Tag: commandments

Milk vs Steak

There is a fairly popular drink in the health and fitness section of grocery stores called Muscle Milk. i don’t recall if i have ever had it but there is always a chance, i just don’t remember. i do know that my youngest son drinks them on occasion before he goes to the gym or when he was playing hockey i think he would drink one before practice. Anyway, the point is that the drink is supposed to nourish your body and stimulate muscle growth and recovery. How well it works i don’t know, this is in no away an endorsement. i bring it up only to make this point, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul writes about milk verses meat.

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Messiah. I fed you with milk, not meat, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

Earlier Paul writes, “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of Elohim, which Elohim decreed before the ages for our glory.”
(1 Corinthians 2:6-7)

Growth is a good thing. We should all strive to grow in our understanding and relationship with Yahoshua Messiah. Paul was really writing out of frustration to the Corinthians because they were lacking in the growth department. We can all relate at times to the Corinthians i think, hitting a point in which we become stagnant in our relationship with Yahoshua. On the other hand i also believe we can relate with Paul in becoming frustrated with others seemingly lack of growth even if we have poured into their lives.

One thing is for sure, we are supposed to be learning and growing. There is a beginning, of course, Acts 15:19-21 says; “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to Elohim, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Most folks stop reading at verse twenty but it doesn’t stop there verse twenty-one indicates growth will come because Moses is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. Two things are evident here, Moses is read, meaning the Torah, or the Law and when is he read? On the Sabbath. The Gentiles were participating as a sect of Judaism known as the Sect of the Nazarene. It was understood that the Gentile believers would learn and grow. Remember ALL Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and for doctrine as Paul writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There is growth, Philippians 3:12-16 says; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Messiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Growth is important. It isn’t the works that save us, no we are saved by the Grace through Faith. It is the Mercy of YHWH because of the work of Yahoshua.

Therefore, because of the work of the Yahoshua we respond to Him by growing in obedience to Him. In Luke, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “Why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like:” (Luke 6:46-47) Growth is important.

There is a goal. 1 John 5:1-5 says; “Everyone who believes that Yahoshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and obey His Commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Yahoshua is the Son of Elohim?”

As James 1:22 puts it; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We must be active agents. Milk, is great in the beginning, maybe even muscle milk, but we must, in fact it is absolutely imperative, that we desire the meat of the Word. So that we grow, in that we seek to know Yahoshua, as we are known by Him and not just the new believer but all who call on the name of Yahoshua.

You are loved,
cj

The letter and the spirit

Early in the morning hours a husband is speeding along a highway at 102 miles an hour. His reason? His wife is moments away from giving birth. At some point along the way local police get involved and without knowing anything other than the speed of the vehicle, begin to pursue. The man frantically calls 911 and informs dispatch of his and his wife’s situation. Soon after the relay is made to the officers, they begin to escort the man and his wife. Upon arrival to the hospital, the wife gives birth and the officers write a speeding ticket. The man shows up to court, the judge hears the case, and dismisses the charges. (You can read an actual account here.)

There is without a doubt a written law, however, behind the written law there is the spirit of the law beyond what is written. The man in the story above broke the written law. Yet, the spirit of the law was not intended to impede or impose undue hardship upon society. The judge acted in the spirit of the law when he dismissed the charges. Yahoshua, in His sermon on the mount explains this principle. He begins:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

He is laying out the written law. He is showing it’s importance and He is giving a weight to begin. It has importance, warning, and measure, with outcome. In many instances the spirit of the law is actually more harsh than the written law itself, for example.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘you shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool?’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)

And:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

These are just two examples of the spirit of the law being even more harsh or exact than the written law. Which gives greater need for forgiveness as i am sure we are all already guilty of at least one of these two examples. Yet there are other examples of the spirit of the law being not as hard to keep, the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day . . .” Is the example i will use here. When questioned by the Pharisees about why His disciples were picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, Yahoshua responded, “Have you not read . . .” After going on a bit Yahoshua finishes by saying, “For the Son of Man is Adon of the Sabbath.” Later, He references untethering a donkey, or getting an ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath. It wasn’t the letter of the law that was insignificant but it was the fact that it did not exist to burden us but rather to give us rest. It wasn’t meant to hinder us but to encourage us.

In fact all the law and all the prophets exist to encourage us. The law is not a burden. When we keep the commandments of YWHW we become better. Love Elohim, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second, love your neighbor as yourself. These complete the whole. The spirit of the Law has always been and will always be honoring YWHW. Micah writes:

“With what shall I come before YWHW, bow myself before the high Elohim? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Is YWHW pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my being? He has declared to you, O man, what is good. And what does YWHW require of you but to do right, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” Micah 6:6-8 (HS)

We do not earn our salvation by keeping the commandments of YWHW, we honor Him through it. We do not work our way to heaven, we walk with Yahoshua ha’Mashiah. When we fall He is there to help us up. In Yahoshua is the perfect law of liberty, and as we call Him Adonai, we need to honor Him by doing as He did and as He taught. There is coming a time when we will either hear, “Well done . . .” Or “Depart from me . . .” And not just those that reject the name of Yahoshua but also those who call Him Adonai.

“But why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who is coming to Me, and is hearing My Words and is doing them, I shall show you whom he is like: . . .” Luke 6:46- (HS)

Oh that we would come to know the fullness of Elohim, through His Son Yahoshua. That our faith and understanding, would be, an ever increasing and deepening matter of our heart and mind.

You are loved,
cj

Jude (a final thought)

Jude (a final thought)

Let us consider for a moment, who was Jude? We know that from verse one he is the brother of James. We know of a few Jude’s in scripture, but only one who is a brother to James and that James was the half-brother of Jesus. Making Jude (a form of Judas) also a half-brother of Jesus. i didn’t mention this in the introduction because i didn’t want to influence your reading too much. i wanted you to go in and take each word without that influence because i think we have a tendency to over think things. Besides, i suppose there is some question as to whether or not it is true, i am of the camp that sees it as true.

Jude never mentions he is a brother of Jesus. Nor does James, rather, they identify themselves as bondservants. They had no special entrance into the Kingdom, they entered the same way you and i did/do, by faith in Jesus the Messiah. In fact, we can read that at one point Jesus’ family was not impressed by His declaration and thought maybe He had gone mad. They even tried to influence Him in Mark 3:31-32 we read, “And His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside they sent to Him and called Him. And a crowd was sitting around Him, ‘Your mother and Your brothers are outside, seeking you‘” Now it is unclear what their intentions were but many believe, as do i, that they were there attempting to “calm” Him down from His rhetoric because He was really beginning to stir the pot and bring shame in a sense to His family, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas (Jude)?” Matthew 13:55

Jesus’, response to them brings light to the nature of the Church. (Mark 3:33-35) “And He answered them, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around Him, He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the will of God, He is My brother and sister and mother.‘” Blood maybe thinker than water, but obedience to God’s will is paramount! Want to be included in the family of God? Be obedient to the will of your Heavenly Father. Jesus says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV) Later in that same chapter (v23-24) Jesus says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent me.” 

Jude came to faith after Jesus was resurrected, as did James. It is another, proof, if you will, of the power of the resurrection and the truth of it! God, shows no partiality and recognizes those who obey His word as, family. Which brings us back to the stern warning in the book of Jude. That judgment is real, and there will be some that scoff, even within the “Church” and they will bring division. It is a great introduction to the book of Revelation, which starts out with its own warnings to the Churches. Therefore the true believer is to, “build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Jude 20-23 (All Bible references are from the ESV).

You are loved,

cj