THE GREATEST QUESTION EVER ASKED
(perfected translation, Matt 19:16-19):
"Rabbi, what good thing must I do to attain eternal life?"
“Now a man came up to Yahushua and asked, ‘Rabbi, what good thing must I do to attain eternal life?’
‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Yahushua replied. ‘There is only One who is good.
If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’
‘Which ones?’ the man inquired.
Yahushua replied, 'You do not murder, you do not commit adultery, you do not steal, you do not give false testimony, you honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” (He was referring to Ex. 20, Deut. 5, Lev. 19).
Everything hinges on whether a person is in the Covenant relationship with Yahuah, or not.
These Commandments are the Covenant, and Yahushua is the Mediator of this Covenant, Who will write them on our hearts if (IF) we repent (turn away from ignoring them), promise to obey Him, accept His atonement for breaking them, and be immersed, calling upon Him in the one Name given among men for salvation (Acts 4:12).
It is NOT unconditional - this is how people are tricked by false teachers. It is definitely conditional.
Many people will cry "legalism!" It is good to be legal, but "lawless" we certainly don't want to be.
BEWARE!
Pastors do not generally answer this greatest question in the same way Yahushua does.
Are the Commandments for Christians, or not? What does Scripture tell us?
What is the "New Covenant" anyway? The word "TORAH" in this article refers to
the Covenant, or Ten Words, and means "instruction". It is also metaphorically referred to
by other words, like Word, Light, Truth, and Living Water. It is, indeed, something that is to be obeyed.
The "law" which is often spoken of by brother Paul in many cases is the CEREMONIAL LAW which dealt with animal sacrifices to remind us of our need for atonement, as well as ceremonial requirements such as adult circumcision. The blood of animals could never cover sin permanently, it only reminded us of the seriousness of sin against Yahuah. Sin is an infinitely great debt, and we could hardly pay the interest on the debt with animal blood! Yahushua stepped into the world to pay our debt in full. The Torah which DEFINES sin is what could be called the MORAL LAW, and it will be in place forever, throughout eternity. Without the Torah, we would be unable to DEFINE sin (see 1 Jn. 3:4). This is a point of stumbling for those who have not yet submitted to Yahuah's RENEWED COVENANT: allowing Yahushua to write the Torah on their hearts (Jer. 31, Heb. 8, 10). The following article may be worth copying and sharing with others who can't easily understand why we SHOULD be obeying the Torah. They must learn how their relationship with Yahushua involves His infusing His Torah into their heart, and this is the circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). Torah is usually translated “law”, but actually means “teaching”. The 10 Commandments are actually our wedding vows - and Israel is Yahuah’s wife.
The Mystery of Iniquity
The Secret of Lawlessness (darkness)
Long ago, when ha shatan joined and corrupted "the Church" from within, things became so twisted and confusing that even educated men found it difficult to detect what was of human design (humanism, man's way), and what was expected of us from the Words of Scripture. During the 4th century, replacement theology was enforced under pain of death, since the Natsarim were displaced by the new Greco-Roman religious powers which were to become "CHRISTIANS", under the moniker “Catholicism” (Universalism). This article may help portray the opposing perspectives between traditional ideas about "the law" contrasted with what Yahuah (
Yod-Hay-Uau-Hay ) really expects of us. Human reasoning, excuses, denial, and simple ignorance have kept the masses from knowing what the real Truth is. Witness and hear if you have been given eyes and ears for understanding the secret of Elohim.The popular way of viewing the Torah was sown by an enemy, but
the unpopular view of Torah was sown by YHWH. Which perspective should a person be faithful to? (See 2 Thess. 2:7-12):Receiving a LOVE FOR THE TRUTH vs.
Receiving a STRONG DELUSION TO BELIEVE "THE LIE"
EPHESIANS 2:8-1
3 EXPLAINS “GRACE” AND “FAITH” IN OPERATION:Through the Covenant, we become "fellow citizens" of ISRAEL. We are saved by "grace" (chasid), the unmerited loving-kindness of YaHUaH, through (by means of) His gift, our FAITH. The classic argument in favor of lawlessness (thinking we don’t have to obey the Commandments / Torah) is that we only have to believe, not obey. Ephesians 2:8-13 is one of Paul's most misunderstood passages (as is most of Galatians), since it can be interpreted to mean that we not only don't have to obey, but if we do obey, we are somehow contributing to “earning” our own salvation, and lessening the importance of Yahushua's blood covering our past sinful, law-breaking life, and trying to save ourselves by obedience. That interpretation results from the way we LOOK at the Scriptures with an "eye filled with darkness" (see context at Luke 11:34).
Looking for excuses to disobey and using Scripture to "prove" such excuses is what Yahushua called having a "dark (lawless) eye". In other words, the outcome is resting on how you "see" or interpret the texts. The result? Your whole body will be filled with darkness (lawlessness), because you will live in disobedience, having your conscience "seared" -- incapable of convicting (or warning) you of your sin, because you "believe the lie". The Torah defines what is sin (1 John 3:4) - but if we are programmed to disobey for whatever reason, thinking what was a sin is no longer a sin because of our “liberty” from the Commandments, we have come under the influence of a serious delusion, and our “seared” conscience will not warn us of the problem. Our liberty is from SIN, not law.
Our faith is YaHUaH's gift to us. We are being saved by the unmerited kindness (grace) of YHWH, THROUGH our faith, which is His gift to us, resulting in our future obedience. Our obedience isn't what saves us, but it is evidence of our faith, and evidence that we are being saved. Our wills are controlled by the TORAH, or "living Word" (Heb. 4) -- which is the mind of the Spirit of Yahushua. Acts 5:32 says that the Spirit (of Yahushua) is only given to those who obey Him. This is "receiving a love for the TRUTH", and since His "WORD", the TORAH, is what TRUTH is, receiving a love for it changes our wills, and the result is we walk in a mind of the Spirit, loving the Commandments. (That is the new Covenant).
TORAH is the Hebrew word which specifically refers to the Covenant, or 10 Commandments at Exodus 20. It is also used to generally refer to the 5 books/scrolls of Mosheh (Moses). The Torah's effect on the world is LOVE for YHWH and others. Rejecting it is hatred, and results in DEATH. Proverbs 1 through 4 calls Torah "her", and we see she is called "Wisdom". Proverbs 8 goes into how "Wisdom" is crying out at the doorposts and gates, where we are to WRITE the Commandments (see Deut. 6:4-9). Fellowship with YaHUah is through the Torah, mediated by Yahushua. Our fellowship with one another is only through this same Covenant; without it, we have no fellowship.
THE LIE IS: BELIEVING THAT OBEDIENCE IS UNNECESSARYThis is the opposite of the New
(or "renewed") CovenantIf we refuse to receive a love for the Truth, His Torah, then He sends us a strong delusion to believe the "LIE" -- that obedience is unnecessary. This is the secret of lawlessness, called the mystery of iniquity. Satan pulled a delusion on the woman in the garden of Eden, leading to disobedience. Simply believing Yahushua died for our sins so that we can continue to disobey and keep on sinning willfully is the very thing Hebrews 10:26-28 directly refutes, as well as the often quoted 10:16,17. Yahushua did not come to "save" us from His Torah.
First: the message of the Kingdom is “REPENT, for the reign of Yahuah draws near.” (stop sinning, and return, turn back to Torah) -- it is a mystery, veiled to those Yahuah does not call. This message is the one our Rabbi Yahushua said over and over, and it is what is called "the gospel". He enables us to love the Commandments by His supernatural power. This is a light yoke, but it comes with worldly costs attached -- persecution for righteousness' sake. His 'beef' with those of His religion in that time was only concerning the things that were ADDED by human tradition, He did not found or invent any NEW religion at all. An Israelite does not have to change his or her religion (walk), but a Gentile must stop being a Gentile, and through the Covenant BECOME an Israelite. Yahushua does this by converting our hearts.
Second: the New Covenant is having the Torah written on our HEARTS, as you will see if you read Jeremiah 31, Hebrews chapters 8 & 10. The same laws (or more accurately "teachings") are written on our hearts by Yahushua's Spirit, enabling us to LOVE them. This is what happened for the first time at "Pentecost" (Shabuoth). This is now our “circumcision”, and it is pictured by our immersion in water (Col. 2:11,12). He said, "If you love Me, keep (observe, obey) My Commandments". When we are convicted of our sinfulness, we are to repent of our sins, and obey. The Torah (10 Commandments) DEFINE what is a sin, 1 John 3:4. Please read 1 John 3:22-24, and see if anything harmonizes with what we're discussing here.
Yahuah's Covenant is clearly for any "foreigner" who joins themselves to Israel -- see Isaiah / (Yesha Yahu) 56. There is no covenant in Scripture with any people but Israel, and Israel is 12 tribes, not only “Jews” (Yahudim). Israel is Yahuah’s wife (or bride). Those observant of Shabbat / Sabbath will be brought to His set-apart mountain, and be among His people (see Is. 56, and 66). Actually, the Sabbath is the "test", to see whether, or not, we will obey His Commandments! (see Exodus 16:4). Reading Acts, you will see “Sabbath” often—and this is not “Sun-day”. The act of resting on Shabbat is the “sign” of the eternal Covenant, and it commemorates CREATION, and shows Yahuah you are His and acknowledge Him as Creator. Try to find in Scripture where "legalism" (according to Torah, not human traditions) is ever a problem for anyone's salvation. Human "legalism" is rampant -- look at "Sun-day", Easter, Christmas, and so on. Easter is Ishtar, the Earth Mother; Christmas was originally the birth of the SUN, and is therefore Satan’s birthday. These things are invented by men, and are not found anywhere in Scripture. If you don't observe them, you're considered strange. They are men's laws, or legalism. It's lawlessness, the ignoring of the Torah (walking in darkness), that will condemn us, and this is what Satan has been so successful in promoting.
You could begin by reading James 1:23, and the entire chapter 2, where "faith" is perfected by "works". We show our faith by our obedience. This is not in conflict with Ephesians 2, because the "gift" is our faith, which enables us to do good works, such as observe the Torah (Eph. 2:10). The unconverted human who is still in the "mind of the flesh" interprets the Scriptures seeking out lawlessness from the dark point of view, and will not submit to the Torah of Yahuah, nor can it do so. But, the mind of the Spirit enables us to obey, because we AGREE with the Torah, and love it. I love the Commandments of Yahuah, and teach them. Yahushua told us that whosoever keeps and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom, but whosoever annuls the least of them will be the least. Romans chapters 6 through 8 will explain the New Covenant to you. The 3 apostles who were “supports” (Gal. 2:9) were James, Peter, and John (their real names were Ya’akob, Kepha, and Yahuchanon). Their letters should have followed Acts, since they are foundational. Paul’s letters refine details, and can easily confuse those who are not well-grounded and taught correctly, as Kepha warned us at 2 Pet.3:15-17 (He said the untaught distort the meaning of Paul’s letters, and become lawless).
The denominations each have their "seminaries" to train young ministers according to their pattern, or LIST OF EXCUSES for NOT OBEYING. How is this any different than what Cain did when he offered vegetables to Yahuah, when Yahuah did not ask for such an offering? Each denomination has their own peculiar list of excuses, and when these excuses are learned well enough by the seminary student, then they are granted their "ordination" to speak for the denomination. When you enter into the New Covenant fully, you will hear ANTI-MESSIAH each time you listen to such men. Seeing with eyes filled with LIGHT (Torah), you will be enabled to LOVE the Torah, and LOVE obeying. Your ears will be opened.
Yahushua is near, ask Him to reveal the Truth to you -- and write His perfect Torah on your heart. Then, you will begin an incredible task He has prepared just for you to go and teach others all He has commanded, and immerse them into His Name, Yahushua. You will see your teachers (the Commandments), and hear a voice behind you, saying "This is the way, walk in it". You will love obeying. Your obedience is your way of showing Yahuah that you love Him, and is evidence of your being saved, and evidence of your faith.
That's being "FAITHFUL" to Yahuah, our Husband. He refers to disobedience and syncretism (mixing) as "harlotry". We can't make up our worship - that's what Cain did.The congregation of Israel has been re-named by men. They now call it "the Church". To get rid of the Commandments, especially that "Jewish" Commandment called "the Sabbath", they had to get rid of "Israel", and pretend "the Church" is now "spiritual Israel". The problem? There's no Scripture to back it up. We who have been awakened and have overcome by the blood of Yahushua know that the lies are predicated on "replacement theology". They believe they have "replaced" Israel, and no longer have to obey the Covenant -- the Everlasting Covenant -- made with Israel. The TRUE Israel of YaHUaH is the wife/bride of Yahushua, and they "keep the Commandments", and will be able to enter into the gates of the city (New Yerushaliyim). Outside will be those who do not obey, called the dogs. There are only two "denominations": dogs, and Israelites, the children of YaHUaH who love and obey Him.
Copy, print, and duplicate this widely as a tract or article any time - author: Lew White
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