Sinless Perfection
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 2 Timothy 3:2 NASB
Unholy – Describe the unholy person. Write down his character traits (or flaws). What you will end up with is a list of culturally conditioned spiritual and behavioral attributes. And you won’t come close (probably) to the meaning of Paul’s word, anosios.
The usual and expected word for unholy would be the negative of the Greek hagios. Hagios in Greek is associated with sacred. Its Hebrew equivalent is qadosh. But Paul doesn’t use this word. Instead he chooses hosios in the negative, anosios. From the LXX we learn that even though hosios is also associated with sacred, its principle reference is to those people who have committed themselves to obedience to God. In the Tanakh, this term denotes the humble, dutiful servants of YHVH who keep the mitzvot. Anosios refers to those who reject the sacred obligation of God’s ordinances. In other words, from a rabbinic perspective, anosios describes anyone who does not keep Torah.
Most religious people do not think of themselves as unholy. They believe that following the precepts of the Church or maintaining a life of upright ethical behavior excludes them from such adjectives. If you pointed to the Torah and claimed that they were unholy because they weren’t Torah observant, they would deny your accusation, perhaps claiming that you were just a legalist and you needed correction. In general, the evaluation of “holy” or “unholy” is determined by standards of the culture and once we leave behind the culture of Israel’s God, we are left with standards that only partially reflect the Bible. As a Torah observant rabbi, Paul would never have countenanced partial obedience to God’s instructions. Therefore, his definition of unholy is anosios, not merely ouk hagios.
All of this must cause us to re-evaluate our idea of holy. The biblical standard does not follow the culture of the Christian West. It is not to be found in the Church. The biblical standard is based on the ancient norms of Israel, set in place through the prophet Moses, explained by the Messiah Yeshua. According to Paul, deviation from this standard will increase in the last days. Along with an explosion of ego, a preoccupation with wealth, arrogance and blasphemy, men and women will turn away from the biblical patterns and create a religion of their own making. This “new” approach to God will be characterized by rejection of the Torah. It will overturn the ancient boundary stones by reinterpreting what it means to be holy. But neither Paul nor God will be fooled. So Paul warns Timothy. Watch out for those who would replace God’s commandments with versions of their own. Remember that in the last days anosios will be everywhere. They will justify themselves by appealling to a different God than YHVH. In the last days, men will claim to be Kingdom citizens while denying the requirements of Kingdom citizenship. They will build empires instead of communities.
Topical Index: unholy, hosios, hagios, sacred, commandments, 2 Timothy 3:2
Shalom and safety in China.
With a GRATEFUL heart and a desire to Honor YHVH’s Torah….Amein and Amein! Deut 32:4
My husband was telling me of the message the new preacher was giving this past week on how she doesn’t believe or preach he’ll, examination or things like that. She would rather teach on the different types of Grace. All I can do is shake my head, then look at my life and judge my own behaviors that speak stuff just as bad.
I have a question, and I admit that I have not researched this fully and I have not thought this through completely. It is churning around in my mind continually. First I have an observation that has prompted the question.
Christians are taught and feel very sure of their teaching that when Jesus Christ came He invalidated the Law found in the Torah. They use the scripture found in Hebrews 8 and 9 which is a quote from Jeremiah 31 to support their belief that Christians are people of the new covenant. Even the writer of Hebrews says that the old covenant is fading away. I feel that this is not the case, because God said to Jeremiah that He would make a new covenant and put His Law in their hearts and minds. What Law and whose heart? As far as I can determine there has been only one giving of the Law, and it was given to only one people; the Jews. Hebrews 8 restates the same thing. The new covenant is for the Jews. It does not say that God will write His law on the heart of every unregenerate human who has no concern for God. As a gentile I think my only hope has been to be adopted or become a part of the true vine. I am not Jewish, and I have no desire to be Jewish even though my best friend in life is an observant Jew. And I don’t think God expects me to be a practicing Jew. So I ask how much of what God gave to Moses am I required to observe and obey, or are Christians correct that Jesus invalidated the original covenant given to Moses and I am not responsible to observe the teaching of the law in the Journey (Torah)? Regardless of how you look at this problem, if you follow some set of rules you are back to legalism. And around the circle I go again.
John – I would like to share my thoughts with you on this, which I will do in a somewhat condensed format.
The Torah (instructions), were given to the Nation of Israel, not just the Jews. There were the tribal descendants of Israel (Jacob), but there were also many among them who were not lineal descendants (remember the “mixed multitude” that left Egypt). In fact, the sons of Joseph were half Egyptian. Now, jump ahead to the New Testament. We are told in Romans that we have been grafted in to the true vine. We are also told in the NT that we are no longer gentiles, but are citizens of the Commonwealth of Israel. If you become a citizen of a new country, you are expected to follow the law.
Now, as regards Jeremiah 31. Jeremiah 31 does not state that the Torah will be abolished or changed. Rather, it tells us that YHWH will transmit his Torah to us in a new way. What it states is that the Torah will no longer be given to the people from an external source (i.e. the written word), but instead it will be put into our hearts, so that it will be second nature, so to speak, for us to follow the Way of YHWH. Yeshua confirms this in Matthew 5, when he states that he did not come to abolish the law, that not a jot or tittle shall drop from the Law until Heaven and Earth pass away (which we are told will actually occur, as described at the end of Revelation), and that distinction will be made between those who keep and teach the law and those who do not.
A second thing to note about Jeremiah 31, is that it describes how men will act following the law being put into their hearts. It states that men will no longer have to tell their neighbors about YHWH, because all will know him. We are obviously not in that time yet, as many do not know him. I speculate, and currently hold to the position, that the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31 has not occurred (even in part, as mainstream Christians contend) and will not occur until after Heaven and Earth passes away, which just happens to coincide with YHWH coming to the Earth on His throne in the New Jerusalem.
Jordan
I have written on this subject and on most of the verses you mention. Please check the search function on the web site.
I want to ask another question based on John’s above. I recently heard several Jewish teachers/leaders talk about Torah for Jews vs. Gentiles, and they brought up the Noah Commandments. That Gentiles were not expected to keep Torah as Jews are to keep Torah but were expected to keep the Noah Commandments. Which is it? Then what about the Ten?
I seem to remember reading that the idea of the Noahide commandments being applicable to Gentiles is a fairly recent concept (i.e. several centuries after the death of the Messiah). Christians and Jews continue to teach many things that have the affect of separating the body of Messiah into different factions. YHWH never taught that he had different standards for different people groups (only different standards for different classes of people within His Nation – think men/women, Levites/Non-levites).
Well said, Jordan!
I think it is worth noting that although the “Noahide laws” do not include the rules for kashrut (kosher), it is clear from the account of Noah that Noah knew the distinction between clean and unclean animals, both before and after the flood. Clean animals to sacrifice were also clean animals to eat, as I understand it. So it seems to me that even Noah knew what not to eat. Kashrut is only one part of Torah observance but the fact that Noah knew the difference between clean and unclean animals means that God’s laws for food were eternal, and that they must have been communicated to Noah (and others, like Abel and Abraham, if you examine their sacrifices) long before the law was given through Moses.
Can I suggest you listen to the lectures on the Roman Empire in the first century and the Formation of the Christian Church. They will clarify a lot.
These rabbinic distinctions are recent developments (I mean AFTER the formation of the Christian Church in the 2-3rd centuries). No rabbi would have instructed a Gentile who wanted to join the fellowship in such a way PRIOR to the Christian Church. That should tell you something.
John and Dana,
Good questions…ones that everyone that reads Skip’s writings have asked…
There are others here that are much more qualified than me to give an answer but I’ll share some of my observations anyway 🙂
Jesus didn’t invalidate anything. He showed us that it is possible to live out the instructions of Torah. I don’t “have” to follow Torah, I “get” to follow Torah and therein lies the difference. Anything can be legalistic depending on your attitude. In Christianity we were taught that it is impossible to follow the Law but…if God is good and loves us then why would He set out instructions that were impossible to do??? How can one God have two separate sets of instructions for His people??? Do the Jews serve one God and Christianity serves another??? It’s taken several years for me to finally understand that no…God doesn’t have separate instructions for Jews and Gentiles and as Gentiles that are grafted in it is up to us to learn all we can about the vine.
God bless you as you continue on your journey!!
Sandy
if you follow some set of rules you are back to legalism. And around the circle I go again.
Hi John, a thought you may want to consider. You spoke of legalism so you obviously have an idea what that may entail. I would suggest that you find out where you gained that understanding from. If your background is anywhere similar to mine, ie; mainline christianity, then you’ve probably been taught that any form of following “the law”, for any reason is legalism. The Messiah didn’t speak against the law, only against following it for the wrong reasons. In a word; status or the gaining of it. It’s an interesting quandary that the same folk who use the letter to the Hebrews to defend a “lawless” position, can’t reconcile the statement that without faith it’s impossible to please him (found in that same book) with that same position! Is lawlessness by faith sinless!!? 🙂
YHWH bless you and keep you…….
Your point is a good one. I wrote some time ago about what happens to a society when we give up God’s Torah, i.e., a code of living from OUTSIDE the box of human thinking. You can find it on the web. The same people who claim that following any form of rules is legalism would be loath to suggest that anarchy is the correct position, but that is the logical conclusion. Even Christians who deny Torah (because it is “Jewish”) still want a society where lying isn’t right, adultery isn’t the norm, murder isn’t punished and private property is regarded as a value worth protecting. If you claim these are not “legalism” but rather the basis of social order, then what do you mean by “legalism”? Only those practices that YOU don’t want to do?
The Way
~ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30.21)
~ I AM – the Way.. ~ (John 14.6)
Holiness is not the way to Christ – Christ is the Way to holiness.
There is only one way for any man (Jew or Gentile, -male or female) to be made righteous (rightly-related) or “justified” (just as if I’d never sinned) in the sight of our thrice-holy God.
This one Way, (lest there be any doubt) is by and through the blood of the Lamb, freely given for “whosoever will” on the beautiful/terrible Tslav of the Chosen-Anointed One, our LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ, at Calvary.
~ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Ruach HaKodesh; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope (the glad certainty) of eternal life…~
Sinless Perfection?? Yes.. please. But we are going to search and to seek and will find this one thing to be true- There is (only) one man – (ever!) who never once violated the Torah of YHWH. Sinless perfection? – Don’t look at me! or him- or her.. Not my mom, my wife- or my daughter! Only One Man can honestly proclaim.. ~ which of you convinces Me of sin? ~ (kids, – don’t try this at home!). Don’t look at me, look at Him! (Ever-always-only!) ~ Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith ~
Yeshua did not (nor does not) make the Law of the LORD “null and void!” No sir, – no m’am! The Word of the LORD, (the Torah of YHWH) endures “forever!” But the Law serves one purpose- and serves that purpose today-still today. The Law reveals to all of us “mortal,human creatures,” our lack of morals and our lack of humanity! We all “far short” of the perfection the Law demands! Never truer words were written or spoken: ~ All have sinned! ~ (oh yes!.. -“self” included!) ~ He that offends in (just) one point is (what?) “guilty of all!” Sir, it is not the “amount” of sin, -it is (just the facts, m’am) the fact of sin. “Sinners r us.” Friend, we (absolutely) need a Savior. One who can (and does daily!) deliver us from evil!
However, there is One (and only one) who is the exception to “ALL have sinned!” The sinless-spotless-saving-Sovereign Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Friend, from Genesis through the Revelation, (all) the words of God are true, for ~ without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin! ~Our sin-debt has been (completely) “paid in full.” Thank You for the cross, LORD. Amen.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed ones of God
Be saved, to sin no more
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming Love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy power to save.
~ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost ~
Amazing Love- How can it be? That Thou, my God would die for me?
Carl,
What you write is true and correct, but it ignores the question of how to relate to the Torah (law, instructions) today.
My children will likely never clean their room or follow my other instructions to absolute perfection, but I still expect them to try each day to meet those goals. The grace I extend to them covers their shortcomings, but I still expect them to attempt to adhere to the rules I have determined are the best course of action. If I have shown them the proper way to clean the room, then they are to imitate my actions.
The most maligned verse in the NT is likely “Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness.” The body of Messiah would understand it much more if the translators would leave their bias at home. There is no “end of the law” (as you correctly noted). Christ is the “goal” of the the law. The way he acted in relation to the law is to be our goal, our target, if our goal is actually righteousness.
Peace,
Jordan
Oh yes, brother Jordan, please do hear me- there is nothing (at all) “wrong” with the Law of the LORD- the Torah (or instructions) of YHWH! No sir. No m’am. ~ For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life! ~ (Proverbs 6.23)
Your children (and mine) were born into our respective families. As their parental units, it is our responsibility (and privilege) to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD! And please do hear my confession! ~ Every word of God is pure! ~ He is a shield unto those who trust in Him!
~ We have seen and (will) testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world! ~ (1 John 4.14) If this is true, (and, of course it is!), then shouldn’t we also “testify” accordingly?
Childen, (please) “clean up” your lives! Yes, ABBA, we will respond, – not from fear, but out of love! We will shema our Savior, and live and walk accordingly. ~ Whatever He says, – we will “do!” – Where He sends, we will go! Gladly, freely- as obedient children, -out of a heart full of love.
Jordan, let us not only remember, but let us speak “much more” of the New(er) Covenant. The covenant Christ established at Calvary. ~ (Remember?)- This is the new covenant in My blood! ~ the blood of Calvary’s Lamb. ~ (Do) you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot? ~ (1 Peter 1.18,19)
(This is) ~ not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a Husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the (newer) covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”… ~
Has this “newer” covenant occured? If so, when? or where? Are we still waiting for the promised Messiah to come? Is He “the One,” – or should we look for another? (Luke 7.20)
One further comment. The Law of YHWH serves more than one purpose. The idea that it serves only one purpose is a Christian doctrine. The Torah is not there to merely show us our failures. It is there to guide our actions, such that we can experience the blessings, and can’t claim to be ignorant of the consequences, of our actions. He gave the Torah to His people and expected that other nations would envy them because of their body of law.