THE HEBREW ROOTS OF THE FAITH PART 2

1 Corinthians chapter 3










Today we are walking in: The Hebrew Roots Of The Faith Part 2












Proverbs 20:6



Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful H529 man who can find?





FAITH





Today we look to the word FAITH-- H529- emuwn--faithfulness, trusting, faithful









The Torah testifies...............




Deuteronomy 32:20



And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith H529











The prophets proclaim..................



Habakkuk 2:4



Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith H529.











The writings bear witness............

*******








Born a Roman citizen, Constantine was immersed in a pagan society and entirely estranged from the Hebrew roots of the Gospel he professed. His efforts to incorporate or syncretize pagan worship, and therefore worshippers, into Rome's new religion at last divorced Christianity from its Hebrew roots. Syncretism changed the face of Christianity, as well as the Church's understanding of, and relationship to the Torah, throughout the centuries-even to this very day.




Augustine, another early church father, was a great scholar. In the 5th century, he wrote a monumental work, which is still taught in seminaries today, called "The City of Yah." Like Marcion, Augustine taught that Yah came down to give us the "Law" and then Jesus Christ came down to give us "Grace." Augustine promoted Marcion's ideas concerning Law and Grace as opposites. His writings influenced the church for centuries and were, unfortunately, carried forward at the time of the Protestant Reformation.

Marcion's false teaching on law and grace would become the core doctrine of much of Western Christianity that is taught today.




Marcion rejected the Hebrew Scriptures. He believed that Paul's teachings about grace were in total opposition to the Law. Yet, Paul said that he always kept the Law and the traditions of his people?




"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Yah of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law (Torah) and in the Prophets." (Acts 24:14)




"Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law."?(Acts 21:24)




"Paul called the leaders of the Jews together, so when they had come together, he said to them: 'Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.'" (Acts 28:17)




When the Bible was translated into English, Torah was interpreted using the Western (Greek) concept of Law, and not as Instruction (Hebrew) for righteous living ... This misunderstanding of the true meaning of the word "Torah" combined with the anti-Semitism of the early church fathers resulted in a misinterpretation of some of the sayings of Jesus, the Gospel writers, and especially Paul, when they spoke about the Law.

The Greek-speaking church fathers erroneously concluded that the Jews were saved by keeping the Law but now through Jesus we are saved by grace, so there is no longer a need for the Law, and it has been done away with. 11




Hebrew Roots of Scriptural Interpretation




The Hebrew roots of the Christian faith encompass the walk of Torah. The Hebrew roots of the Christian faith characterized the walk of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The Hebrew roots of the Christian faith manifest the Spirit that was upon Elijah, King David, and King Solomon.

The Hebrew roots of the Christian faith provide the foundation for the Gospels and New Testament writings, including the prophecy of Revelation given to John on the island of Patmos. The Hebrew roots of the Christian faith-the Torah-described and determined the walk of Jesus Christ!




If you want to know Yah's purpose in your life, the Hebrew word is "Torah." It's the greatest gift you could ever receive as a born again Christian. The Yah of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loves you so much that you were fully saved at Calvary and you are fully redeemed. Now as a redeemed person, you receive your Commonwealth inheritance-the Torah, the Teaching and Instruction of Yah!




"There are seventy faces to the Torah: Turn it around and around, for everything is in it."




The Hebrew sages teach that there are 70 varied interpretations of any Scriptural passage in the Torah. In Hebrew this is called, "Shiv'im Panim laTorah" -"The Torah has 70 faces." This phrase is used to indicate the different levels of Torah interpretation. In other words, the Torah is like a diamond with each facet reflecting part of the intricate brilliance of the "light" of truth. If you view the Torah from any particular vantage point or perspective, the light will be uniquely different from any other point of view.

The seventy facets or faces of the Torah range from the surface level of meaning to the deeper levels which must be discovered by searching within the words and context, or by referring to other Scripture passages. There are four primary categories of Hebraic Scriptural interpret-ation. The Hebrew methodology used to study the Bible is known by the acronym pardes:




• Peshat = Literal; Simple

• Remez = Hint; Refer

• Drash = Discussion; Allegory

• Sod = Secret; Hidden




Peshat




The peshat, or simple level of interpretation recognizes the literal meaning of each word and verse without delving deeper into any spiritual application or moral implications of the Biblical text. The sages teach that this primary level includes the historical and grammatical under-standing, and can never be entirely replaced by any additional interpretation. Therefore any deeper exegesis (Scriptural interpretation) or alternative facet that annuls the literal meaning of the verse is considered invalid.




Remez




Remez, meaning to refer or hint, digs slightly deeper to uncover meanings which are only hinted at by the Torah. The practical application of this level utilizes other Scripture passages or references to help explain the primary text.

Passages related by key words, definitions, and contextual similarities are particularly useful in the remez level of interpretation.




Drash




The drash level of interpretation moves deeper into the allegorical meaning derived by a discussion—called midrash in Hebrew. Drash relates the application of any particular principle or concept that can be extracted from the literal or surface text. Differing from the sod or deepest level of interpretation, the drash understanding holds that the persons or events detailed in the primary text reflect actual occurrences designed and recorded to teach a Biblical truth.




Sod




Sod (pronounced "sûd"), meaning secret or hidden, is the deepest level of Hebraic Scriptural interpretation. For believers, the most familiar Biblical examples of sod teaching are the parables of Yahusha. The purpose of sod interpretation is to reveal that which is not at all obvious to the casual reader. Sod utilizes people and events as types and shadows of future revela-tions. As indicated above, while the sod level can never dismiss or nullify the literal interpretation of the text, sod is seeking understanding on a significantly deeper level. For example, when Yahusha teaches the parable of the "treas-ure hidden in a field" (Matthew 13), the purpose of the parable is not to identify the buyer or the field specifically, but rather to teach the greater lesson and priceless value of finding such treas-ure, here representing the Kingdom of Heaven.




As I continue to travel all over the world today, standing before congregation after congregation, I have to remind people what the Word of Yah says, because, in essence, they've been taught that much of the Word doesn't pertain to them anymore.




"I say unto this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea." (Mark 11:23-24)




Without hearing and understanding the Scriptures in their original language, it becomes nearly impossible to grasp the fullness of the meaning and context of the Bible. Take for example, Yahusha's words in Mark Chapter 11. This passage is frequently used within the context of faith, and seen as an exhortation to possess "faith that moves mountains!" But when you take these words back to their Hebrew roots, an entirely different interpretation is revealed.




The word "sea" in Mark 11 is alluding to people groupings or groups of people (see also Revelation 17:15). Jesus makes this famous statement while standing amidst the tombstones on the summit of the Mount of Olives. He is looking across the Kidron Valley towards the second Temple, standing on what is today called, the Temple Mount. The first two Temples (and the future Third Temple) stood on this exact same spot, a mountain in Jerusalem named Mount Moriah (Moriah means "Yah's Teaching" in Hebrew). Jesus says, "I say unto this mountain (Yah's Teaching-Torah), be removed and cast into the sea (people groupings and groups of people)." Surrounded by the graves of thousands, Jesus is speaking prophetically of the coming day when the Torah would again be revealed to the multitudes of people, and become not only an active faith to them, but literally life from death. I've got news for you: the mountain has, in our lifetime, been removed and cast into the sea!




This facet of the Scriptures remains hidden until you begin to understand the Bible from the Hebrew perspective. After all, Yahusha spoke Hebrew! That's why people, wherever I go and when I simply mention the word Torah and teach them even the first little bit of truth about Hebrew roots, they nearly fall out of their chairs thinking, "Where has this been?"