Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing (Greek) Word – Part 2.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom. 3:27-28, ESV).
Works – I know. I’ve put two verses for consideration today, rather than the single verse, but I could not find a meaningful way to separate them in order to follow Sha’ul’s logic. Remember, he has already stated that doing what Torah says is not just a good idea, but the whole concept of justification is wrapped up in the idea. Just as James also wrote.
And so when he comes to his famous statement, “justified by faith,” you will notice that the word “alone” is missing. And it is missing for a reason, which Sha’ul has already explained in verse 27. “No boasting” he proclaims, loudly and clearly. No boasting because it is excluded. On what basis? By a law of “works,” one that can apparently be used as if they earned us some position with YHWH? No, Shau’l says. Can’t do that. That would allow boasting, and there is no boasting allowed here. As he wrote to the Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast? (Eph. 2:8-9).
To avoid boasting, however, Sha’ul has given two interpretations of Torah – one of works, the other of faith. And it is the Torah of faith that excludes boasting. Consider the way in which he strings the word “faith” together in the text above. Did he have two different ideas of the word “faith” in mind? If so, he forgot to tell his readers he had shifted gear in the space of just a few words. Sha’ul, however, never appears to be that lazy with his words or the ideas he was attempting to convey. “The Torah of faith” and “justified by faith.” That’s how Sha’ul framed his presentation of justification.
But now you see while Sha’ul did not use the word “alone.” He didn’t need to. In his view, faith is not “alone.” Torah- keeping is the absolutely essential part of justification, without which there is no justification before God. In case his readers missed his point, Sha’ul backs it up with, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law” (Rom 3:31).
The idea of “faith alone” is unfortunately the mantra of those who deny Torah. Luther was right to disagree with indulgences; he was wrong in the way he explained justification that does not allow boasting. If he had stuck with Sha’ul and not tried to add the word “alone” where it did not belong, people today would have one less excuse for putting Torah aside.
Topical Index: faith, alone, Romans 3:27-28, works
Ian Hodge
Amen!
“The idea of “faith alone” is unfortunately the mantra of those who deny Torah. Luther was right to disagree with indulgences; he was wrong in the way he explained justification that does not allow boasting. If he had stuck with Sha’ul and not tried to add the word “alone” where it did not belong, people today would have one less excuse for putting Torah aside.”
Well said! Thank you Ian!
We must clearly define “Torah”. What, clearly stated, is Torah-obedience? Is it “rule-keeping?” Commandment keeping? Does every good boy deserve favor? Or is the Law our school-master, declaring the whole world guilty before God? What is the purpose of the Torah? And are Torah and the Law of the LORD the same? Are these words interchangeable? Must I keep/guard/observe Torah tradition in order to go to Heaven? ~ Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16.30) Am I justified before God by keeping all ten words?
If so, then I am lost, for I have broken every single one of the commandments of YHWH, for you see- I am a sinner. For what is sin, but transgression of the Law? But what Law are we referring to here? The law of man, or the Law (I prefer Instruction) of the LORD? “Do this” and you will be justified, made righteous. Oh? Justified in whose eyes? Yours? Or the eyes of the LORD?
We are saved by grace (it is pure gift) through faith (faith in the shed blood of Yeshua HaMashiach- the Second Adam, unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Salvation/deliverance is a three-part process. It is a crisis, followed by a process. We have been saved/delivered from the penalty of sin. We are being saved from the power/dominion of sin. And we will be saved (one day soon, I hope) from the presence of sin. Salvation is a one time event, but Sanctification (the process of holiness) occurs until we draw our last breath, until God says “it is time.” We are being conformed and transformed into the image (likeness) of the Son. Just as in our physical birth- so it is in our spiritual birth – it is a process. A process of growth. We “grow up” into Christ. Feeling any “growing pains?” Good. (ouch) So am I. It is a process, and nothing “good” comes easy. And I have learned, (after many long and fruitless years) to co-operate with the program. The purpose of my Father’s chastening is to get my attention, to “sharpen” my hearing and my sensitivity toward sin.
The desires of my heart have been completely changed (and for the better!). I’m very happy to say, – I hate sin. Why? I hate sin in any form or fashion. I hate lying. I hate gossip. I hate falsehood. I hate bigotry. Shall I go on? There is a long list. I hate what God hates. Why? Did you know sin is destructive? Did you know sin is divisive? And sin decays- take a look around at our society today,- we don’t have to look very far, do we? Sin muddles the mind. Sin short-circuits the brain. Sin is most assuredly a form of insanity.
There is one known cure for sin and what would that be? I am all ears to hear it. I am so ready for some “gospel- good news.” Ready to hear ~ what God the LORD shall speak for He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints, but do not let them turn again unto folly! ~
Sin is (at it’s very best) stupid. Think about it for three whole seconds. Have yourself a selah moment and stop and think about it. Sin is stupid. It is the most stupid thing any man, any woman could possibly do. For the sake of clarity (and oh, how we need clarity) what is sin? Sin is the transgression of the Law. How do I know this? The same as you- “it is written.” The Law (God’s holy Law) declares every man a sinner- with the exception of ONE. There is (as hopefully we have come to recognize) only ONE Perfect Man ever to have lived, and this Man is our Redeemer, the ONE who hung naked on the execution stake, -Calvary’s cross.
What held Christ to the cross? Was it the nails? No, it was sin. My sin. That Man died in my place. That Man died in your place. Salvation is not spelled “do” -it is spelled “done.” Calvary is a done deal. Finished. Final. Complete. Forever.
So, where now is our boasting? Mephibosheth feasted at the King’s Table. Tell me,(please) – what “right” did he have to be there. What did he do to deserve such favor, such grace from the King? Nothing. Zero, with the edges trimmed off. He was there only because of the blood covenant of friendship David made with Jonathan, the son of Saul. Mephibosheth not only sang “amazing grace” – He lived it, and the whole affair was entirely sponsored by grace- he did nothing to deserve being there. No great deeds, for he was lame in both his feet. I know this man well, for he is me. Grace is a gift, what exactly is there- we might do to “add” to God’s grace? Is there anything we can do so that God will love us more? Or is there anything we might do to cause Him to love us less? Have you heard, ~ God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet (blind, deaf and dumb) sinners- Christ died for us? ~
What was the purpose, (he asked) of the death of the Chosen ONE? If we could possible “earn” our way into God’s favor- why the cross? And why, tell me why do we ignore the bloody cross of Christ- when this cross is the Doorway into Paradise? We should, we must kneel at the cross, and cry out with the blind beggar, ~ Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me! ~ Would this prayer be acceptable unto God? Would God here and answer the prayer of this man? He did and He would. A most excellent prayer. I know, for I am the one who prayed it- and praise His Name,- He delivered me.
Who am I? What are my credentials? Who am I to speak this way? By whose authority? What do I know? Friends, it is not “what I know.. it is Who I know!”-
-from 2 Timothy 1.2:
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
But ~I know Whom I have believed
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day ~
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
I know not when my LORD may come,
At night or noon-day fair,
Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,
Or “meet Him in the air.”
But..
~I know Whom I have believed
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day ~
Daniel W. Whittle 1883
~ For G-d was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him (the living Logos!) to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the tslav ~ (Colossians 1:19-20)
Carl do you believe in keeping Torah?
–Carl do you believe in keeping Torah?– Pam, if I was a Messianic Jew, I would, but alas- I am one of the “unclean” goy!. However, I am so grateful our Savior’s salvation is offered not only to the Jew, but also to the Gentile (me!).
But, what do the scriptures say? ~ For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. No, a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God ~ (Romans 2.28,29)
And also, ~ if any man be in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus ~ (Galatians 3.28)
Wow! Talk about Someone who can unify humanity, -that Someone would be Christ alone. Dear sisters and brothers, ~ God was in Christ reconciling the world (both Jew and Gentile!) unto Himself ~ ( 2 Corinthians 5.19) We all (both Jew and Gentile) come to God by the same path and that path leads to and through the cross of the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ. Every man, woman and child on this planet is saved through the atoning blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jewish sins, Gentiles sins- all sin.
Also, it would be a good thing to remember, “every knee shall bow.” Does this include Jewish knees? Yes. Gentiles knees? Assuredly. – And what about the two belonging to the one writing these words? Absolutely! I glady, fully, freely confess Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God our Father. Oh, may I tell you about my Savior? – and what He has done for me? and ~ Who, dear friends, daily loads us with benefits? Blessed is the LORD YHWH everyday, for God our Savior has chosen us as His inheritance; God is delivering us ~ (Psalm 68.19)
The Book God wrote tells us ~ the law (direction, instruction, law) of the LORD is perfect restoring the soul ~ (Psalm 68.19) God is in the restoration business. He is the ultimate “recycler.” He takes junk (a life “messed up”) cleans it, polishes it and makes it shine. ~ The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. They will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown ~ (Zechariah 9.16). Pam, may I refer to you as “daughter of the King?” – how often we forget we are next of kin to royalty!
This will add sparkle to the diamond! ~ Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father…” (Revelation 1:5-6). “You…have redeemed us unto God by Your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10)
Amen Carl. I’ve run into men more righteous and pure than myself – who have little or no religious affiliation. It’s humbling.
But,.. in the context of Romans 2, that person would be “the uncircumcised man [who] keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?”. As near as I can read, these are goyim who follow Torah more closely than the the Jews were, at least on what counted most. Paul is echoing Jesus’ sentiments when He said, “therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.” The Jews would also observe the ‘small stuff’, and neglect the ‘weightier matters’. (Matt. 23:23)
I can thump the bible all day long, quote scriptures — and still be the most fallen, shrill, self-serving person in the world. In that case, I would be the one Paul warns by saying:
“You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?”. For Paul, Torah was still the standard — he simply knew that the keepers/preachers of the Torah have become so defiled that that now, “the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24). This is how Jesus and Paul upheld Torah while lambasting the Torah teachers. It’s not double-speak.
When Paul told the churches to abstain from sexual immorality, how would that have been defined? Why would he mention the marriage and divorce laws in Romans 7 (from Deut. 24), to say that the law is now null and void? Why would he appeal to a law that was no longer the standard? Paul says in 1 Timothy 5, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”, but where did he get that standard from?
How do you define sin in your life? Personally, I can’t wait for a burning in the bosom. I’m too thick-skulled to decide for myself what righteousness is, or ‘walking in the Spirit’. I need help! Luckily, God has given us a standard that includes some specifics of how we are to love our neighbor and love God. God can remove the ‘curse’ of my marriage, without removing the marriage! Christ can set me free from the ‘burden’ of the law, without revoking the law – it’s no longer a burden to serve the one I love, even if I’m doing the same things!
If Israel was a symbol of our spiritual journey, then the command was the same all the time. Take the Promised Land. Israel was always trying to do it, they just didn’t include God, and tried to do it on their own power and for their own selfish reasons. The road to discipleship is similar, we can seek Christ and his righteousness (His Torah yoke), but if we try to keep Torah on our own power, or for selfish reasons, we will fail utterly and cause God to be mocked in the process.
Just some thoughts, sorry for the diatribe.
Some excellent points here, and in addition there is Paul’s own claim that he never violated the Torah or the traditions. Greek philosophy argues that the Good, the basis of correct ethical behavior, comes as a result of correct THINKING, the application of reason to human responsibility. Hebrew points out that men do not think like the divine regardless of their carefulness and therefore, they need an OUTSIDE standard. Ethics is not what I make up, even if it is the “law of love.” Ethics is obedience to God’s standard and that hasn’t changed in a long time.
You’ve obviously thought this out for awhile Gabe. I agree excellent points.
I hope and pray that those of us who have been instructed in righteousness and continue to hold to doctrines of men rather than YHVH”s clear and GOOD instructions are given at least a place in His kingdom.
Dear brothers and sisters. The Kingdom of heaven is not a kingdom of anarchy. It has a heavenly law that we are expected to know, love, and follow. This world is where we learn and practice it.
YOUR kingdom come YOUR will be done
ON EARTH!!!!!!! as it is IN HEAVEN!
I didn’t think so.
Well that comment wound up in a weird place. 🙁
This was supposed to go under Carl’s response to my question “Carl do you believe in keeping Torah?”
“I know Whom I have believed”
Hi Carl,
Thanks for the little
Daniel W. Whittle
I know “Whom” too
He’s a little like
H2O
Well constructed Ian. Good job! ~MB
Blessed are the peacemakers. I love it when someone can articulate the symmetry between seemingly contradictory statements.
Jesus, Moses, and Elijah stood shoulder-to-shoulder in unity.
Thanks Ian.
Afraid to address any one person, this is to the universe in general: (lol !)
Talking to many average people on the street, young and old, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, about where they’ll go when they die. A majority say that they “hope” that they’ll go to heaven when they die because they’re good, moral people. Too bad. Jesus Christ gave His life in the worst possible death so that I could KNOW for sure that I am going to heaven when I die. Depending on my “religious efforts” or being pious isn’t getting me to heaven. I can’t save myself by anything. What I could do was to reach out and receive Jesus Christ and believe He is able to save me forever. He certainly believed it. He died to prove He believes it.
Romans 7:1-6
Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
“Afraid to address any one person, this is to the universe in general: (lol !)”
Hi Dorothy,
I’ll play Mr Universe for the time being 🙂
Paul’s language and experience is somewhat Alien to me
He was a brilliant Jewish Rabbi who had a mystical experience with Christ
In my view, Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi who referred to himself as the Son of God and Man
He refers to God as his Father in Heaven whose name is Holy and whose Kingdom is available
I think we know for sure that Jesus wants to serve as the model of God for Jews and gentiles
It seems to me that Jesus wants to teach us how to live in the “presence of God”
Our hope to go to Heaven, which is in the future, is based on our fear of dying
In my view, Jesus wants us to focus on God in the “here and now”
And act according to God’s will
Pleased to meet you, Mr. Universe, *offers my hand in friendship*
I do focus on God in the here and now.
Meeting Jesus changed me in ALL areas. He’s still at work in me, the hammer and saw and workmen He sends tramp all over me.
I’m not afraid of dying, are you? I very often think of it as far preferable at times to living. Now, I admit I am afraid of any pain that may accompany death, –like being squashed by a big rock– you are correct on that! I’m human. So was Jesus incarnate, He sure didn’t look forward to hanging on the cross. Fully God/fully man.
I’m ready to see Jesus and ready to be reunited with much of my family that has gone on before me. At the same time, there are ties that still bind me here, by that I know its not time. So I serve and worship, both with joy. I love to see Him work, sometimes using my febble hands, my voice to comfort, my arms to hug. Why does He want anything to do with me, I just don’t know. He is GOOD. All caps.
My desires changed so totally when Jesus won. My first day saved was actually hilarious. I couldn’t do anything I used to do! All day long I was starting and jerking back. Not big crime plans, etc, (lol) just normal stuff. I used to watch a TV soap opera at 11 AM. So I sat down to turn the TV on when 11 O’clock arrived.
Then ewwwwww….disgust. Shut off the TV. Picked up a book to read, ewwww….took it to the sink and soaked it in soapy water to destroy it. Looked on my 60 feet of shelves for more to destroy. And believe me, they weren’t filthy like you might think. But I was tender.
And on it went.
Then I went into the backyard. My goodness, I wept when I saw a little bird! I knew that God was aware of him and knew all about him and likely had named him! And I saw the grass and fell on my knees to examine it carefully, admiring, telling God how wonderful it was. I spent a good two weeks in my back yard from one thing to another. I lay on my back under a tree admiring it like I had just got to the planet. One thing after another.
Nobody needs to tell me now not to curse, or steal, etc. I’m not afraid I’ll ‘slip’ and do those things. I don’t need the law hammered into me, its already here.
The Living Word is inside me. I can’t get enough of His Word. For one year I didn’t allow myself to read any other material, unless I read a note from the kids teachers or such. No magazine, no novel, no articles. Nothing was as important as absorbing as much of the Bible as I could, and hours in prayer and worship.
When I came to the Lord, I had not been a ‘bad’ person that anyone could see outwardly. My husband wasn’t saved. But after the 3rd day I knew I was so different, that someone MUST be able to see some difference!
I had not been a smoker, drinker, or gambler, etc, so it wasn’t that I had quit, or any such outside thing. One day I asked my husband if he saw any changes in me. Without a moment’s hesitation he said that he ‘sure did.’ What was it?!? I could barely contain myself until he could tell me. He simply said, “You used to worry. You don’t seem to worry anymore.”
Amazing. Its true, I don’t worry about anything at all. God’s got my back, forever. And if that’s not enough — underneath are His Everlasting arms! forever.
“Amazing. Its true, I don’t worry about anything at all. God’s got my back, forever. And if that’s not enough — underneath are His Everlasting arms! forever.”
Hi Dorothy,
WOW that is amazing, I’ve never had that experience, so I’m not a Christ mystic 🙂
But I think the way I do because of my experiences
I don’t think much about dying, buy when I do am afraid for my family and dog
And I’m sure that I worry more than you do
Thanks for sharing!
Mike
To “whosoever will!” (How’s that for generic!) Excellent testimony Dorothy! When you got “saved” things was different. ( All things! ) ~ Behold, I make all things new! ~
~ I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as One who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them ~ Hosea 11.4)
Loved with everlasting Love,
Led by grace that Love to know;
Spirit, breathing from Above,
Thou hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a Love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.
In a Love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.
Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.
Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.
His forever, only His:
Who the LORD and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.
Yes, it was a marvellous and real testimony of the LORD’S grace concerning the law and the Spirit of the law. God is to be found on every page of HIS letter to us. I found HIM again this morning in Ex.34:10-17 and His goodness jumped off the page as HE Himself shows HOW to deal with the nations, the gods of this world and those whom we have erected in our hearts that NEED to be torn down, cut out, and dealt with immediately.
Thank you Dorothy and thank you Carol for your song or poem that you have graciously taken the time to share with us.
One more day closer to HIS promised return.
Yes, Carol, one day nearer. 🙂 *dance thru the living room, dance thru the kitchen, keep dancing*
Since you shared your kind words and today’s reading of Ex. 34. with us, I wish to share with you my memory verse for today: (attempting to memorize one verse a week, you know. How’s it going? you may ask. Sometimes it goes, sometimes it doesn’t! lol) But here’s this weeks anyway:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4
To all,- the veil of the temple has been torn in two- God did this. WhY?
And.. if any man (Jew or Gentile, male or female) be “in Christ!” Are you in? Do you know it? Do you have what has become known as “blessed assurance?” What makes us righteous? What gives us “right-standing” with God? Is salvation for the Jew only?