DO YOU FOLLOW THE LAW (613 LAWS) THROUGH THE TORAH WHICH IS THE LAW OR DO YOU FOLLOW HE WHOM FULFILLED THIS LAW AND GAVE US GRACE AND FREEDOM TO ENTER IN TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ABBA GOD THE FATHERJesus did/did not abolish the Law
"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. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks 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 practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Ephesians 2:13-15
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.
Hebrews 7:18-19
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
- Jesus taught that "the proper way to keep any commandment was to fulfill the purpose for which it was given." For instance, Jesus taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the sake of people (Mk 2:27), and therefore picking food to eat or healing on the Sabbath was perfectly allowable. (Mk 2:23-3:5).
- Jesus' teachings on the Law also focused on inward obedience, or obedience of the heart, rather than outward, legalistic obedience (Mt 5:21-28). Furthermore, Matthew 15:17-20contains the same teaching that in Mark is explicitly interpreted as saying that all foods are clean (Mk 7:14-23).
- "The law is fulfilled ethically rather than ceremonially," which Jesus emphasizes by quotingHosea 6:6: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Mt 9:13,12:7).
Ephesians 2:13-15 is part of a discussion of the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ (Eph 2:11-22), hence verse 14 is emphasizing the fact that the laws which separated Gentiles from the Israelites (e.g circumcision) are no longer in effect. The need for post-resurrection followers of God to follow the ceremonial laws - which formed the barrier between Jews and Gentiles - was abolished; the law itself was not abolished, but fulfilled. It is also worth noting that the Greek word translated as "abolish" in v. 14 is different from the word for "abolish" used in Mt 5:17; the former is translated elsewhere as "fade away" and "pass away," while the latter is only translated as "destroy," "abolish," and "thrown down." (This bit of knowledge is from theNIV Exhaustive Concordance.)
Hebrews 7:18-19 refers to the regulations of the Levitical priesthood, as part of a discussion of the priesthood of Jesus (Heb 6:19-8:2). While the regulations served a purpose, ordinary Levite priests could not atone for sin once for all as Jesus did, and in that sense the regulations were "weak and useless." The requirements of atoning for sin through sacrifice that the Levite priests attempted to meet were not abolished, but fulfilled through Jesus.
On my personal facebook I have 5000 facebook friends. Probably at least 20% of these friends are JEWISH, many whom are not BELIEVERS of YESHUA but who embrace Judaism and The Torah... and many actually live inside of the nation of Israel. The main thing that the JEWISH people will not tolerate is feeling that Believers are going to try to CONVERT them over to Christianity. In early history of the JEWISH PEOPLE, those whom said they were 'Christian' would force JEWISH people to convert to Christianity or else be killed. This is 'why' there is such separation between Christian Believers and Jewish.
The sad thing is that the JEWISH people whom embrace Judaism and The Torah are under the Law rather than the Grace of God.
(added Monday 2/9/2012, Pastor Rick of Evangelical Free Church started a series this past week about God's Law... I started writing this as a draft about 6 weeks ago since I have many on facebook whom are Jewish and whom follow Judaism. I added the two things directly below from Pastor Rick on what he shared on 2/8/2012. The remaining I wrote about 6 weeks ago.)
LAWS / RULES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP WILL ALWAYS GO INTO REBELLION
GOD'S RULES / LAWS IS NOT A CONDITION - THEY ARE A CONFIRMATION OF HIS LOVE FOR US. (EXODUS CHAPTER 12)
IT ALL INVOLVES TRUST.... HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH ABBA FATHER GOD WILL ALWAYS SUPERCEDE LAWS / RULES....
As a Believer in Yeshua / Jesus.. we now have the GRACE of God shown to us, not through the Torah (The Law of God) but through YESHUA / JESUS as Lord. Yeshua completed / fulfilled the Torah as YESHUA / JESUS became the Torah.
YESHUA THE JEWISH MESSIAH (VIDEO)
On my personal facebook I have 5000 facebook friends. Probably at least 20% of these friends are JEWISH, many whom are not BELIEVERS of YESHUA but who embrace Judaism and The Torah... and many actually live inside of the nation of Israel. The main thing that the JEWISH people will not tolerate is feeling that Believers are going to try to CONVERT them over to Christianity. In early history of the JEWISH PEOPLE, those whom said they were 'Christian' would force JEWISH people to convert to Christianity or else be killed. This is 'why' there is such separation between Christian Believers and Jewish.
The sad thing is that the JEWISH people whom embrace Judaism and The Torah are under the Law rather than the Grace of God.
(added Monday 2/9/2012, Pastor Rick of Evangelical Free Church started a series this past week about God's Law... I started writing this as a draft about 6 weeks ago since I have many on facebook whom are Jewish and whom follow Judaism. I added the two things directly below from Pastor Rick on what he shared on 2/8/2012. The remaining I wrote about 6 weeks ago.)
LAWS / RULES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP WILL ALWAYS GO INTO REBELLION
GOD'S RULES / LAWS IS NOT A CONDITION - THEY ARE A CONFIRMATION OF HIS LOVE FOR US. (EXODUS CHAPTER 12)
IT ALL INVOLVES TRUST.... HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH ABBA FATHER GOD WILL ALWAYS SUPERCEDE LAWS / RULES....
As a Believer in Yeshua / Jesus.. we now have the GRACE of God shown to us, not through the Torah (The Law of God) but through YESHUA / JESUS as Lord. Yeshua completed / fulfilled the Torah as YESHUA / JESUS became the Torah.
YESHUA THE JEWISH MESSIAH (VIDEO)
Unfortunately the Torah is law and the Christian is under Grace. All the knowledge of the Torah is wonderful but the True Message is always going to be in Christ....II Corinthians: 3:3-8 calls the letter written on stone the Ministry or Ministration of death. The Torah was given at Mt. SINAI but for the believer in Jesus...we have been moved to Mt. Zion...Hebrews 12.
A person can study all their Hebrew roots but it can take you away from the Cross and the centrality of Jesus...the Gospel that saves us...We too loved studying all those things but its like putting blinders back on unless you filter it all through the New Covenant message of the Cross....the Torah and that study has glory...a fading glory...but the message of the Cross is a glory that only grows brighter and brighter and leads to Life
Believers in YESHUA / Christ following the True Message of the Cross and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord tells us in the Book of Revelation as well as other places in the New Covenant, that all believers in Jesus are a "chosen priesthood, a royal nation..." this is all believers in Jesus made up of Jew and Gentile. We are one new man in the New Covenant, Believing Jews and Gentiles together. It is always great to study these things out, but not to go back into the "practice" of Judaism... we trample the Blood of Jesus.
We are either under Law or Grace, we cannot be under both or we void the other out.
The Law came by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by the Person of Jesus Christ. Hebrews is so very clear about the finished work of the Cross. Jesus became the full penalty for all our sins. The Law always has to do with punishment, ala, Korah's rebellion, the 3000 who died at the foot of Mt. Sinai, etc and the list goes on, but thank God we no longer live under the fear of punishment because Jesus fully satisfied every aspect of the Law/Torah and became our once for all sacrifice. We have moved Mountains, from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
The Old Covenant always had to do with fear of retribution and punishment, the new in Jesus frees us and enables us by the Spirit of God to walk out the life the Jews were never able to perform under the Law.
If a person studies the Torah, just be sure to balance the understanding of it out with Galatians, Hebrews, especially chapters 8-10, II Corinthians 3,4, Romans chapters 3-8...because otherwise it is very easy to come back under the Law mindset.
II Corinthians calls the law the ministry of death...and the Torah which is the Law comes under that category...
Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the Law on every aspect. If we are to go backwards in our practice, then Jesus never needed to die.
We must see Jesus in every part of what was done. The Old Covenant gives us shadows and types, but Jesus perfectly fulfilled and that is why at the CROSS, He said, "It is Finished," in other words, He perfectly fulfilled, and perfectly paid the full penalty for our sins, sickness, death etc.
II Corinthians calls the law the ministry of death...and the Torah which is the Law comes under that category...
Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the Law on every aspect. If we are to go backwards in our practice, then Jesus never needed to die.
We must see Jesus in every part of what was done. The Old Covenant gives us shadows and types, but Jesus perfectly fulfilled and that is why at the CROSS, He said, "It is Finished," in other words, He perfectly fulfilled, and perfectly paid the full penalty for our sins, sickness, death etc.
Love the Jewish people, but you can't practice what they practice or we nullify the Cross and Jesus's finished Work...we make His death and resurrection of no effect.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Heavenly Father, except through ME. John 14:6
Judaism is a beautiful religion, but it is through Jesus that the SAVING POWER of God is made available.
The Mosaic Law pointed to a need for Salvation by Grace through Faith. Now that the Holy Anointed One of Israel (Jesus) is here, there is no need to be subject to 613 laws.
Why are JEWS (whom follow the Torah (The Law)) afraid or threatened by the presentation of the Gospel message of Jesus? It's ONLY words. The Words of God. People are always talking about how Christians persecuted Jews, but they forget that Saul of Tarsus killed thousands of Christians until he encountered Yeshua on the road to Damascus. After he encountered Jesus, he SPREAD the Gospel to the GENTILE WORLD. To top it off, Paul was a JEW. The JEW VS. CHRISTIAN BATTLE started during the first century and it was initiated by Jews who got angry with fellow JEWS who embraced Yeshua as the Promised Messiah.
The very same wrestling that Paul the Apostle had with the religious sect who continued to proclaim the Law of Moses after Jesus' death. Paul who was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee of Pharisees had to proclaim the truth of the New Covenant Message of Grace. Paul stated, let me be cursed with a double curse if I preach any other message that what was given to me... Romans 9:3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that would save them; Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
Many times, Christians think they have to be "more Jewish" to win the Jews to Christ, but if we are more Jewish in our practice, then how do we have anything different to offer to them. Messianic Jewish Rabbis have said when they see Christians trying to practice like Jews, that they think of them as "Jewish wannabees." We are called to be distinctly Christian and love the Jewish people into the Message of the Cross and Salvation through Jesus as Messiah.
The Law hardens hearts and blinds the believer...the wonderful Amazing Grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ is the most awesome, powerful, revelation that sets the souls FREE.
Love the Jewish man or woman, bless them, pray for them, but do not practice Judaism...Christians sometimes think that because it is all part of the same Bible that it is to be practices, but the WHOLE message of the Bible POINTS to Jesus Christ as the WAY, (OUTER COURT), THE TRUTH (HOLY PLACE) AND THE LIFE, (HOLY OF HOLIES). HALLELUJAH!!!
Philippians 2 and 3 tells us that Paul the Apostle called all of the great teaching of the Law that he practiced under Gamileo, rubbish...counting it all loss that he might gain Christ...whatever was to my gain, I now count loss...All of our learning has a place, but nothing compares and is all dung by comparison to Christ.
Galatians 1:9 is the verse I was referring to that Paul stated who was a Pharisee of Pharisees...see something like scales fell from his eyes...and he had encounters with Jesus Himself who gave him this message of the Gospel of Grace. The law brings blinders, but the Gospel of Grace is life and peaces, the True Rest of God in Hebrews 4.
We are grafted in, grafted in to Yeshua / Jesus, not Judaism... which is THE TORAH of the Law.
Grafted into Christ by Faith, sons and daughters of Abraham by Faith... such good news... Abraham the Father off Faith, made righteous only by Grace through Faith, Romans 3:20-chapter
To inherit the Kingdom of God and be SAVED - you must be BORN AGAIN
I PRAY FOR ALL OF ISRAEL TO BE SAVED
Matthew 28 - The GREAT COMMISSION is for all BELIEVER to go into all the world preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.... Jew and Gentile alike.... JESUS HIMSELF gave us this wonderful great commission.
Throughout THE TORAH, God was always chastensing HIS PEOPLE as they would not listen or obey and became REBELLIOUS for their hearts were of "RELIGION" of following THE TORAH of the Law rather than having a relationship / friendship / fellowship with ABBA FATHER GOD as He wanted in the beginning at the Garden of Eden.
Grafted into Christ by Faith, sons and daughters of Abraham by Faith... such good news... Abraham the Father off Faith, made righteous only by Grace through Faith, Romans 3:20-chapter
To inherit the Kingdom of God and be SAVED - you must be BORN AGAIN
I PRAY FOR ALL OF ISRAEL TO BE SAVED
Matthew 28 - The GREAT COMMISSION is for all BELIEVER to go into all the world preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.... Jew and Gentile alike.... JESUS HIMSELF gave us this wonderful great commission.
Throughout THE TORAH, God was always chastensing HIS PEOPLE as they would not listen or obey and became REBELLIOUS for their hearts were of "RELIGION" of following THE TORAH of the Law rather than having a relationship / friendship / fellowship with ABBA FATHER GOD as He wanted in the beginning at the Garden of Eden.
God wants a relationship with HIS CREATION, not laws.
Just as it was in the beginning with Adam and Eve, God desired fellowship with His creation but man chose to listen to the serpent's voice rather than God's voice....
Laws separate us from God for NONE OF US can be made righteous under LAW - but JESUS became the Law of God so that we could come boldly into the Throne Room of God and have a relationship with our God as His creation.....
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- JESUS IS LORD.... there is no other way to God except through JESUS / YESHUA...
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE - THERE NEVERWILL BE ANOTHER WAY TO ABBA GOD THE FATHER OR TO ETERNAL LIFE BEFORE GOD....
Good works will not get us closer to God. Keeping the Torah laws will not get us closer to God. Trying to be perfect with this life on earth - is IMPOSSIBLE and will not get us closer to God.... But it is through JESUS, the SON OF GOD, and through HIS BLOOD that was poured out to cover our sins, THE CHOSEN LAMB OF GOD, Called and Slain before the foundations of this world...
1 Peter 1:18-20 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Just as it was in the beginning with Adam and Eve, God desired fellowship with His creation but man chose to listen to the serpent's voice rather than God's voice....
Laws separate us from God for NONE OF US can be made righteous under LAW - but JESUS became the Law of God so that we could come boldly into the Throne Room of God and have a relationship with our God as His creation.....
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- JESUS IS LORD.... there is no other way to God except through JESUS / YESHUA...
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE - THERE NEVERWILL BE ANOTHER WAY TO ABBA GOD THE FATHER OR TO ETERNAL LIFE BEFORE GOD....
Good works will not get us closer to God. Keeping the Torah laws will not get us closer to God. Trying to be perfect with this life on earth - is IMPOSSIBLE and will not get us closer to God.... But it is through JESUS, the SON OF GOD, and through HIS BLOOD that was poured out to cover our sins, THE CHOSEN LAMB OF GOD, Called and Slain before the foundations of this world...
1 Peter 1:18-20 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
We cannot get closer to God through The Torah which is the Law of God... but we can get closer to God through The Torah that walked upon this earth - Yeshua / Jesus - for it was HIM whom fulfilled the Torah.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Look up Hebrews 12 starting with verse 18.. the contrast of mount Sinai and mount Zion. Mount Zion on is where the christian worship now. I always tell people it's crowded in your prayer closet... for we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem... and innumerable company of angels... the church of the firstborn... the spirit of righteous man made perfect... and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant... when we come to the lord... we are coming to a big crowd at mount Zion on t(e heavenly Jerusalem. no longer at mount Sinai the place of judgement... but mount Zion on the heavenly Jerusalem... that is good news!
Read Hebrews Chapter 8 through Chapter 10.
Read Romans Chapter 3 verse 20 and through to Chapter 5
Read Galatians Chapters 3, 4 and 5
Under the Torah / The Law if you break even 1 commandment then you are guilty of all... There are 613 laws that those whom embrace Judaism follow... The Law is for those deserving punishment...
Thank God we are not under law but under grace.
Hebrews 12:18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 8
The High Priest of a New Covenant
1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. 3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their a.cestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbors, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Hebrews 9
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp stand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e] 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’” 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think those deserve to be punished who have trampled the Son of God underfoot, who have treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who have insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 And, “But my righteous one[g] will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Galatians 3
Faith or Observance of the Law
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? 4 Have you experienced[a] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by your observing the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “Whoever does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[h] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith,[i] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as heirs are underage they are no different from slaves, although they own the whole estate. 2 They are subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by their fathers. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer slaves, but God’s children; and since you are his children, he has made you also heirs.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born as the result of human effort,[e] but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. 24 I am taking these things figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: “Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband. 28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born by human effort persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[g] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will have to pay the penalty, whoever that may be. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and
envying each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment