Home About Us Apostolic Free Library Questions & Answers Guestbook Order Online Search The Network

Follow-up on keeping Torah?

 Submitted: 3/5/2010
Post a comment or
ask a follow-up question
 
Question: Okay, I understand and appreciate the application in your teaching of the H.S. who gives us Sabbath peace, rest, and leads us in daily worship, living in the full benefits of the Lord Jesus' eternal sacrifice as our Passover Lamb, obedience to the teaching of the 'moral' law, and gleaning from the spiritual aspects of the 'ceremonial' law and applying them in a spiritual way (i.e, sanctification, separation, etc.) I agree that this is valuable! However, my inquiry is more literal. For example, Do you teach that believers should obey all the teachings of the Scriptures (i.e., Torah)through the power of the H.S. (as the Lord's standard for righteousness)--i.e, kosher, niddah (sexual separation of spouses during a woman's mestruation), Sabbath worship,etc?
Answer: We believe that all the ceremonial elements of the law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the Spirit-led life. As Paul explained, God came in the flesh and died on the cross so that 'the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit' (Romans 8:4). We have no issues with anyone who wants to eat kosher or worship on Saturday (we often worship on Saturday). But we do not believe that these practices are required for salvation or make any contribution toward spiritual growth. They are purely ceremonial. Therefore, we believe it is unwarrented on the part of any believer to condemn those who do not keep these practices. To us they are shadows. But now that the substance has come, we no longer have need of the shadows. As Paul wrote, 'For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God' (Hebrews 7:19). The better hope is Jesus Christ. He usurped and fulfilled all the Old Testament ceremonies.



Copyright © 1999 - 2024 || Rosh-Pinnah Publications :: PO Box 337 :: Carlisle, PA 17013-0337