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Torah (Law) and Grace

~ scriptures are from the Hebraic Roots Bible, and HBR Bible Notes in italics.
Bible Commentries and Notes.

Joh 1:17 For the Torah was given through Moses, "BUT" grace and truth came through Yahshua Messiah.

John never stated or implied that no form of grace came through Moses.
John understood that everything good has come by YAHWEH’s grace - including the Torah revealed through Moses.

John 1:17 confuses some people because of the way it’s translated in many Bible versions:
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
In the King James Version and New King James Version, the word “but” is italicized.
This means the word doesn’t appear in the original biblical manuscripts, but was added by translators. Often such additions help readers better understand the meaning, but not in this case. Here the addition of “but” creates a contrast that never existed in John’s original wording.

Translators of various other Bible versions, understanding the “but” doesn’t belong here, render this verse differently.
In two versions we see it as: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (NIV, English Standard Version).
Other versions give something similar (see, for example, the Christian Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, Bible in Basic English, New Revised Standard Version, Twentieth Century New Testament and Young’s Literal Translation).

The apostle John, being a devout Jewish Natsarim, certainly understood that grace existed before Yahshua Messiah came into the world.
He knew that Israel’s Elohim was gracious and merciful:
(Exodus 34:6; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 116:5; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).
He also knew that the Torah Elohim gave through Moses was a great blessing - a gift of YAHWEH’s grace:
(Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:86; Psalm 119:127; Psalm 119:140; Psalm 119:172; Romans 7:14).

For this reason John himself would write of the necessity for believers to keep YAHWEH’s commandments in passages such as these:

1Jn 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.
The one saying, I have known Him, and not keeping His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that one†.
But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of YAHWEH has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.
The one claiming to rest in Him, ought to walk, himself, even as He walked†.

~ 1 John 2:4 John's epistle is written somewhere in the mid 90's AD and John is the last living Apostle and much heresy is taking place. This scripture is clear proof that anyone saying that he is a disciple of Yahshua and not being obedient to the Torah and the commandments is nothing but a liar.

Adam Clarke Commentry
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him - This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.

~ 1 John 2:6 The Aramaic word used here for walk is “halach” which literally means “to go” or the way one should go, in which Rabbis get the term “halacha”, which is the way to go that is required to perform in order to be considered a disciple. Clearly part of that way included the Sabbath day, the Passover and feast days of Leviticus 23 and the whole Torah, excluding the Levitical law that was added (Gal 3:19). The clear message is that any true disciple of Yahshua needs to do the same things that He did, which was being fully Torah observant. Doing away with the Torah and commandments is not an option for a true believer in Messiah and is a litmus test to divide between a true disciple and one in name only. (Mat 7:20-23, Isa 8:20)

1Jn 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is the breaking of the Torah†

~ 1 John 3:4 Sin is clearly defined as the breaking of the Torah. The Christian argument against keeping the Torah is extremely weak and non-biblical as if there is no Torah, then there would be no sin, and then why would someone need a savior? It is utterly evil to preach a lawless message of salvation.
(Mat 7:21-23, Isa 8:20, Pro 28:9, Rev 14:12)

1Jn 3:22-24 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and we do the things pleasing before Him.
And this is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son, Yahshua Messiah†, and love one another, even as He commanded to us. And the one keeping His commandments is guarded by Him, and He will dwell in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us†.

~ 1 John 3:24 Obedience to the Torah is the evidence of one's faith and proof of the Ruach H'Chodesh (Holy Spirit) being in him.

1Jn 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of Elohim: When we loveYAHWEH and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of YAHWEH, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not a burden to us.

2Jn 1:5-6 And I now request you, mother congregation, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but one which we had from the beginning, that we should love one another. And this is love, that we should walk according to His commandments†. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

~ 2 John 1:6 The two overriding themes in all of the Apostle John's letters are love and obedience, which do not contradict each other but go hand in hand.

Adam Clarke Commentary
1 John 2:6 Abideth in him - He who not only professes to have known Christ, but also that he has communion with him, and abides in his favor, should prove the truth of his profession by walking as Christ walked; living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and of benevolence and beneficence to his neighbor. Thus Christ walked; and he has left us an example that we should follow his steps.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commandments of YAHWEH, and the faith of Yahshua.†

~ Revelation 14:12 It is quite clear that at this time the true believers in Yahshua are keeping the Torah in faith and obedience to the one who wrote it, (Rev 19:13, Joh 1:1-3; Joh 1:14).

Rev 22:14 Blessed are the ones doing His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and that they may enter by the gates into the city.

John never stated or implied that no form of grace came through Moses.
John understood that everything good has come by YAHWEH’s grace—including the Torah revealed through Moses.
In fact, John explained that Yahshua was the Word who acted as Elohim on behalf of the Father during the Old Testament period (John 1:1-3; John 1:14).
This means that the Torah EYAHWEH gave through Moses was given by the One who became Yahshua Messiah!
Yet in coming to the earth Yahshua revealed much more about this Torah - presenting the fullness of grace and truth (see John 1:14).

Elohim’s Torah was given to mankind for humanity’s own good and benefit (Psalm 94:12; Psalm 112:1).
That of itself was a great blessing, a wonderful bestowal of grace to mankind, made full through Yahshua Messiah. 

"You Are Not Under Law, But Under Grace"
Many people point to Romans 6:14, which says,
(KJV) Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Rom 6:14 For your sin shall not Master it over you, for you are not under the penalty of Law breaking, but under grace.

“You are not under law, but under grace,” to argue that Christians, being under grace, no longer need to obey YAHWEH's Torah.
When you look at what Messiah removed, it is clear it is the penalty (curse Gal 3:13) that was removed, not the Torah itself.

But is that what the verse means? We need only to read the next two verses to see that the apostle Paul ridicules that idea! He writes:
Rom 6:15-16 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the penalty of the Torah, but under grace? Let it not be!
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness†?

~ Romans 6:16 The Old Covenant had no way to have your sins removed, they were simply covered from year to year on Yom Kippur, which means to cover not remove. Now in the New Covenant YHWH gives a way through the shed blood of Messiah to completely have the penalty of your sins removed (Jer 32:33-34). However, if we willingly continue to obey sin after accepting this great sacrifice of the blood of the Son of Yahweh, then we are mocking the spirit of grace and our sins will not be forgiven. (Heb 10:26-32, Rom 6:23)

Adam Clarke Commentry
Romans 6:16 To whom ye yield yourselves - Can you suppose that you should continue to be the servants of Christ if ye give way to sin? Is he not the master who exacts the service, and to whom the service is performed? Sin is the service of Satan; righteousness the service of Christ. If ye sin ye are the servants of Satan, and not the servants of God.

Some people had assumed that grace meant they could continue in a sinful lifestyle. Paul scorns that idea, saying sin is a form of slavery that leads to death.

But what does Paul mean by “under law” and “under grace”? When the meaning of a Bible passage is unclear, we should first read the context - the verses before and after. At times we will need to read the entire chapter or even the entire book or how certain language is used elsewhere to see the context.

Interestingly, the epistle to the Romans, the letter that misguided theologians cite the most in arguing that Paul dismissed the Old Testament as being valid for Christians, actually has the largest number of Old Testament quotes that Paul uses to support his teachings!
Paul quotes or paraphrases the Old Testament 84 times in this letter, an average of more than five times per chapter!

It’s nonsensical to argue that Paul in Romans is arguing against the validity or authority of the Old Testament or the Torah of YAHWEH written there. In all, Paul quotes or paraphrases 184 Old Testament passages in his writings, (not counting another 83 in the book of Hebrews, which he likely also wrote), and this figure doesn’t include his additional dozens of references to people, places and events in the Old Testament.
Who in his right mind quotes from a source as a primary support of his teachings while simultaneously arguing that this source is no longer valid or authoritative? Clearly that makes no sense.

What subject is Paul addressing?
But back to the context of Romans 6, what subject is Paul actually addressing?
Paul tells us:
Rom 6:1-2 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin† that grace may abound? Let it not be! We who have died to sin, how shall we still live in it?

The issue or question Paul is addressing is simple:
Can a believer who has “died to sin”, by recognizing that his or her sin deserves the death penalty, and has sincerely repented, been baptized as a symbol of burying the old person in a watery grave and been symbolically raised (entered into the covenant agreement) to a new life as an entirely new person now led by YAHWEH’s Spirit, continue in a life of sin? Paul’s answer is blunt and simple: “Certainly not!”

In no way does grace nullify, invalidate or negate YAHWEH's Torah. YAHWEH's Torah is actually another gift of His grace toward mankind, it reveals the thinking, character and mind of YAHWEH and shows us the way He wants us to live! The longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, is one long hymn of praise and thanks to YAHWEH for the wisdom of His Torah and the blessings it brings to those who obey it. Grace and law don’t contradict one another, they greatly complement each other!

After the first few verses of Romans 6, Paul goes into a detailed discussion of two ways of life. One is our old way of living that led to slavery to sin, suffering and death, Romans 6:4. The other, Romans 6:8, is to “die with Messiah”, accepting His sacrifice to pay the death penalty we deserved, symbolically dying and being buried with Him in baptism, then rising from that watery grave “in newness of life”.

Rom 6:4 Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism† into death that as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:8 But if we died with Messiah, we believe that also we shall live with Him,

Now living a new life led by YAHWEH’s Holy Spirit, we are to:
Rom 6:12-14 Then do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its lusts. Neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as one living from the dead, and your members instruments of righteousness to Elohim. For your sin shall not Master it over you, for you are not under the 'penalty' of Law breaking, but under grace.

The essential point of the matter
Paul’s pivotal statement in Rom 6:14 ... for you are not under the 'penalty' of Law breaking, but under grace.

With the background leading up to this, Paul’s meaning is clear. For a believers, “For your sin shall not Master it over you” because believers are freed from slavery to sin by Messiah having died for us and are now no longer under the curse of the Torah.

Rom 6:11 So also you count yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to Elohim in Yahshua, Messiah our Master.

“For you are not under law but under grace.” This point Paul has been comparing and contrasting a sinful way of life that leads to death and a way of receiving and accepting YAHWEH’s gift of grace and mercy that leads to a new way of life that will ultimately be eternal life.

Now he compares and contrasts two very different outcomes. “Under Torah,” in this context, is referring to being under the penalty of the Torah, which is death. The Torah required death as punishment for sin. That never changed. What changed is that through YAHWEH’s grace, Yahshua Messiah emptied Himself of the glory, splendor, majesty and power that He shared with YAHWEH His Father and came to earth as a physical human being (second Adam) to take that awful penalty on Himself in our place.

Php 2:5-8 For think this within you, which mind was also in Messiah Yahshua, who existed in the very form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be the equal with Elohim†, but emptied Himself†, taking the image of a servant, having become in the image of the sons of men and being found in form like a man, He humbled Himself, having become obedient until death, even the death of a torture stake.

1Pe 1:18-21 knowing that not with corruptible things, like silver or gold, were you redeemed from your worthless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Messiah, as a lamb without blemish and without spot, indeed having been preordained for this very purpose before the foundation of the world, but revealed in the last times because of you, the ones believing in Elohim through Him, He raising Him from the dead†, and giving glory to Him so that your faith and hope may be in YAHWEH.

~ 1 Peter 1:21 Yahweh the Father raised Yahshua Messiah, the Son showing they cannot be the same being. (Mat 27:46)

Because of that supreme sacrifice on our behalf and His resurrection from the dead, in YAHWEH’s grace He has called us to His truth, forgiven our sins by the sacrifice of His Son, and offers us resurrection to eternal life just as Yahshua Messiah has been resurrected to eternal life.

Paul goes on to explain the only logical response in the lives of those who experience and recognize this great gift of YAHWEH’s grace:
Rom 6:17-18 But thanks be to Elohim that you were slaves of sin, but you obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you were enslaved to righteousness.

Being under grace does not mean out from under obligation to obey YAHWEH’s Torah.
Being under grace means out from under the penalty of the Torah for breaking it so that we may be empowered with new life to live in obedience to it in following Yahshua Messiah as Master of our lives!

Paul summarizes the point of this discussion in the last verse of the chapter of Romans 6.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death†, but the gift of YAHWEH is everlasting life in Yahshua, Messiah our Master.

Strong's numbers G5486 Gift
χάρισμα - charisma - char'-is-mah
From G5483; a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: - (free) gift.
Total KJV occurrences: 17

“Gift” here translates the Greek word charisma, closely related to the word charis, meaning “grace.”
And charisma means “gift” - the gift in this case being “eternal life in Yahshua Messiah our Master” - the ultimate gift of YAHWEH’s grace!

Grace and Law: Why Are They Inseparable?
The word grace is regularly used by some religious people as if it replaces all need to obey God’s law. That conclusion is not only inaccurate, it is also diabolical! Here is the reason: Without Torah there would be no need for the grace of forgiveness.

Strong's numbers G5485 Grace
χάρις - charis - khar'-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
Total KJV occurrences: 156

The word grace, " charis" is translated in the New Testament, is generally understood as freely shown “favor”, a gift.
In a religious context the word grace is used most often for the gift of forgiveness.
It refers to how YAHWEH extends His favor to repentant sinners by forgiving their former disobedience of His Torah.

Rom 3:25 whom YAHWEH set forth as a sacrifice of atonement† through faith in His blood, as a demonstration of His righteousness through the remission of our sins that are past, in the forbearance of Elohim,

Forgiveness is necessary because:
1Jn 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is the breaking of the Torah†.

~ 1 John 3:4 Sin is clearly defined as the breaking of the Torah. The Christian argument against keeping the Torah is extremely weak and non-biblical as if there is no Torah, then there would be no sin, and then why would someone need a savior? It is utterly evil to preach a lawless message of salvation.
(Mat 7:21-23, Isa 8:20, Pro 28:9, Rev 14:12)

If there is no Torah to break, sin would not exist, Rom 5:13 For sin was in the world until the Torah, but sin is not charged where there is no instruction;

And if there is no sin, the very idea of grace as YAHWEH’s forgiveness has no meaning at all. Consider that YAHWEH does not just dismiss our sins, our lawless acts. Nor does He simply ignore them. Rather,
1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you in the first place what I also received, that Messiah died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,

Heb 2:9 but we do see Yahshua, who humbled Himself to become a little lower than the cherubs through His suffering and His death, but now is crowned with glory and honor, so that He tasted death for the sake of everyone except YAHWEH†

~ Hebrews 2:9 The important phrase “except Yahweh” is in the original Peshitta but is excluded in the Greek translation and shows the duality of the Yahweh family.

Realize that grace encompasses more than just the forgiveness for past sins. It also includes the gift of YAHWEH's Holy Spirit to help us obey His Torah.

YAHWEH's grace includes His help in initially turning us away from sin and leading us to His truth and way of life, His forgiveness of our past sins and ultimately His granting us the greatest gift of all, eternal life in His Kingdom. But without Torah, the grace of forgiveness would be meaningless because there would be no way to define sin to be forgiven.

Through grace, we can first be forgiven of breaking YAHWEH's Torah and then empowered by His Spirit to obey His Torah from the heart.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, declares YAHWEH, I will put My Torah in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

Heb 8:10 Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says YAHWEH, I will put My Torah into their mind, and I will inscribe it on their hearts†, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people."

Thus, Torah and grace are utterly inseparable.
Torah is a gift of YAHWEH’s grace of showing us how to live. Torah is also necessary to define sin and its consequences to show the need for YAHWEH’s grace of forgiveness. Grace is necessary so sinners can be forgiven and led to obedience to YAHWEH through the power of Yahshua Messiah our Saviour and High Priest, by His very Spirit.

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons,
YAHWEH sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba! Father!

Php 1:19 For I know that through your prayers and the gift of the Spirit of Yahshua Messiah,
that all these things will result for my salvation.

A simple example of Law and Grace.
You are driving along the road in a set speed zone (Law), but you are travelling faster than the posted limit, you're speeding.(Lawlessness).
A Police officer pulls you over, and knowing that you broke the law, you expect to get punished, fine/ticket (the curse for breaking of the Law).
However the Officer, lets you off with a warning, (He applies His grace,) telling you to stay safe and within the limits of the law, (sin no more).

Now do you become obedient and keep the Law, drive safely, and remain under His grace?
~ or do you speed off down the road with no regard for His Grace or the Law?

There is no division between Law (Torah) and Grace, they go hand in hand.

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