TORAH: WORKS OR GRACE

Genesis chapter 1










Today we are walking in: Torah: Works Or Grace














Exodus 40:35




And Mosheh was not able to enter into the tent of the assembly, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Yahuah filled the Tabernacle. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 40:35 את CEPHER


















ENTER








Today we look to the word ENTER--H935 bow' -- Come, Bring, In, Enter, Go, Carry, Down, Pass, Out



















The Torah testifies.........……




Deuteronomy 23:2

A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Yahuah; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the assembly of Yahuah. DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 23:2 את CEPHER


















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




Jeremiah 17:25

Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Yahudah, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim: and this city shall remain forever. YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 17:25 את CEPHER


















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




Psalms 45:15

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 45:15 את CEPHER


















Torah: Works or Grace?




The church has taught that Judaism is a religion of law and works while Christianity is a religion of grace and faith. When Christians speak today about the Hebrew or Hebrew roots of their faith, they often state that the Hebrew roots teaching is trying to put Christians "under the Law."!




The cornerstone of our faith is the Biblical truth that Salvation is by grace and NOT works! In fact, the Bible does not make an issue out of 'Law or Grace,' man made it that way. The Hebraic understanding of Torah and grace is much different from the popular Western under-standing. As a Christian, you have no doubt heard multiple sermons contrasting the "Law of Judaism" with the "Grace of Christianity." Now think about that for a moment. If I say the "Law" of Judaism versus the "Grace" of Christianity, which sounds more appealing:

Grace or Law?




The thought often presented is that in the Old Covenant the Jews were saved by the Law, which is bad, but in the New Testament, Yahusha did away with the Law so that we are now saved by grace and faith-which is good. The clear teaching of this mindset is that there is no Grace and faith in the Old Covenant Law and no Law in the New Testament grace and faith. For centuries, law and works and grace and faith have been contrasted as if they are two opposing means of salvation.




In Romans Chapter 3, the Apostle Paul addresses the very question still being asked today: "Has the Torah been abolished?" Paul's answer leaves no room for doubt stating, "Heaven forbid!" Paul not only confirms the validity of the Torah for believers, he also says that as believers we are supposed to confirm or fulfill the Torah.




"Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by Yah on the ground of trusting, which has nothing to do with legalistic observance of Torah commands. Or is Yah the Yah of the Jews only? Isn't he also the Yah of the Gentiles? Yes, He is indeed the Yah of the Gentiles, because, as you will admit, Yah is one. Therefore He will consider righteous the circumcised on the ground of trusting and the uncircumcised through that same trusting. Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm

Torah."(Romans 3:28-31 CJB)




Paul's clear teaching in the Book of Romans is that salvation is based solely on faith in Yahusha (Yahusha), and not in the least based on works. However, Paul continues by challenging the mindset that the Torah has therefore been made void or somehow replaced by faith in Yahusha. In fact, much of Paul's ministry was devoted to teaching the proper understanding and application of the Torah to the Gentile believers in Yahusha! The first century "Church" consisted predominantly of Hebrew believers in Yahusha meeting together with the growing number of non-Hebrew believers (referred to then as Gentiles).

The majority of Hebrew believers would have been taught the Torah from birth and therefore would have understood the "ritual application of law" which included:




Circumcision




Laws of Kashrut (Dietary Laws)




The Sabbath




This ritual application of law defined the distinct identity of the Hebrew people prior to the coming of the Messiah. The "Christians" of that time were the believing Gentiles who had come to know the Yah of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through Yahusha, and subsequently through His disciples' ministry. Although the term "Chris-tian" would not be associated with the followers of Yahusha for some time, the distinct cultural and historical difference between the Hebrew and Gentile believers was already at issue. Even the term "Gentile" becomes problematic in understanding the relationship between the Torah and Christians today.




"Remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no Hope and without Yah in the world. But now in Christ Yahusha you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:11-13, emphasis added)




According to the Bible (Ephesians 2:12), before your salvation in Yahusha you were:




1. Without Christ




2. An alien from the Commonwealth of Israel




3. A stranger to the Covenants of Promise




4. Without hope




5. Without Yah




After your salvation in Yahusha (Ephesians

2:19) you are:




1. WITH Christ




2. NO LONGER a stranger and foreigner (Gen-tile)




3. A CITIZEN of the Commonwealth of Israel




The term Gentile is actually identifying believers by their former state—-before salvation in Christ. A much better term for believers in Yahusha who were not raised in the Torah and traditions of the Hebrew people is "Nations" or "Believing Nations." This brings to light the challenges Paul and many others faced in the first century Church. Just how were the believing Jews to teach and apply the New Covenant—a covenant based on the Torah (Jeremiah 31; Hebrews 8) —to the believing Nations (former Gentiles), who had little or no familiarity with the Torah and its 613 Principles? What relationship to the Torah did all believers, both Jew and Gentile, have after they had received salvation in Yahusha (Yahusha)?




When Paul exhorts believers regarding "put-ting on the full counsel of the Most High" (Acts 20:27), he is referring to the counsel and understanding found in the Torah. The early Church did not teach what we have been commonly taught in Christianity today. Believers in the first and second centuries were taught the Torah! After all, the New Covenant is not really a new walk, it is a re-newed walk of Torah, fulfilled by the righteousness and sinless life of our Hebrew Most High, Yahusha, Yahusha Christ!




As previously stated, the Bible of Yahusha was the Torah. Yahusha did not have a King James Version of the Bible. He didn't have the NIV, and He did not have the Living Bible. Yahusha taught from the scroll of the Torah. This was life to Him, and it was life to the early Church witnesses of the Gospel, to the Apostles, to Paul, to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and to John.




So let me ask you a question: How did we get to the point today that we can view the Torah as an oppressive law, or as something negative? To the Hebrew people the Torah is guidance, teaching, and instruction. The Commands in the Torah are given to teach and disciple you; to discipline your daily habits. Remember, you don't decide your future, you decide your habits, and your habits decide your future! Hebrew people today continue to observe the instructions of the Torah. However this is coupled with their belief and faith in Yah, and not replaced by it. The idea that Yah has somehow nullified the eternal Principles of His Word is a completely foreign concept to the Hebrew mind.