Friday, July 05, 2013

Why Do Some Folks Try to Use the New Testament to Deny Torah and Sabbath Rest? Here is why they're wrong!

Many of my church brothers have said that Romans, Chapter 4 specifically defines why we are not required to follow Torah, Sabbath, or other "laws", and in fact, should have no desire to do so. I am about to lovingly prove them wrong! Reading into biblical text without clarity tints it's meaning with the shade of desire we humans want, not the truth we need.

So, here I repeat my words to them. "The proper way to interpret Scripture is to let Scripture interpret itself!" One CANNOT and should not read a verse, chapter, or book without trying his or her best to comprehend all related references to a given subject. We owe this effort to God Almighty as well as to each other. An honest evaluation of Scripture must be the rule. A teaching or doctrine has to be cohesively sensible with all related Scripture or it makes a liar out of YHVH, Yeshua and us! In other words, we must have a confluence of Scripture. In this blog entry I'll use the books of Peter and Paul, along with other biblical authors to show that the LORD changes not! (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) I will show that Torah is forever until it is completely fulfilled and the Sabbath Rest and the Feasts are all still to be celebrated! No, not all of the related text will be shown here because of the sheer volume of material. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different Christian denominations? It's because men have latched on to and attached themselves to sound bites of Scripture without attempting to form a comprehensive knowledge of what all Scripture says! Obviously, no human can "connect all the dots" present in Scripture, but we can try! We will be connecting those dots until Yeshua returns, around Yom Teruah and the blowing of the 7th Trumpet.

(pre-Trib Rapture folks will disagree here and that's fine! Another blog?  : ) )

All quoted biblical verses in this entry are from the NASB. The Apostle Peter (Kefa) stated that Sha'ul (Paul) was hard to understand, so we must be careful (2 Peter 3).

2 Peter 3:16   ... as also in all his letters [who's letters? - Paul's!], speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

[Rhetorical Thoughts:  Why did Peter give us warning about Paul's writings? He did so because some of the followers of Yeshua, being Hellenistic Jews mingled with Greeks/Romans, we're already beginning to blend pagan Greek philosophy into "The Way" and Peter wanted to make sure they knew that this was error. Paul was an expert in Hebraic and Greek argument and it shows in his letters! Rhetorical Question: Did Christ, Peter, Paul, and the rest of the disciples follow Torah? What Scripture was available to the Followers of the Way at this point in history?]

Romans Ch. 4

Rom 4:1   What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
Rom 4:2   For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Rom 4:3   For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Rom 4:4   Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
Rom 4:5   But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Rom 4:6   just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Rom 4:7   "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
Rom 4:8   "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
Rom 4:9   Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Rom 4:10   How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
Rom 4:11   and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
Rom 4:12   and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
Rom 4:13   For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14   For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
Rom 4:15   for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
Rom 4:16   For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Rom 4:17   (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
Rom 4:18   In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
Rom 4:19   Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
Rom 4:20   yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
Rom 4:21   and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22   Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Rom 4:23   Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
Rom 4:24   but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
Rom 4:25   He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

[Note: Romans 4 references Gen. 15, 17,and 26; also, Psalm 32:1-2; This teaching is part of Torah and the Prophets! "LAWLESS" means "without Torah"]

Romans 4 is the classic definition of the word SALVATION.  Salvation is defined as:

1. the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2. the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3. a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4. Theology . deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.
 
Abraham has salvation and is considered righteous because of FAITH.  Faith is defined as:
 
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability. 
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact. 
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty. 
5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.

A terrific and accurate synonym for faith is TRUST. This basic tenant of Christianity is accepted by ALL Christians, especially Hebraic Roots Christians.  We ALL believe in the following from Ephesians:

Eph 2:4   But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

Eph 2:5   even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Eph 2:6   and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph 2:7   so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8   For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Eph 2:9   not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

[Notes and Thoughts: those "transgressions" in verse 5 are sins against Torah, btw; Sin is defined as transgression against Torah! (1 John 3); Question: Is Grace a New Covenant concept? No! Grace is present throughout the Tanahk!]

Now, look again at Romans 4 again. Verse 6 has King David stating, with my paraphrasing; "Blessed is the man who was without Torah (lawless) but was considered forgiven". So, ALL of us are on the same page, so far! Our Salvation is through the free gift of grace from Yeshua without any recognition of our works!

Yet, here is where the average Christian stops.  He says, OK!  I'm "saved" - everything's good!  However, the good book doesn't stop here. We still have a race to run. (1 Cor. 9) For Christ Himself states: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments". (John 14) The word "keep" is a technical, legal term meaning you are actually doing them! 

[Rhetorical Thoughts: Which commandments? Why, all of those encompassed in the two greatest commandments as indicated in Matt. 22:37-40. These two commandments are also in Torah; Deut. 6, Lev. 19:18]

Now, having started out together on the same page of "justified by faith", what does the good book say we do now? Do we continue in sin (the breaking of Torah), or do we do our best to go and sin no more? Let's look at the book of James.

For faith without works is dead:

Jas 2:12   So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
Jas 2:13   For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jas 2:14   What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
Jas 2:15   If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
Jas 2:16   and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Jas 2:17   Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18   But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Jas 2:19   You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Jas 2:20   But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Jas 2:21   Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22   You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
Jas 2:23   and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
Jas 2:24   You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jas 2:25   In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Jas 2:26   For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

What is this law of liberty in verse 12? It's called Torah! YIKES! Wait a minute! You mean just having faith is not enough?!?  Even demons have belief (faith) in God! What?!? We are JUDGED by our deeds (works)?!?

You see folks, we are indeed justified by our faith as Romans 4 states, but we can then lose that justification, that salvation, if we continue to sin and not ask for forgiveness. Even demons have faith in Yeshua-Yehovah, yet they continue to sin and are lost! Do you begin to see why we must understand and comprehend all Scripture? Do you see why a doctrine that says, "once saved, always saved" is so demonic, so pernicious? It distorts Scripture and is not truthful. Does the example of King Solomon ring a bell? He started out "saved" and then turned against Yehovah in his old age. Am I judging Solomon? No! Yeshua will judge him - and all of us!

Oh! And, btw, I hope all of us know that their was never an Apostle named James. His name was Jacob, or, in Hebrew, Ya'akov.  He was the head of the "church" in Jerusalem until he was killed. Also, Paul (Sha'ul) was the Apostle to the Gentiles - not Peter! Peter was the Apostle to the Jews. So much for the false, "churchy" "first pope" lie! And also, the Bible did not originally have chapter and verse. The book of Romans is one single written statement. This leads us to the introductory thesis statement or preface to Romans Ch. 4. It's at the end of what we now call Ch. 3. It is the transition text ending what Sha'ul just said and what he will say next. It is a qualifier concerning what is being written. It is saying; "whatever you do - DON"T FORGET THIS!" It will surprise most of you:

Rom 3:28   For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Tiger's Note: "like Abraham")
Rom 3:29   Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
Rom 3:30   since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Rom 3:31   Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

WE ESTABLISH TORAH! WHAT!?! Understand something here, folks! The good book never invalidates or denies Torah! Only when man adds his own tincture and "colors" on it can we began arguing that Torah (the Law) is dead or fulfilled. Torah will not be fulfilled until the end of the millennial reign!

Yeshua returns to earth, after the wedding feast, and reigns for a 1,000 years and rules with a "rod of iron". (Rev. Ch. 2) Those nations who do not pay homage will receive no rain (which is a death sentence). Why does Jesus reign with an iron rod? We will be living under Torah, celebrating the Feasts of YHVH! Each year, at the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) we (or our representative?) must travel to Jerusalem and pay homage to the King of Kings, LORD of Hosts. (Zech. 14) During this time we are being trained and ingrained with Torah and it's Truth! You see! Torah will not be completely fulfilled until the New Heaven and New Earth! (Rev. Ch. 21)

So, did Yeshua and His followers follow Torah? Yes, if fact they did!  And we will still be doing this in the millennium. So, what excuse will you give Yeshua at judgement time? I don't say this with pride, but with fear of our LORD!

[Next Rhetorical Thought Question:  Did Christ, Peter, Paul, and the rest of the disciples follow Sabbath rest - a requirement of Torah?]

Heb 4:1   Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.
Heb 4:2   For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
Heb 4:3   For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4   For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS";
Heb 4:5   and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."
Heb 4:6   Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
Heb 4:7   He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."
 Heb 4:8   For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
Heb 4:9   So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Heb 4:10   For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Heb 4:11   Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Heb 4:12   For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb 4:13   And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14   Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Heb 4:15   For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16   Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

My goodness folks! Now, look at Hebrews 4 without coloring it. What does it say?

- let us fear
- a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it
- because it was not united by faith
- For we who have believed enter that rest
- Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience
- So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God
- Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall
- through disobedience
- the word of God is living and active
- For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses

In my paraphrase, "fear, and have faith, because we believers have a promise of Sabbath rest, do not be disobedient in this, there does remain a Sabbath rest, enter that rest or you will fall because of disobedience, the Word is still alive and true, our High Priest knows of our weaknesses."

Jesus has a sign, a symbol, a seal of authority on His people. Satan has a sign and seal on his people. Jesus established this seal long ago:

Gen 2:1   Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
Gen 2:2   By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Gen 2:3   Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Gen 2:4   This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.

Exo 31:16   'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'
Exo 31:17   "It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."

Are you part of Israel? Or, do you lay claim to a man-made religion that worships "another Jesus"? (2 Cor. 11) Satan's seal, btw, is disobedience and it will come to a head with the Mark of that Beast.


My church friends need to awaken. They need to realize we are in the midst of prophetic fulfillment right now!

Jer 16:19   O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, And my refuge in the day of distress, To You the nations will come From the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, Futility and things of no profit."

Come out of Babylon! It exists right there in your pews! Can't you see it?

Hat Tip: The Tigress

The Observer

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