Amen Brother! As It Is Written! KJV - Romans 15 : 4 “For Whatsoever Things Were Written Aforetime Were Written For OUR LEARNING, That WE Through Patience and Comfort of THE SCRIPTURES Might Have HOPE. HalleluJah!
Sin is the transgression of the Torah , what's inequity!? Forsaking of the Torah, The letters of Peter are fascinating reads, and instrumental in understanding Paul's teachings. When we start in 1 Peter chapter 1, we find out who Peter is writing to... Those new covenant Believers scattered throughout the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. When we get the 2 Peter 3:1 we find out that it was written to the same group, as the apostle says: "...this is now the second letter that I am writing to you." It's also interesting to note that Galatia is listed here, as Galatians is the most often used of Paul's letters to support claims that The Torah need not be followed by "Christians". If you read through the first letter of Peter the language is strongly focused on the Gospel message. However, when you get to Peter's second letter, the focus seems to shift quite drastically to The Torah and those who live in defiance of it. In 2 Peter 1 we see an emphasis on aspects of godly character that would come through Torah-living, and in verse 9 he says: "But anyone who lacks these qualities is blind-nearsighted because he has forgotten his cleansing from past sins." Clearly, as sin is defined as "breaking The Torah" (1 John 3:4), Peter is now addressing people who are not living by The Torah after coming to faith in Yeshua. In chapter 2 the apostle starts discussing false teachers who are immoral and teach heresies, saying that "the way of truth will be maligned". As you go through the remainder of 2 Peter Chapter 2 there are harsh rebukes against sinful actions, things that clearly defy The Torah of God. Then in 2 Peter 2:21 is says: "For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them." As Deuteronomy 6:25 clearly defines righteousness in terms of living by The Torah and the apostle directly references "the holy commandment", it seems the logical conclusion from the plain reading of the text as well as the overall tone and context of the letter is that Peter is referring to The Torah. Then in 2 Peter 3:1 we find the words "remember the words previously proclaimed by the holy prophets and the commandment"-and the prophets were always calling the people back to The Torah. He goes on to continue rebuking evil that goes against The Torah of God. He begins to speak on the return of The Messiah and the Day of Judgment. It becomes very clear that unlike his first letter where he was proclaiming The Gospel, this second letter was written to address problems of sin resulting from those who do not live by The Torah. In verse 11 he says to live in holiness and godliness. Then in 2 Peter 3:15-16 the apostle refers to Paul, stating that he also speaks on all of these things in his letters. On what things? The things Peter was addressing throughout this his second letter-sin, lawlessness, living in defiance to The Torah. In verse 17 he says that it is the "error of the lawless" that twists and distorts the words of Paul and the rest of Scripture. In commenting on this, Daniel Botkin, in his article The Ghost Of Marcion, says, "Those with little or no knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures are especially apt to misinterpret Paul’s writings to their own ruin. Notice, it is not the Law-keeping disciples of Yeshua who distort Paul’s epistles - it is “lawless men” that Peter warns us about." It is also worth noting that scholars date the writing of 2 Peter to a time that would be after Paul's arrest in Jerusalem. Is is possible, even probable, that Peter was writing this letter as a defense of Paul against the charges brought against him? What was Paul charged with when he was arrested in Jerusalem? The accusation is that he spoke against The Torah, taught that it is no longer required to follow it. Where did those charges originate? From the "lawless men" who were distorting Paul's words and telling people that Paul taught that we don't have to follow The Torah. Peter's entire second letter seems to hold a strong emphasis on living in holiness and righteousness, not living in defiance to the commandments of God, not living in a way that is contrary to The Torah. And it seems it was all a build-up to let people know that Paul was teaching the way of Torah-living as well, that the rumors about him teaching "a different Yeshua, a different Gospel, and a different spirit" (2 Cor. 11:4) were completely baseless lies. It would seem from the context of the whole letter of 2 Peter and who we know the letter was written to-which included the Galatians-that the entire purpose of Peter writing this letter was to tell the whole world that Paul's message was, and always will be, to uphold The Torah of God. This is something very much worth remembering when people today attempt to use statements made by Paul to claim that we do not have to live by The Torah as "Christians". This matter was already addressed here by Peter, as well as by Paul himself in Acts 24:14 where he testified in his defense against such accusations that he believes everything in The Torah and Prophets and in Acts 25:8 where he boldly declared that he never violated or went against The Torah or The Temple. Blessings and Shalom.
The Apostle Paul is largely misunderstood. His teachings today are many times interpreted from a 21 century, Gentile perspective. In Paul's letters he separates the legalistic "traditions and commandment of men" from Yahweh's/God's written commandments. Understanding this about Paul explains how he could say he "believed EVERYTHING that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, which is the Torah (Acts24:14). Paul and his statement, "curse of the law" (Galatians 3:10-13), is seen as a contradiction to his describing the Torah as "holy," righteous" and "good." What Paul teaches throughout his letters is that only the Spirit of God, received through faith, gives life to the written text of the Torah. The Torah is to be followed in faith. The Torah is not meant to be followed in the flesh: Romans 7:14 “For we know that the law is spiritual.” Without this understanding his words in Romans 3:31 make little sense, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” The New Testament and Paul’s writings when put back into its Hebrew context, says this about the Torah and believers in Jesus/Yeshua: • Faith does not abolish any part of the Torah as a whole: Matthew 5:17-21, James 2:10 • Keeping the Torah is part of the faith walk: Matthew 19:17; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14) • You will abide in Yeshua's love, (John 14:15-23) as He abides in the Father's love, by keeping Torah: John 15:10; Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:15 • Faith in Yeshua does not cancel out what the Torah says, it establishes it: Romans 3:31 • Torah is itself "liberty" and the standard we are to judge ourselves by: James 1:22-25 • It is those of the flesh who are not subject to the Torah: Romans 8:5-8 • If you say you know Him, and ignore His Torah, you are a liar: 1 John 2:3-7 • It does not matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, what matters is keeping God's Torah: 1 Cor. 7:19 • The "law of love" is that we keep his Torah, which is by no means a "burden": 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Matt. 11:29,30
There is no church one bride one body one baptism one spirit the house of Israel congregation ekklésia. Context matters all of Paul's letters confirm the covenant with Abraham you know ?? Also proves the law feast sabbath all still apply. Good luck proving other wise The letters apply to the covenant people who are walking in the covenant only one. Also baptism loon at Acts 21 - Acts 18:18-23 Numbers 6 Leviticus 14 and Naaman this is baptism cleansing in the miqvê living water Messiah. Also the Nazarene vow. 🎯
