”.
I pray that I am wrong about my understanding regarding the content of your post.
Helen
Cyndee,
I apologize for misunderstanding your post!!! I realize now that who you were referring to as “recovering Christians” are those who are Christians recovering from an addiction. Please forgive my insensitivity to your thoughts and words. I should have known, because I do know a great deal about addiction. There are heartbreaking events in my own family caused by it. God has graciously answered my prayer at the end of my last post, and I praise Him for His faithfulness.
In Jesus’ Love,
Helen : (
Hi Helen,
I wasn’t offended by anything you had written. In fact, I just came back to this post on 7/18 and see how much trouble you’ve been having. O dear one, be still, and rest in God’s perfect peace.
Recognize that our spiritual enemy is trying to twist all that is being posted here at this blog site. He does NOT want truth to prevail. The devil has a way of doing that, perhaps that’s one of the reasons he’s called the “prince of the power of the air,” for he brings confusion with words and ideas being communicated clearly.
I agree with your confidence that the Holy Spirit will guide you and speak truth to your heart. He IS faithful and true!
God bless you, dear sister.
Dear Cyndee,
Thank you for your gracious words to me!! Because I had not heard from you since my post to you, telling you that I was sorry I had misunderstood you, I had almost concluded that you hadn’t accepted my apology for the things I said. I praise God that you did!! Thank you!
As I said in a much earlier post here, there is so much space between what I believe concerning the scriptures, and what is being promoted here…….Torah observance……that I feel as though it is pointless to continue. I detest debate, and cannot be a part of that. And if I use scripture to back up something I write, it doesn’t seem to be accepted.
Cyndee (I like this spelling of what is usually spelled Cindy) : ), I do pray that you are experiencing Life in Christ Jesus as He intended when He gave His Life on Calvary’s Cross.
His blessings, with my Love,
Helen
“It almost seems that you are implying that Torah Observance is that “treatment”. ”
Hi Helen,
I think you might have a point in the statement above.
That is to say that Torah Observance would probably be a good treatment for any addiction.
But addiction is such an ugly word that I don’t like to associate it with the “cross of Christ.” 🙂
“But addiction is such an ugly word that I don’t like to associate it with the “cross of Christ.” :-)”
Michael, I don’t understand completely what you mean by that comment. The “word” isn’t what is ugly, all that addiction causes in the lives of millions, is not only ugly, but is sometimes destructive to those lives. I know from experience, because 5 of my 6 adult grandsons are so afflicted. One just spent 4 years in Federal prison for drug-related crimes.
But Who gave His Life that we may be freed from the law of sin and death? (Ro. 8:2) Because of the “cross of Christ” we are made free!!!
Ro 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
A blessed Shabat to all who observe,
Helen
The “word” isn’t what is ugly, all that addiction causes in the lives of millions, is not only ugly, but is sometimes destructive to those lives.
Hi Helen,
I understand.
Maybe what I had in mind was the “experience” or “phenomenon” of addiction is ugly.
A compulsive action, which is different than the choice to turn to God (a good habit).
I don’t tend to talk about things in terms of sin, but if I did addiction would be one 🙂
BTW I don’t mean to be condescending.
Virtually all my family and neighborhood friends were “alcoholics” and most of my friends in high school were “early adapters” to the drug culture of the mid-sixties.
So I have a lot of first hand experience with addiction too 🙂
“For you trusted in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge, it leads you away, and you said in your heart, “I am and none else is.”” Isaiah 47:10
I remember reading the passage above in the late seventies and I knew exactly what it meant.
But I continued to misbehave in my personal life, not at school or work, for another twenty years, knowing that “I could get away with it.”
Then I got married and had my daughter and was walking my dog Cassie one day and God said “you’re feeling pretty lucky aren’t you?”
“How would you like it if you’re daughter behaved like you do; you are not a very good model are you?
At that point I started to change my ways.
“BINGO”
Ouch!
Hi, Skip,
You said: “Jesus does not offer a NEW version of Torah.” Where did I say that He did??!!
I’m sorry, this is all too confusing for me. If the Orthodox Jews need to live by the Law given by Moses, so be it.
There is a new and better way to know and love the Lord God, without being strapped by the burden of law-keeping.
It is my opinion that many Christians and others fail to realize (or recall) that Jesus was BOTH Man and God. At times, He was speaking as the Jewish Man that He was, and at other times He spoke as GOD. It is interesting to attempt to discern which is which. In the Garden when He prayed (and sweat as though drops of blood) to God that if it be possible, let this cup be removed from Him, Jesus was praying as the Man that He was. And on the Cross when Jesus cried out, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me, He was crying out from the Man that He was, to the God whom He loved……..the One who indwelt Him by His Spirit.
Sometimes I feel that we who have studied and lived out the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by FAITH, are blessed not to become entangled again with the rudiments of the beginning of the “Story”. Your word studies have been a great blessing to me, Skip, but I cannot understand this added “requirement” of Torah Observance.
By His Grace alone, and for His Glory,
Helen
Dear Helen,
Perhaps we need to start at the beginning rather than pick up the conversation in the middle. Jesus is Jewish. His perspective is Jewish. His world is Jewish. His audience is Jewish. (This is also true of Paul, Peter, John, James, etc.). When he speaks, he speaks as a Jewish Messiah. While it is entirely true that he is the manifestation of God in the flesh, as soon as we get involved in trying to determine when he spoke as God and when he spoke as a man, we immediately encounter all kinds of epistemological problems. How would we ever know which is which unless he tells us. And what would it mean for a man to speak as God unless we are told. So, this direction ends up in a quagmire. WE become the determiners of truth. The solution to the problem is to let Jesus speak as he is – the Son of God, the Son of Man, the chosen Messiah, God among us in human form. That means what he says can never be taken as if it were only a man speaking. So, when he says that he did not come to abolish the Torah, I’m guessing that he means it. When he says that his actions initiate the new covenant, and that is a reference to Jeremiah 31, I’m guessing that he knew that. When he says that he will know his disciples because they keep his commandment, I am quite sure that no one in the audience had any doubt that he meant Torah. In fact, James says exactly this in Acts 15.
Therefore (and there is a LOT more to this story), Torah obedience is NOT an added requirement. It was NEVER a requirement for God’s grace to be poured out on those who were sinners. Torah obedience is the difference between living in alignment with the moral government of God (His kingdom) or not living in alignment. Torah obedience is what separates His followers from the rest of the world. It is the way we show ourselves to be His servants and the way that He uses us to be magnets for others. It was never added. It was always there.
If you wish to pursue this, I can recommend some very enlightening books on the subject by experts. You can discover how our translations were altered to fit the theology rather than what is actually said. You can discover the permanent character of the Torah and its place in God’s kingdom. You will find that grace and only grace has always been the means of salvation – but this is not confused with obedience. And a lot more.
It’s up to you.
Be blessed, sister. We are all traveling this road together, only trying to learn what the text actually says and not what we have been taught by the Church.
Dear Skip,
No, I do not “wish to pursue this”. But thank you for the offer of books, etc. At my age, there isn’t time to unlearn what the Spirit of God has taught me, and substituting some other understanding that certain “scholars” have concluded.
When the scriptures tell me that Jesus Christ IS my righteousness, then His indwelling Presence by His Spirit, should be enabling me to live out that righteousness in my daily life.
You said: “It (Torah observance) is the way we show ourselves to be His servants and the way that He uses us to be magnets for others. It was never added. It was always there.”
Jesus said: “Joh. 3:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Skip, I thank you, and all the others who have replied to my posts, for your patience with me, and for your attempts to teach me what I just cannot grasp.
Because of Calvary,
Helen
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” With breath held in.. I will proceed ever so cautiously.
Yes, the Jews/Hebrews have been, are, and will be the chosen/covenant people of G-d. And yes, Yeshua (to the Jew)/ Jesus to the Gentile was (and is) by bloodline (revealed in Matthew), as it was written (in truth) above His head on the tslav/cross, King of the Jews.
Salvation (I prefer the Jewish:”deliverance”), is according to G-d’s word- “to the Jew first” but (praise Hashem- the name of the LORD), it is also “to the Greek.” But the message/self-revelation/heartbeat of YHWH – we have no clue as to how YHWH is pronounced or said), has been, is, and will be forever for His chosen ones- the Jew.
Now where do we (Gentiles- by first birth) enter into the sweep of time? What part do we play? Here is a good clue for us. -Ruth. I love (love) the book of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite. A half-breed. A mix of race. She was a blend. She was not either/or- she was both. Her bloodline/ancestry was both Jew and Gentile.
And yet Boaz (any argument Boaz prefigures the Christ?) loved her.
And today, millenia later, this Gentile creature can say (and shout!), I am so glad that Jesus loves me! I (now, today) am part of the body and bride of (the) Christ. Y’shua Hamashiach is my Deliver. He has redeemed me. I am now (hallelujah!) adopted into the covenant promises delivered once for all unto the saints.
You (dear friend) in belonging to (you are His purchased possession- remember?) the Good Shepherd, have been (please pay attention to the verb tense- have been) “bought with a price”, and what a price it was. A good quote to interject at this time would be this: “the worth or value of something is ofter determined by the price Someone is willing to pay for it.” What was the “price paid” for the redemption of your eternal soul? This my friends (both Jew and Greek) needs to be our “focus” today, the cross of Christ.
I do not discount the Torah, -(no, not one “jot or tittle”). Please listen to this: “every word of G-d is pure.” Please read that one hundred fifty three times if necessary. “Man shall not live by bread only, but (love those Bible buts) by “every word” that proceeds out of the mouth of G-d.”
So of what “value” or “worth” is the Torah?” We read in G-d’s word- the “law” was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. I had not known “sin” except by the law. You cannot be “saved/redeemed/delivered/healed”, unto you are “lost” or “see” the need for a Savior/Deliver/Healer. My guilty condition has been established by the law. (And just in case we falsely think- “what a good boy am I”, we have been told (via scripture), “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2.10). Yes, it has been thoroughly established, “all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of G-d.” We (Jew and Gentile, male and female, rich, poor, black/white, etc.) “all” have sinned.
Now I’m not sure, that many believe this, but here’s the deal. The law states: “thou shalt not steal”. (hang with me). If all I have ever done in the way of transgression (the breaking of the law) was to steal one pencil, this one act alone would banish me forever from the presence of the LORD, and my hope of heaven would be gone. Remember- all I did was to steal a pencil. I have broken G-d’s law- “thou shalt not steal..” I am guilty.
Why would this be? After all, I “only” stole a pencil. Such a minor infraction and now I’m not allowed into G-d’s heaven? So, you’re saying you have to be “perfect” to live here? There is only one “perfect” person to have ever lived!- Ah,- you are so right! (it ain’t me by the way..- just in case you’re wondering..)
So then, where is our “hope” of eternal life? (Is “eternal life” a quantity or quality?- just askin’..).
If I have to be “perfect” to enter into G-d’s kingdom, how is this at all possible?
“Behold, the Lamb of G-d, which taketh away the sins of the world”. He (Yeshua) is the Perfect Lamb. He is the Passover Lamb. He is the propitiating Lamb. He is the promised Lamb. He is the substitutionary sacrifice for you and for me.
I do not subscribe to “butcher shop” religion, but according to the scripture, “it is written” – “without the shedding of blood- there is no remission for sin”. (Hebrews 9.22). Christ is our (to the Jew first- and also to the Greek) ,”our” shared Passover lamb.
What is the only hope for this world? – The cross of Christ. How can I ever hope (spoken as a sinner- before a G-d who is holy) to “enter into” the kingdom of G-d?- The cross of (the) Christ. Where was the “atoning” blood for the remission of our sins poured out as a propitiating offering for sin? The cross of Christ.
What is the focal point of history? The cross of Christ. Where can I find the peace that passes all understanding? The cross of Christ. Where can I find the plan and purpose of YHWH since He first said, “let there be?” The cross of Christ. What is my only hope of eternal life? The cross of Christ. What reconciles lost sinners, (both Jew and Gentile) to G-d who has revealed Himself as holy? The cross of Christ.
We have been shown,- it has been revealed unto us, (thank you brother Skip) the Hebrew word for “blessing” is “barak”. This word “barak” has a twofold meaning as many Hebrew words do. It also means “bow the knee”. This dear friends (and family) is the place of blessing. Come to the cross of (the) Christ and “bow the knee.” He is the Chosen One. He is the Annointed One. Prophet, Priest, King. Yeshua HaMashiach, the Lamb of G-d, reconciling the world, (mighty big place) unto Himself.
Salvation/deliverance from the penalty of sin. Salvation/deliverance from the power (authority) of sin. And (praise Hashem) one day, (very soon I hope!) we will be “saved”/delivered from the presence of sin.
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Today,- are you ready?
“It is written”- don’t you love those three words? I sure do. We need to repeat them often. “For you are all (both Jew and Greek) the children of G-d through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3.26)
A word of warning here: Whether Jew or Greek, -“sinners only -welcome here”. “Remember” this prayer? ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ (Luke 18:13) -He has yet to refuse anyone who has ever prayed this prayer.
Great message, Carl!! Thank you!
Helen
Skip, one more “thank you”. I have email copies of all of your Shema posts, but haven’t had the time or energy to read them yet. Perhaps I will someday. : )
God’s blessings,
Helen
“Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.”
Shalom,
Hello everyone … I think Helen’s perspective is one that is embodied by much of … or most of … the mainline Christian rank and file.
Since YESHUA is The WORD…. clearly BOTH the B’rit Chadasha and TANAKH are integral with ELOHIM! There is no separation, contradiction, subordinating, abrogation, etc. regarding any of The WORD! It stands complete … as such The WORD must always be reconciled within The WORD and not reconciled to a theological convention or framework that exists outside the relationship between The King and His constiuents – Israel. The WORD was given to the chosen and set apart people Israel as a fundamental component of the everlasting covenant! Theological frameworks which fail to account for this fundamental fact are by nature using a wrong perspective.
Once again we revisit the same old issue … over and over and over again; the theological position that asserts: Yeshua has done away with Himself. Frankly this is the net result of Christian doctrine that cleaves to a belief that the eternal law is done away with! A doctrine that contemns the mitzvot kedoshim (holy commandments)! A doctrine fashioned after the Gentile Church had extricated itself from the Hebraic foundation of the covenant! A doctrine that was premised upon Greek philosophical influence! A doctrine which essentially presumes that the eternal covenant with Israel has been annulled!
But we know that we can see many, many declarations within ha B’rit Chadasha which prove such doctrines to be unable to withstand scrutiny of the TRUTH within The WORD … in fact let us even look towards the very end of matters for final clarification ….
Revelations 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 22:14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
So if one states that HIS commandments are not the commandments within The WORD; then is the testimony true or false?
If one states that HIS commandments are no longer valid and no longer the means for: purposefulness, community/personal living, holiness, abiding within the covenantal relationship and serving as the constitution of The Kingdom of ELOHIM; then is the testimony true or false?
Yeshua taught that all of Torah rests upon loving ELOHIM with all one’s heart, soul and might … and loving one’s neighbor as oneself! Yeshua surely was revealing that these two greatest commands are the net result of applying in Spirit all of the mitzvot. One simply can not ignore all the mitzvot and state that he or she is following the two greatest commands? How could such a thing be true?
If we cleave to and live by a doctrine which declares that fidelity, and the measurement of one’s faithfulness, to these “greatest of all mitzvot” has nothing to do with Torah or the mitzvot contained therein … then what is established is a relative or even personal benchmark of truth, justice and righteousness! As we know this essentially is the state of mankind from the fall in the garden!
Conversely the Hebraic and Biblically correct understanding of this matter is that The LORD has given to us this wisdom as a gift. Ultimately rejecting Torah and the mitzvot is paramount to saying that The LORD’s wisdom is no longer wise and relevant to my life. Consequently individuals claiming that they are operating under the guidance of Ruach HaKodesh AND who also claim that the Torah has been completed to the point of being irrelevant … are at best partially blind and at worst just plain rebellious!
As for the difficult issue of changing and shedding the scales that have been placed upon us and in some cases scales that we press against our own eyes and ears … we can be thankful that simply out of the mouth of babes does the truth emanate. And praise ELOHIM of all that is … we are all babes in HIS sight! We can all accept and deliver the truth if we are willing to learn by faith … if we are willing to learn directly from the WORD by the guidance and power of The SPIRIT!
Now let us put aside the talk and discuss what is important … personal witness! I can state in truth: “I operated under the doctrine of grace for many years and limited my relationship with The LORD to my relative convenience of what was true and what it meant to apply the two greatest commandments. My life was honestly a disaster and I shared much in common with those that walked in the dark (Because I was in the dark despite my belief that I was saved). Only after coming to the end of the line, (recognizing my pitiful state), did I finally give up my false doctrines and self gratuitous perspective. Only after I pleaded for mercy before ELOHIM … in the NAME of Messiah alone, and begged for correction and transformation, were my eyes opened up to the TRUTH that The WORD is a contiguous and perfect revelation.
THEN I was able to see clearly THE WORD and was taught that repentance (t’shuvah) entails obedience and obedience in hope and faith, as a living sacrifice in response to salvation wrought by Yeshua, equals dying to this world … and dying to this world equals the transformation Yeshua declares!
And guess what … I was not able, while being guided by The Spirit, to arbitrarily define what I needed to be obedient to. It was not enough to just get my personal destructive habits under control … I was straight up convicted that I needed to be obedient to the standards of living and behavior which came by Spiritually conversing with The WORD on a regular basis!
So what does my life look like now? Oh yes my brethren … I am indeed peculiar! I am that strange fellow who cleaves to the Biblical life style. That Irish guy who acts like a Jew and goes off to the synagogue every Shabbat and every Biblical Festival (the Mo’edim)! That guy who diets according to the Biblical standards. Oh I could go on and on but will spare you all and simply state … I am living proof that there is a G_D of Israel and that mountains do move and that Torah is for all G_D’s people willing to submit to the King of Kings and live by HIS ways!
Because of HIS power HIS awesome SPIRIT … because of what HE has done for me (that which I could not do) … do I zealously uphold what I know to be TRUTH. Part of being peculiar I suppose is having 100% absolute resolve in the truth and not negotiating! Please understand that my boldness regarding this issue is for me a manifestation of faith and zealousness! Do not think me self righteous … I sin and need Mashiach as much today as I did years ago while wondering around in the dark! I simply understand the beauty of HIS ways and cleave to them so that my evil inclination will not rule my flesh! As Yeshua taught … who is more thankful … the one who is forgiven a little or much? Humbly I submit that I have MUCH to be thankful for!
Hello, Drew,
I really have no comments on your post, but since my name was used in your first sentence, I thought it appropiate to share with you this url:
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Torah_Observance/torah_observance.html
Because Yeshua lives, I am
Helen
Hello Helen,
I am familiar with this interpretation and obviously I do not agree with what John has posted on his website.
Although love has an emotional aspect as we know, it can not be separated from behavior! As such I can not fulfill the commandment to love ELOHIM and wantonly disregard all of the commandments. One may view Torah observance strictly as rules and regulations … in a legalistic sense. However The Word of G_D teaches us that what is important is the net result of our obedience at a sacrifice to ourselves. The net result of Torah observance is LOVE!
A small example: I try diligently to not handle unclean things … not to simply follow a rule. I do so because ELOHIM tells us to be clean. I do so because I love ELOHIM and trust that HIS counsel and mitzvot are wise and beneficial for me. When did ritual cleanliness go away? I have failed to read this in Scripture! (And please do not point me to the matter of the Pharisees and the washing of the utensils … Yeshua was simply rebuking them for crafting traditions and elevating same to the level of those mitzvot contained in The WORD … Yeshua did not wash away the purification mitzvot)
AND … I also do not handle these items because I do not want to make my neighbor or anyone else unclean accidentally. I obey because the result is love! Oh … maybe not the same feel good emotional warm and fuzzy that people construe as love … but the real deal … the love for HIM and man as defined by HIM! The love that results from Torah exceeds any idea or notion that we can understand. Just in the same manner we have no idea as to the broader consequences of our sins! This is why we obey in faith. We obey without fully understanding but trusting that the result of our obedience is love. And hence we obey out of love and for the sake of love!
So perhaps many people will scoff at a decision not to handle unclean things because they view Torah solely in terms of legalistic conventions. All that I can do is to obey and trust that my obedience with the right heart attitude will result in G_D’s promises … love!
Drew,
All I can say is WOW!! I am so blessed in that God has delivered me from all of that!! You are the first person who has explained that you try not to touch anything “unclean”, so you won’t touch a neighbor and make him unclean too???? Or did I misunderstand?
I am so uninformed about all of the ritualistic laws under the Old Covenant, that when I read something of this nature, my spirit is in awe of these things. If you and I were talking instead of writing, I would be standing with my mouth open wide, wondering if I had heard correctly.
Helen
Dear Helen,
You might look at my previous reply to Drew’s comment. As for your remark here, all I can say is that the Church delivered you, not God. But then God is the God of Israel, not of the Church, so it never comes as a surprise that those who know only what the Church teaches find themselves so surprised when they discover that God does not reside in Athens or Rome. Take a longer look at Acts 10. You will discover that 10 years after Pentecost, Peter is still keeping the dietary laws. And, by the way, his vision is not about food at all, otherwise he would not be “completely confused.”
Helen … we are blessed in that G_D has delivered us from the curse of not being able to perfectly apply and love Him or our fellow man. We are however only delivered from the curse of the law (guilt) … we are not … nor do we need to be delivered from the eternal truth of love, righteousness and purity which the law produces.
Indeed Yeshua is the eternal High Priest Who intercedes on behalf of those constituents of the Kingdom who walk imperfectly. But please be reminded that Yeshua does not intercede on behalf of those people who refuse the Kingdom!
I sense however that you attempt to make light of the mitzvot and ways of living which ELOHIM handed down to all humanity through Israel …. as well as my desire to take seriously The Word of G_D!
Clearly our beliefs are different respective to what an adequate response to Mashiach’s saving works should be! I am happy that you have been blessed by being relieved of living to the very standards which Yeshua lived too. It must be quite liberating?
John Parsons and I have spoken a few times and I really appreciate his efforts to make the general body of Christians aware of the Hebrew context of Scripture. In fact, he has been instrumental in uncovering many replacement theology translations in our English Bibles. John is a genuine believer with deep Hebrew roots. That said, I too find this move away from Torah observance a bit unsettling. Nehemia Gordon’s work on the Matthew passage about following the directions of the Pharisees seems convincing and certainly changes the interpretation of that passage. But fundamentally, Yeshua was Torah observant, Paul claims to be Torah observant and James and Peter both endorse Torah observance. And if we are grafted into the Kingdom, it isn’t our Kingdom rules that apply. I see no reason other than a priori theological ones to make the claim that Yeshua altered the universal assumption of Torah observance of Judaism. We could have useful discussions about the role of the oral Torah, but it seems to me there is little doubt about the place of the written Torah. To suggest that all is reduced to “Love” is not helpful since the actions that display love must still be spelled out – and they are in Torah.
The biggest issue seems always to be the same. Greek thinkers believe that “freedom” is the clarion call of Scripture. Hebrew thinker realize that submission is the call. But there is a world of difference between the two paradigms. Greek thinkers who are believers struggle with the “rules” because they see them as rules, as limitations of freedom and since they are fundamentally committed to freedom, they dismiss those texts as inapplicable today. But the texts within the Hebrew-Jewish context never view freedom as the ultimate end of Man. Submission to the will of God is the ultimate end of Man – and paradoxically, his freedom under God’s rule. The question is not “What am I free to do?” The question is “What does God demand of me?”
I realize that discussion of unclean and clean is no longer part of the Christian vocabulary. But is that because it is not part of Scripture or is it because we have divided Scripture along lines that fit our culture? Go look at the 613 Torah commandments. You might be surprised how reasonable they are – and what a blessing it is that God provided such clear instructions to those who so easily look for ways to bend the rules.
The discussion at this blog has become too much for my spirit to deal with. Now some of the posts are including insults without knowing a thing about me. I am truly sorry, and quite surprised, that those who claim to have a relationship with God and knowledge of His workings and ways with mankind, can stoop to insults and insinuations.
Helen
Dear Helen,
If my remarks insulted you, I apologize. That was not intended. And I can understand the weariness of blogging. Believe me. But I implore you to look deeper than the conventional wisdom of the Church. It has been wrong before. The issues you raise have affected Christianity for hundreds of years and are, for the most part, directly related to the early church fathers, not to the authors of the text. There is plenty of historical record to prove the point, but few really look. With regret, most Christians today are comfortable in their beliefs and have little desire to search them out. Our culture has done a pretty thorough job of removing as much of God’s point of view as possible by denying the HEbraic character of all Scripture. But you are not one of these sheep or you would not be discussing the matter. So, keeping looking. Perhaps all of this is nothing more than the loving Father engineering life so that the doors come open. What was that about knocking – a continuous, active, present tense behavior?
Dear Helen,
“You might look at my previous reply to Drew’s comment. As for your remark here, all I can say is that the Church delivered you, not God.”
Skip, what an unkind, and untrue statement!!
“But then God is the God of Israel, not of the Church,
Skip, surely you speak of the institutional church, not the Body of Christ, made up of all who trust in Him. And I would be very careful making the statement that He is not the God of the Church. We may have to give an account of such a statement some Day.
“so it never comes as a surprise that those who know only what the Church teaches find themselves so surprised when they discover that God does not reside in Athens or Rome.”
Skip, you know that I know more than what the institutional church teaches, because I shared on this blog what resources I have had from which to study. It is my understanding that God resides in the hearts of those who have faith/belief in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Take a longer look at Acts 10. You will discover that 10 years after Pentecost, Peter is still keeping the dietary laws. And, by the way, his vision is not about food at all, otherwise he would not be “completely confused.”
Skip, I don’t need to “take a longer look at Acts 10. I do understand what Peter’s vision was all about. He told us in verse 28. And I am not to follow what Peter did, but I am to follow what the Spirit of God teaches me. I recall that you warned me that many have claimed to be led by the Spirit, and have done much harm in their teachings. So noted………
“Helen … we are blessed in that G_D has delivered us from the curse of not being able to perfectly apply and love Him or our fellow man. We are however only delivered from the curse of the law (guilt) … we are not … nor do we need to be delivered from the eternal truth of love, righteousness and purity which the law produces.”
Drew, this is where we disagree……..”which the law produces”. If it had done so, then why did Yeshua die such a horrible death for our sakes?
“Indeed Yeshua is the eternal High Priest Who intercedes on behalf of those constituents of the Kingdom who walk imperfectly. But please be reminded that Yeshua does not intercede on behalf of those people who refuse the Kingdom!”
Drew, are you saying that the law IS the Kingdom??
“I sense however that you attempt to make light of the mitzvot and ways of living which ELOHIM handed down to all humanity through Israel …. as well as my desire to take seriously The Word of G_D!”
Drew, I did not mean to make light of the mitzvot or your desire to take seriously the word of God. I was only expressing my reaction to your comment concerning “touching the unclean”, especially that you fear you may pass that “uncleanness” to someone else. In all my study, I never read that possibility. It shocked me, but I wasn’t “making light” of your understanding.
“Clearly our beliefs are different respective to what an adequate response to Mashiach’s saving works should be! I am happy that you have been blessed by being relieved of living to the very standards which Yeshua lived too. It must be quite liberating?”
Drew, I have not been relieved of living to the standards of Yeshua. I have been relieved of attempting to live them in my own strength.
Greetings Helen, … 🙂
Yeshua sacrificed Himself in glory so that we who are incapable of perfect submission could be reconciled to the HOLY ONE;
The law is not the Kingdom … it is the constitution of the Kingdom;
I will end my commentary on this thread by simply stating that I as well live towards the standards of Yeshua … not in my own strength. Clearly … for me … the willingness and desire to be obedient is a result of Yeshua … His glorification and the power of Ruach HaKodesh. And with all my heart, soul and might I strive to be faithful to this charge!
Be blessed!
Drew, thank you for bringing your participation in this thread to a loving and polite conclusion.
Thank you for the smile, and for your blessing.
Helen
Dear Helen,
“If my remarks insulted you, I apologize.”
Skip, I accept your apology. However, most of the replies to my posts are insulting to my intelligence and to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“That was not intended. And I can understand the weariness of blogging. Believe me. But I implore you to look deeper than the conventional wisdom of the Church. It has been wrong before.”
Skip, again you are referring to the institutional church. I have experienced many years of frustration and grief over some of its “wisdom”, so I do understand.
“The issues you raise have affected Christianity for hundreds of years and are, for the most part, directly related to the early church fathers, not to the authors of the text.”
Skip, the thing that most concerns me in placing so much emphasis and importance on the Hebraic worldview, etc., is this question: In Eternity, what will be the lot of those of us who love God in the Person of Jesus Christ, filled with, and led by His Spirit, demonstrating His Love in and to the world?? Most folks have not the opportunity, the resources, nor the money to pursue what you are encouraging me to do.
You’re right. I wasn’t very nice. But I didn’t mean to be caustic with you. I meant to be as harsh as possible with the institutional Church that has been so locked into its replacement – anti-Semitic segregation for so long that wonderfully devout people just like you are persuaded by a paradigm that refuses to be reconsidered. I am quite sure that God is enormously graceful and patient, but there are times when I just want to throw up my hands and plead for examination rather that recitation. Paradigms are very powerful things. They tell us not only how things work but also what counts as facts. Once we adopt the paradigm, we tend to view the world only through the rose-colored glasses the paradigm provides. But sometimes some evidence just doesn’t fit and we start to wonder if maybe there is another way to look at things. Once we begin to examine the culture and language of Scripture, we find lots of evidence that does not fit the contemporary institutional paradigm provided by the Church. What we also find is that some of the evidence doesn’t fit what the “Body” also tends to espouse as the truth. So, we have to dig deeper – to seek the truth with a passion no matter what it challenges.
I deal with this every day. Most of my graduate students are pastors. Mosts have never questioned any of the traditional teaching. Most have lived with the paradoxes and the unresolved evidence because they didn’t have any other paradigm. But once they see what is happening in the language and culture of Scripture, suddenly the world changes into something far more vibrant, more engaging, more holy. I hope my remarks don’t keep you from this journey.
My dear Skip,
The only “journey” I am on at present is the one that will lead me to the place that Jesus went to prepare for me, that where He is, there I may be also.
I thank you for your concern for me, that I will learn how to live in and by a different paradigm, but the One by which I live now is keeping me in the Rest and Peace which is in knowing Yeshua and God Who sent Him, to give His Life, paying the ransom for the Redemption of the world. Yeshua paid a great price that I may be bought back from the clutches of sin and evil, and my praises go to Him in thanksgiving for His great Love for me.
Helen : )
A final comment here. For those interested in the evidence that Paul was in fact a fully Torah observant rabbinic Messianic believer, you might want to look at these paper by Mark Nanos
http://www.marknanos.com/CodexPauli-English-5-09.pdf
http://escholarship.bc.edu/scjr/vol4/iss1/4/
http://www.marknanos.com/Paul-Shema-10-27-08.pdf
http://www.marknanos.com/1Cor9-Leuven-9-4-09.pdf
http://www.marknanos.com/Myth-Lawfree-12-3-08.pdf