For reference
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I have thought and prayed about this a lot since your response and debated even replying with a true response at all. I actually wasn't intentionally directing the conversation to Torah (the law - Genesis-Deuteronomy) but I respect how Yahveh leads all things. I pray that you can read and study these words, as I have humbly read (though still disagree with) your article with open ears to hear.
I really and truly believe that you do have a good heart for Yah and are mislead by the world, as I and many others have been (and many still are). There are a lot of things to address from your response, so I apologize beforehand for the length of mine.
Firstly, I appreciate your attempts to "free me from the law." And I respect that you have consulted with our Father before responding. I apologize for the misconception that you felt lead to "defend Christ against self-righteous humans." I do not feel that I am self-righteous, though I feel my righteousness is justified by the word. One misconception about keeping the law is that you have to fulfill (definition: achieve or realize; Strong's defines as follows Romans 8:4 KJV [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled [filled to the top] in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.) it 100%, the law makes provision for transgressions with repentance and, by the grace of Christ, death is overturned and we are forgiven without sin sacrifices (Christ was our sin sacrifice) but not without sacrifice of self. The greasy grace lie of Christianity today is the work of the enemy. To say, "Oh well, I'm a sinner and that's that" discourages us from taking up our crosses and chasing after YHVH.
I am not without sin (1 John 1:10 KJV. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.). I do however strive to be perfect as we are instructed (Matthew 5:48 KJV [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.) and it is possible to have a PERFECT heart under the law, according to the law, with the provision of proper repentance and retribution and love of Yah and Christ in keeping the commandments (Deuteronomy 11:13 KJV [13] And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love Yahveh your Elohim, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul; Matthew 22:37-38 KJV [37] Yahshua ("Jesus") said unto him, Thou shalt love Yahveh thy Elohim ("God") with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment.)
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As for the passing away of the law, there are a few vital verses:
Matthew 5:18 KJV
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle (pen stroke) shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and Earth haven't passed.
Deuteronomy 4:40 KJV
[40] Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which YHVH thy Elohim giveth thee, FOR EVER.
What does forever mean?
Romans 2:12 KJV
[12] For as many as have sinned without law SHALL ALSO PERISH WITHOUT LAW: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
1 John 3:4 KJV
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
2 Timothy 3:16 KJV
[16] ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of Elohim ("God"), and is PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
Note that this being in the New Testament when they only really had the Old Testament written AFTER Yahshua was crucified...
1 John 2:6 KJV
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he (Yahshua) walked.
Yahshua kept Sabbath (Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10), came for ISRAEL (Matthew 15:24 KJV [24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.), into which you can be grafted in (Romans 11). And there are many more verses showing Him keeping of the law.
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Prophecy says people will not keep the law in latter days... And they will perish for it...
Isaiah 66:17 KJV
[17] They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith YHVH
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Now to address the article. Three things are very important in understanding scripture -
1. Context
2. Actual Meanings
3. Culture
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Article says:
Malachi 3:9 says, "Ye are cursed with a curse" if you don't, Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse".
Malachi 3:9 CONTEXT:
Malachi 3:6-12 KJV
[6] For I am YHVH, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. [7] Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith YHVH of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? [8] Will a man rob Elohim? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. [9] Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. [10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith YHVH of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it . [11] And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. [12] And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
The curse was not the law, the curse was the result of not following the law.
Galations 3:13, we see in context:
Galatians 3:10 KJV
[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
SAYS THE SAME THING AS MALACHI. They are witnesses of each other...
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Article says:
But the law concerning our relationship to God has undergone a change (Hebrew 7:12) under the new covenant.
Hebrews 7:12 in context:
Hebrews 7:11-13 KJV
[11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? [12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. [13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
It is about changing the Levitical priesthood and the calling of tribes until we are reassigned in new Jerusalem...not the existence of the law itself. This one is a little tricky because you have to have an understanding of how the tribes functioned throughout Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) to fully understand what it means.
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Article says:
The law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) has all the components of the moral law of the Old Testament but none of the ceremonial law (Tithing, circumcision, ceremonial washing, Saturday worship, etc.).
They only offered one verse to support a very large and largely erroneous claim, which is feeble evidence within itself considering the specificity of the claim and the broadness of the verse...
Galatians 6:2 KJV
[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Fulfill again means to be full of or to completely do it all..."the law of Christ" is tricky and largely plays into the understanding of oneness vs trinity (a WHOLE NOTHER can of worms) and Yahshua's commands to keep His commandments.
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Article says:
If we try to fulfill the law today it puts our salvation in jeopardy. Galatians 5:3-4 "we are severed from Christ if we keep the law".
And
God wants us to stop trying to obey the Old Testament law. When we receive Christ he writes his law on our hearts.
The concept of writing His law on our hearts is actually in the Old Testament ... Nothing in the New Testament is actually new, it is a continuation of the Old Testament, it's the rest of the story, and it is very difficult to understand or to help someone understand without a thorough understanding of the very law you are trying to render void.
Context:
Galatians 5:18-23 KJV
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
This basically is saying the law is for the lawless. That if you are living by the law it within the law then you aren't "under it" because you aren't violating it. The trick is to read verse 18 and then 22 and 23, going back to 19-21, all which summarize most of the things against the law you are arguing against.
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Article says:
I'm sure Jesus followed every point to the Old Testament law and I'm also sure it pains him to see us try to do the same.
Scripture says:
1 John 2:6 KJV
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he (Yahshua) walked.
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Article says:
He nailed that system to the cross. (Col. 2:14) I'm free, I'm free, I'm free indeed.
CONTEXT says:
Colossians 2:13-14 KJV
[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Meaning he nailed OUR TRESPASSES the ones he forgave us of to the cross
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Article says:
Matthew 11:13 law prophesied till John,
Context:
Matthew 11:18 KJV
[18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
In other words, the law and prophets have existed up until now and now they don't believe in my prophet??
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I could go on and on and on but ultimately, whether you receive the truth or not is between you (namely your heart) and Yah.
Shalom!
