Return to Torah

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you have probably noticed that the events of the past year, when closely examined along with those of the previous two years, reveal a central emerging theme – Return.  In Hebrew, the word for ‘return’ is shuvah which is the root of teshuvah or repentance.  For the past three plus years I have been on my own journey of return that has been unmistakably characterized by repentance.  Before elaborating on this repentance though, let me first explain the return.  The object of our return is the commandments, statutes, precepts, and judgments as written in the first five books of the Bible, often referred to as ‘The Law’ in Christian circles, but more accurately understood as the Torah (Instructions) or Pentateuch (The Five Books of Moses).  I believe Yahshua (Jesus), the promised Messiah from the tribe of Judah, is calling us to walk-in those same commandments, statutes, precepts, and judgments – these actions constitute our Return to Torah. 

But this return must be preceded by repentance.  Without repentance the return is not possible.  So what does this repentance look like or how can one know what to repent for?  The First Letter of John in the King James Version of the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant) clarifies this for us: 

1 John 3:4  (parenthetical mine) 

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law (Torah), for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).” 

If sin is the transgression of the law (Torah), then repentance of sin must involve turning away from lawlessness or anti-Torah ways and practices. 

I’m sure some of you are asking, “I thought people only needed to receive Yahshua (Jesus) as their savior for repentance of sin?”  It is true that one must receive the Blood of the Lamb (Yahshua) as atonement for sins so that he can be restored back into right relationship with Abba.  Yahshua says, “No one comes to Abba (the Father) but through me.”  But Yahshua came not only to reconcile a broken world to Abba our Creator; He also came to teach us the correct understanding of His ways – or Torah.  Yahshua is not only a bridge (or latter) back to Abba He also is the Word of Elohim (G-d) as stated in the Gospel of John.  John begins by telling us that ‘In the beginning (or Genesis)’ was the Word and that Yahshua is the Word of G-d.  All things came into being through the Word as Elohim spoke all things into existence (as described in Genesis), and then the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us (John 1:14).  For me, it is impossible to separate the Word of G-d (Torah) from Yahshua who is the Living Torah – they are one in the same.  So to repent of our sins, that is, the lawlessness that results from transgression of the Torah, by receiving the Word of G-d (Yahshua) must ultimately result in our Return to Torah – if His Spirit is in fact dwelling within us.  Torah observance reflects lawfulness not lawlessness. 

Speaking of lawlessness, I cannot help but notice that a growing segment of the American public increasingly rejects the U.S. Constitution and the principle that our society is governed by the ‘Rule of Law.’  The Constitution and the Rule of Law are the foundation of our Republic and ensure our liberty.  As the governing principle of the ‘rule of law’ is made increasingly irrelevant or removed altogether then tyranny surely fills the void.  As I’ve considered this societal collapse into lawlessness, I’ve tried to distinguish the rejection of G-d’s commandments, statutes, precepts, and judgments (Torah) from the recent rejection of the ‘rule of law’ in my own country – but I cannot do it.  I believe they are intricately related as what is sown in the spiritual is reaped in the natural – to reject G-d’s Torah (law) is to plant a spiritual seed that ultimately bears the fruit of lawlessness within our own ‘rule of law’ based system regardless of how much it might have been divinely inspired at its inception – the tares truly do mix with the wheat.  Of course, grace might free us from having to respect, honor, and abide by the Constitution and the Rule of Law just like grace frees from having to respect, honor, and abide by the Torah (law) established by G-d, right??  May it never be! 

The good news is that a growing remnant of Believers is returning to Torah.  This remnant is aware that the ‘man of lawlessness’ as prophesied in the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians will come before the return of Yahshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) and, in fact, the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) who now restrains will do so until He is taken away.  Then that lawless one will be revealed whom Adonai will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness (lawlessness) for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10). 

This prophecy from 2 Thessalonians is daunting, but I’m encouraged by the prophet Jeremiah who addresses our repentance in the midst of a great return: 

Jeremiah 16:19 

“O Yahweh, my strength and my stronghold, And my refuge in the day of distress, to You the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, futility and things of no profit.” 

May the Holy One of Israel bless you and yours with the revelation of His Torah as central to knowing Him and His only begotten.  As Yahshua says, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”  Amein.

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