Grace is a word that means gift. The Grace of Elohim is very specific GIFT that we receive in the suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua. This specific GIFT is the Free Gift of Righteousness. The Apostle Paul said that he does not “set aside, nullify, frustrate” the Grace of Elohim, for IF righteousness comes through the law, Messiah died in vain. As you can see here, there is a “righteousness” that we receive in the death of Messiah, and this righteousness is not based upon “works” of the law. But pay close attention here, Paul writes elsewhere that it is the DOERS and not the HEARERS of the Law who are righteous (Rom 2:13). He also says that the Law and the Prophets TESTIFY to this Righteousness that we receive as a free gift (Grace). So the question needs to be asked, “Just exactly what is righteousness?”
As everyone is taught here on this forum, Scripture interprets Scripture, so let’s interpret what righteousness is:
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before Yahweh our Elohim, as he hath commanded us.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
And what did the Messiah say about righteousness:
Mat 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So, as it is evident with Scripture interpreting Scripture, Elohim’s commandments are righteousness. Now, how does one accomplish righteousness, DOING the Law? And how does on accomplish unrighteousness, breaking the commandments/sinning? Look to this Scripture:
1Jn 3:4-10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim. (10) In this the children of Elohim are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of Elohim, neither he that loveth not his brother.
So it is clear that DOING and not just HEARING Elohim’s commandments/Law is righteousness. But then we come to the pursuit of DOING the Law. The Jews pursued DOING the Law and failed. Why? Because they did not pursue DOING the Law by FAITH:
Rom 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (31) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The Jews could ONLY look at the Law along physical lines, they only saw the doing of the Law through “works.” And here is where we bring in the DOING of the Law by Faith. As previously written here on this forum, a presentation was made to show that the True Gospel is understanding the suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua, as WRITTEN in the Scriptures. The main Scripture which presents the suffering, death, burial and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua is in Numbers 19, but there are many Scriptures which point to Yeshua and what would happen to Him. It takes faith to SEE Yeshua in the fulfillment of those Scriptures, and when you do acknowledge Yeshua as YOUR sacrifice, it becomes a DOING of those commands that the Law required of you. You see, the Jews wanted to kill a physical red heifer, Passover lamb, atonement goat, etc. and accomplish those commands according to the letter or works of the Law, but a Believer can acknowledge that Yeshua is THEIR offering, and receive the DOING of the Law by faith as a Gift (Elohim’s Grace).
Now, this DOING of the Law by faith is a FREE GIFT. You didn’t have to accomplish anything to perform what the Law required of you. All you had to do was be yourself, a sinner. All sinners have fallen short of DOING the Law by works, but all sinners have available to them this free gift of DOING the Law by Faith. It is BY or THROUGH our sin that we did sacrifice Yeshua. Sacrificing your offering is what the Law required of you for your sin, and you bring your offering when you acknowledge, by faith, that Yeshua is YOUR offering:
Lev 4:27-29 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of Yahweh concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; (28) Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. (29) And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
All sinners have accomplished this just requirement of the Law by sinning, that is IF you have Faith to believe that by sinning, Yeshua became YOUR Spiritual offering:
Rom 8:3-4 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, Elohim did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, (4) so that the just (righteous) requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in (by) us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Apostle Paul taught about this righteousness, this fulfilling of the Law BY US, who are walking according to the Spiritual fulfillment of the Law, and not the physical/works of the Law. And in doing so, he would explain how it worked. He would explain that when sin is increased, this righteousness of doing the Law Spiritually was increased. But then “lawless” men would twist and distort what Paul would write and say:
Rom 3:8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.
Paul taught that we receive the Grace of Elohim by sinning, and those who heard him say this would come back and say “Let us do evil so that this good would result,” or “Let us sin all the more so that Grace could abound.” It was very easy for Paul’s words to be twisted when he taught that it was by sinning that we receive this free gift. But it was sin which placed Yeshua on the Cross, your sin and mine, so that when sin is increased, this gift of DOING what the Law required for sinners, is increased:
Rom 5:20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
AND:
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified (have righteousness) by Messiah, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Messiah the minister of sin? Elohim forbid.
Can you see it? It took us being sinners to accomplish this righteousness (doing of the Law) which is by faith in Messiah as OUR sacrifice. This faith is a walking according to the Spiritual DOING of the Law and not according to the “works” or physical doing of the Law. And seeing Yeshua’s suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection as Moshe wrote of it in Numbers 19, STARTS a sinner on a path of walking according to the Spirit and being separated from their sin. This was the purpose of Elohim’s Grace:
Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of Elohim that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Elohim and our Saviour Messiah Yeshua; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
As everyone is taught here on this forum, Scripture interprets Scripture, so let’s interpret what righteousness is:
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before Yahweh our Elohim, as he hath commanded us.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
And what did the Messiah say about righteousness:
Mat 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So, as it is evident with Scripture interpreting Scripture, Elohim’s commandments are righteousness. Now, how does one accomplish righteousness, DOING the Law? And how does on accomplish unrighteousness, breaking the commandments/sinning? Look to this Scripture:
1Jn 3:4-10 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim. (10) In this the children of Elohim are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of Elohim, neither he that loveth not his brother.
So it is clear that DOING and not just HEARING Elohim’s commandments/Law is righteousness. But then we come to the pursuit of DOING the Law. The Jews pursued DOING the Law and failed. Why? Because they did not pursue DOING the Law by FAITH:
Rom 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (31) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The Jews could ONLY look at the Law along physical lines, they only saw the doing of the Law through “works.” And here is where we bring in the DOING of the Law by Faith. As previously written here on this forum, a presentation was made to show that the True Gospel is understanding the suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua, as WRITTEN in the Scriptures. The main Scripture which presents the suffering, death, burial and 3rd day resurrection of Yeshua is in Numbers 19, but there are many Scriptures which point to Yeshua and what would happen to Him. It takes faith to SEE Yeshua in the fulfillment of those Scriptures, and when you do acknowledge Yeshua as YOUR sacrifice, it becomes a DOING of those commands that the Law required of you. You see, the Jews wanted to kill a physical red heifer, Passover lamb, atonement goat, etc. and accomplish those commands according to the letter or works of the Law, but a Believer can acknowledge that Yeshua is THEIR offering, and receive the DOING of the Law by faith as a Gift (Elohim’s Grace).
Now, this DOING of the Law by faith is a FREE GIFT. You didn’t have to accomplish anything to perform what the Law required of you. All you had to do was be yourself, a sinner. All sinners have fallen short of DOING the Law by works, but all sinners have available to them this free gift of DOING the Law by Faith. It is BY or THROUGH our sin that we did sacrifice Yeshua. Sacrificing your offering is what the Law required of you for your sin, and you bring your offering when you acknowledge, by faith, that Yeshua is YOUR offering:
Lev 4:27-29 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of Yahweh concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; (28) Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. (29) And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
All sinners have accomplished this just requirement of the Law by sinning, that is IF you have Faith to believe that by sinning, Yeshua became YOUR Spiritual offering:
Rom 8:3-4 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, Elohim did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, (4) so that the just (righteous) requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in (by) us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Apostle Paul taught about this righteousness, this fulfilling of the Law BY US, who are walking according to the Spiritual fulfillment of the Law, and not the physical/works of the Law. And in doing so, he would explain how it worked. He would explain that when sin is increased, this righteousness of doing the Law Spiritually was increased. But then “lawless” men would twist and distort what Paul would write and say:
Rom 3:8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.
Paul taught that we receive the Grace of Elohim by sinning, and those who heard him say this would come back and say “Let us do evil so that this good would result,” or “Let us sin all the more so that Grace could abound.” It was very easy for Paul’s words to be twisted when he taught that it was by sinning that we receive this free gift. But it was sin which placed Yeshua on the Cross, your sin and mine, so that when sin is increased, this gift of DOING what the Law required for sinners, is increased:
Rom 5:20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
AND:
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified (have righteousness) by Messiah, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Messiah the minister of sin? Elohim forbid.
Can you see it? It took us being sinners to accomplish this righteousness (doing of the Law) which is by faith in Messiah as OUR sacrifice. This faith is a walking according to the Spiritual DOING of the Law and not according to the “works” or physical doing of the Law. And seeing Yeshua’s suffering, death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection as Moshe wrote of it in Numbers 19, STARTS a sinner on a path of walking according to the Spirit and being separated from their sin. This was the purpose of Elohim’s Grace:
Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of Elohim that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Elohim and our Saviour Messiah Yeshua; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
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