Some thoughts on “Grace”

Many seem to believe that "grace" is a "get out of jail free" card, and feel that, since they “believe in Jesus,” they’re never guilty of sinning.

Well, having diligently and prayerfully studied Scripture for the last 30 years and learned who ADONAI is, and how Messiah Yeshua taught us to obey His Word, I have concluded that "grace" in modern English, has been severely misunderstood.
To me, "Grace" is only "undeserved favor". It's God’s blessing on the unworthy. I believe that when Yeshua said his words in Matthew 5:19 he was talking to the obedient, those who accept (or will accept) YHWH as their Master and Yeshua as His Divine Messiah; and live by His Torah.

Yeshua himself tells us He came NOT to abolish but to fulfill - which did NOT mean "put an end to":

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened.

19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and Earth passed away yet? Since when does the word "complete" (or "fulfill) mean "abolished"? Why would YHWH abolish His own original divine teachings which He said were to last forever? Did Jesus come to make a liar out of His Father?

Indeed, we can see the following powerful passage, along with much more explanation in the rest of chapter 5, 6 and 7:

Matthew 7:22. Many will say to me in that day, “My master, my master. By your name, have we not prophesied? And by you name have we cast out demons? And by your name have we done many miracles?” 23. And then I will profess to them that from everlasting, I have not known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity! [*] (AENT)

[*] Psalm 6:8, 9 ‑ “workers of iniquity” is a common phrase in the Tanakh. Iniquity is lawlessness (without Torah). “Horror has taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake Your Torah.” Psalm 119:53. Each and every teaching of Y’shua is based on Torah. To be anti-Torah is to be anti-Mashiyach; therefore every “authority” will be judged according to whether they uphold Torah or not. According to Y’shua, Torah is “the will of My Father.” Matthew 7:21;12:50. Torah means instruction in righteousness.

We are redeemed from our sins by the blood - the undeserved favor - of Messiah. But Scripture is clear that if we continue to live in intentional sin, we risk losing that redemption (Isaiah 5:16-18 for example.)

The bottom line is: Yeshua taught "walking in the light" and so did Paul:

"Let your light shine like this in front of the sons of man that they should see your works good and they glorify your father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16); "For we are His creation who are created in Y’shua the Mashiyach for good works which Elohim has before prepared for us to walk in" (Ephesians 2:10).

Those who believe in grace but reject Torah, in my opinion, serve only themselves.

SHEESH, "ARMCHAIR EXPERTS" SO ARE TIRESOME!

Many people seem to view themselves as experts in everything concerning the Bible, and they will argue till you’re blue in the face to hang onto their own viewpoints! They don’t care to discuss or perhaps LEARN anything; they just always want to “be right.” (Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit it, but those types can truly “bring out the carnal” in me…)

I’m especially incensed by those who clearly don’t know what the heck they’re talking about; yet, will bash and trash those who do, with one of their favorite lines being, “Provide me with Book, chapter and verse for that!”

Truth is, we don't always have specific scriptures to back up certain things (such as, for instance, calendar or astronomical issues), because the Bible isn’t specific on every little thing; it doesn’t provide an explicit and complete map of the universe, or lay out indepth teachings on astrophysics, biology and other fields of science.

But, we DO have science and astronomical signs, modern equipment and technology, and, hopefully, common sense to use in our efforts to learn and grow. (Unfortunately, there are those who will rip your face off for mentioning the word “science”…)

Anyway, I’m just venting here; and have decided that, from now on, whenever I encounter these “armchair experts,” who demand “Book, Chapter and Verse” for every little thing, I am going to respond with the following:

“Dear brother and/or sister, the Bible tells us to be kind to one another. (Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 3:12; Galatians 5:22-23; etc.) While I appreciate your opinions and zeal for Truth, I would ask that you chain your sarcasm and show a little respect for my viewpoint, as well.

“If you cannot do that, then my challenge to you is to “provide Book, Chapter and Verse” for the wearing of socks or pants, employing the transportation of jets, trains, tractors, buses, cars or motorcycles, or mention the use of computers or cell phones.

“If you cannot find the pertinent Bible passages, then - unless YOU are a calendar expert or an astronomer, or a (fill in the blank); then perhaps you need to toss out of your life ALL of those things BEFORE you write another word designed to diminish my own knowledge/viewpoint/opinion/education. Thank you in advance for your understanding.”

“If you’ve broken one commandment, you’re guilty of breaking them all…”

“NO ONE CAN KEEP THE LAW PERFECTLY! And if you’ve broken one commandment, you’re guilty of breaking them all…”

How many times have you heard that from those who don’t believe in Torah obedience?  As “proof” they’ll quote James 2:10. (Perhaps these “intellects” don’t realize that the Ten Commandments originated in Torah? Shall we chuck those, too? After all, if we break one, don’t we break them all?)

People who cherry-pick Scripture instead of digging for the context, can be VERY dangerous! (It is the very reason why we have myriad “denominations” and various cults both in Christianity and Hebrew Roots. Unfortunately, there are gullible people who will follow any “ear-tickling” doctrine or “teacher,” without ever bothering to check and see what the BIBLE actually says.)

But honestly, folks - in the case of James 2:10, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the entire chapter explains itself!

Let’s examine James 2 for the context, using simple Bible hermeneutics. That way, the next time someone attempts to give you a “biblical concussion” regarding James 2:10, you can simply tell them to READ the entire chapter for context first, BEFORE making any more outrageously ignorant accusations which reveal their lack of knowledge when it comes to the Bible!

JAMES 2: 1. My Brothers, do not hold to the faith of the glory of our Master Y'shua the Mashiyach with double-minded hypocrisy. 2. For if there come into your assembly a man with rings of gold or splendid garments and there come in a poor man in ragged and stained garments; 3. and respect is shown to him who is clothed in splendid garments, and you say to him, Be honorably seated; while to the poor man, say, Stand way over there, or sit here (in low prostration) before my footstool; 4. are you not showing double mindedness among yourselves and becoming advocates of evil thoughts? (AENT)

See? Already in the first few sentences of James 2, we can see that it is a warning to guard ourselves against hypocrisy, which is an act of sinning. You’re not being a good follower of the Word if you show prejudice toward any one people group. (In this case, why would you be unkind to a poor person who enters your congregation, just because they’re poor? They may be poor, but rich in spirit, and they have just as much right to enter an assembly of God-fearing people, as anyone else. Scripture tells us to treat our brothers and sisters/fellow believers with kindness.  After all, kindness is one of the ways we show our love for God and our fellow man.)

Moving on:

JAMES 2: 5. Hear, my beloved Brothers; has not Elohim chosen the poor of the world, the rich in faith, to be heirs in the Kingdom which Elohim has promised to them that love him? 6. But you have despised the poor man. Do not rich men exalt themselves over you and drag you before the tribunals? 7. Do they not hate that worthy Name, [1] which is invoked upon you? 8. And if in this you fulfill the Torah of Elohim, as it is written, You will love your neighbor as yourself, you will do well: 9. but if you have partiality towards persons, you commit sin; and you are convicted by Torah as breakers of Torah. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE 1: The Name invoked upon you is YHWH.

Now - moving on to that pesky passage, James 2:10 that our detractors love to use against us:

JAMES 2:10. For he that will keep the whole Torah and yet fail in one aspect of it, is an enemy to the whole Torah. 11. For he who said, "You will not commit adultery," said also, "You will not kill." If then you commit no adultery, but you do murder, you have become a defiler of Torah. 12. So speak and so act as persons that are to be judged by the Torah of perfect freedom. 13. For judgment without mercy will be on him who has practiced no mercy: by mercy, you will be raised above judgment.

14. What is the use, my Brothers, if a man say, I have faith; and he has no works? Can his faith resurrect him? [2] 15. Or if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. and one of you say to them, "Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full;" and you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the use? (AENT)

FOOTNOTE 2: Literally "restore life", not "save" as often translated.

Call me crazy, but doesn’t that passage plainly explain itself? If you don’t commit adultery but murder someone, you have DEFILED Torah… So what about that passage suggests we are guilty of “breaking all commandments” and shouldn’t bother to obey ANY commands at all?

Moving on:

JAMES 2:17. So also faith alone, without works, is dead. 18. For a man may say, you have faith and I have works; show to me your faith that is without works and I will show to you my faith by my works. 19. You believe that there is one Elohim; you do well; the demons also believe and tremble. 20. Would you know, O weak man, that faith without works is dead? 21. Awraham our father, was not he justified by works[3] in offering his son Yitz'chak upon the altar? 22. Do you realize that his faith aided his works, and that by the works his faith was rendered complete? 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says: Awraham believed in Elohim, and it was credited to him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of Elohim. 24. You see that by works a man is justified[4] and not by faith alone. 25. So also Rahab the harlot, was she not justified by works when she entertained the spies and sent them forth by another way? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[3] Some theologians allege this teaching to be opposite of the Pauline Epistles, such as Galatians. The reality is that Paul was grossly misquoted whereas Ya'akov was not. Rav Shaul did not accept empty ritual devoid of proper spiritual focus. He was Torah Observant; he kept the Moedim (feast days), the Shabbat, and took one or more Nazirite vows; he fasted on Yom Kippur, ate "clean" food and lived a Set Apart life in Mashiyach Y'shua. The fact is that Romans 7:12 totally harmonizes Galatians with, and complements, Galatians and Ya'akov.

[4] The Hebrew word for a righteous soul = tsadiq; righteousness = tsedeq; justified = tsadaq; notice they are the same word. A soul without righteousness can never be "justified" regardless of what theologians claim. The original root word for justified relates to righteous action. However, mainstream Christianity teaches that a person is "justified" solely on the merits of belief in Y'shua, and that observing Torah is impossible.

Even in Ya'akov's (James) day, some individuals wanted cerebral belief to "justify" themselves, which is impossible. Y'shua's person (example) and Spirit is meant to literally be imparted into us; this must be evidenced by our actions, otherwise we do not belong to him. Theological, or cerebral "belief" without works, is dead religion; but active literal Faith comes to life in Mashiyach. Torah Observance/obedience is clear evidence that we have passed from death to life. See John 5:29, Matthew 7:23.

AND SO THERE YOU HAVE IT – James 2, in a nutshell.

Brothers and sisters, remember, we are but fallible humans and, yes, of course we can’t perfectly keep what is erroneously called “the law” (referring to YHWH’s Torah)! All we can do is try our best via our limited, human understanding of ELOHIM’s Word. That’s all YHWH is asking of us, anyway – and it is what Yeshua taught!

Our amazing ELOHIM has graciously given us the privilege of repenting and receiving forgiveness for whenever we fail (see Isaiah 54:7-10; Psalm 51:1-7; Luke 3:3; 1 Peter 3:18-22, etc.). So gracious and full of love and mercy was He that He sent us the gift of His Divine Messiah, Yeshua, whose death on the cross/stake removed our past sins! What more could we possibly ask of Him?

BOTTOM LINE: Don’t allow the detractors to lead you away from Torah with their distorted view of Scripture! The least we can do for ADONAI is to do our best to BE wholehearted in our desire for a true relationship with Him – through OBEDIENCE. Even Yeshua, the Word Made Flesh who came from, and has always been a part of YHWH, OBEYED the Father!

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." (AENT)

John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me... (AENT) (See also Deuteronomy 18:15-18)

IN CLOSING, ASK YOUR DETRACTORS THIS ONE QUESTION: Since even Yeshua was obedient to his Father, what makes YOU think you don’t have to bother?

What did people see in the "Upper Room?"

 

We will never know, at least in this life, just what people saw in that upper room two thousand years ago. Was it really pieces of fire shaped like tongues that rested on the head of each individual? What did they see?

The word tongue in Aramaic is leshana which really means language. The word cloven is peleg which means separate and divide. So there appeared to them separate languages that rested upon them? What does a language look like? Then it says it was like fire. Both Greek and Aramaic uses the preposition like or as so it wasn’t real fire. Jewish sages such as Alshich taught that fire was a symbol of God’s love and passion. Moses saw a burning bush but it was not really burning in the sense of consuming the bush. He saw God’s love and consuming passion. What does love and consumming passion look like?

-Chaim Bentorah Ministries

Snippets from some of the warning prophecies from Ezekiel

Although many prefer to ignore, or take lightly, the words of what we erroneously refer to as the “Old Testament”; it’s time to realize that NOTHING Elohim has ever commanded or said will EVER, “pass away”…

The time to finally wake up and start not just reading, but actually studying and LISTENING to His Word is NOW!

Ezekiel 8:

¹⁴ He brought me to the entrance of the north gate to Adonai’s house; and there before me were women weeping for Tammuz. ¹⁵ “Human being,” he asked me, “have you seen this? You will see practices even more disgusting than these.” ¹⁶ He brought me into the inner courtyard of Adonai’s house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of Adonai, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Adonai and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.

¹⁷ He asked me, “Human being, have you seen this? Does the house of Y’hudah consider it a casual matter that they commit the disgusting practices they are committing here, thus filling the land with violence, provoking me still more? Look! They are even putting the branch to their nose! ¹⁸ Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them.” (CJB)

Ezekiel 9:

1 Then he cried loudly right in my ears: “Summon the commanders of the city, each holding his weapon of destruction.” ² At once, six men approached on the path from the upper gate, to the north, each man holding his weapon of destruction. Among them was a man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing equipment at his waist. They entered and stood by the bronze altar. ³ Then the glory of the God of Isra’el was made to go up from over the keruv, where it had been, to the threshold of the house.

He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing equipment at his waist. ⁴ Adonai said to him, “Go throughout the city, through all Yerushalayim, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and crying over all the disgusting practices that are being committed in it.”

⁵ To the others I heard him say, “Go through the city after him and strike! Don’t let your eye spare; have no pity! ⁶ Kill old men, young men, girls, little children, women — slaughter them all! But don’t go near anyone with the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” They began with the leaders in front of the house. ⁷ Then he said to them, “Defile the house! Fill the courtyards with corpses! Get going!” So they went out, spreading death in the city.

⁸ While the killing was going on, I was left alone. I fell on my face, cried, and said, “Oh, Adonai Elohim! In pouring out your fury on Yerushalayim, are you going to destroy everyone left in Isra’el?” ⁹ Then he said to me, “The wickedness of the house of Isra’el and Y’hudah is enormous, the land is full of blood, and the city is full of justice denied; because they say, ‘Adonai has left the land, Adonai doesn’t see.’ ¹⁰ But as far as I am concerned, my eye will not spare, and I will have no pity, but I will bring [the consequences of] their ways on their own heads.”

¹¹ At this point the man clothed in linen with the writing equipment at his waist returned and reported, “I have done everything you ordered me to do.” (CJB)

Ezekiel 13:

1 The word of Adonai came to me: ² “Human being, prophesy against the prophets of Isra’el who prophesy. Tell those prophesying out of their own thoughts, ‘Listen to what Adonai says! ³ Adonai Elohim says: “Woe to the vile prophets who follow their own spirits and things which they have not seen! ⁴ Isra’el, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins. ⁵ You [prophets] have not gone up to the breaks in the barricade or repaired it for the house of Isra’el, so that they can stand fast in battle on the day of Adonai. ⁶ Their visions are futile and their divination is false; they say, ‘Adonai says,’ when Adonai has not sent them; yet they hope that the word will be confirmed. ⁷ Haven’t you had a futile vision and spoken a false divination when you say, ‘Adonai says,’ and I have not spoken? ⁸ Therefore here is what Adonai Elohim does say: ‘Because you have spoken futilities and seen falsehoods, therefore I am against you,’ says Adonai Elohim.

⁹ “‘“My hand will be against the prophets who have futile visions and produce false divinations; they will not be allowed into the council of my people, or be written in the register of the house of Isra’el, or enter the land of Isra’el. Then you will know that I am Adonai Elohim. ¹⁰ They deserve this, because they have led my people astray by saying there is peace when there is no peace. (CJB)

Ezekiel 13:

¹⁷ “You, human being, turn your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own thoughts. Prophesy against them; (CJB)

Ezekiel 14:

Then certain of Isra’el’s leaders came to me; and while they were sitting with me, ² the word of Adonai came to me: ³ “Human being, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, thus setting in front of themselves the stumblingblock that leads to sin. Should I let them consult me at all? ⁴ Therefore speak to them, and tell them that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Everyone in the house of Isra’el who takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, I myself, Adonai, will answer him in a manner suited to his many idols, ⁵ in order to grab hold of the house of Isra’el in their hearts; since, through their idols, they have all fallen away from me.’

⁶ “Therefore say to the house of Isra’el that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Repent! Turn yourselves away from your idols, turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices! ⁷ For everyone, whether from the house of Isra’el or a foreigner living in Isra’el, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, asking him to consult me for him, I myself, Adonai, will answer him. ⁸ I will set my face against that person, make him a warning sign and an example, and cut him off from my people. Then you will know that I am Adonai. (CJB)

Ezekiel 14:

¹² The word of Adonai came to me: ¹³ “Human being, when a land sins against me by dealing treacherously with me, so that I stretch out my hand over it and break off its food supply, sending it famine and eliminating both its humans and its animals; ¹⁴ even if these three men were in it — Noach, Dani’el and Iyov — they would by their righteousness save only themselves,” says Adonai Elohim.

¹⁵ “If I unleash wild beasts on the land, and they kill its children and desolate it, so that no one can pass through because of the animals; ¹⁶ even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved, and the land would remain barren.

¹⁷ “Or if I bring the sword down on that land, saying, ‘Let the sword pass through the land,’ so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; ¹⁸ even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved.

¹⁹ “Or if I bring a plague into that land and pour out my fury on it in bloodshed, so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; ²⁰ even if Noach, Dani’el and Iyov were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither a son nor a daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness.”

²¹ For here is what Adonai Elohim says: “Even if I inflict my four dreadful judgments on Yerushalayim — sword, famine, wild animals and plagues — to eliminate both its humans and its animals; ²² there will still be left a remnant in it to be brought out, including both sons and daughters. When they come out to you, and you see their way of life and how they act, then you will be consoled over the calamity I have brought upon Yerushalayim, over everything I have done to it. ²³ Yes, they will console you when you see their way of life and how they act; and you will understand that it was not without good reason that I did what I did in [Yerushalayim],” says Adonai Elohim. (CJB)