The Gift of Salvation from a Torah Observant Perspective

Understanding how salvation works can be very confusing, especially within the Hebrew community, where believers in the Messiah still feel called to be obedient to Scripture's instructions. How does salvation as a free gift of the Messiah fit with the belief that we should still keep Biblical law? Do we believe that you have to do certain things in order to be righteous or saved?

Imagine being gifted with a high-end camera and all the accessories, but not knowing how to use it. DSLR cameras are more complex than point-and-shoot cameras and it's easy to see that their image quality is superior. But if you don't know how to use this camera, you'll be left feeling frustrated.

Unless you refuse to accept this gift, that camera is yours, whether or not you learn how to use it. Good camera equipment is expensive, and it holds its value well. You could keep that camera in a closet and not think about it for years, and it would still belong to you. If you came into a hard time or decided you wanted to use it, it would be there and waiting.

Whether or not you choose to use the camera, it is still yours.

If you learn to use that camera, you would benefit from that. You would be able to capture memories throughout your life, taking pictures of your family as it grows and special moments you experience. It could be a creative outlet for you. You could develop it into a business, and make a living shooting family and wedding photos professionally, giving your clients the gift of lovely pictures. Those pictures in turn could help people see their own beauty and grow in confidence. Those photographs you take could provide comfort and healing to a family grieving from losing a loved one. 

A lot of good can come from this camera! But only if you learn how to use it.

If you just accept the gift and keep it in the box, you'll still have its value at the end of your life. But you will miss out on the joys and benefits it can offer you throughout your life.

I believe salvation works in much the same way. If you ask YHWH for forgiveness, then I believe he is gracious enough to extend that to us, regardless of if we do everything he commands or have perfect theology or whatever else.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of YHWH is everlasting life in the Messiah Yahusha our master." -Romans 6:23

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your doing; it is the gift of YHWH, not a result of works that one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

I don't think you have to keep the seventh day Sabbath, or eat Biblically clean, or celebrate the set apart times in order to have salvation, but I do believe that doing these things would benefit you! The Bible's instructions aren't just meaningless hoops to jump through to try and win some extra brownie points. If you honor your parents, then you will have a better relationship with them. If you don't commit adultery, there is peace and trust in your family and home. If you set apart the Sabbath day, then you benefit from physical rest and a mental-reset each week.

When the Bible gives us instructions, they are not a threat. Our salvation is from the Messiah's work, and not from my ability to perfectly follow the word. The commandments are not, "Do this or else." YHWH gives us instructions as an opportunity for direction and blessings in our lives. The commandments are, "Do this and be blessed."

Related posts:
Biblical Law: Have To or Get To?
King David's Final Advice
Traffic and Laws: The Benefits of Scripture's Instructions

Understanding 1 Corinthians 10:27

When I was first getting an understanding of Biblically clean eating and keeping other commandments in Scripture, 1 Corinthians 10:27 kept throwing a wrench in my understanding of the Bible.

This verse often gets translated like this:

"If any unbeliever invites you to a meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience." -1 Corinthians 10:27 NIV

Isn't this giving permission for us to eat anything, including unclean animals? At least when someone serves it to us? And if I shouldn't raise questions of conscience, I guess that means I should disregard any concerns I have over the ethics and decisions of multi-national corporations that are largely in control of the food supply, and not worry about things like supporting local farmers, good growing practices, or fair trade.

While it's hard to understand the above passage as anything but a free pass to do whatever we want, that is incredibly confusing in light of so many other passages from Scripture about clean eating! Why does the Bible share the story of Daniel refusing to eat unclean meat? Why does Peter mention after his vision that he has never eaten anything unclean? Why were Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden because of eating something the Creator told them not to? Why does Leviticus succinctly enumerate which animals should not be eaten? What is the point of all this if we are ultimately allowed to eat anything?

We need to know that the ancient Greek did not have punctuation. It just had words. How you string them together will greatly impact the meaning of the words! Do you remember those illustrations from middle school English on the importance of commas? Words like, "I want to eat, Mother" can mean someone is telling their mom they want to have dinner. But if you remove the comma and are left with, "I want to eat Mother," then the same words take on a cannibalistic meaning! That's a silly example but it demonstrates how punctuation can dramatically change the meaning of a sentence.

When Scripture is translated into English, it's up to the translators to add the grammar and punctuation that make it a lot more readable for us. How could their personal beliefs and the religious tradition they are surrounded with not impact where they choose to put those punctuation marks? While I believe the word of YHWH is perfect, human translations of it are not.

The word for word Greek translation goes like this:

all - the - those being offered - to you - you eat - not any - thoroughly judging - through - the - knowledge

The first time I read this I stopped after, "All being offered to you you eat." But if you keep going you have, "All being offered to you you eat not any." What a difference! This gives us an entirely opposite meaning! In the Greek, there is no punctuation to indicate if the word for 'not any' should be paired with eating or with thoroughly judging. It's up to the reader to understand how these words fit with Scripture. We do that by looking at the context this statement is made in - what's going on in the rest of the chapter? what was being discussed before that? who is the audience? - and what the rest of the Bible says about this subject.

Which translation fits better with the context of this statement?

A few verses prior in 1 Corinthians 10:21, "You cannot drink from the cup of YHWH and the cup of demons." And just a few verses later, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of YHWH," which illustrates that our decisions around food can glorify YHWH or not. From those verses it wouldn't make sense to say to not raise questions of conscience or use judgment when it comes to food matters.

Which translation fits better with the rest of the Bible?

We have instructions like, "you shall not eat what is unclean," lists explaining what can and cannot be eaten, examples of people like Daniel and Peter, and no indication whatsoever from the Messiah that they food instructions are no longer applicable. He even went out of his way to say, "I did not come to abolish the commandments." Translating the verse as, "Eat whatever is set before you without using your judgment," would be starkly opposed to other things the Bible says about eating.

There isn't anything in the context of this chapter or the rest of the Bible to support the common translation of, "Eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience." That translation is jarring and doesn't fit with the rest of Scripture. A few chapters prior Paul literally tells us not to eat something that would cause someone else to stumble, so it wouldn't make sense for him to say to eat anything now.

Are you a follower of church tradition or YHWH's word? If we call ourselves Bible believers, would it be more fitting to translate this verse in a way that lines up with the rest of Scripture or with church doctrine? For me, that's an easy choice.

I believe a better translation of this part of Scripture would be:

"Whatever is set before you eat nothing, ask questions for conscience's sake."

When we understand the verse this way it fits with the rest of Scripture, and the verse makes more sense itself. Otherwise, why would it throw the bit in there about the conscience or "thoroughly judging through knowledge"? Does that really sound like the Bible, "Go ahead and do whatever - don't worry about your conscience"? This book is filled with commandments on how to live and stories of examples we are to follow - including people literally dying to keep YHWH's instructions - and then suddenly, "Whatever situation you're in, don't worry about turning to Scripture to see what you're supposed to do." (Because 'the knowledge' would be knowledge of what the Bible says.) Not judging if something is acceptable according to Scripture or not would also be a direct contradiction from the Messiah's instruction in John 7:24 to judge righteously!

It's also interesting to look at why this might have been said. We know that many early believers who had been part of Judaism followed an unbiblical rule of not eating with unbelievers. This began to change following Peter's vision, so many former Jews were eating with people who were new to the faith, or unbelievers, for the very first time. Paul is giving practical advice on how you act when you are in that situation, since many people he knew hadn't experienced that before. Also happening at the time was a huge evangelism push, where believers travelled far and wide to share the good news of the Messiah. These people were intentionally going to the homes of unbelievers and needed to know how to conduct themselves in a godly way. Paul is reminding his audience that unbelievers or even new believers are typically not familiar with the Biblical instructions about food, so that they don't accidentally eat something the Bible says not to while dining in someone's home.

This verse is an admonishment to actively work to keep the Bible's instructions about what we eat. It is literally telling us to ask questions before diving into a meal that someone else has prepared. When we have dinner at a family reunion, brunch at a friend's, or go out for a meal it is appropriate to ask questions about the ingredients so that we can maintain a Biblically clean diet. Questions like, "What's in this salad?" or "Is the quiche vegetarian?" or "Is this sausage beef or pork?" are okay to ask so that you can be informed about the decisions you make! Since we are to glorify YHWH with what we eat, that effort is well worth it.

More on Biblically clean eating:
Understanding Peter's Vision
Understanding the Messiah Declaring All Foods Clean
Five Reasons Believers Should Keep the Bible's Dietary Commandments

Understanding Mark 7:19 and the Messiah Declaring All Foods Clean

But the Messiah made all foods clean! 

When I first started learning about Biblically clean eating, Mark 7:19  (and it's counterpart versions in Matthew 15) is a verse that I kept going back to. Sure, many verses in Scripture articulate what we can eat and otherwise talk about eating according to the instructions we are given, but it says right here that the Messiah declared that all foods are clean!

"Don't you understand that the food you put into your body does not defile you? It passes through and doesn't go to your heart." (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
-Mark 7:18-19

These words used to make me think that God wasn't concerned about my dietary choices, because he was only concerned about my heart. And when I first started to feel like I might be called to keep Scripture's dietary commandments, this verse and it's seeming declaration of no rules confused me.

Scripture always lines up with Scripture. If it seems to contradict itself, that is caused by our misunderstanding. By stepping back and looking at the entirety of this chapter we will have a better picture of what this is about.

"Seeing some of his disciples eat bread with unwashed hands they found fault." -Mark 7:2

The setting here is that Pharisees and scribes came to the Messiah, and saw that his followers were eating without a ritual hand washing that was a tradition of the elders (verse 3). That is what they found fault with. Not in what the disciples were eating, since bread is considered Biblically clean, but that they were skipping a manmade tradition!

Mark 7 isn't talking about what is being eaten. If it was, the question would have been, "Why are your followers eating unclean animals?" or, "How come your followers are eating pigs?" But that was not what was going on! Followers of Messiah were skipping the manmade tradition of handwashing before eating and that's what offended these scribes that came to see Yahusha.

The Messiah says that the accusers were, "Forsaking the commands of YHWH, to hold fast to the traditions of men." (Verse 8) He was saying that the accusers were putting their own traditions ahead of the actual commandments of Scripture, which is an instance of the heart issue he brings up. If we give more honor and importance to human rituals than we do to the word of God, then our hearts have a serious problem. Today we often see this when people hold to their family or church's tradition of ignoring the dietary instructions and eating unclean animals. That is putting man's traditions above YHWH's commandment, and something the Messiah warns against in this chapter.

So why does the Messiah say that all foods are clean? Well, he really doesn't. The, "Thus he declared..." statement is in parentheses because it was added to later Bible manuscripts and not a quote from the Messiah. While it's wrong to add to Scripture, this foot-note would make more sense if we understood the context of it.

We hear, "All foods are clean," and assume this means we can eat whatever we want...even what the Bible says not to eat. But to understand this notation correctly we need to be aware that Scripture expressly tells us that unclean animals are not food (Leviticus 11:41, unclean animals are not to be eaten). Scripture never calls any unclean animal "food," it only calls Biblically clean things food. This is similar to our expectations of food today...there are just certain things that we don't eat. If I told you to help yourself to the food on the counter, you wouldn't eat the pile of mail or the houseplant or the pet goldfish there, because those things are not food. My saying, "Eat what you'd like," is not me suggesting or permitting you to eat what I don't consider food.

So why does he say that all foods are clean? He's not being redundant, he's explaining that everything the Bible says we can eat is considered clean...regardless of if you have washed your hands or done any other rituals that someone made up. He's saying that we are not defiled when we set aside manmade traditions, and we don't need to follow the Talmud or church tradition to considered holy in his eyes. The Messiah is declaring that if the item in question fits within the Bible's parameters for food then it is already considered clean without going through any manmade rituals. He is saying that if Scripture says you can eat it, you won't be defiled by skipping any un-Biblical extra steps.

The food you put into your body does not defile you. If we choose to consume something that Scripture calls an abomination, then we are defiled (Leviticus 11:43). The Messiah never said anything negative about Scripture's dietary commandments and he never did away with or changed any of them. This passage upholds the Biblical commandments while giving permission to not adhere to Jewish law (which are not the same as the laws and commandments in Scripture). By declaring all foods clean he encouraged us to stick with Scripture's instructions in place of manmade traditions.

More about Biblically clean eating:
10 Times the Bible Talks About Clean Eating
Understanding Peter's Vision
How To Eat Biblically Clean

Did the Messiah "Just Love Everybody"?

We need to talk about this. Right out of the gate, let's turn our attention to John 3:16.

"For YHWH so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but possess everlasting life."

YES. There is no doubt that the Creator does indeed love us. No matter our past, no matter our circumstances now. 

Lately I've been hearing a lot of discussions and seeing articles about how the Messiah "just loved everyone." And while that's true, I take issue with the point that is (typically) being made. That point is often that believers need to be quiet and not say anything about the things that others or society are doing that the Bible calls sin. We are told that saying things is rude and unloving and definitely not what the Messiah would have done. The Messiah gets presented as jovial guy who is never bothered by what others are doing; he hangs out with all sorts of people, never saying anything that could be offensive or hurt anyone's feelings. And I think...are we reading the same Bible?

How much Scripture do you have to skip to think the Messiah did nothing but hug everyone and avoid touchy topics? Yahusha frequently offended others, and didn't hesitate to correct wrong beliefs.

To brush up, the Messiah is the guy who...

-Called a follower Satan.

-Got out a whip, turned over tables, and threw merchants out of the Temple.

-Tarried in going to see his friend who was sick, letting him die, and devastating family who had asked him to come.

-Told us to judge others!

-Caused the death of an entire herd of pigs, to the financial detriment of the farmer.

-Deliberately put things into parables making them hard to understand.

-Totally ruined a Hanukkah party.

-Once told a woman who was serving and feeding him that she wasn't even doing the most important thing.

-Frequently told people to stop sinning.

Many of these stories don't seem so nice and kind and warm and fuzzy do they? How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of any of those interactions? Wouldn't you be upset if he destroyed your whole business and financial livelihood? Or publicly forced you out of a church? Would you be hurt if you were trying to give him good advice and he called you Satan? Or if you asked him to come and heal your dying brother and he deliberately didn't show up? If he called your lifestyle and choices sin and told you to change, would that sting a little?

That last one really gets me. You know what "sin no more" implies? That you're sinning. That you're making choices that aren't acceptable to the Creator. This statement would not be appreciated on a college campus today, or really anywhere for that matter.

Please, please hear me: I am not saying our Messiah wasn't loving or doesn't love everyone. But I do think he needs to be accurately represented. We need to realize that love isn't all compliments and presents, sometimes love looks like saying the hard things and having uncomfortable discussions. Loving someone doesn't mean that you don't confront lies they believe or hold them accountable for the choices they are making. Love doesn't mean that you just sit there and smile while someone says or does whatever they want, to their own detriment.

When you tell someone to stop sinning, are your words condemning or freeing and empowering? If you just hear, "You're doing this wrong," that causes frustration and hurt. But if you hear, "This is how you live your best possible life," that gives direction and shows us what is possible. Love is empowering someone to stop sinning, so that they might be free from the pain and bondage they are in. 

The Messiah does love people and we are called to that as well. Love means sticking up for the truth. To be sure, we need to use wisdom at all times - especially when we are sharing truth with someone. Work to control your tongue and speak words that are beneficial to those who hear them. Pray for wisdom about what to say and when to do that, please. We have all seen too many believers use the word as a weapon to attack someone, when we should be using it to plant seeds of truth and hope. Ask for wisdom and discernment and remember that real love and compassion is sharing the hope and the promises of YHWH and his Messiah with the people we encounter, no matter what we may get called or how we are treated for doing that. Love is being willing to be slandered to share his hope with others. Love doesn't hide behind lies. Love means risking our own comfort so that someone else can catch a glimpse of the fullness that the Creator has for them.

Love like the Messiah!

Biblical Instructions: Have To or Get To?

If there's a line I've heard more in faith discussions I can't think of it. "We don't have to do that anymore," gets blurted out at the mention of Biblically clean eating, celebrating the set apart times, and honoring the Sabbath day. It's usually followed up with some sort of explanation about how, yeah, those poor people in the Old Testament really had to do a lot of stuff, but the Messiah came to set us free from that.

Call me crazy, but I think the Messiah had something a little more significant in mind than freeing up our Saturday schedules for his time in the flesh. He didn't teach that we can eat anything we want. And I can't think of any of his parables that might lead us to believe he wanted to revamp the holiday seasons. (Changing the set apart times is something Scripture mentions the anti-Messiah will do though - see Daniel 7:25.) He called himself a shepherd, and whenever he talked about sheep his message was that he would seek them out to bring them back into his flock. He told no stories where he set them free to do whatever they wanted.

I know when most people tell me, "We don't have to do that anymore," they are just regurgitating what they've heard many pastors and believers say. Rarely, if ever, does this statement come from who has significantly studied these topics themselves. But I think what this boils down to is not trusting in the character and nature of YHWH.

A friend of mine is married to a man who used to be very abusive. Thankfully, he has found a lot of healing and their lives have changed significantly. She is no longer not allowed to leave their home or use the phone without telling him. She doesn't have to do those things anymore. But before she did because her husband was then unhealthy and mean. Have you ever heard someone say the God of New Testament is different than the God of the Old? Do you think the Creator was just a cruel taskmaster until the Messiah finally calmed him down?

YHWH stays the same. He is filled with loving kindness. He hears our cries and has mercy on us. Our names are written on his hands. He loves us and has good plans for us. And that's how has always been. He didn't change from an angry and uptight character to a more laid back one in that page between the Old and New Testaments. He has always been the same.

If we believe that he is good today, then we have to believe that he was good yesterday and at the beginning. And if we believe he has always been good then it only makes sense to believe that the instructions he has given us have been for good reason.

While I strongly believe that we are commanded to do things like celebrate his set apart times, observe the Sabbath, and follow his dietary instructions, I don't do those things "because I have to." I get to do those things! I am privileged to have instructions from the Living God on how to live.

Related posts:
Keeping the Law: Ten Commandments as Marriage Vows

King David's Final Advice
Traffic and Laws: The Benefits of Scripture's Instructions

A Hebraic Perspective on Galatians

Galatians may well be the most misunderstood book in Scripture. When I was first learning about Torah observance and the Hebrew faith, the idea of keeping the commandments would make sense...and then I would read Galatians and get very confused. It seems to go against so much of Scripture doesn't it? Passages are often pulled out of this book to say that we no longer need to follow YHWH's instructions. But Scripture doesn't contradict itself! Having a better perspective on this book will help us to see how it fits with all of the Word.

This post will help you to learn the meaning of Galatians and better understand its main points. It will also help you study this part of the Bible!

There are a few things to remember when we read Galatians: 

-This is not meant to be read on its own but in conjunction with the rest of the Bible. Meaning, it needs to fit with what the rest of Scripture says.

-Most translations fail to distinguish between the commandments for how we are to live (love your neighbor, honor the Sabbath day, eat what Scripture permits, do not steal or murder, etc.), from the laws regarding the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system, confusingly lumping them together as "law" or "Torah." Making a distinction sheds so much light on this book!

-Paul is not writing about all the commandments in Scripture but rather hones in on circumcision and animal sacrifice.

-This was written by Paul and Scripture says that his writings are often hard to understand and end up twisted (2 Peter 3:16). It is unrealistic to think that a quick, cursory reading of an English translation will lead us to the proper meaning of this passage when Scripture warns us that it is difficult to understand. Take time to study and search out the true meaning of this misunderstood book.

Because I come from a Christian background, I have heard so many times that Galatians says that we are set free from the pointless and burdensome instructions of our Creator. These are some of the verses that used to confuse me. Let's take a closer look to see what Scripture really is saying in these passages.

Addressing 'problem verses':

Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. -Galatians 2:3
This verse is talking about circumcision and does not mean that Titus wasn't compelled to follow other commandments in Scripture. Circumcision is a weighty topic and one that we won't fully delve into in this article. Remember that Paul did encourage Timothy to be circumcised later and we have no evidence of either of them or Paul disregarding Scripture's instructions in other areas.

Peter was at fault for separating himself from Gentiles. -Galatians 2:11
Peter was at fault because the Bible doesn't say he should do this. The idea of separating from Gentiles is a man-made Jewish idea, not something found in Torah. Which is why verse 12 expressly mentions that he withdrew from Gentile believers because of fear of others. He was fearing man's traditions and rules (Judaism's laws in this case) in place of YHWH, which is what Paul called him out for.

"Why would you compel a Gentile to live as a Jew?" -Galatians 2:14
It's important to realize that Paul no longer sees his faith as part of Judaism (in 1:13 he says that Judaism was his former way of life). So yeah, why would he expect Gentiles to live as Jews who observe literally thousands of rules not found in Scripture? The context of this alongside his rebuke of Peter keeping Jewish law tells us that Paul does not think believers should follow Jewish law, but he's not saying that all believers shouldn't keep YHWH's commandments.

"Man is not declared right by works of Torah." -Galatians 2:16 
We should look at this verse from the perspective of, "Man is not declared right by animal sacrifices." This fits with Hebrews 10:4 which tells us it is impossible for animal blood to take away our sins. But even if we look at it from the perspective that we aren't saved by keeping the commandments perfectly, there is no contradiction here. Salvation is a free gift given to those who believe, regardless of my ability to serve him perfectly. However, our actions should reflect our faith!

"Through the Torah, I died to Torah." -Galatians 2:19
An easier to understand rendering of this verse would be, "Through Scripture, I died to the Levitical priesthood." It's significant that Paul says through Torah or through Scripture, because he can see that the change from the Levitical priesthood back to the Melchizedek is something that Scripture teaches. He says he is dead to the system of animal sacrifice because it can no longer do anything for him.

"If righteousness is through Torah, then Messiah died for nothing." -Galatians 2:21
This isn't discrediting the Torah but rather speaking a quite obvious truth. If we didn't need the Messiah for salvation, then what was the point in his being killed? If the Levitical sacrificial system was all we needed then that would have been an easy decision for YHWH to continue that rather than subject the Messiah to torture and murder.

"Does the Spirit come by works of Torah or by belief?" -Galatians 3:2
Did the Levitical system lead to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? It did not, simply because the Levitical system is the not the fullness or best of YHWH's plan for mankind. That is not an insult to the Levitical temple, but an admonishment that our faith shouldn't stop there. 

You need belief to be a son of Abraham. -Galatians 3:7
This fits with what we know about who Hebrews really are. It's not about your bloodline, it's about placing your faith in the Messiah and serving him as Scripture teaches.

"Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the Torah." -Galatians 3:10
Would Paul have bothered bringing this up if he thought we shouldn't keep any of the commandments and were off the hook of being cursed? I don't think so, and his phrasing is quite telling...he expects believers to have a question about doing 'part' of the Torah instructions because he expected them to follow the commandments given in the Book of the Covenant, without keeping the Levitical Temple system in effect. If it weren't for the Messiah, we would be cursed by not participating in the Levitical system. But now we have the Messiah and he set us free from the curse that comes from stopping Temple sacrifices.

"No one is declared right by the Torah." -Galatians 3:11
You can't sacrifice enough animals to be declared right. The blood of animals does not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). That's not an insult to the Levitical priesthood, merely an admission that Yahusha's blood is superior. And of course we aren't declared right by our works either, but that doesn't mean YHWH doesn't want us to live a certain way. 

"Torah that came 430 years later does not annul a previous Covenant." -Galatians 3:17
Did you know that most of the commandments for how to live were given before the Levitical priesthood was established? Instructions on the Sabbath, the set apart times, and clean eating were all spoken of well before the Israelites wandered in the desert. Those things aren't annulled or done away with because of the change in the priesthood. This sentence shows us that Scripture makes a distinction of the commandments for how to live and the commandments for the Levitical system. They are not inextricably linked together. This also tells us that the "Two Torahs" are both from Scripture, and Paul is not talking about the oral law (Judaism's man made rules).

This Torah was added because of transgressions... -Galatians 3:19
Added is a key word here. What was the Levitical system and animal sacrifice added to? The instructions YHWH had already given on how to live! Transgressions here is talking about the sin of the golden calf.

"...until the Seed should come to those this promise was made to." -Galatians 3:19
Until the Messiah comes! The Levitical sacrifices were made until the Messiah. This passage is talking about animal sacrifice and circumcision, but Paul is not saying that the rest of the instructions were just until the Messiah. We see the Messiah and his followers (Paul included) keeping the Torah throughout the New Testament.

The Torah is not against the promises of YHWH. -Galatians 3:21
Meaning that his instructions go with his promises. You don't throw out the instructions to get to the promises.

Yahusha was born under Levitical law. -Galatians 4:4
Messiah was born when the Levitical system was still in operation, in order to redeem those who were under this priesthood. This is both a statement of fact (that the Temple was running when he was born), and a reminder that he comes to us where we are.

Becoming enslaved again...observing Gentile ritual days. -Galatians 4:10
Please see that this passage is about turning back to cultural holidays and man-made traditions, not about keeping the Biblical set apart times! Verse 9 talks about turning away from YHWH. Would it make more sense to view celebrating a feast of Scripture as turning away from the Living God, or turning to man-made holidays with roots in paganism as turning away from the Creator?

Two covenants: free woman/slave woman allegory. -Galatians 4:24
Take note that these women are from Abraham's time, including the free woman. The Melchizedek priesthood was in effect during Abraham's time, while the Levitical system didn't come into place until hundreds of years later. YHWH's intention was always for his people to have the free woman covenant, but that covenant was rejected by Israel at the sin of the golden calf. The Messiah's sacrifice restores us to the original free woman covenant, including the many commandments on how we are to live such as celebrating the Biblical holidays, not consuming animals that Scripture doesn't permit, and honoring the Sabbath day.

Messiah has made us free from the yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1
True freedom only comes from the Messiah. And going back to the allegory of the free woman and the slave woman, the Levitical priesthood is the slave woman. Yahusha set us free from having to sacrifice animals.

Declaring yourself right by animal sacrifices severs you from the Messiah. -Galatians 5:4
Yes, saying that your sins are covered because of an animal sacrifice is deeply insulting to the Messiah! But that's what severs you from him; note that this verse doesn't say, "Honoring the Sabbath day severs you from Messiah," or "Keeping the commandments cuts you off." 

"Do not use freedom as an occasion for the flesh." -Galatians 5:13
Freedom and forgiveness don't make it wise to live foolishly. The Messiah didn't set us free from sin so that we can do whatever we want without consequence.

"The entire Torah is completed in one word, love your neighbor as yourself." -Galatians 5:14
This is a summary of the instructions we are supposed to be keeping. Think of it as the description on the back of a book - here's what it's about, see inside for more.

"If you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under Torah." -Galatians 5:18
A better rendering of this would be that if we are being lead by the Spirit, we won't return to the Levitical system of animal sacrifice. The Holy Spirit accepts Yahusha's blood offering as superior to the blood of bulls and goats and will not lead you to resume animal sacrifice. This verse is not saying that the Holy Spirit would lead us away from the word of YHWH or his instructions. Paul has just spoken on the Torah telling us to love our neighbor, it would make no sense for him to mean 'Torah' in the same context here...if you are lead by the Spirit you won't love your neighbor? That doesn't fit at all with Scripture.

Galatians doesn't have to be confusing. The Creator wants you to understand this important book and see that it truly does not contradict the rest of Scripture, and it doesn't bad-mouth it either. The Word of YHWH is seamless and by taking the time to study the Hebraic perspective of the writer we can see that this book doesn't tell us to throw away the commandments.

Related posts:
Comparing the Melchizedek and Levitical Priesthoods
Why We Don't Sacrifice Animals

Is Keeping Biblical Law Possible?

This post takes examines the common Christian belief that keeping Biblical law has always been impossible, and that it can't be done today. We will see that this idea does not fit with God's words says about this.

We have often heard that the commandments given to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai are simply too hard for us to keep. If that is so, doesn't that seem a bit ridiculous - why would YHWH bother? Why make up a bunch of rules just to get rid of later?

Since the commandments are likened to a marriage contract, it would be helpful to start there. At our wedding, my husband and I vowed to love, honor, and care for one another. Do we do these things perfectly? 100% of the time? No. Does that mean we shouldn't even try? Of course not!

The Messiah always upheld Scripture's commandments and instructed us to keep his commands if we love him (John 14:15).

Just as each of us have specific ways we want to be loved, so does our Creator - in whose image we were made. Saying, "I love you" is important in a relationship, but stopping there will lead to trouble. Your actions need to back that statement up. Doing things for your spouse, spending time together, supporting one another - these are things that demonstrate your love. Should we be surprised that the Living God wants more from us than simply phrases like, "I believe in you," or "I love you"? After all, he made us in the very image of himself.

When YHWH gave the law he was not doing so to be cruel or to overcomplicate things. He did not do so out of punishment, but rather to teach people how to have a better relationship with him, and how to have an abundant life...by following Biblical law. And he told us that we really can do what he says.

"For this commandment which I am giving you today is not too  hard for you, it is not beyond your reach." -Deuteronomy 30:11

That settles it. If God says his word isn't too difficult to do, then it's not too difficult. He knows that we are humans, and he knows we fall short so many times. But he does expect us to try our best to follow his instructions. 

The Messiah said, "Blessed are these that  hear the word of YHWH and put it into practice." In the Messiah's day the New Testament hadn't been written. The only thing he could have been referring to was the Old Testament, and that includes Biblical law. The commandments are practical steps we can take to honor the Living God through our actions. Jesus said it was a good idea to keep it. And we can.

Related posts:
How Much of Biblical Law Do Believers Already Keep?
Basics of Biblical Law
The Three Types of Laws in Scripture