Grace of the Torah - Discovering the Gospel in the Law • Messianic Teaching about the Torah | Jesus

Grace of the Torah - Discovering the Gospel in the Law • Messianic Teaching about the Torah | Jesus

Understanding the Torah: More Than Just Laws

In a recent teaching at Founded in Truth Fellowship, the speaker, Matthew Vander Els, delved into the profound significance of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Often referred to as "the law," the speaker argued that viewing the Torah solely through the lens of legislation misses its deeper purpose and genre. He suggested that the Torah is primarily a narrative, a story of God's interaction with humanity, beginning with creation and tracing His covenant relationship with Abraham and the nation of Israel.

Many individuals, particularly those raised in church traditions, might have been taught to overlook much of the Torah, focusing only on a few key stories. However, the speaker contended that there is immense value and understanding to be gained from exploring these foundational texts. While acknowledging the presence of numerous laws and commandments within the Torah, he emphasized that these laws are embedded within the overarching narrative and serve to contribute to the unfolding story of God's redemptive plan.

The speaker highlighted a crucial question that arises from the study of the Torah: What is its central message or point? He discussed common misconceptions, such as the idea that the Torah was a means for the Israelites to achieve salvation through obedience. He countered this by citing the Apostle Paul's teaching that Abraham was justified by faith, not by adherence to the law. Another perspective suggests that the law was given to demonstrate humanity's inability to keep it, thus highlighting the need for a savior. While acknowledging the role of the law in revealing sin and the necessity of God's grace, the speaker cautioned against viewing it solely as an oppressive burden that God intended to inflict upon Israel.

God's Grace in the Torah: A Privilege, Not a Burden

The speaker passionately argued that the Torah reveals God's grace and that obedience to it was intended to be a response to that grace, not a means of earning it. He drew attention to Moses' words in Deuteronomy, where he emphasizes that the decrees and laws were given so that Israel might live and be seen by other nations as wise and understanding. Moses declared that other nations would be envious of Israel's privilege of having their God so near to them and possessing such righteous decrees and laws. This perspective reframes the commandments not as a heavy burden, but as a distinctive privilege granted by a loving and intimate God.

To illustrate this point, the speaker contrasted the Israelite experience with an ancient Sumerian prayer from a pagan worshipper. This prayer revealed a deep sense of sin, accountability to unknown deities, and a desperate plea for pacification from divine wrath, without any clear understanding of the offense committed or how to find resolution. The speaker highlighted the stark difference: Israel had a clear knowledge of Yahweh's will, a God who spoke to them, listened to them, and provided a way for reconciliation despite their transgressions. This intimate relationship and clear guidance were the very reasons why other nations would envy Israel.

The key to understanding the meaning behind the Torah's statutes and commandments, according to the speaker, is grace. It was by God's grace that these laws, saturated with righteousness, were given to Israel. They served to reveal God's character, expose sin, and show how sin could be removed through the provisions within the Torah, such as Yom Kippur, allowing for a relationship of peace and confidence with God.

Deuteronomy: Passing on the Legacy of Grace

The speaker focused particularly on the book of Deuteronomy, which means "second law" or "repeated law." This book recounts Moses' final address to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, summarizing their journey from Egypt and reminding them of God's acts and commands. Moses foresaw a time when future generations would ask their parents, "Why do we do these things?" These children, having no direct memory of the Exodus or the covenant at Sinai, would observe their parents living differently from the surrounding cultures and would seek to understand the meaning behind their traditions and practices.

Moses provides the answer to this crucial "why" question in Deuteronomy. He instructs the Israelites to tell their children that their unique lifestyle and obedience to God's commands are a response to God's saving power and grace. They were to remember and recount how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt, performed great wonders on their behalf, and brought them out to fulfill His promises. The purpose of the Torah was not for salvation, as the Israelites had already been saved by God's grace. Rather, obedience was a demonstration of their love and gratitude for His redemptive acts.

The speaker drew a parallel to the New Testament, highlighting John 1:16-17, which states that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, emphasizing that this was not in opposition to the grace already present in the giving of the law through Moses. Just as ancient Israel celebrated and embraced the Torah as a privilege and a response to God's grace, believers in Jesus should also find joy in obedience as a response to God's ultimate gospel salvation.

The crucial message, the speaker emphasized, is the transmission of the testimony of God's supreme grace to the next generation. Forgetting God's goodness, as seen in Judges 2, leads to a generation that does not know the Lord or His grace and seeks fulfillment elsewhere. The speaker then shared a modern rephrasing by Old Testament scholar Daniel Block of how a believer might answer the "why" question today: we live this way because we were slaves to sin, but the Lord rescued us through the work of Christ. Our obedience is an expression of our fear and love for Christ, for our good and survival as His people.

Application for Everyday Life

• Reflect on God's saving grace: Regularly remember and appreciate the ways God has shown grace in your life, both historically and personally. Let this gratitude be the primary motivation for your actions.
• See obedience as a response, not a burden: View God's commands and principles not as a restrictive checklist, but as an opportunity to express your love and thankfulness for His salvation.
• Engage with the Torah: Don't neglect the first five books of the Bible. Approach them as a narrative that reveals God's character and His initial covenant relationship with His people, understanding the laws within this historical context.
• Answer the "why" for the next generation: Be prepared to explain to your children and others the reasons behind your faith and lifestyle, emphasizing God's grace and the saving work of Jesus Christ as the foundation.
• Live as a witness to God's nearness: Strive to live in a way that reflects the intimacy and accessibility of God in your life, so that others might see and be drawn to Him.
• Pursue justice, love, and mercy: Let your actions be motivated by the gracious character of God, extending these qualities to those around you, even when it goes against the norms of the world.
• Find joy in worship and generosity: Participate in community and support causes that align with God's kingdom out of a spirit of gratitude for all that He has done.

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