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Â@Â/ä*#ÔÔ#† + !!@ ˆI#ÔÔ‡  ­s! ! +ÔÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔ2003€€William€P.€Nugent.€€All€rights€reserved€except€that€permission€is€granted€to€photocopyÐ  %Y  Ðfor€personal€use€and€non„commercial€distribution.ÌÓ†ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ 1-(( ЇÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  Óò òÔ#†  ­s!% &+&A#ÔMESSIANIC€JEWS€Ð Î  ÐAND€ÌTHE€LAW€OF€MOSESó óÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔÔ#†&ti%% &+&"#ÔÔ‡ &+&%%&tiÔÐ Ô $  ÐÌÓ5ÓÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@"ìàTABLE€OF€CONTENTSˆÌÌINTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1ÌÌà@RR%ìàCHAPTER€ONEˆÌÌTHE€TEACHINGS€AND€LIFE€EXAMPLES€OF€THEÌ€€€€€€APOSTLES€REGARDING€THE€LAW........................................................................3ÌÌPaul.................................................................................................................................3ÌPaul€Taught€that€We€Died€to€the€Law.............................................................................4ÌÔ_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€Blessings...................................................................7ÌPaulððs€Teaching€Regarding€Circumcision........................................................................10ÌPaulððs€Life€Example........................................................................................................13ÌActs€21............................................................................................................................14ÌPeter...............................................................................................................................17ÌApostles€in€Conflict.........................................................................................................18ÌÌà@>>%ìàCHAPTER€TWOˆÌÌTHE€NEW€WINESKIN€INSTEAD€OF€THE€OLD..............................................................19ÌÌOld€Wineskin:€Literal€Sabbath.........................................................................................22ÌDonððt€Strike€the€Rock€Twice.............................................................................................26ÌLet€Us€Go€On€to€Perfection..............................................................................................28ÌOld€Wineskin:€Tithing.......................................................................................................29ÌWe€Are€to€Give€100%.......................................................................................................30ÌGiving€Our€Souls€to€Him€in€Consecration.........................................................................31Ð í-=)' ÐWhere€and€How€is€Our€Money€to€be€Given?....................................................................37ÌOld€Wineskin:€Dietary€Laws..............................................................................................40ÌÌà@ââ$ìàCHAPTER€THREEˆÌÌWILL€ANIMAL€SACRIFICES€BE€OFFERED€IN€A€Ô_ÔMILLENIALÔ_Ô€TEMPLE?........................43ÌÌThe€Conditional€Nature€of€Prophecy................................................................................45ÌThe€Tribulation€Temple....................................................................................................47ÌThe€Feast€of€Tabernacles................................................................................................50ÌÌà@$ìàCHAPTER€FOURˆÌÌARE€GENTILES€UNDER€THE€COMMANDS€OF€NOAH?................................................53ÌÌEating€Things€Sacrificed€to€Idols......................................................................................56ÌEating€of€Things€Strangled€and€Blood.............................................................................57ÌProhibition€of€Fornication.................................................................................................57ÌÌà@NN$ìàCHAPTER€FIVEˆÌÌTHE€LAW€OF€MESSIAH.................................................................................................59ÌÌThe€Sermon€on€the€Mount..............................................................................................62ÌÌCONCLUSION................................................................................................................64ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ x-È(( ЇÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAll€Scripture€quotations€are€taken€from€the€King€James€Version€unless€otherwise€noted.ÌÌÌÌScripture€quotations€denoted€ð ðÔ_ÔNASBÔ_Ôðð€are€taken€from€the€New€American€Standard€BibleÏcopyright€1973€The€Lockman€Foundation€La€Habra€Calif.€U.S.A.ÌÌÌÌScripture€quotations€denoted€ð ðÔ_ÔMJVÔ_Ôðð€are€taken€from€the€Messianic€Jewish€version€of€the€NewÏCovenant€Scriptures€copyright€1979€Thomas€Nelson,€Inc.€Publishers,€Nashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌScripture€quotations€denoted€ð ðASV€1901"€are€taken€from€the€American€Standard€VersionÏcopyright€1901€Thomas€Nelson€&€Sons,€New€York€copyright€1929€International€Council€ofÏReligious€Education.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ x-È(( ЇÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÔ_ÔACKNOWLEDGEMENTSÔ_ÔÌÓ®ÓÌÌÓÂ5Óà  àI€extend€thanks€to€my€late€wife,€Elaine€F.€Nugent€and€to€my€mother,€Marion€E.€Nugent,Ïfor€typing€various€versions€of€this€manuscript€and€to€Pat€McLaughlin€and€Lori€Ô_ÔNievesÔ_Ô€for€theirÏskillful€editing.Ìà  àI€gratefully€acknowledge€those€who€have€interceded€before€God€for€this€work€to€beÏreleased€for€publication.€€Let€us€never€forget€the€often€unappreciated€effort€of€faithfulÏintercessors€such€as€Sally€Wright€of€Rise€Up€Christian€Fellowship,€Carmel,€N.Y.€and€Ô_ÔMerilynÔ_ÔÏHeinz€and€the€ladies€of€the€Baton€Rouge€Christian€Fellowship€womenððs€prayer€meeting.Ìà  àTo€God€be€the€Glory!€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ã-3)+ ÐÑ;ÞÑâ âØØÑ8€÷qXXdìQQdì8ÑÑ€ Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌÌÔ#†  ­s!% &+&£#ÔÓ  Óò òó óÓ  ÓÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔÌÓÓà@ìì*ìàÔ#†&ti%% &+&å#ÔÔ‡?&+&%%&tiÔÔ#†? ­s!%?&+&"#ÔÔ‡?X_­R!? ­sÔˆà0  àà0p(#(#àà0Èp(#p(#àà0 È(#È(#àà0x (# (#àà0Ð x(#x(#àà0@Ð À(#À(#àòòÐ Ð (#Ð (# ÐÓ  Óò òóóINTRODUCTIONó óÐ &  ÐÓ‡ ÓÌ€€€€€€€I€have€great€respect€for€the€Old€Testament€Law€which€I€refer€to€as€the€Law€ofÏMoses€or€Mosaic€Law.€The€Law€was€given€by€God€through€the€mediation€of€Moses.€WeÏlive€in€a€time€when€the€Law€of€Moses€is€sorely€abused.€Many€of€us€have€seen€preciousÏJewish€believers€in€ñÇ+ñJesusñÇ+ññÈ+ñÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_ÔñÈ+ñ€(ñË+ññÊ+ñ€ñÊ+ññË+ññÌ+ñÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€ñÌ+ñHebrewñÉ+ñ:€YeshuañÉ+ññÍ+ñ€forñÍ+ññÎ+ññÍ+ñ€ñÍ+ññÎ+ññÏ+ñ€ñÏ+ññÍ+ñJesusñÍ+ñ)€become€overzealous€forÏkeeping€the€Law€and€gradually€drift€into€works€righteousness.ñÐ+ñà  àà x àà Ð àñÐ+ñÐ 5Ñ  Ѐ€€€€€€The€tactic€of€the€anti„missionary€is€to€quote€portions€of€the€18òòthóó€chapter€of€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_ÔÐ 6Ò  Ðwhich,€when€taken€out€of€context,€seem€to€teach€that€a€person€can€be€saved€by€worksÏof€the€Law.€The€anti„missionaries€say€that€the€animals€offered€in€sacrifice€on€the€altarÏplayed€a€minor€role€in€Israelððs€early€history€and€later€on€the€prophets€moved€beyond€itÏinto€a€teaching€of€salvation€by€good€moral€behavior.€They€teach€that€the€blood€on€theÏaltar€(Leviticus€17:11)€is€of€only€minor€significance.Ì€€€€€€€How€foolish!€The€Ô_ÔAaronicÔ_Ô€priesthood€was€no€joke.€The€Temple€of€Solomon€and€theÏdaily€sacrifices€and€elaborate€rituals€were€not€just€window€dressing€but€were€central€toÏthe€Jewish€faith.€We€regard€the€animal€blood€sacrifices€as€prophetic€prefigures€of€theÏatoning€death€of€Messiah€„€something€the€anti„missionaries€want€Jewish€believers€toÏdeny.€The€anti„missionaries€take€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€18€totally€out€of€context.€When€you€read€theÏlater€chapters€of€the€book€of€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€you€clearly€see€that€the€temple,€priesthood€andÏsacrifices€are€clearly€and€unambiguously€affirmed.Ì€€€€€€€€The€anti„missionaries€are€quick€to€quote€Micah€6:6„8€which€seems€to€minimize€theÏimportance€of€the€animal€blood€sacrifices€and€emphasizes€the€importance€of€goodÏworks.€What€they€ignore€to€their€peril€however€is€that€the€prophets€who€came€centuriesÏafter€Micah,€especially€Ô_ÔHaggaiÔ_Ô€and€Zechariah€in€the€post„Ô_ÔexilicÔ_Ô€period,€directed€theÏrebuilding€of€the€temple€so€that€animal€sacrifices€could€again€be€offered!€This€againÏshows€the€centrality€of€Ô_ÔsubstitutionaryÔ_Ô€blood€atonement€for€sin.€Good€works€areÏimportant€but€the€Ô_ÔTenachÔ_Ô€does€not€teach€that€a€person€can€earn€salvation€by€goodÏworks.€Isaiah€the€prophet€wrote:€ò òòòð ðall€our€righteous€deeds€are€like€a€filthy€garmentððó óóóÐ J%æ Ð(Isaiah€64:6€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ì€€€€€€€The€animal€blood€sacrifices€prefigured€the€Messiahððs€death€for€our€sins.€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_ÔÏtook€the€punishment€due€to€us€for€our€sins€upon€Himself€(Isaiah€53:4„6).€The€death€ofÏÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€fulfilled€the€part€of€the€Law€of€Moses€that€commanded€the€offering€up€ofÏanimals€in€sacrifice.Ì€€€€€€€I€will€show€in€this€book€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€fulfilled€not€only€the€animal€blood€sacrificeÏsystem€but€also€fulfilled€all€of€the€other€commands€of€the€Mosaic€Law.€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2:16„¼17€teaches€that€the€dietary€laws€(food€and€drink),€festivals,€new€moon€celebrations€andÐ R-î&' ÐSabbaths€are€shadows€(prophetic€Ô_ÔprefigurementsÔ_Ô)€but€the€substance€(propheticÏfulfillment,€spiritual€reality)€belongs€to€Messiah.€The€basic€premise€of€this€book€is€toÏassert€that€we€must€keep€the€substance€and€not€the€shadow.€We€must€keep€theÏpresent€spiritual€reality€rather€than€the€prior€prophetic€Ô_ÔprefigurementÔ_Ô.Ì€€€€€€€Regarding€the€Law€of€Moses,€Matthew€5:18€says€ò òòòð ðone€jot€or€one€tittle€shall€in€noóóÐ g  Ðòòwise€pass€from€the€law,€till€all€be€fulfilledððóó€ó óyet€Hebrews€7:12€says€ò òòòð ðFor€theÐ q  Ðpriesthood€being€changed,€there€is€made€of€necessity€a€change€also€of€the€law.ððóóó óÐ {  ÐObviously€then,€the€ò òòòð ðall€be€fulfilledððóóó ó€occurred€sometime€between€Mt€5:18€andÐ |  ÐHebrews€7:12.€That€ò òòòð ðall€be€fulfilledððóóó ó€is€none€other€than€the€sinless€life,€atoning€deathÐ }  Ðand€glorious€resurrection€of€Messiah€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô.€The€Law€is€fulfilled!!!€Now€we,€asÏfollowers€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô,€ò òòòð ðestablish€the€lawððóóó ó€(Romans€3:31)€by€keeping€the€substance€andÐ   Ðnot€the€shadow!€Romans€7:4€says€ò òòòð ðBut€now€we€have€been€released€from€the€Law,Ð €  Ðhaving€died€to€that€by€which€we€were€bound,€so€that€we€serve€in€newness€of€theÏSpirit€and€not€in€oldness€of€the€letterððóó€ó ó(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ð ‚  Ѐ€€€€€€What€then€of€the€Law?€Is€the€Law€a€mere€history€lesson€or€just€a€list€of€JewishÏcustoms?€No!€The€Law€is€a€blueprint€for€the€walk€by€the€Spirit.€The€Law€is€an€extremelyÏvaluable€prophetic€picture€(shadow)€of€how€we€are€to€follow€Messiah€(spiritual€reality).ÏEvery€one€of€the€613€commands€of€the€Law€of€Moses€has€its€specific€fulfillment€inÏMessiah€and€we€walk€in€the€fulfillment€reality€and€not€in€the€literal€content€of€theÏcommands.€This€book€explains€how€we€are€to€walk€in€the€spiritual€reality€typified€by€theÏSabbath,€tithing,€dietary€laws,€etc.Ì€€€€€€€Objections€to€the€above€stated€view€based€on€a€false€interpretation€of€Acts€21,€aÏwrong€eschatological€understanding€of€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ôððs€temple€(Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_Ô€chapters€40„44)€and€aÏmisunderstanding€of€how€Gentiles€keep€the€Feast€of€Tabernacles€in€the€futureÏ(Zechariah€14)€€are€rebutted€and€a€correct€understanding€of€these€issues€is€given€inÏthis€book.Ì€€€€€€€Voluntary€observance€of€the€literal€Law€of€Moses€is€permissible€and€evenÏencouraged.€Many€believers,€both€Jew€and€Gentile,€rest€each€Sabbath.€This€isÏespecially€necessary€if€one€is€living€in€Israel€or€involved€in€evangelism€among€Jews€butÏsuch€literal€Sabbath€observance€is€not€mandatory.Ì€€€€€€€As€to€the€matter€of€Replacement€Theology,€this€author€maintains€that€the€churchÏdoes€not€replace€Israel!€Romans€11:28€teaches€that€the€physical€Jew€is€ò òòòð ðbeloved€forÐ $9 Ðthe€sake€of€the€fathersððóó€ó ó(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€God€affirms€a€special€love€for€literal,€physical€Jews€Ð ž%: Ðwho€are€descended€from€Abraham,€Isaac€and€Jacob.€The€Jewish€believers€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_ÔÏmaintain€their€Jewish€identity€by€voluntary€(not€mandatory)€observance€of€JewishÏcustoms€and€laws.€Israel€has€a€right€to€her€land€within€secure€borders€in€the€MiddleÏEast.€The€Law€is€a€shadow€but€the€Jews€are€not.€The€Jews€are€a€distinct€people€toÏwhom€specific€promises€are€made.€€Ì€€€€€€€This€book€gives€the€reader€a€correct€understanding€of€how€Jewish€and€GentileÏbelievers€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€relate€to€the€Law€of€Moses.€A€correct€understanding€of€the€OldÏTestament€Law€answers€a€multitude€of€questions€ranging€from€the€daily€walk€of€theÐ ¯-K'' Ðbeliever€to€the€political€conundrums€of€the€Middle€East.Ì€€€€€€€I€pray€that€you€the€reader€will€enjoy€this€book€and€find€its€truth€both€challenging€andÏliberating.€I€humbly€set€it€before€you€by€the€grace€of€God.Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€William€P.€NugentÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ¾+ñJuneñ¾+ññ½+ñAugustñ½+ñ€ñ»+ñ14ñ»+ññ¼+ñ2ñ¼+ñ,€2003Ô#†X…RR?X_­‡#ÔÔ#† + !RX…É#ÔÔ‡&ti% ! +ÔÔ‡ &+&%%&tiÔÐ h  ÐÌà  à¹Ó  ÓCHAPTER€ONEÌÓ¬>ÓÌà@ÎÎ ìàTHE€TEACHINGS€AND€LIFE€EXAMPLES€OF€THE€APOSTLES€REGARDING€THE€LAWˆÌÌ€€€€€€€€€The€apostles,€especially€Paul,€had€a€great€deal€to€say€about€the€Law€of€Moses€and€how€itÏis€to€be€applied.€€The€apostlesðð€teachings€are€also€reflected€in€their€lifestyles€as€recorded€in€theÏbook€of€Acts€and€in€the€epistles.€€The€apostles€not€only€taught€but€also€lived€out€their€teachingsÏbefore€men.€€The€context€of€how€these€men€lived€their€lives€yields€great€insight€into€how€theyÏthemselves€understood€their€teaching€and€how€they€expected€us€to€understand€their€teachingÏon€the€Old€Testament€Law.€€Letððs€begin€with€a€study€of€Paul€the€apostle.ÌÌà@úú(ìàPAULˆÌÌà  àÔ_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€1:11„12€says€òòò òð ðBut€I€certify€you,€brethren,€that€the€gospel€which€wasÐ .Ê Ðpreached€of€me€is€not€after€man.€€For€I€neither€received€it€of€man,€neither€was€I€taught€it,Ïbut€óóó ó[I€received€it]ò òòò€by€the€revelation€of€Jesus€Christ.ððó óóó€€Paul€received€apostolic€revelatoryÐ   Ðinsight€into€the€Law,€Psalms€and€Prophets.€€What€Paul€received€did€not€in€any€way€contradictÏthe€Old€Testament€scriptures€but€gave€added€insight€into€these€scriptures.€€There€were€manyÏquestions€that€needed€to€be€answered.€€Paul€sought€for€answers€to€questions€such€as€ð ðWhyÏdid€Messiah€die€and€then€be€resurrected?ðð,€ð ðHow€do€we€receive€the€benefits€of€MessiahððsÏsacrificial€work€of€suffering€and€death€for€our€sins?ðð,€ð ðHow€do€we€identify€with€and€receive€theÏbenefits€of€Messiahððs€resurrection?ðð€and€ð ðAm€I€still€obligated€to€keep€the€Law€of€Moses?ðð€ÏPerhaps€it€was€during€his€sojourn€in€Arabia€or€maybe€it€was€after€his€return€to€Tarsus€in€Ô_ÔCiliciaÔ_ÔÏthat€the€Holy€Spirit€began€to€lead€Paul€into€deep€revelation€on€these€matters.Ìà  àThe€foundational€truths€of€Paulððs€apostolic€revelation€of€the€gospel€deal€with€theÏapplication€of€covenant€law.€€The€Law€of€Moses€was€given€as€part€of€a€covenant€between€GodÏand€Israel.€€Mosaic€Law€is€therefore€to€be€applied€according€to€the€principles€of€covenant€law.€ÏIn€recent€decades€there€has€been€a€great€deal€of€teaching€about€blood€covenant€and€how€theÏscriptures€can€be€better€understood€when€keeping€in€mind€their€covenant€context.Ìà  àThe€way€a€blood€covenant€worked€was€simply€this:€two€family€heads€(or€covenantÏrepresentatives)€would€agree€to€a€certain€list€of€rules€that€they€and€their€families€would€keepÏforever.€€The€covenant€might€be€to€honor€the€set€boundaries€of€each€otherððs€land,€or€toÏestablish€an€important€business€agreement€or€something€else€of€significance.€€After€the€deathÏof€the€family€heads,€their€sons€were€expected€to€honor€the€covenant.€€After€their€sons€wereÏgone,€the€grandsons€must€honor€the€covenant€and€so€on.€€In€this€way€the€covenant€wasÏperpetual.€A€good€example€in€the€Bible€of€such€a€covenant€is€contained€in€Genesis€26:26„31€inÐ `-ü&* Ðwhich€Isaac€and€Ô_ÔAbimelechÔ_Ô€made€a€covenant€to€not€harm€each€other.€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€To€break€the€covenant€was€a€very€serious€thing€because€the€covenant€had€beenÏsealed€with€blood€oaths€and€curses€on€any€party€who€would€dare€to€break€the€covenant.€€AÏcovenant€breaker€was€also€called€a€truce€breaker.€€A€truce€breaker€was€subject€to€publicÏdisdain.€€Business€agreements€and€contracts€could€be€carried€out€with€remarkable€smoothnessÏand€continuity€in€ancient€times€when€covenant€law€was€practiced€and€a€man€stood€by€his€wordÏto€perform€it.€€Blood€covenant€is€still€practiced€in€many€lands€in€Asia€and€Africa€to€this€day.Ìà  àThe€stipulations€or€obligations€of€a€covenant€are€binding€on€a€man€as€long€as€he€lives.€ÏOnce€the€man€dies€he€is€freed€from€his€obligations€under€the€covenant.€€In€the€same€way€aÏmarriage€can€be€considered€as€a€covenant€between€a€man€and€a€woman€and€is€valid€only€untilÏdeath.€€òòWe€see€therefore€that€death€is€the€only€thing€that€abolishes€or€makes€null€and€void€aÐ ’.  Ðcovenant.€€óóWe€saw€earlier€that€a€business€covenant€would€become€null€and€void€for€the€familyÐ }  Ðheads€when€they€died,€but€would€continue€to€bind€their€sons€and€their€sonsðð€sons.€€But€what€ifÏthe€sonsðð€sons€died€and€left€no€descendants,€either€sons€or€daughters?€€In€such€a€case€thatÏblood€covenant€which€was€properly€made€with€all€its€ceremony€and€blood€sacrifice€and€oathsÏand€curses€and€listing€of€covenant€obligations€and€token€cutting€of€the€body,€etc.€would€all€beÏnull€and€void.Ìà  àWith€this€understanding€of€covenant€law€in€mind€we€can€understand€the€foundation€ofÏPaulððs€revelation€from€God.€€God€showed€Paul€the€all€encompassing€nature€of€Messiahððs€life,Ïdeath€and€resurrection.€€Paul€pondered€the€full€meaning€of€the€ministry€of€the€sufferingÏMessiah.€€He€wondered€how€it€could€be€that€the€death€of€Messiah€could€deliver€us€from€theÏpenalty€of€sin€and€indeed,€deliver€us€from€the€power€of€sin€itself.€€God€answered€Paul€in€aÏspectacular€way.€€I€say€spectacular€because€Paulððs€revelation€turned€the€religious€world€upsideÏdown.€€Without€Paulððs€revelation€we€would€have€very€little€understanding€of€Godððs€ways€inÏdealing€with€sin€and€we€would€have€little€understanding€of€how€to€live€in€proper€covenantÏrelationship€with€God.Ìà  àIf€I€may€be€so€bold,€let€me€summarize€Paulððs€revelation€in€one€verse:€òòò òð ðone€died€for€all,Ð BÞ Ðtherefore€all€diedððó óóó€(2€Cor.€5:14€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€Since€all€died,€all€are€released€from€all€obligationsÐ -É Ðunder€all€old€covenants€between€God€and€man.€€All€Jewish€believers€are€released€from€allÏobligations€under€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€That€covenant€was€made€before€we€died€withÏMessiah.€€Our€death€with€Him€nullified€our€obligations€under€that€covenant.€€Now€we€areÏobligated€to€keep€the€New€Covenant.€€The€death€of€Messiah€and€our€death€with€Him€ratifiedÏand€instituted€the€New€Covenant€in€Messiah.ÌÌÌÓ  ÓPAUL€TAUGHT€THAT€WE€DIED€TO€THE€LAWÌÓ7VÓà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà  àThe€death€of€one€or€both€parties€is€the€only€thing€that€can€abolish€a€covenant.€€DeathÏalso€is€the€only€thing€that€can€free€us€from€sin.€€We€read€in€Romans€6:7€òòò òð ðhe€that€is€dead€isÐ 1*Í#' Ðfreed€from€sin.ððó óóó€€In€Romans€7:1&6€Paul€makes€a€direct€statement€to€the€effect€that€we€(JewÐ +¸$( Ðand€Gentile)€have€died€to€the€Law€and€are€released€from€it.òòò ò€€ð ðThe€law€has€jurisdiction€over€aÐ ,£%) Ðperson€as€long€as€he€lives€.€.€.€But€now€weó óóó€(Paul€includes€himself)€òòò òhave€been€releasedÐ ò,Ž&* Ðfrom€the€Law,€having€died€to€that€by€which€we€were€bound,€so€that€we€serve€in€newnessÐ Ý-y'+ Ðof€the€Spirit€and€not€in€oldness€of€the€letterððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€Romans€7:4€says€that€we€wereòòò òÐ d Ðð ðmade€to€die€to€the€Law€through€the€body€of€Christððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€How€could€it€be€stated€anyÐ Oë Ðclearer€than€this?Ìà  àThe€disciples€of€Messiah€were€eyewitnesses€to€the€fact€that€Messiah€died€and€wasÏresurrected€but€it€took€an€apostolic€revelation€from€God€to€Paul€to€show€that€all€of€us€also€wereÏmade€to€die€and€be€raised€up€with€Messiah.€€This€is€why€Paulððs€writings€are€unique€and€reflectÏa€very€deep€wisdom.€€The€other€apostles€also€saw€the€truth€contained€in€Paulððs€teaching.€ÏPeter€himself€in€2€Peter€3:15„16€openly€affirmed€the€wisdom€given€to€Paul€and€remarked€thatÏthere€were€some€things€Paul€wrote€that€are€òòò òð ðhard€to€be€understood.ððó óóó€€Indeed,€Peter€(whoÐ ¼ X Ðwas€the€apostle€to€the€circumcised)€and€also€the€early€Jewish€believers€and€even€present€dayÏJewish€believers€find€these€things€hard€to€understand€and€accept.€€My€prayer€is€that€in€theseÏend„times,€Jewish€believers€will€understand€Paulððs€full€revelation€and€as€a€result€will€enter€intoÏa€greater€realm€of€freedom€and€victory.Ìà  àWhat€did€Paul€mean€when€he€wrote€that€òòò òð ðall€diedððó óóó?€€What€kind€of€death€was€it?€€WasÐ Sï  Ðit€spiritual,€physical,€legal€or€just€symbolic?€€What€does€it€mean€that€since€one€died€for€all,Ïtherefore€all€died?€€Does€it€mean€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ôððs€death€is€imputed€to€us€or€that€it€ð ðcountsðð€forÏus?€€Or€is€it€more€than€that,€meaning€perhaps€we€really,€in€some€way,€did€actually€die€withÏHim?€€To€answer€these€questions€we€have€to€understand€exactly€who€Messiah€is.€€We€believeÏin€the€deity€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€Messiah.€The€Son€of€God€is€by€nature€equal€with€God€(John€5:18).ÏAnyone€who€says€that€he€believes€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€yet€does€not€believe€in€His€Godhood,€this€personÏdoes€not€truly€believe€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€Messiah.€€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€1:16„17,€speaking€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€says€òòò òð ðbyÐ À\ Ðhim€were€all€things€created,€that€are€in€heaven,€and€that€are€in€earth€.€.€.€all€things€wereÏcreated€by€him,€and€for€him:€and€he€is€before€all€things,€and€by€him€all€things€consist.ððó óóó€Ð –2 ÐThe€Father€created€all€things€through€Messiah€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€(1€Cor.€8:6;€Heb.€1:2).€€First€CorinthiansÏ8:6€indicates€that€we€exist€through€Messiah€and€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€1:17€indicates€that€we€areÏsustained€by€Messiah.€€Hebrews€1:3€says€that€Messiah€isòòò ò€ð ðupholding€all€things€by€the€wordÐ Wó Ðof€his€power.ððó óóóÐ BÞ Ðà  àMessiah€is€the€One€who€holds€all€things€in€their€created€form.€€He€summed€up€allÏcreation€in€Himself€and€took€it€into€death€and€back.€€Only€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô,€the€creator€and€Ô_ÔsustainerÔ_Ô€ofÏall€creation,€could€baptize€all€creation€into€death.€€No€great€man€or€great€angel€could€die€for€us.€ÏWhen€Messiah€our€creator€died,€we€all€died€not€only€spiritually€but€also€Ô_ÔsoulicallyÔ_Ô,€physically,Ïliterally,€legally,€Ô_ÔcontracturallyÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔcovenantallyÔ_Ô€and€in€every€other€way€that€it€is€possible€to€die.€ÏWe€died€with€Him€and€were€also€raised€with€Him.€€The€old€creation€died€with€him€and€wasÏraised€up€a€new€creation.Ìà  àSo€we€see€then€that€our€death€with€Messiah€was€a€very€real€death.€€Since€covenantsÏend€with€death,€our€death€nullified€all€the€covenants€that€God€had€previously€made€with€man.€ÏThis€is€why€Paul€so€boldly€wrote€the€following€statements:€òòò òð ðFor€He€Himself€is€our€peace,€whoÐ p' !$ Ðhath€made€both€groups€into€one,€and€broke€down€the€barrier€of€the€dividing€wall,€byÏabolishing€in€His€flesh€the€enmity,€which€is€the€Law€of€commandments€contained€inÏordinancesððó óóó€(Eph.€2:14„15€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).òòò ò€€ð ðThrough€the€Law€I€died€to€the€Law,€that€I€might€live€toÐ 1*Í#' ÐGodððó óóó€(Gal.€2:19€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ð +¸$( Ѐ€€€€€€€€€òòóó€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€abolished€the€Law€in€the€sense€that€because€He€tasted€death€for€us,€€we€areÐ ,£%) Ðnot€under€it€anymore.€€It€is€òòò òð ðthrough€the€Lawððó óóó€that€we€died€to€the€Law.€€The€Law€condemnedÐ ò,Ž&* Ðus,€passed€a€sentence€of€death€against€us€and€we€died.€We€died€with€Messiah€at€HisÐ Ý-y'+ ÐÔ_Ôcrucifixion.Ô_Ô€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€fulfilled€the€Law€by€keeping€it€perfectly.€€He€bore€the€penalty€due€usÏbecause€of€our€failure€to€keep€it.€€He€abolished€the€Law€by€taking€all€of€us€with€Him€into€death.€ÏThe€Law€was€fulfilled,€manððs€side€of€the€covenant€was€kept€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€and€then€the€Law€wasÏabolished.€€Now€we€are€released€from€the€Law.€€The€Law€in€its€literal€application€is€abolishedÏas€far€as€we€are€concerned.€€In€Hebrews€7:12€we€read€that€there€has€been€a€change€ofÏpriesthood€and€a€change€of€the€Law.€€How€can€the€immutable€Law€of€Moses€be€changed?€€It€isÏbecause€all€of€creation€has€been€changed€from€an€old€creation€to€a€new€creation.€€A€NewÏCovenant€has€been€made€with€the€new€creation.€€The€old€creation€has€been€abolished€as€hasÏalso€the€Old€Covenant.Ìà  àThe€two€sacraments,€the€Lordððs€Supper€and€water€baptism,€both€remember€and€declareÏthe€reality€of€the€death€of€the€old€creation.€€These€are€ceremonial€demonstrations€that€the€oldÏorder€is€passed€away€and€the€new€order€has€come.€€In€the€Lordððs€Supper€we€eat€the€bread€andÏdrink€the€cup€and€in€doing€this€proclaim€the€Lordððs€death€until€He€comes€again€(1€Cor€11:26).€ÏIn€water€baptism€we€are€baptized€into€the€death€of€Messiah€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€(Rom.€6:3).€€Our€physicalÏbodies€are€placed€under€water€and€then€raised€up€which€shows€forth€to€all€the€world€that€weÏare€physically€identified€with€His€death€and€shall€be€physically€resurrected€from€the€dead.€ÏFurthermore,€verses€4„6€of€Romans€6€go€on€to€show€that€our€spirits€and€souls€have€also€diedÏwith€Him€and€are€raised€with€Him€because€it€is€in€spirit€and€soul€that€we€can€now€walk€with€HimÏòòò òð ðin€newness€of€lifeððó óóó€(V.4)€and€the€body€of€sin€be€unemployed€(V.6).Ð ê† Ðà  àIn€First€Corinthians€15:45€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€referred€to€as€òòò òð ðthe€last€Adam.ððó óóó€€In€verse€47€of€theÐ Õq Ðsame€chapter€He€is€called€òòò òð ðthe€second€man.ððó óóó€€The€first€Adam€who€sinned€in€the€garden€ofÐ À\ ÐEden€was€the€progenitor€of€the€old€creation€humanity.€€The€last€Adam,€who€is€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô,€paid€theÏpenalty€for€the€sins€of€the€old€creation€humanity€and€became€the€progenitor€of€the€newÏcreation€humanity.Ìà  àAll€of€us€sinned€in€the€first€Adam.€€All€of€us€were€in€the€loins€of€Adam€when€he€sinnedÏand€therefore€we€sinned€with€him.€€We€sinned€before€we€were€even€born.€€We€see€this€sameÏprinciple€over€in€Hebrews€7:9€&€10€where€we€discover€that€Levi€paid€tithes€to€Ô_ÔMelchisedecÔ_ÔÏbefore€Levi€was€even€born.€€Levi€was€in€the€loins€of€his€ancestor€Abraham€when€Abraham€paidÏthe€tithes.€€This€helps€us€to€understand€Romans€5:19€which€says€òòò òð ðFor€by€one€manððsÐ  ´ Ðdisobedience€many€were€made€sinners.ððó óóó€€It€does€not€say€that€we€chose€to€be€sinnersÐ !Ÿ Ðsometime€after€we€were€born€but€said€that€we€were€made€sinners€in€Adam€long€before€weÏwere€born.€€This€is€known€as€the€doctrine€of€original€sin.€€But€there€is€also€what€I€call€theÏdoctrine€of€ð ðoriginal€righteousnessðð.€€We€died€with€Messiah€on€Calvaryððs€mount€nearly€twoÏthousand€years€ago.€€We€were€in€the€ð ðloinsðð€of€Messiah€and€died€to€sin.€€All€the€sin€and€deathÏand€corruption€that€belonged€to€the€first€Adam€was€borne€by€the€second€Adam€and€given€overÏto€death.€€Adam€is€dead.€€The€second€man,€the€last€Adam€lives€and€we€live€in€Him.€€We€wereÏraised€up€from€the€dead€together€with€Messiah€and€by€His€righteousness€we€are€madeÏrighteous.Ìà  àAll€covenant€requirements€that€were€binding€on€the€first€Adam€whether€they€be€of€theÏÔ_ÔNoahideÔ_Ô€covenant€(Gen.€9),€Ô_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€(Gen.€12,€15,€17),€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€(Ex.€20)€or€any€otherÏcovenant€made€between€God€and€man,€these€requirements€on€the€Ô_ÔAdamicÔ_Ô€race€are€null€andÏvoid€because€the€Ô_ÔAdamicÔ_Ô€race€is€dead.€€(The€prohibition€against€eating€of€blood€recorded€inÏActs€15€which€some€suppose€to€be€based€on€the€Ô_ÔNoahideÔ_Ô€covenant€will€be€discussed€in€a€laterÏchapter.)à ` àÐ Ý-y'+ Ðà  àIt€is€by€faith€that€people€must€receive€the€experience€of€the€new€creation€life€that€wasÏpurchased€at€Calvary.€€First€Peter€2:24€says€that€by€His€stripes€we€were€healed.€€Our€healing€isÏaccomplished;€it€is€stated€in€past€tense€wording.€€Yet€many€born„again€people€are€still€sick.€ÏThis€shows€that€we€must€press€on€in€faith€in€God€to€appropriate€the€healing€that€is€alreadyÏours.Ìà  àNot€only€is€all€mankind€redeemed€but€the€Bible€teaches€that€all€creation,€includingÏanimal€and€plant€life€and€immaterial€things€are€redeemed€through€Messiah.€€The€curse€on€theÏearth€recorded€in€Genesis€3:17„19€has€been€reversed.€€We€read€in€Ephesians€1:10€òòò òð ðThat€inÐ Ñ m Ðthe€dispensation€of€the€fullness€of€times€óóó ó(in€other€words€we€havenððt€experienced€it€yet)ò òòò€heó óóóÐ ¼ X Ðòòò òmight€gather€together€in€one€all€things€in€Christ,€both€which€are€in€heaven,€and€whichÐ §C  Ðare€on€earth.ððó óóó€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€wore€the€crown€of€thorns€and€thereby€bore€the€curse€on€plant€life€yetÐ ’.  Ðwe€still€see€plants€that€have€thorns€on€them.€€We€havenððt€yet€seen€all€creation€enter€into€theÏexperience€of€new€creation€life€but€we€shall€in€the€fullness€of€times,€perhaps€during€theÏÔ_ÔMillenialÔ_Ô€reign€of€Messiah€or€in€the€ages€that€follow.€€We€read€of€redeemed€creation€in€IsaiahÏ11:1„9.€€This€passage€states€that€the€wolf€will€dwell€with€the€lamb€and€the€cow€and€the€bearÏshall€graze€and€they€shall€not€hurt€or€destroy€in€all€Godððs€holy€mountain.Ìà  àThat€it€was€by€the€death€and€resurrection€of€Messiah€that€all€creation€is€redeemed€isÏmade€clear€in€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€1:20:€òòò òð ðAnd,€having€made€peace€through€the€blood€of€his€cross,Ð ÿ› Ðby€him€to€RECONCILE€ALL€THINGS€unto€himself;€by€him,€I€say,€whether€they€be€things€inÏearth,€or€things€in€heaven.ððó óóó€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€purchased€redemption€for€all€things.€€Such€is€theÐ Õq Ðglorious€work€of€God€through€the€death€and€resurrection€of€Messiah.€€The€cross€is€the€dividingÏline€of€history€and€the€empty€tomb€is€the€starting€point€of€the€new€creation.Ìà  àRomans€8:19€&€21€says€òòò òð ðFor€the€earnest€expectation€of€the€creature€Ô_ÔwaitethÔ_Ô€for€theÐ –2 Ðmanifestation€of€the€sons€of€God€...€Because€the€creature€itself€also€shall€be€deliveredÏfrom€the€bondage€of€corruption€into€the€glorious€liberty€of€the€children€of€God.ððó óóó€€TheÐ l Ðword€òòò òð ðcreatureððó óóó€in€the€above€passage€can€be€better€translated€òòò òð ðcreationððó óóó€and€shows€that€allÐ Wó Ðcreation€(not€just€mankind)€longs€to€be€delivered€from€corruption.€€The€price€of€redemption€hasÏbeen€paid€by€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€so€now€all€creation€waits€for€the€children€of€God€(thatððs€us)€to€beÏmanifested€when€we€come€to€full€stature€or€completion€in€Messiah€so€that€we€will€set€allÏcreation€free€as€we€rule€and€reign€with€Messiah.Ìà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÓ  ÓÔ_ÔABRAHAMICÔ_Ô€AND€Ô_ÔSINAITICÔ_Ô€COVENANT€BLESSINGSÌÓöˆÓà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà  àThe€Covenants€that€God€made€with€Israel€contained€promises€of€blessings€that€GodÏwould€give€to€Israel.€€The€provision€of€these€blessings€was€Godððs€obligation€under€theÏcovenants.€€For€instance€God€promised€to€give€the€land€of€Canaan€(later€called€Palestine)€toÏthe€sons€of€Abraham.€€This€is€Godððs€obligation€under€the€Ô_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€SeveralÏparagraphs€back€we€saw€that€all€Israel€was€made€to€die€with€Messiah€to€all€of€the€previouslyÏratified€covenants.€€Death€nullifies€covenants.€€Does€this€mean€that€all€of€the€promises€ofÏblessing,€including€the€promise€of€a€homeland€for€the€Jewish€people€are€all€null€and€void?€ÏSome€people€take€this€position€and€say€that€the€Jews€have€no€right€to€the€land€of€Israel.€€TheyÏsay€that€the€Jews€should€move€out€and€let€the€Palestinians€take€over.€€They€maintain€that€theÐ Ý-y'+ ÐJews€must€come€to€Messiah€to€receive€spiritual€blessings,€such€as€regeneration,€deliveranceÏand€the€baptism€in€the€Holy€Spirit€but€the€material€promises€to€the€nation€of€Israel€are€null€andÏvoid.€Romans€7:1„6€explains€how€we€(including€Jewish€believers)€died€to€the€Law.€It€doesnððtÏsay€that€we€(or€the€Jews)€died€to€the€promises€of€Godððs€blessings€under€the€covenants.€Ìà  àWe€will€see€in€the€following€paragraphs€that€Israel€will€receive€all€blessings€(includingÏthe€material€blessings€of€the€old€covenants)€in€and€through€Messiah.€€God€promised€them€aÏpiece€of€physical€real€estate€and€God€will€give€them€a€piece€of€physical€real€estate.€€Israel€willÏinherit€all€the€land€God€promised€them.€€God€will€see€to€it€that€they€get€it.Ìà  àGod€does€not€change.€òòò òð ðFor€the€gifts€and€calling€of€God€are€without€repentanceððó óóóÐ ¼ X Ð(Rom.11:29).€€Romans€4:13€makes€it€plain€that€the€sons€of€Abraham€shall€inherit€the€promisesÏnot€by€Law€but€by€the€righteousness€of€faith.Ìà  àThere€are€also€many€blessings€and€promises€given€to€Israel€in€connection€with€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€Having€just€seen€Godððs€promise€to€give€the€land€to€Israel€under€theÏÔ_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€Covenant,€now€we€will€examine€how€Israel€inherits€the€promises€given€under€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€Deuteronomy€7:9„10€says€òòò òð ðKnow€therefore€that€the€LORD€thy€God,€he€isÐ >Ú  ÐGod,€the€faithful€God,€which€Ô_ÔkeepethÔ_Ô€covenant€and€mercy€with€them€that€love€him€andÏkeep€his€commandments€to€a€thousand€generations;€and€Ô_ÔrepayethÔ_Ô€them€that€hate€him€toÏtheir€face,€to€destroy€them€...€ð ðó óóó€€God€keeps€covenant€and€mercy€with€those€who€love€Him€andÐ ÿ› Ðkeep€His€commandments.Ìà  àNow€I€ask€you,€does€the€nation€of€Israel€love€God€and€keep€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€CovenantÏcommandments?€€Or€is€Israel€among€those€that€hate€God€and€will€be€repaid€to€their€face,€to€beÏdestroyed€by€God?€€We€all€know€that€Israel€failed€to€keep€the€commandments€and€continuesÏto€fail€to€keep€them.€€But,€praise€God,€we€do€know€that€Messiah€kept€the€commandments.ÏÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€Messiah€kept€all€of€the€Old€Covenant€Law€flawlessly,€with€perfect€motive€and€perfectÏintent€of€the€heart!€Messiah€loved€God€and€perfectly€kept€and€fulfilled€the€Ô_ÔmanwardÔ_Ô€side€of€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€Messiah,€the€God„man,€the€creator€of€Israel€was€the€One€who€summed€upÏIsrael€in€Himself€and€kept€covenant€on€behalf€of€Israel.€€Because€of€the€work€of€Messiah,€GodÏis€now€free€to€bless€Israel€according€to€all€that€He€promised€under€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€AllÏIsrael€did€keep€Covenant€in€Messiah.€€The€people€of€Israel€must€put€their€faith€in€Messiah€andÏidentify€with€Him€in€order€to€be€saved€from€their€sins.€God€has€sovereignly€chosen€to€giveÏsome€blessings,€including€the€land€of€Israel€to€the€Jews€in€their€unsaved€condition.€Ô_ÔEzekielÔ_ÔÏ37:11„14€indicates€that€Israel€is€brought€to€the€land€in€a€spiritually€dead€condition€and€then€GodÏcauses€them€to€come€to€life.€God€is€keeping€His€side€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€because€allÏIsrael,€in€Messiah,€has€already€kept€Israelððs€obligations€under€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.Ìà  àIsrael€is€not€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Law€of€Moses€anymore€because€they€all€died€toÏthe€Law€by€the€body€of€Messiah€(Rom.7:4).€€Israel€is,€however,€entitled€to€the€blessings€of€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€because€Messiah€kept€the€Law,€obtained€the€covenant€promises€andÏtherefore€all€the€promises€of€God€are€yea€and€amen€in€Messiah€(2€Cor.€1:20).Ìà  àPaulððs€apostolic€revelation€was€twofold.€€First,€Paul€saw€that€Messiah€was€perfectlyÏsinless€and€kept€the€Law€perfectly.€€Since€Messiah€summed€up€all€people€in€Himself,€HisÏrighteousness€counts€for€all€people,€being€imputed€to€them€by€grace€through€faith.€€Second,ÏPaul€saw€that€Messiah€died€for€all€people.€€Since€Messiah€summed€up€all€people€in€Himself,ÏHis€death€counts€for€all€people.Ìà  àThe€ramifications€of€this€are€as€follows:€first,€since€Messiah€kept€the€Law€perfectly€andÐ Ý-y'+ Ðwe€are€in€Messiah,€that€means€we€are€entitled€to€all€the€blessings€because€God€blesses€thoseÏwho€keep€His€commandments.€€We€kept€all€the€commandments€in€Messiah€when€MessiahÏkept€all€the€commandments€for€us€when€He€walked€on€this€earth.€€Second,€since€we€died€withÏMessiah€our€obligations€under€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€ceased.€€Israelððs€obligation€to€keep€theÏLaw€has€ceased€but€her€eligibility€to€receive€covenant€blessings€remains,€because€Israel€hasÏalready€kept€the€Law€perfectly€in€Messiah.€€Israel€kept€her€side€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€inÏMessiah€so€it€now€remains€for€God€to€keep€His€side€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€which€is€to€pourÏout€His€blessings€upon€Israel€unto€a€thousand€generations.Ìà  àGod€the€Father€was€Ô_ÔcovenantallyÔ_Ô€obligated€to€give€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€all€the€blessings€of€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€including€those€listed€in€Deuteronomy€28:1„14.€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€received€the€right€toÏthe€covenant€blessings€by€virtue€of€His€righteousness€and€then€died€and€was€raised€from€theÏdead.€€After€His€resurrection€He€still€possessed€the€right€to€the€covenant€blessings€that€He€hadÏbefore€His€death.€€In€His€resurrection€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€got€back€everything€He€had€before€He€died.€€HeÏgot€back€His€physical€body€and€in€fact€got€it€back€in€a€more€glorified€state€because€HeÏconquered€death€and€brought€life€and€immortality€to€light€(II€Tim.€1:10).€€He€got€back€theÏÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€physical,€material€blessings€that€He€had€before€He€died.€€In€fact,€theÏblessings€are€more€glorious€because€they€also€include€spiritual€blessings€for€both€Jews€andÏGentiles€(Gal.€3:14).€€We€see€this€in€Psalm€68:18€which€prophesies€of€the€ascension€ofÏMessiah.€€òòò òð ðThou€hast€ascended€on€high,€thou€hast€led€captivity€captive:€thou€hastÐ ê† Ðreceived€gifts€for€men.ððó óóó€€The€gifts€for€men€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€received€are€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€CovenantÐ Õq Ðblessings€in€addition€to€the€spiritual€blessings.€€The€fact€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€gives€us€spiritualÏblessings€such€as€justification,€regeneration,€ministry€Ô_ÔgiftingsÔ_Ô€and€the€baptism€in€the€Holy€SpiritÏdoes€not€diminish€the€fact€that€He€fulfilled€the€Law€and€thereby€purchased€the€material€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_ÔÏCovenant€blessings€for€His€people.€These€material€blessings€include€the€literal,€physical€landÏof€Israel.Ìà  àWe€can€see€what€happened€in€heaven€after€the€resurrection€and€ascension€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_ÔÏin€Psalm€2:6„8.€€òòò òð ðYet€have€I€set€my€king€upon€my€holy€hill€of€Zion.€€I€will€declare€theÐ BÞ Ðdecree:€the€Lord€has€said€unto€me,€Thou€art€my€Son;€this€day€have€I€begotten€thee.€€AskÏof€me,€and€I€shall€give€thee€the€heathen€for€thine€inheritance,€and€the€uttermost€parts€ofÏthe€earth€for€thy€possession.ððó óóó€€(Paul,€in€Acts€13:33€connects€this€passage€with€theÐ !Ÿ Ðresurrection€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô.)€€This€passage€shows€us€that€the€blessings€shall€reach€far€beyondÏIsrael€and€shall€bless€the€Gentiles€in€the€farthest€reaches€of€earth.Ìà  àIsrael€is€entitled€to€all€the€blessings€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€but€is€not€bound€to€keepÏthe€literal€content€of€the€Law€of€Moses.€€Israel€has€all€the€blessings€but€none€of€the€obligations.€ÏThat€portion€of€Israel€that€believes€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€not€under€Law€but€is€under€grace.€BelievingÏIsrael€is€obligated€to€keep€the€law€of€Messiah€(1€Cor.€9:21,€James€2:12)€which€fulfills€the€LawÏof€Moses€(Rom.€13:9„10).Ìà  àPaul€unveils€the€genius€of€Godððs€plan€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€chapter€three.€€In€verse€sixteen,€PaulÏstates€that€the€promises€under€the€Ô_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€Covenant€were€made€not€to€the€millions€ofÏdescendants€of€Abraham€(not€to€the€seeds€„€plural€„€of€Abraham)€but€to€the€one€òòseedóó,€namelyÐ 1*Í#' ÐMessiah.€€All€the€promises€to€Abraham,€including€the€physical€real€estate€in€the€Middle€East,Ïare€in€Messiah.€€Israel€has€the€land€in€her€unbelieving€condition€but€Israel€will€have€no€peace€inÏher€land€until€she€receives€Messiah€and€receives€all€of€the€grace€of€our€Lord€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€Messiah.€ÏAll€the€seeds€of€Abraham€inherit€the€promises€in€the€one€seed€who€is€Messiah.€€All€Israel€shallÐ Ý-y'+ Ðbe€one€in€Messiah.€€In€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:19„20,€Paul€talks€about€the€Law€of€Moses.€€The€Law€wasÏordained€by€angels€through€the€hand€of€a€mediator.€€Moses€was€the€mediator.€€Verse€twentyÏsays€that€a€mediator€is€not€a€mediator€of€one€party€but€God€is€one.€€This€means€that€the€Law€ofÏMoses€was€not€between€God€and€Israel€which€would€be€between€two€parties.€€The€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_ÔÏCovenant€was€between€God€and€the€Son€of€God€which€is€only€one€party.€€God€and€His€SonÏare€one.€€Therefore,€technically€speaking,€Mosesðð€role€as€mediator€was€unnecessary.Ìà  àThe€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant,€like€the€Ô_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô,€was€not€between€God€and€the€ð ðseedsðð€ofÏAbraham€but€was€between€God€and€the€ð ðseedðð€of€God€who€is€Messiah.€€God€used€Moses€asÏmediator€to€illustrate€to€Israel€that€they€were€obligated€to€keep€the€Law€but€God€knew€full€wellÏthat€they€could€never€keep€the€Law.€€God€planned€from€the€beginning€to€send€His€Son€to€takeÏon€Himself€the€seed€of€Abraham€(Hebrews€2:16)€in€order€to€fulfill€Israelððs€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€CovenantÏobligations€and€secure€the€blessings€unto€a€thousand€generations.€€òòò òð ðO€the€depth€of€theÐ }  Ðriches€both€of€the€wisdom€and€knowledge€of€God!€€How€unsearchable€are€his€judgments,Ïand€his€ways€past€finding€out!€...€For€of€him,€and€through€him,€and€to€him,€are€all€things:Ïto€whom€be€glory€for€ever.€€Amen.ððó óóó€€(Rom.€11:33,€36).Ð >Ú  ÐÌÓ  ÓÌPAULððS€TEACHING€REGARDING€CIRCUMCISIONÌÓͶÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌÌà  àWhat€did€Paul€have€to€say€about€circumcision?€€Should€Jewish€people€circumcise€theirÏsons?€€Paul€wrote€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€6:15€òòò òð ðFor€in€Christ€Jesus€neither€circumcision€Ô_ÔavailethÔ_Ô€anyÐ «G Ðthing,€nor€Ô_ÔuncircumcisionÔ_Ô,€but€a€new€creature.ððó óóó€€The€phrase€òòò òð ðnew€creatureððó óóó€is€betterÐ –2 Ðtranslated€òòò òð ðnew€creation.ððó óóó€€Here€we€see€Paulððs€assertion€of€the€fact€of€the€present€reality€ofÐ  Ðthe€new€creation.€€The€covenant€of€circumcision€given€in€Genesis€17€obligated€the€sons€ofÏAbraham€to€be€circumcised€as€a€token€of€the€Ô_ÔAbrahamicÔ_Ô€covenant.€€This€obligation€applied€toÏthe€old€creation€man.€€The€old€creation€is€dead,€the€new€has€come.€In€the€preceding€section€weÏsaw€how€Romans€7:1„6€teaches€that€we€died€to€the€Law€through€the€body€of€Messiah.€NothingÏchanged€about€Genesis€17:10€or€any€other€Old€Testament€passage.€What€changed€is€that€weÏdied!€Genesis€17:10€in€its€literal€sense€doesnððt€apply€to€either€Jewish€or€Gentile€believers€inÏÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô.€We€are€obligated€to€keep€the€fulfillment€or€antitype€of€Genesis€17:10.€The€NewÏCovenant€commands€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€and€the€apostles€apply€to€us€now.Ìà  àNowhere€in€the€New€Testament€are€sons€of€Israel€commanded€to€literally€circumciseÏthe€flesh€of€themselves€or€their€sons.€€Literal€circumcision€was€given€as€a€type€and€a€shadowÏof€the€fullness€that€was€to€come€in€Messiah.€€In€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2:11€we€read€òòò òð ðIn€whom€also€yeÐ š%6" Ðare€Ô_ÔcircumsizedÔ_Ô€with€the€circumcision€made€without€hands,€in€putting€off€the€body€of€theÏsins€of€the€flesh€by€the€circumcision€of€Christ.ððó óóó€€This€is€the€real€circumcision;€this€is€theÐ p' !$ Ðcircumcision€that€changes€peopleððs€hearts.Ìà  àòòò òð ðCircumcision€is€nothing,€and€Ô_ÔuncircumcisionÔ_Ô€is€nothing,€but€what€matters€is€theÐ F)â"& Ðkeeping€of€the€commandments€of€Godððó óóó€(1€Cor.€7:19€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€Circumcision€is€nothing!€Ð 1*Í#' ÐCircumcision€is€set€in€contrast€to€keeping€Godððs€commands.€€Obviously€if€circumcision€were€aÏvalid€command€in€this€age€it€would€not€be€called€òòò òð ðnothingððó óóó.€€Some€object€and€say€it€meansÐ ,£%) Ðthat€circumcision€offers€nothing€in€the€way€of€merit€to€gain€salvation€for€the€Jew€or€Gentile.€€ButÏclearly€the€context€is€not€a€discussion€of€salvation€but€rather€keeping€the€commands€of€GodÐ Ý-y'+ Ð(that€is€to€say€our€walk€with€God€after€salvation).€€What€commandments€are€we€to€keep?€€WeÏdied€to€the€commandments€given€through€Moses.€€Peter€was€commanded€to€eat€food€that€theÏLaw€forbids€in€Acts€10.€€We€are€to€keep€the€law€of€Messiah€(1€Cor.€9:21)€which€is€the€law€ofÏliberty€(James€2:12).Ìà  àSo€why€would€anyone€want€to€be€circumcised€or€circumcise€their€sons?€€Is€it€doneÏvoluntarily€in€order€to€identify€with€national€Israel?€€If€so,€that€is€fine,€but€a€Jewish€believer€is€byÏno€means€obligated€to€circumcise€his€sons.€€If€he€does€not€circumcise€his€sons€it€does€notÏmean€that€they€will€not€be€a€part€of€the€nation€of€Israel€in€the€coming€millennial€reign€ofÏMessiah.€€All€of€the€people€of€Israel€shall€be€restored€to€the€land€promised€to€Israel€regardlessÏof€whether€or€not€they€happen€to€be€circumcised€in€their€flesh.Ìà  àSecond€Corinthians€1:20€speaks€about€Messiah€and€says€òòò òð ðFor€as€many€as€may€beÐ ’.  Ðthe€promises€of€God,€in€Him€they€are€yes;€wherefore€also€by€Him€is€our€Amen€to€theÏglory€of€Godððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€The€promise€of€the€land€to€Israel€is€yes€and€amen€in€Messiah.€€It€is€notÐ h  Ðyes€and€amen€in€a€circumcision€in€the€flesh€or€in€observing€the€feasts€or€the€Sabbath€or€inÏtassels€on€garments€or€in€observing€dietary€laws.Ìà  àFirst€Corinthians€7:18€says€òòò òð ðWas€any€man€called€already€circumcised?€€Let€him€notÐ )Å  Ðbecome€Ô_ÔuncircumcisedÔ_Ôððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€In€making€this€statement€Paul€is€not€teaching€that€JewishÐ ° Ðbelievers€are€to€be€obligated€to€keep€the€Law€of€Moses.€€They€are€to€continue€to€live€amongÏtheir€people€and€evangelize€their€people.€€In€order€to€do€this€they€must€voluntarily€observeÏsome€of€the€customs€of€the€Law€so€that€the€people€can€identify€with€them.€€We€will€see€later€onÏhow€that€Paul€himself€became€òòò òð ðas€a€Jewððó óóó€to€reach€Jews€and€òòò òð ðas€under€the€Lawððó óóó€to€reachÐ À\ Ðthose€under€the€Law.€€The€Jewish€customs€of€the€Law€are€beautiful€and€to€observe€them€in€aÏvoluntary€fashion€is€not€bondage.€€Bondage€only€results€when€one€feels€obligated€to€keep€theÏLaw.Ìà  àAll€the€promises€to€all€the€nations€are€in€Messiah.€€God€has€a€specific€purpose€for€eachÏGentile€nation.€€He€has€a€plan€and€a€purpose€and€a€land€for€Japan€that€is€different€from€hisÏplan€and€purpose€and€land€for€France.€€Each€nation€shall€show€forth€Godððs€glory€in€a€differentÏway.€€The€nation€of€Israel€shall€be€the€Ô_ÔchiefestÔ_Ô€of€the€peoples,€at€the€head€of€the€nations€(Deut.Ï28:1,13).€€The€Gentiles€are€not€to€be€one€big€melting€pot.€€Rather,€as€we€read€in€Acts€17:26,ÏGod€determines€their€appointed€times€and€the€bounds€of€their€habitation.€€God€has€a€promisedÏland€for€each€nation€and€in€time€shall€give€it€to€each€of€them.Ìà  àThe€point€is€this:€A€man€must€not€identify€with€the€U.S.A.€by€feeling€obligated€toÏobserve€Presidents€Day,€Flag€Day€and€Independence€Day.€€He€can€observe€them€voluntarily€ifÏhe€wants€to€but€he€must€look€to€Messiah€alone€for€the€fulfillment€of€the€promises€to€America.€ÏGod€does€have€a€plan€and€purpose€for€America€in€the€coming€age.Ìà  àIf€a€man€gets€legalistic€and€feels€obligated€to€observe€U.S.€holidays€in€order€to€earn€hisÏright€to€be€included€in€Godððs€plan€for€the€U.S.A.€then€he€is€relying€on€self„effort€and€not€on€faithÏin€Messiah.€€He€is€then€idolizing€U.S.€holidays.€€Legalism€is€idolatry.€€Legalism€is€idolizing€selfÏand€idolizing€law.€Ìà  àThis€same€principle€applies€also€to€Messianic€Jews€(the€term€ð ðMessianic€Jewsðð€is€theÏcommonly€used€term€to€denote€Jewish€believers€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô)€who€believe€that€they€areÏobligated€under€Mosaic€Law€to€keep€certain€ordinances€in€order€to€ð ðidentify€with€Israelðð€and€beÏincluded€in€Godððs€restoration€of€the€nation€of€Israel.€€This€is€nothing€short€of€legalism€and€self„¼effort.€€I€know€that€Messianic€Jews€do€not€keep€the€Law€in€order€to€be€justified€unto€salvationÐ Ý-y'+ Ðand€for€this€they€are€to€be€commended.€€What€is€of€great€concern€however€is€that€someÏMessianic€Jews€keep€the€Law€in€order€to€be€justified€unto€continued€inclusion€in€the€nation€ofÏIsrael.€€God€knows€who€is€or€is€not€a€Jew.€€A€Jew€is€not€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Law€toÏmake€this€distinction€before€God.€€If€a€born„again€Jew€wishes€to€identify€with€Israel€before€men,Ïlet€him€do€so€voluntarily€and€not€feel€compelled€to€do€so.Ìà  àJews€receive€Messiah€by€faith€and€they€must€continue€to€live€in€Messiah€by€faith.òòò ò€€ð ðAsÐ û — Ðye€have€therefore€received€Christ€Jesus€the€Lord,€so€walk€ye€in€him.ððó óóó€€(Col.€2:6).òòò ò€€ð ðForÐ æ ‚ Ðtherein€is€the€righteousness€of€God€revealed€from€faith€to€faith:€as€it€is€written,€the€justÏshall€live€by€faith.ððó óóó€(Rom.€1:17).€€Those€who€rely€on€a€literal€observance€of€the€Law€to€obtainÐ ¼ X Ðany€promise€from€God€are€not€living€by€faith€but€are€living€by€Law.€€òòò òð ðThe€law€is€not€of€faith:Ð §C  Ðbut,€the€man€that€Ô_ÔdoethÔ_Ô€them€shall€live€in€themððó óóó€(Gal.€3:12).€€Living€by€Law€is€not€faith€but€isÐ ’.  Ðmerely€obedience€by€rote.€€Living€by€literal€Mosaic€Law€means€that€one€is€not€trusting€inÏMessiah€but€trusting€in€his€own€self„effort.Ìà  àÔ_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€5:3€teaches€that€if€a€man€relies€on€circumcision€he€is€under€obligation€to€keepÏthe€whole€Law.€€To€understand€why€this€is€true€we€need€to€view€it€from€the€perspective€ofÏcovenant€law.€€A€covenant€is€a€unified€contract.€€In€order€to€fulfill€the€terms€of€covenant€oneÏmust€keep€all€of€the€terms.€€No€one€can€keep€just€one€or€two€things€and€say€that€he€is€keepingÏcovenant.€€The€Bible€itself€bears€this€out€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:10€òòò òð ðCursed€is€every€one€who€doesÐ ÿ› Ðnot€abide€by€all€things€written€in€the€book€of€the€Law,€to€perform€themó óóóðð€(Gal.€3:10€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€Ð ê† ÐPaul€quoted€the€above€statement€from€Deuteronomy€27:26.€€Deuteronomy€27:15„26Ïenumerates€commands€of€the€Law€and€puts€curses€on€those€who€break€them.€€ThereforeÏthose€who€believe€that€they€are€obligated€under€part€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€are€really€placingÏthemselves€under€all€of€it.Ìà  àFor€instance,€someone€feels€obligated€to€keep€the€Sabbath€but€doesnððt€feel€obligatedÏto€let€the€hair€of€the€corners€of€his€head€(forelocks)€and€beard€grow€freely.€€That€person€mayÏkeep€the€Sabbath€flawlessly€but€Satan€can€still€accuse€him€of€breaking€the€Law€because€heÏhas€trimmed€the€corners€of€his€head€and€beard.€€If€they€donððt€keep€all€of€the€Law€(and€theyÏcanððt),€they€are€in€danger€of€bringing€curses€into€their€lives.Ìà  àRevelation€12:10€teaches€that€Satan€is€the€accuser€of€the€brethren,€who€accuses€usÏbefore€God€day€and€night.€€Satan€accuses€the€legalistic€brethren€on€the€basis€of€their€failure€toÏkeep€the€whole€Law.€€If€you€believe€that€you€are€obligated€under€the€Law€of€Moses€and€thenÏfall€short€of€carrying€it€out€then€for€you€it€is€sin€(Romans€14:14,23;€James€4:17).Ìà  àSatan€is€able€to€put€curses€on€the€lives€of€those€who€walk€by€literal€Law€rather€than€byÏfaith€in€Messiah.€€The€issue€of€legalism€is€therefore€crucial.€€If€Messianic€Jews€get€bound€up€inÏlegalism€it€would€hamstring€the€whole€Messianic€Jewish€movement€and€compromise€theirÏefforts€to€win€their€unsaved€brethren€to€Messiah.Ìà  àThe€New€Covenant€did€not€change€or€modify€the€terms€of€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant.€€TheÏvery€idea€is€contrary€to€covenant€law.€€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:15€says€that€once€a€covenant€has€beenÏratified€no€one€can€add€to€or€take€away€from€its€terms€and€conditions.€€The€Old€Covenant€wasÏnot€altered€or€modified€at€all.€€We€died€to€it€when€we€died€with€Messiah.€€We€died€to€all€of€it€inÏall€of€its€moral,€civil€and€ceremonial€aspects.€€We€died€to€the€Ten€Commandments.€€In€RomansÏ7:6€Paul€says€we€died€to€the€Law.€€In€the€very€next€verse€he€gives€an€example€of€one€of€theÏcommands€to€which€we€have€died.€€The€example€he€gives€is€not€an€obscure€ceremonialÏcommand€but€is€òòò òð ðThou€shalt€not€covetððó óóó€which€is€the€tenth€commandment.à x àÐ Ý-y'+ Ðà  àSome€say€that€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€covenant€was€a€Ô_ÔsuzereignÔ_Ô€covenant.€A€Ô_ÔsuzereignÔ_Ô€covenantÏwas€a€covenant€made€between€a€conquering€nation€and€the€nation€it€had€conquered.Ô#†&ti%% &+&Q>#ÔÔ‡ &+&%%&tiÔÔ#†  ­s!% &+&2>#ÔÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔ€If€theÐ Oë ÐÔ_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€Covenant€was€a€Ô_ÔsuzereignÔ_Ô€covenant,€then€it€is€null€and€void€(in€its€literal€sense)Ïbecause€the€whole€nation€under€the€Ô_ÔsuzereignÔ_Ô€was€made€to€die€with€Messiah.€Hebrews€8:8Ïsays€that€God€found€fault€with€the€people.€€The€whole€nation€sinned€by€failing€to€keepÏcovenant€and€they€were€all€worthy€of€death.€€So€God€joined€them€together€with€His€Son,€theÏGod„man,€and€put€them€all€to€death.€€The€God„man€was€the€only€one€who€kept€covenant€andÏnow€His€righteousness€is€imputed€to€the€nation€of€Israel.€€He€made€a€New€Covenant€based€onÏbetter€promises€(Heb.€8:6)€which€we€receive€by€faith€in€our€resurrected€Messiah€because€weÏwere€joined€with€Him€in€resurrection.Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌÌÓ  ÓPAULððS€LIFE€EXAMPLEà0 @ àÌÓ0èÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌÌà  àWe€have€explored€Paulððs€insight€into€how€covenant€law€is€to€be€understood€in€view€ofÏthe€atoning€work€of€the€Messiah€and€we€have€discussed€some€of€the€ramifications€of€this€onÏthe€life€of€the€believer.€€Much€more€remains€to€be€said€about€Paulððs€revelatory€teachingsÏregarding€the€Law€of€Moses€but€that€will€be€taken€up€in€later€chapters.€€For€now€we€will€viewÏthe€life€of€Paul€as€recorded€in€the€book€of€Acts€and€the€Epistles€in€order€to€see€how€PaulÏactually€lived€and€what€this€can€show€us€about€his€attitude€toward€the€Law.€€We€know€that€PaulÏwas€not€perfect€in€his€flesh€but€he€did€have€the€boldness€to€say€ò òòòð ðBe€ye€followers€of€me,€evenÐ «G Ðas€I€also€am€of€Christððóóó ó€(1€Cor.€11:1).Ð –2 ÐÔ#†&ti%% &+&pä#ÔÔ‡ &+&%%&tiÔÔ#†  ­s!% &+&²ä#ÔÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔà  àIn€First€Corinthians€9:19„22,€Paul,€under€the€inspiration€of€the€Holy€Spirit,€wrote€the€Ô#†  ­s!% &+&ì#ÔÔ‡ &+&%! ­sÔÔ#†&ti%% &+&Ûë#ÔÔ‡ &+&%%&tiÔÐ  Ðfollowing:€òòò òð ðFor€though€I€am€free€from€all€men,€I€have€made€myself€a€slave€to€all,€that€IÐ l Ðmight€win€the€more.€€And€to€the€Jews€I€became€as€a€Jew,€that€I€might€win€Jews;€to€thoseÏwho€are€under€the€Law,€as€under€the€Law,€though€not€being€myself€under€the€Law,€that€IÏmight€win€those€who€are€under€the€Law;€to€those€who€are€without€law,€as€without€law,Ïthough€not€being€without€the€law€of€God€but€under€the€law€of€Messiah,€that€I€might€winÏthose€who€are€without€law.€€To€the€weak€I€became€weak,€that€I€might€win€the€weak;€I€haveÏbecome€all€things€to€all€men,€that€I€may€by€all€means€save€someððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ð î!Š Ðà  àThis€passage€tells€us€a€great€deal€about€Paul€as€a€man.€€It€tells€of€Paulððs€greatÏcompassion€and€great€commitment.€€It€gives€us€great€insight€into€how€Paul€actually€conductedÏevangelism.€€Paul€practiced€cross€cultural€evangelism€by€identifying€with€the€culture€of€theÏpeople€to€whom€he€was€communicating.€€A€modern€day€example€would€be€missionaries€toÏChina€who€dress€like€the€Chinese,€eat€the€same€food€and€learn€the€language.Ìà  àPaul€said€that€to€reach€Jews€he€became€òòò òð ðasððó óóó€a€Jew.€€He€didnððt€say€ð ðbecause€I€live€likeÐ p' !$ Ða€Jew€I€can€reach€Jews.ðð€€This€strongly€implies€that€he€didnððt€live€like€a€Jew€but€as€the€needÏarose€Paul€would€adopt€Jewish€customs.€€Of€course,€Paul€was€a€Jew€and€identified€with€Israel,Ïhimself€being€of€the€tribe€of€Benjamin.€€That€Paul€identified€with€Israel€not€by€keeping€the€literalÏLaw€of€Moses€in€an€obligatory€fashion€is€clear€from€the€next€clause€of€the€passage€in€whichÏPaul€states€that€he€reached€those€under€the€Law€by€becoming€òòò òð ðasððó óóó€under€the€Law.€€Paul€thenÐ ,£%) Ðòòopenly€states€that€he€himself€is€not€under€the€Lawóó€when€he€says€in€the€above€passage€ò òòòð ð.€.€.Ð ò,Ž&* Ðthough€not€being€myself€under€the€Lawððóóó ó.€€This€is€prima€facie€evidence€that€Paul,€being€aÐ Ý-y'+ ÐJewish€believer,€did€not€consider€himself€to€be€under€the€Law€of€Moses.Ìà  àTo€be€under€the€Law€of€Moses€means€to€be€under€the€authority€of€the€Law€of€Moses.€ÏIn€such€a€state€a€person€is€obliged€to€keep€the€Law€in€a€non„optional€manner.€€This€is€to€beÏsharply€contrasted€with€Jewish€believers€like€Paul€who€voluntarily€follow€the€customs€of€theÏLaw€in€order€to€reach€the€Jewish€people.€€Keeping€this€in€mind,€we€will€have€a€much€clearerÏunderstanding€of€certain€passages€in€Acts€in€which€Paul€observes€the€Law€of€Moses€in€theÏcompany€of€Jewish€people.Ìà  àPaul€was€very€patriotic;€he€loved€his€country.€€This€was€not€a€vague€sentimentality€but€aÏdeep€love€like€the€love€a€man€has€for€his€own€family.€€In€fact€a€nation€is€a€big€family.€€PaulÏloved€his€big€Israelite€family.€€In€Romans€9:1„3€Paul€pours€out€his€heart,€expressing€his€greatÏburden€and€sorrow€for€his€people€who€had€not€yet€come€to€salvation€through€faith€in€Messiah.€ÏIn€verse€3€he€even€says€that€he€could€wish€to€be€cut€off€from€Messiah€for€their€sakes€if€it€wouldÏdo€them€any€good.à@ìì*ìàˆÐ h  ÐÓ  ÓÌÌACTS€21ÌÌÓ  ÓÌà  àIn€Acts€chapters€20€and€21€we€read€of€Paulððs€journey€to€Jerusalem.€€Paul€had€seenÏmultitudes€of€Gentiles€come€to€Messiah€under€his€ministry€and€he€no€doubt€wanted€to€reachÏhis€own€Israelite€people€and€see€multitudes€of€them€also€get€saved.€€Such€was€his€zeal€andÏeagerness€to€reach€Jerusalem€that€even€when€warned€of€the€persecution€that€awaited€himÏ(Acts€21:10„14)€he€was€undeterred.€€In€Acts€21:20„26€we€read€about€the€practical€outworkingÏof€how€Paul€became€òòò òð ðas€a€Jewððó óóó€to€reach€Jews€and€how€he€became€òòò òð ðas€under€the€Lawððó óóó€toÐ  Ðreach€those€that€were€under€Law.€€Paul€cooperated€with€the€Jerusalem€church€leaders€andÏpaid€the€charge€due€the€four€men€who€were€to€shave€their€heads€in€fulfillment€of€a€vow€theyÏhad€made.€€This€vow€was€presumably€the€vow€of€the€Ô_ÔNaziriteÔ_Ô€about€which€we€read€in€NumbersÏchapter€six.Ìà  àThis€passage€in€Acts€21€is€very€interesting€because€it€reveals€the€attitude€of€theÏJerusalem€church€regarding€the€Law€of€Moses.€€The€Jerusalem€church€was€apparently€zealousÏfor€the€Law€in€a€legalistic€sense.€€We€see€evidence€of€this€legalistic€zeal€over€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_ÔÏchapter€two,€which€says€that€certain€men€from€James€(leader€of€the€Jerusalem€church)€keptÏseparate€from€Gentiles.€€Paul€rebuked€Peter€for€following€their€legalistic€example.€€Ìà  àThe€book€of€Hebrews€was€written€to€legalistic€believers€warning€them€that€the€Ô_ÔAaronicÔ_ÔÏpriesthood€had€been€changed€and€that€they€must€now€look€to€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô,€who€is€High€Priest€afterÏthe€order€of€Ô_ÔMelchisedecÔ_Ô.€€Jewish€believers€were€told€that€the€Ô_ÔAaronicÔ_Ô€priests€offered€sacrificesÏthat€could€never€take€away€sins€(10:11)€and€therefore€Jewish€believers€must€go€forth€untoÏMessiah€outside€the€camp,€bearing€His€reproach€(13:13).€€The€Jewish€followers€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_ÔÏapparently€needed€the€straightforward,€no€nonsense€approach€of€the€book€of€Hebrews€in€orderÏto€counter€their€tendency€toward€legalism.€€The€leadership€of€the€Jerusalem€church€approvedÏof€Paulððs€ministry€among€the€Gentiles€but€apparently€did€not€yet€understand€Paulððs€revelatoryÏteaching€about€the€Law.€€Paul€did€not€confront€them€about€legalism€during€his€stay€inÏJerusalem€but€cooperated€with€them€for€the€time€being.€€Some€say€that€Paul€himself€wrote€theÏbook€of€Hebrews.€€Perhaps€it€was€after€his€experience€in€Jerusalem€that€he€was€led€by€God€toÐ Ý-y'+ Ðwrite€it.Ìà  àNo€passage€in€either€the€book€of€Acts€or€the€Epistles€says€that€Paul€kept€the€literal€LawÏin€anything€other€than€a€voluntary€way.€€In€no€place€does€Paul€say€that€he€kept€the€literal€LawÏin€an€obligatory€manner€in€order€to€maintain€his€calling€to€be€part€of€national€Israel.€€We€read€ofÏPaulððs€view€of€the€Law€in€Ô_ÔPhilippiansÔ_Ô€3:9,€òòò òð ðnot€having€mine€own€righteousness,€which€is€ofÐ  ¬ Ðthe€law,€but€that€which€is€through€the€faith€of€Christ,€the€righteousness€which€is€of€GodÏby€faith.ððó óóó€€In€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:12€we€read€òòò òð ðthe€Law€is€not€of€faithððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€The€literal€Law€ofÐ æ ‚ ÐMoses€and€righteousness€by€faith€in€Paulððs€view€are€contrary€to€one€another.Ìà  àIf€the€keeping€of€Old€Covenant€Law€is€in€opposition€to€the€righteousness€of€Messiah€byÏfaith,€why€do€we€read€in€Acts€25:8€and€Acts€28:17€that€Paul€himself€said€that€he€offended€notÏagainst€the€Temple€or€the€Law?€€First€of€all,€let€it€be€set€forth€clearly€that€a€òòvoluntaryóó€keeping€ofÐ ’.  Ðthe€Law€is€not€opposed€to€righteousness€by€faith.€€Paul€himself€said€that€he€became€òòò òð ðasððó óóóÐ }  Ðunder€Law€to€reach€those€that€are€under€Law.€€Paulððs€voluntary€keeping€of€the€Law€did€notÏoffend€against€the€Law€nor€did€it€contradict€the€doctrine€of€righteousness€by€faith.€€HisÏvoluntary€keeping€of€the€Law€honored€the€customs€of€the€Law€that€were€cherished€by€hisÏunsaved€Jewish€brethren.€The€Law€was€also€cherished€by€many€of€his€saved€Jewish€brethrenÏand€Paul€did€not€wish€to€offend€them.Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€Paul€taught€that€the€Law€is€a€shadow€of€the€reality€of€righteousness€that€is€found€inÏMessiah€(Col.€2:17).€€Therefore€to€flow€in€the€righteousness€by€faith€is€to€fulfill€the€Law€or€keepÏthe€Law€to€the€fullest€(Rom.€3:31).€In€other€words€we€keep€the€Sabbath€by€resting€in€theÏfinished€work€of€Messiah,€by€walking€by€faith€and€doing€only€those€works€that€He€leads€us€toÏdo.€We€cease€from€our€own€fleshly€works€and€start€letting€the€Spirit€of€Messiah€flow€through€usÏto€do€His€works€yet€we€never€strive€or€leave€that€state€of€blessed€rest.€This€keeping€of€the€LawÏin€fulfillment€in€Messiah€is€certainly€no€offense€against€the€Law€but€rather€is€to€uplift€and€honorÏthe€true€intent€of€the€Law.€€Paul€did€not€offend€against€the€temple€of€stone€in€Jerusalem.€€PaulÏvisited€that€temple€voluntarily€in€order€to€reach€his€people.€€The€sacrificial€worship,€prescribedÏby€the€Law,€that€was€to€be€carried€out€in€the€temple€of€stone,€also€is€fulfilled€in€Messiah.€€All€ofÏus€agree€that€the€blood€sacrifice€laws€are€fulfilled€by€the€sacrificial€death,€burial€andÏresurrection€of€Messiah.€€We€all€need€to€see€that€the€rest€of€the€Law€also€is€fulfilled€in€the€NewÏTestament€Spirit„filled€walk€by€faith€in€Messiah.Ìà  àIn€Acts€18:18€we€read€that€Paul€himself€apparently€had€taken€a€Ô_ÔNaziriteÔ_Ô€vow.€€EvenÏunder€the€Old€Covenant€a€Ô_ÔNaziriteÔ_Ô€vow€was€taken€voluntarily.€€No€one€was€obligated€to€take€aÏÔ_ÔNaziriteÔ_Ô€vow;€it€was€purely€voluntary€as€Iððm€sure€it€was€in€Paulððs€case.€€What€Paul€was€opposedÏto€was€the€legalistic€view€of€the€Law€which€maintains€that€one€is€still€obligated€under€the€Law€ofÏMoses€to€keep€the€literal€Old€Covenant€Law€in€order€to€please€God.€€Paul,€in€good€conscience,Ïcould€say€that€he€never€spoke€against€the€Law€even€though€he€taught€in€his€writings€that€theÏLawððs€obligation€on€the€Jews€had€been€abolished.€€The€Law€is€still€read€to€teach€us€about€GodÏand€Godððs€ways€but€its€literal€commands€are€not€to€be€kept€by€us€in€an€obligatory€fashion.Ìà  àConsider€what€Paul€wrote€in€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2:16„17€òòò òð ðTherefore€let€no€one€act€as€yourÐ F)â"& Ðjudge€in€regard€to€food€or€drink€or€in€respect€to€a€festival€or€a€new€moon€or€a€SabbathÏday€„€things€which€are€a€mere€shadow€of€what€is€to€come;€but€the€substance€belongs€toÏChristððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€Iððm€sure€that€many€unbelieving€Jews€would€have€considered€the€aboveÐ ,£%) Ðpassage€a€terrible€slander€against€the€Law.€€Paul€didnððt€consider€it€a€disparaging€of€the€Law.€ÏOn€the€contrary,€it€is€a€correct€teaching€of€the€true€nature€and€purpose€of€the€Law.€€The€dietaryÐ Ý-y'+ Ðlaws,€the€festivals,€new€moon€celebrations€and€Sabbaths€(the€daily,€yearly,€monthly€andÏweekly€celebrations)€are€indeed€a€mere€shadow€of€the€fullness€reality€to€be€found€in€Messiah.€ÏSince€Messiah€really€is€the€fulfillment€of€the€Law,€then€to€come€to€Messiah€for€salvation€and€toÏlive€and€walk€in€Messiah€is€not€to€disparage€the€Law€but€is€rather€to€fulfill€it€and€uphold€it.€€ToÏwalk€in€Messiah€is€to€keep€the€true€intent€and€purpose€of€the€Law.€òòò òð ðDo€we€then€make€voidÐ  ¬ Ðthe€law€through€faith?€€God€forbid:€yea,€we€establish€the€Lawððó óóó€(Rom.€3:31).Ð û — Ðà  àLetððs€look€at€a€brief€illustration€that€shows€us€how€Paul€viewed€the€Law€of€Moses€and€itsÏrelation€to€Messiah.€€Consider€the€Law€to€be€a€set€of€architectððs€blueprints€and€considerÏMessiah€to€be€the€building€that€was€built€according€to€the€blueprints.€€Does€the€fact€that€theÏbuilding€has€been€completed€abolish€the€blueprints?€€Yes€and€no.€€Yes,€the€building€doesÏabolish€the€blueprints€because€since€the€building€has€been€completed€we€no€longer€buildÏaccording€to€the€blueprints.€€We€do€keep€the€blueprints€on€hand€for€reference€purposes€to€tellÏus€about€the€building€but€we€do€not€build€according€to€the€blueprints€anymore.€€No,€the€buildingÏdoes€not€abolish€the€blueprints€because€the€building€is€the€fulfillment€of€the€blueprints.€€TheÏbuilding€is€the€reality€that€the€blueprints€pointed€toward€and€it€therefore€uplifts€and€exalts€theÏblueprints.€€Whenever€you€walk€in€the€front€door€of€the€building€you€are€ð ðkeepingðð€theÏblueprints.€€Whenever€you€walk€down€the€hall€and€go€into€the€kitchen€you€are€doing€soÏaccording€to€the€plan€laid€out€in€the€blueprints.€€The€only€difference€is€that€now€you€areÏkeeping€the€blueprints€in€reality€and€not€working€with€blue€lines€on€paper.€€We€are€not€to€live€inÏthe€blueprints;€we€are€to€live€in€the€reality€which€is€the€building.€€If€someone€were€to€set€up€theÏblueprints€like€a€little€tent€in€the€front€yard€and€attempt€to€live€there€that€would€be€a€desecrationÏof€the€purpose€of€those€blueprints.Ìà  àIn€Matthew€5:17„19€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€said€that€he€came€not€to€destroy€the€Law€but€to€fulfill€it.€ÏÔ_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€goes€on€to€say€that€those€who€do€the€commandments€of€the€Law€and€teach€others€toÏdo€them€shall€be€called€great€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven.€€But€how€are€we€to€keep€the€Law€nowÏthat€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€has€already€fulfilled€it?€€We€are€to€keep€the€Law€not€by€the€letter€but€by€keepingÏthe€Law€in€the€fullness€reality€in€Messiah.€€This€is€the€New€Testament€concept€of€fully€keepingÏthe€Law€or€keeping€the€Law€in€fulfillment.€€Our€keeping€the€Law€this€way€is€possible€only€underÏthe€guidance€and€power€of€the€Holy€Spirit.€€Getting€back€to€what€Paul€said€in€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2:16„¼17,€he€said€that€the€Sabbath€was€a€shadow€of€the€substance€which€is€in€Messiah.€€To€rest€oneÏday€per€week€(on€the€seventh€day)€is€to€keep€the€Law€in€shadow.€€To€rest€in€the€person€ofÏMessiah€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€to€keep€the€Law€in€fullness.€€A€man€cannot€keep€the€Law€both€literally€andÏin€fulfillment.€€A€man€cannot€serve€two€masters,€Law€and€Messiah.€€If€a€man€says€he€isÏobligated€to€keep€the€literal€Law€he€cannot€truthfully€say€that€he€is€flowing€in€the€Spirit€to€keepÏthe€Law€in€fulfillment€in€Messiah.€€The€literal€Law€is€not€of€faith.€€Legalism€grieves€the€HolyÏSpirit.€€One€must€let€go€of€legalism€in€order€to€flow€in€the€Spirit.Ìà  àThere€is€no€legalism€more€subtle€than€one€which€says€that€we€are€not€saved€by€theÏworks€of€the€Law,€yet€once€saved€we€must€walk€in€the€literal€Law€in€order€to€be€pleasing€toÏGod.€€This€would€be€like€walking€in€the€front€door€of€a€building€and€then€turning€around€andÏgoing€outside€and€living€in€a€tent€made€of€the€blueprints.€€Ô_ÔHabakkukÔ_Ô€2:4€says€òòò òð ðthe€just€shallÐ 1*Í#' Ðlive€by€faithððó óóó.€€This€statement€is€quoted€three€times€in€the€New€Testament€in€Romans€1:17,Ð +¸$( ÐÔ_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€3:11€and€Hebrews€10:38.€€Romans€1:17€says€that€the€righteousness€of€God€isÏrevealed€from€ð ðfaith€to€faithðð€not€from€faith€to€law.€€One€must€not€receive€pardon€from€sin€byÏfaith€and€then€go€back€and€try€to€please€God€by€trying€to€keep€Old€Covenant€Law.òòò ò€€ð ðHavingÐ Ý-y'+ Ðbegun€in€the€Spirit,€are€ye€now€made€perfectó óóó€(perfectly€identified€with€national€Israel)€òòò òby€theÐ d Ðflesh?ððó óóó€(Gal.€3:3).€€Ð Oë Ðà  àIn€the€book€of€Acts€we€saw€that€the€Jerusalem€church€apparently€had€this€kind€ofÏlegalism.€€The€Jews€who€persecuted€Paul€were€trying€to€be€pleasing€to€God€by€keeping€theÏliteral€Law.€€The€legalistic€Jews€were€the€ones€who€were€sinning€against€the€Law.€€They€wereÏthe€ones€who€were€not€applying€the€Law€properly.€€Paul€was€the€only€one€who€was€not€sinningÏagainst€the€Law.€€Paul€was€the€only€one€among€them€who€applied€the€Law€correctly€to€his€ownÏlife€and€correctly€taught€the€church€to€live€in€the€fulfillment€of€the€Law.€€Paul,€more€than€any€ofÏthem,€could€say€that€he€did€not€offend€in€any€way€against€the€commandments€of€the€Law.Ìà  àPaulððs€walking€in€fulfillment€of€the€Law€did€not€desecrate€the€Law€but€on€the€contraryÏexalted€the€Law€to€the€upholding€of€its€true€purpose.€€Paulððs€voluntary€keeping€of€the€Law€didÏnot€desecrate€the€Law€but€instead€was€a€way€of€reaching€his€beloved€Jewish€brethren.€€PaulÏkept€and€taught€the€fulfillment€of€the€Law€and€for€this€reason€he€is€called€great€in€the€KingdomÏof€Heaven.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà€(#(#K(#àˆÐ Sï  ÐÌà@¸¸(ìàÔ_ÔPETERÔ_ÔˆÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà  àPeter€is€a€leader€and€noted€personality€among€the€apostles€of€the€Lamb.€€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_ÔÏ2:7„9€indicates€that€Peter€was€the€apostle€to€the€circumcised€(i.e.€the€Jews).€€His€teaching€andÏlife€example€towards€the€Law€is€therefore€of€special€significance.€€Letððs€start€by€studying€thatÏfamous€vision€Peter€received€which€is€recorded€in€Acts€10:10„15,€òòò òð ðHe€fell€into€a€trance,€andÐ «G Ðsaw€heaven€opened,€and€a€certain€vessel€descending€unto€him,€as€it€had€been€a€greatÏsheet€knit€at€the€four€corners€and€let€down€to€the€earth:€Wherein€were€all€manner€ofÏÔ_ÔfourfootedÔ_Ô€beasts€of€the€earth,€and€wild€beasts,€and€creeping€things,€and€fowls€of€the€air.€ÏAnd€there€came€a€voice€to€him,€Rise,€Peter;€kill,€and€eat.€€But€Peter€said,€Not€so,€Lord;€forÏI€have€never€eaten€any€thing€that€is€common€or€unclean.€€And€the€voice€spake€unto€himÏagain€the€second€time,€What€God€hath€cleansed,€that€call€not€thou€common.ððó óóóÐ -É Ðà  àWhose€voice€was€it€that€spoke€to€Peter?€€Was€it€the€voice€of€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô?€€Or€an€angel?€ÏWas€it€the€voice€of€the€Holy€Spirit?€€Whoeverððs€voice€it€was,€it€commanded€Peter€to€do€thatÏwhich€was€contrary€to€the€literal€Law€of€Moses.€€Ìà  àIn€Matthew€5:19€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€tells€us€that€he€who€breaks€even€the€least€of€theÏcommandments€and€tells€others€to€do€so€shall€be€called€least€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven.€€If€itÏwas€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€who€spoke€to€Peter€in€the€vision,€is€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€the€least€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven?ÏOf€course€not.€If€it€was€the€voice€of€an€angel,€is€that€angel€the€least?€€Even€if€it€was€an€angel,Ïthat€angel€must€have€received€the€message€from€God€the€Father€and€the€Father€is€surely€notÏthe€least€in€the€kingdom€of€heaven!€€The€truth€of€the€matter€is€that€the€voice€spoke€correctlyÏbecause€in€Matthew€5:18€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€said€the€Law€would€not€pass€away€till€all€be€fulfilled.€€Acts€10Ïoccurred€after€the€resurrection.€€All€had€already€been€fulfilled€in€the€Messiah.€€We€died€withÏMessiah€to€the€type€and€shadow,€now€we€keep€the€fulfillment€of€the€Law€in€Messiah.Ìà  àSome€object€and€say€that€Peterððs€vision€and€the€command€to€eat€food€that€the€LawÏforbids€is€to€be€taken€symbolically€and€not€literally.€€In€other€words,€the€vision€is€only€to€beÏtaken€as€Godððs€way€of€showing€Peter€that€Gentiles€were€not€to€be€looked€upon€as€unclean.€ÏThis€is€a€mystical€or€allegorical€interpretation€of€the€vision.€€I€contend€that€this€vision€is€to€beÐ Ý-y'+ Ðtaken€in€both€a€literal€and€an€allegorical€sense.€€Both€are€valid.€€The€allegorical€does€notÏdetract€from€the€literal€and€the€literal€interpretation€does€not€detract€from€the€allegorical.€€ThereÏare€many€scriptures€that€have€both€a€literal€and€an€allegorical€application.€€For€an€example€ofÏthis€principle€consider€that€the€blessing€of€Abraham€is€both€a€literal€physical€homeland€forÏnational€Israel€and€òòò òð ðthe€promise€of€the€Spiritððó óóó€(Gal.€3:14)€that€we€receive€through€faith.Ð  ¬ Ðà  àAn€early€churchman€named€Ô_ÔOrigenÔ_Ô€(A.D.€185„254)€taught€that€there€are€three€levels€ofÏmeaning€in€every€passage€of€scripture.€€There€is€the€mystical€(also€called€allegorical€orÏspiritual)€interpretation€that€sheds€light€on€the€deep€spiritual€realities€of€the€mysteries€of€theÏfaith.€€There€is€also€the€ethical€interpretation€which€is€the€moral€application€to€the€soul,€that€isÏhow€we€are€to€behave€in€a€way€pleasing€to€God.€€Then€there€is€the€literal€or€physicalÏinterpretation.€€In€some€passages€all€three€levels€are€readily€discernable,€while€in€others€justÏone€or€two.€€Much€confusion€and€division€could€be€avoided€if€we€did€not€separate€ourselvesÏinto€opposing€camps€in€which€one€side€holds€to€a€literal€meaning€and€the€other€side€holds€toÏan€allegorical€meaning!Ìà  àWhen€Peter€was€commanded€to€eat€food€that€the€Law€forbids€his€immediate€responseÏwas€òòò òð ðnot€so,€Lord.ððó óóó€€God€doesnððt€take€no€for€an€answer.€€We€read€in€Acts€10:16€that€theÐ )Å  Ðvision€was€repeated€three€times.€€The€apostles€were€not€perfect.€€We€donððt€believe€in€apostolicÏinfallibility.€€The€apostolic€writings€contained€in€the€New€Testament€are€indeed€inspired€by€theÏSpirit€of€God.€€Their€life€examples€did,€at€times,€fall€short.€€We€shall€see€a€further€example€ofÏthis€shortly€when€we€study€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€chapter€two.€€Peter€was€not€just€permitted€to€arise,€killÏand€eat€non„kosher€animals,€he€was€commanded€to€eat!€€Peter€was€a€Jew€and€the€apostle€toÏthe€Jews.€€In€zeal€for€the€Law€he€resisted€Godððs€will€and€for€this€he€was€immediately€rebuked.Ìà  àWhen€Peter€said€òòò òð ðnot€so,€Lordððó óóó€it€was€early€in€his€ministry€and€Iððm€sure€that€later€on€heÐ –2 Ðdid€discern€the€Lordððs€will€more€correctly.€€It€is€unfortunate,€however,€that€many€Messianic€JewsÏbelieve€that€Peterððs€ð ðnot€so,€Lordðð€was€the€correct€response.€€In€so€believing,€they€putÏthemselves€in€bondage,€thinking€that€they€are€obligated€to€keep€the€outward€form€of€the€Law.€ÏThey€make€themselves€debtors€to€do€the€whole€Law€and€inevitably€fall€short.€€Even€PeterÏhimself€later€described€the€Law€as€òòò òð ða€yoke€...€which€neither€our€fathers€nor€we€were€able€toÐ -É Ðbearððó óóó€(Acts€15:10).€Ð  ´ Ðà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÓ  ÓAPOSTLES€IN€CONFLICTÌÓgAÓà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà  àIn€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€2:11,€Paul€the€apostle€rebuked€Peter€the€apostle.€€Peter€was€in€the€wrongÏand€this€is€another€example€of€his€human€frailty.€€(I€donððt€mean€to€pick€on€Peter€„€he€wasÏindeed€a€great€man.)€€Peter€was€at€Antioch€and€freely€associated€with€the€Gentiles€until€certainÏmen€came€from€James,€the€leader€of€the€church€at€Jerusalem.€€These€men€(and€perhapsÏJames€himself€also)€were€zealous€for€the€Law€and€did€not€eat€with€Gentiles.€€Peter€fearedÏbeing€rebuked€by€these€men€and€therefore€also€kept€separate.€€By€separating€himself,€PeterÏwas€in€clear€violation€of€what€the€Lord€showed€him€through€the€vision€in€Acts€10.€€The€Lord€hadÏshowed€Peter€that€he€was€not€to€regard€Gentiles€as€unclean€but€that€they€too€are€accepted€inÏMessiah.€€This€incident€shows€the€strong€legalistic€tendency€that€prevailed€in€the€JerusalemÏchurch€and€that€Jewish€believers€in€the€diaspora€were€also€affected.Ð Ý-y'+ Ðà  àPaulððs€rebuke€of€Peter€contained€the€following€statement,€òòò òð ðIf€thou,€being€a€Jew,€Ô_ÔlivestÔ_ÔÐ d Ðafter€the€manner€of€Gentiles,€and€not€as€do€the€Jews,€why€Ô_ÔcompellestÔ_Ô€thou€the€GentilesÏto€live€as€do€the€Jews?ððó óóó€(Gal.€2:14).€€Take€note€that€Paul€said€that€Peter,€the€apostle€to€theÐ :Ö Ðcircumcised,€lived€like€a€Gentile€and€not€like€a€Jew.€€In€other€words,€Peter€ordinarily€did€notÏobserve€the€literal€Law€of€Moses,€but€on€this€occasion€lapsed€back€into€legalism.€€PeterððsÏaction€could€not€be€justified€as€a€voluntary€keeping€of€the€Law€to€reach€the€Jews,€because€theÏonly€Jews€present€were€already€saved.€€Furthermore€his€action€was€an€insult€to€the€GentileÏbelievers€and€was€a€denial€of€the€fact€that€the€wall€of€partition€consisting€of€the€Law€ofÏcommandments€(Eph.€2:14„15)€that€divided€Jew€from€Gentile€had€been€broken€down.Ìà  àSome€object€and€say€that€Peter€didnððt€live€like€a€Jew€according€to€Pharisaical€traditionÏbut€did€live€like€a€Jew€according€to€Mosaic€Law.€€They€would€maintain€that€Peter€was€rebukedÏbecause€he€lapsed€back€into€a€strict€Pharisaical€Ô_ÔseparationismÔ_Ô.€€This€is€an€interesting€theoryÏbut€Paul€makes€no€such€distinction€in€the€passage.€€In€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€2:16€Paul€teaches€that€a€manÏis€justified€through€faith€in€Messiah€and€not€by€the€works€of€the€Law.€€If€Paul€meant€PharisaicÏLaw€instead€of€Mosaic€Law€he€would€have€specified€Pharisaic€Law.€€But,€as€it€stands,€it€is€clearÏthat€a€man€is€not€justified€by€Mosaic€Law€in€initial€salvation€nor€does€he€maintain€or€preserveÏjustification€by€keeping€literal€Mosaic€Law.€€In€verse€18€Paul€continues€òòò òð ðFor€if€I€rebuild€what€IÐ ° Ðhave€once€destroyed,€I€prove€myself€to€be€a€transgressorððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€In€other€words,€if€heÐ ÿ› Ðwere€to€go€back€under€Law€to€try€to€rebuild€his€legalistic€righteousness€(which€he€had€deniedÏwhen€he€came€to€Messiah)€then€he€would€still€fail€to€keep€the€Law€perfectly€and€thereby€showÏhimself€to€be€a€sinner.€€In€verse€19€he€says€òòò òð ðFor€through€the€Law€I€died€to€the€Law,€that€IÐ À\ Ðmight€live€to€Godððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€It€was€through€the€Law€of€Moses€that€we€died.€€It€was€the€Law€ofÐ «G ÐMoses,€not€useless,€irrelevant€Pharisaic€tradition€that€condemned€us€and€put€us€to€death€withÏMessiah€as€He€bore€our€sins€on€the€cross.€€We€died€to€the€Law€of€Moses€so€that€now€we€canÏlive€to€God€in€righteousness€by€faith.€€In€this€passage€it€is€clearly€Mosaic€Law,€not€PharisaicÏtradition,€that€is€in€view.Ìà  àThat€Peter€lived€like€a€Gentile€and€not€according€to€an€obligatory€keeping€of€the€MosaicÏLaw€is€apparent€when€we€keep€in€mind€that€in€his€vision€in€Acts€10€he€was€commanded€to€eatÏfood€forbidden€by€the€literal€Law€of€Moses.€€God€commanded€Peter€to€eat€like€a€Gentile€andÏnot€to€call€non„kosher€food€unclean.€€Messiah€cleansed€all€foods€including€pork€and€shellfish.€ÏAll€foods€are,€judicially€speaking,€part€of€the€New€Creation.€€Peter,€in€his€epistles€of€First€andÏSecond€Peter,€does€not€indicate€that€he€felt€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Law€of€Moses€norÏdoes€he€command€believers€to€live€according€to€the€Law€of€Moses.€€At€the€end€of€his€secondÏepistle€he€affirms€the€truth€of€Paulððs€writings.€€Peter€and€Paul€were€in€agreement€regardingÏjustification€by€faith€and€living€by€faith.Ì€ÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€TWOÌÓŒSÓÌà@n n ìàTHE€NEW€WINESKIN€INSTEAD€OF€THE€OLDˆÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌà  àòòò òð ðNo€one€tears€a€piece€from€a€new€garment€and€puts€it€on€an€old€garment;Ð Ý-y'+ Ðotherwise€he€will€both€tear€the€new,€and€the€piece€from€the€new€will€not€match€the€old.€ÏAnd€no€one€puts€new€wine€into€old€wineskins;€otherwise€the€new€wine€will€burst€theÏskins€and€it€will€be€spilled€out,€and€the€skins€will€be€ruined.€€But€new€wine€must€be€putÏinto€fresh€wineskins.€€And€no€one,€after€drinking€old€wine€wishes€for€new;€for€he€saysÏððThe€old€is€good€enoughððððó óóó€(Luke€5:36„39€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ð  ¬ Ðà  àIn€the€above€passage€the€new€garment€is€the€New€Covenant.€€The€old€garment€is€theÏlegal€and€sacrificial€system€of€the€Old€Covenant.€€The€piece€of€cloth€that€one€should€not€tearÏfrom€the€new€garment€in€order€to€patch€the€old€garment€is€the€New€Covenant€blessing€of€beingÏfilled€by€the€Spirit€to€enable€us€to€do€Godððs€will.€€Therefore€we€must€not€attempt€to€patch€up€theÏOld€Covenant€by€insisting€that€the€Spirit€of€Messiah€that€is€made€to€dwell€in€us€will€cause€us€toÏkeep€the€literal€Old€Covenant€Law.€€The€parallel€passage€to€Luke€5:36€over€in€Mark€2:21€saysÏthat€the€new€Ô_ÔunshrunkÔ_Ô€patch€pulls€away€from€the€old€garment€and€a€worse€tear€results.€ÏTherefore€those€who€say€we€must€keep€the€literal€Law€are€causing€a€worse€tear,€a€worseÏdesecration€of€the€Old€Covenant€than€there€ever€was€previously.Ìà  àIn€the€above€passage€the€new€wine€is€the€Holy€Spirit.€€John€7:37„39€indicates€that€theÏHoly€Spirit€wasnððt€given€to€believers€in€general€under€the€Old€Covenant.€€The€Holy€Spirit€is€theÏnew€wine€of€the€New€Covenant.€€The€old€wineskins€are€the€Old€Covenant€commands€of€theÏLaw€of€Moses.€€The€fresh€wineskins€are€the€New€Covenant€commands€of€Messiah,€theÏfulfillment€of€the€Law€of€Moses.€€We€are€hereby€instructed€not€to€attempt€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€toÏkeep€the€Old€Covenant€Law€because€that€is€the€old€wineskin.€€Trying€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€toÏkeep€the€Old€Covenant€laws€of€Sabbath€and€tithing€is€serving€in€the€oldness€of€the€letter€(Rom.Ï7:6)€which€is€legalism.€€Legalism€grieves€the€Spirit€and€causes€Him€to€withdraw€His€presenceÏand€miraculous€power€from€the€midst€of€Godððs€people.Ìà  àThose€who€attempt€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€to€keep€the€literal€Law€in€actuality€break€the€LawÏbecause€thatððs€not€the€way€the€Law€is€to€be€kept€under€the€New€Covenant.€€The€old€wineskinÏbursts€and€the€Spirit€leaves€them.€€The€Spirit€of€Messiah€will€not€strive€with€them€forever.€TheÏHoly€Spirit€will€be€of€no€benefit€unto€them€in€terms€of€power€for€living.€€We€read€of€this€sorryÏstate€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€5:4€òòò òð ðChrist€is€become€of€no€effect€unto€you,€whosoever€of€you€areÐ -É Ðjustified€by€the€law;€ye€are€fallen€from€grace.ððó óóó€€This€scripture€applies€to€those€who€seek€toÐ  ´ Ðbe€justified€by€Law€unto€salvation€as€well€as€to€those€who€try€to€keep€the€literal€Law€in€order€toÏbe€justified€in€the€sense€of€pleasing€God€after€initial€salvation.Ìà  àThose€who€teach€that€Jewish€believers€are€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€law€ofÏcircumcision€and€the€Law€of€Moses€in€order€to€identify€with€national€Israel€and€inherit€the€landÏof€Israel€are€trying€to€be€justified€by€Law€unto€the€inheritance€of€the€land.€€This€is€contrary€toÏRomans€4:13€which€says€that€the€promise€of€the€inheritance€comes€through€the€righteousnessÏof€faith.€€As€New€Covenant€believers€we€are€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€into€the€new€wineskin€which€isÏthe€New€Covenant€fulfilling€of€the€Law€which€is€the€righteousness€lived€by€faith.Ìà  àThose€who€drink€the€old€wine€(Old€Covenant€blessing)€and€who€therefore€do€not€wish€toÏdrink€the€new€wine€(New€Covenant€blessing€of€the€Spirit)€are€those€who€feel€that€they€are€soÏblessed€in€their€legalistic€walk€that€they€donððt€wish€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€to€keep€the€fulfillment€ofÏthe€Law.Ìà  àThe€Old€Covenant€Law€does€have€its€blessing€and€glory.€€In€keeping€thoseÏcommandments€there€is€òòò òð ðgreat€rewardððó óóó€(Ps.€19:11).€€The€reward€of€a€restful€Sabbath€dayÐ ò,Ž&* Ðspent€seeking€God€is€very€great.€€The€reward€or€return€for€giving€the€tithe€to€the€church€is€veryÐ Ý-y'+ Ðgreat.€€However,€we€are€not€to€be€satisfied€with€that€but€must€go€on€to€the€greater€works€(Jn.Ï14:12).€€The€greater€works€are€works€done€in€fulfillment€of€the€Law€in€which€there€is€very€muchÏgreater€reward.€€We€do€not€break€the€Law€of€Moses€but€we€keep€it€in€fulfillment.€€In€keepingÏthose€commandments€in€fulfillment€is€very€much€greater€reward.€€To€rest€in€Messiah€and€letÏMessiah€be€our€Sabbath€is€far€more€rewarding€to€us€and€glorifying€to€God€than€our€resting€onÏthe€literal€seventh€day€of€each€week.€€To€give€to€the€Lordððs€work€as€led€by€the€Spirit€yields€a€farÏgreater€return€than€does€legalistic€giving.€€This€is€so€even€if€the€amount€given€is€less€than€tenÏpercent.€€In€reality€we€fulfill€the€law€of€tithing€by€giving€100%€of€our€hearts€and€all€that€we€ownÏto€God€and€then€He€leads€us€as€to€when€and€how€to€distribute€it.€The€fulfillment€of€the€law€ofÏtithing€is€discussed€in€a€later€section€of€this€chapter.Ìà  àThe€greatest€enemy€of€the€perfect€is€the€good.€€This€is€because€people€get€satisfiedÏwith€the€good€and€donððt€go€unto€perfection.€€The€book€of€Hebrews€was€written€to€JewishÏbelievers€and€in€chapter€six,€verse€one€the€writer€urges€them€to€òòò òð ðgo€on€unto€perfection.ððó óóó€Ð h  ÐThere€were€two€trees€in€the€Garden€of€Eden,€the€Tree€of€Life€(perfection)€and€the€Tree€of€theÏKnowledge€of€òòGoodóó€and€Evil.€€How€tragic€it€was€that€our€parents€ate€from€the€wrong€treeÐ >Ú  Ðbecause€they€were€so€enamored€with€the€fact€that€it€looked€good.€€To€flow€in€the€Spirit€leads€toÏperfection,€but€to€keep€the€literal€Law€is€merely€good.€€What€I€say€to€Messianic€Jews€and€alsoÏto€Gentile€believers€is€to€choose€the€Spirit€and€not€the€literal€Law.Ìà  àIs€there€really€going€to€be€an€outpouring€of€the€Spirit€on€legalistic€Messianic€JewishÏcongregations?€€(I€realize€that€not€all€Messianic€Jewish€congregations€are€legalistic.)€€Is€GodÏgoing€to€pour€out€a€fresh€anointing€of€His€new€wine€of€the€Spirit€into€a€stiff€legalistic€oldÏwineskin€only€to€see€that€wineskin€burst€and€see€the€people€scattered€in€confusion?€€Of€courseÏnot.€€Messianic€Judaism€does€have€a€measure€of€the€Spirit€and€there€are€blessings€andÏmiracles€but€not€nearly€as€much€as€what€could€be€if€they€adopted€the€new€wineskin.€€TheÏJewish€congregations€need€a€greater€Ô_ÔinfillingÔ_Ô€of€the€Holy€Spirit€in€order€to€reach€unsavedÏJewish€people€both€in€the€diaspora€and€in€the€land€of€Israel.Ìà  àIn€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€4:21„31€Paul€teaches€an€allegory€based€on€the€lives€of€Ô_ÔIshmaelÔ_Ô€and€Isaac.ÏThis€passage€is€a€very€clear€cut€and€stunning€denunciation€of€legalistic€literal€observance€ofÏthe€Old€Testament€Law€which€was€given€at€Sinai.€€Ô_ÔIshmaelÔ_Ôððs€mother,€Ô_ÔHagarÔ_Ô€the€bondwoman,Ïstands€for€the€Ô_ÔSinaiticÔ_Ô€covenant€(the€old€wineskins€of€literal€Law)€and€gives€birth€to€bondage.€ÏIsaacððs€mother,€Sarah€the€freewoman,€stands€for€the€New€covenant€of€heavenly€JerusalemÏ(flowing€in€the€Holy€Spirit€to€keep€the€fulfillment€of€the€Law)€and€she€gives€birth€to€freedom.€ÏWhat€is€needed€is€for€Messianic€Jews€(Jewish€believers)€to€identify€themselves€with€Isaac,€theÏson€of€promise,€who€stands€for€the€blessing€of€the€New€Covenant.€€Isaac€is€the€father€of€theÏJews€after€the€flesh.€€Jewish€believers€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€need€to€become€sons€of€Isaac€in€the€Spirit€asÏwell.€€I€pray€that€Messianic€Judaism€is€not€sidetracked€into€becoming€just€another€legalisticÏsect.€€Those€who€are€legalistic€are€spiritually€the€sons€of€Ô_ÔIshmaelÔ_Ô.€€However,€if€Jewish€believersÏdo€not€hold€to€the€Old€Covenant€Law€in€an€obligatory,€legalistic€way€but€simply€voluntarily€keepÏthe€Law€in€order€to€make€an€ethnic€identification€with€the€Jews,€then€they€are€those€who€bringÏforth€treasures€both€old€and€new€(Matt.€13:52).Ìà  àI€am€convinced€that€Jewish€believers€shall€yet€choose€the€new€wineskins€and€shall€yetÏbe€in€the€center€of€Godððs€plan€in€the€Spirit€as€well€as€in€the€natural.€€I€look€forward€to€theÏÔ_ÔfirstfruitsÔ_Ô€of€Israel,€the€144,000,€12,000€from€each€tribe€that€shall€go€forth€in€the€surpassingÏgreat€anointing€to€win€multitudes€to€faith€in€Messiah!Ð Ý-y'+ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌà@Ö Ö ìàOLD€WINESKIN:€LITERAL€SABBATHˆÌÌà  àòòò òð ðLet€no€man€therefore€judge€you€in€meat,€or€in€drink,€or€in€respect€of€an€Ô_ÔholydayÔ_Ô,Ð % Á Ðor€of€the€new€moon€or€of€the€Ô_ÔsabbathÔ_Ô€days:€Which€are€a€shadow€of€things€to€come:€butÏthe€body€is€of€Christððó óóó€(Col.€2:16„17).€€òòò òð ðFor€the€law€having€a€shadow€of€good€things€toÐ û — Ðcome,€and€not€the€very€image€of€the€things,€can€never€with€those€sacrifices€which€theyÏoffered€year€by€year€continually€make€the€comers€Ô_ÔthereuntoÔ_Ô€perfectððó óóó€(Hebrews€10:1).Ð Ñ m Ðà  àThe€passage€in€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€quoted€above€is€talking€about€things€required€under€theÏLaw€of€Moses€and€not€about€Pagan€superstitious€customs.€€How€do€we€know€that€the€passageÏis€not€talking€about€Paganism?€€It€is€simply€because€Pagan€customs€can€in€no€way€be€said€toÏbe€a€shadow€or€precursor€to€the€reality€that€is€to€be€found€in€Messiah.€€The€passage€inÏHebrews€quoted€above€also€confirms€that€the€Law€is€a€shadow€of€the€reality€and€is€not€theÏreality€itself.Ìà  àLetððs€begin€by€examining€what€a€shadow€is.€€A€person€standing€in€light€casts€a€shadow.€ÏThe€shadow€that€is€cast€upon€the€earth€is€two„dimensional,€having€width€and€height,€whereasÏthe€body€of€the€person€is€three„dimensional,€having€width€and€height€and€having€also€theÏadded€feature€of€depth.€€Therefore€to€move€from€shadow€to€body€means€a€change€inÏdimension.€€It€is€a€change€from€two€dimensions€to€three€dimensions.€€The€added€dimension€ofÏdepth€gives€the€body€reality.€€The€shadow€only€gives€us€knowledge€about€the€person€in€termsÏof€the€general€overall€shape€of€his€body.€€The€body€itself,€however,€gives€us€knowledge€of€theÏperson.Ìà  àThe€Law€of€Moses,€especially€the€sacrificial,€ritualistic€aspect€of€the€Law€is€a€shadow€orÏelementary€picture€of€Messiah.€€The€Law€dealt€with€the€elementary€physical€principles€of€theÏearth.€€It€required€tassels€on€clothing,€eating€of€certain€foods,€Feast€day€ceremonies,€notÏcutting€the€edges€of€beard€and€head€hair,€burning€of€incense€and€resting€from€work€duringÏcertain€periods€of€time.€€These€are€external€things,€the€outward€form€or€picture€ofÏrighteousness.€€These€outward€things€did€have€their€purpose€and€glory€in€their€rightful€placeÏbut€they€are€nonetheless€elementary€things.Ìà  àIt€can€be€argued€that€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€4€and€in€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2€the€elemental€things€andÏelementary€principles€under€discussion€refer€to€Pagan€practices€or€Pagan€practices€mixed€withÏJudaism€(see€Ô_ÔColossiansÔ_Ô€2:18).€€While€it€is€true€that€certain€Pagan€practices€are€indeedÏexternal€and€elemental,€the€same€can€be€said€for€certain€aspects€of€the€Law€of€Moses.€ÏReferring€to€certain€aspects€of€the€Law€of€Moses€as€elemental€in€no€way€equates€the€MosaicÏLaw€with€Paganism.€€The€term€òòò òð ðelementalððó óóó€simply€denotes€the€external,€basic€or€ceremonialÐ š%6" Ðaspects€of€the€Law.€€Looking€at€the€context€of€Paulððs€use€of€the€term,€one€can€discern€that€heÏis€referring€to€the€Law€of€Moses€as€well€as€to€certain€Pagan€and€ascetic€practices.Ìà  àThe€weekly€Sabbath,€that€is,€cessation€of€work€every€seventh€day€required€under€theÏLaw€of€Moses,€is€a€shadow€of€the€reality€to€be€found€in€Messiah.€€Resting€every€seventh€day€isÏthe€old€wineskin€but€resting€in€Messiah€every€day€is€the€new€wineskin.€€ð ðMessiah€in€youðð€is€theÏnew€wine.Ìà  àNot€every€one€who€has€Messiah€within€has€matured€to€the€point€of€learning€to€rest€inÏMessiah€every€day.€€We€must€all€òòò òð ðlabor€therefore€to€enter€into€that€restððó óóó€(Heb.€4:11).€€ButÐ ò,Ž&* Ðhow€do€we€labor€to€enter€that€rest?€€Do€we€start€out€by€keeping€the€literal€Sabbath€andÐ Ý-y'+ Ðgradually€enter€into€rest€more€and€more?€€On€the€contrary,€feeling€obligated€to€keep€the€literalÏSabbath€law€would€cause€us€to€remain€in€the€shadow€because€the€Law€does€not€impart€life.€€IfÏlaw€could€impart€life,€then€righteousness€would€have€come€by€the€Law.€ò òòòð ðFor€if€a€law€had€beenÐ :Ö Ðgiven€which€was€able€to€impart€life,€then€righteousness€would€indeed€have€been€basedÏon€lawððóóó ó€(Gal.€3:21€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€òòò òð ðThe€letter€Ô_ÔkillethÔ_Ô€but€the€Spirit€giveth€lifeððó óóó€(II€Cor.€3:6).€€TheÐ  ¬ ÐLaw€kills€and€therefore€will€never€lead€us€into€Godððs€rest.€€The€Law€was€our€òòò òð ðschoolmasterððó óóóÐ û — Ð(Gr.€Ô_ÔPaidagogosÔ_Ô€„€Strongððs€#3807,€a€child€conductor,€not€a€teacher)€to€lead€us€to€Messiah€soÏthat€Messiah,€not€Law,€can€give€us€rest.Ìà  àThe€Sabbath€law€speaks€about€Godððs€rest€and€illustrates€it€but€does€not€bring€or€createÏGodððs€rest.€€Why€is€it€that€Sabbath€law€canððt€lead€me€to€Godððs€rest?€€It€is€because€when€oneÏfeels€obligated€to€keep€the€Sabbath€he€tends€to€focus€on€the€Sabbath€rather€than€on€Messiah.€ÏNo€matter€how€spiritual€he€might€claim€to€be,€such€a€person€will€always€look€to€himself€and€hisÏSabbath€keeping€rather€than€looking€to€Messiah.€€A€man€cannot€serve€two€masters,€Law€andÏgrace.€€If€he€attempts€to€do€this,€the€new€wine:€Messiah€in€him,€will€abandon€him€in€his€legalismÏto€work€out€his€salvation€in€his€own€fleshly€strength.òòò ò€€ð ðChrist€is€become€of€no€effect€untoÐ >Ú  Ðyou,€whosoever€of€you€are€justified€by€the€law;€ye€are€fallen€from€graceðð€ó óóó(Gal.€5:4).Ð )Å  Ðà  àFeeling€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Law€will€bind€us€from€going€on€into€the€reality€ofÏrighteousness€by€faith.€€òòò òð ðThe€law€is€not€of€faith:€but,€the€man€that€Ô_ÔdoethÔ_Ô€them€shall€live€inÐ ÿ› Ðthemððó óóó€(Gal.€3:12).€€Law€and€faith€are€opposed€to€each€other.€€The€Law€is€good€if€a€man€uses€itÐ ê† Ðcorrectly€(I€Tim.€1:8)€but€if€one€applies€it€to€his€life€wrongly,€it€leads€to€the€most€insidiousÏbondage€of€legalism.Ìà  àThe€New€Testament€refers€to€the€Law€as€being€a€good€thing€(Rom.€7:12)€but€to€beÏunder€Law€is€bondage.òòò ò€€ð ðBut€now€we€have€been€released€from€the€Law,€having€died€toÐ –2 Ðthat€by€which€we€were€bound,€so€that€we€serve€in€newness€of€the€Spirit€and€not€inÏoldness€of€the€letterððó óóó€(Rom.€7:6€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€We€serve€in€the€newness€of€the€Spirit€(MessiahÐ l Ðwithin)€by€faith€because€this€is€the€only€way€to€attain€to€the€reality€of€righteousness.€€We€serveÏnot€in€the€letter.€€This€passage€doesnððt€say€we€serve€in€both€the€Spirit€and€the€letter,€nor€does€itÏsay€that€the€Spirit€helps€us€to€keep€the€letter€of€the€shadow€Law.€€The€literal€Law€of€Moses€andÏnewness€of€life€by€the€Spirit€are€set€in€opposition.Ìà  àThe€Law€that€is€written€on€our€hearts€is€not€the€literal€Law€of€Moses€to€which€we€haveÏdied€but€is€rather€the€Law€of€Messiah,€the€fullness€of€righteousness€that€the€Mosaic€law€onlyÏforeshadowed.€€Being€under€the€Law€of€Moses€is€a€yoke€we€cannot€bear€(Acts€15:10)€becauseÏthe€shadow€Law€ministers€death€(II€Cor.€3:7).€€The€Law€is€good€because€it€gives€the€knowledgeÏabout€righteousness€(Rom.€2:20).€€The€Law€is€bondage€because€it€gives€the€knowledge€of€sinÏ(Rom.€7:7)€but€not€deliverance€from€sin€(Gal.€2:21).€€òòò òð ðThe€strength€of€sinó óóó€(not€righteousness)Ð š%6" Ðòòò òis€the€lawððó óóó€(I€Cor.€15:56).Ð …&! # Ðà  àResting€on€every€Sabbath€day€is€a€shadow.€Go€to€the€person€who€casts€the€shadowÏ(Messiah€Himself)€and€let€Him€be€your€rest.€€Eat€His€flesh€and€drink€His€blood€or€you€will€haveÏno€life€in€you€(John€6:53).€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€Lord€of€the€Sabbath.€€He€abolished€the€literal€Sabbath€byÏHis€death.€€In€His€resurrection€He€raised€up€the€fulfillment€Sabbath€which€is€in€Himself.€€ToÏvoluntarily€rest€one€day€per€week€is€a€very€healthy€practice€but€to€command€it€as€obligatory€onÏpeople€causes€them€to€be€in€bondage€and€remain€in€the€shadow.Ìà  àHow€rude€it€would€be€for€a€person€to€come€up€to€me,€bend€over€and€start€talking€to€myÏshadow.€€I€would€say€ð ðturn€around€and€face€me€and€we€can€continue€talking.ðð€€If€he€insisted€onÐ Ý-y'+ Ðstill€talking€to€my€shadow€it€would€be€a€real€insult.€€So€also,€those€who€preach€that€ChristiansÏmust€keep€the€shadow€Law€insult€Messiah€and€desecrate€the€Law€they€claim€to€honor.òòò ò€€ð ðFor€ifÐ Oë ÐI€build€againó óóó€(go€back€to€keeping€literal€Law)€òòò òthe€things€which€I€destroyedó óóó€(when€I€died€toÐ :Ö Ðthe€Law€with€Messiah),€òòò òI€make€myself€a€transgressoró óóó€(under€a€Law€I€cannot€keep)ðð€(Gal.Ð % Á Ð2:18).€€Therefore€present€Messiah€with€a€new€wineskin€and€He€shall€fill€it€with€new€wine€andÏlead€you€to€abundant€grace€and€rest.Ìà  àHow€shall€we€keep€the€Sabbath€in€Messiah?€€We€rest€in€a€person,€not€in€a€day.€€òòò òð ðButÐ æ ‚ Ðof€him€are€ye€in€Christ€Jesus,€who€of€God€is€made€unto€us€wisdom,€and€righteousness,Ïand€sanctification,€and€redemptionððó óóó€(1€Cor.€1:30).€€Messiah€is€our€wisdom.€€Messiah€is€ourÐ ¼ X Ðsanctification.€€Messiah€is€our€redemption.€€Messiah€is€our€righteousness€and€that€of€courseÏincludes€our€righteous€rest.€€For€an€illustration€consider€that€we€say€that€a€car€is€ourÏtransportation.€€Transportation€is€not€a€thing€(a€car)€it€is€an€action,€an€action€of€traveling€fromÏpoint€A€to€point€B.€€Yet€the€car€facilitates€this€by€carrying€us€all€the€way.€€In€this€way€we€can€sayÏthat€the€car€is€our€transportation.€€To€say€that€a€car€is€our€transportation€is€an€abstractÏstatement.€€To€say€that€a€car€is€a€machine€with€four€wheels€is€a€categorical€statement.€€To€sayÏthat€Messiah€is€our€rest€is€an€abstract€statement.€€To€say€that€Messiah€is€the€Son€of€God€is€aÏcategorical€or€absolute€statement.€€In€order€for€a€car€to€become€our€transportation€we€have€toÏcome€to€the€car,€get€inside€it€and€operate€it.€€It€is€the€same€way€with€Messiah.€€Messiah€is€ourÏway,€our€truth,€our€life€and€our€rest.€€Let€us€come€to€Him.€òòò òð ðCome€unto€me,€all€ye€that€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_ÔÐ ê† Ðand€are€heavy€laden,€and€I€will€give€you€rest.€€Take€my€yoke€upon€you,€and€learn€of€me;Ïfor€I€am€meek€and€lowly€in€heart:€and€ye€shall€find€rest€unto€your€souls.€€For€my€yoke€isÏeasy,€and€my€burden€is€lightððó óóó€(Mt.€11:28„30).Ð «G Ðà  àHow€does€one€rest€in€a€person?€€Itððs€easy,€just€rest€and€let€the€person€do€all€the€work!Ïòòò òð ðFor€he€that€is€entered€into€his€rest,€he€also€hath€ceased€from€his€own€works,€as€God€didÐ  Ðfrom€hisððó óóó€(Heb.€4:10).€€Messiah€is€our€righteousness€(the€old€moral€Law€of€Moses€is€just€aÐ l Ðshadowy€outline€of€this€full€righteous€love).€€He€therefore€leads€us€and€enables€us€to€do€HisÏrighteous€works€and€He€enables€us€to€cease€from€striving€within€ourselves€to€do€it.€€Resting€inÏMessiah€means€we€cease€from€our€guilt€motivated,€selfish€striving€to€produce€our€ownÏrighteous€works€which€are€as€filthy€rags.€€We€must€rest€in€Messiah€in€order€to€allow€Him€toÏwork€through€us.€€I€must€give€Him€my€life€and€make€my€life€His€football€so€that€He€can€run€withÏit.€€This€is€the€way€to€keep€the€Sabbath€because€this€is€the€fullness€of€Sabbath€law.Ìà  àPaul€wrote€in€Ô_ÔGalatiansÔ_Ô€2:21€òòò òð ðI€do€not€nullify€the€grace€of€God;€for€if€righteousnessÐ Ù"u Ðcomes€through€the€Law,€then€Christ€died€needlesslyððó óóó€(Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).€€To€try€to€live€by€the€literalÐ Ä#`  ÐLaw€nullifies€(or€makes€of€none€effect)€the€grace€of€God.€€This€is€why€literal€Sabbath€keepersÏare€fallen€from€grace€(Gal.€5:4).€€But€grace€does€not€nullify€(or€make€of€none€effect)€the€Law.€ÏWhen€we€rest€in€Messiah€we€fulfill€the€Law€and€do€not€break€it.€When€we€fulfill€the€Law€by€theÏSpirit€we€keep€the€Law€in€fulness.€In€the€final€analysis€then,€we€are€Law€keepers.€Or€to€use€aÏMessianic€Jewish€term:€we€are€ð ðTorah€observant.ðð€Ironically,€those€who€strive€to€keep€the€literalÏLaw€are€the€Law€breakers!€The€purpose€of€the€Law€was€to€point€to€Messiah€(to€foreshadowÏMessiah)€and€therefore€to€rest€in€Messiah€is€to€achieve€the€goal€of€the€Law.€€Grace€by€faithÏfulfills€the€Law.€€òòò òð ðDo€we€then€nullify€the€Law€through€faith?€€May€it€never€be!€€On€theÐ +¸$( Ðcontrary,€we€establish€the€Lawððó óóó€(Rom.€3:31€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).Ð ,£%) Ðà  àThere€is€a€Christian€organization€that€holds€ð ðadvancesðð€instead€of€ð ðretreatsðð€becauseÏthey€say€that€Christians€must€always€advance€and€never€retreat.€€On€the€contrary€however,Ð Ý-y'+ Ðretreat€and€rest€is€necessary€in€every€realm€of€life€and€in€every€activity.€€In€music,€a€rest€is€aÏperiod€of€silence€equivalent€in€duration€to€a€note€of€the€same€value€(according€to€Websterððs).€ÏRest€in€music€is€an€essential€element€despite€the€fact€that€it€is€the€òòabsenceóó€of€sound.€€In€theÐ :Ö Ðmilitary,€the€concept€of€retreat€is€very€important.€€Retreat€is€not€just€to€pull€back€from€a€losingÏbattle€but€most€often€is€a€tactical€pullback€and€regrouping.€€Battles€are€fought€with€a€series€ofÏcharges€and€retreats€depending€on€the€need€of€the€moment.€€Mathematics€made€a€great€leapÏforward€when€someone€came€up€with€the€number€zero€which€is€the€absence€of€value.Ìà  àHow€often€do€you€use€zero€in€mathematics?€€You€use€it€constantly,€continually!€€YouÏuse€zero€in€every€equation€and€in€resolving€every€problem.€€In€the€same€way€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€ourÏconstant,€continual€rest.€€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€is€our€continual€abiding€in€the€secret€place€of€the€Most€High.€ÏIn€mathematics€do€we€spend€one€day€per€week€meditating€on€the€concept€of€zero?€€Of€courseÏnot!€€We€use€zero€seven€days€a€week.€€So€also€in€Messiah€when€we€abide€in€Him€and€workÏfrom€Him€we€must€abide€in€rest€and€work€from€rest.€€We€must€have€rest€right€there€beside€us,Ïright€there€inside€us.€€We€work€from€rest;€we€do€not€work€in€order€to€get€to€rest.€€In€the€OldÏCovenant€they€worked€six€days€and€then€rested€on€the€seventh.€€In€the€New€Covenant€we€firstÏfind€our€rest€in€Messiah;€we€first€enter€our€rest€in€Messiah€and€then€the€work€begins.€€JacobÏworked€seven€years€to€get€Leah€(she€represents€servant€realm€and€Law)€but€he€got€RachelÏ(Ô_ÔsonshipÔ_Ô€realm€and€grace)€right€away€and€worked€seven€years€afterwards€for€her.Ìà  àLet€us€be€diligent€therefore€to€enter€into€and€abide€in€His€rest,€His€retreat,€His€zero.€€InÏmathematics€we€use€other€numbers€around€the€zero.€€The€other€numbers€donððt€change€theÏzero.€€Zero€is€still€zero.€€In€the€same€way,€in€Messiah€the€works€of€His€righteousness€doneÏthrough€us€do€not€affect€our€state€of€rest€in€Him.€€Rest€is€still€rest.€€In€mathematics,€numbersÏdonððt€change€the€zeros€but€zeros€change€the€numbers.€€1€becomes€100€becomes€1,000,000.€ÏSo€also€in€Messiah€our€works€in€Him€are€sanctified,€purified,€perfected€and€give€God€moreÏglory€when€we€work€from€His€rest.€€Working€from€His€rest€brings€God€a€million€times€more€gloryÏthan€attempting€to€work€His€righteous€works€in€our€own€sweat.€€All€of€us€have€witnessed€toÏpeople€or€have€done€other€works€of€service€in€our€own€sweat€of€anxious€striving€to€pleaseÏGod.€€We€ourselves€realize€that€such€works€are€dead€works€and€are€an€abomination€to€God.Ìà  àLiteral€Sabbath€keeping€is€an€old€wineskin€because€one€day€per€week€cannot€containÏthe€Sabbath€rest€of€the€people€of€God€in€Messiah.€€The€lesser€cannot€contain€the€greater.€€LetÏus€therefore€imbibe€the€new€wine€of€the€Spirit€and€rest€in€the€new€wineskin€of€New€CovenantÏfulfillment€of€the€Law€of€Moses.€€This€Messianic€rest€overflows€and€floods€all€seven€days!Ìà  àTrying€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€to€keep€the€literal€Sabbath€is€to€try€and€patch€the€OldÏCovenant€garment€with€a€new€patch€taken€from€the€New€Covenant€garment.€€Let€us€thereforeÏlay€aside€the€Old€garment€and€put€on€the€entire€New€garment,€not€just€a€patch€torn€from€it.€€LetÏus€be€covered€over€with€the€robe€of€righteousness€€(Isaiah€61:10).Ìà  àòòò òð ðLet€us€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€therefore€to€enter€into€that€rest,€lest€any€man€fall€after€the€sameÐ p' !$ Ðexample€of€unbeliefððó óóó€(Heb.€4:11).Ð [(÷!% Ðà  àHebrews€chapters€3€and€4€talk€about€the€rest€that€remains€for€the€people€of€God€andÏabout€how€to€enter€into€that€rest.€€In€these€two€chapters€the€writer€of€Hebrews€draws€a€parallelÏbetween€the€forty€year€wilderness€walk€of€ancient€Israel€and€the€present€walk€of€the€individualÏbeliever€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô.€€The€writer€also€draws€a€parallel€between€the€rest€that€ancient€IsraelÏreceived€when€they€entered€the€promised€land€and€the€rest€that€the€people€of€God€are€to€enterÏnow€in€Messiah.€€As€we€all€know,€most€of€that€generation€of€Israel€did€not€enter€the€promisedÐ Ý-y'+ Ðland€where€the€Lord€was€to€give€them€òòò òð ðrest€round€about,€according€to€all€that€he€Ô_ÔswareÔ_ÔÐ d Ðunto€their€fathersððó óóó€(Josh.€21:44).€€Hebrews€3:17„19€makes€it€plain€that€most€of€the€children€ofÐ Oë ÐIsrael€fell€in€the€wilderness€and€came€short€of€Godððs€rest€because€of€unbelief.€€In€the€sameÏway,€in€our€day,€most€of€the€body€of€Messiah€has€not€entered€fully€into€His€rest€because€ofÏunbelief.Ìà  àThe€writer€of€Hebrews€warns€the€church€with€the€following€words:€òòò òð ðWherefore€(as€theÐ û — ÐHoly€Ghost€saith,€today€if€ye€will€hear€his€voice,€Harden€not€your€hearts,€as€in€theÏprovocation,€in€the€day€of€temptation€in€the€wilderness:€When€your€fathers€tempted€me,Ïproved€me,€and€saw€my€works€forty€years.€€Wherefore€I€was€grieved€with€that€generation,Ïand€said€they€do€Ô_ÔalwayÔ_Ô€err€in€their€heart;€and€they€have€not€known€my€ways.€€So€I€Ô_ÔswareÔ_ÔÏin€my€wrath,€they€shall€not€enter€into€my€rest)ððó óóó€(Heb.€3:7„11).€€This€warning€òòò òð ðToday€if€yeÐ ’.  Ðwill€hear€his€voice,€harden€not€your€heartsððó óóó€is€repeated€in€Hebrews€3:15€and€again€over€inÐ }  Ð4:7.€€The€threefold€repetition€emphasizes€the€sternness€and€surpassing€importance€of€thisÏwarning.€€We€all€must€take€heed€and€discern€what€the€Lord€is€saying€to€His€people€in€this€hour.Ìà  àWhat€then€is€the€Lord€saying€to€His€people?€€He€is€commanding€His€people€to€enterÏinto€His€rest:€the€true€spiritual€rest€in€Messiah.€€To€feel€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Sabbath€isÏnot€to€move€forward€into€the€New€Covenant€but€is€rather€to€fall€back€in€unbelief€into€OldÏCovenant€Law.€€òòò òð ðThe€Law€is€not€of€faithððó óóó€(Gal.€3:12€Ô_ÔNASBÔ_Ô).òòò ò€€ð ðTake€heed,€brethren,€lestÐ ÿ› Ðthere€be€in€any€of€you€an€evil€heart€of€unbelief,€in€departing€from€the€living€Godððó óóó€(Heb.Ð ê† Ð3:12).€€To€be€legalistic€and€be€in€bondage€trying€to€keep€Old€Covenant€Law€is€to€depart€fromÏGod€and€is€a€grievous€sin.€€òòò òð ðNow€the€just€shall€live€by€faith:€but€if€any€man€draw€back,€myÐ À\ Ðsoul€shall€have€no€pleasure€in€himððó óóó€(Heb.€10:38).€€Let€not€the€preceding€verse€be€true€of€anyÐ «G ÐChristian€but€rather€the€following:€òòò òð ðBut€we€are€not€of€them€who€draw€back€unto€perdition;Ð –2 Ðbut€of€them€that€believe€to€the€saving€of€the€soulððó óóó€(Heb.€10:39)Ð  Ðà  àThe€book€of€Hebrews€was€written€to€Jewish€believers€in€Messiah€who€had€a€strongÏtendency€to€go€back€under€Mosaic€Law€even€to€the€point€of€offering€blood€sacrifices€at€theÏTemple.€€Some€were€not€consistent€in€attending€gatherings€of€believers€in€Messiah€and€had€toÏbe€exhorted€to€forsake€not€the€òòò òð ðassembling€of€ourselves€together,€as€the€manner€of€someÐ -É Ðisððó óóó€(Heb.€10:25).€€Some,€apparently,€had€gone€so€far€back€into€the€old€order€that€they€wereÐ  ´ Ðwilling€to€renounce€belief€in€Messiah.€€Stern€warnings€against€falling€away€are€given€inÏHebrews€6:4„8€and€10:26„31.€€I€am€not€saying€that€legalistic€Messianic€Jews€are€about€to€beÏutterly€cast€off€from€God,€but€they€are€in€danger€of€falling€far€short€of€all€that€they€could€be€inÏMessiah.€€Legalistic€Messianic€Jews€have€gone€back€to€sacrifice.€€To€obligate€oneself€to€keepÏthe€shadow€Law€of€Moses€is€sacrifice,€even€though€one€doesnððt€offer€literal€animal€bloodÏsacrifices.€€When€one€puts€himself€under€part€of€the€Law€he€puts€himself€under€all€of€it.€€If€oneÏfeels€obligated€to€keep€the€literal€Sabbath€he€is€by€implication€also€under€the€Ô_ÔAaronicÔ_ÔÏpriesthood€and€sacrificial€system.€€Being€bound€to€keep€the€literal€Sabbath€is€sacrifice.€€GoingÏon€to€perfection€in€Messiah€and€entering€into€His€rest€is€obedience€to€Godððs€voice€in€this€hour.€ÏSacrifice€is€Old€Covenant,€obedience€is€New€Covenant.€€To€obey€is€better€than€sacrifice.Ìà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÓ  ÓDONððT€STRIKE€THE€ROCK€TWICEÌÓèÈÓà@ìì*ìàˆÌÐ Ý-y'+ Ðà  àIn€Numbers€20:11„12€we€read€the€account€of€Moses€striking€the€rock€twice€and€GodÏthereupon€forbidding€Moses€to€enter€the€promised€land.€€Why€was€God€so€severe€in€HisÏdealings€with€Moses€over€this€infraction?€€I€think€that€if€we€were€to€read€the€context€we€wouldÏdiscover€that€there€were€indeed€serious€issues€involved€in€Mosesðð€handling€of€the€situation.€€IÏthink€also€that€Moses€was€judged€in€the€way€that€he€was€in€this€particular€incident€as€a€kind€ofÏparable€or€word€picture€lesson€of€warning€for€us.€€Romans€15:4€says€òòò òð ðWhatsoever€thingsÐ û — Ðwere€written€Ô_ÔaforetimeÔ_Ô€were€written€for€our€learning,€that€we€through€patience€andÏcomfort€of€the€scriptures€might€have€hope.ððó óóóÐ Ñ m Ðà  àIn€Numbers€20:11€Moses€struck€the€rock€twice€so€that€water€gushed€forth.€€The€rock€isÏa€picture€of€Messiah.€€òòò òð ðAnd€did€all€drink€the€same€spiritual€drink:€for€they€drank€of€thatÐ §C  Ðspiritual€Rock€that€followed€them:€and€that€Rock€was€Christ.€€But€with€many€of€them€GodÏwas€not€well€pleased:€for€they€were€overthrown€in€the€wilderness.€€Now€these€thingsÏwere€our€examples...ððó óóó€€(1€Cor.€10:4„6).€€When€Moses€struck€the€rock€in€Exodus€17:6€it€was€aÐ h  Ðpicture€of€the€crucifixion€of€Messiah€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô.€€When€the€rock€was€struck€(crucified)€it€gushedÏforth€water€which€is€a€picture€of€the€outpouring€of€the€Holy€Spirit€which€occurred€after€MessiahÏwas€glorified€(John€7:37„39).€€In€Numbers€20€Moses€forfeited€the€promised€land€because€heÏstruck€the€rock€twice€when€he€was€only€supposed€to€speak€to€the€rock.€€In€allegory,€this€is€aÏpicture€of€Moses€crucifying€Messiah€all€over€again.€€In€Hebrews€6:6€we€read€that€those€who€fallÏaway€òòò òð ðcrucify€to€themselves€the€Son€of€God€afresh,€and€put€him€to€an€open€shame.ððó óóó€Ð ê† ÐBelievers€in€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€must€realize€that€we€donððt€have€to€legalistically€strive€to€please€Him.€€WeÏmust€simply€speak€to€the€Rock,€speak€to€Messiah,€ask€Him€by€faith€and€He€will€pour€outÏabundant€blessings€of€the€Holy€Spirit.Ìà  àThose€early€Jewish€believers€in€Messiah€who€went€back€to€the€sacrificial€system€at€theÏtemple€were€by€their€animal€blood€sacrifices€saying€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ôððs€blood€was€not€good€enough.€ÏBy€offering€animals€in€sacrifice,€they€were€saying€that€Ô_ÔYeshuaÔ_Ô€was€not€their€blood€sacrifice.€€InÏthis€way€they€crucified€Messiah€again€to€themselves€by€offering€again€the€animal€bloodÏsacrifices€that€merely€pointed€to€His€crucifixion.€€This€was€holding€Messiah€to€an€open€shameÏbecause€in€doing€this,€unbelieving€Jews€could€see€the€lack€of€faith€these€so„called€believingÏJews€had€in€the€blood€that€Messiah€shed€on€Calvary.€€In€the€same€way€today,€Messianic€JewsÏwho€are€in€bondage€to€keep€the€literal€Sabbath€are€in€effect€saying€that€Messiah€is€not€theirÏSabbath€rest.€€By€keeping€the€literal€Sabbath€that€points€to€Messiah€they€are,€in€a€limitedÏsense,€crucifying€Messiah€again€unto€themselves.€€Therefore€by€refusing€to€live€by€faith,€andÏfollowing€an€evil€heart€of€unbelief€which€turns€from€the€living€God,€they€fall€short€of€entering€theÏSabbath€rest€in€Messiah.Ìà  àAfter€Calvary,€all€bondage€of€being€under€the€literal€Law€of€Moses€is€to€strike€the€RockÏ(Messiah)€twice.€€It€is€crucifying€Him€again€unto€oneself€and€putting€Him€to€an€open€shameÏbefore€angels€and€principalities€and€before€men.€€Those€who€do€this€will€not€be€Ô_ÔovercomersÔ_ÔÏwho€cross€Jordan€and€enter€the€promised€land€of€successful