Which Laws Are Everlasting? Part 1

Which Laws Are Everlasting?

... “sin is breaking the Torah” —1 John 3:4 GV

Chapter 31 Preview: The vast majority of the 2.1 billion professing Christians in the world—33% of the world’s population—believe that Yeshua’s (Jesus’*) death nailed the Law (Torah) to the cross. They “stake” their destiny on that presumption! Yet the very first question that every Believer should ask concerning their status as a believers is: Precisely what does God require of me? How is a person to know which commands are required of Believers. Should you simply inherit a religion, or pick a guru and believe whatever you are told? How do you personally decide which Laws to obey? Does it really matter? Is there a key to knowing which Laws are in effect today?

I find it extremely inconceivable that so many people would believe that God would totally reject His own standards of behavior for His own representitives on earth. Even the most worldly of organizations have some absolute standards of conduct for their employees, or even volunteers, who represent them. Standards are not left up to each individuals feelings at any given time.

Actually the Greek word nomos, translated as “Law” 197 times in most English versions of the “New Testament” (actually the Testimony of Yeshua), would be better translated with the originah Hebrew sense of “direction and instruction” in mind, as Torah is used in most of the 219 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Would it make any sense for the pre incarnate Yeshua to abolish the very standards of human behavior that He wrote in stone before He came into the world?

Before going further, it is important to note that in the first centuries there was a difference between Christians and Nazarenes:

“Christian” is the name first used contemptuously in Antioch, Acts 11:26; 26:28; & 1 Peter 4:16. These are the only three places where the term occurs. At first those who believed and followed Yeshua had no distinctive name. They called themselves “brethren” (meaning fellow Believers), as did the other Jews, Acts 6:3; and “Disciples”, Acts 6:1. They were “the Way”, Acts 9:2; and “Saints”, Romans 1:7. In Antioch, where the first pagans were converted, and widespread teaching of the Good News began, Believers were categorized into two groups (that should have remained in one body). At first, many Jewish Believers thought that these other ethnicities would have to become physical Israelite proselytes, by being circumcised (Acts 15). But this new Way was not just for the physical descendants of Israel, it was to become accessible for anyone of any nation—the multinational spiritual “Israel of Yehovah” (Galatians 6:12-16). Very soon, the vast majority of those going by the new name “Christians” by the world, (usually in geographically separated regions not associated with Israel), fell prey to all kinds of heresy. The difference between Nazarenes and Christians is that ONLY the strictly nationalistic and ceremonial aspects of the Torah do not apply to Christians, such as the Passover”, which is for circumcised Israelite males and their families (Exodus 12:48). (Yet “Christians” do have ‘the Lord’s Supper’).

“Nazarenes” are what Torah observant Israelite Believers in Yeshua were called in the first centuries, by the world, until they were almost exterminated by persecution and false teachers. Israelite Believers were, and are, obligated to obey* the entire Torah (“Law of Moses”), see Galatians 5:3. Those from all other nations are not required to be circumcised, or conform to the other strictly nationalistic and ceremonial laws. They were considered to be just another sect of the Jews by outsiders. Yet sectarianism is heresy! Furthermore, they hadnt even considered that “Gentiles” were to be included. Of course sectarian Jews would never have coined the term “Christian”, since the word is associated with “Messiah”. The terms Nazarene and Christian were never applied by the Saints to each other to begin with. Being labeled by these names brought on great persecution, tho probably not initially as a systematic persecution.

The explanation that there were two distinct types of Believers explains all of the seeming discrepancies between Paul’s statements about the Torah. Otherwise it appears that some of the time he supported the Torah, while at other times he discouraged it.

Take for example Romans 3. Paul said that there is an advantage to being a Jew (or from any tribe of Israel), and sustaining the authority of the Torah, yet that “there is no distinction” between “the Jews and the Hellenists” (as far as salvation goes).

Notice the distinction for Israelites in the near future:

Isaiah 61:5-9 Foreigners will stand and tend your flocks, and aliens will be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you will be called the priests of Yehovah; people will call you the ministers of our Elohim. You will savor the wealth of the nations, and you yourselves will enter into their splendor. 7 Your shame will be replaced with a double inheritance; and instead of humiliation you will shout for joy over your territory. So in your land you will own twice as much as the other nations. You will have everlasting joy. 8 “Because I, Yehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will certainly give you your compensation, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. 9 Your descendants will be revealed among the nations, and their descendants among the people. Everyone who sees them will acknowledge that they are the descendants who Yehovah has blessed”. —The Word of Elohim (WE: Gabriel Version)

Romans 3:1-31 So then, what advantage is there in being Jewish? What value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Primarily because they were entrusted with the oracles of Yehovah. ... 9 What then, are we superior? No, not at all. As was previously proven, both Jews and the Hellenists have wandered from the path! ... 19 Yet we know that whatever the Torah says is addressed to those who are IN the Torah; so that every mouth will be silenced, and so that the whole world will be liable for punishment from Yehovah. 20 So no one is justified by the deeds of the Torah, before Him—yet the Torah reveals what sin is! 21 But now, the righteousness of Yehovah is revealed without an awareness of the Torah, and the Torah and the Prophets confirm it! 22 The righteousness of Yehovah, thru faith in Yeshua the Messiah, is for everyone, and on everyone who believes in Him. No distinction is made, 23 because everyone has sinned and fallen short of the magnificence of Yehovah. ... 27 Can we brag? Bragging is annihilated. Is it by a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 So we conclude that people can be deemed righteous, without any ceremonial works of the Torah. 29 Is He the Aloha of the Jews only, and not of every other ethnicity? Most certainly every ethnicity, 30 since there is one Aloha who justifies the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised by the same faith. 31 Then do we abolish the Torah by faith? Absolutely not. On the contrary, we uphold or sustain the authority of the Torah. —The Testimony of Yeshua, Gabriel Version (GV)

Living by the Torah of God was a prerequisite for life itself for ancient Israel. Virtually every time that “the Law” is mentioned in the Scriptures it is referring to the Torah—contained in the first five books of the Bible. (That is why Torah is used so often here—to clarify which Law is meant.)

This distinction between Israelites and the other nations will not even go away under the New Covenant, because even that Covenant will be just for Israelites:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Look, the days come, says Yehovah, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; 32 not like the Covenant that I made with their ancestors in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—My covenant that they voided, altho I was a husband to them, says Yehovah. 33 But this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yehovah; I will put My Torah in their inward parts, and I write it in their minds; and I will be their Elohim, and they will be My people. 34 No longer will every man teach his neighbor, and his brother, asking, “Do you know Yehovah”; because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Yehovah. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will no longer remember their sins. WE

“Salvation” for “the nations” of “all the earth” was not a new plan. It has been the goal all along! David’s psalm predicted the time when Yehovah will come and judge the world. Then, after the Kingdom of God is established, even the “families of nations” mistakenly called “gentiles” will bring “offerings” to God:

Here is the “old” standard that God required of ancient Israel to preserve their lives in the Promised Land:

Deuteronomy 10:12-14 Now, Israel, what does Yehovah your Elohim require of you, but to fear Yehovah your Elohim, to live in all of His ways, to love Him, and to serve Yehovah your Elohim with all of your mind and with all of your being, 13 to abide by the Commandments of Yehovah, and His statutes, that I command you today for your good? 14 Remember that Yehovah your Elohim owns the sky and the highest heavens, the earth, with everything in them. WE

With “heaven and earth” as His witnesses, God swore to the people of ancient Israel that if they would “choose life” then they could “live in the land thay Yehovah swore to your fathers”:

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I have set before you life and death, blessings or curses. Now choose life so that both you and your descendants will live. 20 Love Yehovah your Elohim by obeying His voice, and stay with Him; because He is your way of life, for as long as you live; so that you can live in the land that Yehovah swore to give to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. WE

Choosing life has been a constant for all time and in every culture. However the Israelites were “entrusted” with a higher degree of knowledge than the surrounding nations and “much” more was “required” of them. In some respects, more is required of Christians:

Luke 12:47-4847 The servant who knew his master’s will, and didnt prepare for him according to his will, will be beaten with many stripes. 48 But the one who didnt know, yet did something deserving stripes, will be beaten with fewer stripes. Because to anyone who is given much, much is required; and to whoever much is entrusted, still more will be required of them. GV

Each of us should seriously consider whether God requires any less of us than He did of ancient Israel!

This chapter does not counter the many arguments that superficially appear to have Scriptural support against the Law (Torah). This chapter would benefit most those who have begun heeding “the Torah”. If you have never even seriously considered whether or not we should adhere to various points of the Torah, then I would recommend that you study some urgently needed material about the great false teaching concerning “Mainstream” Christianity and “the Torah”. Your eternal destiny will be greatly influenced by God’s Torah, even tho there is grace. The article linked below, and others like it, explain point by point how men have twisted the intent of the Scriptures to the point that their whole religion is worthless. Most of the distortion has been done to the writings of Paul. Here, for example, is a Ten Part Article*) on this subject, from a Messianic website. This information is extremely beneficial in revealing the error in just about any excuse for not obeying the Torah of God. (Also, because it is conveniently divided into 10 parts, I can easily exclude part 7 from my endorsement.)

An excellent book by Alan Knight shows how the Dispensation Philosophy crept from the ancient Greek philosophers into mainstream Christianity. It is entitled Primitive Christianity. It can be purchased by writing to ARK Research, 1917 Mt. Hamilton Dr, Antioch, CA 94509.

“Owlam” is the Key

Perhaps an easier question to ask than which Laws are everlasting would be to ask which Laws are temporary. We’ll get into that. Yet the great mystery concerning the intent of God’s law can be resolved by simply checking out the many Scriptures that contain the Hebrew word “owlam”, (Strong’s #05769). “Owlam” means “eternal”, “everlasting”, “ever more” “perpetual” and “eternity”. Why do so many of these so called “obsolete” requirements of God contain these ties to eternity? Why are these Laws not being followed now? Some point out that the word “eternal” can mean age lasting. Even given that, this age is not over and the Torah of God is well specified to be central in “the age to come”—the Everlasting Kingdom, as well! This chapter explores things that are “owlam”.

The rationalizations for not obeying God’s Laws often begin to be spun with reference to the following statement:

Matthew 5:38-39 You have heard it said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”. 39 But I tell you dont be set against a wicked person; and if someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well. GV

This quotation of Yeshua and other similar statements, are some of the main arguments used by mainstream Christianity (that barely resembles what it was in the first century) to nullify virtually every requirement of the “Old Covenant”. These misguided “guides” claim that Yeshua eliminated all of His own rules (John 1:3) of conduct and replaced them all with sentimental “love”—meaning a warm fuzzy feeling, but void of any absolute laws).

When love is described as fulfilling the Torah, it means that one is, at the very least, obeying the last six of the Ten Commandments concerning your fellow man. This is how even ignorant “gentiles” can be “excused” from their sins and obtain eternal life, as Yeshua explained to a young Jew in Matthew 19:16-17. While they wont be considered Saints, they will have the opportunity to live forever! (You probably wont see this anywhere else!)

Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except for mutual love, because anyone who loves their fellow man has carried out the Torah. 9 It says: “You wont murder”; and “You wont commit adultery”; and “You wont steal”; and “You wont covet”. And if anyone considers the other classes of commandments, they are summarized with this statement, “You will love [agapao] your acquaintances as yourself”. 10 Love never does anything harmful to an acquaintance; because love is a fulfilling [1] of the Torah. GV

[1] See how love without an understanding of the Torah can be a substitute for the Torah, for people blissfully ignorant of it. The Greek word for “fulfill” alludes to filling the cargo hold of a ship. It’s that full. And apparently, just as in English, “fill” can mean to “fill out”, “stand in for”, “occupy”, “carry out”, “satisfy” or be used as a “substitute”, according to my Oxford Word Finder. GV

Are you willing to place your salvation as a Believer in the Messiah on such a blanket policy without at least considering that there could be much more to it? Does your Creator really not demand that you lead an exemplary lifestyle? Is He only interested in your saying some “magic words” following an “alter call”? Was Yeshua actually lowering the bar on the Commandments in His legendary dialog on the mountainside (Matthew 5,6,7)? Is there anything in the Matthew 5 context that would justify a liberalized interpretation of the Scriptures concerning such issues as the Sabbath, the Sacred Days, or eating bottom dwellers and scavengers, etc. (that are the targets of these teachers) making them no longer binding on Christians under the “New Covenant” conditions that are popularly thought to exist right now? As usual, a great deal of Scriptural context is included in this chapter. A careful reading of the seven “I tell you” statements will most certainly indicate that the bar was raised considerably in every example!

Matthew 5:17-48 Dont ever suppose that I have come to do away with the Torah, or the Prophets; I havent come to overthrow them, but to fill in the gaps. 18 Assuredly, I tell you, that until the New Heaven and earth arrives, not one yoth or one vowel point will pass away from the Torah, until everything comes into existence. 19 So whoever breaks one of the smallest prescribed rules and teaches it as doctrine to others will be called small in the Kingdom of the Heavens; but anyone who carries out and teaches them, will be called great in the Kingdom of the Heavens. 20 I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses the Torah teachers and the Pharisees, you wont enter the Kingdom of the Heavens. 21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, “Dont murder, and anyone who murders is subject to the tribunal”. 22 But I tell you, “Anyone who is angry with his brother rashly, is subject to the tribunal; and everyone who says to his brother, ‘raka’ is subject to the tribunal; and everyone who says, you ‘fool’ is subject to Gehenna fire”! 23 So if while you are offering your sacrifice to the altar, you remember that your brother has a grievance against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there before the altar, and first go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and present your sacrifice. 25 Come to terms with your adversary immediately while on the way with him to court; because your adversary will deliver you over to the judge, and the judge will deliver you over to the sheriff, and you will end up in prison. 26 It is certain that you wont come out of there until you have paid the last quadrans. 27 You have heard it said, “Dont commit adultery”. 28 But I tell you, “Whoever gazes on a woman lustfully, immediately commits adultery with her in his mind. 29 So if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and throw it away from you; because it is better for you if one member perishes, than for your whole body to fall into Gehenna. 30 If your right hand offends you, cut it off, and throw it from you; because it is better for you if one of your members perishes, than for your whole body to fall into Gehenna”. 31 It has been said, “If a man divorces his wife, he must give her a bill of divorce”. 32 But I tell you, “Whoever divorces his wife, except because of illicit sex, [porneia], causes her to commit adultery; and he who marries the divorced person, commits adultery”. 33 Again, you have heard it said by the ancients, “Dont be false in your oaths; rather, perform yours oaths to Yehovah”. 34 But I tell you, “Dont swear at all, not by Heaven; because it is the throne of Yehovah; 35 and not by the earth, because it is the footstool under His feet; and likewise not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. 36 Furthermors, dont swear by your head, because you cant make one hair on it either black or white. 37 But your ‘Yes’ should be ‘Yes’; and your ‘No’ should be ‘No’; because anything added to that is evil. 38 You have heard it said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”. 39 But I tell you dont be set against a wicked person; and if someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 40 If someone wants to sue the pants off of you, give him your shirt as well. 41 Whoever forces you to carry their goods for one mile, carry them two. 42 Give when someone begs you for something; and if someone demands to borrow from you, dont deny them”. 43 You have heard it said, “You should love your neighbor, and hate your enemy”. 44 But I tell you, “Love your enemies; and bless those who curse you; and do good for those who hate you; and pray for those who lead you in bonds, and who persecute you; 45 so that you will be the true sons of your Heavenly Father, who causes His sun to rise on the good and on the bad, and sends His rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous”. 46 Because if you only love those who love you, what compensation do you deserve? Dont even tax extractors do that? 47 If you only greet your relatives, what are you doing that isnt commonplace? Dont even tax extractors do that? 48 So become perfect; just as your Heavenly Father is perfect. GV

As a teenager, I asked my uncle what Yeshua meant when He said He came to “fulfill” “the Law”. He told me that it means Yeshua eliminated the need for obedience to the entire Law! Many teachers still say that. While most misleaders have a slicker response, the bottom line is the same. Here is how one anti-law proponent put it:

“By fulfilling the Law Christ satisfied it’s requirements in our place. In other words, the ‘required’ obedience is accomplished in Him. Therefore, in Christ do we keep all the Law faithfully, and cannot be accused. In this way, we are no longer judged by any of the everlasting laws, for we are under the Grace of God. The law doesnt condemn us.”

There are four other places where the same Greek word—Strong’s 4137, pleroo (play-ro’-o) is usually translated as “fulfill”. Try substituting the word “eliminate” for “fulfill” in any of the other four references. Any such substitution would be ludicrous.

Matthew 3:15 Then Yeshua told him, “Consent right now, because it is necessary to fulfill every righteous condition”. So He consented. GV

Colossians 1:25 I have become a “deacon” of the household of Yehovah, entrusted for your benefit, to accomplish [or fulfill] the Words of Aloha ... GV

Colossians 4:17 Tell Archippus to carefully discern the service that he has received thru Yehovah, and to fulfill it. GV

2 Thessalonians 1:11 We pray continually to Yehovah for you, asking that He will make you worthy of your invitation, and instill [or fulfill] in you a strong desire to do good things, and every work of faith, with power; GV

Dispensing With Dispensations

The Apostle Paul believed everything that was written in the Torah and the Prophets. He also practiced the same things that his fellow Jews practiced, who were persecuting him. Yes, he even brought “offerings” to the temple.

Acts 24:14-17 Yet I certainly acknowledge that in accordance with the Way that they refer to as a sect, I do serve Aloha, as did my ancestors, believing everything written in the Torah and in the Prophets. 15 I also have a hope in Yehovah, as do they, that there is to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the wicked. 16 That is why I always labor to have a pure conscience in relation to Yehovah and mankind. 17 After many years, I came to the people of my own nation, to distribute alms, and to present a sacrifice. GV

But what exactly did he practice? Some say that he simply kept the Ten Commandments; others say he didnt even do that. Actually James, unquestionably referring to the Ten Commandments, explained the situation very plainly. He said that “mercy” is absolutely required for salvation, not “faith” alone. He added that “works”—doing good things in life—is also required in order to be “justified”. He explained that if someone were righteous enough to go thru life and only break the Torah once, he would still be condemned to eternal death, if he himself, as well as God, did not have mercy:

James 2:8-24 If you actually fulfill the Torah of Yehovah, as the Scriptures say, “You will love your neighbor as yourself”, you’ll do well. 9 Yet if you show partiality, you commit sin; and you are convicted by the Torah as transgressors of the Torah, 10 because whoever keeps the whole Torah, yet fails in one point, is guilty of the whole Torah. 11 He who said, “You will not commit adultery”, also said, “You will not murder”. So if you dont commit adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the Torah. 12 So speak and act as people who are to be judged by the Torah of liberty. 13 There will be judgment without mercy for anyone who doesnt show mercy; by mercy, you’ll be raised above judgment. 14 What is the use, Friends, if a man says, “I have faith”; but he has no works? Can his faith endow him with eternal Life? 15 Or if a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full”; and you dont give them what is necessary for the body, what is the use? 17 So faith alone, without works, is dead. 18 But someone might say, “You have faith, and I have works”; show to me your faith without works; and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one Aloha; you do well; but the demons also believe, and tremble. 20 Bear in mind, you spiritually destitute person, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasnt Abraham our ancestor made righteous by works, in offering his son Isaac on the altar? 22 Dont you see that his faith was aided by his works; and that by works his faith was perfected? 23 The Scripture was fulfilled that said, “Abraham absolutely convinced by Yehovah, and by this it was determined that he was righteous, and he was called Yehovahs Friend”. 24 So you see that people are declared to be righteous by works, and not by faithfulness alone. GV

On Judgment Day, God will actually judge us based directly upon the standard of mercy that we applied to other people, among other factors. How important is that? The fairness of this concept simply amazes me:

Matthew 7:2 ... because the way you judge others is the way that you’ll be judged. The same measuring standards that you judge other people by will measure your worth. GV

Most Sabbatarians—those of us who believe in keeping all Ten Commandments, understand that both “works” and “faith” are required for salvation. However, Sunday observers almost universally preach that “faith alone” is required for salvation. Martin Luther went so far as to say that the book of James was “an epistle of straw”. This is known as the Law and Grace controversy. The position is sometimes referred to as ultra dispensationalism (and they have dispensed with the truth!) Another name for this Lawless doctrine is antinomianism. (off sitee)

Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them publicly, [see root words], “I never knew you. Get away from Me you Lawbreakers”. GV

Matthew 24:12 Because of the plethora [plethuno] of Torah breakers, most people’s love will grow cold. GV

1 John 3:4 Everyone who wanders from the way of righteousness is breaking the Torah; because all sin is breaking the Torah. GV

Some believe that the Sacred Days are no longer necessary, others believe that tithing is a “carry over” from “the Law” (conveniently overlooking the fact that Scripturally it is strictly used to support the Levitical priesthood). Others say that men wear tassels on their cloths, as Yeshua did. How do we determine which Laws pertain to us?

Most of the people calling themselves Evangelicals or Fundamentalists, maintain that God dealt with people very differently in the past. They view the Tanach, the “Old Testament”, as a relic of the past, good for little more than history. They see the Hebrew Scriptures as being concerned only with Law keeping and salvation by works, while the Greek Scriptures (the Testimony) emphasize faith, hope, love and grace. So in this view, a radical disconnection between Judaism and Christianity became necessary. In practice, the only elements of the Hebrew Scriptures they see as relevant are those quoted by the Apostles in the Greek Scriptures. Everything else is said to be obsolete.

What is called dispensationalism today is the very philosophy that is referred to in Colossians:

Colossians 2:8 Beware of anyone who could make you naked slaves by philosophy [philosophia]., and by empty deceptions, and humanly devised rituals—the religious training of the world, rather than the teachings of the Messiah. GV

Champions for the Doctrine of Lawlessness will ultimately back a single powerful advocate (the Anti Messiah) and then a final end time battle for the minds of men will ensue.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 Mystic Torah breakers are already at work; but they are only being hindered for now, until the one restraining them is taken from among us. 8 Then THE Torah breaker will arrive, who our Master Yeshua will terminate by His very presence, at His epiphany [epiphaneia]. 9 The appearance of the Torah breaker, is by the supernatural work of Satan, with great power, miracles, and deceitful illusions, and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would Rescue them. 10 and by every kind of lawlessness action to deceive those who are dying; because they refused to love and embrace the truths that could Rescue them. 11 This is why Yehovah will invite the superhuman Power of deception for them, so that they may believe the lies; 12 and so that anyone who refused to be persuaded of the truths and willingly chose to violate the Law, could be summoned for judgement. GV

Today, the world is awash with variations on the ancient Lawless theme. Few seem to have noticed that the Testimony of Yeshua and Hebrew Scriptures are complementary! When the book of Acts—the history of the early Assembly (usually mistranslated as “Church*”) was being fulfilled, everyone knew that the Scriptures were the Hebrew Scriptures, and they were definitely not being disparaged! (All 51 references to the Scripture/Scriptures, including 2 Peter 3:16, are referring to the “Old Testament”.)

Acts 17:2-3 Paul, as usual, went in with them, and for three Sabbaths he had dialog [dialegomai], with them from the Scriptures; 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah was to suffer, and then rise from the dead, and that Yeshua, who he was announcing, is the Messiah. GV

Acts 17:11 The Jews there were more free thinking than the Jews in Thessalonica. They zealously listened to the truths from them every day, and investigated the Scriptures to see if these things were so. GV

Acts 18:24-28 A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, a very eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. 25 He was discipled in the ways of the Master, and full of burning zeal. He conversed and taught accurately about Yeshua, yet he knew nothing other than the immersion of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquilla and Priscilla heard him, they took him to their house, and showed him the Way of the Master more completely. 27 When he wanted to go to Achaia, the Friends warmly welcomed him, and wrote to the Disciples, asking them to welcome him. By going, he greatly assisted everyone who believed, by the benevolence of Yehovah. 28 He reasoned very convincingly with the Jews, before the congregation; proving to them from the Scriptures that Yeshua is the Messiah. GV

Psalm 96 Sing to [Yehovah] a new song! Sing to [Yehovah], all the earth. 2 Sing to [Yehovah]! Bless His name! Proclaim His salvation from day to day! 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is [Yehovah], and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but [Yehovah] made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before Him. Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to [Yehovah], you families of nations, ascribe to [Yehovah] glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to [Yehovah] the glory due to His name. Bring an offering [sacrifice], and come into His courts. 9 Worship [Yehovah] in holy array. Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “[Yehovah] reigns”. The world is also established. It cant be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! 12 Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy 13 before [Yehovah]; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with His truth. WEB

Salvation has always been made available in the same manner. To disagree simply means, for example, that you have not read Psalm 32!

Everyone will ultimately be judged by their “works” and by what they knew, or did not know—whether or not they knew anything about God’s ultimate objectives! But I believe that this is the most controversial concept in my book. This is my favorite verse in the Scriptures, because almost no one realizes that those who know nothing about the true God will be judged entirely by their “works” (behavior) and their “thoughts”! Ignorance is an excuse!

Romans 2:14-16 When other ethnicities who dont have the Torah instinctively do the things established within the Torah; they, while not upholding the Torah, are essentially their own Torah! [1] 15 These others demonstrate the behaviors associated with the Torah, because it is written in their ‘hearts’ —their conscience indicates the truth. The decisions of their conscience are either a legal accusation or a legal defense excusing them 16 on Judgment Day, when Yehovah judges the secrets of humanity, as My Good News declares, thru Yeshua the Messiah. GV

[1] This equates the Judgment Day of those in total ignorance with those who were prophesied to have the New Covenant: “I will put My Torah* in their minds and write on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:32). The Called, the Culled, and the Excused (also linked above) explains how those who “dont consider the Torah” might be excused on Judgment Day!

Yeshua did not change His bottom line requirements for salvation, but His coming did create a lot of attention. “The way” really took on power once God began using ordinary people in extraordinary ways! But soon Satan began creating chaos among the brethren by sending in “false Apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:13),“false brethren” (Galatians 2:4), “false teachers” and “false prophets” (2 Peter 2:1). Then Satan followed up by using the power of the Roman Empire to further hinder the Way. Because the persecution was so lethal, many people replaced the Sabbath with Sunday and Passover with Easter around the time of the second major Jewish revolt against Rome. This was not only acceptable to Rome but it became part of the state religion. This situation greatly favored the false teachers—enabling them to water everything down—just as Satan had planned. One of Satan’s best tools for destroying the truths that Yeshua came to reveal is called Syncretism. Syncretism is the process of replacing truths, one at a time, with counterfeit concepts, each having some remote semblance of the original truth. This has been going on so long that in most quarters virtually nothing of significance remains. One would think that this would take generations, but I have personally seen giant steps backwards in a few short years. Even as the Apostles walked the earth, syncretism was infiltrating the Assemblies.

Galatians 1:4-8 who gave Himself for our sins, so that He could deliver us from this evil world, according to the will of Yehovah our Father. 5 Exaltation belongs to Him forever and ever. Aw-mane’. 6 I am amazed by how quickly you have turned from the Messiah, who invited you by His compassion, to a different “Good News”; 7 one that doesnt even exist, except that there are some who would confuse you, and cause you to turn your backs on the Good News of the Messiah. 8 But if we, or a “Messenger” from Heaven were to bring you a different “Good News” than we have, they will be rotten meat. GV

If the Apostolic writers had really meant to part with their Jewish heritage, then why do the Greek Scriptures quote from the Hebrew Scriptures hundreds of times? Scriptures of every kind are used to illustrate every type of topic but quotations are naturally most commonly used to help their Jewish neighbors to understand that the long awaited Messiah had indeed already come.

Furthermore, why didnt Yeshua ever once even mention during His ministry that a revolution was about to come concerning everything God had ever said? On the contrary, as was already mentioned, He said: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets”. You would think that at least one clue would be mentioned such as: “Hey guys, everything I have told you is about to become obsolete because the New Covenant will kick in as soon as I am gone. The wretched Old Covenant that we’re under will cease very soon”.

If Paul had planned on abandoning the Hebrew Scriptures, surely he would have mentioned it. Yet while the “New Covenant” was still in the works, Paul had this to say:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture [1] was written by the spirit, and is profitable for doctrine, for proving convictions, for improving character, and for complete instruction in righteousness; 17 so that a person of Aloha can become perfect, and accomplished in every good work. GV

[1] It is apparent that this is referring to the Tanakh, mistakenly called the “Old Testament”, since all 50 other references to Scripture/s, in the Testimony of Yeshua, refer to it, including a twisted interpretation of 2 Peter 3:16

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 Friends, I want you to know that all of our ancestors were under the cloud, and they all passed thru the sea; 2 and they were all immersed by Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and they all drank the same spiritual drink; because they drank from the SPIRITUAL ROCK that attended them, and that Rock was the Messiah. 5 Yehovah was not pleased with most of them, and they fell in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were an example for us, so that we shouldnt lust after evil things as they lusted. 7 Nor should we be idolaters, as some of them were; as the Scriptures say, “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play”. 8 Nor should we commit sexual immorality, as some of them did; and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Nor should we tempt the Messiah, as some of them did; and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Nor complain, as some of them did; and perished by the will of the One who destroyed them. 11 Everything that happened to them was for an example for us; and these things were written for our instruction, those of us WHO HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE AGE. 12 So the one who thinks he stands should be careful not to fall. GV

This is a good place to mention that Yeshua (and also His Father) are referred to as the Rock, and that Yeshua, the Rock, was with ancient Israel in the wilderness. He has a long term plan!

2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the ROCK of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God .... WEB

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 For I will proclaim the name of [Yehovah]. Ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The ROCK, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice: a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. WEB

The Rock of Israel told His own generation that they would not see the Messiah, whom they had rejected, until Judgment Day when some of them would be able to say: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Yet even among those who have connected the dots and understand that God is both watching and listening to us, we still end up guessing about which Laws “are still in effect”.

“An Eye for an Eye”

Immediately following the issuing of the Ten Commandments there were many other governmental “ordinances” given by God Himself. These are all laid out in Exodus 21 thru 23. These were actually the foundational Laws under which the newly born nation of Israel was to govern itself. (Once Israel went into captivity, the people were under the control of their captors for all matters of civil justice.)

Under the “Old Covenant”, justifiable vigilante justice was permissible. This was even true in murder cases. If someone were to murder your relative, you were permitted to execute that person. There were no exceptions for the “avenger” to concern himself with.

In the case of an accidental death, avenging could still be carried out unless the unwitting killer were to take refuge in one of the special “cities of refuge”.

Numbers 35:10-12 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. 12 The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment. WEB

Exodus 21:1,22-27 Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them .... 22 “If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. 23 But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise. 26 “If a man strikes his servant’s eye, or his maid’s eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. 27 If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake. WEB

That is the context of the statement of Yeshua concerning His statement on an “eye for an eye”. Was Yeshua saying that the system of swift and absolute justice, that He Himself had fashioned, was a bad thing or could it have to do with the fact that the Jews had involved themselves in decades of insurrections against the Roman government.

Matthew 23:32-39 ‘You’ll finish the measures that your ancestors began. 33 You serpents, you offspring of vipers; how can you escape the condemnation of Gehenna? 34 Look, I’m sending to you prophets, and wise men, and Torah teachers; some you’ll kill and crucify, and some of them you’ll scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city. 35 Consequently, you will be held responsible for all the blood of the righteous that has ever been shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, who you killed between the Sanctuary and the altar. 36 I assure you that all of these things will unexpectantly happen to this present generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who murder the prophets, stoning those who have been sent to you. Many times I would have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you refused. 38 Now your house [the temple] is to become deserted! 39 I assure you, you wont see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Yehovah”. GV

Yeshua undoubtedly knew that the efforts of the Jews to establish a free nation in the midst of the Roman Empire were doomed to a devastating failure in 70 AD. Many people know that the temple was destroyed in Yeshua’s generation but fewer know that a generation later an even greater destruction of the Jewish people would also take place. During the latter holocaust, the Jews were thrust far from their promised land. The renowned resistance of men like the Maccabees that ended in the horrific deaths of untold thousands of Jews could have been avoided if they had simply accepted the defeat of their nation as being the will of God, and awaited God’s prophesied New Covenant with Israel and Judah.

The Divinely ordained national laws of Scripture have been entirely superseded by the rule of men since the fall of ancient Judea, however that is about to change:

Micah 4:1-3 But in the latter days, it will happen that the mountain of [Yehovahs] temple will be established on the top of the mountains, and it will be exalted above the hills; and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will go and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of [Yehovah], and 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 will go forth ‘the Law’ [Hebrew: the Torah!], and the word of [Yehovah] from Jerusalem; 3 and He will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. WEB

Ancient Israel was actually a Theocracy, presided over by judges, until the people chose to have kings (and later politicians) governing them instead of God, so that they could be like the heathen nations around them.

1 Samuel 8:4-9 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons dont walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to [Yehovah]. 7 [Yehovah] said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also to you. WEB

Had the people not rejected God’s laws, the original nation of Israel would still be a millennia old Theocracy! Ezekiel 20 is a thumbnail sketch of the history of Israel, starting with the Exodus. The entire chapter details God’s eternal plan for Israel. So here we have the “Mosaic Covenant” of the Ten Commandments and the “statutes” and “ordinances” (as well as particular emphasis on the “Sabbaths”) being rejected.

Ezekiel 20:11-24 I gave them My statutes, and showed them My ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am [Yehovah] who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness: they didnt walk in My statutes, and they rejected My ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly profaned .... 21 But the children rebelled against Me; they didnt walk in My statutes, neither kept My ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I withdrew My hand, and worked for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; 24 because they had not executed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes, and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. WEB

As a result of rejecting God’s laws, Israel was subjected to man’s laws. People love to quote this next section out of context, saying that God despised His own Laws, saying that they were “not good” and would promote death, so that they “should not live”, overlooking the part where He said that by keeping “My statutes” rather than man’s, “he shall live”!

vs. 25-26: Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live; 26 and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire [child sacrifice] all that opens the womb [the firstborn], that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am [Yehovah]. WEB