Being obedient to God's instructions for what who do when we have been disobedient is the way to continue to be obedient by faith. Even if someone managed to live in sinless obedience to God's law, then they still would not earn their righteousness as a wage (Romans 4:1-5), so obedience to it has nothing to do with trying to be good enough, but rather it about knowing God by practicing His character traits through faith. Abel bringing the fat portions from his flock as also the fruit of his labor.
God's 'Transition' For law To Grace
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The word "Torah" means "instruction", though it is commonly translated as "law" insofar as laws are instructions that we are obligated to follow.
In Genesis 4:7, God told Cain that sin was crouching at the door and that he must master it, which implies that he already knew what sin is and must have already been given instructions in that regard. It is not directly recorded that God instructed them to make offerings, but it is clear that Abel knew how to make an acceptable offering and must have already been given instructions in that regard, which Cain did not follow.
In Psalms 119:29, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Torah, and he chose the way of faithfulness by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he might know Him and Israel too. In Genesis 6:8-9, Noah found grace in the eyes of God, he was a righteous man, and he walked with God, so God was gracious to him by teaching him to walk in his way in obedience to the Torah and he was righteous because he obeyed through faith. Moreover, in Genesis 7:2, Noah was told what to do with clean and unclean animals without being told how to tell the difference, and in 8:20, he knew to offer a clean animal, so he must have already been given instructions in that regard.
In Matthew 4:15-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and the Torah is how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel message, which is in accordance with Jesus being sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from our wickedness (Acts 3:25-26), which is the Gospel that was made known in advance to Abraham in accordance with the promise (Galatians 3:8), which he taught to Gentiles in Haran in accordance with the promise (Genesis 12:1-5). So God was gracious to Abraham by teaching him to walk in His way in obedience to His commandment, statutes, and laws in accordance with the promise (Genesis 26:4-5).
So it is clear that God has given instructions even when it is not directly stated when He gave them.
It is contradictory to have faith in God, but not in His instructions. If I were lost and asked someone for directions, but by following exactly what they instructed I would be putting by faith in them to correctly guide me. There are many verses that connect our faith in God with our obedience to His instructions, such as in Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the Torah. In James 2:18, he would show his faith by his works. in Romans 1:5, we have received grace in order to bring about the obedience of faith. In Revelation 14:12, those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments. In John 3:36, obeying Jesus is equated with believing in him. In Numbers 5:6, disobedience to the Torah is referred to as breaking faith. In Hebrews 3:18-19, it equates their disobedience with their unbelief. The way to have faith in God's goodness as the guide for how to rightly live our lives is by following His instructions for how to testify about His goodness.
In Genesis 4:7, God told Cain that sin was crouching at the door and that he must master it, which implies that he already knew what sin is and must have already been given instructions in that regard. It is not directly recorded that God instructed them to make offerings, but it is clear that Abel knew how to make an acceptable offering and must have already been given instructions in that regard, which Cain did not follow.
In Psalms 119:29, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Torah, and he chose the way of faithfulness by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he might know Him and Israel too. In Genesis 6:8-9, Noah found grace in the eyes of God, he was a righteous man, and he walked with God, so God was gracious to him by teaching him to walk in his way in obedience to the Torah and he was righteous because he obeyed through faith. Moreover, in Genesis 7:2, Noah was told what to do with clean and unclean animals without being told how to tell the difference, and in 8:20, he knew to offer a clean animal, so he must have already been given instructions in that regard.
In Matthew 4:15-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and the Torah is how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel message, which is in accordance with Jesus being sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from our wickedness (Acts 3:25-26), which is the Gospel that was made known in advance to Abraham in accordance with the promise (Galatians 3:8), which he taught to Gentiles in Haran in accordance with the promise (Genesis 12:1-5). So God was gracious to Abraham by teaching him to walk in His way in obedience to His commandment, statutes, and laws in accordance with the promise (Genesis 26:4-5).
So it is clear that God has given instructions even when it is not directly stated when He gave them.
It is contradictory to have faith in God, but not in His instructions. If I were lost and asked someone for directions, but by following exactly what they instructed I would be putting by faith in them to correctly guide me. There are many verses that connect our faith in God with our obedience to His instructions, such as in Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the Torah. In James 2:18, he would show his faith by his works. in Romans 1:5, we have received grace in order to bring about the obedience of faith. In Revelation 14:12, those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments. In John 3:36, obeying Jesus is equated with believing in him. In Numbers 5:6, disobedience to the Torah is referred to as breaking faith. In Hebrews 3:18-19, it equates their disobedience with their unbelief. The way to have faith in God's goodness as the guide for how to rightly live our lives is by following His instructions for how to testify about His goodness.
E
Did anyone camp out in booths or tents or sheds for 7 days for the recent feast of booths? Did anyone keep the feast and rejoice before YHVH for seven days?
Leviticus 23
39 “ ‘So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of YHVH seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40 You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before YHVH your Elohim seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to YHVH seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in temporary shelters(booths, tents) for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in temporary shelters, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am YHVH your Elohim.’ ”
Leviticus 23
39 “ ‘So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of YHVH seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40 You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before YHVH your Elohim seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to YHVH seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in temporary shelters(booths, tents) for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in temporary shelters, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am YHVH your Elohim.’ ”
I had an experience discussing the sabbath with a neighbor about 37 years ago.
I took his janitor work for a week so he could go to one in the "New Jerusalem" he
said was in Oklahoma.
I felt kind of sad for him; he thought he was worshipping God in that feast,
but, he had a problem of 'not paying his bills' =
not a very good testimony, eh?
I took his janitor work for a week so he could go to one in the "New Jerusalem" he
said was in Oklahoma.
I felt kind of sad for him; he thought he was worshipping God in that feast,
but, he had a problem of 'not paying his bills' =
not a very good testimony, eh?
Um, no. "Torah" is instructions the Jews were obligated to follow, under penalty of death. That sounds like law to me.
You're making assumptions, which carry no evidentiary weight.
Not at all. One has faith in God and acts on His instructions.
Exactly: you're putting faith in the person, not their instructions. You would merely be following their instructions.
Yes, but again, there is a distinction between having faith and following instructions. I have faith that God will raise me after my physical death, but that is not faith in any instructions.
"Faithfulness" is a better translation here. They do not mean quite the same thing.
Wrong. The way to demonstrate that you have faith is by works. All of these verses teach that.
You're making assumptions, which carry no evidentiary weight.
Not at all. One has faith in God and acts on His instructions.
Exactly: you're putting faith in the person, not their instructions. You would merely be following their instructions.
Yes, but again, there is a distinction between having faith and following instructions. I have faith that God will raise me after my physical death, but that is not faith in any instructions.
"Faithfulness" is a better translation here. They do not mean quite the same thing.
Wrong. The way to demonstrate that you have faith is by works. All of these verses teach that.
I agree with you. It has always been by grace through faith. I would suggest the law one was under has not always been the same.
I agree Jesus redeemed us from sin but He ended the old law by the cross.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Do you believe Jesus established the new covenant?
I agree Jesus redeemed us from sin but He ended the old law by the cross.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Do you believe Jesus established the new covenant?
E
I had an experience discussing the sabbath with a neighbor about 37 years ago.
I took his janitor work for a week so he could go to one in the "New Jerusalem" he
said was in Oklahoma.
I felt kind of sad for him; he thought he was worshipping God in that feast,
but, he had a problem of 'not paying his bills' =
not a very good testimony, eh?
I took his janitor work for a week so he could go to one in the "New Jerusalem" he
said was in Oklahoma.
I felt kind of sad for him; he thought he was worshipping God in that feast,
but, he had a problem of 'not paying his bills' =
not a very good testimony, eh?
1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
God's righteousness is eternal, therefore all of His instructions for how to testify about His righteousness are also eternal (Psalm 119:160).
I'm not seeing a good reason to interpret those verses as referring to the Law of God, especially because all of God's righteous laws are eternal. God did not make any mistakes when He gave His law, so he had no need to send Jesus to abolish His law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus specifically said that he came not to abolish God's law, so saying that he abolished is calling him a liar. Likewise, in Romans 3:31, Paul said that our faith does not abolish God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, so Paul would also be contradicting himself. Eternal instructions for how to testify about God's eternal nature can't be abolished without first abolishing God.
In Ephesians 2:10, we are new creations in Christ to do good works, so it wouldn't make sense to think that Jesus did away with his instructions for how to do good works just a few verses later. In regard to Ephesians 2:14, God did not give any laws for the purpose of creating a dividing wall of hostility, but rather His law instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves. In regard to Ephesians 2:15, justification needs to be given for why the Greek word "dogma" should be interpreted as referring to the Law of God when it refers to something other than the Law of God every other time it is used by the Bible. In Ephesians 2:12-19, Gentiles were at one time separated from Christ alienated from Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, but through faith in Christ all of that is no longer true, so Gentiles are becoming joined to these things in accordance with obedience to the God's law, not Jews rejecting these things and becoming joined to Gentiles in accordance with God's law being abolished.
Indeed, one which involves following the Mosaic Law according to Jeremiah 31:33.
I'm not seeing a good reason to interpret those verses as referring to the Law of God, especially because all of God's righteous laws are eternal. God did not make any mistakes when He gave His law, so he had no need to send Jesus to abolish His law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus specifically said that he came not to abolish God's law, so saying that he abolished is calling him a liar. Likewise, in Romans 3:31, Paul said that our faith does not abolish God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, so Paul would also be contradicting himself. Eternal instructions for how to testify about God's eternal nature can't be abolished without first abolishing God.
In Ephesians 2:10, we are new creations in Christ to do good works, so it wouldn't make sense to think that Jesus did away with his instructions for how to do good works just a few verses later. In regard to Ephesians 2:14, God did not give any laws for the purpose of creating a dividing wall of hostility, but rather His law instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves. In regard to Ephesians 2:15, justification needs to be given for why the Greek word "dogma" should be interpreted as referring to the Law of God when it refers to something other than the Law of God every other time it is used by the Bible. In Ephesians 2:12-19, Gentiles were at one time separated from Christ alienated from Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, but through faith in Christ all of that is no longer true, so Gentiles are becoming joined to these things in accordance with obedience to the God's law, not Jews rejecting these things and becoming joined to Gentiles in accordance with God's law being abolished.
Indeed, one which involves following the Mosaic Law according to Jeremiah 31:33.
The law of Christ and the law of Moses are incompatible. Jesus cannot be high priest under the law of Moses.
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
E
That is a fact. It even says He could not serve at the Altar since He was not a Levite. He was the Sacrifice. He was killed outside the wall while the Passover lamb was being killed in the Temple. He was dishonored in every way possible. And He allowed it to be obedient to His Father and to save us. He was found guilty of blasphemy for telling the truth and condemned to death in our place. A murderer was released as the scapegoat instead of Him Who is innocent.
E
John 11 49-52
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one Man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of EL that were scattered abroad.
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one Man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of EL that were scattered abroad.
E
Hebrews 8
1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high Priest, Who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Adonai pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high Priest also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah, 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by EL when he was about to make the tabernacle, for He said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high Priest, Who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Adonai pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high Priest also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah, 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by EL when he was about to make the tabernacle, for He said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.