About this user
I am a follower of the Nazarene, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach [Jesus Christ].
TORAH, SACRIFICE, & SALVATION
The Law [Torah] was never done away with (Deut 4:2 4:40, Psalm 111:7-8, Is 40:8, Matt 5:17-19, Rom 3:31). Without Torah there is no basis upon which YHWH judges sin, and hence no need for a Savior (Rom 3:20 7:1,7). I do not believe that Torah is a way to 'earn' Salvation; rather, it is a path of teachings and instruction for good living (Prov 4:2 6:23). Methods of atoning for our violation of Torah have always been present (Lev 16:30 17:11). These forms of atonement were always intended to point to the death of Yeshua for our forgiveness (Gen 22:2, Is 53:4-5, John 1:29). We are saved by faith alone in the redemption of Messiah (Rom 5:1). This true saving faith needs to manifest fruit in our lives in the form of holy living and walking in Torah (Matt 12:23, Luke 3:8, John 15:2-8, James 2:17). Those who truly believe in Messiah will seek to keep His Commandments [Mitzvot] (John 14:15-21, Ezek 11:19-21) and do teshuvah [actively turning away from sins]
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 true saving-faith (Matthew 19:17; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14)
You will abide in Yeshua's love, if you keep Torah (John 14:15-23) as He abided 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)
THE ASSEMBLY, AND BRIDE OF YESHUA
The "church" is NOT a group of Gentiles. The Greek word translated as "church" is "ekklessia" or "assembly". If you read the Septuagint you will see that this SAME ekklessia was gathered at Mt. Sinai with Moses (Exodus 19). The assembly is, and ALWAYS has been, Yisrael (1Cor 10:2, Eph 4:5). YHWH has a Covenant with Yisrael and Yisrael alone, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-18, 17:1-7, John 8:56, Gal 3:16). Gentiles partake of this Covenant through the shed blood of Yeshua (Matt 26:28), by which the promises of Yah are open to all people that are "grafted in" to Yisrael (Gen 12:1-3, Is 49:6 42:6, Jer 11:17, Rom 11:17-19, Gal 3:8, 29). The 12 tribes of Yisrael, including Judah, are the root and the Gentiles are the branch. The branch is not to boast against the root (Rom 11:19), hence all forms of Replacement Theology are unbiblical. Branch and root are one plant. There is no special status for Jews or Gentiles in Messiah. All are the children of Abba (Cor 8:6 12:13, Gal 3:28, Eph 4:6).
THE HEBRAIC CONCEPT OF BAPTISM
I believe in a Mikvah [water immersion] as an outward expression of the heart-felt confession of faith (Matt 28:19, John 3:5, Acts 1:41 2:38, Titus 3:5). The Mikvah is a typology of death and rebirth (Rom 6:4, Col 2:12). The Mikvah is a Torah command of ritual cleansing (Lev 11:36), and part of the traditional ceremony of "conversion" into B'nai Yisrael.
MOEDIM: YHWH'S APPOINTED TIMES/HOLY-DAYS
The Feasts found in the books of Moses (Lev. 23) are Feasts of YHWH ("moedim" meaning "appointed times"), which should be kept by all followers of Messiah. These are YHWH's holy-days. Yeshua kept the moedim. Paul kept the moedim. James kept the moedim. We should likewise keep the moedim. These include: Pesach (Passover), Matzah (Unleavened Bread), Yom Habikkurim (First Fruits), Shavuot (Pentecost), Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Succot (Tabernacles)
The moedim are a prophetic schedule. Yeshua fulfilled the first 4 Feasts in His first-coming, and will fulfill the remaining Feasts at His second-coming. Additionally, Scripture is very clear that the moedim will be kept in the Millennial Reign of Messiah. The Feasts show prophetic fulfillment of Yeshua being the Messiah. Yeshua's nature and the Majesty of our Creator is revealed in understanding the moedim Feasts. We should glorify our Savior by keeping them, and teaching others how they point to His identity and Gospel.
