Eddie's Books
Quick Jump Menu
Free Audio Teachings
|
Restoring the Two Houses of Israel
CHAPTER 3
G-D'S POWER TWINS: TORAH AND GRACE
In order
for full restoration to come to both the house of Judah (Judaism)
and the house of Israel (Christianity), both houses of Israel
need to understand that the G-d of Israel is a G-d of Torah AND a G-d of
grace/mercy. Corporately speaking, the house of Judah (Judaism)
mainly identifies with the G-d of Israel as being the giver of the Torah
(matan Torah). The house of Israel (Christianity) mainly
identifies with the G-d of Israel as being a G-d of grace/mercy through
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.
The
house of Judah (Judaism) needs to Biblically understand that the G-d
of Israel has expressed His grace/mercy to His people through the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. The house of Israel
(Christianity) needs to Biblically understand that the Torah is the Word
of G-d and the Word of G-d is the Torah and that the Torah goes from
Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation. Furthermore, the house of
Israel (Christianity) needs to understand that the Torah is ETERNAL
and that the G-d of Israel did not do away with His Torah through the
death and resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.
If the G-d of Israel did away with His Torah/Word, He would have to do
away with Himself because the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus
is the Torah/Word of G-d manifested in the flesh. Heaven and earth will
pass away but the Torah/Word of G-d will live and abide FOREVER (Isaiah
[Yeshayahu] 40:8, I Peter [Kefa] 1:23-25).
Because
the house of Israel (Christianity) does not understand that
Biblically the Torah and the Word of G-d are synonymous terms and that
G-d’s Torah/Word goes from Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation,
they have unbiblically embraced a dispensational theology that teaches
that before the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was
the age of law and following the death and resurrection of the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the age of grace. In
this chapter, we will learn that the G-d of Israel has always been a G-d
of Torah AND a G-d of grace/mercy and that the G-d of Israel’s
grace/mercy is mentioned MORE in the TeNaKh (Old Testament) than
in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament). Furthermore, we will
examine what the Biblical term Torah means and the purpose of the G-d of
Israel’s Torah. In our conclusion, we will find that the G-d of Israel
is a G-d of Torah and a G-d of grace/mercy and that the Torah of the G-d
of Israel and the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel are His Power
Twins.
HEBREW AND GREEK WORDS FOR GRACE/MERCY
The Greek
word found in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) translated as
grace in the King James Bible is charis. It is the Strong’s
number 5485 in the Greek dictionary. In the Thayer’s Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament coded to the Strong’s Concordance, it
will tell you that the Greek word charis (5485) corresponds to
the Hebrew word chayn. The Hebrew word chayn is the
Strong’s word 2580 in the Strong’s dictionary. It is most often
translated as grace/favor in the King James Bible.
The Greek
word found in the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) translated as
mercy in the King James Bible is eleos. It is the Strong’s
number 1656 in the Greek dictionary. In the Thayer’s Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament coded to the Strong’s Concordance, it
will tell you that the Greek word eleos (1656) is
related/associated/corresponds to the Hebrew word chesed. The
Hebrew word chesed is the Strong’s word 2617 in the Strong’s
dictionary. It is most often translated as mercy/lovingkindness in the
King James Bible.
Therefore,
the two primary Greek words for grace/mercy found in the Bible are
charis (5485) and eleos (1656). The two primary Hebrew words
for grace/mercy found in the Bible are chayn (2580) and chesed
(2617).
THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS A G-D OF
GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel is a G-d of grace/mercy. It is an attribute/characteristic of
the G-d of Israel Himself. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 9:23-24 it is
written:
" Thus
saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither
let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in
his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise
lovingkindness
[2617/chesed/mercy]…"
In Psalm
(Tehillim) 117 it is written:
" O
praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his
merciful kindness
[2617 / chesed/mercy]
is great toward us: and the truth of
the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord."
THE G-D OF ISRAEL’S GRACE/MERCY
IS ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING
The
grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel is ETERNAL and EVERLASTING. In Psalm
(Tehillim) 103:17-18 it is written:
" But
the
mercy [2617/chesed]
of the Lord is from
everlasting
to everlasting upon them
that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To
such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his
commandments to do them."
In Isaiah
(Yeshayahu) 54:8 it is written:
"… with
everlasting kindness
[2617/chesed] will I have
mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."
THE G-D OF ISRAEL CREATED
THE HEAVENS AND EARTH BY HIS GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel created the heavens and the earth by His grace/mercy. In Psalm
(Tehillim) 136:1, 6-9 it is written:
" O
give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever … to him that stretched out the earth above the
waters: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever. To him that made great lights: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: The sun to rule by
day: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever."
NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF G-D
Noah
found grace in the eyes of the G-d of Israel. In Genesis (Bereishit)
6:8 it is written:
" But
Noah found
grace
[2580/chayn] in the eyes of
the Lord."
G-D SHOWED GRACE/MERCY TO JOSEPH
The G-d
of Israel found grace/mercy with Joseph (Yosef). In Genesis
(Bereishit)
39:21 it is written:
" But
the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him
mercy
[2617/chesed] and
give him
favor
[2580/chayn/grace] in the
sight of the keeper of the prison."
G-D SAVES THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
OUT OF EGYPT BY HIS GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel saved/delivered His people out of Egypt (Mitzrayim) by
His grace/mercy. In Exodus (Shemot) 3:15-16, 20-21 it is written:
" And
God said moreover unto Moses … Go, and gather the elders of Israel
together, and say unto them … And I will stretch out my hand, and
smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof
… and I will give this people
favor
[2580/chayn/grace]
in the sight of the Egyptians…"
In Psalm
(Tehillim) 136:10-15 it is written:
" To
him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm:
for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for
his
mercy [2617/chesed]
endureth forever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever."
THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL ARE LED THROUGH
THE WILDERNESS BY THE GRACE/MERCY OF G-D
The G-d
of Israel led the children of Israel through the wilderness by His
grace/mercy. In Psalm (Tehillim) 136:16 it is written:
" To
him which led his people through the wilderness: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever."
The
"rock" which led the children of Israel through the wilderness was the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In I Corinthians
10:1-4 it is written:
" Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And
were all baptized [mikvah/immersed]
unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same
spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was
Christ."
In
Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:2-3, it is written:
" Thus
saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found
grace
[2580/chayn]
in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved
thee with an everlasting love: therefore with
lovingkindness
[2617/chesed/mercy] have I
drawn thee."
MOSES FINDS GRACE/MERCY IN G-D’S SIGHT
Moses
(Moshe) found grace/mercy in the sight of the G-d of Israel. In
Exodus (Shemot) 33:11-13, 17 it is written:
" And
the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his
friend … And Moses said unto the Lord … yet thou hast said, I know
thee by name, and thou hast also found
grace
[2580/chayn] in my
sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found
grace
[2580/chayn] in thy sight,
show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find
grace
[2580/chayn] in thy sight:
and consider that this nation is thy people …And the Lord said unto
Moses … for thou hast found
grace
[2580/chayn] in my
sight, and I know thee by name."
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DEFEAT
THEIR ENEMIES AND CONQUER THE PROMISED LAND
BY THE GRACE/MERCY OF G-D
The
children of Israel defeated their enemies and conquered the Promised
Land by the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel. In Psalm (Tehillim)
136:1, 17-22, 24 it is written:
" O
give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever … to him which smote great kings: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: And slew famous
kings: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed]
endureth forever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever: And gave their land for a heritage: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever: Even a heritage unto Israel his servant: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever … And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his
mercy
[2617/chesed] endureth
forever."
G-D PROMISES DAVID’S SEED GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel promised David that He would have grace/mercy upon His seed
forever. In II Samuel (Shmu’el) 7:4,8, 12-16 it is written:
" And
it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto
Nathan, saying … Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant
David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote,
from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel …
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out
of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a
house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit
iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the
stripes of the children of men: But my
mercy
[2617/chesed] shall not
depart away from him … and thine house and thy kingdom shall be
established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established
forever."
In Psalm
(Tehillim) 89:1-4, 24, 28-36 it is written:
" I
will sing of the
mercies
[2617/chesed] of the
Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to
all generations. For I have said,
Mercy
[2617/chesed] shall
be built up forever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the
very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn
unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build
up thy throne to all generations. Selah. … my faithfulness and my
mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be
exalted … My
mercy
[2617/chesed] will I
keep for him forevermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the
days of heaven. If his children forsake my law
[Torah],
and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep
not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the
rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my
lovingkindness
[2617/chesed/mercy] will I
not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My
covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of
my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto
David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun
before me."
DAVID’S SINS ARE FORGIVEN
BY THE GRACE/MERCY OF G-D
David’s
sins were forgiven by the G-d of Israel by His grace/mercy upon David
when he repented of his sins. In Psalm (Tehillim) 25:6-7, 51:1-2
it is written:
" Remember,
O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy
lovingkindnesses
[2617/chesed/mercy]; for
they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor
my transgressions: according to thy
mercy
[2617/chesed]
remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord … Have mercy upon
me, O God, according to thy
lovingkindness
[2617/chesed]:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse
me from my sin."
In Psalm
(Tehillim) 86:5 it is written:
" For
you, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in
mercy
[2617/chesed]
unto all them that call upon thee."
THE HOUSE OF JUDAH WAS PRESERVED
IN BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY AND BUILT
THE TEMPLE BY THE GRACE/MERCY OF G-D
The
house of Judah (Judaism/Southern Kingdom) was preserved in
Babylonian captivity and a remnant from the house of Judah
(Judaism/Southern Kingdom) returned to the land of Israel to rebuild the
Temple (Beit HaMikdash) in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah because
of the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel upon His people. In Ezra 9:7-9
it is written:
" Since
the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this
day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests,
been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the
sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it
is this day. And now for a little space
grace
has been showed from the Lord
our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in
his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a
little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen; yet our God
hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended
mercy
[2617/chesed] unto us in
the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up
the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to
give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem."
THE G-D OF ISRAEL IS MARRIED
TO HIS PEOPLE IN GRACE/MERCY
When the
G-d of Israel entered into a marriage covenant with His people, He
became betrothed unto them in grace/mercy. In Hosea (Hoshea)
2:19-20 it is written:
" And
I will betroth [marry]
thee unto me forever; yea, I will
betroth [marry]
thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in
lovingkindness
[2617/chesed], and
in
mercies. I will even
betroth [marry]
thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord."
G-D WILL SAVE/REDEEM THE HOUSE OF
DAVID THROUGH THE MESSIAH BY HIS GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel will save/redeem the house of David through the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus by His grace/mercy. In
Zechariah (Zecharyah) 12:9-10 it is written:
" And
it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all
the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the
house of David,
and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the
spirit of grace
[2580/chayn] and of
supplications: and they shall look upon me
whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and
shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
firstborn."
THE G-D OF ISRAEL HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A G-D
OF GRACE/MERCY
The G-d
of Israel has ALWAYS been a G-d of grace/mercy. The death and
resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus
did not usher in the age of grace. The grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel
has always been from everlasting to everlasting.
Grace/mercy
is an attribute/characteristic of the G-d of Israel Himself. The G-d of
Israel showed grace/mercy to Noah, Joseph (Yosef), Moses
(Moshe) and David. The G-d of Israel forgave the sins of the
children of Israel because of His grace/mercy toward them. The G-d of
Israel forgave the sins of David because of His grace/mercy toward
David. The G-d of Israel made an eternal covenant with David that His
grace/mercy would be upon David’s seed forever.
The G-d
of Israel created the heavens and the earth because His grace/mercy
endures forever. He redeemed the children of Israel from Egypt (Mitzrayim)
because of His grace/mercy toward His people in remembrance of His
covenant with Abraham (Avraham). The G-d of Israel led the
children of Israel in the wilderness and gave them victory over their
enemies in the wilderness and in the Promised Land because of His
grace/mercy toward His people.
THE G-D OF ISRAEL REDEEMED HIS
PEOPLE
FROM EGYPT BY HIS GRACE/MERCY
After
studying in this chapter the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel and
realizing that the G-d of Israel is a G-d of grace/mercy throughout the
entire TeNaKh (Old Testament), it should be easy for us to
understand the Biblical truth that the G-d of Israel saved/redeemed the
children of Israel from Egypt (Mitzrayim) by His grace/mercy and
brought them to mount Sinai to show them how He wanted them to live
their daily lives in obedience to the G-d of Israel AFTER they were
saved/redeemed by His grace/mercy. The children of Israel were NEVER
saved/redeemed/delivered from their enemies because they kept the Torah
and deserved to be saved/redeemed/delivered. However, they were ALWAYS
redeemed/delivered/saved because of the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel
toward His people.
THE TORAH IS ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING
Just as
we have seen that the grace/mercy of the G-d of Israel is eternal and
everlasting, in the last part of this chapter, we will see that the
Torah of the G-d of Israel is also eternal and everlasting. We will
discover that in traditional Hebraic/Jewish thought, "Torah" and the
"Word of G-d" are synonymous terms. Therefore, the G-d of Israel’s Torah
is from Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation. The age of law did not
end with the death and resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus because the Torah/Word of G-d lives and abides
forever.
Next, let
us examine the meaning and purpose of the Torah of the G-d of Israel and
why the Torah of the G-d of Israel should be important to every believer
in Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach). By
embracing the Biblical truth that the Torah of the G-d of Israel is
eternal and everlasting, the G-d of Israel can bring restoration and
reconciliation to both houses of Israel.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF TORAH?
Probably
one of the most misunderstood words in the entire Bible to the house
of Israel (Christianity) is the word LAW. In reality, the word LAW
is a very poorly translated and misrepresented word to describe the
Hebrew word, TORAH. When most believers in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus from the house of Israel (Christianity) hear
the word, TORAH, they take two steps backward and put up a religious
wall against any member from the house of Israel (Christianity)
who would mention the word TORAH or who would suggest that we need to
live our lives according to the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In
fact, most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) view
the Torah with the attitude, "We are not under the Law, we are
New Testament believers in the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus and under grace."
WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
It is a
Biblical truth that we are NOT saved/redeemed/delivered from our sins by
keeping the Torah of the G-d of Israel. We are saved/redeemed/delivered
by grace (2580/chayn)/mercy (2617/chesed) through faith
(emunah) and salvation/redemption is a FREE gift from the G-d of
Israel. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it is written:
" For by
grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
However,
the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) tells us in Romans 3:28, 31 that
AFTER we are saved/redeemed/delivered, we are to uphold/keep the
Torah of the G-d of Israel as it is written:
" Therefore
we conclude that
a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law ... Do we then make void the
law through faith? God
forbid: yea,
we establish the law
[Torah]."
TORAH MEANS INSTRUCTION
While it
is true that we are not saved/redeemed/delivered on our own merit by our
own ability through keeping the Torah of the G-d of Israel, the house
of Israel (Christianity) must know and understand WHAT the word,
TORAH, means. The word Law is the Hebrew word, TORAH. It is the Strong’s
word 8451 in the Hebrew Concordance. The best meaning of the word,
TORAH, is "teaching or instruction." The word TORAH does not mean
salvation/redemption/deliverance but rather "teaching or instruction."
There is a word in the Bible that means "salvation." The English
word, Jesus, is the Hebrew word, Yeshua. The Hebrew word
Yeshua means "salvation." This was the role of the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus when He came to the earth
at His first coming as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as
Messiah ben Joseph (Yosef). In Matthew (Mattityahu) 1:21
it is written:
" And
she [Mary]
shall bring forth a son, and thou
shalt shall call his name
JESUS
[Yeshua in Hebrew]:
for he shall
SAVE
his people from their sins."
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF G-D’S TORAH?
From
this, we can understand that YESHUA/JESUS means SALVATION and TORAH
means INSTRUCTION. Therefore, the Torah was NEVER meant by the G-d of
Israel to be a means of salvation for His people. The G-d of Israel’s
only salvation for His people is by His grace/mercy (chesed)
through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus!
TORAH DOES NOT MEAN LAW
Because
there is no proper corresponding word in Greek or English for the Hebrew
word, TORAH, it is commonly translated as "law." Law implies a
set of do’s and don’ts intended to imprison people when they are broken.
However, the G-d of Israel gave the Hebrew language to communicate His
spiritual truths. In fact, the G-d of Israel calls Hebrew a pure
language (Zephaniah 3:9). This truth is beautifully understood when we
do a Biblical word study of the Hebrew word, TORAH.
THE TORAH IS G-D’S INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TO LIVE OUR LIVES
The word
Torah, which is the Strong’s word 8451 in the Hebrew dictionary,
comes from the Hebrew word, "Yarah." The Hebrew word, "Yarah"
is the Strong’s word 3384. The meaning of the word, "Yarah" is
"to teach, to point out as aiming the finger, to lay a foundation."
By examining the Hebrew meaning of the word, TORAH, we can understand
that the word Torah means, "to instruct, to teach, to point
out as aiming the finger, to lay a foundation."
So, the
Torah should be correctly seen as the G-d of Israel’s INSTRUCTION tool
to TEACH His people HOW to live their lives AFTER they are
saved/redeemed/delivered. The TORAH should be seen as a foundation for
our lives and a foundation for understanding the entire Bible.
Therefore, the most basic understanding of the meaning of Torah
is "instruction for the purpose of teaching done by pointing out or
aiming the finger." The G-d of Israel’s purpose in giving the
Torah to His people is to "lay a foundation" and to
communicate His spiritual truths to His people regarding the principles
of the Kingdom of Heaven (Malkut Shamayim) and His redemptive
plan for all of mankind.
While
members from the house of Judah (Judaism) and from the house
of Israel (Christianity) who are saved by the grace/mercy (chesed)
of the G-d of Israel through faith (emunah) in the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus without the deeds of the
law will go to heaven (olam haba),
salvation/redemption/deliverance by the G-d of Israel by his grace/mercy
(chesed) does not give His people the freedom to neglect the
TORAH of the G-d of Israel because the TORAH is the G-d of Israel’s
INSTRUCTION MANUAL for members of His body to conduct and live their
lives in obedience (shema) to the G-d of Israel AFTER they are
saved/redeemed/delivered.
G-D’S TORAH IS FROM GENESIS TO
REVELATION
EVERYTHING
in the Bible was divinely ordained by the G-d of Israel to teach or
instruct His people about the spiritual truths of His Kingdom. In Romans
15:4 it is written:
" For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have
hope."
ALL
Scripture is divinely inspired by the G-d of Israel. In II Timothy 3:16
it is written:
" All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness."
It should
be understood that when the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) wrote this
letter and made the statement that "ALL Scripture is given by
inspiration of God," he was talking about the TeNaKh (Old
Testament) INCLUDING the TORAH. The Brit Hadashah (New Testament)
was not yet canonized when the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) wrote
this letter.
G-D’S TORAH IS THE WORD OF G-D
The G-d
of Israel’s Torah is His Word. The "Torah" and the "Word of
G-d" are synonymous terms in the Bible. Most members from the
house of Israel (Christianity) view the "TORAH" as the first five
books of the Bible but "The Word of God" as the entire Bible from
Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation. However, in Isaiah (Yeshayahu)
2:3, we see an example where the Torah and the Word of God
are used interchangeably as it is written:
" And
many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion
shall go forth the law
[TORAH],
and the
WORD OF THE LORD
from Jerusalem."
In this
verse, we can see an example of Hebrew parallelism. "Out of Zion
shall go forth the Torah" is the same as "The Word of
the Lord from Jerusalem." Therefore, from this example, we can
see that the Torah and the Word of the L-rd are used synonymously in the
Bible.
Another
example where we can see the word TORAH used interchangeably with the
WORD OF THE LORD is in Psalm 119. In Psalm (Tehillim) 119:97 it
is written:
" O how
love I thy law [Torah]!
it is my meditation all the day."
In Psalm
(Tehillim) 119:105 it is written:
" Thy
word is a lamp
unto my feet, and a light unto my
path."
Once
again, we can see from the example in Psalm (Tehillim) 119 that
in one verse, David refers to the TORAH and in verses following he
refers to the WORD OF GOD. Therefore, in a strict interpretation of the
meaning of the word, TORAH, the Torah is the first five books of the
Bible. However, in a broad sense, everything in the Bible from Genesis
(Bereishit) to Revelation should be seen as the G-d of Israel’s
TORAH or instruction to His people.
WHAT WAS THE TREE OF LIFE
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN?
When the
G-d of Israel created Adam and Eve (Chavah), He placed them in
the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). In the middle of the Garden of
Eden (Gan Eden) was the "Tree of Life." (Genesis [Bereishit]
2:9). What was the tree of life (etz chayim) that the G-d of
Israel planted in the middle of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden)?
The Tree of Life (etz chayim) is the Torah! In Proverbs (Mishlei)
3:1, 18 it is written:
" My
son, forget not my
law [TORAH];
but let thine heart
keep my commandments ... She is a
tree of life
to them that lay hold upon
her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
THE TORAH IS MORE DESIRED THAN FINE
GOLD
The G-d
of Israel said that His Torah is to be more desired than fine gold. In
Psalm (Tehillim) 19:7-8, 10 it is written:
" The
law
[TORAH] of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes ...
More to be desired are they than gold,
yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
THE TORAH IS THE TREE OF LIFE
Those
members of the family (mishpochah) of the G-d of Israel who
delight in the TORAH of the G-d of Israel and meditate in His TORAH day
and night are like a tree planted by the rivers of water. In Psalm (Tehillim)
1:1-3 it is written:
" Blessed
is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth
in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But
his
delight
is in the
law
[TORAH] OF THE LORD;
and in his
law
[TORAH] doth he
meditate day and night.
And he shall be like
a tree planted by the rivers
of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not whither; and whatsoever he doeth
shall prosper."
In these
verses we can see that a member of the family of the G-d of Israel who
delights himself in the TORAH of the L-rd and meditates day and night in
the TORAH is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. In Revelation
22:1-2, the tree planted by the rivers of water is the tree of life as
it is written:
" And
he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of
the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the
tree of life,
which bare twelve manner of
fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree
were for the
healing of the nations."
Furthermore,
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus told the
members of His body that those who DO His commandments (Torah) will have
right to the tree of life. In Revelation 22:14 it is written:
" Blessed
are they that
do his commandments,
that they may have right to
the
tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates
into the city."
THE PAGES OF THE TORAH SCROLL
ARE CALLED LEAVES
In
Revelation 22:2, we are told that the LEAVES of the tree of life
(Torah) are for the healing of the nations. The pages of the
Torah scroll are called leaves. An example of pages of a scroll
being called leaves can be found in Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 36:21,
23 it is written:
" So
the king sent Jehudi to fetch
the roll …
and it came to pass, that when
Jehudi had
read three or four leaves…"
Therefore,
from these scripture verses we can understand the following:
- The tree of life that was planted in the Garden of Eden (Gan
Eden) was the Torah.
- G-d’s Torah is worth far above pure gold.
- G-d’s Torah is for the healing of the nations.
- Those who keep the Torah of the G-d of Israel have right to
the tree of life.
ABRAHAM: THE FATHER OF OUR FAITH
In Romans
4:16, Abraham (Avraham) is called the father of our faith (emunah).
Why did the G-d of Israel choose Abraham (Avraham) and why is
Abraham (Avraham) called the father of our faith (emunah)?
The G-d of Israel chose Abraham (Avraham) because G-d knew that
Abraham (Avraham) would teach his children the Torah of the G-d
of Israel. In Genesis (Bereishit) 18:18-19 it is written:
" Seeing
that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all
the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him,
that he will command his children and his household after him, and
they shall keep the way of
the Lord [the Torah],
to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham
that which he hath spoken of him."
Abraham
(Avraham) kept the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In Genesis (Bereishit)
26:5 it is written:
" Because
that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments,
my statutes, and my
laws [TORAH]."
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TORAH?
Listed
below are seven purposes of the Torah of the G-d of Israel. They are as
follows:
- Teaches and reveals the Divine nature of G-d.
- G-d is Holy (Leviticus 19:2).
- G-d is Love (I John 4:7-8).
- G-d is Gracious, Righteous, Merciful (Psalm 116:5).
- G-d is Light (I John 1:5).
- Teaches and reveals sin (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:10, James
2:10, I John 3:4).
- Teaches and reveals man’s need to have a Messiah (Mashiach)
(Romans 10:4). "End" in Greek means "Goal/Target."
- Teaches and reveals the G-d of Israel’s redemptive plan
through the Messiah (Mashiach) (Psalm 40:6-7, Hebrews
10:5-7, Luke 24:36, 44).
- Teaches and reveals that man is saved/redeemed/delivered by
the grace/mercy (chesed) of the G-d of Israel by faith
(emunah) and not by the deeds of the law (Romans 3:20, 24,
28, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Teaches and reveals the difference between the life of the
Spirit (the Torah written upon a heart of flesh) and the life of
the flesh/evil inclination (the Torah written upon a heart of
stone) (Romans 8:1-3, 5-9).
- Teaches us how to grow from spiritual babies to spiritual
maturity (Genesis 17:1, Psalm 19:7-8, Psalm 119:1-2, Ephesians
4:11-15, Hebrews 5:12-14).
TORAH MEANS A FOUNDATION
As
mentioned earlier in this chapter, Torah comes from the Hebrew word,
"Yarah" which means "to lay a foundation." The prophets (Nevi’im)
and writings (Ketuvim) build upon that foundation. Spiritually,
the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the LIVING TORAH
and the G-d of Israel’s FIRM FOUNDATION to all that believe upon Him. In
Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 28:16 it is written:
" Therefore
thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a
foundation a stone,
a tried stone, a precious
corner stone, a
sure foundation;
he that believeth shall not make haste."
The firm
foundation and chief cornerstone of the G-d of Israel’s Kingdom is the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. He is the living
Torah. This foundation is built upon by the prophets (Nevi’im)
and apostles. In Ephesians 2:19-20 it is written:
" Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ
himself being
the chief corner stone."
WHAT METHOD DID G-D USE
TO COMMUNICATE HIS TORAH
The G-d
of Israel gave us the understanding of the ways of His Kingdom in the
form of spiritual pictures, blueprints or shadows. In other words, the
literal or natural world (peshat) was given to communicate the
spiritual world (sod). Therefore, the G-d of Israel spoke His
Torah to His people through different mechanisms including:
- Parables (Psalm 78:1-4, Mark 4:10-13)
- Deep or dark sayings/mysteries (sod) (Proverbs 1:1-6,
1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 14)
- Spiritual blueprints/shadows (Ezekiel 43:10-12, Colossians
2:16-17)
The Torah
of the G-d of Israel was given in the form of parables, deep sayings and
spiritual blueprints, so that His Word would be fulfilled concerning the
righteous (tzaddikim) and the wicked. Those who would obey (shema)
the greatest commandment (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 6:4-9, Mark
12:28-31) in Spirit and in truth (John [Yochanan] 4:24) would
know and understand the ways of the G-d of Israel. However, the wicked
would consider the things of the G-d of Israel as foolishness (I
Corinthians 2:14).
THE FOUR LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
TORAH/G-D’S WORD
- Peshat — Literal
- Ramez — One scripture tied to another scripture
- Derash — Derived interpretation of scripture through
exegesis and spiritual applications
- Sod — Deeper spiritual meaning (dark sayings, mysteries) of
the scripture not seen at its surface meaning
HOW DO WE GROW
IN THE KNOWLEDGE (TORAH) OF G-D?
The G-d
of Israel supernaturally begins to reveal Himself and the principles of
His Kingdom whenever we obey (shema) the greatest commandment to
love the G-d of Israel with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
(Deuteronomy [Devarim] 6:4-5, Mark 12:28-31) By obeying the
greatest commandment, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) will lead
us so that we can grow into spiritual maturity (tamim). This
spiritual growth is designed by the G-d of Israel to be in a step by
step fashion, building upon the foundation of the Torah. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu)
28:9-10, it is written:
" Whom
shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the
breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
It is the
desire of the G-d of Israel that after we are saved/redeemed/delivered
by His grace/mercy (chesed) through faith (emunah) that we
grow in the knowledge (da’at) and understanding (binah) of
the ways of His Kingdom "line upon line" and "precept upon
precept." In doing so, the G-d of Israel desires that we grow from
spiritual babies to spiritual maturity (tamim). In Hebrews
5:12-14 it is written:
" For
when for the time ye ought to be teachers
[rabbis],
ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become
such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For every one that
useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a
babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern
both good and evil."
WHAT IS THE NEW COVENANT?
Most
members from the house of Israel (Christianity) associate the Old
Testament (the Biblical name is TeNaKh - Torah, Prophets [Nevi’im],
and Writings [Ketuvim — Luke 24:44]) with the Torah, but
they do not associate the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) with the
Torah. At the same time, most members from the house of Israel
(Christianity) fail to realize that the BIBLE tells us that the New
Testament (Brit Hadashah) is TORAH based !!
THE NEW COVENANT IS TORAH BASED
The New
Covenant (Brit Hadashah) is Torah based. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu)
31:31, 33, it is written:
" Behold,
the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a
NEW COVENANT
with the house of Israel and
with the house of Judah ...
THIS SHALL BE THE COVENANT
that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
law
[TORAH] in their inward
parts, and
WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS;
and will be their God,
and they shall be my people."
The book
of Hebrews confirms that the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is a
witness that the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) is the TORAH
written upon our hearts. In Hebrews 10:15-16 it is written:
" Whereof
the
HOLY GHOST [SPIRIT]
also
IS A WITNESS
to us: for after that he had
said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after
those days, saith the Lord, I will put
my laws
[TORAH] into their
hearts,
and in their minds will I write them."
G-D DID NOT DO AWAY WITH THE LAW
Why was
the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) necessary? Did the G-d of Israel
find fault with His Torah? NO !! The G-d of Israel could not find fault
with His Torah because He is the giver of the Torah. Therefore, if the
G-d of Israel found fault with His Torah, He would have to find fault
with Himself. So, what did the G-d of Israel need to change when He
ushered in the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah)? The G-d of Israel
didn’t want to change His Torah because His Torah is a Tree of Life (etz
chayim) and the Torah is eternal. However, the G-d of Israel desired
to change the HEARTS of His people. We can understand this truth in
Hebrews 8:7-8 as it is written:
" For
if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no
place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with
THEM,
he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a
new covenant
with the
house of Israel AND
with the
house of Judah..."
Therefore,
the G-d of Israel did not find fault with the Torah that HE gave at
mount Sinai. However, He did find fault with the HEARTS of the people
who received His Torah!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE OLDER AND NEWER COVENANT?
Because
most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) believe that
the G-d of Israel did away with His Torah after the death and
resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus,
they do not understand the difference between the older and newer
covenant (Brit Hadashah). Most members from the house of
Israel (Christianity) believe that the G-d of Israel found fault
with the TORAH given at mount Sinai and for this reason the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus needed to come at His
first coming as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah
ben Joseph (Yosef).
However,
as stated earlier, since the G-d of Israel was the giver of the Torah at
mount Sinai, if the G-d of Israel found fault with the Torah then He
would have to find fault with Himself. By understanding that BOTH the
older covenant and the newer covenant (Brit Hadashah) is Torah
based, we can understand that the G-d of Israel found fault with the
RECEIVERS of the Torah and the HEARTS of the children of Israel. So, if
both the older covenant and the newer covenant (Brit Hadashah) is
Torah based, what is the difference between the two covenants?
- The Older Covenant = Torah written upon a heart of stone
- The Newer Covenant = Torah written upon a heart of flesh
The problem with the First Covenant was the
HEARTS of the PEOPLE who RECEIVED the Torah, NOT THE TORAH!
THE OLDER COVENANT WAS THE TORAH
WRITTEN UPON A HEART OF STONE
When the
G-d of Israel gives His Torah/Word, the target/destination of His
Torah/Word is the human heart. The older covenant was written on a
heart (tablets) of stone. Therefore, the G-d of Israel desired to
bring forth a newer (renewed) covenant (Brit Hadashah) so that
His Torah could be written upon a heart of flesh. We can
understand this truth in Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 36:26-27 as it is
written:
" A
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you: and I will
take away
the
stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will
give you
a
heart of flesh.
And I will put
my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
WHAT IS A STONY HEART?
The
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus explained to us the
characteristics of a stony heart in the parable known as the parable of
the sower. In Mark 4:3-6 it is written:
" Hearken;
Behold, there went out
a sower to sow:
And it came to pass, as he
sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and
devoured it up. And some fell on
stony ground,
where it had not much
earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of
earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had
no root,
it withered away."
In Mark
4:14-17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus
explains the parable and the meaning of the stony ground (heart) as it
is written:
" The
sower soweth the word
[Torah]. And these
are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have
heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the
word
[Torah]
that was sown
in their hearts.
And these are they likewise which are sown on
stony ground;
who, when they have
heard the
word [Torah],
immediately receive it
with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time:
afterward, when
affliction or persecution
ariseth for the
word’s
[Torah]
sake, immediately they are
offended."
Therefore,
what are the characteristics of a stony heart according to the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus?
- Hears the Word
- Receives the Word with gladness
- No root/endures for a time
- When affliction and persecution arises for the Torah/Word’s
sake they are offended and turn away
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RECEIVED
THE TORAH UPON A STONY HEART
When the
G-d of Israel gave His Torah to the children of Israel through Moses
(Moshe) at mount Sinai, they heard the Torah/Word and received it
with gladness (Mark 4:16). In Exodus (Shemot) 24:3 it is written:
" And
Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all
the judgments: and all
the people answered
with one voice, and said,
All the words
which
the Lord hath said will we
do."
The joy
and gladness of the hearts of the children of Israel to receive and obey
the Word/Torah of the G-d of Israel is seen in a greater dimension by
understanding the Hebrew meaning of the phrase, "All the words which
the Lord has said will we do." In Hebrew the phrase reads, "Na’aseh
v’Nishmah," which means, "We agree to do even before we have
heard/listened !!"
The heart
of the children of Israel was so eager to please the G-d of Israel that
when the G-d of Israel said "Will you ..." the people said, YES!
even before they heard/knew what the G-d of Israel was going to request
of them. This should be the ATTITUDE of every member from the
house of Israel (Christianity) and the house of Judah
(Judaism)!! What the children of Israel lacked was the POWER of the
indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to fulfill their initial
conviction to love and serve the G-d of Israel with all their heart,
mind, soul and strength.
In Mark
4:17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught
that a stony heart becomes offended by affliction and persecution. This
is exactly what happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness.
Time after time they were tempted in the wilderness and became offended
by their trials and tribulations and desired to return to Egypt (Mitzrayim).
When the
twelve spies were sent to explore the land of Canaan, ten spies came
back with an evil report that the children of Israel were not able to
take the land of Canaan even though the G-d of Israel promised Abraham
(Avraham) that He would give the descendents of Abraham (Avraham)
the land of Canaan as their eternal inheritance. Therefore, the ten
spies and those who believed their evil report became offended at the
promise of the G-d of Israel to Abraham (Avraham) and desired to
return to Egypt (Mitzrayim). In Numbers (Bamidbar) 14:1-4
it is written:
" And
all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the
people wept that night. And all the children of Israel
murmured
against Moses and against
Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them,
Would God that we had died
in the land of Egypt!
Or would God we had died in this
wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land,
to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a
prey?
were it not better for us to return
into Egypt?
And they said one to another, Let us
make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."
This is
the characteristic of a stony heart. The children of Israel received the
Torah of the G-d of Israel with gladness (Exodus [Shemot] 24:3),
however, when they encountered the trials and tribulations of the
wilderness and they viewed with their natural eyes the giants in the
land of Canaan, they became offended by the promise of the G-d of Israel
to Abraham (Avraham) and desired to return to Egypt (Mitzrayim).
A stony
heart rejects the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel. In Zechariah (Zecharyah)
7:11-12 it is written:
" But
they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped
their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their
hearts
as an
adamant stone
lest they should hear the law
[TORAH],
and the
WORDS
which the Lord of hosts hath sent in
his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from
the Lord of hosts."
The Ten
Commandments were written on tablets (hearts) of stone (Exodus [Shemot]
24:12, 31:18, Deuteronomy [Devarim] 4:13-14, 5:22, 9:10-11).
A HEART OF STONE CANNOT OVERCOME
THE FLESH
(SIN NATURE/EVIL INCLINATION)
A stony
heart exemplifies the characteristics of our sin nature (evil
inclination) inherited from Adam and rejects the TORAH/Word of the
G-d of Israel. The newer (renewed) covenant (Brit Hadashah) was
needed because in the older covenant the heart of stone could not
overcome the sin nature of the flesh (evil inclination). The
problem in the older covenant was not the Torah because the Torah is the
tree of life! (etz chayim) Therefore, what the G-d of Israel
wanted to do away with was a HEART OF STONE and NOT THE TORAH. The G-d
of Israel desired to replace the Torah written upon a heart of stone
with the Torah written upon a heart of flesh. The G-d of Israel wanted
to do this by putting His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) within us
so that we would have HIS POWER to live our lives and follow our good
inclinations rather than our evil inclinations. In doing this, the G-d
of Israel desired to change the HEARTS of His people not His Torah
because His Torah is eternal!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A HEART OF STONE AND A HEART OF FLESH?
The Torah
given at mount Sinai was written upon a heart (tablets) of stone.
A heart of stone does not have the power to overcome the flesh (evil
inclination). The newer (renewed) covenant (Brit Hadashah) is
the Torah written upon a heart of flesh. A heart of flesh has the power
to overcome the desires of the flesh and our sin nature (evil
inclination). The difference between a heart of stone (which cannot
overcome our sin nature [evil inclination]) and a heart of flesh
(which can overcome the desires of our sin nature (evil inclination)
by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) dwelling in our
hearts) is the message that the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) is
trying to communicate to us in Romans 8:2-10 as it is written:
" For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
[a heart of flesh]
hath made me free from the law of sin
and death [a heart
of stone]. For what
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh
[a heart of stone],
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh
[a heart of stone]:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
[a heart of flesh].
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh
[a heart of stone]:
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit
[a heart of flesh].
For to be carnally minded is death
[a heart of stone];
but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace [a heart of flesh].
Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God
[a heart of stone]:
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So
then they that are in the flesh
[a heart of stone]
cannot please God. But ye are not
[have not been given a stony heart]
in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
[a heart of flesh],
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell
in you [a heart of
flesh]. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ
[a heart of flesh],
he is none of his. And if Christ be
in you [a heart of
flesh], the body is
dead because of sin
[a heart of stone]:
but the Spirit is life because of righteousness
[a heart of flesh]."
The
difference between the older covenant (which is the Torah written
upon a heart of stone) and the newer (renewed) covenant (which is
the Torah written upon a heart of flesh) is the difference between
two natures within us (our good inclination and our evil inclination).
The Torah written upon a heart of stone is the nature of the flesh
(evil inclination). The Torah written upon a heart of flesh follows
after the nature of the Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) of the G-d of
Israel (good inclination). This is the message being communicated
by the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) in Galatians 4:22-26, 29 as it
is written:
" For
it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the
other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born
after the flesh [a heart of stone];
but he of the free woman was by
promise [a heart of
flesh]. Which things
are an allegory: for these are two covenants
[or two natures];
the one from the mount Sinai, which
engendereth to bondage which is Agar
[a heart of stone].
For this Agar is mount Sinai in
Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage
with her children [a
heart of stone]. But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all
[a heart of flesh]
... But as then he that was born
after the flesh [a heart of stone]
persecuted him that was
born after the Spirit
[a heart of flesh],
even so it is now."
In Romans
7, the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) tells us that the Torah is holy
and the commandments are holy, just, good, and spiritual. He also tells
us that the Torah bears fruit after the INWARD man. In Romans 7:12,14,
22 it is written:
" Wherefore
the
LAW [TORAH]
IS HOLY,
and the commandment holy, and just, and good ... For we know that
the
LAW [TORAH]
IS SPIRITUAL:
but I am carnal, sold under sin ... For I delight in the
LAW
[TORAH] of God after
the
INWARD MAN."
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NEWER
COVENANT?
The newer
(renewed) covenant is the TORAH written upon a heart of flesh (Jeremiah
[Yermiyahu] 31:33). This would be accomplished by the G-d of
Israel putting His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) within us so that
His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) can teach G-d’s people how to
walk in the ways of the G-d of Israel, keep His Torah and be obedient
(shema) to His commandments. In Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 11:19-20
it is written:
" And
I will give them one heart, and I will put a
new spirit within you;
and I will take the stony
heart out of their flesh, and will give them a
heart of flesh:
That they may
walk in my statutes,
and
keep mine ordinances,
and
do them:
and they shall be my people, and I
will be their God."
A stony
heart brings death but a heart of flesh brings life. This is what the
Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) was talking about in 2 Corinthians 3:3,
6 as it is written:
" Forasmuch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered
by us, written not with ink, but with the
Spirit of the living God;
not in tablets of
stone, but in
fleshly tables of the heart
... Who also hath made us able
ministers of the
new testament;
not of the letter, but of the
spirit: for the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life."
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN THE NEWER COVENANT?
- The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is a witness that
the Newer Covenant = Torah written upon our heart (Jeremiah
31:31, 33, Hebrews 10:15-16).
- The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) was sent into the
earth to teach us the TRUTH of the ways of the G-d of Israel’s
Kingdom (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:13).
- What is the TRUTH? The G-d of Israel’s Torah/Word is TRUTH.
(Psalm 119:142, John 17:17).
- The G-d of Israel wanted to write His Torah upon our heart
and teach us His Torah which is called "TRUTH" (Psalm 119:142)
through His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) who is called
"THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH" (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:13).
- We need the G-d of Israel’s Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)
WITHIN us for the following reasons:
- Have the power to overcome the sin nature (evil
inclination) inherited by Adam.
- To bear spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians
5:22-25).
- To understand, grow, and have a revelation of the G-d of
Israel’s Torah/Word and the ways of His Kingdom.
G-D’S POWER TWINS ARE HIS TORAH
AND HIS GRACE/MERCY
In this
chapter, we studied the G-d of Israel’s power twins. The G-d of
Israel’s power twins is His Torah and His grace/mercy (chesed).
Corporately speaking, the house of Judah (Judaism) mainly
identifies with the G-d of Israel as being the G-d who gave the Torah
(matan Torah) to His people. Meanwhile, the house of Israel
(Christianity) mainly identifies with the G-d of Israel as being a G-d
of grace/mercy through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus.
In order
for restoration to come to the house of Judah (Judaism), they
need to Biblically understand that the G-d of Israel has expressed His
grace/mercy to His people through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus. In receiving the grace/mercy (chesed)
expressed by the G-d of Israel through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus, the house of Judah (Judaism) needs to
maintain their identity with the Torah and keep the commandments of the
G-d of Israel.
In order
for restoration to come to the house of Israel (Christianity),
they need to realize that dispensational theology which teaches that
before the death and resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus was the age of law and after the death and
resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus
is the age of grace is unbiblical. In this chapter, we learned that the
G-d of Israel has always been a G-d of grace/mercy (chesed) from
Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation. We also learned that the New
(renewed) Covenant (Brit Hadashah) is the Torah written upon a
heart of flesh by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach
HaKodesh). Furthermore, we learned that the Torah and the Word of
G-d are synonymous terms and that the G-d of Israel’s Torah/Word is a
tree of life and is ETERNAL. The house of Israel (Christianity)
needs to embrace the Torah of the G-d of Israel while being led by the
indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodah) following the Torah in
Spirit, in truth and in love.
When the
house of Judah (Judaism) and the house of Israel
(Christianity) embraces the Torah AND the grace/mercy (chesed) of
the G-d of Israel expressed through the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus, the G-d of Israel can bring redemption,
restoration, reconciliation and unity to both houses of Israel through
the outpouring of His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) upon His
people. May the G-d of Israel bring this redemption, restoration,
reconciliation and unity to both houses of Israel speedily in our days.
Amen!
|
What the Rabbis
Teach about the Ten Lost Tribes Vol 1
The Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) and the
Southern Kingdom (Judah) differed both politically and religiously. They
have never been united since the split between them following the days
of Solomon. The Northern Kingdom was taken captive by the Assyrians.
Upon their captivity, the Ten Tribes have been assimilated and
intermingled into the nations of the world. The intermarriage of the
Assyrians and the descendents of the Northern Kingdom who lived in the
land of Israel were known as Samaritans. The Jews and the Samaritans
never got along with each other. Joseph being sold by his brothers
foreshadows the dividing of the nation of Israel into Northern Kingdom
and Southern Kingdom. Joseph's unification with His brothers foreshadows
the unification of Ephraim and Judah in the end of days. Ezekiel lying
on his side foreshadows the sin and punishment of the Northern Kingdom.
The suffering of a righteous individual can atone for the sins of the
nation of Israel. The suffering of Ezekiel foreshadows the suffering of
the Messiah for His people. The Ten Tribes did not unite with Judah at
the end of the Babylonian captivity during the days of Ezra and
Nehemiah. Orthodox Jews pray three times a day for the ingathering of
the exiles of Israel. The Ten Tribes will return to the land of Israel
and be united with Judah at the dawn of the Messianic Era. It is the
Messiah who will gather the exiles of Israel.
Order Here!
|