We have found the roots of our faith in Messiah go deep and are on a sure foundation. The foundation is found in the Land of Israel, where Yeshua will reign from, the Torah of Israel which consists of His instructions, the Jewish people, and Yeshua being the chief cornerstone. Tonight we will see how Messiah is now adding the nations of the world not to replace the foundation but to be incorporated within it. The best way to combat Torah legalism is to be sure of our own spiritual identity based on the finished atoning work of the Messiah. We want to resist approaching torah obedience in a legalistic manner. Let s look at who we are in Messiah: 2Corintians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Romans 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Are we Jews now? Are we Israel? Are we still Gentiles? Are we Christians? First my concern is for people who approach the Torah in order to earn, merit, or keep the gift of righteousness bestowed upon us by God through faith in Yeshua. Some of the apostolic writings were written to combat a group of gentiles who were being tempted to do just that. Such as to the Galatians, who did offerings to the pagan gods. Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Acts 8:18-21 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. We cannot earn or merit the free gift of God. Legalism says my works need to be added into the equation of my eternal salvation. 1 P a g e
Defining our identity is a core issue. Many people spend years trying to find out who they are in inadequate ways not aligned with biblical truth. We tend to act according to how we perceive ourselves. Many find their identity in what they do not realizing what the do does not define who they are. Who are you? I m a plumber, I m a doctor, etc. The problem comes when they lose their job or retire they lose their identity. Believers can have additional temptations. Our Ministry identities: I am a musician, I m an evangelist, prophet! Our theological identities: I m a Bapticostal or a Lutherpalian Two examples of our flawed theological perceptions The Jesus filter: God is Holy I am a sinner When God looks at me, a Jesus filter is there and He doesn t really see me, only Jesus God does make us judicially and positionally righteous because Yeshua died for us. But at the core the Jesus filter teaching says while we are positionally right with God we are still the same sinners we have always been. Our basic identity is that of a sinner even though we believe in Yeshua. Two people standing side by side as God looks at them he puts his Jesus glasses on. The New clothes: God has clothed us in Messiah s righteousness which is true God, more than clothing us in righteousness, has made us righteous!! We cannot be righteous and sinners at the same time! Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. We are not corrupt trees producing good fruit!! Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 2 P a g e
2Corintians 13:13 All the saints salute you. Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: So the good news is actually better than we knew! Yes God sees us in light of Yeshua, yes we are clothed in messiah s righteousness but it doesn t stop there! We have become a new creation!!! Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Bad theology weighs the body of Messiah down. Religion makes us feel we need to strive to earn God s approval. Therefore we get weighed down with guilt. The good news: biblical approaches to our identity: Let s establish what Yeshua accomplished Redemption the need for Messiah Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:30,31 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. The god the pagans were worshipping was in reality a god of their own imagination. 3 P a g e
The Nature of Messiah s work Sacrifice 1. Came to be God s servant Isaiah 52:13,14 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; 2. We were helpless Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; 3. Messiah became our sacrifice Isaiah 53:10a Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, 4. Messiah will rise from the dead Isaiah 53:10b,11 He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, Substitute 1. Messiah Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 4 P a g e
Redemption applied Our Atonement He suffered on our behalf Temple related 1John 2:1,2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Our Salvation took the death penalty we deserved - battlefield Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Our Justification Courtroom related Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Our Redemption The MarketPlace He purchased us 1Peter 1:18,19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Our Reconciliation Relationship restored Peace Romans 5:10,11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Our New constitution Righteous 2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 5 P a g e
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. We are more than clothed with His righteousness, we are righteous. I m talking identity here not behavior! Therefore we need to realize we do not become more righteous when we follow Torah. Torah tells us whether or not our actions reflect God s righteousness. We are united in and with Messiah Romans 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Because we are united to the Messiah He lives out the torah, His instructions, through us. We not only have a new constitution, a new union, but also a new status. Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, You are no longer in Adam Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 6 P a g e
Did God rest because He was tired? No! It was because it was complete, done! He not only ceased but delighted in all that He had made. There is nothing we can do to add to the complete work He has done in us. No amount of torah obedience can add to our standing with God. We are fully equipped to live out the Torah as we are complete in Him! When we became believers we did not simply get something we became someone! We do no obey in order to become we obey because of who we are. A believer is someone who has become what they were not before. A citizen of heaven. Psalms 87:5,6 And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her." The LORD will record, When He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." Selah Jerimiah 31:33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. We do not follow torah like a grocery list. The torah describes God s character and that is written on our hearts. James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. The Mirror is the Torah Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, The Laver filled with water reflected their faces. You need to see in the torah how you are a New creation! 7 P a g e
Questions to think about: 1. In what ways do people, especially believers, seek to find their identity? 2. What are some of the theological concepts that have contributed to a misunderstanding of a believer's identity? 3. How does Torah, and the whole Bible, describe the nature of Messiah's atoning work? 8 P a g e