Tag: Torah

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

Understanding Repentance and Return in Faith

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” Acts 3:19

Repent: repentance is not only seeking forgiveness but also turning around. It is a 180 degree life course correction, from a life of sin. Peter in his second sermon found in Acts also states return, return to what? It is a return to righteousness, it is the opposite direction of sin. If sin is the transgression of the law, one can have confidence that to return means to return to the instruction of God. A return not to law as we define it today but to what the word law means, Torah, Instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man. Perhaps this point could be debated if we only read this verse however, Peter continues.

“And that He may send Yahoshua (Jesus), the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:20-21

Peter is giving continued validity to the Tanakh and its teachings on repentance. From the pages of Torah to the writings of the prophets, the message is “IF”, if you will turn from your wicked ways and follow Yahweh’s commandments, He will bless you and the land. As Peter says, “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of Adonai.” You see Peter is referring to the time between Yahoshua’s coming, his death, resurrection, and His ascension into the heavens, until He returns in the clouds to rule and reign from Jerusalem as King.

What did Yahoshua declare to Pilate? “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37). What is truth? His Word is Truth! And therefore if we are of His Word then we hear His voice, and if you hear His voice do not harden your heart but repent of your sin. What is sin? John writes in 1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” Lawless, without or outside of Torah, the instruction, the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.

For the entirety of my ministry I preached repentance, and to believe in the Name of Jesus for salvation. Although, now I use His Hebraic name Yahoshua, the message is still the same. However, with one major change, ‘IF’. For roughly three and a half years Yahoshua taught repentance and walking in humility with the Father. What does it mean to walk in humility? It is to set aside yourself and live for Him, by His instruction. Yahoshua came to present the Torah as a living, breathing, instruction manual of how to live righteously, set apart for the kingdom. One must ask the question, “What is one to repent of?” The answer of course is sin. That begs the question, “What is sin?” If sin is Torahlessness which John states than repentance is by its very definition observance of Torah.

In Luke 13 Yahoshua tells this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'” Luke 13:6-9

If we compare this parable and the scene Mark tells in 11:12-14 we will see something striking. “On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.” This scene takes place at the end of Yahoshua’s earthly ministry just after His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He went straight to the Temple looked around and departed.

What is the significance you ask? There was no fruit in the lives of the Pharisees or other ‘Religious’ leaders. They had replaced much of Torah with their own traditions of man. It is the same thing the western church has done today. The Word calls us back to Himself throughout its pages from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, most will separate the ‘Old’ from the ‘New’ and miss the whole point of the story. The Torah was not found in the people. They were void of righteousness i.e. the righteous acts of the saints, which is obedience to the Ways of God. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 – The whole passage is on gaining and keeping wisdom, about faith and the heart. It is and always has been a heart issue!

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, Yahweh, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24

We have a promise in all of this spiritual battling that rages for our very souls. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

We read in Act 5:32 – “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who obey Him.” To whom is the Holy Spirit given? To those who obey Him. Are you obeying God or man? Are you seeking His ways or are you trapped in a man made religion that is on the wrong side of the spiritual battle?

“If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” John 14:15

“So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am Yahweh. You shall not profane My Holy Name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 22:31-32

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14

We who are under grace are not devoid of Torah, by no means! We are to put on Messiah who is the Word made flesh. The one who sanctifies us and puts us on the good path. As the Proverb states: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9 – Psalm 119:53 states, “Righteous indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your Torah.” Those who know God’s commands but choose not to obey them, that is the one being described here. As a reminder again 1 John 3:4 tells us what is sin. “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is Torahlessness.“

My hope is that you will be challenged in heart and mind to search out the Scriptures. To seek what the good way is and to walk in it. That you will desire good works that have been prepared for you to do and that you will do them. Deuteronomy 6:17 “You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.” To put to death the old self and put on the new self, this is repentance, turning from sin (outside of Torah) to righteousness (in Torah).

“All who sin apart from the Torah will also perish apart from the Torah, and all who sin under the Torah will be judged by the Torah. For it is not the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Torah who will be declared righteous. Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature what the Torah requires, they are a Torah to themselves, even though they do not have the Torah. So they show that the work of the Torah is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Messiah Yahoshua, as proclaimed by my gospel.” Romans 2:12-16

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Messiah Yahoshua, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Adon Yahoshua Messiah.” 1 Timothy 6:13-14

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3

The lawless one, the deceiver of nations, the prince of this world, is a lier and a thief. Yahoshua came to present Himself the living Word and as He declared to Pilate, “and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the Truth.” Yahoshua already told us what Truth is; “Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17; 18:37) – Yahoshua said, “I am door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

“IF My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 – Wickedness is being outside of Torah, sin is Torahlessness, the repentant heart will humble itself and pray and seek the Face of God through Yahoshua, turning from wickedness and sin (rebellion to the Torah for those with Torah and for the Gentile born outside of Torah but by nature turning and doing the work of Torah as it is written on the heart through faith) to righteousness in Messiah by faith that He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion.

Humbly return to His Ways, this is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Light vs Darkness: The True Meaning of God’s Instruction

Light vs Darkness: The True Meaning of God’s Instruction

When you think about the passage where it says, “Good will be called evil and evil good,” what comes to mind? The verse found in Isaiah has been used often to describe our culture, and rightfully so. However, I wonder if we aren’t missing the actual meaning of the verse. Let’s take a look at the verse in question.

Isaiah 5:20
“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who change darkness into light
and light into darkness,
who change bitter into sweet
and sweet into bitter!”

Woe, profound grief or distress, woe to those who call evil good and good evil. What is evil? Is sin evil? And what is sin? 1 John 3:4 gives us the best definition, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” The word lawlessness means outside the Torah. The Torah is the instruction of God to man on how to live, love, worship and be. You may have heard the acronym given to the BIBLE, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Well, that is the Torah by its very definition, only it describes inheriting the earth; not leaving it.

Anything, outside of God’s instruction therefore can be considered evil or rebellious. The Psalmist writes, “Righteous indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your Torah.” (Psalm 119:53). Yet, today, within the majority of the church, “christians” forsake, even reject the Torah.” They call it obsolete, done away with, complete. They claim Paul teaches this as fact when in reality he upheld Torah, taught Torah, and instructed Timothy to hold fast to the Torah. Peter, writes a warning about Paul being taken out of context. The church ignores Peter too. “. . . as also in all his (Paul) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16).

Isaiah gives us a few comparisons to drive home his point, which also gives us a clearer understanding of his point. “Who change darkness for light and light for darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter!” The Word of Elohim is a light to our path. Often the idea is presented that coming into the Word is stepping out of darkness. Darkness is being outside of God’s Word. The same is true for sweet. The Word is described as tasting good. These present a clear understanding, that it isn’t only what the world once called evil becoming good, but what God has declared evil. And where do we find good and evil? Scripture.

Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
John 8:12
“Then Yahoshua spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 12:46
“I have come as a light into the world, that whosoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
Ephesians 5:8
“for at one time you were in darkness, but now you are in the light of Messiah. Walk as children of light“
John 1:5
“And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness could not understand.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should be the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

In each of these passages replace light with instruction or Torah and reread those passages. This is the very idea that is being presented. For example, ‘Then Yahoshua spoke to them, saying, I am the Torah in the world: he that follows me shall not walk outside of instruction, but shall have the instruction of life.’ It isn’t always clean but the idea is always there as Yahoshua is the Word made flesh. The use of light and darkness is symbolic and poetic language to drive home a point. ‘And the Torah shines in darkness, and the darkness could not understand.’ Now here in 1 Peter 2:9 we are called chosen, royal, priests, why? Because we hold the Torah, the instruction of the Father for His people. ‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should be the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness (without instruction) into His marvelous Torah!.’ And it is sweet.

Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are Your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!“
Psalm 34:8
“Taste and see that Yahweh is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
1 Peter 2:2-3
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that Yahweh is gracious.”
Hebrews 6:5
“who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—“

I have asked this before and I will ask it again; Did God change so we wouldn’t have to? The God who declares, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Has He redefined sin? Or does He call us out of sin and into righteousness (the things commanded by God to be obeyed by man)? These are the questions that demand an answer. These are the questions one should wrestle with for relationship is found in love, love is based on action and expression. For even the demons believe and tremble. How many say they follow Jesus with their lips but their hearts are far from Him?

Isaiah 29:13
“And the Adonai said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment taught by men.”
Ezekiel 33:31
“And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.”
Matthew 15:7-9
“You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Are you following the instruction of the Father or are you following the commandments of men?

You are loved,
cj

The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

The One Story: God’s Covenant and Instructions

It’s one book, not two or sixty-six, it is a three act play in which the beginning is also the end. It’s one continuous story of redemption, of hope, pointing to a time to come that goes beyond anything we could ever imagine. It’s a love story, it’s an adventure novel, it’s a history book, it’s a prophetic look into the future. It is a collection of writing by many authors but inspired by the same Spirit. It should be read as if it was written to you and your family from your dad. Because, every word of it, was inspired by your Heavenly Father. It is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. It is intended to equip you so that you can be competent in all that the Father has for you.

That page that is found between Malachi and Matthew that says, “New Testament”, rip it out. It has done more harm to the body of Messiah than any other page in your Bible. Not because there isn’t a new or renewed covenant. Because of the separation it has caused the church from Elohim’s people and the covenant. It has put up a dividing line on both sides. There is one God, one story, and one people, one covenant and one way to enter in.

The law of sin and death, death for sin, has been done away with for those who are in Messiah. It is not a license to sin but rather the removal of a sacrifice for sin. Since by one mans death and resurrection the debt of sin has been paid. Repentance, however, has always been and still is a returning to God’s ways. A return to the Fathers instruction. The door remains the same Yahoshua, the Word made flesh is that door. Obedience to the Word, obedience to Yahoshua, is obedience to the Father.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Messiah Yahoshua were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4

What is sin? Sin as defined by the Apostle John is violation of the Torah. We read in 1 John 3:4 exactly what sin is: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” Again as we have discussed in previous posts the word law is better translated Torah or instruction. Thus lawlessness is being without Torah or without the instruction of God. If this wasn’t enough what does John go on to say in this passage?

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.“

The word righteousness means; ‘The things commanded by God to be obeyed by man.’ Whoever practices obedience then is righteous and those who do not are without instruction. They are practicing lawlessness. The very thing Yahoshua accused the Pharisees of doing when He said, “you are of your father the devil.” Why? Because they had added to and taken away from the instructions of God. They were putting on the appearance of walking in Torah but it was a show as they were more concerned with their own ways than that of God’s. Indeed they were practicing lawlessness and therefore were of the devil.

So one must ask themselves, “what exactly am I practicing?” If repentance is turning from sin and sin is the breaking of Torah. Then one turns from breaking Torah to following it. This is repentance. It is not legalism to be obedient, to seek out those things God delights in and do them. That label is given by hypocrites who in the same breath will say one should obey God. In the end when Yahoshua is separating His people from those that are not he will say to many, “Depart from Me, I never knew you. You who practice lawlessness.”

What are you practicing? How are you reading? Who are you following? Who are you listening to? These are important questions that only you can answer. And you need to answer them because if you call yourself a believer but are following the traditions of man over the instruction of God . . . things will not end well. Are you walking the Way of the Rabbi?

You are loved,
cj

The Rabbi’s Way: Embracing God’s Promises

The Rabbi’s Way: Embracing God’s Promises

The Way of the Rabbi. It begins with a promise and a declaration: “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Do you believe it? Does it inspire your life, what you do, think and say?

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 . . .
“Hear, Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! And you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Are you operating under the promise as a living declaration? As an Ambassador of God’s Kingdom, representing, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done”? Do you know who brings this promise? It is the Holy Spirit, the Helper that Yahoshua promised. Yahoshua is the fulfillment of the promises of Yahweh.

Unfortunately, humanity has a way of complicating things. Nothing can ever be easy. Yet, throughout Scripture we find a simplicity. Difficult yes, but why? It is a made difficult by humans. By man made traditions and processes and instruction, and influence, and choice. It is what the writer of Ecclesiastes was getting at when he penned these words in the 29 verse of chapter 7. “Behold I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” Device, also schemes, adding to or taking away from those things commanded by God to be observed by men, The very definition of righteousness. So what did Elohim intend from the beginning?

Genesis 1:26-31 . . .
26 Then Elohim said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

27 So Elohim created man in His own image,
    in the image of Elohim He created him;
    male and female He created them.

28 And Elohim blessed them. And Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And Elohim saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

What are the takeaways?
– Made in the image of God, after His likeness
– To have dominion
– To be fruitful
– To subdue creation
– To tend to creation, caretakers, gardeners
– To walk with Him
He saw all this and it was very good! And what did humans do?

Genesis 3:1-13 . . .
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that Adonai Elohim had made. He said to the woman, “Did Elohim actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but Elohim said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For Elohim knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of Adonai Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh among the trees of the garden. 9 But Yahweh called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then Yahweh said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

What are the takeaways?
– Gave attention to satan
– Questioned God
– Wanted more, coveted
– Hid from God
– Tried to cover their shame
– Blamed others for their poor choice
He saw this and was grieved. From this point He sets in motion the story of redemption.

Fast forward to the present day and you have modern Pharisee’s, the church. They say and do a lot of good but they deny Torah. They believe in a lawless Jesus, a Greek infused Jesus. A Jesus who has done away with obedience to God and called it legalism and replaced it with hyper-grace. They have give up, “It is too difficult, no one can keep the commandments that is why Jesus had to come!” Yet, they will say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This is why I use the name Yahoshua. What is the #1 curse-word, slur, slogan . . . exclamation point? Isaiah and Ezekiel write about God protecting His name and I believe that is also the name of the Son. I don’t want any part of the Greco-Roman lawless (Torahless) Jesus. So what do we know?

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 . . .
13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear Yahweh, and keep His commandments; this is what being human is all about. 14 For Yahweh will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad.
Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear Yahweh, and keep His commandments; this is what being human is all about.

What are the takeaways?
– Narrow is the way to life and few find it (Matthew 7:13-14)
– Imitate Messiah (1 Corinthians 11:1)
– Yahoshua is the Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6)
– Yahoshua is the Word made Flesh (John 1:14)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. What is Truth? God’s Word is Truth. The interconnectedness of all of this is beyond coincidence. So what did Yahoshua say?

Matthew 5:17-20 . . .
17 “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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What are the takeaways?
– Obey me (Jeremiah 7:23; John 14:23)
– Keep My commandments (John 14:15) “If you love Me, you WILL keep My commandments.”
– Tell others everything He has taught you (Matthew 28:18-20)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We are to do this until He returns. So what will it be like in the end?

Micah 4:1-4 . . .
“But in the end-of-days it will come about that the mountain of Adonai’s house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and peoples will stream there. 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Adonai, to the house of the God of Israel! He will teach us about His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For out of Zion will go forth Torah, the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for many nations far away. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. 4 Instead, each person will sit under his vine and fig tree, with no one to upset him, for the mouth of Adonai Elohim has spoken.”

What are the takeaways?
– Sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) Funny today being called a goat is good and a sheep is bad. Yet in the end you will want to be numbered with the sheep and not the goats.
– Your Kingdom come Your will be done (Matthew 6:10) It is Adonai’s prayer, we are to pray for His Kingdom here and now. We are to live under and in its authority, while living as strangers and aliens in our current age.
– Feast Days (Zechariah 14:17-19) In the Millennium if we don’t keep the Feast of Tabernacles we will be cursed. Also, there is coming an event that Yahweh says will be so great we will forget the first Passover. This tells me until that happens we should be honoring the Passover we know today.
– New Heavens and Earth (Revelation 21:11) Since we haven’t seen the New Heavens and the New Earth, if we are to take Yahoshua at His word, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Torah“.

How can a wretch like me possibly make it?
“I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)

This is the end of the matter as John writes in Revelation 14:12 “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of Elohim AND their faith in Yahoshua.”

You are loved,
cj

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

Understanding Psalm 2: The Kings of Earth and God’s Authority

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against YHWH and His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!‘” Psalm 2:1-3

Sounds like this was written yesterday. It is true what Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun, all is vanity.” The Psalmist begins with a question we should all be asking, “Why . . .” Ask ten people and you are sure to get eleven different answers. In the end does any of it really matter if the victors do not honor YHWH Elohim? If not they will once again follow mans ways and go after false gods. Our King is coming and when He does He will make all things right. Until then we are here and we must live within the society but we do so as foreigners. For the ways of man are foolishness to God.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs, Adonai scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, but as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:4-6

Yahoshua (Jesus), came first as our redeemer, He will return as King. He will come in the clouds and every eye will see Him. And He is coming with a rod of iron and judgment. The world is being set up now for a one world government. The actors are all working together, the world is a stage. God’s plan will unfold. Do not put your hope in princes or presidents especially if they are not living according to the Word. There is a false king coming, a ruler robed in peace but beneath the service, violence and destruction.

“I will surely tell of the decree of YHWH: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron You shall shatter them like earthenware.” Psalm 2:7-9

Yahoshua said, He only does and says what the Father instructs. He came as the living Torah, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This is how John describes it in John 1:14. If it is true for the King it should be true for His people. The law of the Kingdom of Elohim is the Torah. We should be practicing it. The one coming in mans delusion is as the Word describes, lawless, he is without Torah. He will not be living according to the instruction (Torah) of Elohim the Father or of His Son Yahoshua, our King.

“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship YHWH with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 2:10-12

Take refuge my friends in Him, the Living Word, He is our Instruction. He is our redeemer and King. He comes to establish the Law, the Torah, of the Kingdom. What side are you on now? Are you waiting for the king of lawlessness? Are you waiting for The King in lawlessness? We are called to as John writes in Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahoshua.”

This is the Way of the Rabbi. The road is narrow and it is growing increasingly shorter as the edge of the Kingdom draws near. Come our of lawlessness and into the refuge of the Word of God and in His instruction.

You are loved,
cj

The Impact of Influencers in Today’s 24/7 News Cycle

The Impact of Influencers in Today’s 24/7 News Cycle

When I was just a boy, I had a paper route. Everyday when I would get home from school I folded my papers and started out delivering the news. Imagine, waiting until 3 or 4 O’clock to get your news! It is hard for me to even imagine it and I delivered the paper. Today, we live in a 24/7 news cycle and instant updates. It is hard to keep up. Every morning I get an email from a news organization. It is their ‘Morning Brief’. They highlight five or six stories to bring one up to speed on the happenings around the world. Yet, even then some of the stories have changed considerably by the time I open the page. Time is moving at a extremely fast clip, it is hard to keep up, if you blink you might miss something.

This 24/7 news cycle with updates at your fingertips can lock you in and it is hard to take a breath. Yet, with news so in your face these days there are some still who are oblivious to what is going on in the world. Oh they have their phone in their hands but they are playing games and scrolling Tic Tok. Their algorithm is full of cat videos and silly dances being performed by people they don’t know but follow and like and comment as if they do. Everyone is influenced by something or someone. You have news anchors who influence your opinion based on what network you prefer. As well if you aren’t into the news you are influenced by social media influencers. There are even ‘Christian’ influencers out there influencing the mind of their followers. The question is what or whom influences you?

I only want One influencer, the Ruah ha’Qodesh, that is the Holy Spirit. His role is to influence us towards the Word of God. To meditate on it day and night. Soak in it like a sponge. So that when others are around us they too end up under the influence of the Living Water of the Word. When you take a sponge full of water from the sink it drips everywhere, that is how we should be. So saturated by the Word that wherever we go we leave a trail behind us of living water. The Holy Spirit through us influencing those around us by our word and deed. When others bring us news our filter should be the Word. When others bring us ‘entertainment’ our filter should be the Word. When others bring us the ‘Word’ our filter should be the Word.

Let us consider together Psalm 1 . . .
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH, and on His instruction he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.” If you honestly desire to know YHWH in His fullness you must know His Word, His Torah, His Instruction. Not only to know it but to believe it and to obey it.

Psalm 1 continues . . .
“Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For YHWH guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” The wicked do not delight themselves in the Torah.

Is it only the wicked that turn their back of God’s instruction?

How would the Berean’s receive this statement?

Those in Brea were limited to the ‘Old’ Testament, we have the writings of the Apostles too. What can we find about “winds of doctrine”?

What are the implications?

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Understanding the New Covenant: Its Roots and Significance

Understanding the New Covenant: Its Roots and Significance

We are currently in the period between the Resurrection of our Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus) and Pentecost. The point in the upper room where the disciples were given the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Many say it was the installation service of the New Covenant. What exactly is the New Covenant? First, let’s explore what the old covenant is and when it was established.

Did you know Pentecost wasn’t a new event on the calendar? It was and is still the remembrance of the giving of the Torah. The instruction of God to His chosen people. Before you say, “that’s for the Jews.” Ask yourself, are you one of His chosen people today? The Feast of Weeks was the offering of the new grain. It is celebrated fifty days from Passover and the Feast of First Fruits. For perspective, there is Passover, the very next day begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On the third day, in the middle of Unleavened Bread is the Feast of First Fruits.

From when the children of Israel departed Egypt, having passed through the Red Sea, until they arrived at Mt Sinai and Moses received the Torah was approximately fifty days. It all aligns with the Feasts of Elohim. These aren’t Israels feasts, although they are commanded to keep them as a remembrance of all God did for them. They are indeed, as God calls them Himself, His Feasts. When we keep His Feasts we honor Him and remember His kept promises as we look to the fulfillment of Yahoshua’s second coming. In which He will rule and reign over His chosen people.

The problem is that the children of Israel did not heed Moses. Shown throughout the account of the Exodus, “and they did not heed Moses“; was a reoccurring theme. It is the reason for the Prophets writings. It is the reason Yahoshua said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The New Covenant is written of by the Prophets as a promise. The promise being that God would replace their stone hearts with hearts of flesh. A circumcision of the heart, now where have I heard that before? Even this idea however isn’t a New Testament promise it was written by Moses! It has been and continues to be God’s desire for His people that we have circumcised hearts. Tender and open to all that God has for us. Just a side note the word for New in New Covenant is the same word for New in New Moon. The moon isn’t new every month, no, the cycle is renewed. We become new with the renewing of our hearts towards God.

When we truly have circumcised hearts we become sensitive to the things of God. His instruction to us. We also allow for Him to write His instructions, His Torah, on our hearts and minds. And it is through the promised Holy Spirit, given on the Day of Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, that we are empowered. Empowered to what exactly? “For this is the Covenant I shall make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw us back to the commandments of God.

My prayer for us is this, that we will take this period between the Resurrection of our Messiah Yahoshua and the day of Pentecost; That we will seek to know Him through His word. That we will, with circumcised hearts, tender and sensitive, seek the New Covenant spoken of by the prophets. That we would be truly open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He writes the instruction of Elohim on our hearts and in our inner most beings.

This is the way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Grace, Law, and the Timing of God’s Instruction

Grace, Law, and the Timing of God’s Instruction

Timing is everything. Some decisions are worth waiting on to make, some need immediate attention. Wait too long and you may miss your opportunity, rush in and even if it was the right decision the timing might be wrong. Failure is inevitable. Not all failure is bad, yet there is a failure that is so great one can never recover. “Depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.” It is the failure to recognize, lawlessness.

The verse that I am referencing should cause one to pause. Yet, many read over it, stop just above it, or ignore it outright. It is found in Matthew 7. Perhaps the most frightening verse in all of Scripture when read in context. Therefore, it is easier to ignore it than to grapple with it. First, let us define the word lawlessness. In modern speech according to Dictionary.com it means: the quality or condition of being without regard for the law; behavior that is contrary to or shows indifference to the law.

Many look at it as if it were simply being a law abiding citizen. They wouldn’t be wrong, however, they wouldn’t be right either. The word when broken down means, without law. The question then becomes what law? The word here is Torah, to reference the Mosaic Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Torah by definition is simply instruction, or God’s instruction. So when Yahoshua says, “. . . you who practice lawlessness.” He is literally saying, you who are without Torah. I am not making this up it is right there in the text.

I have coached several sports teams. With each of them I always made them practice at game level. The reason, “you will play as you practice, so always practice to play.” It is what Paul was writing when he said, “run to win.” He emphases the idea of competing to win not just to participate. If you are reading this it isn’t too late to start training to win. Timing is everything and now is the time. This decision needs immediate attention. Especially given world events.

Some will say that we are saved by grace! They aren’t wrong. None of us are worthy of forgiveness, salvation, even a thought. Yet, here we are. Some will say if we try to keep the instruction of God we dishonor “Jesus”. Now say that out loud to yourself and tell me it doesn’t sound dumb. Yahoshua said, “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I command?” What does He command, well a lot but one thing to highlight would be Matthew 5:19. “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands and techs men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom. He who does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom.” This isn’t about earning salvation, it is about honoring the King.

Some will say that mans traditions are now acceptable over God’s instruction. Yet, they will call out the Pharisees, as Yahoshua did, for placing their laws and traditions over God’s instruction. Make that make sense. Hypocrisy at its finest. The same God who said He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, who said He never changes, never changes. Some will say its impossible, but then will quote Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Messiah, who strengthens me.” Either that verse is true or it’s not, the way you choose to live will determine what you believe.

The followers of the Way are called to be separated. To be a city on a hill for all to see. For others to see the way we live and love, move and breathe. And through our witness, in both, word and deed, come to know Messiah. This is the way of the Rabbi. It is what Paul teaches, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” Grace is not a free pass. The preceding verses in Matthew show not a man trying to justify himself by his works but a man trying to justify his lawlessness. If it weren’t so Yahoshua would have said something along the lines of “depart from Me, you who are trying to pay your way into the Kingdom.”

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Yahoshua’s response points out that they were living two lives, they were saying the right things but they were practicing lawlessness, living without Torah, without God’s instruction. Do we need grace? Yes. Are we going to fall short at times? Probably. Did Israel fall short? Yes. It was expected that they would or there wouldn’t have been given them the instruction of how to make atonement for their sin. The same is true today only Yahoshua is our atonement. Even better, he exchanged himself for us, taking on our punishment. Still this doesn’t excuse sin.

John writes in his first letter a defining way to understand life and sin. “No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Messiah is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.”

To bring this home let’s define sin. Again let’s look to the Word of God to define it for us. 1 John 3:4 says, “Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.” To bring it home let’s write this the way it is defined. Everyone who sins, lives outside of God’s instruction, for sin is rebellion against God’s Torah. These are not my words they are the words written in the book, Christians say they believe in. “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I command.” Yahoshua (Jesus), is the WORD made flesh.

Timing is everything! Now is the time to decide for time is growing short.

You are loved,
cj

Mark Twain’s Insight: Pausing Amid the Majority

Mark Twain’s Insight: Pausing Amid the Majority

Mark Twain is credited with many profound quotes. There is one that I came across recently that really struck me. He said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” It reminds me that the majority of humanity does not know God. They don’t know the Son Yahoshua (Jesus). Scripture breaks this down further by saying there is only a remnant. “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?” (Micah 7:18)

Do you know of the parable of the ten virgins? There were five wise and five foolish. Have you read the words of Yahoshua where He warns us, “depart from Me I never knew you! You who practice lawlessness.” The message over and over is a remnant. In John 6:66 we read of many turning and walking away from Him. Because His teachings were too hard to accept. Only a few remained and He asked them, “are you going to leave also?” They responded, “where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” They were the remnant.

Have you heard about the second Exodus? . . . Jeremiah 23:7-8. “So behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought the Israelite’s up out of the land of Egypt.’ Instead they will say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ Then they will dwell once more in their own land.”

Before one begins to quote the overly taught phrase, “That is for the Jews.” Let me share another couple verses with you. Isaiah 56:1-8 is as clear as day. This is significant because it draws a conclusion few are prepared for which leaves them open to deception. Lets look at this passage in Isaiah.

This is what YHWH says: “Maintain justice and do what is right. For My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast. Who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Let no foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH say, “YHWH will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” For this is what YHWH says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me. And hold fast to My covenant. I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial. And a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH to minister to Him, to love the name of YHWH, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar. For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Thus declares Adonai Elohim, who gathers the dispersed of Israel. “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

The second passage I want to draw the readers attention to is found in Romans 11. Here are verses 18-23 for your consideration. “do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God. Severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. For God has the power to graft them in again.”

I hope this establishes in your mind the connectivity of God’s people and the nations. His desire is that ALL would come to the knowledge of the Truth. What is truth? His word is truth, John 17:17. You see even in a graft sometimes the graft doesn’t take and the branch then needs to be cut off. We are called to know Him by His word and His word is True. That Word is the Tanakh or as we flippantly call it today, “The Old Testament.” It isn’t either or it’s both and, for it is a continuation. Yahoshua told Pilate during His trial, “You say correctly that I am a King. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” His Word is Truth, Yahoshua came to testify of the WORD. It is a continuous revelation and a constant call to revival. To return to the Torah! The instruction of Elohim.

What is the sign of revival? Acts declares this as the sign of revival. “You see, brother, how many thousands there are of those who have believed. And they are all zealous for the Torah. . .” So then how is it that we are to live but obediently to the Word. And for what reason? So we can partake in the second exodus written of in the Prophets.

Jeremiah 30:1-3.
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH. “This is what YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares YHWH. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”

Jeremiah 31:7-10.
“For this is what YHWH says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’ Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly! They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” Hear, O nations, the word of YHWH, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.“

Zechariah 8:7-8.
“This is what YHWH of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous Elohim.”

Hosea 3:5.
“Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek YHWH their Elohim and David their king. They will come trembling to YHWH and to His goodness in the last days.”

Ezekiel 28:25-26.
“This is what YHWH Elohim says: ‘When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, I will show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will dwell in their own land, which I have given to My servant Jacob. And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am YHWH their Elohim.’”

There is but a remnant that will see the Kingdom from the inside. Sadly, the majority of people will be looking at the Kingdom from the outside. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They will say, didn’t we believe, didn’t we do, didn’t we? And they will only hear, “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” They were in darkness believing they were in the light. But the light is Torah. So if you are not living in Torah you are indeed living in darkness. And no amount of believing will suffice. For those in the light walk according to the light. The light, the truth, these are the Word and the Word is the instruction and the instruction is Torah. This is the way of the Rabbi. May you experience true revival and become zealous for the Torah.

You are loved,
cj

The Power of Endurance in Faith

The Power of Endurance in Faith

Endure.
1. to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo.
to endure great financial pressures with equanimity.
2. to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate.
I cannot endure your insults any longer.
3. to admit of; allow; bear.
His poetry is such that it will not endure a superficial reading.

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life. Which is in God’s Paradise -‘Eden.’” Revelation 2:7

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who endures will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name. A name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.” Revelation 2:17

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “. . . only hold fast to what you have until I come. To him who endures and does what I want until the goal is reached.” Revelation 2:25-26 (29)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.“) “He who endures will, like them, be dressed in white clothing. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life. In fact, I will acknowledge him individually before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 (6)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will make him who endures a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of My God. As well, the name of My God’s city, the new Jerusalem. Which is coming down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name.” Revelation 3:12 (13)

(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will let him who endures sit with Me on my throne. Just as I myself endured and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 (22)

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Endurance, is an important part of the Way of the Rabbi. He taught us by His actions. Not just His life, but even more so in His death, enduring death, beaten, pierced and hung on a tree. Paul, continues the passage above by saying, “Therefore, I do not run aimlessly.” No he ran with a purpose. He said, imitate me as I imitate Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus). We are not to live aimlessly, lawlessly, or without purpose. No we have been given instruction for our purpose and charged with an enduring mission.

“Then Yahoshua (Jesus) came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

What is it that Yahoshua instructed? He exemplified the Torah, bringing it to fullness, revealing its purpose. The Torah is the instruction manual on how to live set apart lives from the nations. It reveals to us how to live obediently, holy, sanctified lives. Without it we are lawless making us no different than the nations. To keep the Torah is not to do away with Faith in Messiah. It is done because of our faith in Messiah. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).”

In Yahoshua’s charge to His disciples in Matthew 28 quoted above He says, “. . . all that I have commanded you.” At no point did Yahoshua instruct His disciples to do away with the Torah. No not once but to do away with man’s tradition. He challenged the religious leaders on their interpretation and their added rules. He clarified, and lived out the Torah perfectly. It is by His grace through faith that we are saved but we are called to live set apart.

Many will read this and say it is impossible to keep all the commandments of God. Yet in their next breath quote Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” All but keep the commandments of God, that I cannot do. Oh you of little faith, hypocrites and weak willed fools. Paul’ s words are true and align with the instruction of Messiah perfectly.

Is it difficult in a fallen world to live set apart lives under the instruction of God? YES! A hundred times yes. But that doesn’t mean we are free to practice lawlessness (Torahlessness) and say we are under grace. By no means! We are to endure and in that endurance we will be blessed, protected, and welcomed into the Kingdom. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj