Salvation & Obedience

If you believe that it is ok or even good to break Torah, then this message from Paul is for you.  So many times believers think Paul admonished the Torah and teaches that we only need faith.  We only need faith for salvation, nonetheless, we should obey Torah.  For Yeshua said if you love me you will obey my commandments.

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of G-d, what shall we say? The G-d who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will G-d judge the world?  But if through my lie the truth of G-d abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 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. Romans 3:5-8

G-d’s is righteous and His commands are righteous whether or not we obey them.  One example I read puts it like this:  Let’s say that you tell your child not to hit a sibling, and if he does , he will receive a time-out.  You gave a command and specified the consequence.  Then, if your child hits his sibling, you are justified (righteous, which is the same word in Greek) in punishing your child; you are blameless in your judgement to send him to time-out.  The child cannot come back and justifiably say you are unfair or mean for following through with the consequence.  The fault rests with the child.

Then Paul asks the question should we not sin more so that good may come?  Or as Paul puts it in Romans 6:1-2 – Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!  Paul is saying in Romans 3:8 that G-d has a right to condemn such a person.  Why?  Because they are breaking Torah. 

Many people mistaken Paul’s intent in his epistles.  He is mainly stating salvation comes by having emunah (faith) then we obey.  Much like our father Avraham and much like the Israelites.  They were redeemed from slavery first, then given the Torah.  We should be redeemed (accept the gift of salvation) then follow G-d’s Torah.

Until next time…kadosh, kadosh, kadosh is HaShem!