Ahhh! Ephesians! This is one of my favorite scrolls (books) of Scripture. It is often quoted with the intent of denying the goodness and usefulness of Torah. Of course, it actually states the opposite. Only one verse has the word "Law" in it, throughout the entire scroll, but there's so much to see and to understand concerning Torah and many other subjects.
Paul gives an amazing introduction in Ch.1. Much argument concerning
predestination is centered around Ch.1. The man-made development of
Calvinism and "once saved, always saved" proceed
from such argument. This subject is for another time, however. Paul firmly establishes the connection between Yehovah, Yeshua, and the Assembly (incorrectly translated as church) in Ch.1.
Concerning Ch.2, however, we must go much deeper.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Eph 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
[Note: The transition from Ch.1 to 2 has Paul describing us in our former state, "walking", that is; producing "works" as "sons of disobedience", according to Satan's rules. Please notice how; "walk", "work", and "living" are synonymous. You see, Lucifer has his "Torah", which is "Anti-Torah", and
Yah-Yeshua has Torah. Torah is our set of rules for walking, working, and living. I know this because I allow Scripture to explain Scripture:
1 Jn 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (Torah)
1 Jn 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments (Torah), is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 Jn 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (Yes, Yeshua walked Torah perfectly)
- - -
1 Jn 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
1 Jn 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. (lawlessness)
1 Jn 3:6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
It's disturbing to some folks, but the Good Book says, literally; if you claim Messiah and don't walk according to Torah - YOU ARE A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN YOU!
]
... now, back to 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.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
[Note: This is one of the most wonderful statements in Scripture! And it is one that is so misunderstood! By
GRACE we are saved,
a free GIFT,
not by WORKS, LEST WE BOAST! This is so
TRUE and
WONDERFUL! ...
Now, after accepting this gift through
FAITH, what do we do?
We walk in good works as described in verse 10! Just as Abraham did; remember? What did God prepare beforehand so we could walk correctly?
TORAH! ... our instructions!
Unfortunately, the "Church" stops, dead in the water, after reading verse 8 and 9. That's it! I don't have to do anything. I'm saved, thank you Jesus! This "sound bite" theology is what's killing the Church.
The Church has become an irrelevant social club which has no effect on society. They "sound bite" everything in order to establish their man-made doctrine. The Good Book has the doctrine laid out already; they just ignore it, for their own glory - not His!
... Look at what they have
done to John 3:16:
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (my churchy friends quote this and stop! All you have to do is believe, they say. But, let's keep reading!)
Joh 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Joh 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (what does it mean to believe in the name? - see below)
Joh 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (Ahhh! So we are judged for our works (deeds)!)
Joh 3:20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Joh 3:21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (Our deeds (works) do matter!)
... and what about James?
Jas 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James (Ya'a'kov) is referring to Torah here)
- - -
Jas 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. (do Torah!)
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. (Sounds just like the Church doesn't it?)
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.
What does it mean to believe in His name (John 3:18)? It means we call Him Lord!
Php 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
Php 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Php 2:11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: If we call Yeshua "Lord" do we then do what He says to do? Why yes, of course. But the Church? No, the Church says we don't do what He says (follow Torah), therefore He is not Lord to them!
]
... continuing
Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--
Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Eph_2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
Eph 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
[Note: Another mistranslation by our "wonderful" English translators (please note the sarcasm). These last two verses are simply saying Yeshua has broken down the enmity against Torah. Remember when "enmity" was used before?
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (KJV)
Question: If it is carnal to be against Torah, how can a person claiming Christ be against Torah? ]
Folks, much more can be said here but I don't have time to write such a volume! : ) Please read our God-given Scripture carefully. Do not follow man's doctrine. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture!
Blessings!
The Observer
