Why Some Christians Believe the World is Flat... and the Torah is Null and Void / January 2005

Dear Brethren,

On December 26, 2004 my friend and brother in the faith Reggie White died. Reggie was best known in the world of professional football. He was a defensive end and until this last year had the NFL record for quarterback sacks at 198. There are some who say that Reggie was the greatest defensive player in the history of the game. Reggie was known as the Minister of Defense and was open about his Christian testimony. He was controversial and took issue with the social ills of abortion, homosexuality, and the treatment of the black minorities. In recent years, people began to notice that there was a change in his testimony and faith. He no longer wanted to play the role as attention getter for churches because of his football career. He wanted to be known more as a man of God. How did I know of him?

In his final year as a player, some of Reggie’s friends gave him my teaching tape set Introduction to Torah. According to him, it opened his eyes to see Scripture as never before. We agreed to meet after he retired and the football season was over. I stayed as a guest in his home and came to know his wife and two children. When I shook his hand, it felt like sticking my hand in a catcher’s mitt. When he hugged me, he had to bend over. His size made me feel like a little boy.

Reggie began to grow in his Messianic faith. He studied Hebrew and the Torah. I didn’t have as much time with him as I wanted, but his friendship was genuine and real. Why would God take him home so early, just as he was emerging as a man of God more than the football great? Some men have great testimonies of God in life. But, men of God have even greater testimonies after death. Reggie’s testimony is just starting to become known.
Please pray for Reggie’s wife, Sara, and his two children, Jeremy and Jecolia.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support of this ministry. Be encouraged…
… and, let us not forget Jerusalem…

Years ago, in the days before the New World was founded, reasonable and normal people believed that the world was flat. They thought that a ship sailing over the horizon would jeopardize itself and fall off the edge of the world into some kind of oblivion. Their idea of the world seemed to be confirmed anytime a ship left and never returned. It must have gotten too close to the edge. Not everyone believed this, but it was a common misunderstanding in their time.

For a moment, let’s consider some of the reasons that led people to think that the world was flat. From the perspective of those who traveled little, the world looked flat. Everyone said the world was flat. Their leaders said the world was flat; therefore, the world was considered flat. Since there was no need to investigate the matter further, their conclusions were established without contesting. Anyone suggesting that the world might be round got themselves in a lot of trouble. However, maintaining the conclusion produced another kind of problem. The conflict was with the truth. Why were the Sun and Moon round while the Earth was not? The answer was found in the study of mathematics and physics. Denying the questions and dismissing other evidences created more problems than falling off the edge of the world.

In previous generations, the failure to address natural questions honestly and to understand basic principles led to the wrong
conclusions. We view these ancient misunderstandings almost humorously, but they were not funny at the time. There were many men who put their lives and reputations on the line in an effort to pursue the truth. This pursuit also carried over into the faith. Men such as Copernicus and Galileo were at great risk from the church for thinking that the Earth was not the center of the Solar System and the Universe.

We may have come to terms with the flatness and roundness of the earth, but churchmen still have not changed their thinking about even more important matters of faith. Christians are still taught that they are the very center of the creation and the church is the centerpiece of eternity. Just as the previous generations thought the world was flat, the Christian world thinks that most of the Bible is null and void, specifically, the Torah. Mind you, these are the people who profess that they believe in the whole Bible. However, their understanding of the Bible is like the ancients and the flat world.

Most Christians and their teachers believe that Jesus Christ came and “fulfilled” the Law of Moses and caused it to pass away. Here is a shortened version of what that means to them:

The Law was a list of do’s and don’ts, which no one could keep. The Law proved that we all have sin; Jesus came to do away with sin. Jesus solved our sin problem and made the Law go away. The Law only served a purpose until Christ came. Therefore, the
commandments for Sabbath, Biblical feasts, how to worship God, and some of the covenants that God made with mankind were all concluded. The grand plan of God for mankind, beginning with the fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, resulting in the nation of Israel, ceased with Christ dying on the cross. Christians and the Church of Jesus Christ are God’s economy for today. The Grace of God has replaced the Law of God. Sunday church with Christmas and Easter has replaced Sabbath and Biblical holidays. God replaced the Old Testament with the New Testament. The majority of Christians go to church on Sunday. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by God. Obviously, the Law of Moses was done away with and replaced by the letters of Paul. The only commandments we keep now are found in the New Testament plus the moral law.

There are some minor variations in this when it comes to which covenants may still exist and with eschatology, but this is a fair and accurate rendition of what churchmen think. Their logic is no different than believing the physical world is flat. Churchmen and church goers do not understand the Law of Moses any more than people of the past understood the shape of the world.
Let’s take a little true/false quiz that illuminates the present thinking.

TRUE or FALSE

1. The Law was given by Moses at Mt. Sinai only for the Children of Israel; it was not for Gentiles.

2. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled all of them and now the Law has passed away. Jesus is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords, therefore, all authority and judgment rests with Him as the Head of the Church. The Law of Christ has replaced the Law of Moses.

3. The Law is a yoke that no one can keep. Anyone trying to keep one commandment of the Law commits themselves to keeping all of the Law and severs their relationship with the Christ. Keeping the commandments of the Law is legalism and salvation by works.

4. The Law is weak and can not save. The believers of Christ today are not under the Law but under Grace. We are not saved by works of the Law, but by Grace through faith. Therefore, the weakness of the Law renders itself void.

5. Circumcision is not required of any Christians; therefore, the Law is not required.

6. Jesus spoke against the Law and the temple altar system; He came to alter the customs of Moses. Jesus replaced Sabbath with Sunday as a result of His resurrection. Christians meet on the first day of the week to remember His death, burial, and resurrection.

7. The Apostle Paul only kept the Law to win over some Jews to Christ. Therefore, Paul’s testimony of keeping the Law was not valid for what he believed and taught.

8. The New Testament clearly teaches that Kosher laws are not to be observed. Christ has made all foods clean.

9. The New Testament has replaced the Old Testament. The Old Testament has no authority over a believer today; it only serves to provide a historical context leading to the Christ.

10. The purpose of the Law was to be a tutor and lead us to Christ. Now that we have Christ, the tutor is no longer necessary.

If you answered “True” to any of these statements your thinking is consistent with churchmen.

There are many elements of truth in the previous 10 questions. Some of the words and phrases come from Scripture. However, the use of those words and expressions are directed toward a goal that is false. The actual verses that use those words and phrases are not talking about the demise or replacement of the Torah.

Let’s review the questions again and understand why they are false.

1. “only for the Children of Israel; it was not for Gentiles.” FALSE The Torah was given to the children of Israel. This included the tribe of Judah (Jews), but it also included the other tribes. In addition to the physical descendants of Jacob, a mixed multitude was in the camp. They were numbered right with the tribes of Israel. The Torah
commandments were given to the native, the alien, and the sojourner that was also with them. The redemption from Egypt included any other slave who chose to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses further stated in Deuteronomy that the Covenant given at that time was not only for those standing there but those who were not standing there (future descendants, future aliens and sojourners). The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 10 that “All our fathers” were part of that covenant including the Gentiles. He is teaching how Gentiles have a part in the past covenant. It is not just for the Jews or Israel.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

I Corinthians 10:1 4

The Mosaic Covenant was given to the House of Jacob. The Messiah is the head of the House of Jacob.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.

Luke 1:33

2. “He fulfilled all of them and now the Law has passed away.” FALSE Yeshua said that the Law would not pass away until heaven and earth passed away first. Heaven and Earth are still here.

Yeshua further stated that not one jot or tittle would leave until all was accomplished. All has not been accomplished. There are a host of Messianic prophecies in the Torah that have not been fulfilled that the Messiah will yet fulfil. One is Deuteronomy 30:1 10. It is about the final exodus of Israel from all of the nations where they were scattered. It is repeated many times such as in Ezekiel 34 foretelling of the Messiah as the Great Shepherd. Then after the resurrection, when some believe the Torah did pass away, the disciples asked Yeshua before He ascended if it was the time for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. This is the same prophecy that Moses and the other prophets spoke of.
And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying,

“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1:6

These are still future prophetic events, that have not been accomplished yet. This is one of the strongest reasons why many Jews do not accept the Messiahship of Yeshua; He didn’t fulfill all the prophecies. Therefore, the Torah can not pass away until all is accomplished.

3. “The Law is a yoke that no one can keep.” FALSE Yeshua kept the Law and we are commanded to follow His example. We have His grace and forgiveness to help us keep it. There is an old teaching that addresses this specifically for all disciples. The question is asked by the disciple, “How can I keep all of God’s commandments?” The answer given by his teacher is, “One at a time.” A journey of a thousand miles is made one step at a time. Yeshua has already made the journey; He has invited us to walk with Him. That is why He offered to exchange yokes.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.

Matthew 11:29 30

Most Christian teachers don’t know this, but the yoke Yeshua is talking about is the Torah.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

I John 5:3

4. “The weakness of the Law renders itself void.” FALSE The Torah presents the need for salvation; the solution to the need is by faith in the Messiah. Without understanding the need; no one would believe or have faith in the solution. The Law is not contrary to faith; it establishes faith.

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Romans 3:31

5. “Circumcision is not required of any Christian;” FALSE Circumcision is still required of Messianic Jews for their sons in the New Testament. However, those coming from among the Gentiles were not required to be circumcised according to Acts 15. This question was addressed clearly, resulting in a special letter to the Gentiles.

The quotation from the prophet Amos addressed the future of circumcision in the Messianic kingdom and why those “coming from among the Gentiles” need not be circumcised now. Even the children of Israel did not circumcise their sons in the wilderness after receiving the Torah; it was reserved until they entered the promised land.
The Apostle James also referenced the teaching of Moses on Sabbath in each city for additional understanding. This decision did not make the Law go away; it is a specific prophetic element in the future having to do with the Messiah’s future kingdom (raising the tabernacle of David).

After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, in order that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,

Acts 15:16 17

Christian teachers do not understand the kind of tabernacle spoken of in this prophecy, nor do they understand why James quoted this. They do not teach the letter to the Gentiles.

6. “Jesus spoke against the Law and the temple altar system; He came to alter the customs of Moses.” FALSE This statement is actually in the New Testament; however, it is the testimony of the false witnesses that stood against Stephen who was martyred for his testimony of Yeshua.

And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place, and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

Acts 6:13 14

Any Christian teacher who says that Jesus did away with the temple in Jerusalem, the Torah, and has instructed us to not follow the teaching of Moses is a false witness. He is no different than those who falsely testified against Stephen. This is also the reason why the Apostle John made his strong statement about so called Christians who speak against the Torah.

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

I John 2:3 4

7. “The Apostle Paul only kept the Law to win over some Jews to Christ.” FALSE The Apostle Paul kept the Torah, taught the Torah, kept the traditions of his fathers, and walked uprightly before the Lord. It was his custom to observe Sabbath and festivals. He observed Nazarite vows. He taught that the Law was the perfect Law of Liberty in the Messiah. It is only a rumor, so stated in the New Testament, that he did not keep the Law.

And they have been told about you [Paul], that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Acts 21:21

8. “The New Testament clearly teaches that Kosher laws are not to be observed. Christ has made all foods clean.” FALSE This is a particularly egregious example of the error of Christian teachers concerning the New Testament. Acts 10 with Peter’s vision to “rise, kill, and eat” unclean animals is most often cited as the New Testament teaching that the Torah’s teaching of clean and unclean foods in now null and void. The problem is that Peter gives the interpretation of the vision and it has nothing to do with changing the Torah’s instruction about clean and unclean foods. It was a vision to show Peter that he can no longer consider Gentiles who come to the Lord as unclean or unholy.

And opening his mouth, Peter said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him.”

Acts 10:34 35

Acts 11:1 18 gives Peter’s entire account of the event in sequence explaining that the vision was about the gospel being delivered to the Gentiles. It has nothing to do with nullifying anything in the Torah.

because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated? “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Mark 7:19

The words “Thus He declared all foods clean” is not in the original Greek manuscripts. This may come as the shock to you, but some ancient Christian scholar inserted these words so he could eat the flesh of swine. Before I leave this subject, let me say in the defense of most Christians that Christians do eat kosher; they just have a different list than the Lord has.

9. “The New Testament has replaced the Old Testament. The Old Testament has no authority over a believer today; it only serves to provide a historical context leading to the Christ.” FALSE The covenants of God do not replace other covenants and cause the past ones to go away. The covenant with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David are still with us. Christian teachers only try to make the one made with Moses go away, because they don’t keep it. The Tanach (Old Testament) explains and teaches these covenants. It is the covenant with Moses that is disputed by Christian teachers. Paul weighed in on this particular subject when it came to the actual written words of Scripture in the Tanach.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

II Timothy 3:16 17

The only Scripture (written word of God) that existed, when Paul penned these words, was the Tanach.

Paul was referring directly to the Torah, the Prophets, and the other writings forming the Tanach.

10. “The purpose of the Law was to be a tutor and lead us to Christ. Now that we have the Christ, the tutor is no longer necessary.” FALSE Paul made a statement very similar to this; however, the wrong conclusion has been drawn. Paul’s full statement says this:

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Galatians 3:23 25

The subject of Paul’s statement is faith (believing the promise of God). One of those promises was the Lamb of God. Now that we have received the promise, the giving of the promise is relegated to a lessor role, but it has not departed from us. When I was young I learned how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. It is called arithmetic. Just because I graduated to algebra did not mean the arithmetic passed away. Just because by faith I have received the promised Lamb of God, that does not mean that God’s work of
creation has been replaced by His work of redemption. The work of the Son of God has not replaced the work of His Father.

Yeshua’s Answer about the Torah

Let us remind ourselves of something very specific about whether the Torah is fulfilled or passed away before we go any further. Yeshua has clearly answered the question about the Law and the Prophets, and specifically addressed when and if they pass away. He has said that we are not even to “think” that He came to do away with them.

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

The word “fulfill” does not mean abolish, pass away, or any other expression to demean or devalue the Law and the Prophets. The context of Yeshua’s statement is simple and direct. The think and declare to the opposite of this is the consistent with those who dismiss the evidence of the shape of the world. But it gets worse. When churchmen advocate that Yeshua came to do away with the Torah, they are actually trying to prove that He is a false messiah. Moses has clearly stated that any person, even one doing signs and wonders, who attempts to seduce us away from what Moses (God) has taught is false.

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 13:1 5

Yeshua did signs and wonders. He did not counsel anyone to change any commandment given by God at the Mount (at the giving of the Torah). He did not seduce anyone to do anything different from the way Moses taught. Anyone advocating that He did, is presenting the evidence to disprove that He is the Messiah of Israel, promised by Moses and the Torah.

Using the Apostle Paul against the Messiah

Much of the Scripture used by Churchmen to support their erroneous conclusions of the Torah comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul. When arguing the case to make the Torah null and void, you will not hear Yeshua, the Head of the Church, or the Apostle John, James, Peter, Jude, or others quoted very often. For the most part, you will hear quotes from Paul who was the Apostle to the Gentiles. Most Christians see themselves as Gentiles and therefore want to take the short cut of instruction (I don’t want to study all of the Bible. Just show me the stuff that is about me.) Paul found himself leading many Gentiles to the Messiah and then dealing with other Jewish teachers trying to put the new believers under their subjection. Many Jewish believers in that day taught that you were required to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved.

Paul was forced to make many arguments about the Law to keep the new believers focused on the Messiah for salvation. His arguments put the Law and the Spirit into a balanced context. Those arguments, however, have been twisted to say that Paul was opposed to the Law of Moses. This rumor even sprang up in his day and is addressed in the book of Acts.

Yeshua is the Head of the Church. Any person, even an Apostle, who counters what Yeshua has said is a false Apostle and teacher. Those who advocate that the Apostle Paul taught that the Torah (the Law of Moses) is passed away, null and void, or abolished are attempting to prove that Paul is a false teacher by countering the words of Yeshua.

Those who promote Paul in this way are unstable in their faith. They are untaught; they do not know what the Torah teaches. By twisting the teachings of Paul they have brought spiritual destruction and judgment upon themselves. The Apostle Peter commented on Paul’s work explaining that parts of it were “hard to be understood” by those who were “unstable and untaught”, who twist his teachings to their own destruction.

Arguments against the Torah using Paul

The Law reveals sin and the need for a Savior. It is the Law that gives the instruction in righteousness for every man of God; it defines holy and profane, clean and unclean. The Book of Romans was written by Paul to the believers in Rome. Paul uses the teaching of Torah to explain how we are justified before God by faith. Paul teaches from the Torah and explains how Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness. This is the teaching of the Torah!

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 6:14

Everyone has heard it before, “You are not under the law now, you are under grace.” Those who are opposed to the Torah say that it means the law is abolished. It has been replaced by grace. This is an excellent example of how you can twist the words of Paul. He is not saying that the Law went away, therefore the transgressions of the Law (sin) went away. He is saying the penalty of sin, also specified in the Law (the soul that sins shall die) has been answered by the work of the Messiah (His gracious gift of forgiveness and life). The Law still exists, the penalty of sin still exists, but the grace of God has answered the penalty. Therefore, you are not under the penalty of the sin; sin is not your master. And, the world is not flat either.

“Under the Law” is a very specific expression still used today to explain “jurisdiction.” I live in Oklahoma, therefore I am not under Texas law. It is a case of jurisdiction. If, however, I were to visit the state of Texas, I would be under Texas law. There are many commandments and instructions in Torah. They, too, have jurisdictional elements. Some commandments have specifically to do with the land of Israel. Some have to do with the station of life you are in. Commandments for men are not always applicable to women or children. There are commandments for priests; if you are not a priest, they don’t apply. Paul is trying to explain how things are justified. Look at the very next passage and thought of Paul.

Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God.

Romans 7:1 4

This passage has an analogy about a husband and wife. It is a very good analogy to explain how commandments work. But, amazingly, some Christian teachers think the analogy works like this: Christ dies, therefore, the Law of Moses is no more. Failing to understand simply analogies is consistent with flat thinking.

Let’s look at another reference by Paul to the Law.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

I Corinthians 9:19 22

Part of the Torah and the Law that Christians do not understand are the “customs of Moses.” Although customs are not commandments of God, they are an order of things. Many things done in the worship service are custom rather than commandment. Jews have certain customs; Gentiles have their own customs. Paul’s expression of those under the Law and those who are not, is about customs, not commandments. Common sense tells you that you must conform to the order (customs) of a house if you are to be a proper guest. The same is true when visiting another people or land. Paul stated this principle again by saying he knew how to be a Roman with the Romans and how to be a Jew with the Jews. This is not hard to understand; however, this too is twisted.

According to some churchmen, Paul is stating that he does keep the commandments of God from the Law of Moses; he only does them occasionally to deceive some Jews long enough to get them saved. They actually represent the ministry of Paul as deceptive and using whatever means necessary to get someone saved. This kind of thinking is absurd; when it is actually taught to others, it is defamation.

The book of Galatians is the most often quoted book to argue against the Torah. There is a good reason for this.
The Galatians, a group of Gentiles who came to faith in Yeshua, decided to cast away Yeshua and become Jewish proselytes. They were trying to become Jews and forget the Messiah. Paul makes a strong argument for why the teaching of the Messiah is the proper understanding of the Torah and those who oppose the Messiah don’t understand the Torah. The book of Galatians is still needed today for some erring brethren. Consider this often quoted verse that says the Messiah replaced the Law of Moses.

Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Do you see the expression “the law of Christ?” According to some, that means that the Law of Moses is done away with and has been replaced by the law of Christ. When Jesus came and fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, He made the Law go away (it was fulfilled). It obviously has been replaced by the Law of Christ.

Let’s look at the verse again. The subject is about being nice to one another. The Messiah taught that we should love one another, same as the Torah. So, if we are nice to one another, help each with their burdens, and actually love one another then we will keep His commandments and thus fulfill the Law of Christ. But this creates a huge problem for churchmen. If Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses and it passed away, then the law of Christ will also pass away because we have fulfilled it. This is based on the fact that churchmen define the word “fulfill” as causing something to be passed away. What will we replace the law of Christ with then? Obviously, we will be lawless. That must be the part when our new Messiah, the Man of Lawlessness, shows up.

When did this flawed thinking first begin and where is it today?

When did the church get the idea that the Law of Moses went away? The answer is in church history. It happened when Gentile churchmen took control of the church. Throughout the centuries various churchmen have argued with Jewish Rabbis on this very point. Their have been many historical debates. The Rabbi always won and then the Jews were kicked out of that Christian country. The original pilgrims to America believed in keeping all the commandments of the Lord and were opposed to the church of England. American churchmen began to emerge and the debating forum shifted to Christians debating with Christians. The various denominations began marking out their territory in the new communities of America. In the 1800’s a particular churchmen arose who took a non denominational position. The superiority of the “Law of Christ” and how it compares with the weaknesses of the Law of Moses was an argument made by Alexander Campbell. Today, Campbell’s argument is continued by predominately teachers of the non denominational Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.

My own journey of faith began with this teaching. My material grandmother, bless her soul, was a matriarch in the local Church of Christ. I was raised as a child in this Christian thinking and understand this theology very well.

I really believe that God has both purpose and a sense of humor in His great plan. Aside from the global issue within Christianity, this issue is a major dividing line between two ministry organizations operating today. You know me, Monte Judah with Lion and Lamb Ministries, based in Norman, Oklahoma. Allow me introduce Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries of McKinney, Texas. No, it is not a misprint. I am Lion and Lamb; he is Lamb and Lion. I teach the Law of Moses; he advocates the Law of Christ. Dr. Reagan is a product of Campbell’s thinking.

Dr. Reagan has authored an internet on line article entitled The Law of Moses. Does it apply to Christians today? Here are a couple points from his article explaining how the Law of Christ has replaced the Law of Moses.

“This illustration should make it clear what I mean when I say that the Law of Moses has been nullified and that we are now under the Law of Christ. The two laws have many different commandments. For example, under the Law of Moses the eating of pork was forbidden. The Law of Christ permits it. But there are also similar commandments. Thus, both prohibit adultery and theft. But if you commit adultery, you are guilty of violating the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses.”

According to Dr. Reagan and others like him, the Law of Christ is a “cut and paste” version of the original Torah, but under no circumstances does credit go to Moses. In other explanations, Dr. Reagan explains that Yeshua was right to say that He did not abolish the Law and Prophets, but he adds that His statement was only true during His physical life. Once Christ died, the Law died with Him.
“Some of you at this point may be wondering what Jesus meant when He said in His sermon on the mount in Galilee, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill’ (Matthew 5:17). How can these words be reconciled with my conclusion that the Law have been abolished?

The answer is so obvious that it is hard to see. The Law of Moses did not end with the coming of Jesus or with the initiation of His ministry – but with His death.

As long as Jesus lived, He – as a Jew – was under the Mosaic Law and was obligated to fulfill it, which he did perfectly. But when He died, he became the testator of a New Covenant that completely replaced the Old.”

Dr. Reagan’s logic is like a man telling us the world is flat. His statements are contradictory to the Messiah directly. The Messiah said He did not come to abolish; Dr. Reagan says He did. Even he admits that his statement can not be reconciled to the statement of Yeshua. He just fast forwards to His resurrection and renders the words of Yeshua null and void along with Moses. But it gets worse. Let’s consider the implications of Dr. Reagan’s faith. Who decides what goes in his “cut and paste” version of his Law and what is the criteria for the selection of commandments? The ten commandments are particularly treacherous since it has the commandment of Sabbath that he does not observe. Consider Dr. Reagan’s “cut and paste” version.

“The annulment of the Mosaic Law was total in nature. The Bible never speaks of portions of the Law being ‘carried over’ into the New Covenant. As the Hebrew writer reminds us, the giving of the New Covenant ‘has made the first obsolete.’

(Hebrews 8:13)

This includes seven of the Ten Commandments as Paul makes clear in 2 Corinthians 3:6 9. In that passage Paul states that we are ‘servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.’ He then refers to the ‘letters engraved on stones’ as a ‘ministry of death’ (verse 7) and a ‘ministry of condemnation’ (verse 9). The ‘letters engraved on stones’ is a direct reference to the Ten Commandments. Those were the only commandments in the Law of Moses that were written on stone by the finger of God. All the rest of the remaining 603 commands were written down by Moses at the instruction of God.

Does this mean the Ten Commandments are no longer applicable to the Christians? Not necessarily. It means that as part of the Law of Moses they no longer apply. But any of them that are incorporated in the Law of Christ do apply – and the fact of the matter is that nine of the ten have been included in the New Covenant and have even been expanded to cover our thought life (see for example, Matthew 5:21 24). The only one that is not mentioned in the New Covenant is the command to keep the Sabbath.”

Let’s consider his statements in more detail:
The Bible never speaks of portions of the Law being ‘carried over’ into the New Covenant. This statement contradicts the prophet Jeremiah.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Jeremiah 31:31 33

Jeremiah did not say that Israel would get different commandments. He said the same commandments (the Law) would be written in a different place – on the tablets of their hearts and not on stone. The difference isn’t in the commandments; it’s in where they are written. Dr. Reagan has hijacked the New Covenant from Israel and he has substituted his own commandments for the those given by God at Mt. Sinai.

As the Hebrew writer reminds us, the giving of the New Covenant ‘has made the first obsolete.’ (Hebrews 8:13) The expression “obsolete” does not mean, taken to the junk heap for scrap and salvage as Christians want to do with the Torah. It means that the new is better. Yeshua is a better high priest because of the order of His priesthood. The New Covenant is a better covenant because the long awaited promise of the Messiah’s redemption has been received. Furthermore, commandments written on the heart are better than those written on stone. The word “obsolete” is just a superlative comparison for better.

This includes seven of the Ten Commandments as Paul makes clear in 2 Corinthians 3:6 9. Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 3:6 9 is not for the purpose of restating seven of the ten commandments for the new Law of Christ. There is no reference to any particular commandment of the ten commandments, let alone seven of them as Dr. Reagan suggests. Verses 6 through 9 are an amplification of Paul’s earlier statement in verse 3 “not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.” It is the same teaching as in Hebrews.

But any of them that are incorporated in the Law of Christ do apply – and the fact of the matter is that nine of the ten have been included in the New Covenant and have even been expanded to cover our thought life (see for example, Matthew 5:21 24). Matthew 5:21 48 does not cover the nine commandments he is referring to (the ten minus the Sabbath commandment). Matthew 5:21 48 is not a restatement of which commandments out the Law of Moses are in the Law of Christ. It is the Messiah teaching the Torah for the servants of God. All commandments are to be obeyed from the heart. Even Moses taught this. You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart…

The only one that is not mentioned in the New Covenant is the command to keep the Sabbath. The subject of Sabbath as a commandment is addressed more than two dozen times in the New Testament. The word “Sabbath” is used 55 times in the New Testament. The Catholic church made the change concerning Sabbath, not the Messiah nor the New Testament. Every theologian knows this; this is not disputed. For Dr. Reagan to say that the commandment of Sabbath is not even mentioned in the New Testament writings is a good example of twisting the teaching to the point of self destruction. I will only make mention of one reference by the Messiah Himself which is repeated in three gospels.

The Son of Man [Yeshua] is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5

You can be assured that Yeshua is the Lord of the Sabbath and those who oppose the Sabbath oppose His Lordship.

Churchmen like Alexander Campbell and Dr. Reagan are like the men of the past. They prefer the precepts of men to the commandments of God. Yeshua has also addressed their teaching specifically in the context of those who want the Torah to be null and void.

Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom heaven.

Matthew 5:19

Where was the Messiah when God gave the Torah?

In conclusion, let’s ask and answer some basic questions about the Messiah and the Torah.

Where was the Messiah when the heavens and the earth were created? The Apostle John said in John 1:1 the Messiah was there at the creation, He was the Creator.

Where was the Messiah when God had lunch with Abraham, promised the birth of Isaac, and negotiated for the number of righteous at Sodom and Gomorrah? According to Yeshua, He was there with Abraham. Abraham rejoiced to see His day.

Where was the Messiah when Jacob saw the ladder with angels ascending and descending? According to Yeshua, He was the ladder when He answered Nathaniel.
Where was the Messiah when Moses talked with God in the burning bush? Where was the Messiah when God spoke the Ten Commandments? Where was the Messiah when Moses was on the mountain getting the Torah?

Maybe we should review that story a bit more. When the people heard the voice of God speak the Ten Commandments, they were very afraid. The voice of God split rocks and shook the whole mountain, animals calved, and trees were shattered. Even Moses was full of fear and trembling.

The people made a deal with Moses and God. They dispatched Moses up the mountain to get God’s instruction because they did not want to hear God’s voice again. They thought they would die.

God agreed to this deal. Today, we are subject to this agreement. Our fathers agreed to do whatever Moses recounted from the Lord. The Lord also agreed to this with one provision. The Lord said that He would raise up from among us a Prophet (the Messiah) from the mountain (heaven) like Himself to us. God said that whatever that Prophet said to us would be required of us just as though God spoke from the mountain. Because we said we did not want to hear the voice of God from the mountain, we agreed to hear the word of God from the mouth of a man. What the Messiah says is not different from what Moses says. Yeshua, the Messiah, was in the burning bush. Yeshua is God; God was in the burning bush; Yeshua was talking to Moses. God told Moses to tell the sons of Israel that “I am” had sent him to them. Yeshua told the men of His day that when the Son of Man would be lifted up like Moses’ staff, they would see “I am.” He was referring to Himself in the conversation with Moses.

God spoke the Ten Commandments and gave the Torah to Moses. The very words spoken by God at Mt. Sinai were spoken by Yeshua. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15 These are the very words of the ten commandments.

but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Exodus 20:6

The world is not flat and the Torah is not null and void. I realize that the Christian world is full of those who believe the Torah is no more but they are wrong and in conflict with the Messiah and the rest of the New Testament.

Public debates are again coming to the forefront addressing this issue. I believe that very soon, the issue of whether the Torah is valid and appropriate for all brethren will either divide or unite us. The ancient lessons of Korah and Balaam are before us. Their opposition to Moses still stands today just as the New Testament says.

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Hebrews 10:28

The Law of Christ referred to in the New Testament is the Law of Moses with the receipt of the promised Messiah. It is the perfect Law of liberty; it is the easy yoke we put on while He carries our burdens. It is His commandments written on our hearts.

The world is not flat. The Torah is not null and void. You won’t fall off the edge of the world if you obey the Lord. You will just understand what the Messiah was really saying.

YAVOH, He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries
The ministry is a non-profit organization with an end time prophetic message in a Messianic Jewish context.
Subscription to YAVOH, He is Coming is without cost and supported only by donation.

Permission is granted to reprint any article in YAVOH, He is Coming with attribution given to YAVOH, He is Coming.

Editor - Monte Judah
Electronic Editor - Ephraim Judah

Lion and Lamb Ministries
PO Box 720968
Norman, OK 73070
Phone: (405) 447 4429
Fax: (405) 447 3775
E-mail: info@lionlamb.net
Web: lionlamb.net