Reclaiming the Original Faith - Part 6 The Covenant Debate

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The Covenant Debate

Introduction: In our last teaching we discovered that the purpose of the “Good News” message was to sift Yisrael out of the Nations but also to draw all those whom YHWH was calling unto himself. We also came to understand how the Priesthood was changed and how Torah played an important role within the early Nazarene Assemblies. The message expressed to the early Assemblies was therefore that Salvation was by faith in Yahshua and that the Works of Torah according to Ya’acov were the evidence of that Salvation working in the lives of believers producing Character & good deeds.

There is however an even graver concept that is causing division among believers whether they are Christian or Yahudim (Jews) including Netzarim or Messianic & Hebrew Roots. It is therefore my desire to gain some understanding in the area of Covenant in what is commonly called the New Covenant or the Renewed Covenant & how these different groups may seek to understand it. Since we seek to establish the truth of Torah it is most important that the concept of Covenant & what has been revealed through Yahshua be explored therefore we need to become Bereans who search the scriptures to see if what is said is compliant to the Eternal Word of YHWH. Through these studies it is important that we know how to reason in a way that explains our stance and that is compliant with the Word of Elohim and does not bend to the whims of Doctrine.

What Truly is a Covenant:

 Many today confuse the word Covenant with Testament. A testament as in last will & testament from a Greek perception always gives maximum weight to the most recent therefore a new Testament makes null and void any previous. We could say a Testament is an agreement between parties that do not trust each other since they relate to disposal of property after death. From this understanding I hope we can begin to understand why many take this sort of approach to the Scriptures since they are suspiciously called the Old & New Testament but is this warranted. 

Covenant however from a Hebrew perspective is far different. It is best defined as an ongoing relationship with no appointed end. Rather than being a legal document, a covenant is a commitment to develop a certain kind of continuing relationship. A Covenant being such an endless relationship & agreement relies on trust even after one party dies. 

It was actually Marcion a post-Apostolic church founder who was considered even by the Christian Church as a Heretic that coined the term Old & New Testament suggesting that the New replaced the Old since he thought the Elohim of the Yahudim (Jews) was an evil Elohim (God) of wrath, judgement and terror. The consequence of using these terms has resulted in an anti-Torah deception and a permissiveness of Covenant breaking that is commonplace.  

Sadly the western mind is programmed to think linear therefore from one point to another but the Hebrew Mindset is rather cyclical therefore the word “Chadashah” as in the Brit Chadashah is best understood as a cycle of restoration or return to a previous state and therefore can be rendered as “renewed”. A more accurate Title for the supposed New Testament would be the “Renewed Covenant” or the “Restored Relationship”. 

We saw in our “Day of Atonement” Yom Kippur message that the teaching highlighted man’s desire to return to the state that Adam was in at the time that Yahweh walked with him in the Garden of Eden before man sinned. This was hoped to be achieved through the Sacrifices and this hope was revealed through the images such as trees on the walls of the Beyth Ha Mikdash (Solomon’s Temple) and the images of the Cherubim (Angels) guarding the Most Kadosh place (The Holy of Holies). 

This is in effect the same truth that is revealed in Hitgalut (Revelations) when Elohim will once again fellowship with Mankind when the New Yerushalayim descends to the Earth.  

The Scriptural Covenants:  

Based on the definition of an ongoing relationship we could conclude that all Scripture is one Covenant beginning from Bereshith (Genesis) & concluding with Hitgalut (Revelations). However within this ongoing relationship there are Covenants with each one adding to the previous and not nullifying the previous as the following states:

Galatians 3:17 Now this I say, the Torah that came four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul a Covenant previously confirmed by Elohim in Messiah, so as to do away with the promise.

By definition Covenant means an ongoing relationship agreement with each addition adding to the Revelation until the final revelation is achieved. 

As it stands today we have the following Covenants:

1. The Edenic Covenant.
2. The Adamic Covenant.
3. The Noahide Covenant.
4. The Abrahamic Covenant.
5. The Sinai Covenant.
6. The Davidic Covenant.
7. The Renewed Covenant.

The Prophetic Picture in the Covenants:

The major truth hidden within the Covenants is the picture of Yahshua so we will consider the Covenant YHWH made with Abram to see how it reveals Yahshua and the Favour of Yahweh:

Bereshith (Genesis) 15:9-12 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.  11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 And it came to be when the Sun was going down and a deep sleep fell upon Abram, that see, a frightening great darkness fell upon him.

What is most important is to understand the process of cutting a Covenant. There would be two participants, the sacrificial animals and the Agreement. What is remarkable in the Covenant with Abram is how it reveals a Covenant of Favour (Grace) & trust in the following verses:

Bereshith (Genesis) 15:17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.  

What we come to understand by this verse is that Abram did not participate by walking between the slaughtered animals which was the customary means of cutting a Covenant, but as it tells us in verse 12 Abram fell into a deep sleep and a burning torch, the picture of YHWH passed between the slaughtered animals. What this is revealing is that YHWH was declaring that if he or Abram broke the Covenant then he would pay the price, which was death like that of the slaughtered animals and so we see the divine picture of a loving relationship between YHWH and Abram and a beautiful image of the Covenant of Favour (Grace) which saw its fulfilment in Yahshua giving his life on the Tree. 

Understanding “the New” verses “the Renewed Covenant”:

To begin to appreciate the way people have understood what translators have termed the New Covenant we need to step back & look at the Theology:

Christian Quote:

“Christ’s work on the Cross is the New Covenant by which man is reconciled to G_d. The New Covenant is the “Law of Christ” which includes the commands of his Apostles. Thus, the New Covenant is a gracious covenant. Those included in the covenant are reconciled to G_d by grace alone, apart from anything they do. Jesus purchased a people by his death on the cross so that all those for whom he died receive full forgiveness of sins and become incurable God-lovers by the Holy Spirit. They have thus become his new creation. 

This sounds so wonderful but we now need to look to the parts of Scripture that are often quoted:

1. The Problem of the New Covenant

Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

The problem with this quote is that the components of cutting a Covenant are not present. Yahshua is declaring himself to be the sacrificial slaughtering but the conditions of the Covenant are not established and no participants are confirming their acceptance to it. The result is that Theologians simply conclude that whatever was taught during Yahshua’s ministry and the Apostles are the conditions but conveniently ignore all those parts that clearly teach faithfulness to the Torah. What is interesting is that the Brit Chadashah (the New Testament) contains 1,050 commands based on the Tanakh (Old Testament). 

Secondly there is a problem with the Word New as it is “Chadash” Strong’s Number H2318 in Hebrew that can mean New or Renewed with the Geek word in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) being “Kainos” Strong’s Number G2537 also denoting “New” or “Renewed” or to make fresh again: 

I will also site a few verses as examples to demonstrate its usage:

• Tehillah (Psalm) 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew (chadash) a right spirit within me."

• Tehillah (Psalm) 103: 4 “Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed (chadash) like the eagle's." 

•MattithYahu (Matthew) 26:29“I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew (Chadashah) with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

• Yochanan (John) 13:34 A (Chadashah) new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

• Yochanan Aleph (1 John) 2:7 Brethren, I write no (Chadashah) new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning.

Yochanan (John) here seems to be Schizophrenic as both verses are about loving the brethren but one appears to contradict the other until we realize he is saying that Yahshua was refreshing or making like new an old Commandment. 

Accordingly, the Word used is the same in all cases and according to the Blue letter Bible the Greek rendering of it can mean new, fresh, unused, and new especially in freshness. 

Therefore the understanding of a Renewal of the Covenant makes perfect sense.

1. The Conditions of the Covenant

Ibrim (Hebrews) 8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares YHWH (the Lord). I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  

We know that this quote is from YermeYahu (Jeremiah) but when it says that YHWH will put his Laws in their minds & on their hearts what Laws is he talking about. Surely they are not those derived by willy-nilly picking through the Nazarene Writings and allowing each person to selectively decide by themselves what basic moral commands to adhere to since all now are supposedly led by the Ruach (Spirit) of YHWH though failing in many areas to obey his word which is supposed to be Eternal as we read in:

Tehillah (Psalm) 111:7-8 All His precepts are sure. 8 They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Set-apart and awesome is His name.

At the time of this writing the Nazarene writings were not fully established or canonised so the reading in Hebrews clearly points to the Torah of Mosheh since the writer possibly Sha’ul (Paul) is quoting YermeYahu (Jeremiah) when the only Torah or Law was that as written by Mosheh as dictated to him by YHWH. When Yahudim come into Messiah then they wonderfully sense that in Messiah the Covenant is truly written on their heart in all its fullness.

CorintYah Beyth (2 Corinthians) 3:6 Our competence is from Elohim who has made us competent as servants of a renewed Covenant not of the letter but of the Ruach (the Spirit), for the letter kills but the Ruach (Spirit) gives life. 

From this reading we need to understand that Sha’ul (Paul) is referring to the means by which the Torah was transmitted. With Mosheh it was engraved on stone Tablets which worked death in that it declared people guilty as it did not have in itself the life-giving power of the Ruach (Spirit) that the Renewed Covenant promised. Sha’ul (Paul) therefore is comparing how the Covenant is now written on hearts purified through the blood of Yahshua & empowered by the Ruach Ha Kodesh to create people who are righteous. What Sha’ul (Paul) said would have shocked Yahudim (Jews) as they regarded Torah as an instrument of life: 

Shemoth Rabbah 41:1 Elohim sat on high engraving for them tablets which would give life.  

The statement of Sha’ul (Paul) is in no way disrespecting Torah but rather revealing the nature of man whose heart required a dramatic renewal which is what the Renewed Covenant is all about.  

1. The Better Covenant

Ibrim (Hebrews) 8:6-8 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, 

The question now arises as to how the Covenant is better:

1. A better Ministry: We have now a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty, a minister of the Sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which YHWH erected and not man & whose ministry is eternal.
2. A better Sacrifice: Ibrim (Hebrews) 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 
3. His Death Perfects the Sanctified: For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 

This verse in no way suggests what some might suggest that once saved always saved but rather reveals that his sacrifice is sufficient for all time for those whom he is calling and are walking on the path of sanctification and obedience to the will of YHWH. 

Since we read in the above verses that the covenant was found to have fault because of them the Yisraelites therefore the perfect sacrifice was needed to purify hearts that now the Torah of YHWH could be written on the hearts of the Sanctified. 

From the understanding of Covenant we should now be aware that the Change in the Covenant was to purify those receiving the Torah towrite it on hearts that were purified therefore removing the enmity to Torah through the work of the perfect Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) Yahshua who offered the perfect Sacrifice being his own blood with the only part of the Covenant unchanged being the eternal Torah of YHWH which is now written on hearts and not on Stoney hearts as promised by YHWH through Ezekiel.

The Summary of the Matter

Just as the Menorah has seven branches with the “Shamash” the central branch being the source of light so the roots to the tree being Yisrael has seven Covenants being its root system with the central root being the Renewed Covenant of Yahshua the one that gives life or purpose to the other roots that the tree may remain strong and be itself full of life and bear much fruit.

When considering the Covenants it is good to see what Sha’ul (Paul) says when he is talking to the gentiles:

Romans 11: 18 Do not boast against the branches. And if you boast remember you do not support the root but the root supports you.

It is the Yahudi (Jewish) scriptures & the promises of Messiah that support you. All the Torah & the Covenants point to Yahshua and are the roots of our faith so you do not want to cut them off. Sha’ul uses the Metaphor of the Olive tree that we are all now grafted into. Sha’ul equates this family tree of Yahudim (Jew) & Gentile with Yisrael and the roots as the Covenants that reveal Yahshua since he is the Torah in the flesh.

The holistic vision of YHWH never changes so if we neglect all the wonderful heritage of the Covenants we lose the context. Yahshua as the Messiah fulfils all the promises originally given to Yisrael into which we are all now grafted & receiving the benefits.  

Amein!

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Think Like A Jew - Part 1

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Think Like a Jew

When a Christian mind comes to an understanding of the Name, the Sabbath and the Torah, an enormous transition takes place. The Greco-Roman mindset gradually dissipates and a Hebraic mindset emerges. This is often a frightening and yet wonderful experience that carries with it highs and lows. 

The highs come from the freshness of the revelation that begin to flow and the lows usually from the failure of old friends and acquaintances to share in these same blessings. What was once a haven of religious freedom of expression becomes a constricting force that eventually causes one to leave their former place of worship and go to a place not yet fully understood.

“Yahweh … said to Avram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1) Every convert goes through the Avrahamic process to a greater or a lesser extent. Yahweh didn’t usher Avraham to a life of luxury and paradise, but to a life of uncertainty, disharmony, trials and tests. In the end Avraham didn’t even see the full manifestation of the Promise he was given. His blessing would outlive him and his sons. Right up to the very end, Elohim commanded Avraham to remove a portion of his own flesh from a very critical and delicate part of his anatomy. He even finished his life estranged from his wife and buried her. 

Even before this, the trauma of having to kill his only son should have been his tipping point. What sane person would leave early to go to a place and kill, disembowel and incinerate his own son? 

We often forget to count the cost of the path we have chosen?

“And whoever does not carry their execution stake and follow me cannot be my Talmid. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish. Or, suppose there is a king who is going to war with another king, doesn’t he sit down first and consider whether he can engage the twenty thousand of the other king with his own ten thousand? And if he decides he can’t, then, while the other king is still a long way off, he sends messengers to him to ask for conditions of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My Talmid.” (Luke 14:27-33)

But isn’t his yoke meant to be easy? “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) How do we reconcile this? Is it like carrying our own execution stake or is it like carrying a light yoke? Very easily. How do you think Avraham felt after he passed the test of The Akedah (The offering up of Yitzach)? He would have felt such triumph at knowing He did the Father’s will to the letter. After each successfully navigated peril, regardless of its earthly consequence, nothing in the world supersedes the feeling of knowing beyond any shadow of a doubt that Yahweh is with you 100% and He is pleased with you. The burden one feels when he knows he failed, because he lacked trust, especially near the end of his life, when his body is failing him and he can’t change the past, is heavy. Years of basking in one’s wealth and success means nothing when one realises he is going with nothing to the next world. That burden is truly heavy. 

So many pursue the path of least resistance, forgetting that nothing beautiful is born without toil. The prosperity doctrine collapses if we were to ask the following people the six-million-dollar question. Is this walk simply a meal ticket to a good life? If we ask Noach if his life was easy, what do you think he’d say? I think he’d say no! It wasn’t easy, but it was worth every effort in the end, because the path I chose saved the whole world. Ask Sha’ul HaMelech if his life was easy, ask Shmu’el (Samuel) if his life was easy, in fact ask any prophet of Israel if their lives were easy. Ask David HaMelech, ask Shlomo HaMelech, ask Esther, ask everyone of Yahshua’s very own talmidim if their lives were easy. Were Yahshua’s parents lives easy? What about Ya’akov HaTzadik (James the just)? What about Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul)? He was denied sleep, starved, beaten with rods, stoned, flogged, shipwrecked, imprisoned and threatened by bandits, his own countrymen, Gentiles and even fellow Netzarim.

What got everyone of these righteous men through? The martyr Stephen would almost certainly answer, trust! And he’d be right! But how is that trust correctly arrived at? 

Knowing the religion and nationality of King Messiah Yahshua is the key to understanding him in his most accurate context. It’s about stepping into the mind of a Jew and listening to his words within a purely Hebraic framework.  

Did Yahshua himself think his own countrymen were a lost cause? Let’s see.

“You Samaritans (in other words you foreigners) worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22)” And when he said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) And when he said, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moshe’s seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you…” (Matthew 23:2-3a)

Did he consider the Pharisees and the Scribes of the Torah a lost cause? His harsh language and rebukes toward them testify alone to the answer being a resounding no!” “Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.” (Proverbs 23:9) “Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8) Yahshua and Yochannan used their harshest language against the Pharisees.  Yahshua accused them of hypocrisy and pretentiousness, and pronounced upon them a succession of woes (seven in all) culminating in this terrible, climactic statement: “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:31-33)

It’s interesting to note that the most standout or righteous members among the Pharisees carried views toward Yahshua and his talmidim that ranged from optimism to full-blown support. 

The great Sage Gamaliel said this to his fellow Jews about the Netzarim: “Leave these men alone! Let them go! (Acts 5:38)” (Click) And Nicodemus said to Yahshua, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from Elohim… (John 3:2)” (Click) And Joseph of Arimathea a “…prominent member of the (Sanhedrin) Council… (who) went boldly to Pilate and asked for Yahshua‘s body…And being granted it bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb. (Mark 15:43,46)” 

(Click) And Sha’ul himself maintained his identity as a Pharisee when he declared, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. (Acts 23:6)” And well that he should because this word, Perushim in Hebrew meant, “Holiness Ones.” 

What would Sha’ul say about the Jews, his fellow countrymen?

“What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of Elohim.” (Romans 3:1-2)

“Has Elohim cast away his people? Elohim forbid...Elohim has not cast away his people which he foreknew” (Romans 11:1-2).

"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to Elohim for Israel is, that they might be saved" (Romans 10:1). He further testified, “I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:2-3). 

Sha’ul like the Prophet Yonah was willing to die and be forsaken if it would mean that all Israel would be saved. Yonah avoided Nineveh, because he knew the Ninevite’s t’shuvah would eclipse the conduct of his brethren at that time. 

Avraham’s son Yitzchak was willing to give up his own life if it meant Yahweh would accept his descendants even though that in the natural there would be none if he was to be killed. 

Moshe carried the same conviction. He himself was willing to have his own name erased from the Torah if all Israel would be saved.

“But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Exodus 32:32)

Queen Esther felt the same way, risking her own life if it meant that all the Jews would be saved. 

And King Messiah Yahshua himself perfected this mindset, this desire to sacrifice himself so that many would be saved. “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13) The correct mindset of anyone, whether he came from the Gentiles or from the Jews is to have a heart for the salvation of others over themselves. This is the correct and rightly divided mindset of a true Jew. 

It’s the mindset of the first Hebrew, Avraham, who’s kindness and selflessness knew no bounds. No other individual in history would eclipse the enormity of this man’s standout traits accept of course the Messiah. From the beginning and traced through the path of the remnant to the very end is the trait of sacrificial, I would die for you love, that is the hallmark of Jewish thinking, which completely aligns with Messiah’s thinking. There is no distinction! But we are assured that not all Jews would be lost. There has always been an unsevered line of righteous Jews existing in some part of the world! How do I know that? Because the earth hasn’t yet spun off its axis and exploded into dust. But more than that. The Word says, “In the same way also at this time there is a remnant left in The Election of kindness.” (Romans 11:5) Whenever Jews get slaughtered en-mass the world hovers close to destruction. 

For too long we’ve painted the Jews with the same tarred brushed. Sure, there were detractors. The Word said that Messiah would come to his own and they would reject Him.  “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11)

Does rejection of Messiah by Jews or anyone else not nullify his power. Not in the least. “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify Elohim's faithfulness? Not at all! Let Elohim be true, and every human being a liar.” (Romans 3:3-4a)

When is the Ger T’shav going to realise that the authors of the Bible were recruited from an exclusively Jewish genepool! When are we going to realise it was by their blood being spilled that the Torah made it from Sinai to here?

Enmity still divides us and it robs us of perfect vision. The jealousy and rivalry over both houses causes both houses (Israel and Yehuda) to have their share of stumbling. 

Too often comes up the cry, ‘Why is the term “Jews” used in many Orthodox publications and not “Israel”? The answer is that the term Jews or Yahudim is a retrospective term, given to the dominant tribe that despite its sins maintained the working of the Torah while all others abandoned it. This is why Jews use the term “Jew” instead of “Israel” in many places where they had not yet been divided from their brethren, because of the Northern Tribes desertion under Yereboam. 

Is the term Jew considered a redundant one in this era of returning lost sheep? Not at all? Why is that? Well there is an interesting verse in The Book of Revelation that says,

“I will make those who are of the synagogue of HaSatan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” (Revelation 3:9) Now many read this verse and wrongly equate synagogues with being dens of wickedness and in so doing, they overlook an amazing declaration in this passage. Why would the so-called New Testament care who is a real Jew and who isn’t if the term Jew is now redundant? The term “Jew” became an overarching title when this royal tribe remained in Yehudah with Benyamin and the tribe of Levi, while the Northern Tribes adopted the collective name Yisrael and left.  Sure the Ten Northern Tribes grievances against Shlomo HaMelek (King Solomon) were valid, but a full departure and the setting up of a competing faith was over the top. 

In a time to come both factions will reunite as brothers and the progeny names of all the Tribes will be restored. Nothing that was elaborately set up by the Almighty will be lost forever. In fact, the scattering, which began as a curse will end as a blessing as all nations will host a remnant to the very four corners of the world so the ingathering may be proclaimed to all. 

This is may wish! That this congregation not join in the mindset that we are better than the Jews because of our faith in Messiah. But rather show them love and work on our on righteousness, knowing that without it will not even assure our salvation. 

I’ll ask you this question: You walk into any given Orthodox Synagogue in NSWs and watch those in attendance and then come to Netzarim Antoecie and see those in attendance here and then ask yourself who looks more serious about their religion. I tell you it will be any other Synagogue every time. Most Nazarene shuls have less punctuality and consistency of attendance than members in outlaw motorcycle clubs.  You don’t dare to miss or call in late to a clubhouse meeting at the Gypsy Jokers or the Comancheros. 

What do we have to do? 

 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:12-13) When we internalise this love we want to always be doing our very best. The true Jewish mindset is to have a heart for others over ourselves. To think like a true Jew is to think of the wellbeing of our neighbour over our own. 

Don’t polarize Yahshua from his forerunners. They, though being nothing more than ordinary men and women, all participated in mankind’s salvation, though it was orchestrated by Yahweh. 

Did Avraham leave his home for his own benefit? No, he left to save the world and he surely did, just like you. 

End of Lecture One.

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Reclaiming the Original Faith - Part 5

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Reclaiming the Original Faith Part 5 

The Torah Controversy

Introduction: In our last teaching we discovered some facts that today have been grossly misunderstood leading many into teachings that have so obscured the faith that it has led to great Controversy. We discovered that through faith in Yahshua there was not a turning away from Torah but rather an increase of zealousness towards Torah. What was most challenging was the fact that it was Ya’acov (James) the half-brother of Yahshua that was elected by the top three leaders as the “Nasi” or Overseer of the Netzarim movement also called the Way and not as commonly thought being Kepha (Peter). 

The character of Ya’acov (James) & his reputation now became of extreme importance as the writings of Jerome confirm. He was known as a Tzadik or righteous one that was so highly respected that even the Yahudi (Jewish) religious leaders had great respect for his strict Torah observance and his extreme prayer vigilance giving him the reputation of having Camel’s knees. This therefore gave us an insight into the early movement of believers revealing that like Ya’acov (James) they were not unlike the Yahudim (Jews) in their observance except that they believed in Yahshua as the promised Moshiach (Messiah) something that caused the extreme persecution.

So influential was Ya’acov that Josephus reveals that the destruction of the Beyth Ha Mikdash (The Temple) was the direct result of his death since the followers of Yahshua had become a great multitude by then.  

We also came to the conclusion that the “Sepher of Ya’acov” (Book of James) was in all probability the first to be written of the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) therefore it displays a very raw or fundamental character about it unlike the later letters of Shaul (Paul) which are very heavily doctrinally centred. 

Finally we found that Ya’acov had the purpose of strengthening the dispersed believers and so had the overwhelming purpose of developing inner character reflected in conduct, behaviour and deeds of Torah and therefore was a very practical work to enhance Righteous living and Covenant relationship with the Elohim of Yisrael. 

The Grander Purpose of the Good News:

To fully appreciate the purpose of the Besorah (the Good News) we need to look at whom the letters were commonly addressed to. We firstly note that it is quite clear at the beginning of the Letter of Ya’acov (James):

Ya’acov (James) 1:1 Ya‛acov (James), a servant of Elohim and of the Master Yahshua Messiah, to the twelve tribes who are in the dispersion:

We should all be aware that during the Assyrian conquest the northern ten tribes were scattered to the four winds and after the Babylonian captivity only a remnant of the southern Kingdom known as Yahudah (Judah) returned to rebuild Yerushalayim. The result was that many Yisraelites still dwelt in what was called the Diaspora or dispersion. After the stoning of Tzephanyah (Stephen) we also discovered that the good news of Moshiach (Messiah) spread and captured the hearts of some of the dispersed of Yisrael so it was to these that the message was sent though some Goyim (Gentiles) may have joined the Kehillot (Assemblies) that this letter was directed to. 

Even Yahshua makes it quite clear what his calling was when a woman of Canaan seeks him for deliverance of her daughter:

Yochanan (John) 15: 24 But he answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael.” 

The purpose of Yahshua therefore was to bring the lost tribes of Yisrael back to the Covenant of Yahweh through obedience to his Torah. It was by his sacrificial blood that he was able to atone for Yisrael’s sin but also at Mount Sinai Yisrael was betrothed to YHWH but after the northern tribes known by the name of Yisrael chased after other Elohim they were given a certificate of Divorce according to:

YermeYahu (Jeremiah) 3:8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Yisrael had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce;

Since Sinai is the Betrothal, the land the Dowry, Yisrael was dispersed and since YHWH must obey Torah (Devarim 24) the death of Yahshua enabled him to now remarry the lost of Yisrael and all who would choose to be grafted into Yisrael and enter into the renewed Covenant. 

RomiYah (Romans) 7:1-4 Or do you not know, brothers – for I speak to those knowing the Torah – that the Torah rules over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman has been bound by Torah to the living husband, but if the husband dies, she is released from the Torah concerning her husband. 3 So then, while her husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress if she becomes another man’s. But if her husband dies, she is free from that part of the Torah, so that she is not an adulteress, having become another man’s. 4 So my brothers, you also were put to death to the Torah through the body of Messiah, for you to become another’s, the One who was raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto Elohim.  

Many will suggest to you that these verses show that we are now free of the Torah that held us but the answer is revealed in the next verse:

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5 For when we were in the flesh the passion of transgressions which came through Torah did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Surely what we are reading is that before Moshiach (Messiah) our passion was to transgress the Torah but now being joined to Messiah the heart to transgress was replaced with a new heart, the heart of obedience. 

Ezekiel 11:19-20 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their Elohim.

Through all of these scriptures we find the centrality of Torah in establishing the faith by which we understand the righteous standard of Elohim.

Be Doers of Torah:

The letter of Ya’acov (James) is challenging the dispersed of Yisrael who have come into the faith of Moshiach (Messiah) to not just hear the Word but to be Doers of the Word. 

Remembering that all Yisrael recite “the Shema” which calls them to hear YHWH we find him challenging them to be doers and not only hearers. What Word of YHWH is he referring to? Surely he is challenging obedience to the Torah since at that time no scripture existed but the Tanakh (the Old Testament):

Ya’acov (James) 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the Torah, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 For he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what type of man he was. 

The Mirror he is inferring is without a doubt the Torah for it is the means by which we know our sins. The doer of Torah therefore is one who diligently study’s his face in the mirror seeking imperfections that he may correct: 

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RomiYah (Romans) 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the Torah transgression? Elohim forbid. No, I had not known transgression but by the Torah: for I had not known lust [as transgression] except the Torah had said, you shall not covet. 

Since Pesach (Passover) represented the Atoning blood of Yahshua that delivered us out of the slavery of sin & Sinai represented the giving of the Torah we have now the challenge to obey YHWH’s Torah but not without his aid through the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) which has been given to us in order that his Torah might be implanted in our hearts. 

The Great Controversy

As we mentioned in our last teaching, the “Sepher of Ya’acov” (the book of James) has been often questioned and at best neglected and many Doctrines derived from misunderstanding the letters of Sha’ul (Paul) so it is appropriate to try to come to terms with these to understand whether there is in fact any differing of teaching.

Ya’acov (James) 2:14- 17 What does it profit, my Yisraelite brothers, if a man says he has emunah (faith), and has not mitzvoth (works of Torah)? Can emunah (faith) save him? 15 If a brother, or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, “depart in shalom (peace), may you be warm and filled”; but you give them not those things that are needful to the body; what use is it? 17 Even so faith, if it has not mitzvoth (works), is dead, being alone.  

Are Ya’acov (James) and Shaul (Paul) in conflict here? Luther and the Institutionalized Church would have you believe so. But it’s not an issue of contradiction but rather of contrasts in four particular areas:

1. The Situation: Shaul was speaking on the way one is justified and by so doing he was countering legalism while Ya’acov (James) was speaking of the life of the Justified and is thereby countering Lawlessness. 
2. The Meaning of Justification: In Shaul’s writings he means acquittal as the means by which one is justified & uses a Roman legal term while Ya’acov (James) is speaking of vindication therefore the result of laying claim to faith by a demonstration of works of Torah:
3. The Intention: Shaul was contrasting two opposing ways of Salvation; Salvation by Works of Torah or by Favour (Grace) through faith. The intent of Ya’acov (James) however was to contrast two kinds of faith, a living faith and one that was dead. 
4. The Place of Works: Sha’ul (Paul) argues against works as a means of Justification while Ya’acov (James) argues in favour of works in the lives of those who are already “Justified” as a proof of their faith. We could say that Ya’acov (James) is saying that a faith that saves is a faith that Works.  

We could conclude that Faith & Works are both involved in Salvation but it’s about the order: 

First- Faith being the means of Salvation.

Second- Works being the evidence of Salvation.  

Both Shaul (Paul) & Ya’acov (James) are in complete agreement that Avraham was counted Righteous by faith but Ya’acov would add that Avraham demonstrated his faith through the offering up of Yitschaq (Isaac) after which YHWH said:

Bereshith (Genesis) 22:10- 12 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son, 11 but the Messenger (the D’var) of YHWH called to him from the heavens and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy, nor touch him. For now I know that you fear Elohim, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 

It is now appropriate to consider what one of the later Assembly leaders said with regards the Works of Torah with respect to the Faith:

Polycarp the personal companion of Yochanan (John) wrote in a letter to the Philippians:

“He who raised him up from the dead will also raise us up- if we do his will & walk in his Commandments (Mitzvot) and love what he loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness.” 

Since in our time the thought of obedience to Torah seems Heretical it is of great interest to consider what group actually taught the Doctrine of Salvation by faith alone. The Heretical group that taught this doctrine was none other than the Gnostics that I have mentioned in my Divine plan series who were very destructive to the early faith since today some of their Doctrines still prevail while all of the Fathers taught a Faith that produces works was true faith. In that we see that the Sepher of Ya’acov (Book of James) in actuality gives us a much better indication of how the believers were taught to live. 

Controversial Scriptures:  

To understand how Torah relates to the Renewed or New Covenant depending on who we are talking about we need to look at some major Scriptures that have caused many misunderstandings:

The following is often quoted to say the Torah has changed but we need to see if this is true by reading in context:

Ibrim (Hebrews) 7:11 If therefore completion were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Torah) what further need was there that another Kohen (Priest) should arise in the manner of Malki-Zedek (Melchizedek) and not be called in the manner of Aaron. 12 For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity an adjustment also of the Torah.  

This verse will be often quoted to substantiate that the Torah has changed but if we look to the context we find that it is referring to a transfer of administration meaning that the High Priesthood is changed to Yahshua. It is therefore his position as eternal Cohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) that has secured for us a better Covenant through who he is:

Ibrim (Hebrews) 7:26 For such a Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) was fitting for us, who is Kadosh (Holy), innocent, undefiled, separate from transgressors and made higher than the Shamayim (the Heavens) who need not daily as those High Priests to offer up sacrifices first for his own transgressions and then for the people’s for this he did once when he offered up himself.   

Ibrim (Hebrews) 8:1-2 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: we have such a Kohen Ha Gadol (High Priest) who is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the Shamayim (Heavens) 2 a minister of the Sanctuary & of the true Tabernacle which YHWH erected & not Man.   

From this context we discover that the entire portion is about the Superiority of Yahshua’s Eternal Priesthood that guarantees a better Covenant with better promises since he ministers in the Heavenly Sanctuary and not the Shadow and his ministry is forever. 

The Unnecessary Trainer:

Galatians 3: 24-25 Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by faith. 25 And after faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer.

Rather than implying what many have suggested that Torah is unnecessary once one comes to Messiah, Sha’ul (Paul) is suggesting that when faith comes there is a spiritual maturity since just like a child that has the discipline of the rod as he is taught the laws of the house there comes a day when he is perceived as mature and is free to exercise those laws that have been given him. We could say the letter of the Torah was the rod of discipline but as faith comes this is replaced by the Spirit of the Torah or the maturity that faith brings that causes one to love Torah. This verse in no way suggests the Torah is unnecessary but rather that the individual has had a heart renewal in Torah obedience through the work of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit). 

The Yerushalayim Council Resolution: 

One of the major contentions that Christians will use to validate an anti Torah observance is found in the gathering at Yerushalayim of Ya’acov (James) and the Elders of the Kehillot (the Assemblies) of the believers regarding the conversion of Goyim (Gentiles) into the faith. With much dispute the Assembly concluded that the Goyim (Gentiles) as well as the Yahudim (Jews) were all saved by the loving Kindness (Grace) of the Master Yahshua Ha Moshiach (the Messiah). Christians will argue that Salvation is by faith & not Ancestry or obedience to the Law of Mosheh. To this point there is no question but before we get too carried away we need to look further. We firstly read the basic conditions whereby Goyim (Gentiles) could enter the Assembly of believers:

Acts 15:19-20 Therefore my (Ya’acov’s) decision is this, that we trouble them not, those returning to Elohim from among the Goyim (Gentiles):

20 But that we write to them that they should abstain from pollutions of idols and from whoring and from things strangled and from blood.

Many translations will have the word “turning” but in many contexts this word is “returning” and in Greek it is the Strong Number G1994 “ep-ee-strefo” which means to come again or return: The Hebrew being “Shuv” as in T’shuvah. 

The content therefore in this juncture of time is generally referring to the dispersed tribes of Yisrael who had become Goyim or Gentiles which again is a reference to their heathen practice in Paganism from which many had since turned to Elohim. 

All these prohibitions were stated in Torah so these were the minimum requirements to fellowship with Hebrew believers, to eat and sit with them & learn in the Synagogues then they would be referred to “Ger Toshav” or returning Aliens. 

The answer to whether Torah was to be observed is best revealed in the verse that directly follows as it shows that even these believers came to the Synagogue on Shabbat and heard the words of Mosheh in order that they progress in Torah observance and become what was called a “Ger- Tzadik” a Righteous Stranger. 

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Acts 15:21 For the Torah of Mosheh has been proclaimed in every city and read weekly in the Kehillot (Assemblies) each Shabbat (Sabbath).  

This clearly reveals that the believers were keepers of Shabbat & that the Torah of Mosheh needed to be studied and we see that nothing had changed apart from an acceptance of Yahshua as the Messiah.

“Under the Torah (Law)” 

This is possibly the most common attack to Torah observance so we need to take time to correct this. This statement comes from the following scripture:

Romans 6:14-15 For sin shall not rule over you for you are not under Torah (Law) but under favour (Grace). 

In anticipation that some will construe Sha’ul’s (Paul’s) words to mean that you can break the law because you are under grace, he says, “Shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under law but under grace? “Certainly not!” 

Being under the Torah however has a different meaning than many think because it refers to being condemned by the Torah.

Since in Moshiach (Messiah) scripture teaches that we are free of the curse or condemnation of Torah according to the following:

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Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation to them that are in Messiah Yahshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  

However a believer in Yahshua has been empowered by the favour of YHWH working in his life giving him the desire to obey the Torah of Elohim out of exceedingly great thankfulness so the favour of YHWH is in no way a licence to transgress Torah. 

An Example:

Suppose a murderer has been sentenced to death in the electric chair. Waiting for the execution, the man would be “under the law” in every sense of the word—under the guilt, under the condemnation, and under the sentence of death. The governor reviews the condemned man’s case and, just before the execution date, gives him a full pardon. Now the man is no longer under the law but under Loving Kindness (grace).  Can we say that he is free to break the law? Indeed not! Yet he has another reason to keep the law this time—as a loving response to the pardon. In gratitude, he will be careful to remember and honour the law of the state that granted him grace.

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Romans 3:31 Do we then Nullify the Torah through the faith? Let it not be! On the contrary we establish the Torah. 

The Summary:

1. The Grand purpose of the “Good News” was to sift Yisrael out of the Nations which also included those who through faith in Yahshua would be grafted into Yisrael.
2. Ya’acov (James) declares we are to be doers of the Torah & not just hearers.
3. The apparent Controversy between Ya’acov (James) & Sha’ul (Paul) is resolved when we realize it’s about the order:

First- Faith being the means of Salvation.

Second- Works being the evidence of Salvation. 

1. The Controversial verses teach us the following:

• That the Administration of the Priesthood was transferred to Yahshua but the Torah remained unchanged but adjusted.
• Faith brought Maturity in Torah obedience by the Ruach (Spirit) of Yahshua. 
• The Acts 15 dispute was about the minimum entry into the fellowship and not a rejection of Torah for converts who had believed in Yahshua as the Messiah.
• Under the law- relates to being condemned by the Torah since Yahshua bore the condemnation:

Conclusion:

The aim of this message is to show us that YHWH used the Torah to bring us to the feet of our Messiah who through his sacrifice atoned for our sin. As a result of his cleansing from sin all who receive him have been given a new heart from YHWH empowering them to now walk as Yahshua walked in Torah obedience. 

This journey should now become a delight & not a burden & sprout out of an exceedingly great thankfulness to YHWH & that of Yahshua his beloved son.

The “Good News” therefore is about a renewed relationship with YHWH through his son Yahshua our Master & Saviour and a return to his Righteous principles as revealed in his Torah. Torah ultimately is our window into the very heart of YHWH our great Elohim & Creator who has always desired to dwell with us in fellowship. Though Yahshua is the Torah that became flesh more importantly he is the express image of the invisible Elohim so he declared “if you have seen me you have seen the Father.” 

“This revelation alone should be enough to transform our lives that we begin to live in total accord to his will.”

Amein!

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