Olive Tree Congregation

by Paul J. Rico (paulrico@hotmail.com)

Law of Moses, 613 Mitzvot, including The Ten Commandments

A problem with understanding the Torah is that the translators used the Greek word νόμος nomos which means and is translated into English as LAW which gives us the picture of police, judges and a legal system with all it’s protocol. What Torah really means is instruction, like the direction and discipline which a father gives to a son. Of course with police, judges and a legal system there is very little in the way of mercy and grace. But with a father teaching a child grace and mercy can abound. This basic misunderstanding about what the Torah is intended to accomplish and what it’s not supposed to be used for has confused millions of believers and the unsaved alike.

What the Law Cannot Do

Rom 8:3 It is not possible for the Law to do some things (three points below) because of the weakness of our flesh (sinful human nature), not that the Law failed us (because it is perfect and holy Rom 7:12) but rather our sinful nature failed us. Any effort or teaching to make the Law accomplish the following three points constitutes legalism. Legalism is by definition using the Law for purposes God declares to be invalid. License is not respecting the limitations that God put on man by the Law. Both errors cripple an individual’s victorious spiritual life, legalism by adding to God’s Word and license by taking away from God’s Word.

• The Law cannot save anyone. No one has ever been or will be justified by the Law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39, Gal 2:16, 5:1-4, Phil 3:9
• The Law cannot keep anyone saved. Having been saved by grace thru faith we are made perfect by the Spirit not by the Law. Gal 3:1-5, Rom 11:6
• The Law cannot make anyone spiritual. Being spiritual is the result of a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, being Spirit-filled. Gal 2:20, 5:17, Eph 5:18, Rom 8:7

Legitimate and Right Uses of TORAH (The Law)

1 Tim 1:8 – The Law is good if used for the purpose that HaShem intended, Rom 3:31, 6:1, 7:12,16,22,25

Torah literally means INSTRUCTION, but is translated as Law in the NT. Law and instruction are two different things in English so this tends to lead to a misunderstanding of what Torah is and what it’s purpose is. This instruction is like that a father gives to a little child on his knee. But what is that instruction? The Torah teaches that God deals with the world, man and Israel by grace Genesis 6:8 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace is the primary message of the Torah Exodus 34:6&7, and Psalm 103:6-14 are verses that if not memorized should be underlined and highlighted in every believers Bible. King David in Ps 103:7 stated that the lesson that God taught Moses that is the message of Torah is God’s ways of dealing with man and Israel is mercy, grace, loving kindness and compassion. Grace has always been the plan of God as taught in Torah and that didn’t change because God wrote the “law on our hearts and minds” Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews chapter 8. So: dispensationally the Law becomes the foundation for Grace in the progression of revelation from God. (Progressive Dispensational view not the Classical Dispensational view, see the outline on “Grace and Dispensationalism” following)

• Torah (the Law) teaches man the basis for God’s loving kindness and forgiveness. David taught that the message of Torah was the grace and forgiveness of HaShem (the LORD) Ps 103:6-12 also Deut 7:9, Num 14:18, 1King 8:23, Neh 1:5, 9:17, Dan 9:4 Torah teaches grace, mercy and loving kindness for those who respond to God in faith. The message that God judges sin is also found in the whole Bible including the New Testament, Gal 6:7, also read the book of Revelation. Grace doesn’t nullify the wrath of God for those who reject Messiah in the Old or New Testament Jn 3:36. So the Torah gives us the consequences of faith and unbelief. HaShem honors the choice that we make to believe or not to believe.
• Torah (the Law) gives us knowledge of Sin. Rom 3:19-20
• Torah (the Law) brings us to Messiah (Christ). Gal 3:23-24
• Torah (the Law) is in our hearts and lives as proof of the indwelling/baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8 (whole chapter)
• Torah (the Law) gives us a minimum standard of Holiness by which we are to live as believers and members of the Kingdom of God. Matt 5:17, 18 Life in the Spirit of God always requires a higher standard than the Law according to the Sermon on the Mount. Matt chapters 5,6 &7
• Obedience to Torah (the Law) gives us rewards in Heaven. Matt 5:19, 1 Jn 3:4
• The God uses Torah (the Law) to cleanse our ways as we live by them. Ps 119:9-11
• Obedience to Torah (the Law) gives us confidence and assurance of our salvation. I Jn 2:3
• Obedience to Torah (the Law) gives us rewards on Earth. Ps 1 (the whole chapter)
• Obedience to Torah (the Law) gives us benefits for health. Ex 15:26
• Obedience to Torah (the Law) establishes our testimony to the truth of the Kingdom of God and His Word before both saved and lost. Acts 21:15-26 After all of his missionary trips Paul sacrificed in the Temple. Why? To prove what? See verses 20-24
• Obedience to the Torah is the method by which we reflect the Holiness of God in our lives and thereby draw the lost to Messiah. Rom 7:12-25, Ps 19:7-14. That obedience can not be accomplished by the power of our flesh, but must be the outpouring of the Holy Spirit within us. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to accomplish obedience to the Torah.
• Obedience to Torah is the method by which we prove our love for God. Jn 14:15-24
• Torah (the Law) was (especially the book of Deuteronomy) the basis for the theocratic government of the nation of Israel. Study the book of Deuteronomy in light of the fact that it is a theocratic constitution.

Example of Abraham and King David

Romans 4:1-8 (Justification) here both Abraham (before the Torah and David after the Torah are made just before the HaShem by faith alone and given rewards for obedience. In James 2(Sanctification) we see (that is we humans see not HaShem) that Abraham was justified before other people such as us by his works, since we can’t see into his heart and mind to observe his faith. By his works we see his faith. HaShem however sees his faith without his works. HaShem see the heart of a person and understands where they are spiritually without needing to view a person’s outward works. Humans don’t have that ability solely enjoyed by HaShem. To correctly understand James 2 we must realize that the view isn’t HaShem’s but mankind.