In this article I will attempt to present my argument as to why I feel the false concept of a mangod, "God in the flesh" Messiah constitutes a direct attack, indeed abolishment, of the 2 most important accomplishments of Yeshua the Messiah. I also hope to shed some light on:
This is a moderately detailed discussion; therefore, you will need to read it carefully or risk missing some of the important nuances of this topic. It would be wise to read it more than once so that nothing will be missed because this article is packed with a number of important facts that help answer some of the most difficult questions regarding Yeshua's role in the Divine Plan of the Living God. When my presentation is accomplished, I hope to have proven how Satan, through the false man-God of Traditional Christianity, has successfully blinded Christians (and Jews) to some of the fundamental aspects of Yeshua's work and YHWH's Divine Plan.
The accomplishments that promoters of a mangod "christ" remove actually vindicate (or defend and prove right) the Almighty God in the face of implicit accusations of sin by the Almighty God resulting from unscriptural doctrines of traditional Christianity! The mangod Messiah "God in the flesh" concept presents YHWH as being a violator of His Own Eternal Law. It implicitly makes Him into a Law breaker, A SINNER!
Since most Christians believe Yeshua is "God," THE primary personal achievement of Yeshua - the fact that as a 100 percent man, Yeshua lived a perfectly sinless life - is all but ignored (or absent) in their minds. Implicit in this is another truth mangod Messiah promoters erase, which is that the torah (Divine Instructions or Law) CAN be kept - that it IS possible to perfectly obey YHWH. Even counterfeit Messianic Judaism, with their embrace of the mangod Messiah idea, implicitly promotes the same false concept as traditional Constantinian Christianity, which is that Torah is impossible for any human to keep. That incorrect assumption forces Messiah to be "God" in order for him to be sinless.
As I was preparing this article I consulted several respected Christian Bible Commentaries. Even though I grew up a Traditional Christian in a somewhat anti-Semitic, anti-Torah denomination (the "church of Christ", not to be confused with the "United church of Christ") and was aware of the anti-Torah (anti-Law) position Christianity takes, I was nonetheless shocked at the forcefulness of the Commentator's arguments. They all, with only one notable exception (The Jewish New Testament Commentary, by David Stern), treated the torah like smelly garbage. They clearly stated that the torah is IMPOSSIBLE to keep. There were no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. They clearly promote that there is no possible way a human can perfectly obey YHWH, which of course forces Yeshua to be God. They also say the Torah does not contribute to one's "salvation". In fact, these commentaries suggest it may be wrong for one to even attempt to live a torah observant life! To them and most Christians, obedience is somehow equated with "works;" therefore, such attempts at perfect obedience conflict with their incorrect definition of "grace." They thus imply that those who show their love and devotion to God by striving to obey His Eternal commands are weak in faith! The typical incorrect Traditional Christian position was promoted in the commentaries, which is that ALL that is needed for salvation is:
Sadly, anyone who practices only these 2 is likely destined to eternal death, and of course those who believe in a "God the son" risk punishment as well because of their idolatrous embrace of other gods.
I was also unprepared for the anti-Semitism in the commentaries. Usually, the anti-semitism of traditional Christianity is masked as anti-Judaic, or anti-torah teachings. Traditional Christianity practices "political correctness" by being careful to not openly promote the core anti-semitism that is at the true center of their teachings. In some odd, twisted way Traditional Christianity seems to feel it is more politically correct to be anti-God by declaring God's eternal teachings abolished. However, in truth anti-Torah equals anti-Judaic equals anti-semitism. As a reminder to those Christians who are not aware of the true anti-semitic beginnings of the Christian religion, I present below a typical profession of faith that was endorsed by emperor Constantine. For those who do not know, the seminal beginnings of the Christian religion as it stands today was largely the brainchild of emperor Constantine. That is why myself and others that have studied the history of the church refer to it as "Constantinian" Christianity. The Nicean Council, from which the infamous Nicean Creed (primarily the work of Constantine) was spewed forth upon the world, occurred in 325 C.E. Traditional Christianity, despite what most believe, was actually born at Nicea - NOT at Jerusalem.
A Profession Of Faith From The Church Of Constantinople in the year 325 C.E.(A.D.) Under The Emperor Constantine
I renounce all customs, rites, legalisms. unleavened breads & sacrifices of lambs of the Hebrews,and all other feasts of the Hebrews, sacrifices, prayers, aspersions, purifications, sanctifications and propitiations and fasts, and new moons, and Sabbaths, and superstitions, and hymns and chants and observances and Synagogues, and the food and drink of the Hebrews; in one word, I renounce everything Jewish, every law, rite and custom and if afterwards I shall wish to deny and return to Jewish superstition, or shall be found eating with The Jews, or feasting with them, or secretly conversing and condemning the Christian religion instead of openly confuting them and condemning their vain faith, then let the trembling of Gehazi cleave to me, as well as the legal punishments to which I acknowledge myself liable. And may I be anathema in the world to come, and may my soul be set down with Satan and the devils.
Source: Parks, James The Conflict Of The Church And The Synagogue Atheneum, New York, 1974, pp. 397 - 398.
It is the mind set above that has lead to a Christian religion void of almost all Hebraic, BIBLICAL truth. This is particularly ironic when one remembers Yeshua (Jesus) is a Jew, all his original followers were Jews, all Biblical authors were Jews, and the entire Bible is written from a Jewish (Hebraic) perspective. I suppose I had lost touch with the intense anti-Semitism and anti-Hebraism that is the foundation of Traditional Christianity. This study has re-warned me of the tragic teachings of Traditional Christianity and caused me to once again sadly realize only a very tiny remnant will ever come out of Babylon, leave the Beast System, and receive eternal life.
Traditional Christians and most Messianics hold to the following positions:
I am firmly convinced, ALL of these positions are the direct opposite of Truth and represent some of the foundational teachings of the Beast of Daniel 7 who intends "to change times and laws". Two articles useful in this study are the ones that discuss how Traditional Christianity forces Yeshua to be God, and the one discussing Galatians 3.
The Torah, itself, proves it was given with the intent that it was to be observed and that torah observance IS possible. We see in Deuteronomy:
As I was pondering how best to explain this I found The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, an excellent reference in which over 500,000 verse cross references are presented, had already done so in it's comments regarding Deut. 30:11:
"11 it is not hidden. Or as the Hebrew word {niphlaith} implies, not too wonderful for thee to comprehend or perform; but easily to be acquainted with, and understood, because clearly revealed: neither is it afar off; it was proclaimed in your ears from mount Sinai, and is now proclaimed in the sanctuary: it is not in heaven; for it has been already revealed: neither is it beyond the sea; that you need travel for instruction, as the ancient philosophers did, or seek instruction from men, at immense labour and expense; but the word is very nigh to thee; brought to thy very doors; in thy mouth, and in thy heart; made so familiar as to afford a topic of common discourse, that it might be laid up in the memory and reduced to practice. "
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
The point is that YHWH, through Moses, clearly stated the Torah CAN be observed. Those wo say otherwise today, of which I was once one myself for almost 30 years, are in direct conflict with YHWH's clear statement that Torah CAN be kept. Even more proof Torah CAN be observed is shown in the countless exhortations by YHWH in the Tanakh (Older Testament) for Israel to do so.
The time has come for the condemnation of torah by Satan through false doctrines inspired by him to end! YHWH said that His Divine Instructions CAN be observed; therefore, I accept the word of the Almighty over the word of some anti-Torah, Scripturally challenged preacher! If these preachers are to be believed, then ALL of YHWH's exhortations to honor Him by obeying the Torah are shown to be lies! This is a VERY important point. Traditional Christianity makes YHWH into some sort of trickster-God that deceitfully promoted the keeping of His commands all the while knowing His commands were impossible to keep! They present YHWH as One who bears false witness. This is one of the two ways I discuss where Constantinian Christian and counterfeit Messianic doctrines implicitly accuse the Almighty Eternal One of sin! Of course, I realize they have not considered the seriousness of their doctrines and may never acknowledge that they accuse God of sinning, but facts are facts.
If, as most traditional Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders teach:
then, He IS seen as bearing false witness and being a cunning, insincere trickster; therefore, He would be a violator of His Own Divine Law! This is PRECISELY the theology being promoted by the traditional Christian faith and many Messianic congregations. Such is the means by which Satan, the supreme "accuser," accuses YHWH and sows subtle and deadly deception seeds throughout the the world.
Paul was actually referring to this precise topic, and to the fact that the FULLY HUMAN, Yeshua, showed Torah is observable in his letter to the Roman Messianics.
These few verses in Romans are crucial, and a correct understanding of them goes a long way to fully understanding the eternal Plan of YHWH. When properly understood, one can grasp the work of our Messiah and is brought to tears by the love displayed by YHWH and the unparalleled accomplishment of our King Messiah! In these verses I truly see inspiration. The burden of sin is lifted. One can know the love of, and fully experience the love for, our Eternal, merciful, Father! I pray you can grasp it. It is wonderful, powerful, and glorious to ponder what was done for us through Messiah Yeshua! Praise be YHWH, and praise be His Messiah and our King, Yeshua! The imagination of man could never envision a more perfect, loving Elohim (God) than the One True YHWH Elohim!
Paul's Torah genius is shown in the depth of meaning in these few verses. In a nutshell what Paul is lamenting is how his brethren of the flesh were seeking to merit the world to come (eternal life) based upon their own efforts at justification (the Greek term is a justification righteousness) instead of trusting in the righteousness/justification YHWH offers through Yeshua, who attained the "goal of the law for righteousness" through his perfect obedience. By attempting to merit the world to come on their own, they were/are destined to fall short, since even one single sin lawfully requires punishment (James 2:10). One Sabbath violation, for instance, calls for death! One act of adultery, homosexuality, cursing your parents, embracing of spiritualism and psychics, etc. calls for death! "The wages (legal penalty) of sin is death." And, of course, even one's thoughts are condemning.
Verse 4 is one of the most often misinterpreted verses of the New Testament. The KJV renders it as, "for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." The critical word in this text is "end", and this word is a major cause for the widespread belief that the "Law" was "ended" with Messiah. The publication, A Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament), shows the Greek term telos, which is rendered as "end" in most versions, can also mean, "result of an event or process", or the "purpose, intent, or goal". In fact, some versions, such as the NASB, have a note that presents the alternate and CORRECT rendering as "goal." The translation of "end" is technically correct; HOWEVER, it is an "end" with respect to the ultimate "goal", NOT with respect to "termination". There are 42 uses of this Greek word in the New Testament, and in most cases, if one is to recognize the meaning to be the "goal" attained instead of the "termination", much scriptural misunderstanding on a variety of issues would be reduced.
A better discussion of this issue is found in The Jewish New Testament Commentary by David Stern. Unlike most if not all other commentators, David Stern as a Jewish believer has some insight and knowledge of the Hebraic world view. As you read his comment below note the grotesque bias shown in other translations he presents. I address the issue of what are good Bibles in a separate article. The horribly false "translations" many Bibles contain today are a primary reason for the plague of false beliefs among Christians.
"An error made by all major English versions and by most commentators - and one with profound antisemitic implications even when none are intended - is the rendering here of the Greek word "telos" as "end," in the sense of "termination." The King James Version is ambiguous - in it the verse reads, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth"; this leaves to the reader the decision whether "end" means "termination" or "purpose" (as in "the end justifies the means"). But other versions decide the matter for him, and they decide it wrongly. The New English Bible says, "For Christ ends the law and brings righteousness for everyone who has faith"; and the margin gives as an alternate, "Christ is the end of the law as a way to righteousness for everyone who has faith." The (Roman Catholic) Jerusalem Bible goes even farther: "But now the Law has come to an end with Christ, and everyone who has faith may be justified." Likewise Today's English Version (the "Good News" Bible): "For Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes is put right with God."
However, the Messiah has not brought the Law to an end, nor is he the termination of the Law as a way to righteousness. The Torah continues. It is eternal. God's Torah, properly understood as the very teaching which Yeshua upholds (1C 9:21&N, Ga 6:2&N), remains the one and only way to righteousness - although it is Yeshua the Messiah through whom the Torah's righteousness comes. For the Good News that righteousness is grounded in trust is proclaimed already in the Torah itself; this is the central point of 9:30–10:21. In seed form this was already stated at 1:16–17; Sha'ul declares it directly at Ga 3:6ff. To such a Torah there is no cessation, neither in this world nor in the next.
This truth is not peripheral but central to the Gospel, and it cannot be compromised, even if the whole of Christian theology were to oppose it! While there is a recent and valuable strand of modern Christian scholarship which acknowledges that Sha'ul is neither anti-Jewish nor anti-Torah, very little of this has penetrated popular Christianity. To Jews with even a modest amount of Jewish training the Torah is correctly understood as a central and eternal element of God's dealing with mankind in general and with Jews in particular. Therefore, the idea that "the law has come to an end with Christ" is for them both shocking and unacceptable. Fortunately the idea is also untrue!
According to Arndt and Gingrich's A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, the Greek word "telos," used 42 times? in the New Testament, has to mean "finish, cessation, termination" in four or five places (Mk 3:26, Lk 1:33, 2C 3:13, MJ 7:3, 1 Ke 4:7). But in the great majority of cases its meaning is either (1) "aim, purpose, goal" toward which a movement is being directed (1 Ti 1:5, 1 Ke 1:9), or (2) "outcome, result, consummation, last part" of a process not obviously being directed and which may or may not terminate (6:21–22 above, Mt 26:58, MJ 6:8). These meanings are reflected in the English word "teleology," the branch of philosophy dealing with goals and purposes. Then why is "telos" regularly regarded as meaning "termination" here? Because theology gets in the way of exegesis, wrong theology that falsely understands the Mosaic Law as not offering God's righteousness through trust, wrong theology that denigrates God's Torah and thereby both the God who gave it and the Jewish people to whom he gave it.
Even the paraphrases of the Living Bible ("Christ gives to those who trust in him everything they are trying to get by keeping his laws. He ends all of that") and Phillips ("Christ means the end of the struggle for righteousness-by-the-Law for everyone who believes in him") miss the point. The verse is not about our struggle but about God's Torah."
The Jewish New Testament Commentary, (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications) 1996.
In verse 5 Paul discusses how "the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by (because of) that righteousness."
5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.
What he is stating is that the MAN who actually accomplishes the righteousness demanded by Torah DOES attain that righteousness and DOES merit eternal life. So, technically a person CAN be justified by "works;" however, since only one (Yeshua) actually has been, works is not the means we should count on for obtaining justification. This does NOT mean we should lazily fail to attempt obedience. In fact, the ultimate means by which anyone is saved is through works! Yes, it was through the MAN Yeshua's OBEDIENCE (works) that we even have a hope for eternal life!
The Greek term rendered "live" in verse 5 is zao, which means "to live", "to be among the living", "to be alive". Also, the Greek term rendered "by" is en, which can mean "by", "through", "in", "with", etc. The verse can better be rendered, "...the man who practices the righteousness based on law shall live (be alive) through that righteousness." In other words, the man that truly practices Torah "without spot or blemish" DOES merit eternal life! Only one MAN accomplished it - the MAN Yeshua the Messiah. However, contrary to traditional Christian teaching, there is nothing that proves it impossible to do. What is shown is that Yeshua is the ONLY man that has ever committed himself fully to God, thereby becoming the perfect example for us to follow - the "author and perfecter of our faith."
Paul then continues in verse 6 describing a "faith/trust based" righteousness.
6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
This is not to say the example of verse 5 is without "faith!" Yeshua was of PERFECT faith, and he is the man practicing righteousness referred to in verse 5.
There is strong support for the view that the term "but" with which vs. 6 begins, is more accurately rendered "moreover". Such a rendering removes the anti-torah bias shown in the implicit contrast between verses 5 and 6 with the use of "but". What Paul describes, beginning in verse 6, is the "faith or trust" IN the achievement of "the goal of the law for righteousness" that Yeshua, the human, accomplished. It is this faith all should have - that is all that follow in Yeshua's steps and have the faith OF Yeshua and IN Yeshua's perfect obedience. Paul refers to the TRUE followers of Yeshua and of YHWH; those who put their trust in the successful "goal of the Law" achieved by the man Yeshua, while striving themselves (the believer) to demonstrate sincere love of YHWH through enduring attempts at obedience to His Torah (instructions). IF a person "seeks first the Kingdom" through dedicated Torah observance, their stumbling along the way IS "punished", not by THEIR death, but by the death Yeshua suffered for them. However, if they make no attempt, or insincere attempts, to obey Torah, their "faith" is useless (faith without works is dead - James 2:17-26) and Yeshua's substitutionary death will not cover them.
I personally feel that when National Israel finally accepts the Messiah , which the church has traditionally misrepresented in horrendous fashion, all Jews that showed their love for YHWH through sincere efforts at Torah observance will be covered and WILL be in the world to come (saved). I have several reasons for believing this, not the least of which is the CERTAIN fact that the Day of Atonement has yet to be "fulfilled" in Yeshua. Those with further knowledge will realize to what I refer when I make mention of the "Feast Days" and their "rehearsal" characteristics. But that is a topic beyond the scope of this article that may be addressed on another day.
Finally, in verses 6-11 of Romans 10, Paul hearkens back to Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess (homologeo - to confess with the intent of Spiritual Marriage, as in a covenant) with your mouth Yeshua as Lord, and believe in your heart that YHWH raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes believes (pisteuo - commits to trust or turns away from being self-willed to being focused on YHWH's will) in Him will not be disappointed."
Contrary to popular opinion, he is NOT changing the clear application it had the day it was given through Moses. Most assuredly, he is NOT implying some sort of preexistence of Yeshua in heaven! For 30 years I was blinded by the Trinity into assuming Paul's words in verse 6 somehow referred to Messiah in heaven. The parenthetical expressions of "(that is, to bring Christ down)" and "(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)" were for me mysterious phrases implying the deity of Yeshua. I now realize how absurd my previous understanding (or lack of understanding) was! In fact, he is using its eternal application to illustrate how the man Yeshua, by keeping the Torah, performed the word (perfectly kept Torah). You may ask, "How is he doing this?"
He does it by quoting in Romans from the Torah, Deuteronomy 30 with the additional parenthetical expressions regarding Yeshua, (Christians may not realize those expressions are NOT in the Torah). Paul, unlike today's Christian preachers, adds the parenthetical expressions to encourage the thought that Torah CAN be kept since it WAS kept by Yeshua.
Utilizing the previous comments from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Paul was telling them that with Yeshua's example, the word (Torah) is, "not too wonderful for thee to comprehend or perform; but easily to be acquainted with, and understood ... very nigh to thee; brought to thy very doors; in thy mouth, and in thy heart; made so familiar as to afford a topic of common discourse". He is using the example of Yeshua's perfect obedience to exhort others to NOT allow themselves to develop a "hopeless" attitude towards the keeping of Torah (obedience) - WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY THE EXACT ATTITUDE TRADITIONAL CHRISTIANITY PROMOTES! Paul knew that the end result of such an attitude is a downward spiral away from Torah and into the abyss of sin. Anyone that is truthful will admit MANY Christians today, because of the lie promoted from the pulpit that obedience is a "hopeless" cause (or even worse, that it is unnecessary), have become indistinguishable from the typical carnal unbeliever. The teaching that obedience is hopeless and unnecessary has produced a world of carnal, sinful, shamelessly disobedient, "lawless" Traditional Christians!
Paul then describes how belief and confession (acknowledgment) in Yeshua's immense work gives us a sure hope so that "in Him" (Messiah) we "will not be disappointed" if we stumble in our efforts at Torah observance. Those that use these or other verses as a reason to preach death to the Law are GROSSLY misunderstanding Paul and putting thoughts in his head he would NEVER have entertained!
Before I forget, I want to briefly address an issue some may throw out as "proof" that the Torah cannot be obeyed by mankind. There are verses that state "by the works of the law can no man be saved," and other verses that discuss how the law cannot lead to salvation, such as Galatians 3:21. These are verses that, to someone unfamiliar with Torah (virtually ALL preachers) or the Hebraic mind appear at first glance to lessen the importance of Torah. However, ALL of these numerous passages are LIMITED to specific "saving" aspects of the law. They are NOT to be expanded into a total condemnation of Torah as is done within Traditional Christianity.
They refer to the very issue being discussed, which is that the Law (Torah) provides no "works" - or means - through which the sinner can be rid of sin EXCEPT through the required DEATH of Yeshua as a substitute for the death of the sinner. This particular substitutionary death aspect - at least its ultimate clarification - was NOT specified in the letter of the Law. Many of the verses within Paul's writings refer ONLY to the limited justification aspect of the law. Few, including myself, will argue that the Law can justify anyone. Clearly no one is "justified" (declared righteous) by Torah unless they keep it perfectly; but that does NOT remove the necessity to strive to obey Torah! Paul correctly points out that the primary aspect of Torah (Law) is to teach us what sin is as well as how to live righteous lives.
Torah never was set up to "save", at least not as commonly understood. It was set up to GUIDE. Torah is the Constitution of the Kingdom. Those who choose to not take upon themselves the yoke (Laws) of the Kingdom should not expect to have a part in the Kingdom when Yeshua returns!
The point to remember is that whenever Paul or any other New Testament author discusses the "Law" in apparently negative terms, he/they are ALWAYS limiting their discussion to very specific aspects of the Law and , more importantly, usually are referring to the "oral" law - the rabbinic traditions of men.The problem is NOT the Law; it never has been! The problem is the Law breaker! Traditional Christianity wrongly and irreverently accuses YHWH of giving a faulty "Law" (torah) and Judaism fails to include THE crucial final ingredient (Yeshua) in that Law - the final revelation that gives the torah a way to atone for willful, rebellious sin. Christianity removes the "Law" by declaring it useless to save without understanding what that "Law" is and presents Messiah Yeshua as the answer separate from the Law, and Judaism removes Messiah Yeshua and presents the Law separate from Yeshua! BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG because they both promote an incomplete revelation! Both of them fail to present the TOTAL and COMPLETE "Law" of God! I elaborate on this later in this discussion.
The apostle Paul was correct. The "Law" does NOT have the power to save UNLESS Yeshua's accomplishments, the final revelation and crowning touch of that Law, is included. THESE POINTS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL AND MUST BE GRASPED IN ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND BOTH THE "TORAH" AND YAHSHUA'S GLORIOUS ROLE IN GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN!
For instance, the term "under the law" refers to the CURSE of the Law (legally required punishment), which even in Torah is declared to be punishment. It does NOT apply to the Law (Torah) in general. Such a curse is unavoidable for those who reject the righteousness of Yeshua offerred by YHWH, since by rejecting the substitutionary sin-penalty payment of Yeshua they are under the "curse" of the required legal punishments of the Law. Where Christianity makes an eternal mistake is in taking these limited discussions and applying them to the ENTIRE Law, so as to declare it dead! This error - the error of teaching that YHWH's eternal Torah, which He declared MANY times to be everlasting, is dead or useless - is a very dangerous and potentially damning error. Those who preach this are enemies of YHWH in the purest sense of the word!
Basically, the entire Traditional Christian position regarding Torah (Law) just goes to show how sadly ignorant of Torah preachers and teachers are within Christianity! It amazes me how Christians regularly condemn Torah even though they've never even studied it to any great depth - or usually at all! Torah is NOT something one can learn in a couple of semesters of Seminary study or even a few years of Bible study. The depths of Torah are infinite. That is why Rabbis study from the cradle to the grave, yet still humbly admit their studies only scratch the surface of the Eternal teachings of the Infinite Holy One. Preachers seem to think their meager, biased studies from their anti-Hebraic perspectives somehow makes them experts on an issue for which there has only been one, single human expert - Yeshua. They condemn that which they know NOTHING about, and may be condemned for their condemnation in the end! This is one of many reasons I personally consider Traditional Christian preachers (especially once saved, always saved preachers) to be among YHWH's most direct enemies! The Psalmist clearly tells us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and these preachers most assuredly do NOT fear YHWH as they declare His eternal instructions abolished or unnecessary!
Yeshua PROVED the Torah CAN be kept, and he did as a 100 percent human being! The idea that Messiah is "G-d in the flesh" effectively erases this greatest personal achievement of Yeshua! The fact that he, as a 100 percent human, NEVER sinned is virtually eliminated in the minds of most Christians who implicitly believe he "cheated" by being "God". The single most unprecedented, most amazing, most honorable, most glorious personal act of Yeshua was his perfectly sinless life!
Obviously, the RESULT of His sinlessness is eternal life for those who follow in his footsteps with a demonstrated faith/trust in him and the Eternal Father; however, in terms of his own PERSONAL achievement, his sinlessness is foremost and unique among all of mankind's history. His sacrifice was ONLY of value IF he was sinless! Many people have died for others; often in more painful ways than Yeshua. However, no one else has EVER lived a life of PERFECT OBEDIENCE to YHWH! One of Satan's most entrenched lies is the almost universal false teaching within Christianity and counterfeit Messianism that human beings cannot possibly obey the Torah (Law). The other greatest lie is that Yeshua is God. Yeshua, through his perfect Torah observance, CRUSHED the lie that man cannot perfectly obey, thereby:
The term "righteousness" is from the Hebrew word, tsedaqah (tsed-aw-kaw'), and means, "righteousness, justice, rightness, i.e., the state of doing what is required according to a standard (Torah)." YHWH's right hand, His Holy arm, is Yeshua. YHWH, through His perfect and unique servant Yeshua, made known his justice, "doing what is required according to Torah," by NOT violating Torah Himself through "cheating" by becoming a man-god. He (YHWH) - using His HUMAN servant and witness, Yeshua, had His Torah proven perfect and possible to keep. Yeshua's 2 greatest personal accomplishments, which have been virtually wiped out by Traditional Christian theology, are:
It is ONLY because of these achievements that we have the hope of eternal life through Messiah. Having proven through Yeshua that Satan is wrong in his lie that Torah is impossible to keep, and having vindicated Himself in the process, YHWH triumphed over the evil father of lies through Yeshua! AND HE DID IT LAWFULLY! NO CHEATING! NO FIXING OF THE OUTCOME WITH SOME "GOD IN THE FLESH" NONSENSE! This is why our King Messiah Yeshua is so worthy of ALL glory, power, and authority from the One He vindicated and served with absolute perfection! This victory by YHWH through Yeshua over Satan is part of the triumph referred to in Paul's letter to Colossae.
I am of the firm opinion that a 100 percent human Yeshua was absolutely essential in order that YHWH's Torah observance could be maintained while still saving mankind. Yeshua's true, complete human nature was the most essential ingredient! Traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianic Judaism have eliminated THE most crucial element of Yeshua's work by claiming he is God! Without the work of Yeshua - the fact that as a man he was perfect in his Torah observance - YHWH could not Lawfully extend His forgiving grace to mankind. Therefore, Yeshua, in a very real way, is a necessary factor for YHWH to be proven Lawful in His granting of mercy! What could I possibly mean by such a statement?
Both Christianity and Judaism emphasize YHWH's grace. Most Christians would be shocked to know how central grace is to Judaism! Judaism is NOT the "legalistic, works-focused" religion so many Christians think it is. In both religions YHWH is portrayed as an Elohim (God) that demonstrates tremendous mercy as He forgives us for our many sins. In both religions we are seen as "legally" unworthy of this grace since Torah clearly condemns us for sin. In brief, we have the following situation:
The Torah (Law) very clearly specifies the "the soul that sins shall die". This death, in my opinion, is eternal death. The fact that the HEBREW, JUDAIC authors of the New Testament clearly understood it as such is proof enough for me that the passages in the Tanakh (Older Testament), which refer to death for sin, intend this death to be eternal.
Although there was a sacrificial system instituted, this system was effective ONLY for unintentional sins!
This is a shocking revelation to most, as it was for me. However, EVERY Torah commentary I've ever read clearly states how the sacrificial system, with minor exceptions, did NOT cover open, willful, rebellious sin, and they often go into depth to explain this fact. You don't have to believe the commentators or me. Read the Torah yourself! There is no doubt that virtually every "sin offering" was to atone for UNINTENTIONAL sin! I suggest an in depth study of Leviticus if you doubt my statement. Even the Day of Atonement was more of a day to cleanse the sanctuary of defilement than it was to atone for sin; though it certainly DOES have atonement as an ingredient. And even IF one was to argue Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) DOES bring forgiveness, how are they going to address the sins for which the death sentence was required? Can the Day of Atonement bring the sinner on whom the death sentence is fixed forgiveness? NO! It can't, because the death sentence is FIXED in Torah and MUST be administered!
Frankly, I've yet to come across a single commentary in either Jewish or Christian literature that truly addresses, with perfect understanding, the Yom Kippur ceremony. Judaic literature, in my experience, is at least more honest in their admission that there is a mystery regarding Yom Kippur - the two lambs, azazel, etc. - that defies explanation. Christian literature is often more arrogant in its claim to "know all" about Yom Kippur; however, I've not seen it ever properly addressed and can usually find mistakes in Christian "explanations" of the Yom Kippur service. Depending on the particular denominational slant of the Christian writing, it can go from useful to downright profane in its commentary, but it is never correct.
The simple truth is, YHWH's intention in establishing the Yom Kippur service, as a precursor of things to come, is yet to be fully understood, and I am certain it will ONLY be understood completely when Yeshua returns - a return I am convinced will occur during the Fall Feasts of Scripture as fulfillment of these "mysterious" institutions (Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles). Bottom line: There is NO clear sacrifice in Torah for WILLFUL sin! Such sin is ONLY dealt with through the LAWFUL punishment commanded in Torah!
A legitimate "legality" surrounds the issue of a "human" sacrifice. Jews will reasonably argue that there is nothing in Torah regarding human sacrifice except for prohibitions against it. Because of this, they will argue the "sacrifice" of Yeshua is not Torah compliant, and therefore, not legitimate. To this I respond thusly:
First, the Torah does institute sacrifices.
Secondly, even Torah commentaries admit the death of the animal substituted for the death of the sinner; therefore, the concept of a substitutionary death is NOT foreign to Judaic thought. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT THE "SACRIFICES" WERE ONLY TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE "DEATH" OF THE SINNER. The true emphasis should be on the DEATH requirement, not the sacrifice itself.
Thirdly, no one but the most extreme animal rights fanatics will argue against the fact that mankind, the ONLY creature fashioned in the "image of Elohim", is infinitely more valuable than ANY mere animal. The notion that the death of a relatively worthless (compared to mankind) animal can legitimately substitute for a human is unreasonable.
Fourthly, there were no willfully innocent humans available for sacrifice. A child does not know good from evil; therefore, even if the sacrifice of a child was Torah compliant (which it obviously is NOT), in terms of the free will choice of the sacrifice to choose between good or evil, it would be of no greater worth than the stupid animal that possesses no true good/evil reasoning capability. Of course, such sacrifice would also be murderous and cruel in the extreme and is specifically forbidden in Torah; however, the fact remains that an innocent child is innocent ONLY because he/she does not possess the awareness of good vs. evil. Therefore, because of their lack of this awareness, their death cannot possibly substitute for a free will, reasoning adult.
Finally - and MOST IMPORTANTLY - Yeshua was NOT technically "sacrificed" by anyone! He GAVE himself as an offering. NO ONE FORCED YAHSHUA TO DIE!
The charge that Yeshua was "killed" by "the Jews" is technically false, and is proven so by Yeshua's own words! His clear statement during his time of trial before his death, in which he stated he could call upon YHWH and immediately be granted hosts of angels to fight for him, PROVES he was willing in giving himself and that NO ONE "sacrificed" him against his will. The lie of "deicide" (killing God) that Christianity has for so long charged against the Jews is grotesque and a blatant attempt to arouse demonic, anti-Semitic feeling! If anything, it proves how irreverent many Christians are by their promotion of the idea that ANYONE can kill the Almighty! But, such is the way of the Trinitarian. The accusation against the Jews of deicide is despicable! In reality, since it was the Romans that scourged him, beat him, and drove the nails into his flesh, THEY are more guilty of killing him than the handful of Jewish leaders that conspired to turn him over to the Romans. The Gospels AND Acts prove beyond doubt that Yeshua was VERY popular with the common man, and only a tiny minority of primarily Sadducees actually conspired to remove him. Christians need to get their facts straight and repent of their slanderous accusations against innocent Jews! Moreover, NO JEW has laid a hand on Yeshua for almost 2000 years; so perhaps its time to stop accusing Jews of killing a man that died before any of them were even born! Frankly, coming from Christianity, a religion swimming in more blood that it caused than any organization in the history of mankind, ANY accusation of murder is hypocritical to the extreme! Christianity is a religion stained head to toe with the blood of millions of tortured souls, and it's NOT just the Catholic Church. Protestants have their own blood stained garments.
So, in truth, even with Yeshua there was NO human "sacrifice". Thus, the requirement for DEATH specified in Torah WAS met by Yeshua WITHOUT a human "sacrifice" taking place, and it is the "death" requirement that is the actual issue. The "sacrifices" were ONLY a mechanism to substitute for the actual required "death" of the sinner. I will restate, that IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT THE "SACRIFICES" WERE ONLY TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE "DEATH" OF THE SINNER. The true emphasis should be on the DEATH requirement, not the sacrifice itself. People get hung-up on the term "sacrifice", and therefore miss the very intent of the institution of sacrifices, which was as a SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH of the one committing WILLFUL sins, for which the Torah gave no way out other than the LITERAL DEATH of the willful sinner! The entire sacrificial system was set up solely as a means to legally fulfill the death requirement imposed for sin. The sacrificial system has been unwisely divorced from the very reason for its establishment. Of course, I am only referring to the sin sacrifices. There are many other "offerings," which can be considered part of the system.
Therefore, Yeshua's substitutionary death was accomplished without a human "sacrifice" being made, and thus does not violate the Torah's prohibitions against human sacrifice. When the term "sacrificial death" of Yeshua is used, it needs to be clarified that this "sacrifice" was technically NOT a sacrifice, but was, instead, a "substitutionary" death.
My point is this: Yeshua's death does NOT violate prohibitions against human sacrifices yet DOES fulfill the Torah's CLEAR requirement for death OF the sinner, or IN PLACE OF the sinner. And it fulfills this with a HUMAN, which is the ONLY TRUE replacement in all creation that can be made for another human!
If one wants to disagree, so be it. I fully understand; however, I feel my explanation is fully Torah compliant and, more importantly, Torah logical. I feel YHWH gave us a brain for a reason - the reason being TO USE REASON! The spoon feed mentality of many is, at times, a barrier to the many clear hints YHWH provides. The fact remains there is no Torah violation in Yeshua's death except, perhaps, of the Oral Torah of the Rabbis, and I do NOT consider such Oral tradition to be infallible. Yeshua's death DOES complete a very obvious Torah requirement for death from sin, and it does so without a human sacrifice being made since Yeshua gave himself.
So, there was actually NO true LEGAL solution in the Torah given at Mt. Sinai to the sin question. Torah, as given at Sinai, was missing THE key element that was ultimately given through Messiah Yeshua. LEGALLY, YHWH was required BY HIS OWN TORAH to condemn EVERY sinner - particularly every intentional sinner - to eternal death! Grace and mercy was the only solution, but such grace is a violation of the LEGAL demands of Torah! I feel, by providing a "legal" (human) and complete answer to the sin question, Yeshua became THE crowning completion, fulfillment (in the sense of completing) to Torah. Through Yeshua the Torah was truly completed by the addition of the legal solution to forgiveness for willful sin. In effect, in my opinion, Yeshua provided the crucial ingredient that was previously missing - a complete and lawful solution to sin. This is a primary way that I feel the previous sacrificial system, which utilized the death of animals in place of the lawful requirement for the death of the sinner, "pointed to" Messiah or was a "tutor to lead us to Messiah". Traditional Christianity removes this key ingredient through the blasphemous, idolatrous teaching that Yeshua is God.
YHWH was placed in a position Christians say is impossible since they say it is impossible to keep Torah perfectly. It was required, in order for Him to abide by His Own Divine Law, that a 100 percent MAN keep Torah perfectly. IF that was done this MAN could then be placed into YHWH's already LEGAL sacrificial (punishment) system to address the "impossible" sin question; thus, becoming the crowning, achievement and the "cornerstone" of Torah. Even Judaic literature plainly states the animal sacrifices were to substitute for the human. Since Torah required the HUMAN to die, it would be yet another Torah violation for an animal to die in place of the human. Again, mercy and grace was shown, but until Yeshua this mercy had the appearance of placing YHWH, Himself, in the position of a Law Breaker.
I submit to you that this position is supported by the following verses.
I can now repeat what I said earlier with the hope that it will be more understandable:
The problem is NOT the Law; it never has been! The problem is the Law breaker! Traditional Christianity wrongly and irreverently accuses YHWH of giving a faulty "Law" (torah) and Judaism fails to include THE crucial final ingredient (Yeshua) in that Law - the final revelation that gives the torah a way to atone for willful, rebellious sin. Christianity removes the "Law" by declaring it useless to save without understanding what that "Law" is and presents Messiah Yeshua as the answer separate from the Law, and Judaism removes Messiah Yeshua and presents the Law separate from Yeshua! BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG because they both promote an incomplete revelation! Both of them fail to present the TOTAL and COMPLETE "Law" of God!
The apostle Paul was correct. The "Law" does NOT have the power to save UNLESS Yeshua's accomplishments, the final revelation and crowning touch of that Law, is included. THESE POINTS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL AND MUST BE GRASPED IN ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND BOTH THE "TORAH" AND YAHSHUA'S GLORIOUS ROLE IN GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN!
I could go on endlessly with Scriptural proofs of my position; however, this article has already become quite lengthy; therefore, I will end it with this prayerful, plea:
IF you follow these 3 suggestions, you will confront endless contradictions to what you have probably been traditionally taught and will be forced to make a decision. Are you going to accept what YHWH says through His Word, or are you going to accept what your preacher says? TRUE Truth Seekers will ALWAYS give preference to YHWH. When I followed these suggestions, I realized that my faith for 40 years was largely a gross departure from the true teachings (Torah) of the Almighty, and my 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of deception came to an end as I entered the promised land of Truth.
I pray you are sincere and can truly escape the lair of the Beast before our King returns, after which it will be too late.