Is Grace Contrary To Keeping Torah?

When Messianic / Hebrew Roots Believers are in conversation with Christians concerning the Torah, or the Tanakh (Old Testament) the common response by Christians is usually;  "I have Jesus, and that's all I need." That, to a certain extent is true. For example: Suppose one goes to church, and gives their life to Jesus, and on the way home from church, they are killed in an automobile accident. This is an example, of where all they need is Jesus. Just as the thief on the cross recognized Yeshua as Messiah, and trusted in Him at the very end of his life, that is all he needed. However, that is not usually the case. Giving your life to Yeshua, always requires you to grow in your faith, and turn from the desires of your sinful, fleshly nature. Since the Ruach ha Kodesh (The Holy Spirit) is constantly writing Torah upon our hearts, there should be a natural desire within a believer to repent of his/her old ways and desire to walk as Messiah walked. Lack of growth is a certain sign that your conversion was not real. When a child is born, do we expect that child to remain in a state of infancy, well into their teens, and into adult life? Of course not. We expect growth and maturity, and if it does not come, we know, beyond any doubt, there is something wrong. A child is always expected to move on from milk, to eating solid food. It is the natural order of things. Salvation by Grace is only the beginning of our walk with Yeshua. Ephesians 2: 8 – 10 gives us the proper theology of salvation through grace. It reads thus:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves – it is a gift of God. It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship – created in Messiah Yeshua  for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them."  (Tree of Life - New Testament)

Many intentionally miss the last portion of this, in order to declare that we do not need Torah today. But examine it a little closer, and one can clearly see that the first portion says that we are saved by grace. However, the second part, the part many usually shy away from, as though it is not there, is usually read quickly and quietly, as though it is not very important. It is clear, that if we are truly saved, we are His workmanship. Whose workmanship are we? Our heavenly Fathers. We are created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which were prepared beforehand, so we might walk in them. What are these good deeds that were prepared beforehand, that we might walk in them? The Torah. The Torah is given to us beforehand, by the Almighty, that we might know the lifestyle which is pleasing to Him.

Many insist, that as Christians, they are not required to live by Torah. Is this true? Do you really think that the Torah, which was given to the Hebrew people as a standard of righteousness, no longer applies to Christians? Many Christians are quick to point to Acts 15: 19, 20 & 28, 29, as proof that they do not need to observe Torah once they are saved. Is that the proper interpretation, as to what is going on in this text?  Let's read it in  context with the rest this chapter.  Let's look at Acts 15: 19 and 20, Where it says;

"Therefore I judge not to trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God ­­–– but to write to them to abstain from the contamination of idols, and sexual immorality, and from what is strangled, and from blood."  (Tree of Life NT)

The KJV renders the word "turning"  from the Greek επιστρεφοuσιν in the past tense (turned). This is incorrect as the word is a verb showing action in the present tense. The NIV, NEB, NRSV, NKJV and the CJB all render it correctly, as does the Tree of Life quoted above. Notice, that these Gentiles are turning to God. What was their previous condition? What are they turning to God from? They were formerly pagans involved in idol worship? They are turning to God from paganism, which was the common religious practice of the day.

I am forced to ask this question, from the context, within which, these verses are written. Where are these Gentiles going to hear the Gospel, and on what day are they going there? Verse 21 gives us the answer. It says;

"For Moses from ancient generations had in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read in the synagogues every Shabbat."  (Tree of Life NT)

Notice that the Gentiles are going into the synagogues to hear Moses proclaimed, and the message of salvation during Shabbat. But wait a minute! Gentiles are not permitted to enter the synagogues. So how are they hearing this message in the synagogues, during Shabbat, if they are not permitted to enter the synagogue in the first place? If one compares this passage with Leviticus Chapters 17 - 20, it becomes evident that these same requirements are placed upon the Foreigners/Strangers/Gentiles, who desire to live  among the commonwealth of Israel. The minimum requirements, for the strangers among the Israelites, to be in fellowship with them, are the same ones mentioned here. No idol worship. No sexual immorality. No eating what dies of itself, or is strangled, and no eating anything with its blood. The object here, is to not place obstacles in front of these formerly pagan people, so that they will be able to hear the Good News, and that they may be in fellowship with the Jewish believers. They will have time later, to learn the moral regulations, given by the Almighty through Moses, as they grow in understanding and faith.

We need to understand salvation from an ancient Hebrew perspective if we are to fully understand it.  We also need to reject the Greco / Roman concept of salvation, which is based in the traditions of men, and the doctrines of devils. After being saved, it should be our heart's desire to please our heavenly Father, and keep his Torah. How can we say that we are truly saved, if His Torah is not written upon our hearts?

 Does our heavenly Father save us because we keep His commandments? No! We are saved by grace, and grace alone through faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Should we keep our Father's commandments, because we are saved? Most certainly. It is only by walking in the Spirit, that we can fulfill Torah in our lives. Some may say that the Torah is the opposite of grace. That is simply misguided. Torah and Grace work together like a muscle and a joint. One without the other is useless. Legalism, not Torah, is the opposite of Grace. Salvation was never earned by keeping Torah. The children of Israel were always saved by grace. Legalism is the concept of earning salvation by being "good enough." Legalism does not work, for the simple reason that no one can be good enough. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

So are Torah and Grace against, or should I say, contrary to each other?  Perhaps I should ask this question another way. Are Moses and Yeshua against each other? Most certainly not. So where did this idea come from? The King James Version of the Bible (which is the most familiar, most quoted, and most respected English version) renders John 1:17 in the following manner;

 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Notice the word "but." in the KJV? It is in italics. The reason it is in italics, is because it does not exist in the original Greek manuscripts. Neither does it exist in the original 1611 version of the King James Bible. It has been added in an attempt, to either clarify the verse, in order to make it more understandable, or it was added in order to forward the already established Protestant doctrines of grace. However, it has actually clouded the meaning. Instead of joining Yeshua to Moses, it separates them. Instead of grace and truth making Torah complete, it masks the importance of Torah, and makes it appear, as though grace and truth can stand alone, without Torah.

 Perhaps, I can explain the difference by describing a wedding cake. If I say for instance: "Sue baked a cake; Alice did the icing and decorating." You would immediately understand from this statement, that Sue and Alice were working together, and both their efforts were of equal importance. However, if I say: "Sue baked a cake, but Alice did the icing and decorating." The emphasis immediately transfers from Sue's baking the cake, to Alice, and the icing and the decorating. Immediately the icing and decorating appears to be more important than the cake, as though the icing and decorations would work without the cake. The cake is the foundation upon which the icing and decorations have their purpose. It completes the desires, of  both parties involved. In the same manner, Torah is the foundation upon which grace and truth are built, to complete the plan of the Almighty. One can never be complete without the other, and both their efforts are considered too have equal value. Yeshua could not work without the foundation built by Moses. Moses, on the other hand, could not build the foundation without having the sure expectation of Messiah Yeshua completing the work.

Our Father in Heaven. Blessed be your name above all others for all eternity. I pray that you would open our eyes to the truths that are right there before us in your  Scriptures, but have been masked, hidden, or distorted by the deceiver over these past centuries. Reveal to us where your words have been added to, subtracted from, changed, or mistranslated. Deliver us from the traditions of men and the doctrines of devils. Quicken us by your Ruach (Spirit). Cause us to search your words, and be taught of you. Cause the scales to fall from our eyes, that we may recognize the Biblical Yeshua, and not fall for false messiahs, or be deceived by false prophets and teachers. Bring to our hearts an urgency to find you in these last days, that many would come to know you through the word of our testimony, and through our daily walking upright before you. Glorify yourself in your people. In the name of Yeshua HaMashiach I pray. Amen.

Shalom Ahlaychem,

Barry W. Gaugler