UNDER LAW? UNDER GRACE? OR BOTH?
You might have raised eyebrows now, or about ready to comment something negative, but wait a minute, to answer this question, which has been a popular theme in Judeo-Christianity, let’s first take a look at the meanings of these words.
“GRACE” something that is not merited, or deserved. Something we get when we shouldn’t get it. “By GRACE we are saved, not of ourselves, nor by our works, so that no man can boast (saying that he or she did this and that in order to receive God’s acceptance). The Hebrew word for “grace” is “Chen” (pronounced with a guttural “h”) if we look at the word using the ancient Paleo-Hebrew, we can see the symbolism of “The fence of life” Life is within the fence. A fence is to keep in precious and valuable things and keep unwanted things out. Yeshua has us within his “fence of love and salvation” just because He loves us.
“LAW” has been misinterpreted for so long. The word “law” comes from the Latin word “Legis” which means “something legal or legalistic.” However, the Hebrew word that is used is “Torah” which means “instruction.’ If we are to interpret the meaning of “Torah” in Paleo-Hebrew we would see; “The first Covenant of the nail revealed.” If this word had been translated correctly into Latin, it would have been; “instructio” or “educatio” and not “legis”
The Apostol Paul many times refers to “not being under the LAW.” He is stating that we are NOT under LEGALISM, or obedience to the commandments of God IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SALVATION!. Salvation (Yeshuah) comes by GRACE, Through “Yeshua” (play on words?) by our faith and faith in the one-time atonement/sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross. However, as members of God’s family, we now should “walk in and follow the “Instructions of God” (The Torah) which consists of His commandments, not for salvation purpose but because we ARE SAVED. The commandments, which are 613, are for our education, welfare, and spiritual maturity. Of course, not all of the 613 are for today, there are many which are not for today because there is no more temple, the Levitical priesthood is no more, we are not in Israel, etc., yet there are many that ARE for today. Which ones? That requires Bible study and that is on ALL OF US, to search the scriptures. The 10 commandants are the basic ones, the others fall under those 10 categories.
Yes, we are also under grace. Adam and Eve were under grace. Grace was in the Garden of Eden (wait, I thought her name was Eve?) LOL. Had not God given Adam and Eve grace, they would have been killed right then and there. Noah would have perished in the flood, had it not been for God’s grace, and we would all be flowers, trees, grass, or fish today.
So, what is the answer? Are we under Law? Or Grace? Or both? WE can say both YES and NO. Yes, we are under grace, NO we are NOT under legalism, and YES, we are guided by God’s instructions in His Word. At least we should be, but that is the decision that every believer has to make for himself or herself. Following HIS WORD is what our lives are all about. Living for HIM now and reap benefits in the World to Come.
Baruch Ha Shem! (Praise the LORD)
Rabbi Ben Avraham
As a small gift to all you readers, I am enclosing a copy of my eBook "God Tales" for your reading enjoyment. Feel free to read it at leisure, not at one sitting as it has 172 pages. Sorry, too large, so go here to read it:
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?106085-My-book-of-short-stories
http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?106085-My-book-of-short-stories
we belong to a new covenant we are in the gospel and word of Christ it’s that simple . We aren’t beholden to Moses law , but christs gospel is our faith.
Grace and truth
“For
the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17 KJV
grace doesn’t replace “law” Grace offers the truth for salvstion to someone and if they believe they will be saved by thier faith like Noah
God decided to destroy mankind because they had become so wicked but Noah receives grace and is saved by his faith
“And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
Genesis 6:7-8
because Noah found grave in Gods eyes he told Noah the truth about what he was going to do and told him how to be saved
“And
God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and,
behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.....
“And,
behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and
every thing that is in the earth shall die.
But
with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.”
(Noah believed the lords word of coming destruction and salvetion from it so his faith operated )
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
Genesis 6:13-14, 22
we’re saved by accepting the truth God has given us because we’ve found grace in his sight. If we are like Noah and have the righteousness of faith we don’t need the law of sin we believe what God said and walk by faith so the law is behind us we died to it in baptism
“Wherefore, my brethren,
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that
we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
Romans 7:4 KJV
The new thing we’re married to after we were released from the law is the gospel which causes fruit to come forth
the law it’s for unrepentant and non believing people servants of sin who have no repentance about it
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be
any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 KJV
faith is like Noah who heard and believed Gods word to him and of course walked in that faith Gods word created in him because he did believe
“By faith
Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;
by the which he condemned the world, and
became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7 KJV
remember that Noah lives in a time before the law was in the earth at all , Noah simply heard and believed the truth God told him about the end of the world and how Noah and his family could be saved that’s what we need to do hear and believe the truth knowing it’s grace that brought salvation but Noah’s belief in what God saying being true is what faith saved him
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and
sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:49-50 KJV
If we believe the truth about sin and repentance
“I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:3 KJV
about eternal Judgement and our own accountability to Jesus not Moses but to Jesus
“For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 KJV
“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,”
Romans 2:5-8 KJV
then like Noah we can see what is coming and get ready like he did moving in faith but if Noah had decided e flood wasn’t really coming and wouldn’t get him anyways because God chose him to begin another covenant with he would never have moved and built the ark
what we believe guides our lives Noah believed Gods word and was saved we can also do the same the law has nothing to do with it like it didn’t for Noah , Abraham Isaac or Jacob , Enoch ect christs word is our faith