The Gospel, life and thorns … part 1

The Gospel, life and thorns … part 1

Deuteronomy 4:1 “Now therefore hearken*, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them**, that ye may live***, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.

*H8085 שָׁמַע shama` (shaw-mah’) v. to hear intelligently, often with implication of obedience.

**H6213 עָשָׂה `asah (aw-saw’) v. to do or make, in the broadest sense to apply to daily life.

*** H2421 חָיָה chayah (chaw-yaw’) v. 1. (literally or figuratively) to live. 2. (causatively) to revive. 3. (specially) to bring back to life (from the dead).

It seems that an essential part of our walk of faith is not being taught in the church today. From the Scriptures we see the call to the gospel of salvation and the actions of righteousness. While the church is actively speaking on the salvation of the person they are horribly opposed to the actions of righteousness calling them “works salvation”.

The two components are vastly different and this is the calling of Paul, to dissect and define the two. Galatians 3:11-12, as you will see a little further down, does a great job of exposing this calling. Likewise in Romans (found in part 2) Paul explains this dichotomy in those of the nations {Gentiles} who have attained and the Jews who have not attained.

It is very clear in the end, THE EPIC END, that we are to trust Yeshua for our salvation and then to follow the Torah in righteousness.

Luke 10:25-28 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life#? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

#G2222 ζωή zoe (zō-ee’) n. 1. life. (more than merely the present physical or natural life). 2. life-above. (above or elevated in relation to the mere physical condition. There may be strong connotations and direct inferences to Spiritual, Kingdom, or Eternal life. This word deserves special demarcation and attention).

Mark 10:17-19 “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life#? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.” #G2222 ζωή zoe (zō-ee’) n. 1. life. (more than merely the present physical or natural life). 2. life-above. (above or elevated in relation to the mere physical condition. There may be strong connotations and direct inferences to Spiritual, Kingdom, or Eternal life. This word deserves special demarcation and attention).

^{Galatians 3:11} But that no man is justified (receives salvation) by the law (Torah) in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just (those saved) shall live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up [the proud] is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

To those that believe every word of YHWH to be truth, they will live as such, seeing that the Torah is righteous instructions for a life pleasing to YHWH.

Romans 11:26 “And so all Israel shall be saved (House of Judah & House of Ephraim): as it is written, There shall come out of Sion (mountain of YHWH) the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness (lawless behavior) from Jacob (House of Israel):”

Deliverer is a combination of Greek words…. G4511 ῥύσις rhusis (rhï ’-sis) n. a flux (of blood). & G4482 ῥέω rheo (rhe’-ō) v. to flow) (Isaiah 59:20 “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.”

1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”)(The transaction here explained is that the blood of Yahshua is delivered (to the altar in the heavenly realm) for our transgressions, so that, we can live out the Torah which is the will of YHWH.

Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered”

Ezekiel 18:20-22 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

We have to see here that the person is justified by their repentance to lawlessness and their faith in YHWH to show them grace and mercy. Righteousness is apart from works in both OT & NT.

Romans 4:9-12 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

Paul is telling the circumcision party that salvation by grace through faith has ALWAYS been the benchmark and that circumcision, baptism and the keeping of Torah are the result of faith being lived out in love to the Father!

¹² And the law (Obedience to Torah as way of life handed down from parents) is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (Once one is convinced it is the only way to salvation, that is how he will live and in doing so he ignores the sacrifice of Yahshua – This is ‘pure’ Pharisaical Judaism. The life lived according to Torah, as an obedience to YHVH, is the pathway to sanctification.

Leviticus 18:5 “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 20:11 “And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live* in them.”

H2425 חָיַי chayay (chaw-yah’-ee) v. to live, to revive. Rooted in H2421 חָיָה chayah (chaw-yaw’) v. to bring back to life from the dead.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What are these good works that we are to walk/live out/example in them? It’s the Torah!

Leviticus 18:5 “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live* in them: I am the Lord.”

* H2425 חָיַי chayay (chaw-yah’-ee) v. 1. to live. 2. (causatively) to revive.