Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Feb, 2012 11:28 PM
Thanks to a question about divorce and remarriage posted on another thread, I felt the need to address those on this site who may be suffering from the weight of guilt and condemnation heaped on them because of their reasons for divorce.
I wrote the following article, "The Stone Thrower", based on actual instances that happened on this site. If you are one of those who have been ostracized by others for having an "Unbiblical Divorce," please take the time to read. May it minister to your heart.
The Stone Thrower
I want to touch on a subject today that has long been regarded in Christendom as taboo . . . and that is . . . DIVORCE. Mention that word around some Christians and their hackles suddenly go up on the back of their neck. They pull out their proverbial stones ready to put to death anyone who they think has been un-biblically divorced. And to my shame, I was one of them�a stone thrower.
We all know the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3-11. The scribes and Pharisees (the religious self-righteous) had arrested this woman and dragged her before Jesus. One has to wonder how these Pharisees caught such a woman "in the very act" of adultery. How convenient for them. It's amazing the depths of depravity the self-righteous will sink to in order to defend their religious arguments. Did they have the paparazzi spy on her to get some juicy pictures for the whole world to see?
At any rate, they dragged this poor woman in front of Jesus and proudly proclaimed, "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" (John 8:5)
Zowie!! These men can quote the Word of God . . . at least the parts that suit their fancy.
I like our Lord's reaction. "But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear" (John 8:6b).
Don't you just love it when someone ignores you . . . especially when you're trying to win an argument? But the self-righteous rarely lie down without a fight, and those religious Pharisees were determined to prove that they had the "truth." So they continued pestering Jesus, knowing that the Law of Moses was on their side. It's not a good idea to pester Jesus, especially when it comes to "pointing a finger" at someone.
"So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst" (John 8:7-9).
This introductory story of the woman caught in adultery has a purpose: I wanted you to have a glimpse of the mentality of a "stone thrower." They are usually self-righteous, ready to condemn, and can quote the Word of God. Ouch . . . I just described me.
I had a clear cut answer for the reasons one might give to justify divorce which I thought was quite Biblical. And in my mind, there was only one reason . . . "But I say to you, that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32). There you have it�plain and simple. Who could argue with such a statement? It is the Word of God! I thought I had the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth . . . yet the truth is . . . I was ignorant of the ways of God. "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).
And it was in my ignorance to God's ways that I threw stones at the divorced ladies on a Christian dating site some time ago. As a widower, I was on this site looking for a prospective wife. I was so appalled at the amount of women who were divorced on this site whose reasons for separating from their husbands did not match my view of scripture. In order to protect myself from these "contaminated souls," I purposely wrote something in my profile for those that I would consider as wife material: "You may be single, widowed, or divorced (must be for Biblical reasons only)."
When I would communicate with these divorced ladies, I would immediately ask them to provide details on the reason for their divorce. If they could not give me an answer of infidelity as the reason for their divorce, then I considered them unmarriageable. Yet God has a way of grabbing His child's attention when that child is in error.
One of the ladies on this dating site told me her story of divorce after I demanded it. Her husband was deep in bondage to pornography and had no interest whatsoever in repentance. The man had not physically hopped into bed with another woman, and so in my self-righteousness, I condemned the poor wife for wanting to opt out on the marriage. And the "stones" that I threw created fresh wounds in her heart while she recounted those painful memories of her husband's infidelity as he lusted after porn. According to Jesus' own words, her husband WAS GUILTY of adultery: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). I ignored that scripture and concentrated only on Matthew 5:32. She lashed out at me, saying that she was glad Jesus did not condemn her even if I did. I have to admit, I was shaken by her story which moved me to tears.
Then there was another lady whom I demanded to give an account for her divorce. I threw "stones" at her as well when she could not give me a reason of infidelity for her separation. In bitter anger, she struck back at me, stating how her husband had broken her nose and physically abused her. I ignored the scripture which reads, "But God has called us to peace" (1 Corinthians 7:15b) and concentrated again on Matthew 5:32. However, her story bothered me very much just like the other woman's.
I began to seek God earnestly. These were only two of the many ladies who shared with me their heartbreaking stories of divorce. There were so many reasons given for divorce and none of them fell under sexual immorality (fornication) as I saw it. I sincerely asked the Lord to open my eyes. Was there any scriptural evidence to support these women's choices to opt out of a marriage other than infidelity? Yes, there was.
God led me to Matthew 19:3-12. The Pharisees were looking for a reason to trap Jesus in His words. Their previous scheme had not worked with the woman caught in adultery. However, if they could just get Jesus to say something contradictory to the Law of Moses, then they could brand Him as a heretic. So they asked Jesus this question, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3b)
Jesus' answer was, and still is, God's original intention for marriage: "Have you not read . . . the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:5b-6).
The Pharisees did not like His answer. For Jesus had taken them right back to Genesis before there ever was a Moses or a Law of Moses so that they could hear what GOD SAYS about marriage. Yet the stiff-necked Pharisees persisted with another question: "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" (Matthew 19:7)
Jesus responds, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8).
The self-righteous Pharisees were using the Law of Moses as an excuse to bail out on marriages for any flippant reason. And because of this, the Lord had some very strong words for them. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9).
I can just hear the stone throwers shouting, "See, I told you . . . it's right there in the word . . . 'sexual immorality!'"
Wait a minute. Like Paul Harvey, let's hear "the rest of the story" before jumping to any conclusions. After verse 9 comes verse 10. Even Jesus' disciples, which would include us, were amazed at the words of Jesus. "His disciples said to Him, 'If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry'" (Matthew 19:10). Yeah, I can see their point. If sexual immorality (fornication) is the only reason for divorce, then perhaps we are better off not getting married.
But look at Jesus' response to his own disciples in verse 11. It stands to reason that if the disciples' statement was true, then Jesus would have said something to affirm it as such. He does not!
"But He said to them, 'All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given'" (Matthew 19:11).
What saying? The saying in verse 9 of course. NOT ALL can accept the saying that fornication is the ONLY reason for divorce.
Now notice that Jesus goes on to explain what He meant with the following verse:
"For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it" (Matthew 19:12).
What did Jesus mean by this? He tells us that three different men all became eunuchs for different reasons. One was born a eunuch, another was made a eunuch by men, and still another made himself that way for the kingdom of heaven. They all became eunuchs for different reasons, but who is to say which eunuch is "God approved"? God accepted them all. That's the point!
Likewise, there are many reasons someone might seek a divorce: physical and verbal abuse from a spouse . . . being married to an unbeliever who makes life a literal hell . . . marital unfaithfulness . . . the stress of being married to an alcoholic for 23 years . . . or living with a pornographer who refuses to repent. Which one of these reasons for divorce is "God approved"? That's the point Jesus was making. Just as the eunuchs were acceptable to God regardless of how they became a eunuch, so also is a woman acceptable to God who seeks to be free from an abusive husband, even if infidelity is not involved. You and I cannot see in the heart of that abused person . . . but God can. For God has called them to peace.
And the church has done more harm counselling emotionally and physically battered women to stay in a relationship citing Matthew 5:32 "except for sexual immorality" as the only just cause for divorce. Women have actually committed suicide and murder under the stress of remaining in an abusive situation because their legalistic church counseled them to do so.
You may have heard of the case in the U.S. where a lady killed her husband (a pastor) who had been abusing her for years. God had called her to peace . . . but she never knew it, and one day she snapped. The evidence of abuse was so overwhelming that the courts found this woman not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
I certainly do not want to imply that people should take their marriage so lightly as to divorce for every whim and fancy. I would not condone that, and neither does the Word of God. Every marriage will have its share of problems which can be worked out with God's help by two committed individuals. Yet there are some women, especially those suffering physical and mental abuse, who have reached the tipping point of no return; and the only thing they can do to preserve their sanity is to get out of that marriage. And ultimately, it is to the Lord they answer to, not you or me. He has called them to peace.
After God opened my eyes to the truth of scripture, I contacted those ladies on the dating site who I had thrown "stones" at and apologized profusely. I was truly grieved that I had been so self-righteous and blind, wounding those precious sisters for whom Christ died.
Now back to the story that I began with. The "stone throwers" had already dropped their rocks and left the scene with a guilty conscience, leaving Jesus alone with the adulterous woman.
"He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?'"
"She said, 'No one, Lord.'"
"And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more'" (John 8:10b-11).
HALLELUJAH�MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT!!!
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Paul Janz
(All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version.)
"The Stone Thrower" Copyright � 2010 by Paul Janz.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 08:29 PM
TEACH -
Here is your FALSE WITNESS again:
"Teach said, "So BobBobbins/IWA or whoever you are, you have ZERO credibility as you have been caught in lies in your identity which makes one question most everything you write other than pure Scriptute....and I would look every verse up that you cite for accuracy."
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 09:30 PM
Here is the real answer about exactly what legalism is...............What is Legalism?
Many accuse those who love the law of Yahweh of being a legalist. But just what is legalism? Is it obeying the commands of Yahweh with all our hearts? Is it adding to the commands of Yahweh? Is it focusing too much on obedience and not enough on "salvation"? There is no such word as "legalism" found anywhere in scripture, but according to Nave's Topical index, here are a few examples of Legalism:
Mark 2:23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 "how he went into the house of Yahweh [in] [the] [days] of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Therefore the Son of Man is also Master of the Sabbath." Mark 3:1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
Here we see an example of where the Scribes and Pharisees had added to the commandment of Sabbath observance. Here is yet another example:
Luke 13:14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Yahushua had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." 15 The Master then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead [it] away to water it? 16 "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
Yes, the Scribes and Pharisees had added over 1000 laws to the Sabbath command, sometimes making exemptions for themselves. If there is such a thing as legalism, this would be it. It is adding to the word of Yahweh:
Deut 12:32 (NKJV) "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
They had added many other things to His word but Yahushua showed them how wrong it was. According to Yahushua, the motives of the Scribes and Pharisees was not out of a love for Yahweh but out of a love for traditions and doctrines of men:
Mark 7:6 (NKJV) He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: `This people honors Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 "For laying aside the commandment of Yahweh, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
There are many traditions in the festivals that are observed by mainstream Christianity that are the perfect example of what they should call legalism. Festivals like Christmas and Easter and observing the Sabbath on the first day of the week. None of these traditions are in the word of Yahweh but rather came from paganism. All these things are adding to Yahweh's already perfect word.
But is legalism also considered focusing too much on obedience rather than salvation? This is the common accusation.
What if someone said to you that unless you are walking in obedience, you do not even know Yahushua at all? What if someone said to you that if you claim to know Him, but do not walk in obedience, you are a liar? Is that focusing too much on obedience? Is that legalism?
Let's see what the word of Yahweh says:
1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of Elohim is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Wow, is this legalism? Some would say "yes" if it had come out of another man's mouth and not the scriptures themselves. But we can see here in scripture that it is not legalism. What if a man goes around teaching the commandments of Yahweh and really focusing on them? Is this legalism?
Matt 5:17 (NKJV) "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Very interesting! We can see that those whoever does and teaches even the least of the commandments of Yahweh shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Now some would say that trying to take a commandment to an extreme would be considered 'legalism'. Is this truth? What about our Master Yahushua?
Matt 5:21 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, `Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, `You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Was Yahushua a legalist? He certainly went more into this commandment than was was written. He revealed the purpose behind the commandment!
How about in this scripture?:
Matt 5:27 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not commit adultery.' 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
I wonder if Yahushua were alive today...would He be called a legalist? Probably yes. Was He a legalist? No.
Yahushua was not adding to any of the commandments here. He taught that if you hate your brother that it is like you are committing murder in your heart. And He taught that if you lust after a woman, than you have already committed adultery in your heart. Lust and Hate were sins long before Yahushua came to earth for it is written "Do not covet your neighbors wife" and "You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge"
It isn't legalistic to be careful about keeping Yahweh's commandments. Remember Yahushua said:
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Notice He said that the weightier matters of the Torah/law are judgment, mercy and faith. But that the Pharisees should have done the weightier matters without neglecting the finer points. It isn't legalism to keep the finer points, it is expected that we do the finer points without neglecting the weightier ones.
I think that many people are too concerned about being a legalist and not enough concerned that they are an illegalist and are ignoring the commandments of Yahweh!
Let us hear the words of Yahushua:
Luke 6:46 (NKJV) " But why do you call Me `Master, Master,' and do not do the things which I say? 47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."
What house do you want to build? Let us build the house on the rock! HalleluYah! It is time that we wake up and walk as Yahushua walked!
Let us now examine some scriptures that deal with the importance of obedience. To whom does Yahweh give His Spirit?
Acts 5:32 (NKJV) "And we are His witnesses to these things, and [so] also [is] the Holy Spirit whom Yahweh has given to those who obey Him."
Now let me tell you that you MUST be obedient to have salvation! Contrary to popular opinion, you are lost unless you take a step in obedience! We are commanded to "Repent". What does it mean to repent? It means to "to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins". Is this not an act and a work of obedience? If Yahweh tells us to repent and we do it, this is surely an act of obedience. And then we are expected to be baptized:
Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Yahushua the Messiah for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This is all part of Salvation. Now I understand that there are exceptions to baptism but they should be very rare indeed. No matter what, even for the thief who was impaled with Yahushua (see Luke 23:43), repentance was a requirement. We know also that sometimes we will fail Him:
1Joh 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 2:1 (NKJV) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Yahushua the Messiah the righteous.
IF we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us. What if we come across something in His word that we have not noticed before and realized that we were not walking in obedience? Should our first step not be to stop and pray right at that moment and confess our sin unto Him? I think this is what we should be doing. Even confessing then, is an act of obedience!
Let us now examine some more scriptures that deal with the importance of obedience:
Phil 2:12 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Is this what we often see today? Fear and trembling? What is usually heard is "Ah! He doesn't care about that commandment or this commandment!" or "We don't have to do that anymore because (insert excuse here)"
Let us walk in His perfect will because we love Yahushua so much that we want to be like Him. But who is like Him? Who walks in the Torah law as He did? Very few. Very few observe the Sabbath as He did. Very few keep the feast days as He did. Very few wear the tassels as He did. Very few keep the unclean/clean commandments as He did. Very few honor Yahweh's name as He did. Yes, very few show the true love for obedience to His Father as He did! He was very picky as to who He would call a brother:
Luke 8:20 (NKJV) And it was told Him [by] [some], who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." Luke 8:21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of Yahweh and do it."
Look at how devoted to obedience Yahushua was:
Matt 26:38 (NKJV) Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will]."
Yahushua not only obeyed the commandments give to Him. He obeyed them to His death. Even though none were with Him. He asked His disciples to watch with Him. But they didn't...they fell asleep.
Let us awake from OUR slumber and obey the commandments of Father Yahweh!
John 14:15 (NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
John 14:21 (NKJV) "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 09:36 PM
Singer,
This is an excellent teaching on legalist/legalism. Again, we see the same thing that I have already pointed out. It shows just how badly flawed Teach's accusations and understanding are on this subject.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 09:44 PM
Teach, the verse that says if you commit no adultery you do well and also if you don't murder. Right. These were the two sins that gave a death sentence. Adultery because they were stoned for it under 2 witnesses and Murder because an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth a life for a life.
Yet if we offend in 1 point we are guilty of breaking all the law.
True but what this really means may surprise you. It goes deeper than what you are saying it means. I explained it in my earlier posts. That is this possibility. For the readers of this forum I will post a full teaching on it next post.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 09:46 PM
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? (Deut. 4: 5-8)
Singer, the problem with "Christians" is that they are generally not taught the Torah. Most protestant churches are antinominian. They falsely believe just like Teach, that they are "not under the law" to obey it.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 24 Nov, 2013 09:55 PM
What it means to be "Under the Law"
I would begin with a warning that this study is somewhat deep. This study will require a certain level of concentration. Please pray before reading this. May Yahweh guide us all! (Yahweh is the name of our Heavenly Father)
To everyone I would like to ask the question "Are you under the law?"
According to scripture, IF you are 'under the law'... then:
1) The law was written just for you.
2) Sin has dominion over you
3) You are without faith
4) You are in need of redemption
While this study is deep, we cannot underestimate its importance. Those who are under the law are in a lot of trouble! They have no salvation!
But the interesting thing about these 4 characteristics I listed is that they couldn't possibly be speaking of someone who is walking in obedience to the law.
Instead, they indicate that those who are 'Under the law' are faithless, unsaved, unrepentant and have sin reigning over them.
Now let's examine the scriptures in question::
Romans 3:19 - Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Yahweh.
This verse speaks of those who are 'under the law'. This group of people is whom the law is speaking to. ie "whatever the law says, it says to those"
One characteristic of this group of people is that when the law speaks to them, "every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Yahweh."
Could this be speaking of those who are walking in obedience to Yahweh's law?
Quite impossible! If this group of people were walking in obedience to Yahweh's law, why would their mouths be stopped and declared guilty before Yahweh when it is read to them?
Of course, this would make no sense. In fact, it's saying just the opposite. It would need to be saying that those who are 'under the law' are those who are not obeying the law...therefore their mouths are stopped and they are guilty before Yahweh.
Let's look at this verse again:
Romans 3:19 - Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Yahweh.
It says here that 'all the world' is guilty before Yahweh. Does this mean every person in this entire world who has heard His law either is or has been under the law at some point? It must!
But why?
The answer is that EVERYONE at some point in their life has sinned
1John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Therefore it makes perfect sense that those who are 'under the law' are those who have sinned. They are 'guilty before Yahweh'
Now let's look at the next verse:
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
This point is driven further home by this verse. The important word here is "Justified". "By the deeds of the law (elsewhere translated "works of the law"), shall no man will be justified." Why is this?
The answer is in the previous verse. "All the world" is guilty before Yahweh because of the law. The law can't justify us when we have not kept it. The law only tells us what sin is! Paul even says "by the law is the knowledge of sin"!
Let's read on:
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 - But now the righteousness of YAHWEH without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
There is a certain righteousness that was predicted in the law and the prophets that was to be given unto men. However, it is written in the prophets that this righteousness was not going to come from the law.
This righteousness was going to come from Yahweh Himself:
Jeremiah 23:5 - Behold, the days come, saith YAHWEH, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 - In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
This is a prophecy about Yahushua (commonly called, "Jesus") the Messiah. Why is He called "Yahweh tzidkenu" (Yahweh our righteousness) ?
Isaiah 45:23 - I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
24 - Surely, shall one say, in YAHWEH have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Only in Yahweh can we have righteousness and strength through Yahushua the Messiah!
It is because Yahushua died for our sins and paid the penalty for our sins that we can have eternal life! Why can we have eternal life? Because when we accept Him, it is not our righteousness that Yahweh sees...but the righteousness of Yahushua the Messiah cleansing us!
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with the Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but the Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of YAHWEH, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
So in this, Yahweh became our righteousness in Yahushua the Messiah. In fact, this is what the next verse declares...now in context:
Romans 3:21 - But now the righteousness of YAHWEH without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 - Even the righteousness of YAHWEH which is by faith of Yahushua the Messiah unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of YAHWEH;
These verses sum up well what the true meaning is here. It isn't our righteousness (keeping His law) that saves us. It isn't our righteousness (keeping His law) that justifies us.
It is HIS Righteousness that we will have to rely upon...through faith...that is going to save us, justify us and make us His sons and daughters! Maybe some of you have thought this was just some Pauline doctrine...but this is not true! This is straight from the law and the prophets.
Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of YAHWEH, and their righteousness is of me, saith YAHWEH.
Kepha (Peter) also knew this doctrine:
2Peter 1:1 - Simon Kepha, a bondservant and apostle of Yahushua the Messiah, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of YAHWEH and of our Savior Yahushua the Messiah:
So don't think for a moment that the doctrine of 'not being justified by the works of the law' is was Paul's idea and was unheard of before. This doctrine is clearly stated in what's called the "Old Testament" as well. Let's now move onto other scripture dealing with those who are 'under the law'
Romans 6:12 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Paul is telling the Romans to not let sin reign in their "mortal body". Yes, we are at this time in our lives 'mortal'. There will come a time when we will no longer be mortal...but be immortal when we rise from the dead...at that time we will be totally sinless people....but we should be living that way now!
Next verse:
Romans 6:13 - Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto YAHWEH, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto YAHWEH.
We need to yield ourselves unto Yahweh as one immortal, alive from the dead and let our members be instruments of righteousness...not unrighteousness.
Next verse:
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
It is promised that sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law, but under grace/favor! What does this mean?
According to the other scripture in Romans we discussed, being under the law is referring to those who are relying on their own righteousness/law-keeping to be justified on that final day...they will be judged guilty for their sins.
But those who have accepted Yahweh's righteousness through Yahushua the Messiah are 'under grace/favor'!
They have been forgiven for their sins now and are relying on Yahushua's righteousness to justify them. Now that this has happened, are we free to go back and purposely sin/break that law once again?
Romans 6:15 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Yahweh forbid!
Why would we go again into that life we led before? We sinned! Sin is transgressing His law!
1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.
We sinned, and this is why Yahushua had to die for us in the first place! As Paul said "Yahweh forbid!" or more accurately translated "By no means!"
Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
So are we going to serve sin 'unto death' or be a servant of Yahweh walking in obedience unto righteousness?
Sadly, the idea of disobeying Yahweh's law because we are 'under grace' is a common doctrine among believers in the Messiah today. It ought not be so!
Now let's look at one final scripture that is very popular among those who believe in this doctrine:
Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then against the promises of YAHWEH? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
In context of Galatians 3, the law is not against the promises of Yahweh (that promise being that we would be justified and blessed through a son of Abraham...Yahushua the Messiah). We CAN'T be justified by keeping His law when we have broken it.
We NEED the righteousness of Yahweh!
Galatians 3:22 - But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Yahushua the Messiah might be given to those who believe.
We were all 'under the law' and 'under sin'.
Galatians 3:23 - But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 - Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to the Messiah, that we might be justified by faith.
In this, the law was our tutor or schoolmaster....guarding us from sin. But then in our failures it was also teaching us that we were sinners! It taught us that we have no choice but to be justified by faith in Yahweh alone. We needed a Righteous One to be a mediator between us and a holy Mighty One!
Galatians 3:25 - But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
The law was our tutor, we were "under the law." But now that we have put our faith in Yahushua the Messiah, trusted in the one called "Yahweh our Righteousness" and been cleansed, sanctified and redeemed by His blood...we are no longer 'under the law'!
If we were under the law, the only way we could possibly be saved is if we NEVER SINNED.
There is only ONE who 'never sinned'. He was born under the law...yet without sin
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of the time had come, YAHWEH sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 - to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
We are adopted sons of Yahweh through the righteousness of Yahushua the Messiah! We are saved from having to live a perfect and sinless life.. Therefore, again our salvation cannot come by our own righteousness/law-keeping...but by HIS righteousness alone.
Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now if we were to take the conclusion that many would love to take in this verse, we would be saying "If we are led by the Spirit, we don't have to be obedient to Yahweh's law". But how can this possibly be? Every verse we have examined thus far has said just the opposite.
Fact is, we have found out that those who are DISOBEDIENT and apart from the Messiah are the ones under His law.
Indeed even the following verses in this Galatians 5 prove that one who is walking in the Spirit is NOT free to be disobedient!
Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.
22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The works of the flesh are disobedience to Yahweh's law. The fruits of the Spirit is obedience to His law...how clear! To say we are not 'under the law' can't possibly mean we are free to break it!
In fact, it means just the opposite! So who is this group of people who are 'under the law'?
In Paul's day, it was those Jews who were trusting in their righteousness to be saved rather than accepting Yahushua the Messiah and letting Yahweh be their righteousness. Today though, it is those that do not have Yahushua or those who have chosen to purposely sin/break His law again after accepting the Messiah. They are putting themselves right back under the law!
If this is what you have been taught to do then I warn you today that you have been taught a serious error!
The law of Yahweh has been blasphemed and ignored for 2000 years. It's high time that we lift it up as the standard for all men to live by. Once we are justified by the Righteousness of Yahweh, we need to let all men know that we are not to go back to that old sin again.
We may not be "under the law", but this doesn't mean that we are to live like we are "ABOVE the law" either!
Yahweh hasn't removed the standard, He has merely forgiven us for not living up to that standard.
To have Yahweh as our righteousness...truly there is no greater blessing in the world! Yahushua died for you so that you would be forgiven for failing to live up to that standard.
Let us not return and insult the spirit of grace...but let's live a new life... Walking in HIS obedience.. Walking in HIS mercy... Walking in HIS Spirit!
