"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who slanders a brother, or condemns him, is speaking against the Torah (Law) and condemning the Torah (Law). But if you condemn the Torah (Law), you have stopped keeping it and become a judge over it- There is only one Lawgiver and He is the only judge and has the power to acquit or sentence. Who are you to give a verdict on your neighbour?" (James 4:11-12, JB).
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The word 'torah' literally means 'instruction in righteousness' and is used in Scripture in three senses to refer to:
- 1. The Five Books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy);
- 2. The whole Tanakh (Old Testament); and
- 3. The whole Bible (Tanakh and Messianic Scriptrues/New Testament).
The Torah, as used in the first sense, contains the Terms and Conditions of Yahweh's Covenant between:
- 1. Himself and Israel (in the primary sense); and
- 2. Himself and all of Mankind (in the seconary sense).
In the Meridian of Time, a B'rit Chadashah or New Covenant was enacted between Yahweh and Messianic Israel through His Son - those who accept the Messiah Yah'shua (Christ Jesus) as their King.
The Terms and Conditions of this New Covenant consist of the former Torah completed, filled, or fulfilled by and in Messiah, which may be described as New Covenant Torah.
To accept King Messiah is to first, and most importantly, accept the message of Salvation, which is by emunah (faith) in the Messiah's death and resurrection (atonement) and to so become a 'Messianic' or 'Christian', saved from sin and death and saved to resurrection and aeonian life. The one thus born-again and spiritually regenerated becomes a citizen of the Kingdom of Messianic Israel whose Constitution and Laws are New Covenant Torah.
The saved are required to live King Messiah's mandated Torah-community lifestyle, the Scriptures being the written instruction on righteousness. Those who live it, empowered by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), having the Torah supernaturally inscribed on their hearts, demonstrate the righteousness of Messiah within them to the world and thereby become living witnesses of the salvation which is available to everyone.
The Torah is much more than 'Scripture' or the 'Word' for which are are eight different Hebrew words, all of which may be found in Psalm 119:
- 1. Davar (24 times), Yahweh's spoken/revealed word;
- 2. Imrah (19 times), anything Yahweh has spoken or promised;
- 3. Chuqqim (21 times), Yahweh's statues/ordinances for Israel that are not fully understood yet are binding;
- 4. Mishpatim (23 times), Yahweh's right-rulings and judgments;
- 5. Torah (25 times), Yahweh's Law, Teaching/Instruction and Revelation;
- 6. Mitzvah (s)/Mitzvot (pl) (22 times), commandments given with Yahweh's authority, also man's obedient deeds or works done in complete submission to Torah;
- 7. Piqqudim (21 times), helpful quidelines/instructions; and
- 8. Eduth (23 times), loyalty to Yahweh's covenant promises.
In later times, Torah came to embrace all of these concepts together. It means considerably more than just 'Law'. It would not, therefore, be wrong to refer to the Saviour, in one sense, as the 'Living Torah' or the 'Incarnate Torah' (Jn.1:1).
Has, as orthodox Christians claim, the Torah (Law) disappeared now that Messiah has replaced the Mosic Dispensation with the new Christian/Messianic one? Has it been 'nailed to the cross'? Or is the Torah (Law) still in force? And if so, in what form? Are the rules we are to follow simply what we feel to be right inside? What are the "works of the Torah (law)" which Paul so forcefully condemned? Were they the Torah or the traditions of men?
Discover the astonishing truth in answer to these questions in the articles on this Register!
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