Tag Archives: faith

Torah Law v. Spiritual Fruit? What is relevant in the New Covenant concerning law and obedience?

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Torah Law v. Spiritual Fruit? What is relevant in the New Covenant concerning law and obedience?

Jesus preached “fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20; John 15) as obedience to His commandments and Jesus told us that the Father is honored by the fruit produced through the Spirit via those who love Him and have trusted in Him for salvation by faith (John 15:8). Jesus said that those who produce much fruit honor the Father and this fruit honors all commandments, both those of His New Covenant Ministry and those etched in stone on Sinai.

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Jesus said,

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. John 15 (ESV)

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Concerning Divine Fruit as the fulfillment of “law” in the New Covenant,

When one is born again by faith in Jesus (John 3), they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit via New Covenant promise (Ezekiel 36:27) as the Holy Spirit is the Guarantor and Seal of New Covenant relationship with the Father (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30) .

It is the indwelling Holy Spirit, during daily sanctification in the New Covenant (Galatians 5:16), that employs the spiritual law written upon the human heart (Romans 2:14-15; Hebrews 10:16; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19) and mates that spiritual law with the redeemed conscience of the “new creation” in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) and the Spirit produces divine fruit through the faithful in Jesus and this fruit fulfills all law, codified/Sinai and Spiritual (Galatians 5:16:23).

This New Covenant promise has NOTHING to do with Torah or Torah Law other than the fulfillment of New Covenant eschatology expressed through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel and the fulfillment of all the Levitical blood sacrifices foreshadowed, but the spiritual law, the new creation (redeemed conscience), the Spirit producing divine fruit through the redeemed, are unique divine elements of the New Covenant and the Gospel of Grace actuated by faith in Jesus as Messiah and the blood He shed as atonement for our sin on Mount Golgotha (Matthew 26:28). The New Covenant’s fruit is NOT a reiteration of the Old Covenant’s Torah (2 Corinthians 3).

“Rich Young Ruler” and Jesus’ Command “Keep the Commandments” – Legalism or Faith? Mt. 19:16-22

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Why has the Holy Spirit included Jesus’ discourse with the “rich young ruler” in Matthew 19? What is Jesus teaching?

A theological response to the confusion…

In Matthew 19:17, Jesus is in a theological discourse with a wealthy young man who approached Him asking “What must I ‘do’ to ‘inherit’ eternal life?”

Why do you call me good?

The very first thing Jesus did, out of compassion, was to provide the young man an opportunity to acquire eternal life by “faith” in Jesus as Messiah-Elohim; that is, Jesus asked, “Why do you call me ‘good’ seeing that no one is good but Elohim?” Had the young man possessed the faith, spiritual insight, to acknowledge Jesus as Elohim the Messiah, eternal life would have been granted immediately (Romans 10:13). Unfortunately, the young man did not recognize or acknowledge Jesus as Messiah; therefore, Jesus, knowing the young man’s thoughts, provided the only other alternative to eternal life, Jesus commanded, “Keep the Commandments.” The young man then assumed himself on fertile ground as he felt himself to be righteous due all of his efforts to keep the Commandment; therefore, he asked Jesus, “Which ones?” Jesus recited a number of moral commands to which the young man boldly and proudly stated that he had kept them; then, Jesus proceeded to demonstrate to the young man that he had NOT kept the Commandments but had failed to keep the Greatest of Commandments; Jesus, once again, provided the young man a second opportunity to find eternal life by faith and commanded the young man to “follow me.” Jesus told the young man to sell all of his wealth, distribute it to the poor and “follow me!” Had the young man complied by faith, eternal life would have manifest in the young man’s life.

The relevance of the young man’s wealth?

The young man walked away sad and disheartened because he loved his wealth more than Elohim thus demonstrating that he did not keep the Greatest Commandments to love Elohim above all else and to love your neighbor as yourself but the young man had made an idol of his wealth (Matthew 22:36-40).

I tell you this protracted story because you are DEAD WRONG if you think anyone but Jesus keeps the Commandments in perfection (Romans 3:23) which divine perfection is absolutely necessary if righteousness (a right standing) with Elohim is to manifest (James 2:10) through works of the Law (Galatians 2:16) and you are DEAD WRONG if you think the Law does anything but CURSE the one who seeks righteousness (a right standing with Elohim) through it (Galatians 3:10). As a result of the Adamic sin-nature (Romans 5:12) the Law is a curse to all of humanity; therefore, mankind requires a perfect Intercessor if righteousness (a right standing) with the Father is to manifest with purity and authenticity (1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:6).

If you desire eternal life,

IF YOU DESIRE ETERNAL LIFE YOU MUST HUMBLE YOURSELF AND APPROACH ELOHIM (Genesis 1:1) BY FAITH AS AN UNWORTHY SINNER THAT YOU ARE AND ASK FORGIVENESS, REPENT OF YOUR SIN, TRUST FULLY IN JESUS AS YOUR MESSIAH WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE ATONEMENT OF YOUR SIN AT GOLGOTHA! John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19

Humanity finds righteousness with Elohim NOT by what we do but in Whom we “believe.” John 3

Christians “work,” they produce divine “fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23), “subsequent salvation” by faith in Jesus as Christians “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) in faith as they love Elohim and honor Him through obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit, not enslavement to a bygone law covenant given specifically to Israel’s children for eschatological purposes (Romans 7:6; Hebrews 8:7). The Law curses one to death; Jesus saves you through His death at Golgotha (Romans 8:1-7)! Know the difference and LIVE!

Discerning what “law” is discussed in the Pauline Epistles: Codified or Spiritual?

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How do we discern what “law” the Apostle Paul is speaking of in his epistles? Codified or Spiritual?

Discussion,

There are two-laws at play here. When Paul speaks of the law and it is NOT qualified by Spirit or “law of the Spirit,” Paul speaks of Sinai-Moses-the codified law belonging to Israel.

Paul makes a clear distinction in his letter to the Church at Rome and differentiates between “the law of the Spirit of life” (spiritual law) and the “law of sin and death” (codified law) (Romans 8:2; Romans 7:6). Law, the spiritual law (Romans 2:14-15), has been extant in the human heart subsequent Day-6 as an arbiter of free will and we see that law at work in Elohim’s judgment of the Adamic and Noahic generations and their defilement that grieved His heart (Genesis 6) and it’s interesting to note that “where there is no law there is no sin” (Romans 4:15; 5:13); therefore, we know that Elohim is not unjust and His judgment of the Adamic/Noahic generations by water was just because the spiritual law was written upon their heart and therefore condemned them, a judgment worthy of death by water save eight and they were ultimately “without excuse” (Romans 1:18-32).

Furthermore, Elohim, not desiring a repeat of the failures of the Adamic/Noahic generations, codified specific laws into stone and scratched them upon parchment through Moses; these, given Jacob’s children for sanctification and eschatological purposes concerning thwarting Israel’s compromise with Baal and Molech while preparing Jacob’s children for the introduction of Messiah Who would “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b) via the “Gospel” ordained “before Time began” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).

Though Sinai and Moses have served their purposes, the spiritual law written upon the human heart remains extant today in the New Covenant and will continue as relevant throughout Eternity as free will is extant in the New Jerusalem by necessity.

Law in the New Covenant?

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Law in the New Covenant?

Discussion,

“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33

“For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Hebrews 8:10

It is historically tragic but Israel rejected the New Covenant (Matthew 23:37); Israel rejected their Messiah sent to them specifically to proselytize them in the New Covenant as ministers of the Gospel and the Great Commission (Matthew 15:24); therefore, the Gentile has received the Commission – Ordination to preach the Gospel (Romans 11:25; Acts 13:46) but what “law” is now extant in the New Covenant subsequent the Law Covenant given Israel at Sinai through Moses?

Law in the New Covenant,

The free will/volition of the Gentile has always been arbitrated by the spiritual law written upon the human heart at conception (Romans 2:14-15; 8:2; 7;6), infused within the human genome on Day-6 of Creation as human kind is created in the spiritual image of Elohim (Genesis 1:26-28) and possesses certain divine communicable attributes of Elohim; one such divine attribute is the spiritual law essential relevant to Elohim’s eschatological purposes going forward as the spiritual law also acts as a bulwark against unrestrained narcissism that would inevitably culminate in societal implosion thus thwarting Messiah’s primary mission concerning “the destruction of the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b; Genesis 3:15).

I find it interesting that Elohim employs that same spiritual law, written upon the heart, in His New Covenant (Hebrews 10:16; 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33) except that it has been enlivened/made applicable in the life of the Christian through the redeemed conscience/the “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and it is the Holy Spirit who employs the spiritual law and the redeemed conscience to produce divine “fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23) in the life of the Christian during daily sanctification and this divine fruit (Galatians 5:16-23) fulfills all law; after all, Jesus did say, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20).

Why is Jesus the only WAY to the Father and Eternal Life? (John 14:6) – Why did Elohim create?

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Why is Jesus the only Way to the Father and eternal life? (John 14:6)

Jesus is the only Way to the Father because this Path to eternal life for humanity, the defeat of Satan, the restoration of order and holiness to the Kingdom, the maintenance of volitional love between the Father and the faithful angelic creation, was ordained “before Time began” via a Gospel, a divine battle strategy (2 Timothy 1:8-10; Genesis 3:21); this, as Jesus entered the Realm of Time “to destroy the works of the Devil” (1 John 3:8b; Genesis 3:15) which is the eschatological foundation for the creation of Time and physics, this temporary Earth, as a repository for a Kingdom War that was removed from the Kingdom and placed partially within the constraints of Time and physics as were the participants of that war (Luke 10:18; Rev. 12); this, while Messiah Jesus is the KEY to victory over death, Hell, the grave and Satan in this Spiritual War.

This spiritual strategic battle strategy is the Father’s will as the Father endeavors to maintain volitional love with His faithful angelic creation while dealing with a rebellious charismatic cherub angel and one-third of the angelic creation that allied with the Evil One (Ezekiel 28:11+); this is why Jesus has been given all authority over all things spiritual and physical and all things relevant to the defeat of Satan have been placed in Jesus’ hands as Creator, Warrior, Messiah, Judge (John 3:35; Matthew 28:18) and this is why Jesus is the ONLY Way to the Father because the Father’s eschatological will has ordained same…period!

Jesus is the KEY figure in Heaven and on Earth as Creator, Warrior, Messiah, Judge, King over the Millennial Kingdom and LORD over the New Jerusalem. Without Jesus as your Intercessor between you and the Father, you will die in Hell and NOT be permitted to enter the Kingdom because your alliance with Satan via your unbelief, rejection of Jesus as Messiah for the forgiveness of sin, will NOT be tolerated in the Kingdom once order and holiness has been fully resorted/restored; this, as “NOTHING IMPURE” will enter the Kingdom (Rev. 21:7); therefore, the imputed-gifted righteousness of Jesus over your life by faith in Him in exchange for your sin-debt owed the Father is absolutely MANDATED and critically NECESSARY if you desire eternal life in the New Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3; Acts 4:12).

For all intents and purposes, you are a byproduct, a divinely ordained pawn, in a Kingdom War that rages around us and through us as human beings (Ephesians 6); therefore, it is critically important relevant to whom you serve during your brief existence within the temporary Realm of Time; Satan or Elohim…the free will choice is yours to make (Joshua 24:14-15).

New Covenant, foreordained as Israel’s property, what happened?

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The New Covenant, foreordained by Elohim as belonging solely to Israel’s children, is now in custody of the Gentile, what happened?

Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 and Hebrews 10 and 2 Corinthians 3 articulate a “New Covenant” that was foreordained as the sole property of Jacob’s children and Messiah Jesus came specifically to them for this purpose (Matthew 15:24); this, as Israel’s children would fulfill Elohim’s promise to Abraham concerning Abram’s seed as “a blessing to every family of the Earth” (Genesis 12:3b); this, through Messiah and the New Covenant Gospel and the Great Commission; unfortunately, Israel’s children rejected their Messiah and conspired with Rome to murder Messiah Jesus upon a tree while exclaiming that Messiah’s blood be upon them and their children (Matthew 27:25); therefore, Elohim honored Israel’s free will choice as they rejected their Messiah, the Gospel, the Great Commission and Elohim gave these eschatological imperatives to the Gentile and the Gentile will remain in custody of the New Covenant’s Gospel until their fullness has entered the Kingdom of Elohim through faith in Messiah Jesus (Romans 11:25). Elohim’s eschatological plan will not be thwarted by the unfaithfulness of mankind.

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

As a Christian, my daily walk is NOT focused upon Sinai-Moses-Torah-Letters-Days-Diets…

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As a Christian, my daily walk is not focused upon Sinai or Moses or Torah or letters or days or diets…

Discussion,

Jesus was under Law (Galatians 4:4-5) and came specifically to those under the Law (Matthew 15:24) to proselytize them in the New Covenant’s Gospel of Grace and prepare them for ministry concerning Israel’s ordination as ministers of the Great Commission; this, in fulfillment of Elohim’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3b); unfortunately, Israel’s children rejected both their Messiah and the Gospel and ultimately, the Great Commission (Matthew 23:37). Sinai-Moses-the Law Covenant were never the destination but a path to that Destination which is Jesus our Messiah and the Gospel of Grace (Galatians 3:24).

Jesus fulfilled the righteous mandates of the Law for us (Matthew 5:17) as He is the only One qualified via the virgin birth to fulfill the Law but Jesus ordained Paul to preach “a righteousness apart from the works of the Law” (Romans 3:20-21; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 7:6; Romans 8:1-9; Galatians 2:21); therefore, the Christian is not enslaved to Sinai or Moses or Torah or Days or Diets, but the Christian lives and walks and obeys via the indwelling Holy Spirit who enlivens the comprehensive eternal Spiritual Law written upon the heart (Romans 2:14-15; Hebrews 10:16; Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36) and mates that Spiritual Law with the redeemed conscience (2 Corinthians 5:17) to produce “fruits of righteousness” (Galatians 5:16-23) through the redeemed in Jesus and this divine fruit fulfills all law, both codified and spiritual. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20); therefore, all that Jesus taught is fulfilled through obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit given to all who believe that Jesus is Messiah (Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:16); therefore, Christians don’t chase after fragmented, incomplete Sinai or Moses’ irrelevant civil and ceremonial laws but Christians serve through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 7:6).

In closing,

As a Gentile, I was never given Sinai or the Laws of Moses…I was NEVER under a Law Covenant-Torah but the Law I observe is infinitely superior to fragmented Sinai because the Law I observe is from the Spirit who is omnipotent and is able to intercede, discern, tutor, me in every moral decision made daily; this, during daily sanctification. I don’t live my life in letters or ordinances or days or diets…I live and thrive by the Spirit who is my Law and my Peace (Romans 5:1; John 14:16; John 16:13).

Why does the Scripture say committing one sin makes you guilty of all? James 2:10

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Someone asked: “Why does the Scripture say that committing one sin makes you guilty of all?” (James 2:10) What alternative exists that makes one “right” with our Holy Creator?

Comment,

James 2:10 is complimented by Galatians 3:10 where we learn that the codified law (Sinai – Moses), in order to attain righteousness (a right standing) with the Father through law-keeping, the law must be kept, obeyed, in absolute perfection (James 2:10) because Elohim is Perfect in Holiness and Righteousness and NOTHING impure will ever enter the Kingdom (Rev 21:27); herein lies the human conundrum, everyone born of Adam’s genome has sinned and fallen short of Elohim’s standard of perfection (Romans 5:12; 3:23).

Therefore, anyone who seeks eternal covenant relationship with Elohim through law-keeping is under a “curse” (Galatians 3:10) because the law only defines our culpability but provides no form of reconciliation with the Father through atonement as mandated by Leviticus 17:11 (Romans 3:20); therefore, the Father, in His mercy and compassion and grace, offers us the righteousness- sinless perfection of His Son, Jesus Christ; this righteousness apart from the law (Romans 3:21); a gifted/imputed righteousness earned for us by Jesus’ perfection is imputed-gifted into and over our lives by faith in Jesus as our Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:21); a divine gifting of righteousness as first pictured in Genesis 3:21 which is an act of pure grace (unmerited favor we did NOT earn) actuated through the simplicity of faith-trust-belief that Jesus is Messiah who died to atone for our sin-debt owed the Father, a sin-debt we could never pay our self through vain acts of obedience to a law, rule, day or diet.

As a result of this gifted-imputed righteousness of Messiah Jesus over our life through faith in Jesus as our Messiah, the Father then agrees, by New Covenant promise, to forgive-forget our sin, eternally (Hebrews 8:12), thereby reconciling fallen humanity back to Himself as we are made “positionally right” with Elohim via New Covenant promise; then, the Father endows the faithful in Jesus with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) who continues a good work within the redeemed via daily sanctification (Galatians 5:16) where the Spirit enlivens the Spiritual Law written upon the human heart (Romans 2:14-15; 8:2) and mates that Spiritual Law with a redeemed conscience i.e. “the new creation” in Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:17) and the Spirit produces divine “fruit” (Galatians 5:16-23) through the redeemed in Jesus, fruit that fulfills all law, both codified and spiritual; in this, there is eternal peace with Elohim (Romans 5:1).

Therefore, James 2:10 testifies that righteousness (a right standing) with Elohim (Genesis 1:1) is not possible through the law or vain attempts to obey same but that righteousness with Elohim can only manifest through faith in the “Righteous One,” Jesus our Messiah, and this righteousness is gifted-imputed by New Covenant promise and said righteousness cannot be earned through self-righteousness and anyone who seeks covenant with Elohim through self-righteousness is “cursed” (Galatians 3:10).

Concerning “bondage”to Sinai and “freedom” through the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:6)

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Concerning those in bondage to Sinai and Moses…there is freedom and life in Christianity; this, through faith in Jesus and daily sanctification via the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 6:14; 7:6)…

Confession,

As a Christian, I know Sinai was given solely to Israel’s children for sanctification and eschatological purposes and I know that Sinai is but a mere fragment of my Lord’s comprehensive Spiritual Law that has been extant as an arbiter of free will subsequent the creation of the angels; therefore, I find that in the New Covenant, I’m not under or obligated to Sinai or Moses’ letters but I’m under grace (Romans 6:14) and I don’t live my life pursuing letters etched in stone or scratched upon parchment but I walk daily in sanctification via the indwelling Holy Spirit who enlivens the spiritual law written upon my heart (Romans 2:15-16; 8:2) and mates that law with a redeemed conscience (2 Corinthians 5:17) given through my faith in Jesus and the Spirit produces divine “fruit” (Galatians 5:16-23) through me that fulfills all law, eternally; therefore, I do NOT live daily thinking about, enslaved to or seeking obedience to Sinai or Moses but I live by the Spirit’s guidance and He walks me daily in a manner that glorifies the Father; in this, there is intimacy and divine peace (Romans 5:1).

Perhaps, one day, if you find, accept, receive, Jesus as your Messiah and receive the Holy Spirit as Guarantor of that New Covenant relationship (John 3; Ephesians 1:13-14), you will understand these words and live by the Spirit and not in bondage to letters that only condemn and curse you void atonement (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10; 2:16).

Why do Israel’s children still try to keep the Commandments for righteousness with Elohim?

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Question was asked in a religious forum “…why [are] these people of Israel still keeping the ten commandments even though the covenant was faulted[?]”

Explanation,

Israel’s children rejected Messiah Yeshua sent to them (Matthew 15:24) and chose self-righteousness through law-keeping (Torah Law-Sinai-Moses) as opposed to faith in the One who kept the Law for us (Matthew 5:17) and offers us His righteousness imputed-gifted into and over our lives by faith in Him as Messiah; this, in exchange for our sin via New Covenant promise (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 8:7); therefore, Israel has stumbled over the Stumbling Stone laid in Zion (Romans 9:32); therefore, only a remnant of Israel’s children will escape the “second death” in Hell due unbelief (Isaiah 10:22; Romans 9:27; Rev 20:11-15); for this error, Israel’s children have been placed under Judgment, the Gospel taken from them and given to the Gentiles until the fullness of the Gentiles have entered the Kingdom of Elohim (Romans 11:25). This divine reality is relevant and observable to this very day. Yeshua is the only Way to life in the Kingdom of Elohim and this divine reality is an immutable Truth for Jew, Israelite, Gentile (John 14:6).

30 What shall we say, then That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is.