Post by Paddy by Grace on Feb 8, 2010 2:35:30 GMT -7
A reason why the ‘Abrahamic Covenant’ came BEFORE the ‘Mosaic Covenant’…..
This issue really is, and always should have been, simple enough for a child to understand. In fact: If one goes simply by the Bible; and not by the words of men who’s doctrines and dogmas the Adversary/Enemy has influenced by false-religious-spirits for centuries, either from one ditch or the other, on this subject…it would still be simple for us to understand today. No further explanation would be needed. Elohim/God is NOT the author of confusion!...
As a premise: The Bible states that you FIRST are Saved and Justified by Grace through Faith, not of works; and THEN It goes on further to state that you are Sanctified and Appointed to Good-works in Messiah Yeshua. This premise is shown all throughout both the Tanakh/(The Old Testament) and the Brit-HaChadashah/(The New Testament).
I believe that everyone who is Born-From-Above / (Born-Again) knows somewhere in their heart that they are to live a Righteous life in Yeshua/Jesus Messiah in HIS Righteousness. I believe even those who have known Messiah Yeshua/Jesus from their childhood know this. That is what Messiah Himself taught. The question is then: What is the Righteousness of God in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? – “Most” Christians are taught this is what they are to be in and walk in, but not all of them are taught what that really means. Likewise “some” Messianics teach that it means simply keeping the Torah/Law as best as you can through your own efforts. – However both those understandings lack the simple meaning of what the Word of God has to say on this matter…..
In Romans we are given a very detailed key to this matter, as we read….
Rom.3:19-5:2 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law/(Torah) saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. ¶ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. ¶ 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. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
So in short: Abram, while yet himself being a Gentile, BELIEVED Elohim/God and THAT was accounted to him as Righteousness, and that was so his was his Justification – And this was BEFORE he then obeyed in his later doing the Command of Elohim/God to him to be circumcised - which then also then resulted in his Sanctification.
Doing ‘something/whatever that may be in one’s own efforts’ BEFORE Justification, will NEVER result in Justification from YHVH; but rather it will be a simply a work of the flesh, and so it will always be apart from the Ruach/Spirit of YAH.
Again; as we see Yeshua/Jesus Messiah stated in His Own Words:
Matthew 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Here Messiah Yeshua/Jesus is saying the same thing as Paul also said: Faith, is amongst the WEIGHTIER matters of the Law/(Torah), and so must needs be done FIRST! – And THEN leave not the other undone! - Most of the Pharisees sadly had it backwards!
Even as Tanakh/(The Old Testament says) and is spoken of again in the Brit-HaChadashah/(New Testament) as we see following:
[O.T.]-Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. - Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. - Ga 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. - Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
The Davidic Covenant also speaks the same in the Writings of the Tanakh/(Old Testament):
Psalms 32:1-2 - 1 ¶ A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
So then David walked it this same premise, as even ALL of the Bible speaks to us now as to how we are to walk today.
And again Jesus/Yeshua tells us:
John 4:19-24 - 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
So again: It is NOT in our own efforts in the outer-man by rote/religion…by those mandates of what appears and appeals to the mind of the flesh – but rather it is in: The Spirit/Ruach of YHVH and in Truth!....
Yes!: We are appointed to a path of good-works in Messiah Yeshua (as is says in Eph.2:10); but that is NOT the primary premise for us as Believers, it is NOT the Door!; but yet it IS our very important given commission to us for ALL Believers – but only AFTER the Door!...
Eph.2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
What then? – Tanakh/(The O.T.) declares that Enoch and those in that era were Justified by their faith walk with YHVH, even as was Abram (again as a Gentile). – However they then next DID obey, and so their works then established their PRIOR Faith, even as that was then seen as them having giving ‘legs’ to their Faith….This is even as Scripture exhorts you and me today Brethren! - But even with all that we’ve been shown: STILL in their obedience it was not FIRST in their Works!...But rather: Their obedience/works was a LATER RESULT of their having FIRST, FIRST!!!! their FAITH (in YHVH)!
Oh come to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah – Come: Knowing that in you, that is in your flesh, the outer man: There is nothing worthy of Him! – Come, for the time is short!, Come and sit at His Feet and learn of Him. – Oh may you hear!: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!!!
Shalom.
This issue really is, and always should have been, simple enough for a child to understand. In fact: If one goes simply by the Bible; and not by the words of men who’s doctrines and dogmas the Adversary/Enemy has influenced by false-religious-spirits for centuries, either from one ditch or the other, on this subject…it would still be simple for us to understand today. No further explanation would be needed. Elohim/God is NOT the author of confusion!...
As a premise: The Bible states that you FIRST are Saved and Justified by Grace through Faith, not of works; and THEN It goes on further to state that you are Sanctified and Appointed to Good-works in Messiah Yeshua. This premise is shown all throughout both the Tanakh/(The Old Testament) and the Brit-HaChadashah/(The New Testament).
I believe that everyone who is Born-From-Above / (Born-Again) knows somewhere in their heart that they are to live a Righteous life in Yeshua/Jesus Messiah in HIS Righteousness. I believe even those who have known Messiah Yeshua/Jesus from their childhood know this. That is what Messiah Himself taught. The question is then: What is the Righteousness of God in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus? – “Most” Christians are taught this is what they are to be in and walk in, but not all of them are taught what that really means. Likewise “some” Messianics teach that it means simply keeping the Torah/Law as best as you can through your own efforts. – However both those understandings lack the simple meaning of what the Word of God has to say on this matter…..
In Romans we are given a very detailed key to this matter, as we read….
Rom.3:19-5:2 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law/(Torah) saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. ¶ What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. ¶ 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. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
So in short: Abram, while yet himself being a Gentile, BELIEVED Elohim/God and THAT was accounted to him as Righteousness, and that was so his was his Justification – And this was BEFORE he then obeyed in his later doing the Command of Elohim/God to him to be circumcised - which then also then resulted in his Sanctification.
Doing ‘something/whatever that may be in one’s own efforts’ BEFORE Justification, will NEVER result in Justification from YHVH; but rather it will be a simply a work of the flesh, and so it will always be apart from the Ruach/Spirit of YAH.
Again; as we see Yeshua/Jesus Messiah stated in His Own Words:
Matthew 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Here Messiah Yeshua/Jesus is saying the same thing as Paul also said: Faith, is amongst the WEIGHTIER matters of the Law/(Torah), and so must needs be done FIRST! – And THEN leave not the other undone! - Most of the Pharisees sadly had it backwards!
Even as Tanakh/(The Old Testament says) and is spoken of again in the Brit-HaChadashah/(New Testament) as we see following:
[O.T.]-Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. - Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. - Ga 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. - Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
The Davidic Covenant also speaks the same in the Writings of the Tanakh/(Old Testament):
Psalms 32:1-2 - 1 ¶ A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
So then David walked it this same premise, as even ALL of the Bible speaks to us now as to how we are to walk today.
And again Jesus/Yeshua tells us:
John 4:19-24 - 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
So again: It is NOT in our own efforts in the outer-man by rote/religion…by those mandates of what appears and appeals to the mind of the flesh – but rather it is in: The Spirit/Ruach of YHVH and in Truth!....
Yes!: We are appointed to a path of good-works in Messiah Yeshua (as is says in Eph.2:10); but that is NOT the primary premise for us as Believers, it is NOT the Door!; but yet it IS our very important given commission to us for ALL Believers – but only AFTER the Door!...
Eph.2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
What then? – Tanakh/(The O.T.) declares that Enoch and those in that era were Justified by their faith walk with YHVH, even as was Abram (again as a Gentile). – However they then next DID obey, and so their works then established their PRIOR Faith, even as that was then seen as them having giving ‘legs’ to their Faith….This is even as Scripture exhorts you and me today Brethren! - But even with all that we’ve been shown: STILL in their obedience it was not FIRST in their Works!...But rather: Their obedience/works was a LATER RESULT of their having FIRST, FIRST!!!! their FAITH (in YHVH)!
Oh come to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah – Come: Knowing that in you, that is in your flesh, the outer man: There is nothing worthy of Him! – Come, for the time is short!, Come and sit at His Feet and learn of Him. – Oh may you hear!: The Spirit and the Bride say: Come!!!
Shalom.