IYAR 19
Cop-Out
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep (OBEY) My commands.” (John 14:15 AMPC, emphasis mine)
While listening to a Messianic Shabbat service many years ago, I recall being ‘pulled
up short’ by a statement that I heard during the message: “We [the body of
Messiah] have a greater addiction to the lack
of instruction [Torah] than we do for instruction [Torah]”[1]. The gentleman speaking hit the nail on the
head. To re-phrase Mr. Messer’s
statement, many born-again believers
in Messiah Yeshua would prefer not to have anything to do with Torah (the
Divine instructions in righteous and moral living), or to even admitting that
it is relevant for today. Oh, shame, shame.
Torah (Strong’s H8451) means instruction, direction, or
a set of instructions, such as is found in the first five books of the Tanakh, otherwise referred to as the Old
Testament. Many times all of God’s word is referred to as Torah,
for it is all His divine
instructions, according to 2Tim 3:16.
When an individual, or a church’s ‘doctrinal statement’, express the
belief that it is now considered grace
to pick and choose which commandments are applicable for our present day world, this is a “cop-out”, and is a perfect
example of the clay having a dispute with the potter over the potter’s wheel
(Isa 29:13-16; Rom 9:20-21).
In the final chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses made it
clear that Torah was not only for the people of Israel, but also for “your
sojourner who is within your gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn
to fear יהוה your Elohim and guard to do all the Words of this Torah.” (Deu 31:12. See also Ex 12:49). This provision was made for all those who
were not the direct descendants of the
twelve sons of Jacob, yet desired to serve Elohim, and obey His divine instructions
as given in the Torah. In fact, this
provision includes us today, those of us who are adopted and “grafted in” to
Israel (see Rom 11:17-21).
Messiah Yeshua did not come to abolish the Torah,
the instructions. He came to complete
them, fulfill them, “expand and magnify them to their full spiritual intent and
conclusion; to show their full meaning, purpose, and relevance”[2]. Yeshua Himself kept every aspect of the Torah, as did all His disciples; should we not
also follow their example in this?
To use the ‘grace’, favor and mercy of Elohim as an
excuse for disobedience is nothing by self-justification, and finds its roots
in arrogance and pride. What this basically
is saying is that we believe we are too good to have to keep ALL the ‘old’ commandments, and that we
no longer need to. Dangerous thinking.
“If a person
will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.” (Pro 28:9
CJB)
“And by this
we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. The one who says, “I know
Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. But whoever guards His Word, truly
the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in
Him. THE ONE WHO SAYS HE STAYS
IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.” (1John 2:3-6, emphasis mine)
Alvinu, Malkenu, our Father, our King, we repent of turning away from following Your
commandments, Your Torah, Your divine
instructions for righteous living that have never changed. We yield, Master, and submit to Your
Word. Thank You, Abba Father, that as we
are cleansed by the washing of the water of Your Word, You change us from the
inside out, conforming us more and more into the image of Your Son, Yeshua, the
living Torah. Help us in our walk with You, as we learn
again from Your Torah, who You are. In
the Name above all names we pray, Yeshua of Nazareth, AMEIN!
©2021
[1] Ralph Messer, Simchat Torah Beit Midrash, Englewood,
Colorado
[2] ©Carmen Welker, www.therefinersfire.org
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