Yeshua was the "goal" of Torah; not "the end of the law!"

What a beautiful passage concerning Y’shua! 

Romans 10:1. My Brothers, The desire of my heart, and my intercession with Elohim for them is that they might have life.  2. For I bear them witness that there is in them a zeal for Elohim; but it is not according to knowledge.  3. For they do not know the righteousness of Elohim, but seek to establish their own righteousness: and therefore they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of Elohim. 

4. For Mashiyach is the goal[1] of Torah for righteousness to everyone that believes in him.  5. For Moshe describes the righteousness which is by Torah, this way: Whoever will do these things will live by them.  6. But the righteousness which is by faith, says thus: You will not say in your heart, Who ascends to heaven and brings Mashiyach down?  7. Or, Who descends to the abyss of Sheol and brings up Mashiyach from the house of the dead? 

8. But what says it? The thing is near to your mouth and to your heart: that is, the Word of Faith which we declare.  9. And if you will confess with your mouth our Master Y’shua, and will believe with your heart that Elohim has raised him from the dead, you will live.  10. For the heart that believes in him is made righteous; and the mouth that confess him is restored to life. 

11. For the Scripture says: Everyone that believes in him will not be ashamed.  12. And in this, it discriminates neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one, Master YHWH,[2] over them all, who is abundantly generous towards every one that calls on him.  13. For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH,[3] will have life.  (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1]   See 1 Timothy 1:5 and Eighteen New Testament Misconceptions #8: End of the Torah in Appendix.

[2]  The first time in this Epistle where YHWH (MarYah) is used instead of Elohim/Eloah. This verse indicates the ONENESS of the Malchut Elohim.  ONE YHWH, One Kingship and One People. This is a continuum; NOT a drastic change in Covenant, but a renewal of YHWH’s people unto Himself.

[3]  MarYah, as opposed to the Greek kurios, can only refer to YHWH, giving Aramaic a huge interpretive advantage.  It is a critical fact, as is pointed out here, that Rav Shaul specifically tells believers to call on the name of YHWH, which is certainly not at all represented by the name “Jesus.”  John 17:11 tells us that the name of Y’shua is of the name YHWH. 

Before Rav Shaul came to believe, Y’shua had already ascended to the Right Hand of YHWH (Revelation 19:13).  Prayer was being offered unto YHWH in the name of Y’shua. Y’shua stated that his mission was to bring glory to His Father YHWH.  Y’shua’s name (YHWH is salvation) is accomplishing the salvation of YHWH.  It was also prophetic that the Gentiles would come to know the Name of YHWH, according to Jeremiah 16:19-21:

“O YHWH, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto you from the ends of the earth and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.  Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?  Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is YHWH.”

And, of course, this is to be done according to the Perfect work of Mashiyach!

The blasphemous comments of a couple of counter-missionaries...

We at The Refiner’s Fire were just made aware of, and are very saddened by the blasphemous comments made by someone who has “rejected Jesus” and is seeking to convert to Judaism.  Take a look at this person’s comments (above) and then watch the short video this person’s thread refers to, where Rabbi Tovia Singer answers the question:  "What would you do if you met Jesus?"

If you don’t have time to watch all 12 minutes of this video, just start watching at 6 minutes in.  What we see here in this video is confirmation that, while Rabbi Singer may be a wonderful person and great rabbi, he has never realized that YHWH never “rescinded” His Torah (as Singer suggests); rather He provided a way for ALL to accept Him and come to know  Him and His “saving grace” during a period in history where there is no Temple and sacrifices cannot be made.  He sent us His Divine Messiah to “proclaim the Kingdom and do everything His Father commanded” (Luke 4: 43, Luke 8:1, Acts 28:23); and as a vehicle to live to gain eternal life in the “new heaven and new earth” (See John: 14:6-10 and Revelation 21:1-8).

YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do, so to show such blatant disrespect as the person in the screen shot above and Singer’s comments in the video, is complete blasphemy!

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. (CJB)

Yeshua Himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not His own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (Aramaic English New Testament)

[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!  We pray anyone who is thinking of “leaving Jesus” will read and memorize the scripture below, because it will mean the difference between life and death on Judgment Day!

Hebrews 10:28. For if he who transgressed the Torah of Moshe, died without mercies at the mouth of two or three witnesses;  29. how much more, do you think, will he receive capital punishment who has trodden upon the Son of Elohim and has accounted the blood of his covenant by which he is sanctified, as the blood of all men and has treated the Spirit of grace in an insulting manner?*  30. For we know him who has said, Retribution is mine and I will repay: and again, Master YHWH will judge his people.  31. It is very terrible to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.  (AENT)

*This admonition is perhaps a midrash about “blaspheming against the Ruach haKodesh” as mentioned by Y’shua in Matthew 12:32.

A short discussion about "gluttony"

Many people today who are living lavish or selfish lifestyles where they “over-do” many things, don’t realize that Scripture teaches moderation in everything.  In short, “gluttony” is a sin!  The dictionary defines gluttony as “the act or habit of eating or drinking too much”; but it also includes excessive indulgence such as greed and coveting and “hoarding”… 

We are often quick to label certain things a “sin” (i.e., smoking and drinking), but for some reason “gluttony” is basically tolerated or totally ignored.   When you think about it, many of the arguments used against smoking and drinking (such as health and addiction) apply equally to overeating or anything else we do to excess.  For instance, many believers would never even consider drinking alcohol or smoking a cigarette; but yet they have absolutely no qualms about gorging themselves at the dinner table.  Scripture warns us against these behaviors:

Proverbs 23:20 Don't be one of those who guzzle wine or of those who eat meat to excess,  21 for both drunkard and glutton will become poor - drowsiness will clothe them with rags. (CJB)

Proverbs 28:7 A wise son observes Torah, but a friend of those lacking restraint shames his father.  8 He who increases his wealth by charging exorbitant interest amasses it for someone who will bestow it on the poor. 9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.  (CJB)

Proverbs 23:2 If you have a big appetite, put a knife to your throat! 3 Don't be greedy for his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. 4 Don't exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth; be smart enough to desist. 5 If you make your eyes rush at it, it's no longer there! For wealth will surely grow wings, like an eagle flying off to the sky. (CJB)

Here’s something every believer should ponder:  If we are unable to control our eating habits, chances are, we are also unable to control other habits, such as those of the mind -  greed, coveting, lust, anger, etc.  The probability is also great that we are unable to keep our mouths from gossip or strife....

Scripture tells us that we are not to allow our appetites to control us; rather it should be the other way around: we are to control our appetites. (See Deuteronomy 21:20, Proverbs 23:2, 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, and 2 Corinthians 10:5.) Self-control, the ability to say “no” to anything in excess, is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)!

YHWH has blessed us with everything we need – physically, mentally, or spiritually.  We must honor His creation by tempering ourselves while enjoying the bounties He has provided.  

1 Corinthians 6:9. Or don’t you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim?[1] Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men,  10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.  11. And these things have been in some of you: but you are washed, and are sanctified, and made righteous, in the name of our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, and by the Spirit of our Elohim.  12. Everything is in my power: but everything is not profitable to me. Everything is in my power; but none (of them) will have dominion over me.  13. Food is for the belly; and the belly is for food; but Elohim will bring them both to nothing. But the body is not for illicit sex, but for our Master (Y’shua); and our Master (Y’shua) for the body.  14. And Elohim has raised up our Master; and he will raise us up, by his power.  15. Don’t you know that your bodies are the members of the Mashiyach? Will one take a member of the Mashiyach, and make it the member of a harlot?  May it never be! (AENT)

FOOTNOTE:  Compare this to Matthew 5:17-20, where we are told that breaking the least commandment of Torah and teaching others to do the same makes a person “least in the kingdom” but they still get in.  Y’shua implies that those with more serious sins won’t make it in: “Depart from me, workers of iniquity, I never knew you”; but here, Rav Shaul gives a more specific list of what will keep them out.

2 Corinthians 3:16. But when any of them is turned to Master YHWH, the veil is taken from him.[1]  17. Now Master YHWH Himself is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Master YHWH is, there is freedom.  18. And we all, with uncovered faces, behold as in a mirror the glory of Master YHWH; and are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by Master YHWH the Spirit. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE:  The reading of Torah does not blind, nor does the reading of the “Renewed Covenant” bring Grace: but in each, one must “turn to Master YHWH with their hearts” to remove the veil.  MarYah/YHWH is used here, rather than Y’shua.  Rather than people turning to Y’shua as the deciding factor, the point is that both Jews and Gentiles must be truthful, and not just use prayers or Scripture readings as some sort of magical incantation, but to turn their hearts to YHWH.  In many places Y’shua teaches that he came to bring Glory to the Father, and to turn hearts unto YHWH.

Response to a counter-missionary

ANTI-MISSIONARY COMMENT: "The only people who were at Mt. Sinai were the Jews, the Hebrews as well as the Egyptians who left with them and became Jews as a result. Once Christianity became largely made up of Gentiles, of non-Jews, there was no reason for them to keep the Biblical laws since the Gentiles were not given the commandments in the first place.” (Federow, Rabbi Stuart. Judaism and Christianity: A Contrast.) 

RESPONSE: So, only the Jews are allowed to be holy/set apart? The rest of the world can simply worship whomever and however they want? If so, why are there so many Jewish "counter-missionaries" who spend all their time bashing "Jesus" and Christianity?

How do you figure the “mixed multitude” of Egyptians who followed Moshe out of Egypt (Exodus 12:37-38 ) “became Jews”? Nowhere are we told they “became Jews!” And they certainly didn’t “convert” to any of the tribes (nobody ever “converts” to a tribe); furthermore, “Judaism” wasn’t a “religion” back then, so there was no reason for “conversion!”
There were 12 tribes standing before YHWH on Mount Sinai; not just “the Jews.” Those who followed Moshe out of Egypt and ultimately stood before YHWH on Mount Sinai consisted of the 12 tribes AND the gerim/foreigners who came along for whatever reason. (Scripture does NOT tell us that the "gerim" were separated or had to live apart from the tribes at Sinai! They were absorbed into the Israelite population.  (Torah andCommentary: The Five Books of Moses by Sol Scharfsten) 

Judah made up just 1/12 of the tribes….So, it wasn’t just “all about the Jews” but ALL who stood before God!

Now, let’s check Numbers 15:13-16 where G-d said four times in a row that ALL who accept Him (and He makes NO distinction – see Exodus 11:4-7) are to do exactly as HIS people do. And His people have always obeyed His Divine Instruction in Righteousness…. 

Numbers 15: 13 "'Every citizen is to do these things in this way when presenting an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 14 If a foreigner stays with you - or whoever may be with you, through all your generations - and he wants to bring an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, he is to do the same as you. 15 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'" (CJB) 

Please re-read the above in case you missed it: Any Torah-less non-Jew/Hebrew/Israelite who does not yet believe in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is an "alien"/foreigner. However, if they do wish to accept Him, then they are to do exactly as those who are already belong to Him! He accepts ALL who wish to belong to Him.

"Living among" means not necessarily physically, but rather, it refers to all those who have accepted the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They MUST be Torah observant, just like the Houses of Israel and Judah were with whom G-d made His New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:32)! 

Romans 10: 12. And in this, it discriminates neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one, Master YHWH, over them all, who is abundantly generous towards every one that calls on him. 13. For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH, will have life. (AENT)

John 8 - "the woman caught in adultery" is a myth!

Here's an interesting tidbit: Did you all know that the story of John 8 about the "woman caught in adultery" was never in the original manuscripts? The story is nonexistent in the Peshitta and does not appear in the four earliest Greek manuscripts of John....Here is what most Bibles say:

John 8: 1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (AENT)

So, who inserted the story?  Here is an explanation from an appendix in Andrew Gabriel Roth’s the Aramaic English New testament (AENT):

Who inserted the story of the woman caught in adultery into the text? Considering the revisions, additions, adulterations and conflicts in the thousands of Greek manuscripts which surfaced since the Fourth Century, we know one thing: The story crept into the text a couple hundred years after Yochanan/John. Therefore, it’s shameful to suggest that one of “John’s disciples” did it. Many assume that it is reasonable to insert cunningly devised fables into their Bibles that support their religious traditions, yet they continue to refer to their books as “holy.”

Here's more from the pertinent appendix:

Why would someone insert this story into the book of John? Firstly, this narrative is a fundamental proof text for Christians to prove that Jesus forgives adultery with no consequences to the offender. For Christians, Jesus says “go and sin no more.” Therefore, the woman was, in fact, guilty as charged but her sin was without consequence. If she had been falsely accused Y’shua would not have said “go and ‘sin’ no more.” Bringing an accused person publicly before Mashiyach for judgment is extremely perverse and shameful.

There is no co-accused, no husband, no credible witnesses, and we have no idea whether or not those making the charges were even the ones who caught her in the act! It is written in such a way that the reader automatically feels sorry for the victimized woman. It’s impossible that the woman be judged, because the basic criteria are entirely nonexistent. In reality, Torah requires that both parties involved in adultery be brought up on charges together and in the presence of their accusers, as well as with any witnesses and the elders of the community, none of which was done here (Leviticus 20:10-21).

Let's discuss gambling

As of this writing, the “Powerball” lottery is now over $1 billion! Millions are buying tickets – some are buying multiple tickets to increase their chances of winning. (Never mind that they have a better chance of being hit by lightning or becoming President of the US!) Some have spent thousands of dollars in hopes they will get to hold the winning ticket….I guess none of these people know they’re being scammed, played. I mean, what are the chances that NOBODY has won in all these months? The odds have clearly been raised to an unreasonable and deceptive number; and, as a result, people are being fleeced of their money. 

This is why YHWH tells mankind to NOT become entrapped in the “love of money” (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Gambling is definitely focused on “the love of money” and people’s proclivities to fall for the idea of quick and easy riches. While Scripture does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery, we ARE warned to stay away from the love of money and “get rich quick” schemes (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10).

First Timothy 6:10 tells us: “for the love of money is the root of all these evils. And there are some who, coveting it, have erred from the faith and brought themselves into many sorrows.” Some eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “Let not your mind love money, but let what you have, satisfy you. For Master YHWH Himself has said, I will never leave you nor loosen the hand towards you. And it belongs to us to say confidently, My Master (Y’shua) is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Matthew 6:24 declares, “No man is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate one and he will love the other, or he will honor one and he will treat the other with contempt. You are not able to serve Elohim and money. ”

My husband and I have a former boss who became a millionaire many times over because he started a great company (with money he won in Vegas….). When he retired, he was clearly “set for life.” However, his gambling addiction kept drawing him to Las Vegas and he ultimately lost everything including his wife and family. And shortly thereafter, he died. What a sad commentary on the life of a successful and intelligent businessman who once had everything….He proclaimed to be a Christian, but it’s clear “the enemy” got a hold of him.

This is why we at The Refiner’s Fire keep harping on people to get INTO Scripture and “get themselves right with God." Do NOT conform to this world! (Romans 12:2. And be not conformed to this world; but be you transformed by the renovation of your minds: and discern you what is the good and acceptable and perfect pleasure of Elohim.)

Let's discuss "judging"

I have always been an extremely slow eater, but yet my husband never says a word about it.  He just politely sits there and waits for me to finish.  If he were to start nagging me about it (as some have done in the past), he would be guilty of “judging” me.  It would be “judging” because the suggestion is that I should eat as fast as he does.

The same could be said about parents who expect all their children to be equally intelligent or capable of performing the same physical feats as their siblings or friends:  “Why can’t you run as fast as Sally?” or “How come Johnny is a jock while you’re such a Caspar Milquetoast?”  “You both came from the same parents, so why does your brother get straight A’s, while you’re just an average student?  That is pure, unadulterated “judging”…expecting others to live up to YOUR personal opinions/ideas/convictions.

The lines about judging become less blurred when it comes to Scripture, because Scripture (specifically Torah) is our “rule book” for human behavior.  We are told exactly what constitutes sin and what is pleasing to YHWH.  There is no “gray area.” Yet, many “religious” folks love to throw around the “don’t judge me” card whenever they are told they’re guilty of sinning.  This is because (1) they don’t like to be told they are sinning; or (2) they don’t really know what Scripture says concerning sin; or (3) they feel that “grace and mercy” and/or their “belief in Jesus” has earned them a “get out of jail free” card – which is a HUGE mistake as YHWH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness have never been negotiable! 

A snapshot of Scripture taken from the Ten Commandments reveals you are a sinner if you:  

Worship any other god besides YHWH who is THE Creator of the universe and has amply revealed HOW to properly worship Him; take His Name in vain in any way (vows, promises, swearing, perjury or using His Name as a cuss word); refuse to keep YHWH’s Seventh Day Sabbath REST (this spills over into keeping ALL His Holy Days/Appointed Times); refuse to show respect to parents and teachers;  commit murder or adultery; or if you steal,  lie/bear false witness or covet….

It is important to remember that, while YHWH eventually recorded His TEN Commandments in stone,  these ten are merely part of the larger picture taken from His Torah which He said would stand forever. Many balk at this idea because they are under the erroneous impression that they no longer have to bother with TEN Commandments anymore (let alone the original "613" outlined in Torah); but, rather, just TWO - and they cite the following as "proof":

Matthew 22: 36. "Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?" 37. And Y'shua said to him, that "You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind." 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That "You should love your neighbor as yourself." 40. On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets. (AENT)

HOWEVER, I would like to draw your attention to verse 40 which clearly reveals that the Torah and the Prophets HANG/ARE DEPENDENT ON those two commands! In other words, there's more to it than just "loving God and loving your neighbor!  (Honestly, does the present world situation in any way reveal that we are “loving God or our neighbor?”)

Returning to the original intent of this message (which is “judging”), many attempt to use Romans 2 as proof that we are not to "judge one another" …unfortunately, that is yet another misunderstanding about the writings of Paul. Most people don't seem to be aware of the fact that TORAH is our judge (and both Y’shua and Paul constantly pointed back to Torah!).  Torah is the only guidance believers have that explains what sin is (1 John 3:4) so they can lead moral, holy lives!

Romans 2: 1. There is therefore no excuse for you, O man, who judges your neighbor; for by judging your neighbor, you condemn yourself; for you that judges, do practice the same things. 2. And we know that the judgment of Elohim is in accordance with truth, in regard to those who practice these things. 3. And what thinks you, O man, who judges those who practice these things, while practicing them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of Elohim? 4. Or will you abuse the riches of his benevolence, and his long suffering, and the opportunity which he gives you? And do you not know that the benevolence of Elohim should bring you to repentance? (AENT)

(Check out our article to see Romans 2 in context.   And for those who have never seen the Ten Commandments, please click here. )

What this short article attempts to convey is that, if you add your own judgments to those already established in the Torah of YHWH, then you have judged TORAH as insufficient, and are NOT allowing it to be your judge.  If something cannot verified between the pages of your Bible, then it is mere opinion and NOT of God.