Entitlement Theology
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3 NASB
Weak as it was– God saved you, right? I mean, you couldn’t save yourself, could you? You sinned. Repentance and restitution don’t erase the mistake. Your sin is in the record book, even if it is now forgiven. So God had to act. According to Paul, He sent his son for our sin (notice that the words “as an offering” do not appear in the Greek text). What does this mean? Well, for starters it means that obedience doesn’t save us, right? In some theological circles, it also means that the Torah (Law) is inadequate, insufficient and incapable. Therefore, we can dismiss it. After all, it didn’t save us. What we really needed, and what God provided, was salvation without the Law.
Doesn’t this also mean that once we are saved by God what we do next really doesn’t matter all that much? The Law couldn’t save us in the first place, so why should we think it has anything to do with “salvation” after God’s saving act? Once God chooses us, we’re entitled to all the benefits, right? How could it be otherwise? Would God make a decision to save us, and then change His mind? Would He send his son on our behalf and then refuse to grant us all the rewards of his own son’s effort? Of course not! So doesn’t that mean that once God acts, He becomes responsible to make sure we are perfected and conformed to the image of His son? Isn’t that what Paul is saying when he writes, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;” (Romans 8:29).
If you observe the behavior of believers, you might draw these conclusions. It certainly appears that salvation is independent of any further regard for God’s (weak) instructions found in the Torah. Sure, it’s probably okay if you decide that you want to live according to those rules, but you don’t have to. Those rules were there only to show us how miserable we really are and how hopeless we would be if we thought that following the rules would save us. Or so it appears. Most religious devotees on the Christian side of the fence operate as if the Torah is no longer needed. Of course, on the Jewish side there is a very different opinion (but, then, the Jews don’t have Christ, so they really aren’t saved yet, are they?). Of course, most serious Christians (not in name only) still live approximately according to Torah’s general commands. They are ethical people. They know society depends on ethical people. They wouldn’t choose to live otherwise. But their theology doesn’t demand this, or even expect it. Salvation is the free gift of God. No strings attached.
Then there’s the problem with the Kingdom, as Matthew Bates points out. If we read the Bible in the context of the Western, Greek, individualistic culture, we might become proponents of entitlement theology, because then the Bible is all about us! But the Bible is ancient, Semitic, communal, kingdom language. And all kingdoms, including God’s, have expectations concerning behavior. Salvation does come with strings attached. Yes, it’s freely offered, but it isn’t free. Think about that while you’re whistling Dixie.
Topical Index: salvation, entitlement, Torah, Law, kingdom, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:3
Hello the thought just reoccurred to me, righteousness by obligation, or righteousness by faith? To love the Lord your God..
Requirements for the righteous life? Or responsibility, Duty or love. Our righteousness is as filthy rags . His righteousness with signs and wonders following. (His response sometimes ) the just shall live by faith.. isn’t this the way we live? The word is near you, it is even in your mouth, not empty, without faith it is impossible to please . . Him. If there is a disconnect here, could someone help me out, shalom
Finger on the problem for me, Brett. Notice that you differentiate “our righteousness” and “His righteousness”. What are those “filthy rags”? Weren’t they used menstrual cloths, symbolizing unfruitfulness, or “clouds without rain”? An unconsummated marriage? In a fruitful marriage, with many children, there are relatively few menstrual cycles for a woman: she is mostly pregnant or nursing.
We are not love sources. Try as we might, love is not something we are able to ‘do’ on our own. Just ask a frustrated world full of unrequited or disappointed love and lots of rules that don’t ever quite stick any deal together.
God sent His Son to reconnect us by means of His love, through His Spirit in us. But what is our part? Is it not to clear the runway of the heart so He can land? The Law shows us what to clear away; to repent. It also shows us what to choose so as to be lined up with the will of God, Who is also – pay close attention – obeying His own rules, too. If I do not repent for sin AND return to obedience, that love cannot operate THROUGH me. Righteousness is a joint endeavor. I choose love: Love shows up and manifests in my life. What is love? Is it not spelled out in the Commands?
What is sin? Is it not the essence of attempting to love on my own? My “own righteousness”? But if I think salvation entitles me to the fruit of the Lawgiver without being attached to the Vine Who embodies that Law, is this not yet another version of the sin of attempting to get love without the Lover? To get a drink without water out of the “broken cisterns” of an unconsummated relationship with the only Source of that water of life – of salvation?
Oh, you don’t get salvation without the Saviour, either. And He comes with a bunch of rules. We don’t get Him without them. Salvation is where we AWOLS resign the contract and agree to follow HIS rules of love again. Anything else, and we find ourselves back outside the fence. Again. We are the ones who decide whether or not we are saved; not Him. He just agrees.
The ‘Savior’ part? So are you stating that Jews aren’t “saved”? And is this more Trinitarian thought?
Is this also “the G-d sent his son” part also meaning without that recognition, one is condemned (my word)?
Just looking to wrap my brain around each concept. No ill-intended.
Love the two “love sources” & “what is sin?” Keeping those for my group chat! Gems!
A couple of days ago.. “Cleaning Up The Story” Skip added to the bottom of his post a link to a talk he gave on the “elements of exegesis”. May add to what you are asking about how the Jews understand ‘saved’. Of course there’s so much more in his presentation. IMO… worth a listen or two. Shalom Lesli…
I graciously thank you!
Lucille how do I download it…. I clicked on it and was listening but had to pause but when I came back could return to where I left off ..over halfway through?!
Shalom Christine… not sure about a ‘download’. If you paused it, you can click the “arrow” that appears and it should show 2 vertical bars… that’s in play mode. When it ends (Part 1) you need to manually go to Part 2 and then click the arrow to play.
Shalom Lucille
I will try again tomorrow.
Thanks
Shabbat Shalom
The capitalization is used for. His righteousness in me, as opposed to my own as you described. Which is a constant transformation of heart, mind, and body through actions. Thank you Laurita
Bro Brett, I look up to you as a stalwart, faithful example. You always seem to have something essential or inspiring to say for me. Thank you!
I do not understand this at all. I re-read it and still don’t understand what the lesson is as I read so many tongue-in-cheek words but … I’m so sorry! Could someone clarify it (I’m so sorry!!)?
It was my initial understanding that’s Matt Bates had it all wrong…. yes? …. no?
Sorry!!
Bates points out that there are expectations for Kingdom citizens. It’s not all FREE. The point of this article is that most Christians don’t think there are any real rules for Kingdom participation. They think God saved them so they are IN, and nothing more is needed. But this treats salvation as a ticket to heaven, not an invitation to obedience. If we really understand what KINGDOM means, we would realize that being a citizen means ACTING according to the expectations of the King, not simply occupying space in the vicinity of the Kingdom.
You’re the best! Thanks for that cliff-note version…. reading it in THAT context, I can now understand the point. Thanks Brother!
Now THIS makes sense! Thank you and Moen
When I read the opening scripture though, I was hoping to find out what Paul really meant by “weak as it was”…. I can see how this could be twisted into looking like Paul was dissing the law. So what did he mean? How was the law so weak that God had to send his Son?
I was thinking the same…
Got it now, as I see it, it’s still the Plato’s phylosophy of dualism.
In context the letter was written to Romans (gentiles and Jews) trying to re-educating them on following Yashua, no in the way the the Pharisees and saducees did it but by the covenant that Yah made with Abraham. Poor Paul it does not matter how hard he explains it people keeps using him as the antiTorah messager.
I ageee. I’m confused. For a newbie coming out of churchianity, it’s hard to tell where Mr Moen is being sarcastic and where he is serious. I can’t tell what is right and what is wrong.
The Law is “weak through the flesh” (my choices) because the flesh was never created to manifest the Law BY ITSELF. Obedience is a joint enterprise. The power (which is choice) to obey is where our choices line up with His powerful choices. My choices will never result in love. Salvation is where I sign back on to agreeing with His will, which will always be obedience to the Law. Difference being, I am created to run on the power of His choices; not the power of my choices. That is not the Law’s fault; its just the blueprint for the building of the Body. It is the love of God that accomplishes His Law when we let Him do the choosing.
Our ‘chooser’ exists to choose repentance if we are stuck in sin, or to follow His will if we are not. It was never intended to enable us to just go wandering off across the cow pasture.
Difference being, I am created to run on the power of His choices; not the power of my choices.
*mind blown!
“Created to run on the power of His choices”… now that’s a thought to explore, dig in, or for some, dive in! Laurita, I so appreciate those ‘extra special’ words when you post. The word “power” stands up and says to me “hello… wanna know more?” Well, guess what, I did. Hours learning, understanding what this word “power” means in the the Kingdom of Righteousness. Short version, it’s plentiful in the cosmos. On earth, it’s harvested. In the body, it’s in trace amounts. Using the meaning(s) in Hebrew and Greek, what I distilled and assimilated, it’s energy/light. Can be used as fire or more subtly as cold fusion. In basic terms and rather rudimentary, our Sun is loaded with helium (cold fusion) that feeds the hydrogen that makes the sun a ‘fireball’. Again, scratching the surface. Each revelation lead me to another, then another. I was and still am, astounded! For me, this is not science… it’s Yah’s creation. He made the luminaries. Yah pointed them out to show his “power and glory”. Imagine how the ancient world saw this magnificence and stood in awe. Everything is connected. Everything!
Lucille, you are just too fun! I am going to blame Skip for this one, but a while back he started me thinking about those so-called ‘natural laws’; take gravity, for example. I know a lot of folks think the universe is just something that got cranked up and then started running ‘on its’ own’, but then, how is the power of God to be seen in that, other than being some remote “first cause” perhaps?
What about the power of gravity? Is it an “immutable principle” that we can count on like it was god, or is it just something God is constantly doing? Is light really ‘just’ light, or is it a manifestation of God’s love, which is to say, power (energy) of POTENTIAL function (which is what I think love is)?
Does water behave the way it does because of its design; which is to say is the inherent design that ‘makes’ water behave, or is it LIFE-giving because of life from the Creator being constantly infused into it? If we then abuse the creation for greed and negligence, then are we negating or polluting or diminishing the life force (power) He is infusing in creation? Are we then opposing Him when we mistreat what we were given to manage?
I am getting more and more suspicious that that so-called ‘energy’ that glues everything together (unity) and makes everything trustworthy (natural laws) may be the real reason (result) that the visible creation (“Things that are seen”) is manifesting at all. In other words, that the function (verb) of love is what makes creation; not creation ‘making’ (causing) life. Matter, then, would be a consequence (after effect) of the power of love that unifies everything, and not the ‘CAUSE’ of that so-called mysterious “energy”. That would make 2Cor. 4:18 more sensible; at least for me. (However, I do think it would wreak havoc on mankind’s fond wish to recreate evolution (life from non-life) in the lab!)
“cranked up”… understatement! Try this one.. gravity, what is it and why does it work on humans? Think iron in the blood. And then add the ‘electric’ component of our blood. Don’t believe? Stand in water and stick your finger in an electric outlet… now that’s ‘shock and awe’! When I realized what helium is, where it comes from and how it’s used, I had to stop and sit, my mind racing like never before. Chasing down the bits and pieces to find one more clue… Uriel, angel of a unique order. OH MY! What does that mean? How does Uriel fit in? Flame of God! And it just gets better and better. Connections anyone?
Laurita, for me, this is so exciting to experience the revelation Yah intends for us. As he reminds us, it’s there to seek and find. Are there mysteries. Sure, you betcha. Did he give us a brain just to doodle in the sandbox? I don’t think so. So seek I must! I imagine Yah’s watching and smiling when I get to one of those “AH HA” moments. Man has nothing on Yah! Yah is everything plus the more we can’t see in this realm. Keep digging sister. I am there with you with a very durable shovel.
Too amazing for words. Can’t resist sharing this amazing episode. https:// remedy.thesacredscience dot com/episode3ryb about our microbiome and the implications are so profound.
shall I visit that site? sounds intriguing and right there with all my neurons/dendrites/axons…
It’s quite likely there are people who THINK they’ve
received salvation, and then there are those who KNOW.
Real salvation is when the real work begins! There’s real
“fear and trembling” involved as we realize we’ve been
radically assigned (and equipped) to do a new kind of work: HIS!
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;” (Romans 8:29). What does this mean? Sounds so mystical. Am I in that group? Oh those pesky questions!
My first encounter with what the Kingdom of Righteousness (Yeshua) means, is in 1 Enoch, 1 Parable, Chapters 38-44. Needless to say I stayed on those words for a very, very long time. Grasping the concept I had read so many times, “before the foundations of the world/earth” and “firstborn among many brethren”… those pesky questions multiplied, rapidly.
I couldn’t help myself. Like an addict, I read, re read over and over again. The focus on the word “righteous” became front and center. Yeshua isn’t just our savior, oh no… Yeshua is THE King of Righteousness, a new realm. So much of what Yeshua proclaimed in the NT and the pointing to him in the OT became alive to me. The stories in scripture began to make sense in a very different way. How? Realizing Yeshua is the ‘first born’ of a new race. What new race? The power of the Spirit of God manifested in the flesh. Power? How do I get it? This became so real to me.
Astounded with this knowledge I had to ‘understand’. Made me think. Yes, Yeshua is/was/will be… before earth, in another realm, already proclaimed as King. Oh boy. My hair was set on fire! I had to know more. What did ‘righteous’ mean? Not to me… to YAH. Proclaimed? Announced? To who? Where? What does have to do with me? Do I fit in? How? Who am I… really? Then there’s the 2nd & 3rd Parable… oh what a journey it’s been. And then there’s 2 Baruch… 4 Ezra… more answers, more questions!
Just to think I’m scratching the surface, still playing in the sandbox, thinking that’s the entire world. Paradigm shift! It’s all about the Kingdom of Righteousness, for me, as I see it. So much to learn/understand.. so little time.
Your words are captivating, Lucille!
Lucille, I wish I could sit down over coffee for a few hours (days) with you and pick your brain as a daughter of Yah. Haha!
Who me? Shalom Sarai. I enjoy fresh pressed coffee every morning. My treat for the day. So, yes, what a lovely gesture. As for my brain.. no one has ever expressed the desire to ‘pick my brain’ and then the high compliment “as a daughter of Yah!” Oh I’ll hug that one for a long while. Thank you Sarai. Humbled, really humbled.
The clearest example that I’ve found of the type of relational partnership God is looking for with people is in the 12 Steps. We come to realize our inability to make ourselves meet the mark, recognize God’s ability and intentionally partner with Him in turning ourselves over to His will – isn’t that all part of receiving His gift of salvation? It’s a real process.
Hmmm… Interestingly enough, some questions arise… What did Yeshua actually did to gain salvation for us? What was exactly the “procedure” that Yeshua went through to make things happen for our salvation? How did it work? Many of his disciples died in a very violent manner, including Peter which tradition says died on a cross too… so Why their death do not have anything to do with our salvation… only Yeshua’s death? What does “He condemned sin in the flesh” actually means?
It’s not that the Messiah doesn’t have ANYTHING to do with salvation. That isn’t the point. The point is that the Messiah is about MUCH MORE than getting you to heaven. So much more that the Church’s view of salvation (getting to heaven) needs to be seriously challenged. Salvation is not escape. It is participation in the NEW KINGDOM and that means expectations about how we are to behave in this kingdom. Questions about procedure and goal are slightly off target. The disciples died for the KINGDOM, not for the path to heaven. They were citizens in the new kingdom and it required of them all they had.
Sure Skip. Messiah has EVERYTHING to do with salvation… His Name says it all… and I completely agree with you: “Church’s view of salvation (getting to heaven) needs to be seriously challenged. Salvation is not escape. It is participation in the NEW KINGDOM and that means expectations about how we are to behave in this kingdom“.
On the other hand, I do believe that my questions about procedure are in target with your post… they are aimed to make us think about Torah being adequate, sufficient and capable… (we are the inadequate, insufficient and incapable… but Torah and Yeshua… well, that’s my point)
Yes, agreed. Torah is adequate, reasonable and expected of citizens. Thanks.
This is so very important for us alive right now. Please Lord help us GET this!!
I have not read the comments but yesterday I had this TW played out in conversation exactly….we agreed to agree to disagree …….we parted in love….they were catching a plane back home. I left drive from the airport knowing only the spirit of Yah through Messiah can reveal His truth about the you and the tittle! Thankfully there were no raised voices and we embraced and departed in Love….however this happens within my circle soooo many times I wonder if the blinkers will ever come off?
Sorry for the spelling errors….my fingers are a bit lost for words too! Smile?
Thank you so much for this..My studies led me to this page and you absolutely enlightened me on the subject of the Knowledge of God.
Welcome Wayne. You’ve come to a safe community of fellow seekers.
In reading T.W. carefully and reviewing the comments it seems to me we missed the other half of the scripture, that not clarified herein but explained elswhere. Paul reminds us that Messiah came “Full of grace and truth” and that “by the spirit ” I am in full agreement that the propreation for our sin was in the sacrifice of Messiah (YeHoVaH ‘s own lamb). And that this reconciliation with the Elohim does not end our responsibility to live according to his will and way. But how then can we do this? How do our individual lives actually “become conformed to the image of his son” ? I suggest the only way this can be done is as he did it -by “The Spirit”. The greatest gift and the ” mystery of Godliness”=Rightiousness is that it is only acomplished by his Spirit resident in those who believe in it and consciously conform to it. May your names be written in the lambs book of life, and my have your life and being in and through the life and spirit of Messiah Yeshua!
I sympathise with readers, whether long time or short, who have trouble trying to figure out whether Skip is being sarcastic or not, but I think I pretty well know Skip’s feelings on the Law of Moses. It should be obeyed as far as it applies and is currently possible. Compliant citizens of a kingdom willingly keep its laws and everyone benefits.
But regardless, even if everyone on earth kept the Law, and we were all living in some sort of paradise, we’d still all die. The Law, as wonderful as it is, will not keep our mortal bodies alive forever,
Isn’t that the simple message Paul is trying to get across? Nothing deeply theological, only that perfect obedience to the Law will not save anyone from dying. Isn’t that obvious? Jesus was perfect and yet even Jesus died.
If God is our Father, He IS responsible for us. And so He provided us His Son, without whose life, death and resurrection we would all stay dead forever. Only through Him do we have any hope at all.
What standard God chooses to use in deciding who are His children, I will leave to God, but the point is, that is God’s decision, not ours and not because of OUR works. It is not because we kept the Law x% of the time. The Law is holy and good but has limitations (it is weak). Immortality only comes through the grace of Jesus Christ. Our perfecting will come in the next life. In the meantime, strive to do the will of God, if only for temporal benefit.
I don’t think we are mortal because the Law is weak; we are mortal because we all have already broken it (um, that would make US weak; not the Law). Choosing obedience IS choosing life (which would keep us alive), but none of us know how now to always do that each and every situation, so we need a Saviour to keep pulling us out of the ditch we just keep falling into (but less and less, so help us, God).
Still holding my breath to see how Skip is going to answer Sarai Daisy’s question: “When I read the opening scripture though, I was hoping to find out what Paul really meant by “weak as it was”…. I can see how this could be twisted into looking like Paul was dissing the law. So what did he mean? How was the law so weak that God had to send his Son?”
Laurita: Here is an analogy that I find helpful. Many communities have a Highway Traffic Act to regulate traffic on the roads and keep folks safe. There are a series of performance standards… stop at a red light, yield to the driver on the right at an intersection, etc. But while the HTA may be a wonderful creation, it only works if people actually obey it. The Act itself is powerless to make drivers thoughtful and considerate. You could even call it “weak”. So it gets enforced by a group of people called police. They give tickets or in some cases arrest dangerous drivers. These consequences for disobedience could be termed the “curses of the Law”. I think you see my point. The key to perfect driving is found inside us. There is nothing wrong with the standard. I think what God provides is a solution for us to “write the Law” upon our hearts in obedience to Him as we “crucify the flesh” of our own lusts and desire for personal autonomy. Consider that the Law in my story is not bad, it is actually very helpful. The opposite of Law is NOT grace, rather it is chaos. In Messiah the list of our offenses/infractions gets “nailed to the cross” not the Law. Just my thoughts…
Great response HSB! Yes, I think Paul is simply stating the obvious–the instruction/Torah (Law) is powerless (Nearly Inspired Version) to motivate us to live righteously. Even the warning of curses, starvation, exhile, pestilence, drought, etc. didn’t provide sufficient motivation for Israel to obey Torah (or the blessings for that matter). It is the “same old, same old.” We are motivated to serve self. But God went further. “For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in/with/by (ev plus the dative) the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin in order that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Yeshua conqured death! How? By mastering sin and yet suffering death at the hands of ignorant sinners. Love conquers all!
Thanks for the clarification, Dan. I guess you should have written this TW.
Dan, I appreciate what you said. I appreciate what everybody said. I am sure we need to say a lot more to counteract all the lies! The truth is so simple, but we are buried under mountains of rubbish.