WHAT IS TRUTH?
John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.”
WHAT IS THE WORD?
THE WORD OF YAHWEH
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth.
YAHUSHUA IS THE WORD!
THE WORD IS ALSO THE TORAH (LAW) AND COMMANDS OF YAHWEH
WHAT IS THE TORAH?
Leviticus 18:4-5 ‘Do My right-rulings and guard My laws, to walk in them. I am YHWH your Elohim. 5 ‘And you shall guard My laws and My right-rulings, which a man does and lives by them. I am YHWH.
Leviticus 19:37 ‘And you shall guard all My laws and all My right-rulings, and do them. I am YHWH.’ ”
Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it, so as to guard the commands of YHWH your Elohim which I am commanding you.”
Deuteronomy 4:6 “And you shall guard and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these laws, and they shall say, ‘Only a wise and understanding people is this great nation!’”
WAIT A MINUTE!.. ARE WE UNDER THE LAW?
PAUL SAYS:
Galatians 3:10a “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse…”
Romans 10:4 “For Messiah is the end(?) of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.”
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under favour.”
BUT YAHUSHUA SAYS:
Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete.18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.”
Luke 8:21 “And He answering, said to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who are hearing the Word of Elohim and doing it.”
DIE? 2 Corinthians 3:6 “…who also made us competent as servants of a renewed covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”
LIVE Deuteronomy 5:33 “Walk in all the way which YHWH your Elohim has commanded you, so that you live and it be well with you.”
PAUL ALSO SAYS:
Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”
Romans 7:1 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?”
Galatians 3:10b “…Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all that has been written in the book of the Torah, to do them.”
JAMES STATES:
James 1:25 “But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.”
ARE YOU CONFUSED?
1 Corinthians 14:33 “For Elohim is not Elohim of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the set-apart ones.”
LET THE REAL PAUL STAND UP!
Acts 24:14 “And this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets.
Romans 7:12 “…so that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good.”
Romans 10:4 “For Messiah is the (end?) goal of the Torah unto righteousness to everyone who believes.”
(The Greek word used in Scripture is “telos” meaning: goal or point aimed at!)
CLEANSED BY THE WORD
Ephesians 5:26 “…in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.”
Yahushua is the Word of the Torah because He IS the Torah!
NOT UNDER THE LAW?
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under favour…”
WHAT LAW ARE WE NOT UNDER?
Romans 8:2 “For the Torah of the Spirit of the life in Messiah Yahushua has set me free from the law of sin and of death.”
DO WE KEEP SINNING?
Romans 6:15 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Torah but under favour? Let it not be!”
Romans 6:1-2 What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, to let favour increase? 2 Let it not be!How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
WHAT IS SIN?
1John 3:4 “Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is transgression of the law.”
HOW WILL YOU BE JUDGED?
John 5:45 “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Mosheh, in whom you have set your expectation.”
Mosheh brought the Torah and is synonymous in this statement by Yahushua.
WHY THE TORAH?
Psalm 119:11 “I have treasured up Your word in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
Romans 3:20 “Therefore by works of Torah no flesh shall be declared right before Him, for by the Torah is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 7:7 “What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah sin? Let it not be! However, I did not know sin except through the Torah. For also the covetousness I knew not if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet.”
“WE CAN’T KEEP THE LAW” (?)
If that’s true then Yahweh is a liar!
Deuteronomy 27:26 ‘Cursed is he who does not establish the Words of this Torah.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amĕn!’ (Gal 3:10)
1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 “And it shall be, if you diligently obey the voice of YHWH your Elohim, to guard to do all His commands which I command you today, that YHWH your Elohim shall set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of YHWH your Elohim.”
ALL YAHWEH’S BLESSINGS AND PROMISES ARE WORTHLESS IF WE CAN’T KEEP HIS TORAH!
It’s like telling a legless, armless man to make his way across the room and pick up his million dollar cheque…
PAUL PREDICTS:
Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves shall come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 “Also from among yourselves men shall arise, speaking distorted teachings, to draw away the taught ones after themselves.”
THE WOLVES
IGNATIUS (A.D. 30-107) Catholic!
He wrote in his letter to the Magnesians:
“Let us not be persuaded by strange teachings, nor by fables that have no truth in them. If we still live by the Jewish law we confirm that we have not received grace; the old is gone and all has been renewed. Forif we are stillliving in accordance with the Jewish law and it’s circumcision of the flesh, then we deny that we have received grace. All then who have been brought up under the old have to come to a new hope and therefore no longer keep the Sabbath, but the day of the Lord.”
(The beginning of law vs. grace)
EVEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OPENLY ADMIT “WE CHANGED THE SABBATH.”
THE SABBATH
MAN HAS CHANGED THE SIGN AND THE SEAL OF YAHWEH’S PEOPLE.
Exodus 31:13 “And you, speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, YHWH, am setting you apart.
Ezekiel 20:12,20 “And set apart My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, to know that I am YHWH your Elohim.”
ONLY ISRAEL WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF YAHWEH
Romans 4:25 “…who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for us to be declared right.”
Yahushua died for His bride.
WHO IS THE BRIDE?
Hosea 2:19 “And I shall take you (Israel) as a bride unto Me forever, and take you as a bride unto Me in righteousness…”
Isaiah 56:6-7 “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him, and to
love the Name of YHWH, to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant – 7 them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer.”
Romans 10:12-13 “Because there is no distinction between Yehudite and Greek, for the same Master of all is rich to all those calling upon Him. For “everyone who calls on the Name of YHWH shall be saved.””
IGNATIUS
“It is therefore only right that the people listen to the bishop. The Lord did nothing without the Father and so should you do nothing without the bishop or the presbyters. The old is gone away and all is renewed.”
THE WORD
Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all under His feet, and gave Him (Yahushua) to be head over all, to the assembly, 23 which is His body, the completeness of Him who fills all in all.”
JEROME
Put in the division and named the “Old Testament” and “New Testament”
B’RIT CHADASHAH – MEANS “COVENANT RE-NEWED” NOT “NEW”.
Malachi 3:6 “For I am YHWH, I shall not change…”
Hebrews 13:8 “Yahushua Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
WHAT YAHUSHUA SAYS:
Mark 7:9 “And He said to them, “Well do you set aside the command of Elohim, in order to guard your tradition.”
Matthew 4:4 “But He answering, said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH.’ ”
John 5:46 “For if you believed Mosheh, you would have believed Me, since he wrote about Me.”
WORD MADE FLESH
Deu 18:18 ‘I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
Acts 7:37 “This is the Mosheh who said to the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘YHWH your Elohim shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear.’”
John 15:13-15 “No one has greater love than this: that one should lay down his life for his friends. 14“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, for all teachings which I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 8:28 “So Yahushua said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak.”
John 8:31 “So Yahushua said to those Yehudim who believed Him, “If you stay in My Word, you are truly My taught ones.”
YAHUSHUA WALKED IN THE TORAH
1 John 2:6 “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.”
LAWLESS LIARS!
1 John 2:4 “The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, And Your Torah is truth.”
Psalm 119:151 “You are near, O YHWH, And all Your commands are truth.”
Psalm 119:160 “The sum of Your word is truth, And all Your righteous right-rulings are forever.”
TRUTH AND THE LIGHT
John 17:17 “Set them apart in Your truth – Your Word is truth.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Proverbs 6:23 “For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light.”
John 8:12 “Therefore Yahushua spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.”
YAHUSHUA IS THE LIGHT OF THE TORAH!
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH!
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
THE LOVE COMMANDS
Deuteronomy 6:5 “And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.”
Leviticus 19:18 “Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am YHWH.”
Matthew 22:37-40 “And Yahushua said to him, “ ‘You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and great command. 39 “And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”
THEY HANG ON THESE… THEY HAVE NOT FALLEN OFF!
THE TORAH IS OUR EXPRESSION OF LOVE
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.”
John 15:10 “If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love.”
2 John 1:6 “And this is the love, that we walk according to His commands. This is the command, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
THE FOUNDATION OF THE TORAH IS LOVE!
Exodus 20:6 “…but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.”
HE THAT DESPISED MOSHEH’S LAW
Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, 27 but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. 28 Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Moshehdies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? 30 For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says YHWH.” And again, “YHWH shall judge His people.” 31 It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.”
INSULTED THE SPIRIT? (SIN AGAINST THE RUACH HA QODESH)
Matthew 12:32 “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Adam, it shall be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Set-apart Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Revelation 22:15 “But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood.”
Proverbs 28:9 “He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.”
Psalm 119:1-2 “Blessed are the perfect in the way, Who walk in the Torah of YHWH! 2 Blessed are those who observe His witnesses, Who seek Him with all the heart!”
YAHWEH’S PERFECT LAW
It is Sunday morning. Minister Johnson climbs onto the podium, turns to Romans 10:4, and proclaims good news by announcing, “The Savior paid it all. We are free from those Old Testament regulations and now are under grace through faith alone!”
Many in nominal worship today believe and proclaim this same message — that Yahushua the Messiah has “nailed the Law to the cross.” How much of this belief is true, however? Has the Law been nailed to the stake or does Yahweh’s Law remain in effect for His New Covenant believers?
Let us examine some popular New Covenant passages cited by those who would abolish Biblical law.
WHAT WAS ADDED?
Many point to a passage in Colossians as proof that Yahushua did away with the Old Testament Laws. Here Paul writes,
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross“ (Col. 2:14). (KJV)
With an understanding of the Greek word “ordinances” in this verse, we find another meaning. The Greek word here is No. 1378, dogma. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Greek Dictionary defines dogma as: “from the base 1380; a law (civil, cerem., or eccl.): — decree, ordinance.”
Colossians 2:14 “Having blotted out the certificate of debt against us – by the dogmas – which stood against us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the stake.”
Dogma is found seven times in the New Testament and refers to man-made decrees. One authority writes, “As the form of error at Colosse was largely Judaic, insisting on Jewish ceremonial law, the phrase is probably coloured by this fact,” Word Studies in the New Covenant, p. 908.
Thus, dogma here is not signifying Yahweh’s Law, but man-made decrees or ordinances. Paul was referring to the added law, which the Jews tacked on to Yahweh’s Torah. We find the Apostle Paul warning Titus of this added law:
Titus 1:14 “Not paying attention to Yehudite fables, and commands of men who turn from the truth.“
Yahweh was not always pleased with these added laws. Yahushua chastised the Jews in Matthew 15 and Mark 8 for their “commands of men”, which here meant eating with unwashed hands. The Jews made many physical commandments, but they neglected the spiritual aspect of Yahweh’s Law, and that is what displeased Yahushua.
THE TELOS OF THE LAW
In Romans 10:4 we have a passage that is misconstrued by a majority of preachers today:
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (KJV)
On the surface it may appear as if Yahushua ended the law for everyone when He died on the stake. Does that harmonize with the rest of Yahweh’s Word, however? Are we now living lawlessly? If so, then we have no sin because “sin is not imputed when there is no law,” Romans 5:13. But that cannot be, because Paul also wrote, “All have sinned and come short of the esteem of Yahweh,” Romans 3:23. Is something missing here that most don’t see?
The Greek word for “end” in this passage is telos, and telos is defined in Strong’s Greek Dictionary as: “to set out for a definite point or goal, the point aimed at as a limit” — No. 5056.
This word “end” found in Romans 10:4 would be better translated “goal“. We find a better rendition of this verse, which reads:
Romans 10:4 For Messiah is the goal of the ‘Torah unto righteousness’to everyone who believes.” (The Scriptures)
In James 5 the same Greek word telos is translated “end”:
“…you have seen the end [telos] of the Lord (YHWH).” (KJV). Has Yahweh come to an end? Of course not, and neither has the law. Both Yahweh and the law have goals, not ending points. We will now look at an important goal of the law.
NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER
Galatians is one of the most troublesome Books for many in today’s religious circles. In Galatians 3 we have a passage that has been misunderstood by the major populace today.
Galatians 3:24-25 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (KJV)
This verse is not difficult to understand if we consider some key facts.
We saw in Romans 10:4 that the Messiah is not the end of the Law, but the goal at which the law aims. Messiah is the object or purpose for the Law. Only through the Law can we know Messiah, because Yahushua literally represents the Law in flesh. He lived the law in every aspect. If we do the same, we will be like the Messiah.
Galatians 3:24-25 “Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by belief. 25 And after belief has come, we are no longer under a trainer.”
Paul is saying that through the Torah we know Messiah, but after we have come to the knowledge of Yahushua we no longer need a schoolmaster, because the Law is part of us now, as is the Messiah.
In the Greek culture a schoolmaster was a paidagogos, a trustworthy slave who had the guardianship of the boys of a household. They needed him for guidance and instruction while they were young. But after they grew up, they lived by the precepts he taught them. It became second nature to do what they had been taught. They would no longer need the schoolmaster once they learned “the rules.” This is the point Paul was making with the law.
Through belief we comply with Yahweh’s will automatically. His precepts and laws are now part of us. We no longer need a strict schoolmaster guiding our every thought and action because doing the right thing is second nature.
LAWKEEPING IN THE NEW COVENANT
Yahushua and many of His faithful disciples not only show that the Law has NOT been annulled, but they also express for it a deep love.
In Matthew 5 Yahushua says that those who keep and teach Yahweh’s Law will have great treasures in Yahweh’s Kingdom:
Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. 18 For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. 19 Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.”
Yahushua came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill or complete it, as the Greek indicates. Yahushua said those who uphold and teach the Law will be blessed with honorable positions in the Kingdom, but those who refuse to keep it and teach others the same fallacy of non-obedience will not be blessed and will not inherit any position.
Yahushua was not the only advocate for Yahweh’s Law. We find the Apostle Paul, who is usually cited as being against the law, in Romans 3:31 in fact promoting lawkeeping:
Romans 3:31 “Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”
Paul never said that Yahweh’s Law wasn’t important. Many will say that, “all we need is faith.” Paul says that we need both belief and law. We are not to throw out the Law because of belief, but as Paul says we are to establish it within our lives.
In Romans 7 we find the Apostle Paul again promoting Yahweh’s Law:
Romans 7:1,7 “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?… 7 What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah sin? Let it not be!However, I did not know sin except through the Torah. For also the covetousness I knew not if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet… 12 So that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good.”
PAUL ADVOCATES FIRST COVENANT LAW
Paul says that the Law has dominion or authority over us till death, just as marriage does between two people. He also says that without the Law we would not know sin. Paul concludes this passages by not diminishing the Law, but by giving it the highest honor.
In one New Testament Passage we find the Apostle Paul using the Law of Moses to convey his own message to young Timothy.
1 Timothy 5:18 “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer is worthy of his wages.””
His using such an example indicates that Paul taught and promoted the Old Covenant Laws as authority, meaning the basis for New Testament teachings. Both of these laws can be traced back to the Torah:
“Do not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”(Deut 25:4)
“The wages of him who is hired is not to remain with you all night until morning.” (Lev 19:13)
In Acts 24 Paul is standing before Felix, the governor of Judea. Paul is being accused of following and even promoting a division among the Jews. In truth, Paul never rebuked the Jewish faith, but proclaimed that he followed all that his ancestors taught.
Acts 24:14 “And this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets.”
In the governor’s attempt to condemn the Apostle, Paul not only says that he believes, but also unmistakably advocates the Law and the Prophets. If he believed in the Law and the Prophets, he clearly would have been observing both. The Law here includes all five Books of the Torah, while the Prophets indicates the entire collection of the Old Covenant prophets and all that they taught about Yahweh’s will through His Torah.
Obviously, Paul never uprooted the Law, but had great respect and love for it. He realized its benefits. He knew that the only way to know right from wrong was by Yahweh’s Righteous standards inspired in the first five Books of His Word. What would we use for knowing right from wrong if Yahweh’s Torah were annulled?
A LITMUS TEST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Law was not given to mankind to save us, but simply to show us right from wrong. In Romans 3 we see that without these standards we would live in a world with utter chaos.
Romans 3:20 “Therefore by works of Torah no flesh shall be declared right before Him, for by the Torah is the knowledge of sin.”
We are also warned of breaking Moses’ Law in: Hebrews 10:26-30
“For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, 27 but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. 28 Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? 30 For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says YHWH.” And again, “YHWH shall judge His people.””
Notice that the writer of Hebrews very plainly says that once we have come to the knowledge of the truth, there is no more remedy for sins committed thereafter. This is a dreadful thought.
The writer of Hebrews continues by stating that those who break Moses’ Law, which was received through Yahweh, will have a greater judgment than those of the First Covenant. This contradicts the man-made notion of a New Covenant based on “grace” and “faith” alone. Salvation involves more than a simple proclaiming belief and favour to all those who believe. Salvation requires an action — obedience.
We find this confirmed in: Hebrews 5:9
“And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him.”
Yahushua, the author of salvation, offers the gift of salvation only to those who obey Yahweh’s Word. We cannot just believe or say that we have belief, but must act on our belief by obedience.
By observing His Law we demonstrate to Yahweh that we want to obey and serve Him. In 1 John 5:3 we read that if we love Yahweh we will obey His commandments.
1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy.”
This passage is important to understand because the message goes much deeper than most realize. We not only show love by keeping Yahweh’s commandments, but we must also keep them out of a deep-down desire to serve Him. His commandments must be so desirable that they never seem grievous to us.
If they are grievous, then we have defeated the purpose of observing Yahweh’s Torah. Yahweh’s Law is to shape and mold us into Yahweh’s own character. Any negative feelings toward His Torah amount to resistance of that goal. Yahweh’s standards are a reflection of His own morals and ethics. Why should He not want us to have the same nature as He does?
BELIEF ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
In the Book of Ya’acob (James) we find Yahushua’s brother unequivocally promoting law keeping for Yahweh’s people.
Ya’acob 2:14-19 “My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him. 15 And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, 16 but one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? 17 So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. 18 But someone might say, “You have belief, and I have works.” Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works. 19 You believe that Elohim is one. You do well. The demons also believe – and shudder!”
James asks a crucial question for any believer: What good is it if we have belief but no works? It’s like a vehicle with no gasoline, it travels nowhere. Our salvation works the same way. With belief and works we are promised Yahweh’s Reign; however, without either of the two our salvation comes to a halt, with no gasoline to continue.
Ya’acob also said that even the demons believe in Yahweh’s and Yahushua’s existence, but just having this belief does not make them worthy of Yahweh’s Reign. They have neither works nor an obedient heart,
OBEDIENCE AS WELL AS BELIEF
Three noteworthy passages are found in the Book of Revelation. The first is the prophecy of the woman, meaning the Assembly, being taken into the wilderness for protection from the adversary. Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of Yahushua Messiah.”
Notice what distinguishes Yahweh’s people. Two characteristics define Yahweh’s saints: keeping of Yahweh’s commandments, and having faith in Yahushua. By these two characteristics Yahweh’s expectations for His people are defined.
We find these two attributes again in Revelation 14:12
“Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of Yahushua.”
Yahweh defines His Saints as those that are guarding His commandments and having a belief in Yahushua the Messiah. Very simply, these two elements are essential for a believer, for without them we will not have access to Yahweh’s Reign.
In the last chapter of the Scriptures Yahweh warns us once again of the need for keeping His Commandments:
Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.”
Here at the end of the Scriptures Yahweh clearly says that keeping His commandments is a requirement for entering His Eternal Reign. Yahweh will only accept those with an obedient and humble heart. A heart that never wavers from Him, but stays true to the end.
Every word in the entire Scriptures is for our benefit. Paul explains this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.”
Every utterance that Yahweh has given is profitable in some way. Whether it be reproof, correction, or instruction, Yahweh’s Word has a place in each of our lives. It instructs us to righteousness, which is defined by observing Yahweh’s Law.
FORGET NOT THE LAW OF YAHWEH
Within the prophets we can find an abundance of prophecies for the New Covenant believer. One prophet specifically educates us concerning the Law of Moses. His prophecy is a reply from Yahweh.
In Malachi chapter 4, Malachi prophesies of the distant future. He tells of a time when the whole earth shall burn like a furnace, and the wicked shall become stubble. Malachi’s message is vital, for the message does not stop with those in the Old Covenant, but continues on for those in the latter days.
He warns that we must not forget the Law of Moses:
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant, which I commanded him in Horĕb for all Yisra’ĕl – laws and right-rulings.”
This is important to understand. We in the 21st century learn here that the saints are told to keep ALL the Law, with statutes and judgments.
We must not neglect any of Yahweh’s Law, but observe every inspired commandment as Yahweh so wishes and instructs us, His people.
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Psalm 112:1 “Praise Yah! Blessed is the man, Who fears YHWH, Who has greatly delighted in His commands.”