MARCH 1999 Topic: Trust-grounded Obedience Yeshua MISHPISHPACHAHACHAH MANEWSLETTER TO THE FAMILY OF JESUS FROM RESTORATION MINISTRIES The Hebraic family is not simply an individual or private matter. Rather, it is an institution in which the whole community has a stake. Thus, the Hebrew word “mishpachah,” meaning family, not only refers to parents and children, but to the whole extended family worldwide in the body of “Yeshua”— our Jesus. Dear Friends, As the youth group talked, Promoting Trust-grounded In 1970 Sue and I were youth they realized that that father was Obedience Among God’s People directors in a congregation near right. He went on to recommend San Diego, Cal. One of the teens that we instead buy some tortilla- One way of describing Paul’s came up with an idea to have the making machines and give them to ministry is that he promoted trust- group raise some money to bring the kids. That way they could earn grounded obedience. Paul’s let- the Mexican kids who lived in the their own money and help lift them- ters tell us how to get on the narrow slums of Tijuana to Disney-land. It selves out of their poverty. We all road and stay there. It appears pre- seemed like a good idea and we concluded that his idea was a bet- cariously narrow to those on the went about doing projects to raise ter one, which proved correct. wide road. But those who under- funds. stand what trust-grounded obedi- Over the years the choice ence means know that the Holy Tortilla maker or Disneyland? between Disneyland and the tortilla Spirit enables them to reach the When we had amassed some maker has come to represent for narrow gate. In fact, I contend that funds, one kid’s father asked if he us the choices most Chris-tians Paul’s letters can only be under- could speak to the group about the face. One—the Disneyland path— stood as God intended by those purpose of our project: seems correct, feels good, and is who are heading for the narrow “You kids think you’re doing the choice most people would gate on the narrow road—the way right by raising money to bring kids make. The other path, the tortilla of trust-grounded obedience. In from Tijuana to Disneyland. How maker, offers little recognition but is other words, the people heading for do you think they’ll really feel about the path God would have us the narrow gate can clearly see the what you’re doing? Yes, they may choose. It’s also the choice Jesus beauty of buying tortilla makers enjoy their visit, but when it’s all addresses when He says: rather than taking people to over they’ll hate you— because Disneyland! One has long-lasting what you’re really doing is showing “Go in through the narrow potential; the other, a momentary them the hopelessness of their own gate; for the gate that leads to high. lives. destruction is wide and the road For centuries people on the You have access to Disney- broad, and many travel it; but it is a broad road have twisted Paul’s land because you happened to be narrow gate and a hard road that writings. Peter was aware of the born in this country. Those kids leads to life, and only a few find it” grumbling broad-road walkers who know they can’t go there whenever (Matt. 7:13,14). criticized Paul’s words: “Indeed, they want, and your taking them to [Paul] speaks about these things in Disneyland only makes them real- Have you ever asked yourself: all his letters. They contain some ize all the more what privileges “What is the narrow road and the things that are hard to understand, they don’t have. You’ll finish your narrow gate?” things which [people who do not day at Disneyland thinking you’ve “Am I heading for the narrow gate understand God’s Word] and the done a great thing and you’ll even on the narrow road?” unstable distort to their own have pictures to prove it. But as the “How would I know if I were?” destruction, as they do other kids back in the slum remember Scriptures” (2Pet. 3:16). that day, they’ll only end up despis- Before we get to the Judgment But you might object, “Not me! ing you because they’ll know that Throne we better have answers to I’m in a Bible-believing church!” or, you’re the “haves” and they’re the these questions! “I follow the teaching of [a noted TV “have nots”.” evangelist or esteemed writer or Equipping the Church to Go Back for its Future noted conference speaker].” 2 petuate anti-Semitism by nullifying • “I need to do things so that I Friends, the people in Jerusalem the invaluable worth of the Older can earn God’s love.” sat under the teachings of the best Testament for understanding God, • “I’m a better Christian than of the Jewish establishment. But His holiness, and His way of daily other people because I do more what does Jesus say to them? life for us. What immeasurable loss for God.” “You are in error because you do to us! When church leaders cursed • “Everyone else I know is doing not know the Scriptures or the the Jews for killing Jesus [and it, so it must be right.” power of God” (Matt. 22:29). prayers cursing Jews were pro- Don’t make the mistake of nounced in some Christian circles Another indicator of people on hoping the wisdom and knowledge until only recently], the curse of a the broad road is their habitual of others will keep you on the nar- false dichotomy between law and mentioning of their religious activi- row path. Personally understand- grace infected the whole body. As a ties. Their spiritual prestige in the ing the Scriptures and the power of result of the centuries of this per- eyes of others is very important to God are the trust-grounded combi- version, today’s church jargon for them. These people herald their nation that will enable you to walk “law” means legalism, while “grace” 40-day fasts and the concerts of the narrow road. Unless you means license to sin. prayer or prophecy seminars they immerse yourself in His Word and attend. But the real test is: Do they yield your very being to His Spirit, Apperception—The Way Back to do the things only the Father in you will invariably walk the broad the Hebraic Foundations heaven sees in secret? [See Matt. road to destruction. 6:4,6,18.] Let’s apperceive what Paul is “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, really addressing to the Romans A brief look at Romans and called to be an apostle and set and Galatians. [To apperceive is to Galatians reveals several founda- apart for the gospel of God—the return to the original framework of tional, interwoven truths: gospel he promised beforehand understanding that God gave the 1. God’s path of righteousness. through his prophets in the scripture author as he wrote. Only 2. Living in union with Christ. Holy Scriptures” (Rom. 1:1,2). by apperceiving can you fully grasp 3. Being children of our father the background and intent of par- Abraham Paul begins his letter to the ticular verses and passages.] 4. Receiving the promise of Romans by reminding the reader Paul defines the foundational Abraham. that he is Christ’s servant sent forth issues of walking the narrow road 5. Living in trust-grounded obedi- to share the true gospel. Both this in union with Jesus the Messiah. ence. letter and the one to the Galatians Our Hebraic forefather, Abraham, 6. Depending on the trust-based have everything to do with the true shared in this union with God. power of the Holy Spirit. gospel of the narrow road. Yet, to What a tragic testimony that this 7. The purpose of Torah to reveal many misguided believers, the pri- union with God was forfeited by all sin. mary issue of Paul’s letters to the but a remnant of Jewish people 8. The wide road of legalistic per- Romans and to the Galatians is the [see Rom. 11:5]. In the absence of version of Torah. supposed dichotomy between “the union with God, many Jews prac- law” and grace. In fact, both letters ticed a legalistic perversion of The following quotes or para- deal with the true gospel and warn Torah—attempting to gain spiritual phrases come primarily from the against the legalistic perversion of merit by maintaining correct behav- Complete Jewish Bible by David H. the broad road. The early followers ior. Stern. This translation is helpful in of Jesus who were heading for the This same perversion keeps the Restoration because it empha- narrow gate never perceived any many Christians today from the sizes the verb—the action, whether dichotomy between law and grace. very union with our Lord which the it’s one-time or ongoing—rather But we are impacted by this Bible promises. They are walking than the noun or subject as most kind of thinking today because of ‘the Disneyland Road’ and don’t English translations do. But first, the anti-Semitism that over the realize it, for their underlying let’s define some concepts: centuries has influenced the thought patterns are: 1) Torah: God’s righteous teach- Church. Bible translations or teach- • “Show me the path of least suf- ings; also called the law or the ings that falsely paint a picture that fering and personal cost so I can Pentateuch. we must choose between keeping decide how I should live as a 2) The Narrow Road God’s laws or living in grace per- Christian.” • Trust: the entry on the road lead- ing to the narrow gate. 3 gate. So many struggle in their own 6. You must make major adjust- • Righteous teachings: the step- energy to pursue religious prac- ments in your life to join God in ping stones on the narrow road. tices which they hope please God. what He is doing. • Holy Spirit: our Empowerment to The gospel Paul preached was nei- 7. You come to know God by expe- walk the narrow road. ther an intellectual assertion nor a rience as you obey Him and He • Jesus: our Companion along the frustrating rat-race: “For the king- accomplishes His work through journey, and our goal. dom of God is not a matter of you.” words but of power” (1Cor. 4.20). Through the trust we share, we Ponder these biblical realities. might encourage one another Whose power is he talking Where do you get hung up? Have on the journey to heaven about? The Holy Spirit’s! you asked your Father to help you? One evidence of a person Paul opens his letter to the embracing the narrow-road gospel “For with the heart one goes on Romans by enunciating the true is their desire to talk about Jesus trusting and thus continues to gospel and the pertinent issues with others! It’s not difficult to speak righteousness” (Rom. 10:10). related to living it out. Sadly, the of Someone you experience on a gospel he shared appears almost daily basis. Life on the narrow road The gospel that Paul preached non-existent in the US today: is lived in union with our Lord. If required an ongoing trust in Jesus “I am not ashamed of the you haven’t embraced the gospel and His power to make followers gospel, since it is God’s powerful of God’s power, then you may find righteous: “That if you acknowl- means of bringing salvation to every- yourself fearful to speak of Him. edge publicly with your mouth that one who keeps on trusting... For in How tragic if that silence means [Jesus] is Lord and trust in your it is revealed how God makes people that the Lord will be ashamed of heart that God raised him from the righteous in His sight; and from you [see Luke 9:26; 12:9; Gal. 1:8; dead, you will be delivered. For beginning to end it is through 2Cor. 11:4]. with the heart one goes on trust- trust—as the [Hebrew Bible] puts it: ing and thus continues toward ‘But the person who is righteous will Seven Realities To Experiencing righteousness, while with the live his life by trust’” (Rom. 1:16,17). God mouth one keeps on making pub- In their book Experiencing lic [testimony about Jesus] and We are declared righteous God, Henry Blackaby and Claude thus continues toward deliver- before God because of our trust in King capture the sequential ele- ance” (Rom. 10:9,10). the completed work of Jesus’s ments of walking the narrow road. Paul was not only presenting blood sacrifice for our sins. Our They progress from what God is the way of salvation for all of us; he trust in Him alone guarantees eter- doing to how you can join Him to was also addressing those Jews nal life. The covenant relationship what it will cost you if you are to who walked the broad road of per- established with God through our fully experience Him in your life. verting Torah through legalism. The trust results in a yearning to walk in Blackaby and King write, perversion of Torah viewed God’s His ways. Before that trust, we teachings as a pattern of correct were walking the broad road to 1. God is always at work around behavior rather than as the God- destruction. Now, because of our you. intended means to reveal their sin trust, we are given the Holy Spirit’s 2. God pursues a continuing love and their need to rely on His grace: power to walk the narrow road relationship with you that is real “For in His sight no one alive will be through the narrow gate. and personal. declared righteous on the ground Unlike the intellectual ‘gospels’ 3. God invites you to become of legalistic observance of of today that give lip service to bib- involved with Him in His work. Torah; rather, because what Torah lical truths but are powerless to 4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit really does is show people how change lives, Paul proclaims that through the Bible, prayer, cir- sinful they are... Therefore, we the gospel he preached was “God’s cumstances, and the church to hold the view that a person comes powerful means of bringing salva- reveal Himself, His purposes, to be considered righteous by tion.” It would seem that relatively and His ways. God on the ground of trusting, few of the people we’ve met in our 5. God’s invitation for you to work which has nothing to do with travels have embraced the power- with Him always leads you to a legalistic observance of Torah ful gospel that changes lives—the crisis of belief that requires faith commands” (Rom. 3:20,28). gospel which leads to the narrow and action. To contrast: Legalistic perversion: Observing 4 where it says Abraham is our experience a loving intimacy with Torah in such a way that evidences father in God’s sight because he the Father—something He dearly no need to trust in God nor depend trusted God.’ desires! on Him. This person walks the Crucial for us today is that broad road priding himself in his “[Abraham’s] trust did not waver” Jesus Christ is the Aim of Torah correct behavior. What he does is (Rom. 4:19). Unwavering trust is paramount, for he is often motivat- what the Holy Spirit gives us as we Jesus dealt once and for all ed to fulfill self-gratification and the face troubles. If you trust in the with the penalty and payment for need to be noticed. powerful gospel that changes lives, our sins. Paul speaks to both Jew you will encounter troubles and suf- and Gentile when he declares, “Sin Narrow road: Embracing the Holy fering. No stranger to pain, Paul was indeed present in the world Spirit as the power to understand encourages us, “So let us boast before Torah was given, but sin is and live out Torah. Why he obeys is about the hope of experiencing not counted as such when there is paramount. The Holy Spirit’s pres- God’s glory. But not only that, let us no Torah. And the Torah came into ence results in love and produces also boast in our troubles; the picture so that the offense trust-grounded obedience. because we know that trouble would proliferate; but where sin produces endurance...charac- proliferated, grace proliferated even Before we can proceed down ter...and hope” (Rom. 5:2,3). [See more. All this happened so that just the narrow road, there must be no Rom. 8:17.] as sin ruled by means of death, so doubt that entry onto the narrow To counter both Jew and also grace might rule through road begins with our trust. This is Gentile alike who are ensnared in causing people to be considered clearly the Hebraic basis of walking legalistic perversion hoping to gain righteous, so that they might have the Abrahamic road in union with God’s acceptance, Paul writes, eternal life through [Jesus] the our Lord: “God demonstrates his own love Messiah, our Lord” (Rom. 5:13,20- “In fact, [Abraham] received cir- for us in that the Messiah died on 21). cumcision as a sign, as a seal of our behalf while we were still sin- Do you understand what the righteousness he had been ners. Therefore, since we have Jesus accomplished on your credited with on the ground of the now come to be considered right- behalf? If you would continue to trust he had had while he was still eous by means of his bloody trust in His shed blood, you can uncircumcised. This happened so sacrificial death, how much more avoid the ensnarement of legalistic that he could be the father of every will we be delivered through him perversion. To summarize: uncircumcised person who from the anger of God’s judgment!” ‘For sin will not have authority trusts and thus has righteous- (Rom. 5:8,9). over you; because you are not ness credited to him, and at the So many today, even among under legalism but under grace... same time be the father of every those who have embraced the true so now offer your various parts as circumcised person who not only gospel, live in doubt of their salva- slaves to righteousness, which has been [circumcised], but also tion. Why? Because of the legalis- leads to being made holy, set apart follows the footsteps of trust tic perversion brought about by for God. For what one earns from which Abraham had when he was anti-Semitism in the Church. sin is death; and anything not still uncircumcised. Instead of growing in loving union based on trust is a sin...but eter- For the promise to Abraham with Jesus, church activities nal life is what one receives as a and his seed that he would inherit become the primary focus of their free gift from God, in union with the world did not come through religious expression. Once you are the Messiah [Jesus], our Lord.’ legalism but through the right- duped into embarking on the path eousness that trust produces” of legalistic perversion, you’ll per- There is No Christian Nirvana! (Rom. 4:11,13). ceive rejection by God. NO! He is Paul goes on to tell us that “the not rejecting you, but your means Embedded like a computer promise is based on trusting so of gaining His favor. The favor of virus in the broad path of legalistic that it may come as God’s free our Father’s grace has been given perversion is the delusion that a gift” [see Eph. 2:8,9]. The free gift freely to all who put their trust in His person will someday reach a is given to those “with the kind of Son. Instead, many try to earn “Christian Nirvana” where all temp- trust Abraham had—Abraham, what has already been freely given! tations will cease. The Bible tells us our father for all of us. This Legalistic perversion is unaccept- that as we walk in union with Christ accords with the [Hebrew Bible], able to God. That person will not we will struggle. To counteract the “Nirvana” group Paul reminds us failure or morally weak. [I’ve shared the Torah until everything is that we will all struggle with sin until before that a leader of one of the accomplished” (Matt. 5:18). Jesus we die: largest Protestant denominations and Paul affirmed Torah while “So the Torah is holy; that is, revealed to me that 50% of their attacking the legalistic perversion the commandment is holy, just and clergy were or had been involved in of Torah in their day. Today, we good. Then did something good adultery.] must continue to expose legalistic become for me the source of For some reason I was a safe perversion because it is the means death? Heaven forbid! Rather, it person to whom clergy could reveal by which the antichrist spirit can was sin working death in me their struggles. Sadly, I don’t think I operate so readily inside so many through something good, so that ever managed to help even one congregations. sin might be clearly exposed as clergy person break out of his In his letters Paul encapsu- sin, so that sin through the com- prison. Why? They were in the lates the function, the aim, and the mandments might come to be same prison as their flock. By way of Torah: experienced as sinful beyond maintaining the false assumption Function of Torah - to know what measure. For we know that the that one’s spiritual life becomes sin is. Torah is of the Spirit; but as for easier as he goes on, leaders inad- Aim of Torah - to walk in union with me, I am bound to the old nature, vertantly (or consciously) control Jesus sold to sin as a slave” (Rom. the very ones who have put them Way of Torah - trust-grounded obe- 7:12,14). on a pedestal. Power in any form is dience empowered by the Holy “For the old nature wants what difficult to relinquish. It rivals nar- Spirit is contrary to the Spirit, and the cotics in addiction. Spirit wants what is contrary to the To walk “in union with the old nature. These oppose each “Many people’s love will Messiah” requires the Holy Spirit’s other, so that you find yourselves grow cold because of increased empowerment to walk the narrow unable to carry out your good distance from Torah” road. The Holy Spirit comes to all intentions” (Gal. 5:17). who embrace the true gospel: “To sum up: with my mind, I Jesus not only addressed the ‘Those who identify with the Spirit am a slave to God’s Torah; but legalistic perversion of the Torah set their minds on the things of the with my old nature, I am a slave to teachers. He also warns all of us Spirit. Having one’s mind controlled sin’s ‘torah’” (Rom. 7:25b). not to depart Torah: “Many people’s by the old nature is death, but hav- Once again, note the contrast: love will grow cold because of ing one’s mind controlled by the Broad road teaching: Your life will increased distance from Torah. Spirit is life and [peace.]’... improve. Things will be easier as But whoever holds out till the end But you [who embrace the true you follow Jesus. will be delivered” (Matt. 24:12,13). gospel] do not identify with your old Narrow road teaching: You will Again, anti-Semitic English transla- nature but with the Spirit—provid- suffer and be tested as you walk in tions make it seem that Paul was ed the Spirit of God is living inside the footsteps of Jesus. doing away with Torah when they you, for anyone who doesn’t have use the word “law” in Romans and the Spirit of the Messiah doesn’t During the 10 years I coun- Galatians. Not so! As did Jesus, belong to him. However, if the seled clergy, the false assumption Paul affirmed God’s purpose for Messiah is in you, then, on the one of a “Christian Nirvana” imprisoned Torah. Ignorance of God’s right- hand, the body is dead because of many from seeking appropriate eous teachings chills the holy love sin; but, on the other hand, the help when overwhelmed with relationship and can result in legal- Spirit is giving life because God besetting sin. Most people serving istic perversion. considers you righteous. All who as clergy feel they can’t turn to To undo the volumes of anti- are led by God’s Spirit are God’s people in their congregation. Most Semitic translations, translators sons” (Rom. 8:9,10,14). parishioners think their pastor is like David Stern are exposing People walking the broad road more “spiritual” than they are, and Jesus’ true regard for the Torah—a neither “need” nor receive the Holy above the temptations that plague regard that nullifies the perversion Spirit. Their lives rely on human “lay people”. Pastors are often so prevalent in churches today: “I effort and are measured in correct ashamed to let people know of tell you the truth, until heaven and behavior. Isn’t it interesting that their struggle with sin. They can’t earth disappear, not the smallest Paul asked the men at Ephesus, go to their denominational leaders letter, not the least stroke of a pen, “‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit for fear that they will consider him a will by any means disappear from when you trusted?’ They answered, ‘No, we have legalistic perversion so embraced cooperate to keep people from not even heard that there is a Holy by the Jews, he also addresses experiencing our Lord. Rebellion is Spirit’” (Acts 19:2). It seemed every Christian who takes the the very nature of Satan, operating important enough for Paul to ask, broad road of perverted legalism. to seduce a person away from and the men answered honestly, Perverted legalism prevails in Christ by perverting the way of “No.” What would happen if we many parts of the Christian com- Torah into self-dependency and asked in our faith communities munity, both Gentile and Jewish pride. today, “Did you receive the Holy alike. It is subtly disguised, often Once on the broad road, that Spirit when you trusted?”? taking on an atmosphere of person becomes embittered What are the biblical evi- ‘Christian correctness.’ because the very relationship with dences of the Holy Spirit’s pres- Do you want to know what the Lord and the freedoms that ence in someone’s life? ‘Christian correctness’ looks like? were promised in the Word are Have you ever studied the Ask the children in your congrega- never experienced. Perverted Bible to discern: What is the way tion. They are very aware of the legalism encourages them to of the Spirit? behavior changes their parents go observe Torah even harder, result- Really, how do we detect the through to appear ‘Christian.’ Ask ing in further feelings of rejection Spirit’s presence? A few things your own family: Does your behav- because the broad road they have come to mind: He empowers us to ior or attitude at church reflect the chosen continues to be rejected by love, and to understand and apply same behavior and attitude you God. the Bible; He empowers us with demonstrate at home? I am crying as I write this. Sue gifts; He enables us to be children and I are deeply burdened for our of our Father! “Brothers, my heart's desire Jewish brothers and sisters. I can and prayer to God for the feel Paul’s deep love and his frus- “Now these things occurred as [Jewish people] is that they may tration when he wrote to the examples to keep us from be saved. For I can testify about Galatians who were giving in to setting our hearts on evil things them that they are zealous for legalistic perversion: “As we have as they did” (1Cor. 10:6). God, but their zeal is not based already said, so now I say again: If on knowledge” (Rom. 10:1,2). anybody is preaching to you a If we today are to get back to gospel other than what you accept- the trust of Abraham, we need to Sadly, legalistic perversion is ed, let him be eternally con- understand how the Jewish people epidemic especially among demned!” (1:9). Hey! This is no who rejected Jesus missed their Messianic Jewish communities in light matter. Paul is telling the legal- promised Messiah’s coming. First the US. We hear from so many that istic perverters, “Go to h---!” of all, Paul tells us that they cursed “Torah observance is the basis for Friends, where do you think the themselves by misunderstanding a person’s righteousness.” We are broad road ends up? the truths of Lev. 18:5: “For every- grieved by reports of Gentile Do you think Jesus’s response one who depends on legalistic Christians who fellowship in certain to the perverters was any “nicer”? observance of Torah live under a Messianic Jewish communities and Think again! “Woe to you hypocritical curse, since it is written,’Cursed is in their zeal to explore their “Jewish Torah teachers and Pharisees! You everyone who does not keep on roots”, eventually forsake Christ travel over land and sea to win a sin- doing everything written in the and convert to Judaism. This is not gle convert, and when he becomes Scroll of the Torah.’ Now it is evi- surprising, however, because the one, you make him twice as much a dent that no one comes to be legalistic perversion of ‘Torah son of hell as you are” (Matt. 23:15). declared righteous by God through observance’ ultimately leads to an legalism, since ‘The person who is anti-Christ spirit—one that denies Please pray for the Hebraic righteous will attain life by trusting our Lord’s substitutionary atone- foundations to reach the Messianic and being faithful.’ Furthermore, ment for us and relies instead on Jewish communities in this country. legalism is not based on trusting self-righteousness. Ask your Father to enable you to and being faithful, but on a mis- As we have ministered in sev- feel His sorrow over the legalistic use of the text that says, ’Anyone eral Messianic communities, we ensnarement the Jewish people who does these things will attain have found that the prevailing continue to fall into by trying to earn life through them’ [Lev. 18:5]” (Gal. demonic strongholds that keep His approval in their own strength. 3:10-12). them captive are rebellion, bitter- Instead of uniting Jew and Paul not only counteracts the ness and rejection. These spirits Gentile in the Messiah, many in the Messianic Jewish community have neighbor; therefore love is the full- God requires us to be lovingly pru- become trapped by the same legal- ness of Torah” (Rom. 13:8-10). dent in the absence of any specific istic perversion their Jewish ances- Paul’s emphasis on love as ful- Torah command for our specific sit- tors fell into. Isn’t Paul speaking to filling Torah concurs with the words uation. Every relationship, includ- both Jew and Gentile today when of Jesus: ing our covenant with God, he asks, “So, what are we to say? “Love the Lord your God with includes both freedom and bound- This: that Gentiles, even though all your heart and with all your soul aries. This is where our love, they were not striving for righteous- and with all your mind.’ This is the empowered by the Holy Spirit, pro- ness, have obtained righteous- first and greatest commandment. duces trust-grounded obedience. ness; but it is a righteousness And the second is like it: ‘Love your Torah is a personal matter between grounded in trusting. neighbor as yourself.’ All the Torah you and God. Take the time and However, Israel, even though and the Prophets hang on these two make the effort to: they kept pursuing a Torah that offers commandments” (Matt. 22:37-40). • know God’s Word. righteousness, did not reach what “So in everything, do to oth- • seek your own empowerment the Torah offers. Why? Because they ers what you would have them do from the Holy Spirit. did not pursue righteousness as to you, for this sums up the Torah • experience Jesus for yourself. being grounded in trusting but as if it and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). • tell others of your experiences were grounded in doing legalistic All the Torah and the prophets with Him. works” (Rom. 9:30-32). hang on our love for God and our “For, since Israel is unaware love for our neighbor. The Torah “And this is our prayer: that of God’s way of making people shows us how to live a life of loving your love may abound more and righteous and instead seek to set Him and each other. From even a more in knowledge and depth of up their own, they have not sub- cursory knowledge of the insight, that you may be able to dis- mitted themselves to God’s way Scriptures it should be evident that cern what is best and may be pure of making people righteous. For the every relationship entails certain and blameless until the day of goal at which the Torah aims is freedoms and boundaries. Christ, filled with the fruit of right- the Messiah, who offers righteous- Biblical freedom: To be considerate, eousness that comes through ness to everyone who trusts” kind, hospitable, merciful, generous... Jesus Christ—to the glory and (Rom. 10:3,4). Biblical boundaries: Don’t covet, praise of God” (Phil.1:9-11). God’s warning is still applicable don’t slander others, don’t be proud... for all of us: “All day long I held out my Our love causes us to learn Mike & Sue Dowgiewicz hands to a people who kept disobey- Torah and to live in trust-grounded Psalm 86:11 ing and contradicting” (Rom. 10:21). obedience to it. But, if we can’t think of a particular passage that www.Restorationministries.org What does Paul affirm in terms might pertain to our specific loving of our observance of Torah? action, then God would have us “do to others what we would have them Whether Jew or Gentile, dis- do to us.” In essence God is saying obedience and contradiction of to each of us, “In the God’s Word is the pattern of the absence of any other criteria Restoration Ministries International broad road. What is the essence of for what love represents, Mike & Sue Dowgiewicz the narrow road? It is a simple judge your actions toward thing—sacrificial, God-empowered others based upon ‘Would love! you want the same thing “Don’t owe anyone anything— done to you?’” oundatio ic F ns o bra f t e he except to love one another; for As a Navy pilot I was governed H E e a h r t l whoever loves his fellow human by a myriad of regulations. But g ie n s i t r C being has fulfilled Torah. For the there was one called “The Prudent o t h s e u

r R commandments, ‘Don’t commit Pilot Rule”: “In the absence of any c

h adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t pertinent regulation to your action, P

r s e s steal,’ ‘Don’t covet,’ and any others your action will be judged based p e a n r k i r are summed up in this one rule: upon what a ‘prudent pilot’ would n a g D th n ‘Love your neighbor as your- do in the same circumstances.” e t i Fa gh mil Li self.’ Love does not do harm to its Can you see the similarity? y of Jesus to be