Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)
Much is made of the fact that your saving grace in Messiah is freely gifted to you, and once accepted, you have "Salvation". This is true, btw. No question about it. It is a required belief in Christianity, imho.
However, what's supposed to happen after accepting this free gift? In most sermons this is never mentioned, at least the ones I've heard. Let's discuss it.
(ESV) Ephesians Chapter 2:
Eph. 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - (3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - (6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(verse 10 is emboldened by me for emphasis)
(11) Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands (12) remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (15) by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
(verses 14-16 are emboldened by me for emphasis)
(17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
(verses 19-22 are emboldened by me for emphasis)
OK! Let's go back to the beginning and begin our discussion.
Before Ch. 2 is Ch. 1, of course. Ch. 1 emphasizes Messiah's authority and dominion over all of us in the assembly (ekklesia, Commonwealth of Israel, church). The subject then switches to the individual member of the assembly.
We have already established the truth of our free gift of Salvation. Salvation, however, is the beginning of the race, as Sha'ul (Paul) suggests in 2 Timothy 4 and 1 Corinthians 9. Indeed, running a race is used throughout the Bible describing our life in living for God (https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-running/). Verse 10 tells us what our free gift of Salvation sets us up for; that we should walk in the good works that God has prepared beforehand!
Whoa! Wait a minute! You mean we have accepted the free gift of Salvation without works, so we may not boast, only to walk a way of life (the race) of good works? Yes! That's right!
The question now becomes; what are these good works that God has prepared beforehand? Remember, the New Testament did not exist when these words were written, only the TANAKH (Old Testament). The only works described in the TANAKH that God himself has prepared are the instructions found in Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Your acceptance of the free gift of Salvation establishes that you will now try your best to walk (live your life) the way the instructions in Torah tells us.
In the very next paragraph the reason for this is established. The reason is to bring both the uncircumcised and the circumcised together under one body, one assembly, by abolishing the man made commandments of ordinances. This word, "ordinances" is the word dogma in GREEK. Dogma is defined as; civil, ceremonial, or ecclesiastical decrees; man made rules, man made doctrine that govern a spiritual body such as a church or synagogue.
You see, man cannot establish doctrine. We are fallen beings. Only God can provide guidance. It has been given to us:
Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. (KJV)
Neither Sha'ul or Yeshua ever spoke against the instructions in Torah. Instead they spoke against the man made religious rulings of the Rabbi's. Those rulings, those man made ordinances, have been with us always. When a Rabbi tells you to wear a kippa or not to heat up your previously prepared food on Shabbat, or not to turn on your house lights on Shabbat; or a Pastor tells you to worship on Sunday, or tells you once you have received the free gift of Salvation, all of your continuing sins are automatically forgiven (including the ones where you know better): these are man made laws! We are to ignore them!
Folks, the Bible is very simple. Do your best to follow the Almighty's instructions, not man's. As Ephesians 2 states, Yeshua is the head of the Household of God, not man. We are to follow His commandments, His instructions in Torah.
Is it any wonder the church doesn't wish to speak of this? In fact, they will tell you these ordinances that have been abolished are the instructions in Torah, when clearly the text defines them as man made ecclesiastical rulings!
Can Yeshua be the Messiah if He abolishes Yehovah's perfect law? No, it makes no sense whatsoever, and by saying He does, it blasphemes Yeshua's character and turns Him into someone working against the Father!
Why should we walk in this path of instruction (Torah)? Does it do anything for our Salvation? No! Of course not! What it does, however, is give us a guide to follow as we live a holy (separate) life, at liberty from the bondage of man made rules and the vain philosophies of this fallen world.
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (ESV)
1 John 2 (1) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (5) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (6) whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)
Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. (KJV)
Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (KJV)
Hebrews 10 (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (KJV)
The Observer
